Wen Tingxue found it difficult to describe the feeling at that moment.
Stifled?
Sour?
Painful?
Disappointed?
None of it quite fit.
It was more like a discomfort, akin to a headache or a cold, except the distress wasn't in her body.
It was in her heart.
Xie Jin Yi seemed to freeze too. By the time he remembered to offer comfort, the young girl had already lowered her eyes, her voice barely audible, saying:
"Let's go."
Her voice was hoarse, carrying an inexplicable weariness.
Xie Jin Yi opened his mouth, then closed it. He put an arm around the girl and they walked towards school.
The evening breeze felt even colder than before, chilling Wen Tingxue to the bone.
As she pulled her jacket tighter, Song Jia Mao's call suddenly came from behind.
"Little sister-in-law!"
His booming voice instantly drew everyone's attention.
Wen Tingxue turned back with a sigh, only to find herself face-to-face with Yu Wen Li.
She didn't know when he had appeared. He stood against the light, a step behind her. Beside him, on his right, was a girl...
She was very beautiful.
Her hair cascaded down to her waist, her figure was slender, and her small face was soft and pale.
Even a plain school uniform looked elegant on her.
She looked like the heroine from an idol drama, impossibly beautiful.
Just standing there, she was the center of attention.
Despite her own inner turmoil, Wen Tingxue had to admit that this girl was a perfect match for Yu Wen Li.
In terms of appearance and demeanor, she was leagues ahead of Wen Tingxue.
Wen Tingxue couldn't even muster the jealousy.
Her heart grew even more bitter.
Her eyes also started to sting.
"Brother Wen Li..."
The girl looked deeply at Wen Tingxue for a moment, then suddenly stepped forward, blocking Yu Wen Li's path.
Her voice wasn't overly sweet or seductive, but it held a goddess-like quality.
"You must take to heart what I said, otherwise..."
She bit her lip, her lowered eyelashes trembling slightly, like a delicate white lotus unable to withstand the storm, evoking a natural tenderness in anyone who saw her.
Wen Tingxue instantly recognized the girl's voice.
The one who had called that night... Yu Wen Li's... ex-girlfriend.
The girl who had once stood openly by his side.
The one who could make him go to her with a single phone call.
When he said she wasn't important, it was clearly because she was the cinnabar mark on his heart.
The girl he would still give candy to, even after breaking up.
The girl whose every word he would take to heart.
Innumerable realizations flooded Wen Tingxue's chest like a gale.
The bitterness made her eyes ache, as if tears would fall at any moment.
She didn't want to be so pathetic, so turning and leaving was the best option.
At least everyone would maintain their dignity.
Dignified... as if nothing had happened.
As Wen Tingxue turned to flee, Yu Wen Li completely ignored the girl's words and continued walking towards her.
His usually serene face was etched with an unusual seriousness.
"Why are you hiding? She's the one who should be hiding, Tong Jia Yi!"
Xie Jin Yi, looking indignant, grabbed Wen Tingxue, who was trying to escape, and glared at the pair opposite them.
Since she's an ex, she should be like a dead person!
Why is she still clinging on?!
Is she a zombie?!
Tong Jia Yi paid no attention to Xie Jin Yi's hostility, staring blankly at the tall, retreating figure who showed no signs of looking back.
He actually went over to her?!
He used to prioritize her!
Now he's more concerned about that new girl?!
Tong Jia Yi actually laughed, her eyes red, her lips pulled into a smile. She looked like a wilting rose, both delicate and tragically beautiful.
She was so beautiful that even without crying, people around her began to feel sympathetic.
Especially since most people present had rooted for the Yu-Tong couple.
After all, they were the school belle and the school hunk; their looks were a perfect match.
What's more, Tong Jia Yi was truly an exception in Yu Wen Li's life.
Over the years, the number of girls who could even strike up a conversation with Yu Wen Li could be counted on one hand.
And Tong Jia Yi was on that hand.
She was the only girl who could act spoiled with Yu Wen Li, and the only one he accepted as a WeChat friend.
Many people had even witnessed them entering and leaving places together: restaurants, bars, and even hotels.
During that time, almost everyone believed they were in a relationship.
Although Yu Wen Li never explicitly admitted it, he never directly denied it either.
Tong Jia Yi also frequently visited Yu Wen Li's classroom.
This invisibly solidified everyone's speculation.
During the second year of high school, when classes were divided, Tong Jia Yi studied day and night, just to be in the same class as Yu Wen Li.
At the time, she had even posted on the school forum, recording her daily goals. That post had since garnered thousands of replies, making it one of the most popular threads on the Jiangcheng No. 1 High School forum.
In the end, she performed exceptionally well and got into Class 1.
She received blessings from everyone.
However, just as everyone thought the two were on the verge of becoming a couple, Yu Wen Li stated bluntly that they had no relationship.
Tong Jia Yi offered no response.
Rumors of a breakup intensified, and only when both sides tacitly accepted it did people finally believe it.
Yet, even after the breakup, Yu Wen Li's special treatment of Tong Jia Yi continued.
They were often seen entering and leaving places together, though much less frequently than before.
But many people believed that a reconciliation was only a matter of time.
It wasn't until Wen Tingxue appeared that everyone's perception of Yu Wen Li was completely overturned.
Tong Jia Yi was no longer the special one.
In fact, compared to Wen Tingxue, Yu Wen Li's attitude towards her could almost be described as indifferent.
However, at the time, there was no comparison, and Yu Wen Li's naturally detached personality meant he was always distant towards people and things, so no one found it particularly unusual.
But everyone forgot that no matter how extraordinary Yu Wen Li was, he was still human.
As long as someone is human, their affections cannot be completely hidden.
Just like how he was with Wen Tingxue, he would hug her, dote on her, and even go to buy her sanitary pads.
Even so, many people didn't believe Yu Wen Li would end up with Wen Tingxue.
Firstly, Tong Jia Yi was beautiful and they had grown up together, making them childhood sweethearts.
Secondly, Wen Tingxue was Yu Wen Li's neighbor, so it was normal for him to look out for her.
Thirdly, many believed that Wen Tingxue was merely a distraction for Yu Wen Li when he was bored.
After all, someone so ordinary couldn't possibly be a good match for him, no matter how you looked at it.
Tong Jia Yi initially thought the same way.
Therefore, she had never taken Wen Tingxue seriously.
Until this moment, when Yu Wen Li chose Wen Tingxue between her and Wen Tingxue.
Without hesitation, Tong Jia Yi finally believed that Yu Wen Li was truly special to her.
So special that he could abandon her...
Everyone else also snapped back to reality.
So, Tong Jia Yi was truly a thing of the past.
Alas, the school belle is so pitiful~
She poured so many years of effort and waited for so long, only for the newcomer to benefit...
As people's thoughts diverged, only Wen Tingxue wanted to escape.
She didn't want to hear any explanations, nor did she want to speak to him.
All she knew was that he could recognize Tong Jia Yi's phone number at a glance, and Tong Jia Yi could make him leave with a single call.
She had also personally seen him give her candy that was originally meant for her...
He had broken his promise.
In her memory, he never broke his promises.
Even in the pouring rain, if he said eleven o'clock, he would be back at exactly eleven, not a minute later.
But for his ex-girlfriend, he had broken his promise to her...