CHAPTER 489: CHAPTER 436 I’M AFRAID SHE WILL REJECT

Xi Yang was already somewhat famous by the time he went to college, and back then, offers for his appearances came one after another, only exceptionally important matters could compel him to return to school.

And every time he returned to school, it would inevitably cause a stir throughout the campus, forcing the school to mobilize all its security guards to maintain order.

He vividly remembers the weather just after a heavy rain, the air still misted with dampness, when he returned to school for an exam. Despite frequently being away filming, he managed to cope with every subject with ease because he always read books during breaks in filming.

Upon his return to school, a group of junior girls surrounded him asking for autographs. Amiably, he took the pen and signed his name in the notebooks they handed him. It was then that he suddenly saw a girl, her face flushed with shyness, squeezing through the crowd, wanting to ask for his autograph but too embarrassed to do so, as if fearful of rejection, hesitant and undecided.

She was very beautiful, prettier than any of the female celebrities he had seen. Those women, scented with thick makeup, had been tainted by the vulgarities of the world. Most were in pursuit of fame and wealth, very pragmatic, whereas she was like a pure water lily quietly blooming in a pond, untouched by a single speck of dust. Upon seeing her, one would feel refreshed, as if drinking cool spring water on a hot summer’s day, feeling completely invigorated.

He never knew that there was such a beautiful girl at Australian University; surely, those pursuing her could fill a train carriage.

He forgot about signing autographs, staring at her with a hint of infatuation until she fell over, unable to push through the frenzied fans.

The ground was slippery from the recent rain. She fell awkwardly, her pretty dress stained with mud. Almost instinctively, he shoved the autograph book into someone’s hands and forced his way through the crowd to her.

He reached out to help her up from the ground. Her hand was small and soft, truly fitting the saying, "Dressed in light makeup, she extends her delicate hand."

Raising her head, she bashfully thanked him, her cheeks reddening.

Xi Yang, seeing the notebook in her hand, took it without a word and signed his name. Feeling it wasn’t enough, he signed a few more pages and handed them back: "Here, give these to your friends."

"Thank you, senior." She held the notebook joyfully, chirping like a cheerful little bird.

Even now, he could still remember her smile from that day. Three years had passed, and her smile was as pure as ever, seemingly unchanged.

After that day, he had bumped into her again at the small campus café, where he was in a hurry to take care of some business. He remembered that she had ordered a cup of Golden Tangerine Tea, happily telling her companion that she loved its sweet and sour flavor.

Some people, though you only meet them a few times, are like photos etched in your heart, capable of developing an image with just a bit of exposure. The last time he saw her at the magazine company, as she was wronged by her colleague, he couldn’t help but step in to defend her. At that moment, he realized that re-encountering her was fate, and as he was in an emotional interlude, her timely appearance felt like it was orchestrated by fate itself. So how could he miss such an opportunity?

"Senior, I’ve finished ordering." Zhuo Yuqing placed the menu down, and Xi Yang, who had been daydreaming, snapped out of it upon hearing her voice.

Xi Yang smiled, "Junior sister, are you going home tomorrow?"

"Yes." Zhuo Yuqing sipped on her straw and nodded, "Going home for the holiday."

"It’s nice to be able to go home," Xi Yang remarked.

"Won’t you go home, senior? Didn’t you say you don’t have any engagements scheduled for tomorrow?"

"You might not know this, but my home is in the north, far from Aus City. After getting off the plane, I’d have to take a train, and after the train, take another bus. If I’m unlucky and there’s heavy snow blocking the roads, I might even have to walk home." He chuckled, "So, one day is simply not enough."

Zhuo Yuqing had no idea that Xi Yang’s home was so remote. Tomorrow was the Lantern Festival, a day for family reunion, yet he would have to spend the holiday alone in a foreign land. Perhaps this is the bittersweet reality of being an artist.

"When I first became famous, I wanted to bring my parents over, but they are accustomed to life back home and couldn’t adapt to the big city life. No matter how much I persuaded them, they refused to come. Left with no other choice, I invested in building roads, houses, and schools back home, trying to improve the living conditions there so I could rest assured that my parents lived in abundance and undisturbed." Xi Yang sighed softly, "Sometimes, having money doesn’t mean you can do what you wish. Likewise, not everyone lives for money or an affluent life."

Zhuo Yuqing nodded in agreement. Everyone has different goals and values. Just like her desire to become a journalist, which her family initially opposed. Her parents thought she should lead a life of luxury, but she felt she should learn to adapt to society.

Zhuo Yuqing had not interacted much with Xi Yang before, and it was only after talking more now that she realized he was a very sentimental person, his heart was far from as sturdy as it seemed on the surface, very delicate and sensitive.

"Senior, have you confessed to the girl you like?" Zhuo Yuqing asked with eager interest.

"I’m afraid she might reject me." Xi Yang gazed at her with sparkling eyes, smiling and said, "That would be so embarrassing for me."

"How do you know if you don’t try? If you get rejected, just thicken your skin and keep pursuing. Even if you can’t win them over, at least you’ve tried; it’s better than not trying at all."

Xi Yang fell silent for a moment, "Alright, I’ll certainly give it a try when I get the chance."

At this moment, their steaks were served. The waiter was new and seemed a bit flustered. The steak wrapped in foil on the hot plate was sizzling, and perhaps because she was nervous in front of someone like Xi Yang, she carelessly opened the foil, resulting in hot oil splattering out, some of which landed on Zhuo Yuqing’s hand. She immediately cried out in pain and covered her hand.

The waiter turned pale with fright. She had been repeatedly warned by the headwaiter to shield customers before opening foil packets to prevent such mishaps. She had been too focused on Xi Yang and clearly forgot this rule.

Xi Yang swiftly rose from his seat, walked around the table to Zhuo Yuqing, frantically held her hand to examine it, and scolded, "How can you be so careless, not even knowing the most basic common sense?"

The terrified waiter was on the verge of tears. Xi Yang was a distinguished guest, and upsetting him could mean losing her job. She quickly kept bowing and apologizing profusely, "I’m sorry, I’m so sorry."

Several small blisters had developed on the back of Zhuo Yuqing’s hand, and seeing this, Xi Yang felt extremely distressed. He promptly took some clean water to rinse her wound.

"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and fetch some burn ointment," Xi Yang said in a harsh tone, his anger evident. The normally gentle man was indeed intimidating when agitated.

"It’s nothing, senior. It’s just a few small blisters, some ointment will do," Zhuo Yuqing, seeing the little waiter’s near-tearful face, immediately softened. She couldn’t bear to see others in such distress, and besides, if she made a big fuss, the little waiter could very well lose her job.

Hearing Xi Yang’s words, the little waiter quickly went to fetch the ointment. On her way out, she bumped into someone by the door. Today really wasn’t her day, and she profusely apologized once again.

The person she bumped into was Tong Bi. Tong Bi had planned to come here for lunch, not expecting to be collided with before even starting her meal. She was about to lash out at the little waiter when her gaze suddenly caught a glimpse of two people standing in a private room behind her. One was the all-too-familiar Zhuo Yuqing, whom she despised deeply, and the other, well-known to her as well, was the movie star Xi Yang.

And at that moment, Xi Yang was holding Zhuo Yuqing’s hand, whispering something with a concerned look on his face.

Tong Bi felt as if she had been hit by an unexpected windfall. She had not anticipated encountering Xi Yang here, and most importantly, they seemed to be... having an affair?

Tong Bi hastily took out her phone and snapped several pictures of the private room. After inspecting the photos in her hand, she wore a cold smile of triumph.

Zhuo Yuqing, weren’t you so proud of yourself for marrying a wealthy man? Enjoying the good life has been enough, hasn’t it? Skulking around with a movie star behind your rich husband’s back, you’ve really got some nerve. No wonder Xi Yang spoke up for you at the magazine office last time; it seems their affair has been going on for quite a while.

"It’s really nothing," Zhuo Yuqing smoothly withdrew her hand. Even though Xi Yang’s concern was genuine, she just couldn’t bring herself to accept the touch of any man other than Bai Chengxi.

The hand withdrawn from her grasp, although she smiled and said it was nothing, Xi Yang could feel her obvious rejection and sighed silently, feeling rather dejected.

At that moment, the waiter came back with the burn ointment. Xi Yang was about to apply it for her, but Zhuo Yuqing took it herself: "Senior, I can do it, it’s really not a big deal."

Xi Yang didn’t say anything else and just nodded lightly.

Zhuo Yuqing was applying the ointment when the waiter glanced towards the door and hesitantly asked, "Just now outside, I saw a woman sneaking around. I’m not sure if she was taking photos of Mr. Xi."

Upon hearing this, Xi Yang strode out immediately. He caught sight of Tong Bi hurrying away. She must have felt guilty, like a thief in the act; as she reached the door, she glanced back. That very look allowed Xi Yang to see her face, and Zhuo Yuqing, following behind, also saw her.

Tong Bi left in haste.

"Is she... your colleague?"

"Yes." Zhuo Yuqing frowned slightly. With Tong Bi around, trouble was bound to follow. What sneaky business she had been up to outside she could only guess, but it was probably the reason she ran off faster than a rabbit.

Zhuo Yuqing thought carefully. Her hand had been injured, and Xi Yang had checked the wound for her. If Tong Bi had taken some photos...

As soon as Zhuo Yuqing thought of this, a chill ran down her spine. Given her personality, she was likely to stir up trouble again. She was never peaceful without creating some disturbance.