Chapter 21 No More Contact Why Is a Good Student Here…

Chapter 21: No More Contact

Why is the good student here...

But Yu Kui’s next words made Qin You deeply uncomfortable.

How dare she speak to him like that? Did she even comprehend what she was saying?

"Just third place," Qin You retorted coldly. "Has that made you forget how pathetic you used to be?"

"Qin You!" Qin You’s mother was stunned to see them arguing. "How can you talk to Yu Kui like that?"

Qin You seemed not to hear his mother, his gaze fixed on Yu Kui. "My ranking has nothing to do with you. You have no right to judge me."

"And what about you?" Yu Kui lifted her head stubbornly. "Do you have the right to dictate to me?"

Qin You looked at her, his face devoid of expression. "This is the last time."

His condescending manner once again made Yu Kui feel humiliated.

It was always like this. Even when she had done nothing wrong, he always managed to look down on her, as if she had committed some grave error.

"It should have been this way long ago," Yu Kui said softly. "That’s it."

She turned away, hiding the sorrow in her eyes from Qin You.

Seeing this, Qin You pressed his lips together and clenched his fists. He hadn’t intended to hurt her, but he couldn’t help it—the feeling of everything spiraling out of his control made him act unlike himself.

"What exactly is going on between you and Yu Kui?" Qin You’s mother’s face darkened. "You’re older than her. How could you be so hurtful?"

"Mom, this is between her and me," Qin You said gravely. "Stay out of it."

"But the Yu family has been so kind to you. How could you—"

"I know the Yu family has treated me well," Qin You interrupted, "but that doesn’t affect my relationship with Yu Kui. Just pretend you know nothing."

"But if Aunt Yu finds out, she’ll be furious." Qin You’s mother sighed deeply, unable to fathom her son’s intentions. "Yu Kui has always relied on you since she was little. Even if you don’t want to be friends anymore, you should talk it out properly. Don’t act on impulse, or else—"

"I know," Qin You said, watching Yu Kui walk toward the restaurant. She never looked back, her figure radiating resolve. "I’ll handle things between us."

Of course, this was merely a placating response to his mother. There was no longer any chance for him and Yu Kui to clear the air. After today, she would likely distance herself even further.

Upon reaching the restaurant entrance, Yu Kui didn’t go inside. Instead, she found a secluded corner to hide, afraid her mother would see the tears on her face.

Qin You...

She murmured his name, her heart aching as if it would break.

Why did he always hurt her so mercilessly whenever she mustered the courage to talk things out with him?

Was it because she was easy to bully?

But she was human too—she felt pain and sorrow. After all these years of shared feelings, why had he never considered her, even for a moment? What did he even see her as?

Yu Kui clutched her shirt over her heart, her breathing growing ragged as tears continued to fall.

It was too painful.

If she could relive it, she never wanted to meet Qin You again, never wanted to be his friend.

But the past was too heavy—how could she easily retract the feelings she had invested?

This was what Yu Kui despised most about herself.

She knew she should make a clean break with Qin You, but she just couldn’t bring herself to let go. After countless internal struggles, she remained trapped like a coward, unable to escape the whirlpool of the past.

Was liking someone supposed to be this painful?

Yu Kui had never liked anyone else, but she knew true affection shouldn’t feel like this. She had chosen the wrong person.

Whether in friendship or love, she had lost.

She just refused to admit it.

Yu Kui crouched on the ground, crying until her vision blurred. The overwhelming pain made her gag, almost vomiting up her lunch.

"What’s wrong?" A clear voice sounded behind her. "Good student, hiding here to cry?"

Tears blurred Yu Kui’s vision, and she ignored the voice.

A tall figure crouched beside her. Looking at her tear-streaked face, he clicked his tongue. "What a mess—you’ve even got snot."

As he spoke, a tissue landed on Yu Kui’s face. The girl’s damp eyelashes fluttered slightly as she slowly lifted her head to look at the boy beside her.

"Why are you looking at me?" The boy gently wiped the tears from her face. "I know you’re happy to see me, but try to contain yourself."

"You..." Yu Kui’s voice was hoarse. "What are you doing here?"

"Why can’t it be me?" Xie Xingzhi pulled out two more tissues and stuffed them into her hand. "You’re a mess. Clean yourself up."

Yu Kui reflexively took the tissues and sniffled. "How did you find me?"

"You were crying so hard it was impossible not to notice."

Yu Kui glanced at the wall beside her and realized it had the restaurant’s windows. Her earlier crying fit had been clearly visible to anyone inside. Her face flushed instantly. "I..."

She had been too upset to notice the windows.

"Don’t worry, no one else was looking out the window except me," Xie Xingzhi said, eyeing her eyes swollen like peaches with a teasing smile. "Did you get dumped? Crying this hard."

Yu Kui lowered her gaze. "None of your business."

"Hey, I gave you tissues," Xie Xingzhi shrugged. "Tell me about it."

"I don’t want to," Yu Kui said, her nose stuffy and voice muffled. "And you can’t tell anyone about today."

"Who would I tell?" Xie Xingzhi stood up. "Wait here a minute."

Yu Kui blinked. "What are you doing?"

"Just wait." Xie Xingzhi turned and entered the restaurant. Yu Kui watched his retreating back, thinking how embarrassing it was that he had seen her at her worst.

She really hoped he would forget it soon.

She stood up unsteadily, planning to call her mother to ask why she hadn’t come out yet.

Just as she took out her phone, Xie Xingzhi emerged from the restaurant. He strode over to Yu Kui, seeing how pale she was, and handed her a cup of milk tea. "Drink this first."

The tea was warm, its heat making Yu Kui’s fingers curl around the cup. She stared blankly at Xie Xingzhi. "You... why?" She had only wanted a quiet place to vent, never expecting anyone to discover her pain.

His presence left Yu Kui flustered.

"Why what?" Xie Xingzhi looked down at her with a grin. "Do you think I'm especially considerate and have fallen for me?"

"Nonsense!" Yu Kui denied quickly.

"What's bothering you then?" Xie Xingzhi asked unhurriedly.

Yu Kui stayed silent. She just didn’t like people seeing her vulnerability—it made her feel embarrassed.

She took a deep breath and said seriously to Xie Xingzhi, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Xie Xingzhi winked at her. "Happy to help, it's no trouble."

Yu Kui: "..."

"Just didn’t expect a good student to be this upset too," Xie Xingzhi sighed softly. "So it really is a breakup, huh?"

Yu Kui secretly gritted her teeth. "It is *not*."

"Then what is it?" Xie Xingzhi looked at her eyes welling up. "What's got you so down, especially during the New Year?"

Yu Kui’s expression darkened. "I can’t say."

"Understood," Xie Xingzhi still wore a smile. "But I still wish you a Happy New Year. Next time you cry, pick somewhere with no one around."

Yu Kui: "..." This guy is really annoying.

Just then, Yu Kui’s phone rang. It was her mother, asking where she was and why she hadn’t gotten in the car yet.

Yu Kui glanced at Xie Xingzhi. The guy waved and turned back into the restaurant.

He was very tall, with a straight posture, as free and easy as the wind.

Yu Kui rubbed her face to make herself look less tired, then walked toward the car by the roadside.

"Where did you go?" Yu Kui’s mother asked as soon as she got in the car. "I came out but didn’t see you."

"I went to check out the boutique next door," Yu Kui lied without batting an eye.

Mrs. Qin, sitting beside her, looked at Yu Kui’s red-rimmed eyes and seemed about to say something but reluctantly looked away.

Qin You sat on the other side. He had noticed Yu Kui’s distress earlier but showed no expression, simply gazing at the scenery outside the window.

"You could’ve come inside to find me," Yu Kui’s mother said. "When I was paying, a brat spilled a drink on me—that’s why it took so long."

"Are you hurt?" Mrs. Qin smoothly changed the subject.

"Not really," Yu Kui’s mother replied. "I just went to the restroom to clean up."

"That’s good," Mrs. Qin chatted with Yu Kui’s mother, diverting her attention from Yu Kui, afraid she might notice the tension between Yu Kui and Qin You.

Unbeknownst to her, Yu Kui’s mother had already seen her daughter’s face in the rearview mirror—she looked like a hurt little animal, her eyes filled with sadness.

Yu Kui had grown up cheerful and carefree, rarely so upset. But in just the past six months, her mother had seen her like this too many times.

She didn’t say anything outright, but she wasn't really into the conversation with Mrs. Qin.

Mrs. Qin grew uneasy and nudged her son, hoping he would lighten the mood, but Qin You remained unmoved.

Mrs. Qin forced a dry laugh and fell silent.

After entering the neighborhood, Mrs. Qin and her son got out first, while Yu Kui’s father went to park in the basement.

Only when the Qins were completely out of sight did Yu Kui’s mother say, "From now on, our family won’t interact with them anymore."

Yu Kui widened her eyes. Her mother reached out and touched her flushed face. "When you cry so sadly, it breaks my heart too."

Yu Kui avoided her gaze. "I didn’t..."

"If you keep lying, Mom will get angry," her mother said, cupping her face and looking into her reddened eyes. "I gave birth to you—do you think I don’t know what’s on your mind?"

Yu Kui felt her nose sting. "This has nothing to do with you or Aunt Qin."

"Of course it does," Yu Kui's mother said seriously. "I'm only friends with her because you're friends with her son. You really like this friend, so I’m willing to interact with them too."

"This whole thing is about what makes *you* happy, not because they’re particularly great."