Chapter Twelve

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However, he did not encounter Honda Haoyun on the way back, so the journey passed without danger. Yu Xingyue breathed a sigh of relief and hurried home. The moment he entered, he ran straight to the kitchen and gulped down water, trying to calm himself. He had been on edge the entire way back, his heart racing so fast that he had no idea how high his pulse had climbed. Even after finishing the water, he could still feel his heart pounding.

“Big Brother, who exactly was that girl you were following? Is that why you wouldn’t let me help you?” Sun Ying demanded the moment he returned. She had seen Yu Xingyue following Xia Qin Yumei from the window of her room, and had also caught sight of Wang Tianqi. It had made her suspicious of him.

Yu Xingyue turned around. “This has nothing to do with you. Just mind your own business.”

Sun Ying had heard him say something like that more times than she could count, and the frustration inside her immediately boiled over. “Big Brother, why won’t you tell me everything? I have the right to know what’s going on!”

It was the first time Yu Xingyue had ever seen her lose her temper so badly, and he was caught off guard. “I told you, it’s up to me. You’re still a child. It’s better that you don’t know too much. It will only hurt you. I’m doing this for your own good.”

“For my own good?” Sun Ying gave a self-mocking laugh. “I’m not a child, Big Brother. I know you’re trying to protect me, but it’s as though you think I’d be shattered by some enormous blow. I’m not that fragile.”

“I said it’s none of your business!” Yu Xingyue roared. “I’m only trying to keep you safe and make sure you don’t get hurt. Do you think I’m incapable of telling you what’s troubling me? You don’t understand anything!”

“Stop saying that!” Sun Ying shouted angrily. “Fine, you’re amazing. Everything you say is right. But let me tell you something, Yu Xingyue: do you think I want to listen to you? Do you think this is the real me? Think about it—if I became someone else, whose fault would that be? It would be yours, not mine! Say what’s really bothering you instead of acting as though you’ve suffered some great injustice, while I, Sun Ying, look so blissfully happy under your protection!”

“Sun Ying, have you had enough?” Yu Xingyue bellowed.

He himself felt nothing unusual when he said it, but Sun Ying noticed that his expression and eyes were different from before. In their place was something terrifying. It was the first time she had ever felt such a frightening atmosphere around him.

Yu Xingyue continued, “You think what you said makes no sense? Have I not always pretended to be obedient in order to protect you? But you’re wrong. You don’t show me your true self either. And I’m not showing you the real me. We’re both deceiving each other, yet neither of us wants to tear that deception apart. Our life is fine as it is. Why destroy this peace?”

He spread his hands.

“But I…” For some reason, Sun Ying lost her nerve at that moment and could not say another word. The force of Yu Xingyue’s anger had crushed hers, and he was finally venting everything he had been holding inside.

“If it weren’t for your uncle, I never would have come abroad to study with you. Do you think I wanted to stay here for two years?” Yu Xingyue pointed at Sun Ying. “Don’t assume that everything must be told to you. You couldn’t be more wrong. You’ve never considered the consequences. I’ve thought of all of them. At your age, it’s best for you to remain innocent and know nothing!”

He shouted the final sentence with the last of his strength, then found himself gasping for air.

Luo E happened to return from outside. Hearing the quarrel, he hurried in at once. “Stop arguing. Both of you, calm down first. Mr. Yu, some of what you said was rather excessive.”

Yu Xingyue’s face was expressionless as he said quietly, “Butler Luo, I can’t stay here for even one more second. I’m leaving.”

“Mr. Yu, I don’t understand what you mean.” Luo E knew Yu Xingyue had resolved to leave on his own, but he had not expected him to be so determined. He could only pretend not to understand in an attempt to avoid the issue.

Yu Xingyue turned back and smiled. The smile was terribly desolate. “Unfortunately, your young lady no longer needs my protection. It seems I’m nothing but an unwanted extra. From now on, I won’t live here anymore. I’ll support myself. This isn’t the independent life I wanted—not some freeloader being kept by another family.”

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With that, Yu Xingyue returned to his room to pack his belongings. Luo E did not stop him. Instead, he turned to comfort Sun Ying.

“Miss, why did you have to do this? Mr. Yu was only worried about your safety. He can deal with his own affairs. Why did you have to interfere?”

“But I…” Sun Ying choked out. “He was following that girl. Wasn’t I allowed to ask about it?”

Luo E sighed. “I don’t know what happened, but Mr. Yu must have had something to ask that girl, which is why he followed her. What you saw may not have been the truth. Besides, didn’t Mr. Yu return safely?”

By then, Yu Xingyue had finished packing and was ready to leave. Understanding how determined he was, Luo E hurried over.

“Mr. Yu, would you like me to take you somewhere?”

Luo E knew that Yu Xingyue wanted to go outside and clear his head. As Yu Xingyue had said, he wanted an independent life rather than remaining a freeloader dependent on another family. Since he had decided to live on his own, there was nothing Luo E could do. Perhaps after spending a few days outside and finding that he could not endure it, Yu Xingyue would come back.

“No need. I’ll go on my own. I may never return.”

Dragging his suitcase, Yu Xingyue left the villa. He did not even look back at the door. His mind was made up.

This was youth. Youth existed for rebellion. If rebellion meant doing what one truly wanted, then perhaps it was only natural. Yu Xingyue’s rebellious phase had arrived rather late for someone his age, but this was only the beginning.

Rebellion was also a trial of the heart. Those who had once rebelled often looked back on that period and found it laughable. How had they ever been so immature as to do things that hurt their parents?

Too many restrictions were often the spark that ignited rebellion, and no one could put it out. One could only wait for the storm to pass; until then, that temper would continue to erupt.

Now Yu Xingyue was homeless. It was already late, and he had nowhere to go. Dragging his suitcase, he was exhausted in both body and mind. It seemed he could only sleep on the street that night.

But first, he had to fill his stomach. It had begun to growl.

Yu Xingyue had money on him, but his phone had run out of power. To conserve the battery, he had turned it off. He stopped at a ramen stall and ordered a bowl. The portion was a little small, but simply having something to eat already made him feel satisfied.

“Let’s eat!”

Yu Xingyue imitated the Japanese people he had seen on television, clasping his hands together before the meal as a gesture of gratitude toward the person who had prepared it, and as a sign of respect.

Just as he took his first bite, someone approached. Yu Xingyue recognized her and cried out in surprise.

“Teacher Riko… What are you doing here?”

The newcomer was Yanagiumi Riko. She was equally surprised.

“Xingyue, I didn’t expect you to enjoy the ramen here too.”

As she spoke, she ordered a bowl for herself. Five minutes later, it was placed before her.

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Yanagiumi Riko asked, “Why are you here, Xingyue? Is something troubling you?”

Yu Xingyue shook his head. “I wouldn’t exactly put it that way. It’s complicated to explain. Would you be willing to listen, Teacher Riko?”

“Of course. Guiding students is part of my job. If something is troubling you, tell your teacher.”

Since she put it that way, Yu Xingyue told her everything honestly, beginning with the moment he arrived home. He did not leave out a single detail of his argument with Sun Ying. Yanagiumi Riko listened in stunned silence, but the moment she noticed the suitcase at his feet, she understood.

“Let’s finish our ramen first. Then I’ll take you somewhere,” Yanagiumi Riko said.

“Where are you taking me, Teacher?”

“Stop asking questions and eat first.”

Yanagiumi Riko slurped up a mouthful of ramen. Seeing that his own bowl was beginning to cool, Yu Xingyue quickly started eating as well. The ramen was delicious, and perhaps because he had finally poured out all the unhappiness in his heart, he felt much better.

After finishing their bowls, they both said at the same time, “Thank you for the meal!”

Then they could not help laughing.

“Come on. It’s time you learned what I really do.”

Yanagiumi Riko picked up Yu Xingyue’s suitcase and began walking. Yu Xingyue hurried after her.

“Teacher, let me carry it. You don’t have to trouble yourself.”

“What? Looking down on me?” Yanagiumi Riko asked.

“Of course not. How could I let you drag my suitcase? I should be the one carrying it.”

“Why are you being so formal with me? Do you really think I’m nothing more than a teacher?”

Yanagiumi Riko gave him a mysterious smile. Yu Xingyue froze.

Could it be that Yanagiumi Riko had another profession?