"Thank you"
Shao Yan was walking side by side with Zhong Yu "And also, I"m sorry I didn"t recognize you at the art festival. When I saw Feifei and Lu Qian just now, finally, I remembered you."
She looked up at the tall, skinny man, "I"m sorry." Shao Yan tried to keep her words as simple as possible. She was hoping Zhong Yu did not catch her bluff.
Zhong Yu was walking next to her, he leaned most of the umbrella to her side to cover her from the raindrops. Luckily it"s only a slight drizzle, so his arm sleeves outside the umbrella was not soaked too much.
They were walking slowly towards her office building. Although it was only a slight drizzle, but few hours ago, a heavy rain just poured and water puddles were everywhere. He was worried that they would get their feet soaked.
Shao Yan was paying extra attention on her every step as well. Zhong Yu silently matched her pace as he walked so he would not miss the umbrella over her head.
He waved his hand, "That"s alright. I figured you probably didn"t recognize me. I have different hairstyle anyway" he paused, before he added, "And I look more handsome now" he grinned at her while his fingers brushed his own hair and gave it a light ruffle on the top of his crown.
Shao Yan saw his childish grin, and returned his smile.
Of course she remembered Zhong Yu. She just chose to not acknowledge him at the art festival. For her own selfish reason.
Zhong Yu, Lu Qian, Du Guangwei and Liwei were roommates in university.
Shao Yan usually hung out with her own roommates: Xie Liying and Lu Feifei; who sometimes also met up with her brother, Lu Qian. It was inevitable that Shao Yan finally met Liwei as well.
There was one time, Shao Yan and Feifei were eating dinner in the cafeteria, and coincidentally, Liwei and Zhong Yu were there too. The four of them ended up eating lunch together.
At the time, Liwei had not court Shao Yan yet.
During that lunch, Liwei was busy talking to both Shao Yan and Feifei. Since Liwei had met Feifei before, he was aware that Feifei was Lu Qian"s sister. He was excited to share embarra.s.sing stories of Lu Qian to the both of them; while Zhong Yu just sat silently on the side.
But Shao Yan noticed that Zhong Yu had been paying attention to both of their needs ever since Feifei and her had sat down with them.
He picked up the cutleries for them. He also pa.s.sed out the tissue napkins to wipe their hands. In the middle of lunch, he left for a bit to fetch some drinks for all of them. Apparently, he noticed that Feifei had been eating spicy tofu dish and her face was getting redder.
So, ever since that lunch, even though they did not share any words, Shao Yan started to see Zhong Yu everywhere.
Lu Feifei was the only one in the group who always got bored easily. She liked to arrange a lot of activities to do. And most of the times, the takers were Lu Qian; which Shao Yan believed was under his sister"s threats. Other takers were Liwei and Guangwei.
Somehow, Zhong Yu seldom joined their activities anymore. He got busier and busier ever since he decided to transfer to another major.
That was how Shao Yan ended up spending more time with Liwei; to eventually started a relations.h.i.+p with him.
However somehow, after Liwei and her started the relations.h.i.+p, Zhong Yu started to hangout with them again.
Now that she thought about it, it seemed that this was the first time, that both of them could talk normally without other people around them. Other than the art festival, this was also the first time she heard Zhong Yu to utter so many words.
Shao Yan was still curious over why the handwriting on the letters were Zhong Yu"s and not Liwei"s. But ever since her talk with Li Xiqing about her past, and after her decision not to cry over Liwei anymore, Shao Yan slowly realized that she did not need to travel back to the past anymore.
She had decided to close that chapter for good and move on.
"Did you keep in touch with your other roommate as well?" Shao Yan suddenly asked.
Zhong Yu was looking upfront. And when he heard her question, he turned his head and looked down at her. He just stared at her and did not reply for a while. Shao Yan felt so awkward, she decided to be the one to break off their staring contest.
She just turned her face away, when she heard him said, "I never keep in touch with either Liwei or Guangwei."
"When you left New York, Liwei thought that you might have flown back" he paused, and then Shao Yan could hear him softly sighed, "So he asked me to keep a lookout if you contacted Feifei" Zhong Yu turned his head back to look upfront but his grip on the umbrella unconsciously tightened.
Zhong Yu turned around to look at her again, "But after three years, you still chose to not contact anyone."
Shao Yan just kept quiet. She did not look back at him, but also did not show any different expressions. However her eyes turned cold and distant. Her hands that were holding on to her purse reflexively tightened.
She slowly said, "What"s the use of talking about it now. If he happened to ask you about anything, please tell him that I have moved on."
After a short walk, they finally arrived at her office building. Shao Yan sighed a relief and hastened her steps to the canopy of her building.
"Thank you again for walking me back. I will see you guys tonight" and after she said that, she swiftly turned around and walked back inside; leaving Zhong Yu who was staring at her back solemnly.
The rain drops kept pattering on his shoes and the sky was so gloomy. No bright sun was around, no slight breeze either; it was only grey clouds and humidity surrounded his figure.
Zhong Yu clenched his fist and kept staring at her back until she was out of his sight. He stayed put for a while, contemplating on things; before he started to walk back to the mall.