"Xu Miaoran."
Jiang Sui's voice, tinged with a hint of anger, drew Su Qing's gaze uncontrollably in his direction.
She bit her lip, confirming that the voice was undoubtedly Jiang Sui.
After a moment's pause at Jiang Sui's voice, Xu Miaoran looked at Su Qing and Liu Ranran with a slightly apologetic expression.
"Sorry, my boyfriend has a bad temper. We'll talk next time when we have time."
She blinked at Su Qing a few times before turning and leaving.
Su Qing pursed her lips, turned her head, and walked away.
To avoid further complications, Su Qing quickly paid the bill.
"Qing Qing, don't be sad."
"These three-legged frogs are hard to find, but two-legged men are also easy to find."
Liu Ranran was already cursing the scumbag couple in her heart.
"I'm fine, I'm just a little tired, Ranran. Sorry for today."
Su Qing felt a little regretful. Her mood today was really dampening.
"Qing Qing, please don't say that. If it weren't for..."
Liu Ranran wanted to tell Su Qing about knowing Jiang Sui's license plate number, but seeing Su Qing's tired face and lack of interest, she simply kept quiet.
"Qing Qing, then you should go back and get some rest."
Su Qing pursed her lips and hailed a taxi. After apologizing to Liu Ranran again, she got in and left.
Liu Ranran stared blankly at the endless stream of people on the street.
She suppressed the urge to go up and settle the score with Jiang Sui.
She simply took out her anger on the innocent Hu Yifan, who kept calling her. She blocked his phone number, WeChat, and nearly every other contact method that could reach her.
"No man is a good person!"
Liu Ranran kicked a nearby stone block, grimacing as if her foot was about to break.
She turned her head and saw Jiang Sui emerging from the mall. Xu Miaoran, smiling, leaned in close to Jiang Sui.
The man still looked aloof.
But nothing could change the look of a scumbag.
Liu Ranran turned away, not wanting to take another look.
Jiang Sui hurried out, his face frighteningly gloomy, and Xu Miaoran seemed completely oblivious.
"Jiang Sui, you're walking too fast. Wait for me."
Jiang Sui didn't stop at that, simply turning his head and giving Xu Miaoran a cold glance.
"Go back on your own."
Xu Miaoran had never seen such an ungentlemanly man.
"It's hard to get a taxi here, and since you're driving, why not give me a ride?"
Jiang Sui didn't even turn around, the anger on his face undimmed.
Xu Miaoran, also angry, walked several steps away and then grabbed Jiang Sui's wrist.
"Jiang Sui, why are you so stingy? I'm just said that you are my boyfriend only, I'm doing this for your own good."
Jiang Sui was forced to stop and ripped Xu Miaoran's arm away.
He looked down at Xu Miaoran.
"For my own good?"
Xu Miaoran looked at Jiang Sui's straight-laced demeanor and wondered how she could have fallen for such a clueless person in her youth.
She nodded.
"Of course. I'm doing this for you. I'm trying to figure out if Su Qing still likes you. It'll save you the trouble of being alone. I heard Uncle Jiang say you're just about ready to become a monk."
Jiang Sui's brows never relaxed.
"You're being too clever."
Xu Miaoran, looking at Jiang Sui's handsome face, was furious.
"I..."
"Xu Miaoran, do you think I don't know how to find out if Su Qing likes me?"
"I just can't bear to see my woman so heartbroken. Don't try to be so clever anymore."
Jiang Sui's face remained impassive, like a deity, without a trace of emotion. He glanced coldly at Xu Miaoran, then turned away, leaving Xu Miaoran bewildered.
She stared at Jiang Sui's distant back.
She was somewhat shocked by his words.
Historically, Xu Miaoran had assumed Jiang Sui didn't understand love, didn't know how to love someone.
But now, it seemed, that wasn't necessarily the case.
Jiang Sui started the car and sped down to the apartment building.
He looked down at the window light, which was still on.
When he caught a glimpse of Su Qing's shaky figure in the restaurant, his heart suddenly felt empty.
Pursing his lips, Jiang Sui flicked his lighter a few times.
The flickering light couldn't shake the anxiety in his heart.
He pulled out his phone and called Hu Yifan.
Hu Yifan answered the phone quickly.
"What's wrong, Brother Sui?"
Hu Yifan's voice was a little languid, not very excited.
"Liu Ranran and Su Qing were having dinner at the time. Ask Liu Ranran how Su Qing is feeling now."
Jiang Sui was always direct.
"Brother Sui, to be honest, Ranran, my baby has blocked me. All contact information has been blocked. I can't even get in touch."
Hu Yifan's mood was completely down.
Jiang Sui was stunned for a moment when he heard this, then realized that Liu Ranran had probably blocked him partly because of his relationship with Su Qing.
It was more of a vent of anger.
Jiang Sui frowned at this action.
"Usually, blocking someone like that means they're waiting for you to coax them into action. And now you're still drowning your sorrows in alcohol like a fool. Are you hoping she won't block you, but will just ignore you?"
"No, no, no, Brother Sui, you're so amazing. You're such a jerk. She definitely can't ignore me. That would make us strangers."
Hu Yifan thanked him and hung up.
Jiang Sui gripped the steering wheel.
Hearing that, wouldn't that make us strangers?
Yes, Qing Qing would never act out with him, and she wouldn't bother with him either.
She hadn't blocked him, nor had she deleted him, all her contact information was still there.
It was just that within social circles, within lives, within the traces of growth, their presence had suddenly vanished.
Yes, what difference was there between them and strangers?
Jiang Sui looked up at the light in the window until it went out, then stepped out of the car.
His house was right across the street from Su Qing.
Su Qing's daily routine was never disrupted.
Jiang Sui always returned home after Su Qing left, and always went upstairs after the lights in Su Qing's house went out.
So, while Liu Ranran kept complaining about her annoying neighbors.
Su Qing felt relieved, saying she didn't know who lived across the street, but the person was probably a cultured person.
It wasn't noisy, it was very quiet. There were no shoe cabinets taking up space by the door, and no garbage or anything like that.
In short, this place was very comfortable to live in.
When Su Qing saw Jiang Sui, she couldn't remember how she'd left the restaurant.
She felt as if all her strength had been drained from her body.
So.
For so many years, She'd been alone, obsessed with him, while he already had someone else by his side.
That person, none other than Xu Miaoran. Unexpectedly, they'd ended up together again, by some strange twist of fate.
The first thing Su Qing did upon returning home was take a cold shower.
It gradually cleared her mind and thoughts.
From behind, he looked a perfect match for Xu Miaoran. That fiery, passionate woman made Su Qing pale in comparison.
Pursing her lips, Su Qing looked at herself in the mirror.
Her expressionless face resembled a corpse; it certainly wasn't a very pleasant one.
Su Qing was feeling restless and couldn't sleep, so she simply turned off the lights and planned to go downstairs for a walk.
Liu Ranran had previously told her that the neighborhood's scenery and safety were excellent.
Su Qing casually grabbed a coat and headed out.
The moment she opened the door, she saw a figure so familiar it couldn't be more familiar.
That person...
Not...
Her quiet, highly educated, and kind neighbor?
Jiang Sui was expertly punching in the code to the door across from her. Su Qing naturally couldn't believe this man was looking for her, not someone who lived there.
Jiang Sui, assuming Su Qing had gone to bed, heard the sound of a door opening behind him.
His fingers stiffened slightly, but he decisively opened the door and tried to get in.
Only to find his wrist was grasped by a pair of white fingertips.
Su Qing's hair was half wet, and it was obvious she had just washed. The face that had haunted him so much now appeared in front Jiang Sui.
Jiang Sui lowered his eyes.
"Aren't you going to explain?"
Su Qing said this calmly. She absolutely didn't believe Jiang Sui was living here for no apparent reason. Su Qing didn't believe such a coincidence.
Listening to Su Qing's voice, Jiang Sui felt a tightness in his throat.
Su Qing's white fingers were completely powerless, and Jiang Sui easily struggled free.
For a long moment, Jiang Sui stood there motionless.
"You didn't blow-dry your hair," Jiang Sui began, but the topic had nothing to do with Su Qing's question.
Su Qing frowned.
"It's cold outside. It's winter. If you don't blow dry your hair, you'll easily catch a cold."
Su Qing's instinctive patience was instantly exhausted. The little breath she could squeeze out felt incredibly tight.
"Jiang Sui."
Her voice rose.
"It's too cold outside. Come inside and talk."
Jiang Sui pushed the door open, ready to go in. Su Qing's words stopped in her tracks. Somehow, she followed Jiang Sui inside.
Su Qing stood at the entrance hallway; Jiang Sui had already closed the door.
Su Qing was in a terrible mood.
She hadn't expected to have entered Jiang Sui's house so easily. A feeling of annoyance and regret lingered in her chest, a feeling she couldn't find relief.
But now that she was already inside, she couldn't just leave.
It would make her seem useless.
Suppressing her discomfort, Su Qing followed Jiang Sui into the living room and sat on the sofa.
"I'll get you a cup of tea."
Su Qing wanted to say no, but when she turned, Jiang Sui had already left. She pursed her lips and surveyed Jiang Sui's room. The layout was surprisingly identical to her own.
Su Qing's eyebrows couldn't help but twitch.
Clearly, she didn't need to ask; the answer was already in her mind.
That's what meant.
Such a nice house, new, in the city, not only inexpensive, but also completely unused. Su Qing immediately felt it was ready for owner arrival.
Seeing that Jiang Sui's house was identical to the one she'd rented, Su Qing couldn't help but think about it.
Jiang Sui came out with a cup of hot tea, a hairdryer, and a towel.
Placing the tea on the coffee table, Jiang Sui looked at Su Qing and started to blow-dry her hair.
But Su Qing decisively refused.
"Jiang Sui."
Su Qing restrained herself from uttering harsh words of rejection, trying her best to control her expression as she took the towel from Jiang Sui's arm.
"I'll use this, thank you."
Her aloofness made Jiang Sui's eyes froze for a moment, and he found a place to sit down.
The steaming tea made Su Qing's vision blurry.
She had thought about Jiang Sui's appearance over the years, and just by looking at his back, she knew for sure it was him.
Seeing his face now, she realized that the boy from past then seemed the same, yet everything seemed to have changed.
He was mature and refined, his features still handsome, a rare talent among men.
Su Qing took a sip of tea, moistened her throat, and looked up at Jiang Sui.
"Jiang Sui, you rented me the house across the street."
She used a confirmed sentence, and when Su Qing spoke, Jiang Sui froze for a moment, pinching his fingertips and pursing his lips.
"Qing Qing, what are you talking about? You're joking. It's not me."
The word "Qing Qing" lingered in his mouth for a long time. When he uttered it, it didn't seem so unfamiliar. It was just that the person sitting far away was too far away. A faint sense of despair crossed Jiang Sui's eyes.
Su Qing thought Jiang Sui would admit it, but unexpectedly, Jiang Sui would be stubborn. She pursed her lips.
"Why are you here?"
"This is my home, Qing Qing. I've lived here a long time ago."
He didn't seem to be lying. Su Qing hadn't expected Jiang Sui to deny it.
"So, you're trying to tell me that you lived here, and I happened to rent across the street, making us neighbors. Is this all just a coincidence?"
Su Qing pinched her fingertips, trying to control her emotions.
"If I told you it was a coincidence, Qing Qing, would you believe me?"
Su Qing looked at Jiang Sui that said this, the pent-up annoyance in her heart suddenly welling up.
"Jiang Sui, do you think I'm a three-year-old child? So easy to fool? And when did you become such a liar, Jiang Sui?"
"It's a coincidence. It's a coincidence that the layout of your apartment is exactly the same as mine. The sofa, coffee table, TV cabinet, everything is exactly the same, right?"
Su Qing's voice rose slightly, her eyes fixed on Jiang Sui.
They had never argued, never blushed.
After not seeing each other for so many years, Su Qing had never imagined their reunion would be like this.
Jiang Sui pursed his lips, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Aren't you easy to lie to?"
These words stunned Su Qing. She looked at Jiang Sui with an extremely serious expression and a cold stare.
"So, Jiang Sui, what do you want to say?"