MNL Chapter 109

Chapter 109: Lime “Never.”

After returning from New York, Xu Jing deleted all of Shen Yan’s contact information, stopped paying attention to news reports and media opinions, and to completely shield himself from any news related to Shen Yan, he changed his phone number, registered a new social media account, and even cut off contact with Jiang Pei.

From the moment he made up his mind to say goodbye to the past, he never thought that the two of them would meet again. Over the years, he had insisted on leaving Linhe City, traveling far and wide, and had finally started his new life. But at this moment, the person who had already exited his world reappeared dramatically, without any warning.

Xu Jing stumbled and ran out. At this moment, his mind was full of buying a plane ticket and leaving this place as soon as possible, so he didn’t even look at the road. He was rushing forward like a headless fly, and at this moment, a hand suddenly reached out from behind and pulled him back abruptly.

He crashed into a broad, solid chest, and a fresh, cold aura rushed towards him. Xu Jing was stunned for two seconds by this familiar feeling. After reacting, he quickly distanced himself from the other person.

He then noticed that there was an extremely deep puddle in front of him. If he had fallen in just now, he would probably be soaked all over. Xu Jing’s gaze slowly shifted to the hand hanging by his side. The obvious scar on the knuckles made him completely accept the reality.

The person in front of him was Shen Yan, the young man who had caused him to collapse, act impulsively, disregard everything, and trapped his entire youth.

Xu Jing’s breathing was erratic, and he took a few steps back, forcibly controlling the fluctuations in his heart, and said, “Thank you.”

Shen Yan lowered his eyes, his dark eyes staring at Xu Jing without blinking.

The atmosphere at this moment was too oppressive, even making it difficult for Xu Jing to breathe. But at the same time, he also realized something was wrong.

This desolate place, where even the locals were unwilling to set foot, how could Shen Yan appear here?

An answer popped into his head uncontrollably, but it was quickly killed by another voice.

They were now, in essence, nothing more than unrelated strangers. After so many years, what was he still daydreaming about?

“Are you here for tourism?” Xu Jing’s voice became very calm.

After a long while, Shen Yan softly hummed in agreement.

Xu Jing smiled mockingly in his heart. He knew it. Perhaps he would see a woman walk up and take Shen Yan’s arm in a moment.

Thinking of this, Xu Jing felt that he couldn’t stay here for a moment longer.

Xu Jing nodded and said without any emotion, “Have a pleasant trip. I’ll be leaving first.”

“Let’s have dinner together.”

Shen Yan’s voice was like dust, a little hoarse, coming from behind him.

Xu Jing paused, and without turning his head, said, “No, thanks.”

Watching Xu Jing walk further and further away, Shen Yan stood there, countless voices clamoring in his heart. His eyes tightened, and he chased after him again.

“There are no taxis here. Let me give you a ride.”

Xu Jing subconsciously planned to refuse, but when he thought of the driver’s reaction when he came, he hesitated. Then he heard the person next to him add in a low voice, “May I?”

In the end, he still got into the car.

“Maple Leaf International Hotel, please.”

Shen Yan felt a little bitter in his heart. They used to be so close, but they had become so estranged.

Halfway through the drive, Shen Yan took the initiative to break the silent and oppressive atmosphere in the car.

“Are your aunt and uncle doing well?”

Xu Jing replied very simply, “Yes.”

Shen Yan was silent for a few seconds, then asked, “What about you?”

“Good.” Xu Jing paused, then asked, “What about you?”

“So-so.”

Anyone who heard such an answer should symbolically ask about the situation or offer comfort, but Xu Jing just hummed in response, as if it was just a polite remark and he had no intention of caring about him at all.

The roads in the town were not congested. Shen Yan seemed reluctant to step on the accelerator. The car took nearly an hour to reach the hotel. Xu Jing kept his eyes open the whole time, forcing himself not to fall asleep. As soon as they arrived, he unbuckled his seat belt and prepared to get out of the car, only to find that the car door was locked.

Xu Jing turned to look at Shen Yan, his eyes questioning.

Shen Yan met Xu Jing’s gaze and said, “Let’s add each other as contacts.”

It was a little hot inside the car. Shen Yan had already taken off his coat and rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt. His shoulders were broad, and the line from his neck to his shoulders was slender and beautiful. His arms were muscular and full of strength, revealing a mature and restrained temperament.

Shen Yan’s appearance hadn’t changed much, except that his eyebrows and eyes weren’t as sharp as before, but still not gentle. Instead, they were more unfathomable and cold. But no matter what, he was still so eye-catching.

Xu Jing looked away and said, “Let’s forget it. It’s meaningless.”

“How do you know it’s meaningless?”

“I don’t think there’s any meaning in two people who have been separated for seven years adding each other as contacts.”

Xu Jing’s voice was slow and clear. Shen Yan’s hand holding the steering wheel tightened slightly.

“Also, if your wife finds out, I’m afraid it won’t be easy to explain, right?”

Shen Yan’s pupils suddenly trembled. He lowered his eyes, looked at Xu Jing, and said, “I’m not married.”

Xu Jing’s expression froze, a little surprised.

“Never.”

Shen Yan’s firm tone made Xu Jing believe that this was the truth, but he didn’t feel any joy. It was as if he had received an apology that he no longer cared about. He only felt that these things had nothing to do with him anymore.

Xu Jing said listlessly, “I want to get out of the car.”

Shen Yan rested his hand on the steering wheel, leaning against the back of his seat, unmoved.

Xu Jing frowned and asked, “What exactly do you want?”

Whether it was his sudden appearance or these inexplicable actions, Xu Jing couldn’t understand. But he didn’t wait for an explanation, but instead a soft, “I don’t want anything.”

Just as the two were staring at each other, the scene at a stalemate, the phone in Xu Jing’s pocket rang. Xu Jing took it out and saw that it was Xia Zhixing. Shen Yan glanced at the contact name out of the corner of his eye, and his face darkened a bit.

Xu Jing hung up the phone, and not long after, the phone rang again. Xu Jing, who was already angry, transferred his firepower, answered the phone, and said unkindly, “What’s the matter?”

Xia Zhixing, who had just walked out of the hotel, asked, “Where are you?”

Xu Jing said coldly, “In the car.”

This voice was obviously wrong. Xia Zhixing frowned and said, “What happened?”

Even if he told Xia Zhixing about the current situation, it wouldn’t help. But if he didn’t explain, Xia Zhixing would definitely keep calling until the phone ran out of battery. Thinking of this, Xu Jing said, “I’ll be back soon.”

Shen Yan’s expression became a little unsightly.

After Xu Jing hung up the phone, he calmed down and said, “Shen Yan, the things that happened back then are in the past. There’s no need to mention them again for you and me. Now we both have our own lives, and that’s good.”

Shen Yan asked hoarsely, “Are you dating?”

Xu Jing retorted, “What does that have to do with you?”

“Sorry.”

Xu Jing hummed and said, “Can I get out of the car?”

Shen Yan’s eyes were filled with darkness. After a long time, he reached out and unlocked the car.

Before Xu Jing got out of the car, Shen Yan called out one last time, his Adam’s apple sliding up and down, as if he was trying to restrain some unspeakable emotion. He slowly lowered his head and said, “It’s going to get colder tomorrow. Remember to wear more when you go out.”

His heart felt like it was being tightly pinched by something, instantly shrinking into a ball. Xu Jing’s breathing was heavy, and he clenched his fingers hard. He didn’t say anything, pushed open the car door, and left.

At this moment, Xia Zhixing was squatting at the entrance of the hotel smoking. His expression was irritable and uneasy. He had spun his phone around countless times, and finally couldn’t help but prepare to call again when he caught a glimpse of Xu Jing walking towards him in the distance.

The haze on his face instantly dissipated. Xia Zhixing immediately extinguished the cigarette in his hand and got up to walk towards Xu Jing.

Xu Jing said, “Let’s leave tomorrow.”

Xia Zhixing was stunned and asked, “Something happened at home?”

Xu Jing shook his head, looking unwilling to say more. He felt like all the strength in his body had been drained, even though he hadn’t done anything. All he wanted to do now was go back and sleep.

Xia Zhixing didn’t ask anymore, just said, “Okay, I’ll listen to you.”

The noisy voices of people outside the car window kept surging, but they were all blocked out by Shen Yan. Only the two figures walking into the hotel side by side were engraved in his eyes. A burst of dull pain came from his heart, giving him a feeling of suffocation. Shen Yan leaned back against the seat, slowly closed his eyes, and his tense profile looked particularly depressed.

On the plane back, Xu Jing didn’t say a word. Xia Zhixing was so anxious that his head hurt. He endured it, but couldn’t help but ask, “What exactly happened?”

Xu Jing said absentmindedly, “Nothing.”

A curse in English blurted out. Xu Jing understood it, and it was quite vulgar. Xia Zhixing turned around and said in a low voice, “You’ve been like this since you came back yesterday. You won’t tell me when I ask. Is there anything I can’t help you solve?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Xia Zhixing suddenly froze. In all the time he had known him, he had only seen Xu Jing as lost as he was now once.

“You saw that person?”

“Yes.”

Sure enough.

Xia Zhixing tightened his fingers and said tentatively, “Then… what do you think?”

Xu Jing retorted, “What can I think?”

“Isn’t he here to get back together with you?”

Xu Jing suddenly laughed, a few traces of mockery flashing in his eyes, and said, “Have you ever seen anyone come to get back together with their ex after seven years? It was just a chance encounter.”

Xia Zhixing stared intently at Xu Jing’s face, unwilling to miss any subtle expression, and said, “What if, if he asks, would you agree?”

“Xia Zhixing, feelings aren’t something you can just have if you want them. Once it’s over, it’s over.”

“Okay, what if he pursues you relentlessly and insists on being with you?”

Xu Jing shook his head and said, “If you had seen him now, you would know how ridiculous this question is. The world is never short of people. With his current conditions, he can have whatever he wants. What do I have that’s worth him remembering? Besides, we’re all adults. I’m just a youthful impulse to him. Now that he’s calmed down, knowing that we’re both doing well is enough.”

This was the first time Xia Zhixing had heard Xu Jing say so much, but the more he listened, the more wrong it felt. These words seemed clear and free on the surface, as if he didn’t care about the past at all. But if you delve into them carefully, it’s more like he’s choosing to escape because he lacks confidence.

Xia Zhixing frowned and said, “What do you mean you have nothing worth him remembering? This young master is very picky and doesn’t just look at anyone. If you weren’t the best in the world, would I, Xia Zhixing, have run all the way from America to chase you for five whole years?”

“And after chasing you for five years, I still haven’t caught you.”

As he spoke, Xia Zhixing himself found it funny. The corners of his mouth curved up, and he cursed with a smile, “It’s really messed up.”

Xu Jing was stunned for a moment and couldn’t help but laugh.

Xia Zhixing was a little mesmerized by the sight and blurted out, “Has anyone ever told you that you look good when you smile?”

Xu Jing said, “No.”

Over the years, he rarely had any extra expressions on his face. People probably just thought he was a poker face.

“Smile more, Xu Jing.” Xia Zhixing said very seriously, his slightly upturned eyes unconsciously revealing a gentle smile.

Such eyes brought an invisible pressure that made Xu Jing feel inexplicably heavy in his heart. In the end, he ended the eye contact, looked out the window, and didn’t say anything else.