Chapter 62 Meaning of Xi So Similar to Her Name…

Chapter 62: The Meaning of Xi — A Perfect Match for Her Name

Yu Kui had just finished dinner when her three roommates returned.

“Working this late?” Zhang Jing asked, noticing Yu Kui’s tired expression. “What’s wrong with your company? They’re exploiting you even on weekends.”

“I’m fine,” Yu Kui smiled, changing the subject. “What did you all have for dinner?”

“Cantonese food,” Shu Jia cleared her throat. “We were going to have hot pot, but I was worried he couldn’t handle spicy food.”

Yu Kui: “...”

“Don’t even get me started,” Xu Siyue rolled her eyes. “The two of them were flirting throughout the meal, treating us like we were invisible.”

“Flirting? Where?” Shu Jia felt wronged. “It’s polite to look someone in the eye when you’re talking, isn’t it?”

“Your eyes were practically glued together.”

Annoyed, Shu Jia immediately went to playfully hit her. “That’s not true at all! Stop making things up!”

“You ordered from Bazhen Pavilion?” Zhang Jing noticed the takeout container on the coffee table, surprised. “Bazhen Pavilion is so far from here. How could you eat alone without us?”

Yu Kui: “...” She wasn't familiar with the brand at all.

“A friend brought it over.”

“Xie Xingzhi?” Shu Jia’s eyes lit up.

“Yes,” Yu Kui said. “He probably lives closer to that area.”

“Perhaps,” Zhang Jing mused. “But Bazhen Pavilion is quite pricey. Your friend must be really good to you.”

Yu Kui lowered her gaze and didn’t respond, only saying, “I didn’t eat much. Do you want some?”

“No thanks,” Shu Jia clutched her stomach. “Sun Lin ordered so much food tonight, I could barely walk when we left.”

“He seems nice,” Xu Siyue remarked. “But try to be a bit more reserved when you’re with him. Don’t act like you’ve never seen the world.”

“I know,” Shu Jia said. “I won’t be joining their company after graduation, so don’t worry about any office romance.”

“Good,” Xu Siyue said. “Work is work, life is life. Don’t mix them up.”

The four chatted on the sofa for a while before taking turns washing up and resting.

Yu Kui put the leftovers in the fridge, planning to eat them the next day.

Before bed, she received a WeChat message from Xie Xingzhi.

“Are you really going to be with Xu Xi?”

He seemed very concerned about Yu Kui’s love life.

Yu Kui lowered her eyes and replied, “Didn’t I already tell you?”

Xie Xingzhi: “I think you should consider it more carefully. Xu Xi might not be right for you.”

Yu Kui: “How do you know he’s not right for me if you haven’t really interacted with him?”

Xie Xingzhi: “You don’t like him.”

Yu Kui stared at those five words for a few seconds. “How do you know I don’t like him?”

Xie Xingzhi: “I can see it in your eyes.”

Yu Kui smiled faintly. “Whether I like him or not, your judgment isn’t accurate.” She didn’t respond to Xie Xingzhi after that.

The next day, she went shopping with Xu Siyue and bought two outfits. On their way back, she received a call from Xu Xi. “Do you have time today? We got a new shipment of lotus flowers at the shop. I’ll make you some lotus flower pastries.”

It had been a week since they last met. Xu Xi’s voice carried a slight smile. “And there’s something I’d like to talk to you about.”

Yu Kui knew he wanted her answer and readily agreed. “Then I’ll come see you this afternoon.”

“Okay, I’ll be waiting.”

After hanging up, Yu Kui stood in the crowded subway, feeling neither the excitement nor nervousness she had once imagined. Her mood was calm and composed.

“Whose call was that?” Xu Siyue asked curiously. “Your company again?”

Yu Kui shook her head and didn’t mention anything about Xu Xi.

In the afternoon, she took a bus to the school gate. Xu Xi’s cake shop was bustling, with many customers enjoying desserts by the window.

“You’re here?” Xu Xi, who was making drinks at the counter, turned around at the sound of the doorbell and smiled when he saw Yu Kui. “Was it hot on the way? I got you an ice cream.”

Even after his confession, there was no awkwardness between them. Yu Kui smiled back. “Sure, thanks.”

“Take a seat up front and wait for me.”

Yu Kui sat in the seat closest to the counter. Xu Xi worked while asking, “Have you been busy lately? You always reply to my messages in the evening.”

“Yes,” Yu Kui said. “I was working overtime all afternoon yesterday.”

“That’s tough,” Xu Xi sighed softly. “When I was in school, I only knew how to slack off. I’m nothing like you, so independent.”

“Everyone makes different choices,” Yu Kui said. “You don’t have to praise me.”

“Just telling the truth,” Xu Xi handed a drink to a customer before turning back to give her an ice cream. “Try it. It’s a new lemon flavor.”

The ice cream tasted refreshing. Yu Kui’s eyes curved slightly. “It’s delicious.”

“You can only have one today,” Xu Xi leaned against the counter and looked at her. “I’ll take you out for dinner later.”

“Okay,” Yu Kui didn’t refuse. “It’s my treat today. Don’t fight me for the bill.” Previously, Xu Xi had paid for most of their outings, and Yu Kui often felt he was being too generous.

“Alright,” Xu Xi said. “What do you feel like eating?”

“Xinjiang food,” Yu Kui said. “A friend who traveled to Xinjiang said the food there was amazing. I’ve always wanted to try it.”

“Sure,” Xu Xi immediately had an idea. “Let’s go to the one on Xin Nan Road. I took the staff there for a team dinner before. The food was pretty good.”

“Okay.” Yu Kui continued eating her ice cream.

“By the way, you left the book you were reading here. Let me get it for you.”

Yu Kui nodded, watching his back as he walked away. She thought that being with Xu Xi would surely bring ease to her life. He was warm and attentive, offering great emotional support.

For dinner, the two went to the Xinjiang restaurant, ordered a few signature dishes, and chatted by the window.

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Xu Xi didn’t ask Yu Kui what decision she had made; instead, he asked how things were going with her work and life.

“I can’t see you every day, and I don’t know how you’re doing on a daily basis—but if you ever run into any difficulties, please tell me. Though I may not be able to help much with work-related matters, I’m definitely willing and able to assist with other things.”

“I’m doing fine,” Yu Kui replied, her tone a mixture of amusement and exasperation. “I’m just an intern right now, and the tasks I handle aren’t particularly important. Life’s been pretty uneventful too, so there’s no need to worry about me.”

“I’m just afraid you’ll keep things bottled up,” Xu Xi said, gazing intently into her eyes. “If possible, I’d like to be someone you can talk to.”

“Like a big brother for heart-to-heart talks?” Yu Kui asked with a light laugh.

Xu Xi chuckled softly. “I wouldn’t mind that at all.”

“If I need to, I’ll reach out to you,” Yu Kui nodded.

After the meal, Xu Xi bought Yu Kui a grape bubble tea from a nearby shop. “Let’s walk to the parking lot—it’ll help us digest.”

“Okay.”

They walked side by side through the city in the evening. Neon signs glowed along the streets as a gentle summer breeze blew, causing Yu Kui’s skirt to sway slightly. Their shadows—one tall, one short—stretched across the pavement, evoking the quiet charm of a summer film.

Yu Kui remained silent, and so did Xu Xi, both quietly savoring the faint floral scent carried on the evening breeze.

“There are many roses blooming along this road,” Xu Xi murmured after a while. “Actually, I grow quite a few flowers at home too—roses, hydrangeas, lilies…”

“If there’s a chance, I’d love to show them to you,” he added, turning to look steadily at Yu Kui.

His face was handsome, his eyes warm—like clear, emerald-green lake water. Yu Kui recalled the summer they first met, a time when she had been at her lowest, desperately seeking a place to calm her restless heart—and then, she met him.

She wasn’t sure whether this was an unexpected turn in her life, but reflecting on it now filled her heart with warmth.

“Sure,” she said quickly. “How about next weekend? I’ll come see you then.”

A gentle smile curved Xu Xi’s lips, his eyes bright with quiet joy. “Hearing you say that already makes me look forward to it.”

Xu Xi drove Yu Kui to her apartment building. She unbuckled her seatbelt and thanked him. “I’ll head up now?”

“Wait,” Xu Xi stopped her, a hint of helplessness in his voice. “We’ve finally gotten to meet—and you know I still have something to say.”

Yu Kui stayed seated in the passenger seat. Rather than looking at Xu Xi, she gazed out the window at the dimly lit corner. “You want to ask about last week?”

“Yes,” Xu Xi sighed, studying her pale profile. “Logically, I shouldn’t be this impatient—especially since we’re getting along so well. But I simply can’t wait any longer. Yu Kui, could you share your thoughts with me?”

“I know you’re still a student with many plans for the future, and I won’t interfere with your academic or career goals. I’ll respect all your choices—I only hope you’ll give me a chance to grow closer to you.”

As if fearing she might refuse, he added, “From the moment I first saw you, I felt you were special. Later, realizing just how impressive you are, I even hesitated. But I don’t want to miss the chance to get to know you better. Even our names seem to complement each other.”

The character “羲” (Xi) in Xu Xi’s name means “sun” in the dictionary—a perfect match for Yu Kui’s name, something even he found surprising.

The character "羲" (Xi) in Xu Xi's name signifies "sun" according to the dictionary—a serendipitous parallel to Yu Kui's own name, one that even he found astonishing.

After listening to Xu Xi, Yu Kui turned to meet his gaze and spoke slowly: “I understand what you mean. Although we’ve known each other for years, we haven’t spent much time together. My feelings for you are still quite shallow, and I may not be able to reciprocate your feelings in the same way.”

“That’s okay,” Xu Xi replied immediately. “Affection can deepen over time. I’m older than you, so it’s only natural for me to look out for you.”

“I…”

“What exactly is holding you back?” Xu Xi asked, somewhat puzzled. “The issues you mentioned are things we can work through together—you shouldn’t let them weigh on you.”

Yu Kui pressed her lips together. She had already been leaning toward saying yes earlier, but now, in this moment, she realized she wasn’t as optimistic as she’d thought.

“Sorry,” Yu Kui said, her mind in turmoil. She took a deep breath. “Could you give me a little more time?”

Seeing her pale expression, Xu Xi instantly realized his eagerness had placed pressure on her. “Of course.”