Chapter 10: The Beauty of First Encounters (Part 2)
“Wait!”
As their figures crossed paths, Young Master Feng swiftly snatched the phone from her hand, then took a couple of steps back, raising it and shaking it threateningly.
Ye Xiangwan tugged at the corner of her mouth, unsure whether it was a smirk or a sneer, then turned her gaze back coldly to Young Master Feng.
They stared at each other in silence for a full minute. Ye Xiangwan finally felt this was foolish and tilted her head with a sigh, before coldly uttering two words: “Where to?”
“Anywhere. I haven’t decided yet. You figure it out.”
Ye Xiangwan: “...”
How am I supposed to figure that out...
“Take me on the subway, then find somewhere to eat.”
Young Master Feng seemed to think an explanation was in order. “I ran away from home. They’re trying to drag me back.”
“Why are they trying to drag you back?” Ye Xiangwan asked casually.
“To inherit billions upon billions in family wealth.”
Ye Xiangwan: “...”
She decided not to ask any more questions. For the first time in her life, she felt her mouth had gotten her into trouble.
So she tossed the pants, whose size she couldn’t even guess, into an even more incomprehensibly sized backpack, then turned and walked out of the cubicle.
“Why are you in such a hurry?” Young Master Feng jogged a few steps to catch up. “My name’s Feng Jinyan. What’s yours? Where are you taking me now? Subway? What are we eating? Oh, right, I don’t want Western food...”
Ye Xiangwan felt as if a giant sparrow was bombarding her ear with nonstop chatter. She stopped and turned around. “Why should I take you along?”
“Because there are people waiting at the subway exit. If I go there, I’ll definitely be caught and dragged back.”
“...Then just take the subway by yourself.”
“I... ahem,” Feng Jinyan cleared his throat, “I don’t know how... how to take the subway.”
“...”
Ye Xiangwan took a deep breath, glanced around at the diverse crowd, then looked back at the handsome young man in front of her, who looked almost princely.
Had she just met someone from another world?
He didn’t even know how to ride the subway?!
“Stop standing there like an idiot.”
Feng Jinyan clicked his tongue and tugged her sleeve forward. “Let’s go! I’ll be found out soon... By the way, what’s your name? I can’t keep calling you ‘Hey you.’ And why do you always have such a cold face? Girls should smile more. Could it be that I’m just not charming enough?”
Ye Xiangwan: “...”
She pressed her thumb against her forehead, then grabbed Feng Jinyan’s arm overhand. “You’re going the wrong way. That’s the exit.”
After a moment, she sighed. “Ye Xiangwan.”
Probably because it was a workday, the subway was not crowded at noon. Ye Xiangwan crossed her arms and leaned against the seat, glancing sideways to notice several boys and girls subtly raising their phones toward them. She turned her head to avoid their gaze, and her eyes landed on Feng Jinyan to her left.
He had already taken off his mask, appearing about her age. His eyebrows were dark, lips red, teeth white—a strikingly handsome young man who stood out vividly in the crowd.
At this moment, Feng Jinyan resembled a young wolf cub who had wandered into a bustling city, eyes wide and bright as he looked around restlessly. He couldn’t sit still, either bumping her with his elbow or craning his neck to lean closer.
“Ye Xiangwan, what if you miss the platform when the subway stops?”
Ye Xiangwan: “...”
“Ye Xiangwan, why is there no bathroom in the subway?”
Ye Xiangwan: “...”
“Ye Xiangwan, why is it called the subway when it runs above ground?”
“...If it’s not above ground, are you suggesting it should fly?”
By the third time she heard her name, Ye Xiangwan finally lost patience. She almost mistook this silly fawn for a wolf.
“No, I mean, shouldn’t the subway be built underground?”
Feng Jinyan frowned, growing a bit impatient.
“Cost issues. There are both underground and aboveground sections.”
Ye Xiangwan couldn’t understand why this boy seemed even less patient than she was.
“Let me answer your first two questions.”
When Feng Jinyan heard the answers, his annoyance vanished. He stared intently at her, clearly quite curious.
“...Automatic driving.”
Ye Xiangwan crossed her arms and leaned her head against the window. “There are bathrooms in the subway stations...”
“Why so impatient? You know a lot, but don’t pretend to act like you don’t.”
Ye Xiangwan: “???”
Watching Feng Jinyan’s pompous little expression, she could have sworn he thought he was sitting on a dragon throne. Instantly losing the desire to argue, she simply closed her eyes and rested.
After a while, when the surroundings finally quieted down, she thought today was unusual. It had been a long time since she’d had such a conversation, and the emotional ups and downs almost matched what she usually experienced in an entire month.
She really wasn’t good at handling people who were so talkative and overly familiar.
“How much longer until we get to the restaurant? I’m so hungry...”
Feng Jinyan clutched his stomach and finally settled down, leaning wearily against the chairback.
“About half an hour.”
Ye Xiangwan said calmly without lifting her eyelids.
“What? Half an hour!” Feng Jinyan suddenly jumped up. “I can’t hold out. I’m starving all over. Let’s get off at the next stop.”
“Sit down.”
Under the gathering gazes of those around them, Ye Xiangwan had no choice but to reach out and pull Feng Jinyan down. Forced to take a deep breath, she said, “Stay put. People might think you have hemorrhoids. I have an appointment later. If you want to eat now, you can get off on your own.”
“You!”
Feng Jinyan furrowed his brows, then slumped after a moment. “Fine, I’ll listen to you.”
Ye Xiangwan ignored him, took out her earphones, put them on, and habitually opened TED, randomly selecting a talk to play.
Sure enough, barely five minutes of silence passed before the earphone in her left ear was pulled off and a warm breath came close.
“It’s actually English listening practice? I thought you were listening to music.”
Feng Jinyan looked a little displeased at being ignored.
“Don’t be noisy,” Ye Xiangwan reached out. “Give it here.”
Feng Jinyan didn’t hand it over, instead saying pitifully, “I was always the ‘troublemaker’ in elementary school, but later everyone found out I suffer from... anxiety and depression.”
“...What?”
Ye Xiangwan’s hand hung suspended in midair. Feng Jinyan’s sudden confession caught her off guard.
In this situation, she felt she should say something comforting, but she’d never had a friend who needed ‘comfort’ before. So she just stared blankly, a little helpless, at Feng Jinyan.
She couldn’t imagine, nor believe, that this bright, handsome young man before her could suffer from anxiety and depression.
“What what?” Feng Jinyan noticed her reaction and snapped his fingers sharply in front of her eyes. “That’s from the talk. I’m translating it for you in real time. Surprised? Haven’t you ever seen such an outstanding guy before?”