Chapter 5: Contradictions and Estrangement

In the classroom, yet another hopeful boy, face flushed with embarrassment, held out a love letter to Xu Zhixing.

Xu Zhixing merely cast a fleeting, indifferent glance at him. Her eyes remained completely calm as she coldly rejected him: "I have no interest."

The boy, however, seemed unwilling to give up easily, continuing to plead desperately.

Xu Zhixing’s brows furrowed, her annoyance evident. With a flick of her hand, she tossed the letter aside. The paper drifted through the air and landed on the floor like a broken heart.

Observing this from the side, Fu Siqiao couldn't help but sigh softly, "Our school beauty certainly has no shortage of suitors."

After a full day of classes, Fu Siqiao returned home. No sooner had she stepped through the door than she heard a heated argument. Lin Siqing and Lin Zhaoyang were locked in a dispute, their voices rising as neither would yield.

Fu Siqiao was startled; she had never witnessed such a scene before. Lin Siqing’s face was twisted in rage, his eyes burning with fury, while Lin Zhaoyang was equally red-faced, the veins on his forehead bulging.

"I don't need you to tell me what to do!" Lin Siqing roared, turning and storming out of the house.

Without a second thought, Fu Siqiao rushed after him. She ran, her heart heavy with worry, unsure of where Lin Siqing might go.

As night deepened, the streetlights cast a dim, yellowish glow, stretching Fu Siqiao’s shadow long across the pavement. Finally, she found Lin Siqing beneath the Dujiang Bridge. He stood alone at the edge, his back to her. A light breeze stirred his hair, but it failed to disperse the thick, hostile air that clung to him.

Fu Siqiao stepped forward slowly and asked softly, "Lin Siqing, why are you here at Dujiang Bridge?"

Hearing her voice, Lin Siqing spun around as if he had been struck a nerve. He snapped viciously, "Why are you following me? You annoy me just by being here!"

His eyes were filled with disgust, the icy gaze piercing Fu Siqiao like a blade. Her heart ached sharply; she could not understand what she had done wrong, or why Lin Siqing was always so hostile toward her.

"I... I was just worried about you," Fu Siqiao said quietly, her voice tinged with grievance.

"Worried about me? Hmph, stop your hypocritical act," Lin Siqing sneered. "Ever since you came to this house, everything has changed."

A flicker of pain crossed his face, but it was quickly masked by anger.

Fu Siqiao’s eyes grew red. She fought to hold back tears as she explained, "I didn't want this either, I don't like..."

"Home? This isn't your home!" Lin Siqing interrupted her loudly. "You are just an outsider; don't even dream of fitting in."

His hands were clenched into tight fists, his body trembling as if he were struggling to suppress his emotions. Fu Siqiao bit her lip; this child was truly difficult to handle. She realized that no matter what she said, Lin Siqing would not easily accept her. In his eyes, she would always be the one who had ruined his life.

Nearby, the river beneath Dujiang Bridge flowed sluggishly, emitting a low, mournful sound, as if sighing for Fu Siqiao’s plight. Vehicles roared across the bridge above, their lights flickering, yet failing to illuminate the deep chasm that separated Fu Siqiao and Lin Siqing.

"Do you think I wanted to come to this house? I had no choice either..."

Fu Siqiao’s voice choked with emotion. She looked up at Lin Siqing, her eyes filled with a plea for understanding. But Lin Siqing merely turned his head away, refusing to look at her.

Fu Siqiao stood there in silence, tears welling in her eyes. In that moment, she felt only Lin Siqing’s deep-seated hatred and rejection. The chill of it, like the night’s river wind, was biting and cold, causing her heart to sink to its lowest depths.

After the awkward confrontation at Dujiang Bridge, the walk back was filled with silence. Oppressed by an invisible weight, they eventually returned home, though neither could recall how. That night, Fu Siqiao tossed and turned, the childish words of Lin Siqing echoing in her mind. This boy, she realized, would be a long and difficult journey. Lin Siqing, too, found it hard to sleep in his room.

The next morning, Fu Siqiao forced herself to head to the dining table for breakfast. The food gave off an inviting aroma, but to her, it tasted like wax. Soon, Lin Siqing walked over. Scanning the room and realizing they were alone, his expression turned cold and distant. He offered no warmth, not even sparing her a stray glance, as if she were nothing more than empty air.

He sat down coldly, took a few perfunctory bites, set down his utensils, and rose to leave for school. His retreating back was draped in an aura of freezing indifference.

Fu Siqiao watched him go, a sense of loss washing over her. Later, the driver took her to school. As she stepped out of the car, she saw Zhang Chenxi standing at the school gate, his eyes scanning the crowd. Upon spotting her, a smile broke across his face, and he hurried over.

"Fu Siqiao, good morning." Zhang Chenxi’s voice was gentle and kind, filled with genuine concern.

Fu Siqiao felt uncomfortable. She lowered her head slightly and replied in a low voice, "Good morning." She couldn't understand why Zhang Chenxi was always so warm toward her; this sudden concern left her at a loss.

Zhang Chenxi seemed oblivious to her unease, continuing, "Did yesterday’s events affect you? Are you alright?" His eyes were full of worry, as if he viewed her as a piece of fragile porcelain that needed careful handling.

A flicker of warmth stirred in Fu Siqiao’s heart, yet she felt embarrassed. Unsure of how to respond, she said vaguely, "I'm fine, thank you."

At that moment, Lin Siqing, who was walking ahead, happened to look back. Seeing Zhang Chenxi and Fu Siqiao talking, his face darkened instantly, a wave of inexplicable irritation rising within him. He frowned and shouted, "Zhang Chenxi, what are you dawdling for? Catch up!" His voice carried an unmistakable tone of command.

Zhang Chenxi cast a helpless, apologetic look at Fu Siqiao before hurrying after Lin Siqing. Fu Siqiao watched them go, a sense of confusion lingering in her heart.

Walking alone toward the classroom, her thoughts were in turmoil. She did not know how to face all of this, or how to find her place within this complex web of relationships. In the classroom, students were laughing and playing, but Fu Siqiao sat silently at her desk, pulling out her books in an attempt to lose herself in her studies and temporarily forget her troubles. Yet, she found it impossible to concentrate.