He saw through her.
On the dark track, there were still students being urged by the instructor because they couldn't run anymore. Yun Mi couldn't bring herself to say "Because you only see me as a little sister."
How was that any different from a confession?
But Chen Yiyang didn't like her.
Yun Mi came up with a lame excuse: "Someone made fun of me for not doing well in exams."
That was true. Yun Mi also wanted to know how she could catch up with Chen Yiyang, or rather, catch up to her former self who had always been a shining top student.
Chen Yiyang saw that Yun Mi's lips were pressed into a thin line. They were very pretty, and he felt like kissing them.
He said, "Look up."
Yun Mi felt a lump in her chest in front of him, even wanting to just leave.
Suddenly, a hand appeared in front of her. Chen Yiyang's slender fingers were holding something. He opened them, and a silly rabbit keychain with X-shaped eyes fell down.
It was sudden, like an unexpected miracle—a shooting star crossing the sky.
Yun Mi was stunned and asked, "What... what is this?"
Chen Yiyang's cold face was framed by his jet-black hair falling slightly. He looked at her and said softly, "I got an ugly keychain as a freebie when I was shopping. It'd be a shame to throw it away, and I remembered you have bad taste."
"..."
Chen Yiyang said, "It's for you."
Simple words.
Something was pressed into her palm, carrying the lingering warmth of Chen Yiyang's body heat.
Yun Mi took a peek.
The pink rabbit was soft and round, with a cute, innocent air.
It looked like the one she had seen at the mall last time and hadn't been willing to buy.
It was a bit expensive.
Yun Mi didn't know how to ask him: Did he treat everyone this well?
Because he thought she was his little sister, he could give her so many gifts and keep making others happy?
Chen Yiyang said, "Do you like it?"
Yun Mi's eyes suddenly stung. She gripped the keychain tightly.
Biting her lip, she said, "I'm going back now."
She tried to push him away, but as soon as her hand touched him, he grabbed it.
The contact was firm. Yun Mi had to meet Chen Yiyang's sharp, dark eyes.
In his confident, spirited eyes, she saw herself—messy hair and red-rimmed eyes.
Chen Yiyang chuckled dryly: "Really avoiding me, huh?"
His hot, dry palm sent a tingling sensation through her. Yun Mi's heart was a tangled mess. Feeling ugly like this, she said coldly, "Yes, I am avoiding you." She raised her voice: "Go ahead, keep it up. Hurt my hand as much as you want. We'll go to the hospital together!"
The boy's dark eyes flickered. He loosened his grip.
Chen Yiyang remembered Zhou Shihui's words—"Yun Mi hates you"—and chuckled dryly.
He pointed at the keychain she was holding and said coldly, his voice metallic, "Then let big brother warn you."
Chen Yiyang just had to deliver a message. His eyelids drooped as he said, "Next time you avoid me, I'll tear up stuff like this."
Yun Mi looked up, startled.
The boy stepped aside and then walked away.
All that was left was his tall, unrestrained silhouette on the playground.
Author's Note:
None