As winter deepened, even the southern regions felt chilly. On the bullet train speeding from Shanghai to Beijing, Xiao Yufan stood in the aisle, inhaling deeply on a cheap cigarette. He then stubbed it out violently on the floor, grinding it repeatedly under his heel, as if venting his frustration.
“Damn love…” He spat, gazing upward at the train’s ceiling. Memories of his conversation days earlier with his girlfriend of five years flooded back.
“We’re through!” The woman, who had once stirred feelings of guilt in him, sat across from him, speaking in a startlingly calm tone, her lips curling into a faint, bitter smile.
“Give me a reason…” Xiao Yufan was stunned. Six years had passed. He couldn’t understand what he had done wrong for her to end things now. Even in the bustling café, a chill wind seemed to blow directly at him.
“Yufan, be realistic. In today’s world, love alone isn’t enough. You don’t even have a stable job or a permanent home. How can I keep going on like this?” Her tone remained calm, but this time, Xiao Yufan detected a subtle tremble in her voice.
For a brief moment, silence fell. He felt powerless to respond. Three years ago, he had come to Beijing full of dreams, determined to carve out a future for himself. But slowly, reality had shattered his illusions, bit by bit. Three years later, he still had nothing.
“I’ve already paid. I have things to attend to. I’ll be going now.” The rustling sound faded, and when Xiao Yufan came back to his senses, she was already gone. Five years of love had still ended in separation.
…
Returning to his seat with a sense of loneliness, Xiao Yufan ignored the curious glances from others. He had long grown accustomed to them. In a city as noisy and indifferent as Beijing, he had endured countless looks of disdain.
Glancing at the time, he realized he had been on the train for five or six hours. Exhausted from a sleepless night, drowsiness began to creep in. His eyes flickered toward the empty seat beside him, and he casually stretched his legs onto it, settling into a more comfortable position.
Soon, Xiao Yufan drifted into a deep sleep. His lips twitched, revealing a clear, foolish grin as he once again fell into a fantasy. Although his girlfriend had left him, life still had to go on, right?
“Hey, this is my seat. Please move your legs!” Just as Xiao Yufan reached the climax of his daydream, a slightly cold voice pierced his ears.
Opening his slightly drowsy eyes, Xiao Yufan’s irritation vanished instantly when he saw the girl speaking. She was stunningly beautiful, with eyes as delicate and bright as crescent moons. Her thin lips were painted a soft red, and her pale face was flawless.
Looking further down, Xiao Yufan felt a rush of excitement. Her figure was simply perfect, curves accentuated even beneath her professional attire.
He swallowed hard, his imagination running wild again, his smile growing even more mischievous. Yet, he made no move to remove his legs from the seat. The woman’s expression turned colder and more disdainful. She had seen too many men like him—she felt nothing but contempt for people like this.
“I’m very tired. Please move your legs, or I’ll have to call someone!” Her voice rose sharply. Due to work, Yu Yihan hadn’t managed to book a flight back to Beijing and had to take the train instead. She hadn’t expected to run into such an annoying guy the moment she boarded. Already exhausted, she was now even more irritated.
“I left half the seat for you, didn’t I? Didn’t realize you were that big, needing the whole seat by yourself?” For some reason, seeing the look of disdain in her eyes made Xiao Yufan’s mood drop. Glancing at her full, shapely rear, he added with a teasing tone.
“You…” Unable to bear Xiao Yufan’s invasive gaze, Yu Yihan turned her head sharply and sat down on the edge of the seat. She was too tired to argue with someone she considered a thug.
Seeing her reaction, Xiao Yufan hesitated. He had taken out all his accumulated anger on her unfairly. He felt a pang of guilt. Other than her icy demeanor, she hadn’t really done anything to provoke him.
Slowly, he lowered his legs. After all, he was a man, and it wouldn’t be right to push too far. In the awkward silence that followed, neither of them spoke to the other. But Xiao Yufan was wide awake now. The faint scent of her perfume filled the air, and his breathing quickened involuntarily.
“Damn, this is pure torture!” Xiao Yufan never claimed to be a gentleman. Despite his lack of money, he often frequented nightclubs, charming women with his decent looks. But none had ever been as beautiful as this woman. Now, sitting beside such a beauty, he could do absolutely nothing.
Staring out the window at the pitch-black sky, he imagined his life ahead—this trip to Shanghai had drained half his savings, and he’d probably be surviving on instant noodles for the foreseeable future.
Suddenly, a weight leaned against his shoulder. He turned slightly to see the woman resting her head on him. Her soft chest brushed against his body with every movement of the train. Instantly, a certain part of his body reacted.
He sat frozen for a moment, his body stiffening. He wanted to gently lift her, but as his hand rose toward her chest, her clear eyes fluttered open. His movement halted instantly, his palm resting on that soft curve…
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