When the guest room lights came on, Han Haoxuan didn't see Ruolin. Most importantly, her luggage bag next to the bookshelf was also gone! Moreover, the ring he had given Ruolin was now lying quietly on the table. The tiny starlight that usually looked so bright on Ruolin's finger now stung his eyes.
Next to the ring was the house key. It seemed she had left resolutely this time; she had even returned the key to him.
He ran to the living room, looked at the refrigerator, the dining table, and the coffee table, but couldn't find a single note.
Ruolin disappeared from his life without leaving a single word!
Realizing this, Han Haoxuan collapsed weakly onto the bed.
He didn't turn on the bedroom light, immersing himself in darkness.
He did say he would let her go, but that wasn't his true intention, and Ruolin should know that.
God knows how much determination it took for him to say those words.
Where is she now? She must have gone to find Mu Jingyan, right?
Thinking about this gave Han Haoxuan an unbearable headache. Why was she still unhappy and unfulfilled despite how good he was to her?
After Ruolin started working, she talked to the editor-in-chief once. She originally planned to resign and leave, but the editor-in-chief persuaded her in every way, saying that she was excellent enough to be the head of the editorial department. He also said that although Han Haoxuan had mentioned to him that he would take care of her, he valued Ruolin's abilities more.
"Aside from the bonus, which Haoxuan paid out of his own pocket, everything else you earned through your own hard work, so don't feel guilty. Although you and Haoxuan have broken up, you're still my good employee. You should stay here and do a good job; you'll definitely do better and better. If you leave, it will be a loss for the magazine." Editor-in-Chief Fang Qiang said all he needed to say, and Ruolin couldn't say anything more, otherwise she would seem too pretentious.
After thanking the editor-in-chief, Ruolin decided to stay at the magazine and work even harder.
When Mu Jingyan learned that Ruolin had broken up with Han Haoxuan, he was not happy. Instead, he felt a little guilty. He thought that Han Haoxuan had misunderstood him and Ruolin, and even told Ruolin that he would go and explain to Han Haoxuan on her behalf.
"No need. I broke up with him not because of you, but because we were incompatible." Ruolin said this in a very nonchalant tone, as if she didn't care much about her relationship with Han Haoxuan.
"Oh." Mu Jingyan vaguely sensed that their breakup was not just due to personality clashes, but that was between Ruolin and Han Haoxuan, and he was not in a position to ask about the specific details.
"Are you going home for the Spring Festival?" Mu Jingyan noticed that Ruolin's expression wasn't good, so he started to change the subject.
"Of course I want to go home."
"Wang Mengmeng and Li Guangyuan are getting married. The wedding will be held on the sixth day of the first lunar month. Are you going to attend?"
"Huh? They're getting married? I never really thought of them together before." Ruolin was a little surprised. Wang Mengmeng and Li Guangyuan were both her high school classmates. She thought they were both quiet and reserved, and she hadn't seen any signs that they liked each other.
"I also find it quite strange, because not many high school classmates end up getting married. But miracles do happen." Mu Jingyan also hoped that a miracle could happen to him and Ruolin.
"Then I must go and witness the miracle. Wang Mengmeng is really good at hiding things; she hasn't told me anything at all."
"For introverted people, perhaps the deeper the love, the deeper the secret." Mu Jingyan himself deeply understands this. Not many people in the class know that he likes Ruolin.
"By the way, on my birthday, didn't you say you once loved someone? I'm actually quite curious about who that person was." Ruolin felt that Mu Jingyan was also the reserved type. She had been his classmate for three years, and now they had been in the same city for so long, yet she still didn't know who the girl he said he loved was.
"What if I said that person was you?" Mu Jingyan said with a smile.
"Why do you always make fun of me? You know I just broke up with my boyfriend, are you deliberately trying to make me feel bad?" Ruolin didn't take Mu Jingyan's words seriously at all.
"Then welcome to the singles club, and I won't feel so lonely anymore."
"Why are you being so unserious? So you're actually feeling better about my breakup? Isn't that just gloating?"
"What's the big deal about being dumped? It's his loss that he didn't cherish you. Even if all else fails, you still have me by your side! If you really have no one else, I'll marry you. After all, we're old classmates, we know each other inside and out." Mu Jingyan said this with a serious expression, not as if he was joking.
Ruolin chuckled dryly, then asked, "You don't mind if someone else has used your things?"
A single question stumped Mu Jingyan. He genuinely couldn't say "I don't mind." He was a traditional man, somewhat of a perfectionist when it came to emotions. Although he loved Ruolin, did he truly not mind the fact that Ruolin had once lived with Han Haoxuan?
"Can't answer that, huh? Amu, I told you not to joke with me! You have to take responsibility for jokes that go too far." Ruolin said with a smile, pretending not to care.
Such a smile made Mu Jingyan feel uneasy. He despised himself inwardly. If he loved her so much, why did he care about her past? If she could really be with him, what he should care about was every day they would spend together in the future.
“If a man truly loves you, he won’t care about your past. So, Ruolin, don’t think you’re any different from before. In my eyes, you’ll always be that innocent and romantic girl,” Mu Jingyan said earnestly.
“Thank you, Amu.” Ruolin was somewhat moved. “However, if you’re not joking, I want to say that you deserve a better girl.”
"Ruolin..." Mu Jingyan almost confessed his true feelings.
"Don't say things like that in front of me again. I don't want to talk about love right now. I think we're better off as good friends, good friends who have nothing to do with love." Ruolin interrupted Mu Jingyan. She was somewhat disheartened about love, and her mind was still a mess. In this state, she didn't have time to process Mu Jingyan's words. She didn't know if Mu Jingyan was joking or if she was just sharing a similar experience of heartbreak with him.
Mu Jingyan did not speak again.
Could this be Ruolin's answer to him? A good friend, unrelated to love?
Is it possible that his and her relationship can only remain as good friends?
Chapter Seventy
Report pornographic and reactionary information
Report score manipulation
On the eve of the Spring Festival, D City was hit by a heavy snowfall.
The entire city was covered in snow, as if it had been completely transformed.
It was a rare snowy day, and everyone was very excited. Xinyu invited Ruolin to have hot pot together after get off work, so Ruolin got home a little later than usual that night.
When Ruolin walked to the corridor of her apartment building, she stomped her foot, and the motion sensor light came on. Just as she was about to take out her key to open the door, she suddenly noticed a dark figure huddled at her doorstep!
She mustered her courage and squatted down to examine him closely—the dark figure was actually Han Haoxuan!
He was wearing a thick leather jacket, squatting at her doorstep with his eyes slightly closed, muttering to himself.
"Haoxuan, what are you doing here?" Ruolin asked in surprise.
"Ruolin, is that you?" Han Haoxuan woke up when he heard Ruolin's voice. As if he had regained his strength, he immediately stood up and hugged Ruolin. He had been waiting for her here for a long time, almost falling asleep, but thankfully, he had finally found her.
A familiar scent, mingled with the strong smell of alcohol, wafted into her nostrils. Had he been drinking? Actually, this embrace was something Ruolin missed dearly; she often longed for his hugs in the quiet of the night. But reason told her not to cling to the warmth and embrace of her former lover. So Ruolin pulled away from him: "We've broken up. There's no need for this lingering."
"But I keep thinking about you. I can't bear to see you leave me like this. Let's make up." Han Haoxuan reached out to hug her again.
"No, I already... I already have a boyfriend." Since you've broken up, don't linger on like this. If you've chosen to leave, leave gracefully.
"Who is it? Is it Mu Jingyan?" Han Haoxuan asked.
Ruolin did not deny it.
“Go back. I have nothing to say to you,” Ruolin said.
"Okay." Han Haoxuan uttered these words indifferently, and then he collapsed.
"What's wrong with you, Haoxuan?" Ruolin was startled. She touched Han Haoxuan's forehead, which was burning hot, and then touched his hand, which was ice cold.
"It's nothing," Han Haoxuan replied weakly.
He must have been waiting here for too long to have gotten a fever and a cold, right? Ruolin suddenly felt a little sorry for him.
"I'll take you to the hospital," Ruolin said.
"I won't go. I just want to stay by your side. Please let me stay with you a little longer," Han Haoxuan said, holding Ruolin's hand in a pleading tone.
"Let's go inside. There's some fever reducer inside."
"You're finally not kicking me out." Han Haoxuan smiled like a child.
Han Haoxuan must have drunk quite a bit, because he was still unsteady on his feet when he stood up. Ruolin helped him into the house and let him lean against the sofa in the living room.
"Ruolin, I thought you would never talk to me again. Are you still willing to give me another chance?" Han Haoxuan grabbed Ruolin's hand.
"I only took you in because you had a cold and fever, and I didn't want your condition to worsen. I didn't mean anything else." Ruolin quickly pulled her hand away. After saying that, she went to the closet to find the first-aid kit.
"Let's get back together, okay?" Han Haoxuan's tone was somewhat pleading.
"Don't talk nonsense, a broken puzzle can't be put back together. We've already broken up," Ruolin reminded him.
"But I regret it, I don't want to break up."
"..." Ruolin remained silent.
Han Haoxuan suddenly remembered a sentence he had read somewhere, which was roughly: Breaking up only requires one person to say it, but getting together requires both people to confirm it.
As long as Ruolin doesn't agree to get back together, there's no way they can be together again. But is their relationship really beyond repair?
"You won't have a boyfriend so soon, right? You were lying to me just now, weren't you?" Han Haoxuan asked unwillingly.
"Don't worry about that. Whether I have a boyfriend or not is not your concern. What you need to care about right now is your health." Ruolin took a box of cold medicine from the medicine box, poured some water, and placed the medicine and water in front of Han Haoxuan: "Take the medicine, and then rest. Don't think about so much."
“Physical illnesses can be cured, but mental illnesses are hard to heal. Actually, you are the best medicine for me,” Han Haoxuan said, looking at Ruolin.
Ruolin felt sorry for Han Haoxuan's haggard face, but she tried her best to restrain herself and not show it.
"It's snowing, Ruolin. I told you I'd take you skiing on snowy days. Can you still keep that promise?" Han Haoxuan asked quietly.
"Take your medicine first, and we'll talk about it after you've recovered." Ruolin didn't answer, but placed the medicine directly into Han Haoxuan's palm.
After taking the medicine, Han Haoxuan said some incoherent things and then fell asleep on the sofa. It was unclear whether the alcohol or the cold medicine had worked.
Ruolin helped him cover himself with the blanket, sat down next to him on the sofa, and listened to his even and shallow breathing.
He still remembered his promise to take her skiing on a snowy day. The moment he said it, Ruolin almost wavered and almost threw herself into his arms. But she tried her best to suppress her emotions and pretended not to hear him.
Han Haoxuan's face was still so vivid and charming under the soft light. Ruolin couldn't help but reach out to touch his face, but her hand remained suspended in mid-air.
It's over. Everything is over. She can't let herself dwell on the past anymore. She and he are now just strangers.
The next day, when Han Haoxuan woke up it was already noon, and Ruolin had already gone to work.
"The cold medicine is on the table. You can take it home, but remember to take it on time. Don't come looking for me again. You'll disrupt my life. I want a peaceful and happy life, and you can't give me that. Ruolin." A note was stuck to the refrigerator, the words clear and glaring.
Han Haoxuan's heart grew colder and colder.
After Ruolin left, he worked frantically, trying to use his busy schedule to cover up the pain of heartbreak. However, he suffered from insomnia every night, and for a long time he had to rely on sleeping pills to fall asleep.
He had suffered from insomnia before when he broke up with Anxi, but it had never been this serious.
He saw a psychologist, who said he was carrying too much on his mind and couldn't let go of many things, which had been piling up inside him. He tried to let go, he smoked, he drank, and he picked up the bad habits that Ruolin had never allowed him to do before.
No matter how much pain he was in, he never thought of coming back to Ruolin, because he wanted her to be happy. She had said that she wasn't happy with him, so he stopped interfering in her life and pretended that Ruolin had never been in his world.
But on this snowy day, he suddenly couldn't control his longing; he missed Ruolin madly. To ease this longing, he sat at home, lost in thought and drinking. He didn't know how much he drank, but when he realized his head was starting to spin, he, who usually had a good tolerance, made a decision: he would go find Ruolin. He had promised Ruolin he would take her skiing on this snowy day, and he wanted to keep his promise.
He had drunk too much and couldn't drive, so he took a taxi directly to Ruolin's place.
Ruolin wasn't home, so he stood at her door waiting, until his hands and feet were freezing, but he stubbornly remained there. He firmly believed he would see her again.
But what good did it do when Ruolin finally arrived? Her attitude towards him could only be described as "indifferent." She even told him that she already had a boyfriend.
He wanted to ask her what was going on, but she seemed very impatient.
Later, perhaps due to the effects of the alcohol, his head became dizzy, and he fell asleep.
As Han Haoxuan tried to recall everything from last night, he regretted not having talked to Ruolin more.
He drew back the curtains, and outside the sun was shining brightly.