What’s this about “once you’ve seen the vast sea, no other water compares; beyond the clouds of Wushan, all else is mundane”?
How does a hamster have such profound feelings!
Xie Qian personally didn’t buy into this phrase at all.
If a relationship is truly so precious, why regret it only after losing it? What were you doing before?
“You seem to know a lot about it.”
Xie Qian was about to debate this with Wen Ying in detail when he noticed her mood had shifted.
Xie Qian didn’t understand at all!
He would never understand.
Only those who have lost something would.
Wen Ying’s heart was a mix of bitterness and inexplicable anger. “Don’t ask why, I just understand, okay? Wanna bet? I bet Yan Yuchuan will never get over Sister Xie Tang!”
Her anger stemmed from feeling wronged.
Wronged that Xie Qian didn’t cherish himself enough.
He was such an impressive person. If he really wanted to fight, he could surely outshine any scumbag or schemer. How could he have let himself fall into tragedy in his past life?
It made her so heartbroken when she heard the terrible news!
And now, in this life, she still had to worry and toil for him.
Yet the aloof flower before her was blissfully unaware… It made her so mad just thinking about it.
Wen Ying’s emotional turmoil was beyond Xie Qian’s comprehension.
One moment she was eagerly soaking up gossip, then sighing after hearing it, and now she was angry?
Anyone unaware might think Wen Ying was the one who got dumped.
Now it was Xie Qian’s turn to want to sigh. If he’d known the hamster’s mood would swing like extreme weather, he’d rather not have come to this dinner.
“Whatever you say, I won’t bet with you.”
What’s the point of arguing over something like this? Xie Qian simply conceded, declaring her the winner.
But it had no effect—Wen Ying’s eyes widened even more.
What did he say wrong now?
To solve a problem, you need to understand it, but Xie Qian couldn’t crack this one.
Why was Wen Ying upset? He didn’t get it.
Was she putting herself in Yan Yuchuan’s shoes?
Yan Yuchuan and Wen Ying were hardly comparable!
Even back when Wen Ying was a struggling student after the high school entrance exams, failing all three subjects—math, physics, and chemistry—she never knew the meaning of “inferiority.”
If he hadn’t seen it himself, Xie Qian could hardly believe someone who scored 80 out of 150 in math would have the audacity to tell the tutor she had amnesia and needed extra care to “recover her memory.” That kind of hamster had nothing in common with Yan Yuchuan.
Was Wen Ying’s sadness not just from relating to Yan Yuchuan, but also imagining him as Xie Tang?
That would be the only logical explanation for her distress.
She was reflecting on herself!
Realising this, Xie Qian suddenly felt uneasy.
He had so much he wanted to say.
He was always sharp when reasoning with struggling students.
But thinking that Wen Ying might also… his blood raced, his heartbeat quickened, his rationality crumbled bit by bit, and his brilliant mind overloaded, nearly crashing on the spot.
Clinging to the last shred of willpower, the boy barely regained some clarity:
He couldn’t make that assumption!
Yan Yuchuan and Xie Tang were lovers.
He and Wen Ying were just good friends.
The future wasn’t set, so for now, they could only be good friends.
How could he shift Wen Ying’s thinking without hurting her?
Or what if he was overthinking and guessed wrong? That would be incredibly awkward!
Wen Ying’s wide-eyed stare was too adorable for Xie Qian, making it hard to think. After a long pause, he finally drafted his words carefully, “Actually, this kind of thing…”
What about this kind of thing?
Wen Ying wasn’t in the mood for her idol’s lecture.
This wasn’t the time for preaching!
Xie Qian could never know the depth of fear she carried or understand her feelings.
If this went on too long or happened too often, he might even find her too dramatic!
Even though she and Xie Qian were already close, she still couldn’t share all her secrets with him. The road ahead was lonely. Ninety-nine percent of the time, Wen Ying had a strong heart to carry her, but one percent of the time, she too felt weak and helpless.
Interrupting Xie Qian and chasing away Wen Ying’s low mood was a smiling Xie Tang:
“How’s the food? This Huaiyang cuisine is pretty good, right?”
Xie Tang, having composed herself, stood by the table, looking radiant.
Xie Qian breathed a sigh of relief.
And felt a touch of regret.
If he’d finished speaking, he could’ve gauged Wen Ying’s reaction to confirm some things.
The two emotions alternated in his heart, but relief ultimately won out. Xie Tang’s little love lesson today was remarkably effective—precious things needed careful nurturing.
Now wasn’t the best time.
“Really tasty!”
Wen Ying perked up to respond.
Xie Tang was the one who’d just gone through a breakup, yet she wasn’t crying. How could Wen Ying steal the spotlight?
Earlier, she’d indeed gotten stuck in her own head.
Even if she’d lost before, fate had given Wen Ying a chance to make things right. Compared to Yan Yuchuan, she was far luckier.
Her sadness lifted, the clouds parted, and the sun shone again. She grinned at Xie Qian, leaving him bewildered.
—Girls’ emotions are so complicated!
Xie Qian couldn’t help but sigh.
But when Wen Ying smiled, the hesitation weighing on his heart vanished, and his usually sharp features visibly softened.
Xie Tang glanced between them, sensing a subtle shift in their dynamic.
Her interruption earlier wasn’t out of tactlessness—she’d seen Wen Ying all puffed up and Xie Qian clueless about how to comfort her, which had worried her.
Oh?
So this dinner didn’t make the two young people cautious—it acted as a catalyst instead!
Xie Tang couldn’t help but laugh. Maybe she was worrying too much.
Young people’s emotions came and went quickly. She’d done her duty as a big sister by reminding Xie Qian. The rest was up to him. Forcing things wouldn’t help—love needed to flow naturally:
“You two, keep at it!”
Before they could overthink, Xie Tang patted Wen Ying’s shoulder, “I mean with your studies, don’t slack off. Get into the same university, and your friendship can grow even stronger.”
That was true.
Fate had given her a chance to fix her regrets, but seizing it still required Wen Ying’s own effort.
Wen Ying was full of determination.
“Sister Xie Tang, you’re so good at motivating people.”
“Haha, am I? Oh, you said you’d sign something for me, I almost forgot.”
Xie Tang had brought a copy of *Teen Idol* and seized the chance to get Wen Ying’s autograph.
The book was beautifully written.
Someone who could write such a warm book must be a warm person.
May Wen Ying be the whale that swims alongside Xie Qian in the vast sea!
Xie Tang turned to Xie Qian with a smile, “I’m heading back to Beijing in a couple of days. You coming?”
With the New Year approaching, the scattered Xie family would gather again.
Third Uncle Xie Jinghu was a jerk, but the rest of the family wasn’t. Since Xie Qian transferred to Chengdu, the New Year was the only time he saw the whole family.
Xie Qian was still thinking about the film company in Shanghai. After glancing at Wen Ying, he nodded, “I’ll go back to Chengdu first, then to Beijing.”
Xie Tang’s smile was knowing.
Oh, got it, got it—he wants to spend time with the girl he likes.
Wen Ying’s face warmed at Xie Tang’s smile.
Aunt Zou was in Chengdu, so it wasn’t odd for Xie Qian to stop there before heading to Beijing!
Only Peng Guoqing was devastated. He’d finally caught Tai Xiaowu and the others, ready to trick them onto a plane, only for the Xie siblings to leave Shanghai at the same time!
