Alone, Beautifully – Chapter 99
by Little PandaMy Wife (11)
“Why are you so hot?”
Xu Jiao thought she wouldn’t be able to sleep, considering she was next to a big ice block. She always felt that only her breath was in the quilt, and she might wake up from the cold while sleeping.
However, perhaps due to what she ate earlier, she didn’t feel as cold as she imagined. She drifted off into sleep without realizing it. In her sleepy haze, she only felt Zheng Zhiyu seemed to change the position of holding her again. She moved uncomfortably a few times, and when she opened her eyes again, the sunlight outside the window was already bright.
Today is the weekend.
Xu Jiao saw the sunlight outside the window, and her first reaction was that it must be at least morning □□ o’clock (idk why this was censored). Why didn’t her alarm clock ring?
The original owner liked to go to the library to study on weekends, either doing homework left by teachers in class or working on some exam certificate questions by herself. She usually got up around seven o’clock and rarely slept until this time.
After clearing her mind, she woke up and, puzzled, lifted the quilt and sat up. Opposite her, Qian Ai on the upper bunk was applying powder on her face in front of the mirror. Noticing her movements with her peripheral vision, she smiled and said:
“Xiaoxu, why have you been lazier than before recently?”
“I can’t believe I’ve even seen you getting up later than me on weekends.”
Xu Jiao smiled lightly at her and didn’t explain anything for herself. Instead, she took out her phone to check the alarm clock on it and found that she did set a weekend alarm for seven o’clock. At the same time, there were several missed calls on the phone, all showing “home.”
It was her father Xu Dashu who called.
But she didn’t hear them.
The guy who accompanied her to sleep last night had already disappeared. Xu Jiao checked her phone and said to Qian Ai, “Did you hear my alarm or phone ring this morning?”
Qian Ai shook her head, “No, I was puzzled. Before, on weekends, when I wanted to sleep in, I was always woken up by your life-taking alarm. But today, I actually slept until daylight. What happened?”
While checking the phone settings, Xu Jiao said to her, “Can you call me? My phone seems broken, either the ringtone or the speaker has a problem.”
Qian Ai nodded and naturally agreed, reached for the latest model Apple phone nearby, and dialed her number.
Xu Jiao watched her phone, in ringing state, only the screen lit up with no other sound. She casually smoothed her just-woken-up hair, thanked Qian Ai, and guessed that this phone was likely broken.
This phone is so broken, if taken for repair, the repair cost would be enough to buy a new phone.
But to actually buy…
Xu Jiao felt once more that she seemed temporarily unable to come up with such a large expense.
Could it be that, in the future, getting up can only rely on her biological clock?
But if the original owner’s biological clock were really reliable, she wouldn’t have slept until this time.
Xu Jiao, slightly troubled, pondered the issue of lacking money. Meanwhile, she got down from her bed, took her toothpaste, toothbrush, and cup, and walked towards the public washstand. After brushing her teeth and washing her face, she remembered to call back home.
At that time, Xu Jiao was already walking to the self-study classroom with her small backpack, deliberately choosing a path with few people passing by so that even if the phone’s earpiece leaked sound, not many would notice.
“Hello! Jiao-wa! I called you so many times this morning, why didn’t you answer? It’s the weekend, and you’re sleeping in at school until this hour? Are you using our money to be lazy at school? I’m telling you, don’t think that being far from home means you can secretly learn bad habits from others…”
Xu Jiao hadn’t even managed a “Hello” before a long-missed loud voice burst out.
She furrowed her brow and had to repeat her previous tactic, moving the phone away from her ear. She finally waited until the other side paused to take a breath and drink water, then promptly continued the conversation:
“You called me after six in the morning, is something wrong at home?”
“Can there be anything else! I think your head has been ruined by studying. How can you not remember what I told you last time? People at home are still waiting for you to come back. This marriage should have a ceremony, like the bridal chamber candle night in ancient times. The May 1st holiday is soon, so quickly come back once and finish this matter.” Xu Dashu urgently urged her in a string of words, originally a notoriously stingy existence, now clearly eager to buy Xu Jiao a ticket himself for that ten thousand yuan windfall.
Xu Jiao listened expressionlessly to him trying to sell his daughter and also wanting her to willingly suffer exploitation and contribute herself for this awful family. She was also too lazy to bother speaking reason with him, after all, this stubbornly clinging to wrong reason guy…
He only thinks he is right.
As long as the original owner was born in the Xu family and not a son, she was considered a losing proposition, one who should sacrifice everything for the family. Even if she married off, she would still have to pull her husband’s family to help her own family.
If she could make money for the family, Xu Jiao should feel fortunate. Xu Dashu seemed to naturally think Xu Jiao should not have any complaints, after all, the other party gave quite a bit of money.
Then the phone was silent for a few seconds, and Xu Jiao casually brushed it off: “On May 1st, there are activities at school, so I can’t return.”
“What activity? Does it make money? Can it make more money than the job I found for you? Why are you so ignorant!” Xu Dashu’s voice raised another decibel, making it ear-splitting even across the phone.
Xu Jiao pressed her lips, unwilling to waste her valuable morning time debating with such a person. She coldly said, “If there’s nothing else, then I’ll hang up now.”
“Hang up what! I tell you! If you don’t immediately buy a ticket to come back now, I’ll have your mother go to the school and personally help you ask for leave from your teachers. I want to see what kind of school you have that won’t let students take a holiday to go home.”
At this point, Xu Dashu’s attitude was clearly already in a rogue state. Anyway, the barefooted do not fear the shod. If he really caused trouble at the school, the only one to lose face in the department would be Xu Jiao.
Hearing these words, Xu Jiao originally did not plan to have any entanglement with this awful original family. Now, seeing this family wanting to deliver themselves to her, she didn’t mind tidying up for the original owner.
She pressed her lips as the sunlight flickered through the trees, casting her pupils into a deep brown.
Xu Dashu quickly heard his daughter softly respond, “I know.”
That voice was just like countless times before when she fought with them in the family. Clearly, her wings were not yet strong, but she insisted on challenging the authority of the parents. Finally, when disciplined into obedience, she would respond to them with this unwilling voice.
He naturally felt that this time he could still hold this quiet, disagreeable daughter in his palm.
After hanging up the phone, he, wearing a vest and shaking a palm fan, walked outside. He casually complained to his wife that the breakfast was a bit too salty. Hearing her inquire about Xu Jiao’s matter, he indifferently waved the fan:
“I already spoke with her. Does she have the guts of a bear or leopard to dare not come back?”
“You just go tell the master on that side that during the May 1st holiday, our people will definitely be in place. Ask them when they will settle the balance… I see that this damn weather is getting worse, not even summer yet, and it’s already this hot. How can we manage without air conditioning? It’s really unbearable.”
On the other side.
Inside the campus of S University.
Xu Jiao put the increasingly noisy phone with call background noise into her pocket and headed towards an old, shady teaching building. This morning, whether receiving calls or washing up, that cold aura did not appear, and she didn’t know where Zheng Zhiyu had gone again.
She clearly listed the things she needed to do in her mind and, after roughly having a study plan, walked into the somewhat dark old teaching building. She went to the top floor, chose a window-side position, and sat down to begin studying.
This week, the teacher left homework that didn’t need to be completed online, so Xu Jiao didn’t need to queue in the library to fight for a computer. She just needed to submit paper homework: one page of logic arithmetic problems and three long English essays, which she prepared to finish first.
Sunlight blows in from outside the window, bringing the warm wind of the approaching early summer. The wind is mixed with the fragrance of unknown flowers. Xu Jiao sits quietly there, head down, writing her homework. There are only two students in the classroom: one sitting near the door reading a book, and the other in the middle of the back row, wearing earphones as if doing some listening exercises.
In the room, only the sound of the electric fan is audible.
Staying long in such a comfortable atmosphere can, in a trance, give people the illusion of peaceful and good times.
Xu Jiao was very focused. After checking the grammar, sentence structure, and overall structure of her draft essay, she was just about to copy it when she realized she had been sitting at her desk for two hours, and her whole body felt somewhat uncomfortable.
She stretched lazily, preparing to get up and pour herself some water, using the short walk to relax her mind. As she raised her eyes—
Zheng Zhiyu had appeared at some unknown time and was now in the shadowy corner of the classroom, leaning against the wall watching her.
If it weren’t for the other two people in the classroom not noticing this movement, Xu Jiao would really have been momentarily bewildered by her relaxed state, indistinguishable from ordinary people.
Looking again at her fiery red, vintage wedding dress, one would get a sense of time travel, seemingly unable to distinguish the present moment from the past.
Clearly, she did not have any particularly obvious expression, but Xu Jiao could just feel the gentleness in her gaze.
“Thud.”
A light sound.
It was Xu Jiao getting up from her seat, not paying much attention to her movements, and forgetting that the chair, once pulled out, would bounce back without weight pressing on it. The other two students in the classroom, doing exercises, raised their eyes to look at her once, then lowered their heads again to their own tasks.
She softly apologized, quietly holding her water cup as she left the classroom.
Zheng Zhiyu silently followed her steps.
In front of the water dispenser, Xu Jiao lowered her head to get hot water, while Zheng Zhiyu quietly watched her actions. Since there weren’t many people around, she directly asked Xu Jiao:
“This morning, I wasn’t here. Did you properly eat breakfast?”
She knew that Xu Jiao often skipped meals to save money, so even after leaving for a while, she was still concerned about this matter upon returning.
Xu Jiao simply replied with two words: “Not hungry.”
This meant she did not eat.
Zheng Zhiyu steadily looked at her, as the water dispenser was in the most secluded part of the corridor, close to the wall, with no windows around. Thus, the heat couldn’t spread there, and the surrounding air gradually turned a bit cooler.
Xu Jiao raised her eyes to look at her once, then after a while, lowered her eyes to drink from her cup of water. Without warning, she proactively asked, but changed the topic: “My phone isn’t very good to use. After self-study is done, I can go to the library in the evening to check the news about that hotel from yesterday…”
At this point, she stopped talking, as if unsure of what to say next.
Zheng Zhiyu gloomily stared at her for two seconds, then suddenly said: “You don’t need to worry about this matter; I have already solved it.”
Pausing, she softly added: “The payment will appear in your account in a few days.”
Xu Jiao: “…”
She blinked somewhat blankly, as steam slowly emerged from the bottle, forming a vague, blurry mist in front of her face.
After a few seconds, Xu Jiao moved her lips, as if wanting to ask her why she did these things.
However, the answer was well known in her heart.
Because Zheng Zhiyu knew her recent life wasn’t going well, and also knew her own selfishness was somewhat excessive, so this morning’s disappearance was probably to discuss payment matters with the other party, and incidentally… in unknown ways, fulfill that thing’s wish.
Her tone was light and relaxed, but Xu Jiao knew that all of this… was just because of liking, nothing more.
Liking Xu Jiao, she is willing to keep the things Xu Jiao cares about in her heart. Seeing her unhappy, she reflects on her own shortcomings and even corrects them overnight, yet remains calm and composed on the surface.
Zheng Zhiyu, unlike when doing intimate things before, does not aggressively pursue with a sense of pressure. Instead, like silent rain nourishing, she unconsciously integrates her own thoughts seamlessly into Xu Jiao’s life. When Xu Jiao realizes it, she feels entirely surrounded by Zheng Zhiyu’s affection.
Not knowing how to respond, she can only lower her eyes and look at the cup of hot water in her hand.
Xu Jiao, unlike those living in poverty with strong pride, does not refuse this kind of help. She only says, “I will remember this matter. Although currently, it seems there is no opportunity, if in the future there is anything I can help you with, I definitely…”
The following content has not yet come out.
Zheng Zhiyu then raised her hand and pinched her lips, like pinching a duck’s beak, with a bit of a smile flashing in her eyes, then said:
“I happen to have a favor I want your help with.”
“I’m missing a partner; can you help me find one?”
Xu Jiao: “…”
Her gaze shifted to the side, thinking of those previous scenes in the bathroom, vaguely knowing in her heart that some things cannot start this way, otherwise… it’s very easy for one mistake to lead to another.
In the previous novel’s world, she mistakenly developed a not very simple relationship with Lilith, which later led to an absurd ending. Now, she has stepped into the same pit twice.
But she still wants to promptly stop this trend, not only for her heart but also for Zheng Zhiyu’s unwavering commitment, which seems to have almost no result.
“Have you ever thought about why we continuously meet in two different worlds?”
“Perhaps I am completely different from the lover you imagined, and there won’t be any beautiful result. You don’t need to waste your time on me.”
Zheng Zhiyu was just about to speak when footsteps came from the stairs around the corner, not far away.
She then stopped speaking.
Two students came together, each holding a water cup. Seeing Xu Jiao at the end of the corridor, their eyes carried a bit of surprise, as if they had heard Xu Jiao’s self-talking sounds just now.
Xu Jiao did not care much about this small scene and walked on her own toward the direction of the self-study room.
She stayed in the self-study room until after ten o’clock in the evening.
When she walked out of the teaching building, the sky overhead had changed from the previous daylight blue sky to a vast expanse of stars. Perhaps due to the city’s recent good air quality, besides the brightest North Star, there were clusters of other bright points surrounding it.
Xu Jiao unknowingly stopped her steps, raising her head to look at this starry sky.
After a day’s study, such a scene could sweep away her mental fatigue, giving her an inexplicable sense of satisfaction. She stood there for a good while, not minding the people chatting as they passed by or the hurried passersby.
From behind, a dim, faint shadow suddenly spoke to her: “You seem to really like looking at the sky.”
Xu Jiao made a “Hmm” sound.
Then she heard Zheng Zhiyu say, “Close your eyes.”
Xu Jiao: “?”
She lowered her eyes to look at the shadow by her feet, not knowing what trick this person was playing again. However, even if she didn’t close her eyes, in the next moment, her whole body felt as if it was merging into the darkness, and the light before her eyes gradually dimmed.
Subsequently—
Her whole body experienced a feeling of weightlessness.
When there was light in front of her again, she unexpectedly found herself so close to the sky, as if she could reach out and pick the tiny, shining stars.
Even the wind blowing on her face was stronger than before, making her thin clothes flutter loudly.
Xu Jiao gathered her clothes around her shoulders, forcing her gaze away from the horizon, and found the scene in front of her like the lights of ten thousand homes. In the distant place, lights like fireflies appeared bit by bit, like a long dragon swimming from the horizon, landing on an unknown dormitory building in front. She could vaguely see the floating curtains in those windows.
The place where Xu Jiao was standing seemed to be the highest point on the campus—
As her gaze swept out, she saw the buildings were all lower than she was, giving a clear feeling of the cold at such a high place.
She looked at the large lightning rod erected in the center of the rooftop and, combined with the view from this spot, immediately knew she was now standing on the rooftop of the school’s newest library building.
Xu Jiao raised her eyebrows and slowly said to the woman standing next to her:
“Why did you suddenly bring me here?”
Zheng Zhiyu’s clothes fluttered as she casually sat near the railing. Her hanging red skirt fell outside the building as she lazily leaned on a nearby cement pillar and casually said:
“Don’t you like looking at the sky?”
Since you like it, I brought you to the place with the best view to look.
From the corner of her eye, Xu Jiao saw herself pursing her lips, as if about to speak out to dismiss her own thoughts. Zheng Zhiyu calmly reminded her, “Don’t have too much of a psychological burden. Chasing you is my business, and besides…”
Xu Jiao: “Besides?”
A faint smile appeared in Zheng Zhiyu’s eyes: “Besides, compared to the meteor shower you showed me on the Miracle Continent, what I’m doing is nothing.”
The implied meaning seemed to remind Xu Jiao that compared to your charming means, I am not even one ten-thousandth of you.
Xu Jiao did not make a sound, only distractedly thought about how she had just suddenly disappeared on campus, hoping that no nearby surveillance captured it, and also hoping that the light there was very dim, so classmates would not notice this shocking, strange scene.
She stood in a safe place looking at the sky. Zheng Zhiyu disappeared for a while midway, and when she returned, she had an extra bowl of steaming noodles in her hand.
Xu Jiao looked at her as she brought the noodles over with the bowl, raised her eyebrows, and softly said:
“You didn’t take advantage of the cafeteria not paying attention and secretly…”
With her other hand, Zheng Zhiyu, like performing a magic trick, produced a very thin card.
It was exactly the student card Xu Jiao was carrying with her.
Xu Jiao: “…”
Zheng Zhiyu looked at her helpless expression, pulling at the corner of her lips, as if she wanted to laugh and tease her a bit, but finally, she just said to her: “This tomato egg noodle is two yuan fifty a bowl, it seems to be the cheapest and most delicious. If you don’t even replenish this bit of nutrition, I guess you might not live until you become wealthy.”
Xu Jiao heard her words, with care hidden in the sarcasm, and a smile flashed in her eyes. She did not refuse her kindness, and merely walked over to her, raising her hand to take the bowl of noodles.
At this high place, the wind is strong. If the noodles are not eaten quickly, they easily become cold.
Xu Jiao finished eating the supper in her hand within a few minutes, and the bowl was made to disappear again by Zheng Zhiyu’s “magic.” The woman in red waved to her, signaling her to come and sit beside her.
Xu Jiao looked at the place where she was sitting, and shook her head — this is the center of the school, with very strong light. If she sat there, it would be easy for students in the opposite building to see.
Zheng Zhiyu, however, thought she was afraid, went to her side, raised her hand to hold her, and in a voice that always sparked imagination, softly said:
“What are you afraid of?”
“I’m not going to do anything to you here.”
Xu Jiao: “…”
She glared expressionlessly at this person in front of her, who at any moment could step on the gas and start the car.
Seemingly delighted by her expression, Zheng Zhiyu then lowered her head to kiss her cheek, and the kiss then drifted to the edge of Xu Jiao’s lips, until Xu Jiao, unable to breathe and unbearably, pushed her away. She then held the waist of the person in front of her and lowly said:
“Thinking about it, actually, this is also a good place.”
“You see, you can see them, but they cannot see you. They don’t know that on this dark night, at the center of the holy rooftop, there is a poor girl showing an expression of tears about to fall. Your pleading voice and crying voice are all carried into the wind, but only I can hear…”
This time it was Xu Jiao’s turn to grab her lips:
“Shut up.”
“Not finished, right?”
Zheng Zhiyu lowered her head, pressing it against her neck like a little pet that knows it’s wrong, obediently closing her mouth. Until a few seconds later, Xu Jiao heard her at her ear, with a bit of a mischievous smile, softly asking:
“Jiaojiao, if you don’t like what I said—”
“Why is your body so hot now?”
I have a hunch that the censored time was “8-9 o’clock”. China really doesn’t like the number 89, and censors it regularly (because Tiananmen Square). Once Human, as an example, censors almost every combination of numbers that could be used to refer to it