Chapter 49: Can’t Catch Up
The summer sun was particularly harsh, especially in the south; its scorching heat was imaginable. People living here had to endure this temperature every year. For Ye Zhiyun, although she often flew around since childhood, her roots were ultimately in the south. She had strong feelings for this place and was therefore accustomed to the temperature here.
She finally made a trip home, but her father was away on a business trip and wouldn’t be back for a while. And her ‘cheap’ older brother probably wouldn’t be back these two days either, leaving just her and her mother at home. Although staying at home wasn’t bad, doing nothing was still very boring. These past two days, when she had nothing to do, she stayed in her room doing practice problems and test papers. Don’t underestimate her; she also had to take the college entrance exam. Although she didn’t need to worry about her exam results at all, with a serious attitude, she still decided to prepare for the exam with all her might.
One afternoon, Ye Zhiyun went out to buy books. Her reference books were running low. While doing practice problems was effective, for her, reference books were the core. Although she had taken leave from school, she would still study hard at home.
Wearing a long dress, a sun hat, her long black hair tied into a ponytail, Ye Zhiyun went out dressed coolly. The clothes she wore and the bag she carried clearly weren’t cheap knock-offs. She was a legitimate young lady; no one would be tactless enough to bother her, unless those hooligans were uncultured. But even if they were uncultured, it didn’t matter; no one could beat her anyway.
Entering the bookstore, Ye Zhiyun casually picked up a few reference books she wanted, then grabbed a set of test papers and prepared to check out. This trip home was certainly not just to see her family. The original plan was to discuss the problems she encountered in her investments with her father and see if she could persuade him to allocate some funds to her.
But it seemed her father was deliberately avoiding her. Although expected, it was still a bit annoying.
“Zhiyun, when did you get back?”
Suddenly, a deep and resonant male voice came from behind. Ye Zhiyun turned around. The young man’s handsome and sunny face was very pleasing. His figure was slender; though not burly, he had a masculine air. If it weren’t for his low emotional intelligence, he would definitely be very popular with girls.
Why did Ye Zhiyun like this low-EQ man? Even Yu Linna probably couldn’t answer that.
“I came home. What about you? What brings you here?”
She knew clearly that Li Muqing’s home wasn’t here. They just met by chance before, and then had interactions. Plus, after Ye Zhiyun moved out, they both got into the same high school, shortening the distance between them.
“I was thinking of coming to see Uncle Ye, but he wasn’t here. Unexpectedly, I ran into you. I took leave from studying these past few days and went to Shenzhen. I didn’t know you were back.”
“It would be good if you knew.”
Ye Zhiyun sighed.
If this low-EQ boy knew how to take the initiative, would their relationship be like this?
Starting from high school, she was always the proactive one, constantly giving him hints, hoping he would understand the signals she sent. But the greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment. Li Muqing simply didn’t understand her meaning. Ye Zhiyun had been pursuing him for almost three years, yet there was still no progress. No matter how hard she tried, Li Muqing remained unmoved.
Originally, she thought she could slowly advance. It wasn’t until Yu Linna’s appearance made her feel a sense of crisis that she became anxious.
But it was also Yu Linna’s appearance during this period that gradually made her understand that the Li Muqing she liked had never truly looked at her.
“Zhiyun, it’s rare to have free time. Let’s go, let’s eat together.”
“Okay. Old rules, you pay.”
“Hahaha, naturally. Have you heard? A new shop opened opposite that old gym. Let’s go there for lunch.”
“What are your plans after eating?”
“After eating, of course, go home. What else can we do?”
“…That’s not wrong.”
Expecting this low-EQ man to say something romantic? That was absolutely impossible.
Ye Zhiyun had already given up.
“Zhiyun, I saw Yu Linna in Shenzhen earlier. Are you two still in contact?”
“Yes, why wouldn’t we be?”
“I thought you two had argued, made me worry for so long. It’s good that you didn’t argue. It’s better for girls to have a good relationship.”
This man was just worrying unnecessarily (eating salty radish and worrying lightly – idiom for meddling). But this good old person wasn’t annoying at all. Otherwise, how could someone as proud as her have liked him for so long?
“Don’t worry. My relationship with Yu Linna isn’t as bad as you think.”
When Ye Zhiyun said this, perhaps even she didn’t expect she would say these words. Just a short while ago, her relationship with Yu Linna was terrible. How could it change so quickly in less than a month?
Indeed, her feelings towards Yu Linna were no longer as hateful as before. But it couldn’t be called liking either. It was just that a strange feeling had indeed arisen in her heart towards her. That feeling, she couldn’t describe it, perhaps something akin to protectiveness.
She could bully her unscrupulously, but she didn’t want others to bully her. If she said this feeling out loud, people would think she was sick.
“Let’s go, get something to eat.”
“Muqing, slow down. I’m wearing sandals. Don’t walk so fast.”
Just after paying, Li Muqing wanted to run outside, probably hungry, a bit eager. This flustered Ye Zhiyun. Did this man have to be so impatient?
“Hurry up and follow. I’m quite hungry.”
“Can’t you be a little more considerate of me?”
“Haha, you’re still the same as before, can’t catch up to me. Hurry up, if you’re slow, I won’t wait for you.”
Looking at that broad shoulder, that back view, Ye Zhiyun’s eyes glazed over. She tried hard to take steps, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t keep up.
That back view, so close, yet she couldn’t touch it. He was clearly right beside her, yet she couldn’t possess him. She could look at him, but couldn’t caress him.
This was exactly the same as the past.
Since childhood, she met him. He was always running, always moving forward, always ahead of her. She chased, but always followed behind him. She wanted to surpass him, but never succeeded. And he left her far behind.
Later, slowly growing up, Ye Zhiyun became independent. After entering high school, she developed a crush on him. She launched her offensive, hoping to walk side by side with him. But he still walked ahead of her, never moved, no matter how she chased, she could never walk ahead of him.
“Would it kill you to walk slower? Can’t you wait for me for a moment? Why walk so fast!”
When she shouted this sentence, perhaps she also vented years of dissatisfaction.
Yes, she knew. She knew from the beginning. No matter how hard she tried, she could never catch up to Li Muqing. Even if she tried hard to walk with him, Li Muqing wouldn’t stop and wait for her. His heart never had a place reserved for her.
Ye Zhiyun was proud. She refused to admit defeat. She wanted everything she desired. Since childhood, she had everything, whatever she wanted. But only Li Muqing, she had never possessed. She wanted him, so she chased relentlessly.
But, she should probably understand by now, what doesn’t belong to her, ultimately isn’t hers. More effort is just futile.
She knew…
She just wasn’t willing to let go.
Such a self, how ridiculous. Clearly unattainable, yet unwilling to let go. Why was she so persistent?
That back view, perhaps she could never catch up in this lifetime. Ye Zhiyun closed her eyes, thinking it wouldn’t be bad if it just passed like this. She had chased for too long, she was tired, she wanted to rest.
She really liked Li Muqing, she really relied on him, but… children eventually have to grow up, fly far away.
“Zhiyun, let’s go.”
“Okay, I know. I walk slowly, no rush to catch up. You can go ahead alone.”
This bitter feeling, felt somewhat unwilling.
But, she, Ye Zhiyun, wouldn’t easily let go, would never give up easily.
Although, she didn’t know how long she could persist…
Today’s sun was still scorching.
Guangnan City. After Yu Linna returned to her normal track, she no longer had the mind for acting. After this blow, it was unlikely she would put her mind back into this. What she should consider most now was how to solve the rent problem.
“Sigh, poverty limits my imagination…”
Lying on the front desk table, Yu Linna, wearing her work uniform, let out a long sigh like a salted fish.
Not only did she have to pay the rent, but she also had to make up for the overdue rent. This amount was not small. For a kid like her who worked part-time while studying, the number was a bit large. But the biggest problem was, how could she make up this amount?
“Linna, I’ve gathered enough money for the summer comic convention! The date is the 22nd of this month. Want to go to the holy war with me?”
Coincidentally, Fang Jianing’s work period also ended today. After receiving the money earned from working, she also resigned. She excitedly mentioned the comic convention to her, hoping to invite her friend to go with her.
“Comic convention?”
“Yeah! I’ll invite Ningning to go together then. Let’s the three of us go play together!”
Yu Linna lay on the table, offering no comment. Speaking of comic conventions, whether in her previous life or this life, she had never experienced one. However, anime had many descriptions of them. But what a real comic convention was like, she had no concept.
Of course, the main problem was, she was poor.
“Not going.”
One ticket cost almost sixty or seventy yuan. It was impossible for her to afford it. Better let her off. Moreover, the things sold inside comic conventions were somewhat expensive, exceeding her acceptable range. If it weren’t for seeing her idols and e-sports activities, going there basically had no meaning.
“Don’t be like that~ Let’s go together, Linna, Linna~”
“I’m not going. Pouting is useless.”
If she said she wasn’t going, she wasn’t going. Yu Linna wouldn’t be moved.
“How about this, I’ll treat you to the ticket money.”
“I’m still not going.”
“Great! The time is next week… What, you’re not going?!”
Unbelievable! Fang Jianing’s usual money-luring tactic didn’t work! How could this be? It was clearly very effective before!
That was because the money she spent before was on meals and snacks. For Yu Linna, that was within the range she could shamelessly accept. But the comic convention, the ticket itself was expensive, and it was impossible not to spend money inside. The total cost was even higher. No matter how thick-skinned Yu Linna was, she couldn’t possibly ask someone for so much money. Moreover, this money was earned by the other person through working. She didn’t want to receive reward without merit.
Leave a Reply