USWHC -Chapter 90 Leaving Just Like This? (Part 10)

“I didn’t mean it like that!” Ji Yi realized he had misspoken and hurriedly stammered out an explanation. “I—I thought… you… you had already decided to leave, right?”

“I am leaving, but not now!” Zhu Jie immediately replied, clearly unhappy.

“But didn’t you sell the hairpin? Aren’t you leaving now?” Ji Yi’s face turned red. As he spoke, a hint of complaint lingered in his tone.

“I sold the hairpin?” Zhu Jie asked, surprised.

Hearing that, Ji Yi froze for a moment. He lowered his head to look at her, then glanced at the clothes in his hands and the steamed bun she had specially left for him.

She even bought a little thank-you gift for him—wasn’t that a sign she was leaving immediately?

“I only sold the clothes I wore, okay!” Zhu Jie shot him a sharp look. “If I sold the jade hairpin, would I only give you a bun? We would have gone to the restaurant to feast long ago!”

“You sold the clothes?” Ji Yi’s voice rose in surprise, unable to hide his excitement. “So… you’re not leaving?”

Zhu Jie looked at his happy expression and just smiled, giving him a playful glare. “I’m leaving, just not right now!”

Hearing she still intended to leave eventually, Ji Yi’s heart sank for a moment. “But if you’ve sold all your clothes, what will you wear when it’s time to go?”

Zhu Jie looked at him, shyly smiling. “I’ll just borrow a ragged outfit from you when the time comes!”

Then she let out a soft sigh. “Actually, I chose the wrong clothes back then. If I had picked something older or plainer, the thief wouldn’t have been attracted, and your mother wouldn’t have noticed me either!”

Ji Yi couldn’t help but smile slightly at her words, but in his heart, he was secretly relieved that she had chosen such eye-catching clothes. Despite her misfortune, he felt fortunate—thankfully, he had met her…

Wait! Ji Yi’s eyes widened in surprise. What was he thinking? Thankfully he met her?

“Ah, it’s just a pity about the clothes. I only got eight taels of silver!” Zhu Jie said sullenly. “Your mother said the pawnshop was fair, but I bet they’ve cheated countless people!”

“If you like, I can redeem them for you,” Ji Yi said, taking a couple of quick steps to stand beside Zhu Jie. He bowed his head slightly, smiling at her.

All the gloom from before vanished, replaced by a bright, radiant smile. Zhu Jie lifted her head, surprised by his sudden joy, not understanding why he was so happy.

His unhappiness, his happiness—it all seemed so inexplicable…

“Never mind, I didn’t like them that much anyway,” Zhu Jie said, smiling and shaking her head lightly. “After all, I stole them myself!” She even playfully stuck out her tongue.

Under the sunset’s golden glow, they both laughed at the same time, pink warmth spreading across their faces. They met each other’s eyes, and their bright smiles unconsciously imprinted on their hearts.

Everything around them was silent and serene, as if the world had vanished into a giant void. Words, insects, the wind—everything seemed absorbed into nothingness. Under the sunlight, only that one glance-and-smile remained.

It was mischievous, radiant, and teasing…

Yes. Looking at his smiling face, Zhu Jie’s heart suddenly pounded wildly. Was the sun today especially bright? Why did his smile seem so dazzling? His face, his eyes, even the slight curve of his lips—what was she even looking at?

“It’s here!” Ji Yi suddenly turned his head sharply, spotting the courtyard not far ahead, whispering with a hint of disappointment.

Yet even so, he could not hide the flush on his cheeks. What was happening to him? Why did his whole body feel like it was burning? He didn’t even dare look at her face, at those clear, sparkling eyes. God, what was happening? At that moment, he could hardly breathe. He wanted to get closer, closer to that radiant smile like the sun.

In the sunlight, a row of clean footprints spread lightly across the ground. She stepped softly along the path he had walked, the whole world silent except for the soft rustle underfoot and the wild thumping of their hearts.