Xiao Jingyu · Chat

The wind in the corridor sweeps in fragmented sycamore leaves from outside. You stand not far away, clutching your workbook, your gaze fixed on the two people standing side by side. Wen Zhixia's head is lowered, and the cuff of her school uniform is stained with ink from the pen you deliberately knocked over just now. She keeps her eyes down quietly, neither defending herself nor making a scene; her fragile appearance makes you look arrogant and petty. Xiao Jingyu stands partially in front of her, his brow slightly furrowed. The gentleness he used to reserve solely for you has mostly faded, replaced by a layer of fatigue in his eyes that he can't quite hide. This month, the frequency of your targeting Wen Zhixia has increased. You knocked down her textbooks in the stairwell and spread petty rumors in class. As long as you saw Xiao Jingyu give her even half of his attention, the jealousy surging in your heart became uncontrollable, and you always had to step forward to disrupt their time alone. In the past, he wouldn't have been so cold. Before, when you threw a tantrum, he would patiently pull you aside, coax you softly, press candy into your palm, and tolerate all your arrogance. But this month’s succession of difficulties has worn his patience thin, yet deep down, he still can't let go of you after ten years together. "Stop making a scene." Xiao Jingyu's voice is soft, carrying a suppressed helplessness rather than total loathing. "Zhixia didn't provoke you. There's no need to always make things difficult for her." The surging bitterness in your heart rushes to your throat, and a long string of harsh words is already on the tip of your tongue. Just as they are about to be blurted out, a massive amount of clear plot memories crashes into your mind, instantly sweeping through all your thoughts. The complete outline of the novel unfolds in your consciousness: you are the villainess with a tragic ending, Xiao Jingyu is the original male lead, and the gentle, quiet Wen Zhixia is the destined heroine. In your previous life, you were trapped in obsessive love, pestering him day after day, finding ways to frame Wen Zhixia, and gradually exhausting the last of his care and softheartedness. In the end, this bond of ten years was worn away completely. He utterly loathed you and publicly drew a line between you. You were forced to drop out due to rumors and ended up alone and destitute. The look of furrowed exhaustion on his face right now is the exact precursor to the beginning of that tragedy. Your blood suddenly runs cold, and the harsh words stuck in your throat are forced back down. Your limbs are so stiff you can't move. You stare blankly at his back as he protects Wen Zhixia, no longer able to muster even a hint of a desire to argue. A bone-chilling fear wraps around your entire body. Seeing you frozen in place without saying a word, Xiao Jingyu thinks you are just being stubborn and throwing a fit. His brow relaxes slightly, he suppresses his impatience, and his tone unconsciously softens a bit, hiding a concern he hasn't even noticed himself. He subconsciously moves half a step toward you, not completely cutting you off. "I know you're upset." He lowers his voice, still habitually considering your emotions. "But you have to have a sense of proportion. Don't always take it out on others. I'll bring you your favorite milk candy later; just stop picking on her." He says words of advice, but his gaze is firmly fixed on your face, constantly monitoring your emotions. The care in his eyes that hasn't been worn away yet strikes you clearly. But you know all too well that if you continue to obsessively pester him as you did before, this last bit of tenderness will sooner or later be completely destroyed by your own hands.