Chapter Twenty-Two

After bidding farewell to Huang Feifan, Yuxingyue made her way to the Heartbreak Café. The flow of customers was light that day, so the place was quiet. Upon arrival, she saw Lin Zimo sitting at the front desk and greeted him. The injuries Lin Zimo had suffered during the competition had long since healed, so he didn’t need to carry so many things this morning.

Yuxingyue nodded to Lin Zimo, who pointed southeast with his finger. Following his gesture, she saw Yuli sitting there, sipping milk tea.

Yuxingyue asked Lin Zimo, “Why is Yuli here?”

Lin Zimo shook his head. “She’s clearly waiting for you. I don’t understand sign language.”

“Alright, I’ll go over.”

“Good luck communicating,” Lin Zimo wished her. Yuxingyue shot him a glare; she only regarded Yuli as a younger sister. Yuli had noticed Yuxingyue deliberately avoiding her before and had been quite disappointed, yearning to know how Yuxingyue saw her.

Yuxingyue sat down, and Yuli looked up at him with eyes lonely and helpless.

Yuli didn’t use sign language this time. Lin Zimo had thoughtfully prepared pen and paper for them, making it easier for her. Yuli picked up the pen and wrote, “Big brother, do you dislike me?”

Yuxingyue frowned as he read it, then replied on the paper, “How could I? Who told you I didn’t like you?”

Yuli wrote, “It’s just how I feel. I think you’re avoiding me on purpose.”

“How could that be? If I were deliberately avoiding you, would I be sitting here chatting with you?”

Both fell silent, neither writing further. Lin Zimo sensed the tension at Yuxingyue’s table, feeling anxious for Yuli. Either Yuxingyue had said something he shouldn’t have, or he was simply not picking up the pen.

Seeing Yuli hesitate, Yuxingyue took the initiative, writing with a pen that was nearly out of ink, barely legible, “Yuli, if you dislike me, I’ll leave right now.”

Yuli immediately left her seat and grabbed Yuxingyue’s arm, shaking her head to stop him from leaving. Lin Zimo, meanwhile, gripped his cup tightly.

Damn! Was Yuli making her move first? Lin Zimo couldn’t quite fathom what kind of person Yuxingyue was. Even Yuli had such feelings for her, and Lin Zimo envied Yuli’s courage to approach Yuxingyue, something she herself lacked. Yuxingyue and Lin Zimo were just ordinary friends; she wouldn’t develop romantic feelings for her.

But Lin Zimo was, after all, a woman. When she encountered a boy she liked, even if she acted tough, her tone would change in front of him.

Every woman feels a pang of jealousy seeing the one she likes with another woman—it’s an instinct all women share.

Take Yuli’s actions just now: when she grabbed Yuxingyue’s arm, Lin Zimo felt a surge of dissatisfaction. How could she touch Yugo’s arm? He wouldn’t even let her make a move.

With Yuli holding onto Yuxingyue, he couldn’t write, so he resorted to sign language: “What did I do wrong to make you upset?”

Yuli shook her head, letting go, then signed, “No, I’m just wondering how you see me.”

“Do you really want to know?” Yuxingyue signed.

Yuli nodded eagerly. Yuxingyue hesitated, worried that his answer might hurt her, realizing this was how he saw her.

“I see you as a younger sister. In my eyes, you’re a good sister. I hope what I say today doesn’t affect our relationship,” Yuxingyue signed, letting out a deep sigh.

Yuli pondered his words, her body trembling. Yuxingyue wanted to comfort her, but feared it would seem like mocking her.

Suddenly, Yuli threw herself into Yuxingyue’s arms, leaving his mind blank in surprise.

As for Lin Zimo, her cup shook in her hand at the sight.

She—how could she do that? Too much! Lin Zimo silently exclaimed.

Yuxingyue looked at Yuli nestled in his embrace. Instead of tears, he saw her laughing.

Seeing Yuxingyue’s stunned face, Yuli laughed even louder, then left his arms and wrote on the paper: “It’s too early for me to think about relationships at my age. I’ll wait until I grow up. For now, I see you as a brother, and you see me as a sister—just right.”

Yuxingyue, understanding, quickly wrote, “You don’t blame me?”

Yuli shook her head. She knew she was young and didn’t fully grasp matters of the heart. Right now, being Yuxingyue’s little sister was her greatest happiness.

Yuli was also clarifying her own feelings for Yuxingyue. In truth, her emotion was gratitude, not admiration. She was thankful Yuxingyue had been willing to talk to her when no one else approached the mute girl. Since Yuxingyue, she’d made more friends; after reconciling with Wang Tianqi, they became close again, and Xiao Jian, Huang Feifan, Zhang Yi—they all became Yuli’s friends. All thanks to Yuxingyue.

“Thank you, Yuli. Should I call you Little Raindrop like Xiao Jian does?” Yuxingyue patted Yuli’s head, and she seemed content.

But Lin Zimo’s feelings were different.

The intimacy between the two opened Lin Zimo’s eyes—how could their relationship be so close? She resolved not to let things continue as they were; she had to do something.

Leaving Yuxingyue and Yuli for now, let’s turn to Xiao Jian, who was talking with Zhang Yi.

“Brother Xiao, I want to learn the Scattered Strike,” Zhang Yi suggested.

Xiao Jian sipped his water, “What did you say? You want to learn that kicking technique? The dojo is on holiday—how will you learn?”

“But I really want to. What should I do?” Zhang Yi suddenly pouted like a girl, making Xiao Jian’s skin crawl.

“Stop being so cheesy. Just get your senior’s approval. If he agrees, I won’t object.”

Zhang Yi shuddered. “You mean, the senior who invented Scattered Strike?”

Xiao Jian nodded, “Yes! He’s the authority on that technique.”

“I want to meet my idol—is that okay?” Zhang Yi’s eyes sparkled with admiration.

He’d only heard Xiao Jian mention the legendary senior behind Scattered Strike, remembering how, before Huang Feifan joined, that senior brought glory to the Tianyuan Team with his technique.

After the old Tianyuan Team disbanded, the new team members all looked up to their predecessors, especially the founder of Scattered Strike—a figure Zhang Yi and Huang Feifan idolized.

What they didn’t know was that the creator of Scattered Strike was their new team doctor, their senior—Yuxingyue.

Seeing Zhang Yi’s worshipful look, Xiao Jian couldn’t help but laugh, “Haha, your expression was so cheesy just now!”

“Go on! I just want to meet your senior. Come on, Brother Xiao, take me to see him,” Zhang Yi pleaded.

Xiao Jian was surprised by Zhang Yi’s admiration for Yuxingyue. If he knew Xiao Jian’s senior was Yuxingyue, he’d probably laugh his head off.

“I’ll ask him first. When he has time, I’ll let you know.”

“Thanks, Brother Xiao.”

“Enough talk, let’s drink.” The two clinked their beer glasses, enjoying their private time, unknown to anyone else.

Turning the focus back to Yuxingyue.

He patted Yuli’s head, and she was content.

Lin Zimo came over and sat with them, wearing a cheerful smile. Yuli saw Lin Zimo’s beaming face and shuddered, afraid to sit next to Yuxingyue.

“Little Rain, come sit by me,” Lin Zimo said in a voice full of allure.

Yuxingyue felt a chill, wondering what had happened to Lin Zimo during their chat to make her act so strangely. Yuli clung tightly to Yuxingyue’s arm, afraid.

Yuxingyue was uneasy; Lin Zimo had changed, exuding a dangerous aura. He suspected that Lin Zimo’s smiling face might mean he’d be dead the next second.

“Yugo, is my smile pretty?” Lin Zimo asked, her voice enough to give anyone goosebumps.

“Zimo, honestly, you’re sick.”

It took tremendous courage for Yuxingyue to speak to Lin Zimo that way. When Lin Zimo’s smile vanished, Yuxingyue nervously swallowed.

Lin Zimo wrote on the paper, “Move aside. I have something to settle with him.”

This was meant for Yuli. After reading it, she left Yuxingyue’s side, looking at him as if bidding farewell. Yuxingyue broke out in a cold sweat—what was Zimo planning?

“What did you just call me? Say it again,” Lin Zimo’s deadly question made Yuxingyue shudder.

“I… I’m just being honest. I didn’t hear what you said earlier, but I do know your voice was really cheesy.”

Yuxingyue immediately shut his mouth, sensing Lin Zimo’s mood shifting.

“Is that so?” Lin Zimo was about to explode, and Yuxingyue sensed trouble.

Someone tugged at Lin Zimo’s sleeve—it was Yuli, handing her a piece of paper with words written.

Sister, being so aggressive—will anyone like someone like you?

Reading this, Lin Zimo deflated like a balloon, slumping in her seat. With her aura diminished, Yuxingyue relaxed, his eyes thanking Yuli for saving the situation. Yuli nodded, indicating it was her duty.

Lin Zimo reflected on Yuli’s words—would anyone like her personality in the future, especially after losing composure in front of them? She didn’t want to think about what might come.

Yuxingyue got up and sat beside Lin Zimo, waving his hand in front of her face, “Hey! Are you dazed?”

Lin Zimo snapped out of her thoughts and saw Yuxingyue sitting next to her, her face flushing inexplicably. She sighed, “Yugo, do you think, with my attitude toward you just now, someone will like me in the future?”

Yuxingyue replied decisively, “That depends on you. I don’t really understand this area, but if you meet someone who can tolerate, understand, and support you, that’s your destined one.”

Lin Zimo nodded, pondering. If Yuxingyue truly turned out to be her destined one, what would that be like? Only time could answer.