Dazzling

Qing Ye sat at the foot of the bed next to Meng Ruihang, quietly listening as he spoke about He Leling. He said he had only vaguely sensed that He Leling seemed to treat him differently, but since she was Qing Ye’s close friend and they often spent time together, he hadn’t thought much of it. It wasn’t until Qing Ye left Beijing due to family issues that He Leling mustered the courage to confess her feelings. He felt troubled and worried that Qing Ye might misunderstand, so he hadn’t mentioned it to her at all.

Moreover, the day after He Leling’s birthday, when he made things clear to her, she attempted suicide at home. Her family even confronted Meng Ruihang about it. Now, he was overwhelmed—everyone was already stressed with the college entrance exams approaching. Recently, whenever He Leling messaged him, he replied reluctantly, fearing that any emotional turmoil might trigger another suicide attempt.

Qing Ye was shocked to hear that He Leling had gone so far as to attempt suicide over Meng Ruihang. Back when she was still in Beijing, the three of them often studied in the library or had meals together. If He Leling had harbored such feelings for Meng Ruihang all along, how had she endured it back then?

Later, Qing Ye concluded that perhaps when someone suppresses their emotions for too long, the accumulated feelings suddenly collapse. Coupled with the pressure of such a critical period, it was no wonder she broke down.

In truth, Qing Ye understood why Meng Ruihang hadn’t told her. Stuck in such a remote place, even if he had informed her, there was little she could do. It might only have added to her worries, just as now—knowing the situation weighed heavily on her. She almost wished the two would just get together, if only to avoid one of them resorting to suicide. What a mess.

Qing Ye checked the time—it was past nine. She stood up and said to Meng Ruihang, "It’s getting late. I should head back. How about I come see you tomorrow morning? What time works for you?"

"Ten o’clock. Get some extra sleep."

Sleeping in was a luxury for her now, but she didn’t comment.

Meng Ruihang walked her downstairs. Still preoccupied with He Leling’s suicide attempt, Qing Ye stood by the roadside and asked casually, "So, what are you two going to do now?"

Meng Ruihang turned to her with a serious expression. "Her family begged me not to upset her before the exams. They want to wait until things settle down to gradually provide her with psychological support. So… for now, that’s how it is."

Qing Ye fell silent, but she roughly grasped their current situation. Perhaps Jesse hadn’t been wrong—whether due to He Leling’s family’s plea or Meng Ruihang’s fear of her harming herself, the two were likely maintaining this ambiguous relationship.

Qing Ye lowered her gaze and suddenly said, "In that case, maybe you shouldn’t contact me for a while. Don’t let her know you came to see me, to avoid triggering her again."

Meng Ruihang frowned deeply. "Once this period passes, we’ll go to Canada. We won’t have to deal with these people here anymore."

But Qing Ye smiled lightly and replied, "You go your way, and I’ll go mine."

Across the street, Xing Wu leisurely took the last drag of his cigarette, watching Qing Ye chat and laugh with the guy, showing no sign of leaving. Finally, he honked his horn twice.

Qing Ye turned her head. A spark cut through the night sky as Xing Wu flicked away his cigarette, revved his motorcycle, and rode toward them.

Qing Ye awkwardly took a step back, clasping her hands behind her. Meng Ruihang keenly noticed Qing Ye's sudden distance and turned to stare at Xing Wu.Xing Wu, clad in a black leather jacket, screeched to a halt before them. His cold gaze first met Meng Ruihang’s with a fleeting, dismissive glance before settling on Qing Ye. Surprised, Qing Ye asked, “What are you doing here?”

“Taking you home,” he replied, his voice steady and resolute.

Meng Ruihang eyed Qing Ye quizzically. “Who is he?”

Qing Ye introduced him, “This is Xing Wu. Uh… I’m currently staying at his place.”

Meng Ruihang immediately caught on, adjusting his collar with one hand while extending the other toward Xing Wu. “So you’re Qing Ye’s relative? Nice to meet you. I’m Meng Ruihang.”

Xing Wu glanced down at the outstretched hand but made no move. Only after Qing Ye gave a light cough did he reach out and briefly tap Meng Ruihang’s palm in a perfunctory greeting.

From the first glance, Meng Ruihang had pegged Xing Wu as trouble—his buzz cut with a defiant streak shaved into the side, his sharp, piercing eyes. A flicker of astonishment crossed his face as he turned to Qing Ye.

Qing Ye said to him, “I’ll be going now.”

With that, she swung onto the motorcycle. As soon as she settled, she was about to tell Meng Ruihang to head back when Xing Wu abruptly accelerated, startling her. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his waist and exclaimed, “Slow down!”

“Can’t,” Xing Wu retorted coldly.

Qing Ye shifted back slightly, gripping his clothes. “He just arrived, so I took him out for a meal.”

“How noble of you to repay grievance with kindness.”

“About what happened last time… I might’ve been mistaken. Or not entirely. It’s complicated.”

She then explained the situation with He Leling. Xing Wu rode at breakneck speed, the chilly wind whipping into Qing Ye’s collar, forcing her to huddle tightly behind him.

Soon, they reached the intersection in front of Dazzle Island, but instead of continuing, Xing Wu braked sharply and dismounted. Qing Ye followed, puzzled, as he tossed out, “Buying cigarettes,” and strode into a small shop tucked in the alley.

The late autumn night brought a sharp drop in temperature. Qing Ye rubbed her hands together, waiting at the alley’s entrance. Xing Wu emerged with his cigarettes and paused a few steps away, lighting one. His silhouette stretched long and imposing in the narrow alley, his features half-shadowed, exuding an intense pressure. His penetrating gaze fixed on Qing Ye as he asked in a low voice, “What are your plans?”

Qing Ye looked baffled. “What do you mean, my plans?”

His deep eyes bore into her with unavoidable intensity. “The misunderstanding’s cleared up. Now he’s come looking for you. So, what are your plans?”

Qing Ye stared at him for a few seconds before a faint, elusive smile touched her lips. She stepped closer until she stood before him, her expression teasing. “What do you think my plans should be? Accept his long-distance affection and be with him?”

No sooner had she spoken than Xing Wu flung his cigarette aside. A dark shadow loomed over Qing Ye as his hand cupped the back of her head, his warm lips capturing hers. His tongue invaded her unprepared mouth, seizing her breath, plundering her tender softness, overwhelming her remaining resolve, and shattering her last defenses. The faint scent of nicotine clouded her mind, leaving it utterly blank.

In the dim alley, a seductive blush spread across Qing Ye’s cheeks, enhancing her delicate beauty. Captivated by her dazed expression, Xing Wu deepened the kiss.At that moment, Qing Ye was completely dazed. She had climbed snow-capped mountains, ridden in helicopters, and tried bungee jumping, yet none of those extreme sports had made her heart race and breath quicken like this moment. She hadn't drunk any alcohol, yet she felt intoxicated.

Xing Wu's gaze swept across her heart, sending shivers through her. His breath was scorching hot, burning every nerve in her body. Qing Ye only felt her mind grow hazy - why were her legs turning to jelly?

So when Xing Wu released her, she covered her chest, nearly losing her balance. Xing Wu steadied her by the waist, and she looked up at him in astonishment. He quickly averted his eyes and strode toward the alley entrance. After mounting his motorcycle, he told her: "I'm going to Shunyi."

Then with a turn, he was gone, leaving Qing Ye staring blankly as he vanished like a whirlwind - here one moment, gone the next.

Qing Ye thought Xing Wu was truly the world's most genuine bastard. After such a baffling kiss, he just left without a word, leaving her unable to sleep all night.

Her first kiss! Her first kiss! Whose first kiss was this inexplicable?

Even after lying in bed, Qing Ye kept cursing the bastard. When she tried to recall how her first kiss felt, she discovered her mind remained completely blank - she could only remember Xing Wu's dark, burning eyes, and then... nothing more.

But thinking of how Xing Wu had looked at her, Qing Ye slid completely under the covers in embarrassment, burying herself entirely.

She tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep - sometimes angry, sometimes ashamed, sometimes finding it amusing. All sorts of complicated emotions intertwined, leaving her practically sleepless the entire night.

As dawn broke, she simply got up to study. She had planned to visit Meng Ruihang later, but instead Meng Ruihang came looking for her early, saying he'd conveniently bring over those materials.

Qing Ye took him around the neighborhood, though there wasn't much to see. All morning she felt distracted. Though she tried hard not to recall last night's scene in the alley, it kept resurfacing unexpectedly. Each time it did, her face would flush with a strange redness, making Meng Ruihang ask twice if she was feeling unwell.

Meng Ruihang had to leave in the afternoon since he only had the weekend free. After wandering around briefly, Qing Ye accompanied him back to Dazzle Island to get his luggage, where they happened to encounter the just-returned Xing Wu. The moment Qing Ye saw him, her face turned red, flushing all the way to her ears - it was simply like seeing a ghost.

Xing Wu met her gaze, and suddenly there was a mysterious awkwardness between them. Both silently looked away.

When Li Lanfang heard Meng Ruihang was leaving that afternoon, she insisted he stay for lunch. Qing Ye said it wasn't necessary, but Li Lanfang, whether her brain had short-circuited or what, asked Qing Ye right in front of Meng Ruihang while Liu Nian, Du Qiyan and others were in the shop: "Is he your boyfriend?"

Xing Wu turned to look at her. Qing Ye felt extremely uncomfortable under his gaze, as if covered in prickles, and quickly replied to Li Lanfang: "No, we grew up together."

Li Lanfang nodded in sudden understanding, but just then Xing Wu walked over and said to Qing Ye: "I'll take you out to eat."

Qing Ye remained silent, so Xing Wu called a car. About ten minutes later when the car arrived, Meng Ruihang and Qing Ye sat in the back while Xing Wu took the passenger seat and told the driver: "To Baifa in the county town."On the way, Meng Ruihang told Qing Ye some things about their class. Qing Ye would occasionally ask him a question or two about how so-and-so was doing or which school so-and-so planned to apply to, but in reality, her mind was entirely focused on the person sitting in front.

Xing Wu, however, sat in the passenger seat, head bowed as he scrolled through his phone, not looking up even once. So while Qing Ye continued talking to Meng Ruihang, she quickly sent Xing Wu a message: Why are you ignoring me?

The phone of the person in the front row rang, and Qing Ye suddenly felt a subtle tension in the cramped space. A moment later, her phone vibrated. She picked it up and saw Xing Wu’s reply: You’re busy. Didn’t want to disturb you.

Qing Ye glanced at Meng Ruihang beside her, then suddenly straightened up and pretended to adjust her position, deliberately bumping her knee against the front seat. This time, Xing Wu looked up and met her eyes in the rearview mirror. Qing Ye, however, grew self-conscious, a faint smile curling at the corners of her lips as she averted her gaze out the window.

To Qing Ye’s surprise, after they got out of the car, Xing Wu took them to a rather upscale restaurant. Just the decor at the entrance exuded an air of sophistication. She had been in this county for so long but had never seen such a presentable restaurant here.

She immediately lagged behind, tugged at Xing Wu’s sleeve, and whispered, “This place looks expensive, doesn’t it? We could’ve just gone to any ordinary restaurant. Why come to a place like this?”

Xing Wu curled his lip slightly. “Your childhood friend came all this way to show his concern. How could we just treat him casually?”

With that, he strode inside and reserved a private room. Qing Ye had no choice but to follow him in, speechless.

The private room was indeed quite elegant, with wooden windows overlooking an artificial pond. The lotus flowers floating on the water were fake, merely decorative, but under the lighting, they created an illusion of being transported to the Jiangnan region.

Qing Ye went to the restroom first, but when she returned, she found herself in an awkward situation. The table in the private room, designed for four, was a long rectangular one with seats facing each other, placed by the window for a view. However, when Qing Ye entered the room, Xing Wu and Meng Ruihang were already seated on opposite sides, leaving the choice of where to sit entirely up to her.