Chapter Seventy-Seven: Lonely Souls Are All Alike
Life is adept at creating troubles for people, all the while feigning kindness by granting boundless time for memories to be slowly worn away. Yet life is senseless, never understanding pain or loneliness. Xiaoxiao lay on the balcony—the sky was a piercing blue, reflected in her eyes and turning into a bottomless loneliness.
She pondered what the world's most beautiful feeling truly was. Was it, like Bai Yunchuan and Yu Xin, a love that could not remain together but clung sweetly to each other nonetheless? Or perhaps like Hua Mei and Zeng Ziyu, sharing the same bed yet never finding peace? Or, taking another step back, was it like hers? In stories, satisfaction was never seen, regardless of beauty or wealth; in loneliness, everyone is the same.
She pulled out her phone, wanting to chat with someone, and the first name that appeared was "Little Lin." Scrolling further down, she saw Lin Shuo’s number printed on his card. She couldn’t help but laugh at herself—she should have just deleted it. She was just about to hit confirm when Ximin Tang’s call came through.
A gentle voice: “Hello, I’m at the entrance of your alley. I suddenly really wanted to see your flower garden.”
“Alright, give me a few minutes, I’ll be right out.” As she changed her clothes, she called her mother to let her know to set an extra place at dinner. Her mother, delighted, immediately said she’d go buy more good food.
Ximin Tang personally opened the car door for her, even shielding her head to keep her from bumping it. Xiaoxiao found this amusing. “Relax, I’m not a three-year-old bouncing around.”
He closed the door for her, circled around to the driver’s seat, and was about to fasten her seatbelt for her, but she quickly waved him off. “No need, no need, I’m not used to it.”
He started the car, speaking with some insight: “A man who makes a lady look awkward only embarrasses himself further.”
She praised him, “Gentleman.”
He replied, “That’s just because the men you’ve met before weren’t gentlemanly enough.”
“Perhaps they were knights.” At that, both of them laughed it off. She smiled and added, “By the way, when you see my mom, don’t be scared. I’m giving you the whole drive to mentally prepare.”
“How so?”
“I just told my mom I was bringing someone home for dinner, and she asked if it was my boyfriend. She’s rarely this nosy.” She laughed happily. He snuck a glance at her reaction. “Actually, I’m more curious about what you answered.”
A sudden urge to tease Ximin Tang came over her. She pretended to be nonchalant and said, “I told her yes.”
He would have preferred the truth; a chill slipped through his heart, but he kept his tone light. “You’d better really have said that.”
It was as if something was stuck in her throat; she struggled for a long moment but couldn’t respond. In the end, she realized she was the one who couldn’t take a joke.
Hearing a noise outside the yard, her mother put down her work and went to open the door. Seeing her daughter leading the distinguished Ximin Tang in, she couldn’t hide her delight. Ximin Tang was well-prepared—he opened the trunk and took out an array of gifts, which made Xiaoxiao stare in surprise; these were by no means cheap.
“Hello, Auntie.” Ximin Tang stepped forward to greet her mother, who beamed with joy. Xiaoxiao introduced them, “This is my mother. This is my friend, Ximin Tang.”
Her mother looked Ximin Tang up and down, growing more pleased the longer she looked. “Mr. Xi, it’s enough that you’re here. There’s no need for gifts, you’re being too polite.”
“I wasn’t sure what you might like, Auntie. If I haven’t chosen well, I hope you won’t mind.”
“Mom, you can’t just leave the guest standing at the door.” As she spoke, she reached to help with the gifts, but Ximin Tang refused. “It’s not right to let a woman carry the bags.” With that, he carried everything inside himself, earning an approving nod from her mother.