Chapter 13.2 - Peppermint 薄荷
The next day at work, she felt somewhat weary. Watching the snow melt into droplets outside the window, she felt an inexplicable sense of gloom. She thought, how wonderful it would be if things could stay like this forever, with the world blanketed in white snow and ice.
Ultimately, she considered herself a nostalgic person, always unsure of how to take the next step.
Today was Lin Yishen's turn to be on duty. Shen Xifan left very late due to budget issues in the guest department. In the entire administrative building, only the public relations office and the secretariat on the first floor still had their lights on. She smiled, planning to say hello before leaving.
The moonlight, tinged with the hue of snow, shone beautifully in the corridor. The cool moonlight exuded an endless expanse of desolation, chilling one to the bone. She couldn't help but reach out to touch it, her palm turning pale in the light.
Suddenly, the phone rang sharply, startling her. She quickly withdrew her hand and hurriedly answered the call, but there was no response from the other end. She had no choice but to ask, "Hello, who are you looking for?"
He called out softly to her, "Xiao Fan... I miss you..." His voice was calm, traversing the long corridor with a sense of otherworldly detachment.
Three years ago, he had said these words to her.
It was the first time they held hands. The winter wind was blowing fiercely, and they walked hand in hand around the playground, lap after lap, until it was time for the lights to go out, and only then did he take her back. Reluctant to let go of her hand, it was she who finally broke free.
Before she could even reach her dormitory, his call came, "Xiao Fan... I miss you..."
That night, she lay awake, the warmth of his hand lingering in her palm. In the darkness, she slowly savored the words "Xiao Fan, I miss you," her heart filled with joy, and she secretly buried her face in the blanket, smiling softly.
Back then, it was the first thing he said to her every day on the phone.
But now, she was unusually calm. She told herself that what was meant to come could never be escaped. Following the source of the voice, she turned around, closed her phone, and slightly furrowed her brows, "What is it?"
He had lost weight, looking haggard, covered in the dust of travel, his tie not properly tied, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead. Yet, his expression was as confident as ever, as if everything was under his control.
In the past, seeing him like this would have filled her with pride and admiration. But now, as he looked at her with that same confidence, she felt a mix of sorrow and anger. He had hurt her so deeply, yet he still treated her as if she were the same naive girl from years ago.
Yan Heng quickly walked over, his breathing slightly uneven. He spoke softly, "I missed you. After we parted that night, I went to America. There, I realized how much I missed you. At night, I tossed and turned, your image haunting me. I had to come back to tell you, I miss you."
Her heart churned like a stormy sea, but she maintained a calm facade. "Is that all you wanted to say?"
"No!" Yan Heng's voice was firm. He took a step forward, cautiously attempting to embrace Shen Xifan, but she subtly shifted her body, evading his grasp.
Undeterred, he firmly held her arms, his chin pressing tightly against her head. Shen Xifan struggled, but it was futile. Exhausted, she weakly gazed into the distance, the dark corridor seeming endless.
After a long silence, he whispered to her, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Xiao Fan. I was wrong three years ago. Can you come back to me now?"
These were the words she had waited three years to hear.
Yet, instead of the anticipated joy, she only felt the urge to cry, to sob out all the委屈, dissatisfaction, and resentment she had accumulated over the years. She hated him for the cruelty he had once shown her.
How could he now say "I'm sorry" to her? How could he even speak those words? What did he want from her? How could he let her go?
Then, she suddenly understood. Missing a single moment meant missing out on a lifetime.
Feeling Shen Xifan's body stiffen unnaturally, Yan Heng loosened his grip, wanting to see what was wrong. But she used all her strength to break free and ran away without looking back.
A single tear stain marked his suit.
He intended to chase after her, but a cold voice from behind stopped him. "She won't see you. Please leave first."
Lin Yishen stood under the orange light, hands in his pockets, leaning against the doorframe, a faint smile of disdain on his lips, his expression unbelievably soft. "Go back. She needs time to think."
Yan Heng, suppressing his imposing aura, walked towards the stairs. Lin Yishen approached him, his face wearing an enigmatic smile.
He turned back once more, but Lin Yishen was already gone, only his words lingering in the empty corridor, "She's my junior sister, how could you make her cry?"
Outside the window, the pale moon coldly overlooked the world, an inaudible sigh resonating in the cycle of fate.
"Don't cry, junior sister..."
Shen Xifan looked up, her eyes struggling to adjust to the sudden brightness, causing a momentary dizziness. Once stabilized, she stared at Lin Yishen, wanting to speak but unsure where to start.
"He won't come. I've already sent him away." Upon seeing her clearly, Lin Yishen was surprised. "You're not crying? I was worried for nothing."
Shen Xifan forced a smile. "How could I? For someone like him, it's not worth it. I just didn't want to face him."
Lin Yishen could only smile, casually brushing aside her stray hair. Shen Xifan sighed, "Senior brother, you seem quite free. Unfortunately, I don't have time to accompany you. I need to go home for dinner."
As she reached the door, she suddenly remembered something and tentatively asked, "Senior brother, do you know about him and me..."
Lin Yishen, sitting on the table, didn't look at her but gazed out the window, his tone ethereal, each word striking her heart. "You're my junior sister... How could I not know?"
Tonight, Shen Xifan truly felt as if she had encountered a ghost.
Leaving the hotel, she didn't want to go home and aimlessly wandered the streets. Some snow remained by the roadside, now covered with a layer of dust, no longer pure white.
She remembered the night He Suye walked her home, the snow falling heavily, beautifully, enveloping them. He Suye held an umbrella for her, but she preferred to play in the snow, refusing his shelter. That night's snow was crystal clear, pure and unblemished.
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