157. I do not want to keep you hanging.

“Sorry, I just couldn’t help myself.”
In Xia Hanyan’s warm and gentle eyes, the overwhelming emotions could no longer be concealed.

Wen Shuang was startled by his confession, but soon calmed down.
“I’m sorry too, Hanyan. I’ve always seen you as a friend and never thought about anything more! I don’t want to string you along either. To be honest, my last relationship was pretty much a failure, and I probably won’t want to date anyone this year. You’re such a great catch—you can find someone much better!”

Wen Shuang hadn’t expected that after breaking up with Ji Shen, she would still have quite a few admirers.
That guy Bai Yan had been asking her out a lot lately.
And now, unexpectedly, there was Xia Hanyan too.
Before this, she really hadn’t given it much thought, simply treating Xia Hanyan as a good friend to talk to.

Xia Hanyan carefully put his cup back on the table and spoke earnestly: “Wen Shuang, I know you don’t want to be in a relationship right now. I can wait. Today, I confessed to you simply because I couldn’t hold it in anymore.”

The man before her was just as tall as ever, with features as refined as a jade sculpture—noble and elegant.
Wen Shuang felt unworthy of such affection. “Hanyan, I’m not as good as you think. At best, I’m only somewhat attractive, but my personality…”

When Ji Shen was with her, he often said she was quite headstrong.

“I think your personality is good. You’re a good person, and that’s enough. Wen Shuang, I know you far better than you think!” Xia Hanyan said seriously.

For a moment, Wen Shuang found it hard to meet Xia Hanyan’s gaze. Her eyes dropped to the cup. “Hanyan, you know we can’t be together.”

“Why not?”

“You’re Xia Anran’s brother. Just for that reason, it’s impossible for us to be together!”

“Because of Xia Anran?”

Xia Hanyan frowned. He had thought about this many times before. “Don’t worry about her. Even if she comes back one day, she won’t shake your place in my heart. And I will never let her hurt you again! You can trust me on that.”

“It’s not just Xia Anran. Your parents will never agree to us being together either.”

Because of what happened with her before, Xia family’s parents hated Wen Shuang deeply.
If she got involved with their son again, they might come after her fiercely.

Wen Shuang shook her head. “That’s why I say you’re wonderful, but you deserve someone better, someone more suitable for you.”

“I don’t like anyone else. I only like you!” Xia Hanyan was unwavering. “If you’re worried my parents won’t accept you, I will talk to them. Wen Shuang, I will make things clear for you!”

Wen Shuang gently shook her head again.
She didn’t dare to expect any explanations anymore...

When she was with Ji Shen, perhaps because she grew up in a loveless family, she really wanted to marry him...
But in the end, the outcome left her disappointed.

She no longer dared, nor wished to hope.

The two fell silent for a moment.

When Xia Hanyan finally left, he apologized once but his gaze remained firm and resolute.

Tang Yan was both surprised and delighted upon hearing this: “Wow, Shuang Shuang, you’re something else! Xia Hanyan confessed to you too! I’ve been saying all along, he’s a young master of the Xia family. He always comes to see your dance performances when he’s free, so he obviously likes you. I didn’t expect that after you left Officer Ji, you’d be so popular!”

Wen Shuang herself hadn’t expected it to be so lively.

“But... we can’t be together.”

“That’s true. Xia Hanyan is a good guy, but it’s a pity—he is Xia Anran’s brother!”

Tang Yan added, “But if Xia Hanyan is out, then Xiao Bai is an option! Shuang Shuang, let’s go to the amusement park together this weekend.”

Early on the weekend morning, Bai Yan came to pick up Wen Shuang.

It was the end of the year.
The outdoor temperature was minus five degrees Celsius. Wen Shuang bundled up in several layers and finally wore a long white down coat.

Bai Yan, on the other hand, wore a long beige coat. With his high nose bridge and large eyes, he looked like a Korean-style cute puppy!

“Aren’t you cold, Xiao Bai?”

“I’m not cold.” Bai Yan handed Wen Shuang a hot water bottle he had prepared earlier. “Sister Shuang, get in the car quickly. It’s cold outside!”

Bai Yan was also a rich second-generation heir; his family was quite wealthy. At just twenty years old, he was already driving a Cayenne that others might never afford in a lifetime.

The people going to the amusement park today were all from their social circle.
Most were paired off.

Tang Yan linked arms with He Zhi, smiling sweetly: “Shuang Shuang, today we’re going to try every ride in the park! I remember back in high school, we loved playing here!”

Wen Shuang nodded with a smile. “Yeah, it feels like so many years have passed in the blink of an eye.”

The reason they had been such good friends for so many years was not only because their personalities were similar, but also because they shared a love for thrilling rides.

He Zhi and Bai Yan bravely accompanied them on every ride.

Pirate ship, roller coaster, giant pendulum, drop tower—they screamed their lungs out on each one!
The stress from the past days seemed to melt away.

When Tang Yan got off a ride, she noticed He Zhi looking distracted at his phone.

“What are you looking at?”

“Nothing, nothing,” He Zhi quickly shoved his phone back into his pocket. “Just the news.”

Tang Yan was drawn away by the rides and didn’t press further.

He Zhi’s eyes, however, were deep and thoughtful as he stared at the messages on his screen.

Wen Shuang wore a little bunny headband and spread her arms wide on the roller coaster!

“Ahhh—!”

Bai Yan was actually afraid of heights.
After a whole morning of rides, he was close to feeling nauseous, but he forced himself to keep a straight face just to accompany Wen Shuang.

Wen Shuang noticed his discomfort. “Xiao Bai, why don’t you rest? I can go on alone!”

Bai Yan insisted, “I’m fine. I can keep going!”

Tang Yan covered her mouth laughing. “Sure enough, a male in the throes of courtship can do anything. When He Zhi was chasing me, he was like this too. Now though...”

Suddenly, she realized He Zhi was missing!

Tang Yan thought he might have gone to buy her a drink, but after waiting nearly ten minutes, he still hadn’t returned.

She called him, but the call was abruptly cut off!

Tang Yan had noticed He Zhi acting strangely before, but she hadn’t expected him to just disappear.

Bai Yan’s mouth dropped open, imagining a possibility but hesitating to say it.

Tang Yan turned around, searching. “Damn it, where’s He Zhi? Where did he go?”

One of their friends spoke up slowly, “Tang Jie, I saw He Ge leave suddenly about half an hour ago.”

Wen Shuang was shocked.

Tang Yan snapped angrily, “Where did he go?”

Suddenly, everyone around fell silent.

Tang Yan felt sure there was something she didn’t know. “Speak up, where did he go?”

She turned to Bai Yan, who lowered his head for a long time. Seeing Wen Shuang’s equally anxious eyes, he finally steeled himself and said, “… He Zhi probably went to find Lin Xueyuan.”

Lin Xueyuan?

Tang Yan felt like she had heard that name somewhere before.

“Who is Lin Xueyuan? Why would He Zhi suddenly abandon me to look for her?”

Wen Shuang frowned.

Bai Yan whispered softly, “Lin Xueyuan… is He Zhi’s ex-girlfriend. She just posted on social media that she’s back in the country!”

Tang Yan’s eyes widened!
She was hot-tempered and never tolerated any nonsense in her eyes.

She immediately went to look for He Zhi. Wen Shuang didn’t want to continue playing either and said she would go with her.

Bai Yan stopped them. “Don’t go looking for him. It’s useless! As long as Lin Xueyuan is back, no one will be able to find him!”

Tang Yan was furious. “So if Lin Xueyuan is back, then what am I?!”