"I already submitted the application. Just be ready—the selection will be held in two days, okay?"
She spoke firmly, but he barely acknowledged her, focused instead on packing his archery set into his bag. The smooth sound of arrows sliding into place was the only response she received.
"Are you even listening?" she asked, her voice carrying a hint of impatience.
He gave a brief nod, still not looking up. "I have to leave. Yueming is waiting at the entrance," he said simply before slinging the bag over his shoulder and heading toward the door
Hua Rong had already given him the form, so she wasted no more time. After packing her things, she stepped outside.
Across the road, she caught sight of a familiar figure—Tang Moyu. The girl who often came to pick up Xu Lingwei. As usual, Xu Lingwei stood beside her, his driver waiting nearby.
Just as Hua Rong was about to turn away, Tang Moyu suddenly waved at her.
She froze mid-step, her brows furrowing. Why is she waving at me?
Before she could process it, Tang Moyu had already crossed the road, heading straight for her. Instinctively, Hua Rong took a cautious step back, her muscles tensing.
Stopping in front of her, Tang Moyu smiled. "Hey, I'm Tang Moyu, Xu Lingwei's childhood friend. He told me you're someone he knows, too." Her tone was casual, friendly—too friendly. "We were about to head to a restaurant. Want to come along?"
Hua Rong's gaze flickered past her, landing on Xu Lingwei. He was still standing by the car, watching them, but his expression was unreadable. From the way he looked at her, it was clear—he had no idea what they were talking about.
Hua Rong shook her head. "No. But thanks for asking." Without waiting for a response, she turned to leave.
"But Xu Lingwei also wants you to come along," Tang Moyu added with a smile.
Hua Rong halted. Xu Lingwei? The clueless one?
She turned her gaze toward him, but he still stood there, hands in his pockets, watching them with the same unreadable expression. He hadn't said a single word, and yet Tang Moyu was claiming otherwise.
Tang Moyu tilted her head. "Well?"
After a brief pause, Hua Rong exhaled and nodded. "Fine."
Tang Moyu beamed, and together, they walked toward the sleek black car. As they approached, Xu Lingwei's eyes flicked to Hua Rong.
"Hua Rong?" he said, his tone uncertain.
Before he could say anything else, Tang Moyu quickly cut in, sliding into the car. "She's coming with us! You don't mind, do you?"
Xu Lingwei didn't respond. His gaze lingered on Hua Rong for a moment longer before he shifted slightly, making space for her to enter.
Without a word, she got in. The moment the door shut, the driver, Yueming, smoothly pulled the car away from the curb, the quiet hum of the engine filling the air as they headed toward the restaurant
Hua Rong stole a glance at Xu Lingwei, who sat beside her, his gaze fixed outside the window. The faint glow of passing streetlights flickered across his face, but he remained unmoving, lost in thought.
She shifted uncomfortably. Why did he seem so distant?
"Xu," she called softly.
He took a moment before responding, slowly turning his head toward her. His hazel-brown eyes held no emotion, just quiet curiosity. "What?"
"I want to get off the car," she said suddenly.
Xu Lingwei's indifferent expression changed, his brows furrowing slightly. "What?" His voice was sharp, edged with confusion. "Then why did you agree to come in the first place?"
Hua Rong clenched her fists on her lap, frustration bubbling in her chest. "I thought you'd be happy if I came! But you're just ignoring me!"
Her voice came out sharper than she intended, but she didn't regret it. She had thought this would be different, that maybe he wanted her here. But the whole time, he hadn't even looked at her properly.
Tang Moyu, who had been sitting between them, finally let out a small sigh, placing a hand gently on Hua Rong's arm. "Come on, Hua Rong, don't be like that." Her voice was lighthearted, as if trying to smooth over the tension. "Xu Lingwei isn't good at expressing himself, you should know that by now."
Hua Rong pressed her lips together, looking away.
"But he does care," Tang Moyu continued with a knowing smile. "I would know—I've known him since childhood."
That made Hua Rong freeze for a split second.
She hadn't thought about it much before, but now, hearing Tang Moyu say it so casually—it felt odd.
"Well, Xu Lingwei, do you even want to eat there?" Tang Moyu asked, tilting her head toward him.
"Anything is fine," he replied, his voice flat.
Tang Moyu let out an exaggerated sigh. "How can 'anything' be fine? You have a peanut allergy, and you don't like sweet food."
Hua Rong's fingers twitched.
Why did she know that?
It wasn't a secret, but the way Tang Moyu spoke—as if it was the most natural thing in the world, as if she had known him for so long that these details were second nature—made something uncomfortable coil inside her.
Hua Rong exhaled, trying to push the feeling down.
But she couldn't.
The air in the car suddenly felt thick, like it was pressing down on her. She couldn't breathe properly. She needed to get out.
"Stop the car," she blurted out, her voice firm.
Tang Moyu turned to her, surprised. "What? Why?"
"I just remembered something—I have to go," Hua Rong said quickly, her hands already reaching for the door handle.
Yueming, the driver, glanced at Xu Lingwei through the rearview mirror, waiting for confirmation.
For a moment, silence filled the car.
Then, without a word, Xu Lingwei gave a small nod.
The car slowed to a stop.
Hua Rong didn't hesitate. She pushed the door open, stepping out into the cool evening air, inhaling deeply as the tension in her chest loosened slightly.
Behind her, Tang Moyu pouted. "Oh, that's sad! I really wanted her to come along."
But Xu Lingwei remained silent, his gaze lingering on the spot where Hua Rong had just been.
.....
"Hey, Liu Haofeng! Is Hua Rong here?" Hua Yuxi called out, her voice laced with concern as she stood at the doorway, peering inside.
Liu Haofeng glanced up from where he was wiping down a table. "Yeah, she came by earlier," he said, setting the cloth aside. "She met with Liu Meiling, and then she left."
Yuxi's brows furrowed. "At what time?"
He thought for a moment before answering, "More than half an hour ago."
Half an hour? That was too long.
Yuxi's fingers tightened around the tray she was holding. On it sat a plate of food—one she had made especially for Hua Rong. It had been a while since she had cooked for her, and she had wanted to surprise her with something warm and comforting. But now, with every passing second, unease settled deeper in her chest.
She turned toward the open doorway again, her eyes scanning the dimly lit road outside. The evening air carried the distant hum of city life, but there was no sign of Hua Rong.
With a quiet sigh, Yuxi lowered herself to sit at the edge of the door, placing the tray beside her. She pulled her knees close to her chest, her chin resting lightly against them, and continued to wait.
The night stretched on, and worry gnawed at her. Where was she? Why hadn't she come back yet?