Chapter 20: Flirtatious Banter

Walking down the street at midnight, Xiao Yufan felt a deep loneliness surge within him every time he saw couples leaning close under the neon lights. The ache in his heart flowed endlessly like a spring.

For a moment, Xiao Yufan didn’t know where to go. Should he return to his rented apartment? Go to Lin Jiayao’s place? Or simply stay on the street for the entire night?

Eventually, the cold night overcame him. When he returned to his apartment, it was nearly one o’clock in the morning, yet he felt no trace of sleepiness, as if he had been injected with adrenaline.

Tormented by boredom, he smoked for a while, then sat in a daze. Only a few minutes had passed, but Xiao Yufan felt like dying from sheer frustration. It turned out that a night alone could be so agonizing.

He turned on the shabby stereo, and a piercing sound came out. Surprisingly, Xiao Yufan found himself enjoying this chaotic noise—it at least helped him kill time.

The first song was a sorrowful one titled “How Could You Let Me Down,” which perfectly mirrored Xiao Yufan’s innermost feelings. Yet, this helpless night would likely be spent in solitude, quietly listened to only by himself. He had forgotten that there was another person in the apartment.

Just after finishing the song, Xiao Yufan suddenly heard some noise outside. Then the bedroom door slowly opened, and he realized that the visitor could only be Yu Yihan.

Although Xiao Yufan and Yu Yihan had their differences, he wasn’t narrow-minded. He wouldn’t deny Yu Yihan’s beauty—she truly looked like a masterpiece created in God’s moment of impulse. Apart from her cold and distant demeanor, Xiao Yufan could find no flaw in her.

“I know you’re in a bad mood, but I have to work tomorrow. Can you go to sleep if you’re done venting?” Surprisingly, Yu Yihan’s voice was gentle, perhaps moved by the sorrow hanging in the air.

Xiao Yufan was first taken aback, then he placed his hand on the stereo and slowly turned off the volume. No matter how much pain he felt, he shouldn’t disturb others’ rest, especially not such a beautiful woman.

Seeing Xiao Yufan’s action, Yu Yihan furrowed her delicate brows and turned to walk back to her room—the smoke in his room was too much for her to bear.

“Stop…” Xiao Yufan said sternly, calling out to Yu Yihan with a stern face. His boredom drove him to play around with her instead of enduring loneliness alone.

Yu Yihan turned around and asked, “What is it?”

Xiao Yufan looked at the woman, growing more puzzled. Why was she so beautiful? He blurted out without thinking, “Why would you choose to live in such a godforsaken place? Could it be that you have a thing for me?”

“Please don’t make me feel like I’m inviting a wolf into my home,” Yu Yihan replied coldly, frowning.

“Miss, did you get that wrong? I’ve lived here for three years, while you’re the new one. If anyone is the intruder, it’s you!”

“If that’s how you see it, you can move out anytime. I won’t stop you, of course, nor will I have any objection,” Yu Yihan replied calmly, accurately hitting Xiao Yufan’s weak spot with a smirk.

“Why should I move? This house is originally mine. You’re just a latecomer, at most a beautiful lodger!”

“A lodger? Even if I am, you’ll have to move out once you find a job. Remember—you’ll be leaving here forever…” Perhaps feeling a bit angry, Yu Yihan unconsciously curved her lips into a cold, proud smile, then ignored Xiao Yufan and walked out of the bedroom.

…

Back in his room, Xiao Yufan lit another cigarette. Amid the temporary pleasure, he realized how bitter his heart truly felt.

Walking the midnight streets, every time Xiao Yufan saw couples cuddling under the neon lights, an endless sense of loneliness surged in his heart, and the pain felt like a spring continuously bubbling up.

For a moment, Xiao Yufan didn’t know where to go. Should he return to his rented apartment? Or go to Lin Jiayao’s place? Or perhaps just spend the night wandering the streets like this.

In the end, Xiao Yufan was defeated by the cold night. By the time he returned to his apartment, it was almost 1 a.m., yet he felt no trace of sleepiness, as if he had been injected with adrenaline.

Tormented by boredom, he smoked for a while and then zoned out. Only a few minutes had passed, but Xiao Yufan felt an urge to die. He realized how agonizing a lonely night could be.

He turned on the crude stereo, and a harsh sound immediately filled the room. Surprisingly, Xiao Yufan found himself enjoying this chaotic noise—at least it helped him kill time.

The first song was a deeply melancholic tune, “How Could You Bear to Make Me Sad,” which perfectly mirrored Xiao Yufan’s inner turmoil. Yet, in this helpless night, perhaps he was the only one quietly listening. He had forgotten that there was another person in the apartment.

Just as the song ended, Xiao Yufan suddenly heard movement outside. The bedroom door slowly opened, and he quickly realized who it was—Yu Yihan.

Despite the tension between them, Xiao Yufan wasn’t petty enough to belittle Yu Yihan’s beauty. She looked like a masterpiece crafted by God in a moment of impulse. Aside from her icy demeanor, Xiao Yufan couldn’t find a single flaw in her.

“I know you’re upset, but I have work tomorrow. If you’re done venting, can we sleep now?” Surprisingly, Yu Yihan’s voice was soft, perhaps sensing the sorrow lingering in the air.

Xiao Yufan was momentarily stunned, then reached over to the stereo and slowly turned it off. No matter how much his heart ached, he shouldn’t disturb someone else’s rest, especially when that someone was a stunning beauty.

Watching Xiao Yufan’s actions, Yu Yihan frowned slightly and then turned to head back to her room. The thick smoke in Xiao Yufan’s room was too much for her to bear.

“Wait…” Xiao Yufan called out in a deep voice, his face stern. It was just boredom playing tricks on him, unwilling to endure the loneliness alone, and wanting to tease her a bit.

Yu Yihan turned back and asked, “What is it?”

Xiao Yufan studied her, growing more and more puzzled. How could someone be so beautiful? Then, without thinking, he blurted out, “Why did you choose to live in such a godforsaken place? Do you have some interest in me?”

“Please don’t make me feel like I’ve let a wolf into my house, okay?” Yu Yihan frowned, her tone cold.

“Miss, you’ve got it wrong. I’ve lived here for three years. You’re the one who just moved in. If anything, I’m the one who let a wolf in!”

“If you feel like you’ve let a wolf in, then you’re free to move out. I won’t stop you, and I certainly won’t have any objections.” Yu Yihan’s words hit Xiao Yufan’s weak spot perfectly. She smirked, appearing utterly indifferent.

“Why should I move? This place is mine. At best, you’re just a latecomer, nothing more than a pretty tenant!”

“A tenant? Even if I am, once you find a job, you’ll have to move here too. Remember, it’s a permanent move…” Yu Yihan seemed a bit angry, her lips curling into a cold, proud arc. Without another word, she turned and left the bedroom.

…

Alone in his room, Xiao Yufan lit another cigarette. In the fleeting pleasure, he realized his heart was filled with bitterness.

The smoke he exhaled slowly drifted out the window under the glow of the light. Xiao Yufan stared blankly, lost in thought. A sudden gust of wind from nowhere brought him back to his senses, and Cheng Ying’s vague silhouette flashed through his mind once more.

It suddenly struck him that tomorrow was Ma Teng and Mu Qing’s wedding. After today, he would see Cheng Ying again. Xiao Yufan had a premonition that the next few days would be even more unbearable than the years he had spent in Beijing.

Even now, Xiao Yufan couldn’t understand how the love he had nurtured for five years had slipped away so effortlessly. Although Cheng Ying had only recently ended things, their relationship had been hollow for a long time.

There was no reason for the breakup. Perhaps to Cheng Ying, it no longer mattered, but in Xiao Yufan’s heart, it had left a deep scar.

Closing his eyes, Xiao Yufan felt like crying. He had once believed they would make it to the end, but in the end, he had lost to reality. Was he really that unworthy?

Xiao Yufan still held some hope and curiosity. Like Cheng Ying, he had devoted five years of his youth to their relationship. He was anxious about their upcoming meeting, but was Cheng Ying feeling the same way as he was now?

He had no answer. Sometimes, men and women were different, and he couldn’t measure Cheng Ying by his own standards. Perhaps when they met again, Cheng Ying would see him as just an ordinary friend—or even a stranger.

Staring quietly at the dark sky outside the window, Xiao Yufan eventually fell into a deep sleep. His heart was truly exhausted. All he wanted was a peaceful day of rest, free from all worries. Maybe that’s what it meant to be a true slacker…

Suddenly, he remembered—it would be Ma Teng and Mu Qing’s wedding tomorrow. After today, he would see Cheng Ying again. Xiao Yufan had a feeling that the next few days would be even harder than the years he had spent in Beijing.

Even now, Xiao Yufan still couldn’t understand how a five-year love affair could slip away so casually. Although it had not been long since Cheng Ying said goodbye, their relationship had long been a hollow shell.

There was no reason for the breakup. Perhaps to Cheng Ying, these reasons no longer mattered. Yet in Xiao Yufan’s heart, it had left a deep scar.

Closing his eyes, Xiao Yufan felt like crying. Once, he had believed they would stay together forever. But in the end, he lost to reality. Was he really that unworthy?

In his heart, there was still some anticipation and curiosity. Like Cheng Ying, he had also invested five years of his youth. He was anxious about their upcoming meeting—was Cheng Ying feeling the same as he was now?

He had no answers. Sometimes men and women are different, and he couldn’t use himself to measure Cheng Ying. Perhaps when they met again, Cheng Ying would treat him merely as an ordinary friend—or even a complete stranger.

Gazing quietly at the dark sky outside the window, Xiao Yufan didn’t know when he finally fell into a deep sleep. His heart was truly exhausted. He just wanted to sleep soundly for a whole day, free from all worries. Perhaps only then could he be a truly devoted loser…