Defeated By Love

They were near the subway station so the flow of people coming and going wasn’t small. 

Some passersby looked in their direction and felt that the three of them had outstanding appearances. But the atmosphere between them was tense like they were shooting a drama series. Shu Nian and Xie Ruhe were both behind-the-scene workers so for passersby, they were just very good-looking people. 

But Xu Zeyuan was different. He had just gotten popular very recently and if any gossip broke out now then he would definitely be scolded to death by his company. 

Afraid that he would be spotted, he lowered his head and put on his face mask again. Xu Zeyuan changed his attitude and apologised to Xie Ruhe: “Teacher Ah He, I’m sorry. I spoke recklessly just then, don’t take those words to heart.”

Noticing the suspicious looks from the people near him and how they had begun to whisper to each other, Xu Zeyuan harden his skin and finished saying: “I’ll take my leave then. I’ll come to apologise to you another day, I’m sorry.” 

As if he didn’t hear him, Xie Ruhe’s expression remained blank and he lowered his eyes. His eyelashes were dense and they spread out like a small fan over his eyes as he quietly looked at Shu Nian. 

He looked at her like he had been wronged. 

Xu Zeyuan didn’t wait for him to respond. He turned his head and told to Shu Nian in a low voice: “I’ll talk to you next time, goodbye.”

Then, he left and got in a taxi by the road. 

Shu Nian didn’t hear what Xu Zeyuan said clearly and she didn’t look in his direction either. She was still a little stunned and couldn’t believe what happened before her eyes but her first reaction was to comfort him: “Don’t listen to him, he’s talking nonsense.” 

Xie Ruhe took the things in her hands and straightened his lips. His tone was light and soft as he spoke. 

“Are you going to meet him again?” 

Shu Nian blinked her eyes: “Ah?”

Xie Ruhe didn’t repeat what he said. His jaw tightened and his mood became bad. 

Shu Nian looked down at his leg and asked: “Are you completely healed now?”

Xie Ruhe was very unhappy but he didn’t want to ignore her so he stiffly replied. “I can walk without holding onto things.” 

Shu Nian’s eyes gradually widened as she heard those words. She couldn’t help but jump twice on the spot from happiness. Her little face was red as she excitedly exclaimed: “Really? You’re so awesome!” 

Xie Ruhe rarely saw her like this. 

She seemed to be happier than him and the gloominess in his heart gradually dissipated.

Xie Ruhe pursed his lips and looked away: “I’m okay.”

“You’re not just okay.” Shu Nian seriously refuted him and it suddenly appeared like she was lecturing him. “You said it would take two months but it’s only been a little more than a month. You really are amazing.”

Shu Nian suddenly noticed the wheelchair next to them and blinked: “Why are you still using a wheelchair?” 

Xie Ruhe didn’t answer her and just put the things in his hands on the wheelchair. 

The two of them walked side by side.

Shu Nian was confused by his silence and turned her head to him. It was then that she realised he wasn’t walking normally. He was stumbling a little and had to pause after one step to take the next step. He wasn’t walking as smoothly as he did in front of Xu Zeyuan. 

She took a deep breath and grabbed his wrist.

It was a subconscious action that didn’t even process through her brain. 

Xie Ruhe stopped walking. He wasn’t sure why she suddenly did this and turned his head. His face was soft and his eyes were questioning. 

His eyes were clear without any other thoughts which made Shu Nian feel frivolous. She released his hand immediately and didn’t know how to begin to explain herself. 

But if she didn’t explain then she was afraid he would misunderstand her intentions. 

After a while, she swallowed her saliva and whispered. “I’m afraid you will fall.” 

Xie Ruhe didn’t say anything and just looked at her. His eyes seemed to be gleaming with light but they also looked as deep as a bottomless well. He wasn’t angry. 

Shu Nian licked the corner of her lips. She wasn’t very good at talking so she could only add another sentence.

“But I see that you’re walking well so… you should be fine.”

He didn’t say anything.

Shu Nian’s heart was beating rapidly like a storm. She was afraid that he was getting angry and carefully said. “Let’s go…”

Xie Ruhe didn’t move as if he were thinking of something. He looked down at her small, white and tender hands and his fingers moved. He hesitated but it didn’t last for long. 

Soon, Xie Ruhe raised his hand and grabbed her hand to place it on his wrist. 

The atmosphere was still for a moment. 

Seeing Shu Nian’s expression, Xie Ruhe’s expression also became a little awkward. He regained his usual appearance quickly though and withdrew his gaze. He said without changing his face: “I’m still not very stable.” 

Shu Nian’s mind was blank and she looked at their linked hands in a daze. 

His sleeves were short and revealed a white and slender wrist that was right underneath her hand. If people didn’t look closely, it would appear like they were holding hands. 

They were also standing very intimately.

Originally, it was just a very ordinary action but Shu Nian’s palm suddenly became hot. She was afraid that she would be so nervous that she started sweating that she tried diverting her attention elsewhere. 

But the more she wanted to look for a distraction, the more her mind was unwilling to.  

And she just thought of it more. 

The two of them walked onto a smaller path. 

Shu Nian pushed away those thoughts with difficultly. She noticed the milk tea on the wheelchair and suggested. “How about I push this and you drink the milk tea? If you don’t it’ll get cold in a bit.”

Xie Ruhe bent over to pick up the milk tea after she said that and handed it over to her. 

Shu Nian released his wrist and took it with surprise: “Aren’t you drinking it?”

Xie Ruhe just said: “You drink it.” 

Shu Nian took a guess. “You don’t want to drink it anymore?”

Xie Ruhe just shook his head: “You drink it.” 

Did he buy this for her? 

Shu Nian didn’t ask any more questions and poked a straw through the cover but the corners of her lips couldn’t help turning up. It seemed like something indescribable was bubbling in her heart and the sky was now pink. 

She didn’t know if this happened to others too. 

It was originally only a very small hunch and she wouldn’t have noticed it if she didn’t look closely but over time, as she got along with him, this feeling gradually grew bigger. 

All the small moves he made may not have any deeper meaning.

But she hoped there was. 

At this moment, she felt like her hunch was real.

Shu Nian drank a mouthful of milk tea and chewed on the boba pearls in her mouth. It was warm and the tea tasted fairly strong. The mellow milk tea flavour was trapped between her lips and teeth, dispersing the cold. 

Her steps were small and Xie Ruhe walked slowly and when they walked side by side, they were in total sync. 

After taking a few more steps, Shu Nian suddenly remembered something. “Why did you come out?” 

Xie Ruhe replied: “I happened to be nearby.” 

Shu Nian didn’t ask further: “Are you out alone?” 

“En.” 

“When I was coming over, I bought six doughnuts.” Shu Nian pointed to the bag on the wheelchair. “I wanted to buy a cake but I bought them instead when I saw that the doughnuts looked more delicious.” 

Xie Ruhe just listened to her and didn’t make many sounds. 

Shu Nian was aware that his pace was slowing down again and asked in a whisper: “Do you want to take a break?” 

Hearing those words, Xie Ruhe’s eyes moved a little. He turned his head and reached out to grab her empty hand. Then, he moved up, tightened his fingers and held onto her wrist. 

It was done without any hesitation. 

And was a very natural action that seemed like he did it often. 

Shu Nian paused and as she glanced up, she saw his slightly red ears. 

Xie Ruhe calmly said. “No need, holding onto you is enough.”