Adored by Him: My Blissful Days as the Girl Next Door-Chapter 389 - 388 Farewell

Xu Xu still lives in the same relocation building as before. The sensor lights in the hallway work only on the second floor, while the others are broken. Feeling their way down in the dark, Xu Xu walks ahead and reaches back to grab Zhao Meimei’s arm: "I’ll hold onto you, watch your step."

Zhao Meimei follows Xu Xu gradually downwards, then hears Xu Xu say: "Meimei, do you remember when we were in elementary school? I’d go to your house to play, and in the winter it got dark early. Your mom was stewing pig trotters, planning to pack two for me to take home once they were ready. I ended up waiting until six in the evening before leaving."

Zhao Meimei thinks for a moment but can’t really recall, yet she cooperatively responds: "Ah, I remember, what’s up?"

Xu Xu speaks with infinite nostalgia: "When I left your house back then, you insisted on accompanying me with your dad to see me off. You were holding onto me just like this as we went downstairs. I was feeling my way down in the dark, and you grabbed me saying, ’Watch your step...’

Uh...

Zhao Meimei sensitively perceives the atmosphere suddenly becoming awkward. She awkwardly tries to change the subject: "You know, my building’s been around for years. From the very beginning, there were no sensor lights; everyone installed their own bulbs to light the way voluntarily."

It used to be nice. Every household kept their lights on, showing great civic-mindedness. After all, everyone knew each other, seeing each other every day in the factory, fearing gossip behind their backs.

Later, as the factory’s benefits declined, people started calculating how to get by, and no one wanted to shoulder the electricity cost that facilitated neighbors anymore.

What Xu Xu wanted to talk about wasn’t the sensor light issue, the two of them tacitly understood each other. In the darkness, Xu Xu couldn’t hide his disappointment.

That’s how feelings are; the more unattainable they are, the more precious they seem.

Zhao Meimei had clearly become the unattainable memory in Xu Xu’s heart; even if he swore and forced himself to forget, it was merely deceiving himself for psychological comfort.

Xu Xu guided Zhao Meimei to the unit entrance and let go of her hand. The two of them exited one after another.

Xu Xu asked Zhao Meimei: "When are you planning to return to the provincial city?"

Zhao Meimei replied: "I don’t know yet, definitely not before the fifth day. My brother’s maternity store is closed until the eighth, and there are patients in the local hospital that need care, so I don’t think I can leave quickly. By the way, what about you? When are you planning to return to school?"

Xu Xu tugged at his down jacket: "I’ve booked train tickets for the sixth. I found a tutoring job at the school, tutoring a kid in the second year of junior high this year. I’ve tutored for half a semester already; their grades have improved significantly, and the parents are particularly pleased. With the new semester coming, heading into third year, they’re anxious, afraid that a long break will delay the tutoring, so they’ve been pushing for me to go back early."

Zhao Meimei had always wanted to say a few comforting words, but that thought only spun in her mind for a moment before she suppressed it. Zhao Meimei knew too well the conditions at Xu Xu’s home, saying things like taking care of his health and not being too exhausted were all pointless.

Zhao Meimei said: "You’re amazing, you can tutor second-year junior high courses. I’ve forgotten what I learned in junior high now."

Xu Xu just laughed: "Actually, if you suddenly handed me a junior high problem to solve on the spot, I’d be baffled too. I need to go over the formulas beforehand. I’m not much better than you."

Zhao Meimei laughed along.

Suddenly, car headlights illuminated from ahead, and the other party honked the horn twice.

Zhao Meimei squinted, trying to see clearly, then laughed and hurriedly waved at the other party, saying: "Xu Xu, my brother’s here to pick me up."

Xu Xu was taken aback and asked: "Did you arrange for your brother to come pick you up?"

Zhao Meimei said: "No."

Shi Yang got out of the car, smiling as he walked a few steps forward: "Long time no see, Xu Xu."

Xu Xu quickly greeted him: "Brother Yangyang, Happy New Year."

Shi Yang: "Happy New Year. How’s everything over at school? All good?"

Xu Xu said: "It’s been great."

Shi Yang: "How long can you stay this time?"

Xu Xu: "I’ve booked train tickets for the sixth."

Seeing that there was nothing more to say and the atmosphere might grow tense, Shi Yang put his arm around Zhao Meimei’s shoulder and said: "It’s late, let’s go?"

Zhao Meimei agreed with a sound and bid farewell to Xu Xu: "Xu Xu, I’m leaving now. Keep in touch."

Xu Xu handed over the bag he was holding. Shi Yang took it with a smile, saying to Zhao Meimei: "Why do you have food and things to take with you?"

Zhao Meimei laughed, waved at Xu Xu, and followed Shi Yang into the car.

Once Zhao Meimei was settled, she deliberately poked her head out the car window to wave for a final goodbye to Xu Xu, only to find that he had already left.

Zhao Meimei pulled her head back in and rolled up the window.

Shi Yang glanced at the rearview mirror, seeing a figure half-hidden at the entrance of the building. Xu Xu clearly hadn’t left, but he didn’t place himself in their view as he used to, just watched them leave longingly.

Shi Yang turned his gaze back and deliberately asked: "What were you doing?"

Zhao Meimei said: "I was trying to say goodbye to Xu Xu, but he’s already gone."

Shi Yang added casually: "Maybe it’s just too cold."

Zhao Meimei remembered and asked: "Brother, when did you come? Have you been waiting for me for a while? Why didn’t you give me a call?"

Shi Yang started up the car: "Fasten your seatbelt... I’ve been here for a while. You were visiting friends, and it didn’t seem appropriate to keep calling, urging you to come back."

Zhao Meimei fastened her seatbelt and looked up at Shi Yang: "There’s nothing inappropriate about it. If I had known you were here, I’d definitely have come down immediately, wouldn’t make you wait."

Shi Yang felt warmed inside, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth as he turned the steering wheel along the apartment driveway: "What’s in the bag? It smells good."

Zhao Meimei said: "Xu Xu made it, fried cauliflower and mushrooms, very tasty."

Shi Yang: "Let me try."

Zhao Meimei opened the bag, took out a piece of cauliflower, and handed it over. Shi Yang ate it: "Cauliflower can be fried?" 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Zhao Meimei fed him another piece: "Ah, it’s especially good right out of the pot, crispy outside and tender inside. They’ve gone soft now."

After feeding Shi Yang a few bites, Zhao Meimei suddenly asked: "Brother, did you have dinner?"

"Not yet," Shi Yang casually replied.

Zhao Meimei immediately understood. Shi Yang must have come early to wait to pick her up, not expecting her to stay so late.

Zhao Meimei felt sorry: "Brother, next time you come to pick me up, make sure to call me."

Shi Yang said: "I don’t have much to do anyway."

Zhao Meimei insisted: "Even if you don’t, call me."

Shi Yang turned to look at her, a smile rising in his eyes, agreeing: "Yes, alright."