Chapter 57 Snow Has Stopped The Snow in Her Heart Has Stopped…

Chapter 57: The Snow Has Stopped, The Snow in Her Heart Has Stopped...

Qin You sought out Yu Kui, holding onto a sliver of hope that she would listen to his explanation and grant him another chance.

He was convinced that even if Yu Kui went to study elsewhere and met more exceptional people, his place in her heart would remain unique. Just as countless times before, when his cruel words had left her bruised and battered, whenever he needed help, Yu Kui would unfailingly stand by him—inquiring about his troubles, comforting his emotions, lending him money...

But now, she rejected him with an icy demeanor.

Only then did Qin You realize she no longer needed him.

Just as he had once dismissed her as a burden time and again, she now had no need for his presence. Even when he suggested they could be more than friends, perhaps lovers, she remained indifferent.

Was he even worthy?

Qin You stood rooted to the spot, repeatedly trying to justify himself in his mind. Snowflakes settled on his shoulders; the last snowfall after the New Year felt even colder than the dead of winter.

His feet felt like cast iron, as if forgotten by the world, leaving him to watch helplessly as Yu Kui walked away.

Just like that bitterly cold winter night when they had their falling out on the way home, he had used the "essay competition" as an excuse to utter those terrible words, and Yu Kui could only keep walking, not daring to look back.

This time, she was still moving forward.

Regardless of his disdain or his pleas for her to stay.

Yu Kui walked to the supermarket entrance, went in, and bought grapes and mandarin oranges for her mother, who had mentioned wanting these fruits that morning.

When she emerged, the snow hadn’t stopped, but she knew the snow in her heart had melted long ago.

On her way back, she even analyzed the true reason Qin You had come to find her.

It wasn’t genuinely about reconciling with her; it was about maintaining his condescending stance, believing a few casual words could restore their old relationship. But he had forgotten—they were no longer children, and she was certainly no fool.

Perhaps only in the most difficult times do people recall the past they failed to cherish.

He wanted to turn back only because he was struggling and wished to drag her down with him, just as they had been as children.

Once he was doing well again, who would even remember her?

Unfortunately, after all these experiences, she was no longer at his beck and call.

Yu Kui took out her keys and opened the door. Her mother immediately looked over, "What were you doing out? You didn’t freeze, did you?"

"Not at all." Yu Kui washed the fruit she had bought in the kitchen and sat with her mom in the living room watching TV shows. "Mom, I went to see Qin You today."

Yu Kui’s mother was taken aback, "Really?"

"Yeah," Yu Kui wasn't trying to hide it from her family. "If his family comes looking for me again, just say I’m not here. I’ve made everything clear to him."

"Okay." A happy smile spread across her mom’s face as she held her daughter’s hand. "Whatever you say goes." She showed no intention of asking for details.

Before heading back to school, Sun Shuya’s birthday arrived, and a few classmates planned to go out to celebrate with her.

While Yu Kui was selecting a gift at the counter, she overheard a salesperson smiling and saying to another customer, "Is it this set you need?"

"Hmm." A familiar voice made Yu Kui turn around. She saw Tao Jiang with Zhou Xiao in tow. Tao Jiang lowered her eyes slightly and said casually, "Wrap up a few other new items for me as well."

"Of course, please wait a moment." The salesperson smiled warmly and guided them to the checkout counter.

"Anything else you need to buy?" Zhou Xiao’s voice sounded somewhat impatient. "Once we’re done with this, don’t bother me for the rest of the month. I’m busy."

Tao Jiang’s expression shifted, but she suppressed her anger.

Since the fight at the hot pot restaurant, her situation had become very difficult.

After Qin You left the police station, he broke up with her. Although Zhou Xiao hadn’t said anything explicitly, his attitude toward her had clearly changed—his gaze was no longer patient or affectionate, occasionally even showing disdain.

Every time Tao Jiang wanted to argue with him as she used to, to make him apologize, meeting his mocking eyes left her speechless.

She had become afraid of losing Zhou Xiao.

And she had lost her dominant position in their relationship.

This shopping trip was something she had begged Zhou Xiao for a long time to agree to. She didn’t want to make things awkward now, but inside, she was extremely anxious and resentful.

Seeing her look down dejectedly, Zhou Xiao sneered, "I asked you a question."

Tao Jiang took a deep breath and put on a smile, "I still need to buy clothes, shoes, and jewelry..."

"You didn’t mention any of that before we came out." Zhou Xiao’s tone was mocking.

"You’re the one who asked," Tao Jiang grew anxious and said quickly, "My clothes and shoes are all out of season. You don’t want me to look out of style when I go out with you, do you?"

"I don’t care what you wear," Zhou Xiao said indifferently. "Do you think I still care about appearances?"

Tao Jiang’s face stiffened as Zhou Xiao let go of her hand and went to pay.

"I have to buy clothes," Tao Jiang insisted, looking into his eyes. "You promised me before that you’d try to fulfill any of my requests. You can’t go back on your word."

"And you can see other guys behind my back?" Zhou Xiao stared into her shifty eyes, his voice devoid of anger.

"You!" Tao Jiang’s eyes flashed with anger, but she suppressed the rising fury and said coldly, "I’ve already explained it to you. I had just changed schools then and wasn’t used to the environment. I just wanted someone to tutor me. I never intended for anything else to happen. But who asked you not to be by my side when I needed you the most? You have no right to blame me."

She said this as if it were entirely justified, as if Zhou Xiao owed her an apology.

If Zhou Xiao were younger and hadn’t worked in the real world, he might have believed her and wondered if he were at fault. But now, "Do you even believe that yourself?"

He scoffed lightly, looking at Tao Jiang as if she were a fool. "You think you can pin this on me with that excuse? What gives you the confidence? Is it because you think I’m still interested in you?"

"You..." Zhou Xiao’s tone made Tao Jiang feel guilty. She glanced nervously at the passersby and lowered her voice, "Do you have to argue with me in the mall?"

"I’m not arguing with you," Zhou Xiao said casually. "I just think some people can't take a hint."

"Zhou Xiao!" Tao Jiang hadn’t expected him to be so harsh. Her face instantly changed. "If you want to break up, just say it. There’s no need to treat me like dirt like this. I’m not the kind of woman who can’t live without you."

"Fine." The young man’s tone remained casual. "Then let’s break up."

Tao Jiang’s eyes widened in disbelief. She thought he had forgotten about the incident at the hot pot restaurant after staying silent for so long, but now, on their first outing, he was being so cold.

"If you’re sure about breaking up, don’t come looking for me again," Zhou Xiao said, looking down at her. "I’m busy. There’s no need to waste time on you."

Tao Jiang took a deep breath, looked into his eyes, and her voice shook, unable to utter the word "breakup" for real.

Now, it was she who needed Zhou Xiao, not the other way around.

"Do we have to be like this?" She looked at the fancy shopping bag the salesperson handed over, her voice trembling. "Do you have to make me suffer to be happy? You weren’t like this before."

"Exactly," Zhou Xiao didn’t even blink. "I won’t be satisfied until you’re more miserable than I am."

These were the cruelest words he'd ever said to her. Only then did Tao Jiang realize that the past she thought was over was never truly behind them. Qin You would always stand between them—a past she couldn't conceal and a source of humiliation for Zhou Xiao.

"If that's the case, why are you still with me?" Tao Jiang closed her eyes in pain. "You should have broken up with me before the New Year..."

Why did he still go out shopping with her then?

"Because I wanted to see you beg like a dog with your tail between your legs."

Zhou Xiao said unhurriedly, "Only when I see you pleading for me to spend money on you do I realize you're just like everyone else—no different from the rest."

Tao Jiang trembled slightly and looked at the shopping bag the sales associate handed over with a smile, but she didn’t reach out to take it.

"Miss, your gift box," the sales associate said warmly, unaware of the tension between them. "You and your boyfriend should come again."

Tao Jiang slowly reached out and took the shopping bag, avoiding Zhou Xiao’s gaze. She was afraid she wouldn’t be able to hold back from arguing with him.

"Look at you—no matter how sweet your words are, when it comes to asking for things, you wag your tail just like a dog," Zhou Xiao said with a faint smile. "You’re not even as good as a dog. At least a dog knows loyalty and gratitude. What do you even know?"

Tao Jiang’s anger surged, and she was about to throw the shopping bag on the ground when Zhou Xiao remarked dismissively, "You’re spending my money, and you still dare to give me attitude? Do you even deserve to?"

Tao Jiang froze, and Zhou Xiao had already strode out of the store without even waiting for her.

Standing alone, surrounded by the cheerful laughter and lively chatter around her, Tao Jiang could only hear Zhou Xiao’s voice echoing in her ears like a curse.

"How could things turn out like this?"

She thought he had agreed to go out with her because he no longer cared about Qin You, but that wasn't the case.

What she thought was a sure victory had now become a joke.

Witnessing this, Yu Kui never expected Tao Jiang to be so diminished. She thought that even if things went south, Tao Jiang would still hold the upper hand in the relationship. It seemed everyone was smart in their own right.

The reason Zhou Xiao still went out with her was not just lingering affection but also lingering bitterness.

Just like in the novel, although Zhou Xiao loved her, he didn’t ultimately choose her. She had no choice but to settle for Qin You instead.

Now that Qin You was no longer there as her fallback and Zhou Xiao was slowly taking back his affection, what would Tao Jiang do?

Would she try to reconcile with Qin You and follow the novel’s ending, or would she continue to entangle herself with Zhou Xiao until the last trace of affection faded?

Tao Jiang was a very clever person—perhaps she had already made her choice long ago.