Xu Xinâs sudden action caught me off guardâit came with no warning at all.
âWhatâs wrong?â I wanted to pull away, but being embraced by a beautiful woman and rejecting her would make me seem pretentious. So, I accepted it willingly. However, with two soft mounds pressing against my back, I found it quite tormenting.
âShhh…â Xu Xin whispered softly. âDonât talk. Just let me hold you quietly.â
âThis… isnât it a bit inappropriate to do this in public?â I felt my blood rushing up. If I had a mirror to see myself, my face would probably be bright red.
Xu Xin didnât respond, and I didnât know what to say either. So, I kept silent.
Around us, a few elderly people out for their evening exercises began whispering.
âThese young people today, getting intimate right out on the street!â
âDo you think everyoneâs as old-fashioned as you? Even our granddaughter says this is romantic!â
âWe canât keep up with the times anymore!â
Romantic? Damn it! Thereâs nothing romantic about this situation!
Honestly, I did feel something for Xu Xin. However, my heart was already occupied by Mei’er, leaving little room for anyone else.
Every man dreams of being like Lord Wei, with countless wives and endless riches. Iâm no differentâafter all, Iâm no saint. But Lord Wei exists only in stories, and I lack the power to indulge in such fantasies. Iâm not qualified to embrace multiple lovers.
âWill we never meet again?â Xu Xin finally spoke, though my heart was still pounding so loudly that I could hear nothing else.
Feigning calmness, I smiled. âOf course not!â
âI hope we can get into the same university…â Xu Xin sighed, her hands still holding me tightly. The place where her chest pressed against me was drenched with sweatâwhether from the heat or my own nervousness, I couldnât tell.
I gave an awkward laugh. âWe will. Didnât I copy off you the entire time during the last exam?â
âWhatâs your girlfriendâs name?â Xu Xin asked suddenly, ignoring my joke.
âSu Mei’er…â I admitted, feeling strangely pleased sheâd asked, even though Mei’er had never officially acknowledged she was my girlfriend.
âMei’er… Thatâs a beautiful name.â Xu Xin smiled softly, finally letting go of me.
Relieved, I forced a smile. âXu Xin is a great name too!â
âBut it didnât capture someoneâs heart…â Xu Xin said wistfully.
My heart, which had just calmed, began to race again. Could she really have feelings for me?
But how could that be? Our interactions were so limited. Was it just because I saved her once? That wasnât even deliberateâit had been a spur-of-the-moment act. Iâd only shouted a line from a Stephen Chow movie, and in the end, it was Xu Xin herself who escaped from Zhou Feng. I still remember the vicious look on Zhou Fengâs face after her attack. Who wouldâve thought this quiet girl could strike so ruthlessly?
Hero saves beauty, and beauty offers herself in gratitude… Iâd daydreamed about scenarios like this oftenâit was my fantasy. But now, facing Xu Xin in real life, I was at a loss for what to do.
âYouâre joking, right?â I said, although I knew she wasnât. I figured playing dumb was the safest choice.
The sky was devoid of stars, and even the moon had hidden away, leaving only streetlights casting a faint glow. The atmosphere felt heavy.
Xu Xin said nothing, and I was lost in my thoughts.
Suddenly, she tiptoed and kissed me lightly on the lips, then turned to leave.
I grabbed her hand and forced a smile. âLet me walk you home.â
She looked at me silently. After a long pause, she nodded. Holding her hand, I walked her to the street corner and helped her into a taxi.
Taking a deep breath, I said, âTake care…â Then I closed the car door.
I realized just how fickle I was. I liked Sister Qian, Xu Xin, Sister Lin, Sun Jing… and Mei’er. It seemed that every girl I became familiar with stirred my heart.
Though I kept telling myself Mei’er was the one I truly liked, I couldnât shake the feelings I had for others. Maybe I was just too greedy.
On lifeâs journey, many people come and go. Xu Xin, Sister Qian, Sister Lin, Sun Jing… perhaps even Mei’erânone might stay with me forever.
I had no say in who would remain by my side. I could only hope these fleeting encounters would accompany me a little farther down the road.
I wandered back to my apartment in a daze, keeping my head down and watching my feet move step by step.
When I opened the door and entered the room, Mei’er materialized behind me, returning to her human form.
âXia Tian, do you remember what I told you before?â Mei’er asked seriously. Sheâd been with me the whole time, so she must have witnessed everything that just happened.
âIn the human world, deceit is everywhere. If you want both power and love, you must stand at the top of the world! Only by becoming stronger can you protect those you care about!â Mei’erâs words from the hospital bathroom echoed in my mind.
I sighed. âI remember…â
âDo you like that girl, Xu Xin?â she asked.
âYes…â I answered honestly. I didnât want to lie to Mei’er or to myself. After all, who wouldnât like a beautiful woman?
Mei’er paused for a moment, then asked, âDo you like Mei’er?â
I gave a bitter smile. âYes…â
Before she could respond, I continued, âBut sometimes, I canât tell which version of you is the real Mei’er.â
âEven I donât fully understand it. It was my mother who told me…â Mei’erâs expression turned somber at the mention of her mother.
Mei’er must have her own story. Despite her innocent demeanor, she possessed the power of a nine-tailed demon fox, which was hard to comprehend.
âXia Tian, remember what I saidâyou need to become stronger if you want to protect the people you love!â Mei’er looked at me seriously.
I nodded. âBut… you donât mind that Iâm a bit of a philanderer?â
âIn the cultivation world, strength is everything. Even the Fox King of our clan has many companions,â Mei’er said with a smile, returning to her usual self.
Did that mean she didnât mind if I liked other girls in the future?
Where could I ever find a girlfriend as perfect as her? My heart surged with emotion, and I wanted to kiss Mei’er. But just as I was about to act, my phone rang.
When I answered, Qin Shoushengâs voice came through. âXia Tian, everything is ready. Iâll send someone to pick you up tomorrow.â
So, the training was finally about to begin…
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