Vol2 Chapter 22: The Paper Between Us
“Xia Mi and I were cooking and chatting when Fingel knocked,” Chu Zihang said. “Given all the things Fingel’s done, I hid in the vent.”
Lu Mingfei blinked. That didn’t sound like Chu Zihang at all—caring about a girl’s reputation? But then again, this guy, cold on the outside, gossipy and restless inside, had been spending a lot of time with the quirky Xia Mi lately. Maybe the heart of this lone monk was starting to stir, letting loose a bit.
“Speaking of which, Senior, you got a thing for Xia Mi?” Lu Mingfei’s gossip mode kicked in.
“What do you mean?” Chu Zihang frowned.
“You know, a thing.” Lu Mingfei studied his expression, suddenly feeling exasperated. “Don’t you feel something for Xia Mi? With her looks, what’s there to worry about? Even a pig would go wild for her!”
“Why would a pig be interested in a person?” Chu Zihang paused. “As far as I know, humans only like pigs for their tasty meat. What appeal do humans have for pigs?”
“…” Lu Mingfei fell silent, a rare occurrence. In the cramped vent, he and Chu Zihang stared at each other. He was trying to talk about Xia Mi, and this stone-faced senior was asking why pigs would like humans?
“I mean, Senior, you like Xia Mi.”
“Like?” Chu Zihang pondered. “What’s it like to like someone?”
“It’s the first person you think of when someone asks you that. Whoever pops into your head, that’s the one.”
As he said it, a name came to Lu Mingfei’s mind. He knew he liked this girl, but she never said anything, even encouraging him to get a girlfriend. Who else could he like? But he was too much of a coward to confess. Saying it would change things between them.
He felt he was being a real bro, taking a hit to his own feelings to nudge Chu Zihang. His sadness wasn’t worth much, but if Chu Zihang got the hint and landed a girl—whether Susie or Xia Mi—it’d be a win for Lu Mingfei. Sure, he was miserable, but he wanted Chu Zihang to be happy. Despite his badass vibe, Chu Zihang didn’t seem truly happy.
Chu Zihang was quiet for a long time, then nodded slightly. “I get it… So, you and her… how’s that going?”
“Same old, same old.”
“What if she dates someone else?” Chu Zihang asked.
“What can I do?” Lu Mingfei’s gaze dimmed. “Just… wish her well, I guess. She said she’d give me a big red envelope if I got a girlfriend. I’d give her one too…”
“Xia Mi says you’re an idiot.”
“Damn, Senior, you just now figured out I’m an idiot? After a year as alumni?” Lu Mingfei looked at him. He didn’t want to be an idiot. Girls came and went—what did it matter? Like Xu Zhimo wrote in On Leaving Cambridge, “I wave my sleeve, taking not a single cloud.”
But he was that idiot. His heart was small, only room for one person—then and now.
“Really?”
“Why you asking so much, Senior?” Lu Mingfei was getting annoyed.
“Xia Mi said girls don’t fall for sudden confessions. If she doesn’t like the guy, no effort matters. From what I’ve seen, she barely interacts with guys besides you, so the odds of her being with you are high.” His gaze was intense. “I think everyone meets someone in their life they fall for. Some meet at the right time, like flowers blooming in spring, and everything works out—they date, get engaged, marry, live together. But others, even with a great connection, miss out. It’s like there’s a thin paper between them, one poke could break it, but no one does. They like each other but never end up together because no one makes that small effort.”
Chu Zihang wasn’t much for words, but his middle school speech-giving days left a habit—when he talked too much, he got poetic, as if back on the podium.
“That day at the movies, everyone mocked you. Chen Wenwen called you over, knowing you liked her, but didn’t care about your feelings, treating you like trash she didn’t know where to dump. Bai Ci’s shy, but when you were breaking, she slapped Zhao Menghua. Ever think how much courage that took or what she was feeling? Even if you’re broken, she’d pick up your pieces, happily claiming each one as hers.” He looked at Lu Mingfei. “Xia Mi says she’s a total tsundere—likes you but won’t admit it. From the moment she met you, she’s watched you from the sidelines. She was upset every time Chen Wenwen called you away. She knew Chen Wenwen was stringing you along, so she hated her for stealing you. Against Constantine, she threw herself in front of you to protect you. In her eyes, you’re the sun. You know mayflies? They’re born at dawn, die at dusk. They never see the moon because the sun’s the brightest thing they know. You said she lit up your world—ever think you lit up hers?”
A cool silence settled. Their eyes locked, gazes heavy. After a long pause, Lu Mingfei’s rustling in the vent broke the quiet.
“Well said! If you’d debuted five years earlier, romance novelists would be out of a job!” Lu Mingfei sat up, clapping as if he’d just heard a rousing speech.
“Xia Mi also told me, if I like someone, I should tell her fast, or she’ll slip away. Some things only count if you say them. Keep quiet, and it’s all guesswork. Guess too long, and it falls apart. I think you’re the same.”
“Forget me for now, Senior. Don’t you think Xia Mi might be hinting at you?” Lu Mingfei grinned. “I mean, come on, a girl in America cooking silver ear soup with you? That’s not just sparks—it’s a damn wildfire! Senior, she’s a catch. You gotta seize this! I say, go tell her you like her once we’re out.”
“…” Chu Zihang fell silent, unsure how to respond.