Chapter 319: Chapter 319

Zhao Guodong, who was originally beside Ye Ling, was pushed aside, and Liu Zhiyuan took Zhao Guodong’s original position. Ye Ling chatted easily with Liu Zhiyuan while eating candied hawthorn, getting closer and closer. Ye Qian watched Ye Ling and Liu Zhiyuan together, relaxed and carefree, and could not describe what she felt inside. Since she became sensible, she liked Brother Zhiyuan, so no matter what she did, she hoped to gain Brother Zhiyuan’s favor. She never relaxed herself in front of Brother Zhiyuan.

Despite all this effort, in Brother Zhiyuan’s eyes, she was no different from other girls. He treated everyone equally. But at this moment, watching Ye Ling doing nothing, even being unladylike in front of Brother Zhiyuan while eating candied hawthorn, and seeing Brother Zhiyuan smiling so gently.

At this moment, Ye Qian’s heart ached terribly. Why could Ye Ling do nothing and get everyone’s attention, and why could she not get what she cared little about despite all her efforts?

The noise around quickly suppressed Ye Qian’s thoughts. As the four of them squeezed in front of everyone, Ye Qian laughed sweetly, "This is probably the first time all the kids from our courtyard have gathered together . Brother Zhiyuan, have you all seen one round?"

Coming from the opposite direction, it was clear they had seen it before they came back and encountered everyone.

Liu Zhiyuan was talking with Ye Ling about when to return to school, and upon hearing Ye Qian’s voice, he turned around and noticed her, "Yes, have you just come over?"

Because his sister was clamoring to see the lanterns, Liu Zhiyuan accompanied her out.

Ye Qian nodded, and before she could say more, Liu Rui, who was ignored by Zhao Guodong, saw Ye Qian and came over. "Ye Qian, my brother just accompanied me to watch from afar and didn’t take a close look. Since we happened to meet, I’ll accompany you all to watch again."

"Sure, it’s lively with more people." Ye Qian always yielded to Liu Rui, as if caring for a younger sister.

Liu Rui knew Ye Qian would never oppose what she said, and went to call her brother, "Brother, let’s watch again."

Liu Zhiyuan didn’t say much and nodded. He happened to meet Ye Ling, and Liu Zhiyuan also wanted to walk around again. Zhao Guodong, relieved from Liu Rui’s entanglement, squeezed next to Ye Ling. Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on novèlfire.net

Song Mei approached, "Ye Ling, it’s rare to meet up, let’s go together."

During the festival, it was all about watching the lanterns anyway. Ye Ling didn’t want to make enemies, so she nodded, noting that it was crowded and adding Song Mei didn’t matter. Song Mei saw Ye Ling nod and was delighted, so the gathering grew larger.

When ten people squeezed together, they inevitably got separated. Ye Qian wanted to talk more with Liu Zhiyuan, but Liu Rui kept pulling her, pointing at the lanterns, leaving no time to see Liu Zhiyuan. The crowd pushed, and they drifted further apart.

Jiang Yan didn’t want to see Ye Ling, so she followed Liu Rui and Ye Qian, calling over Gao Tian. These four gathered together while Song Mei and Liu Zhiyuan squeezed with Ye Ling. Song Mei’s eyes skimmed over Zhao Guodong, not focused on the lanterns, as Liu Zhiyuan remained silent. Zhao Guodong, initially excited, steadied himself, not wanting Liu Zhiyuan to underestimate him.

Eventually, only Wang Ping called out to Ye Ling, looking here and there. Ye Ling, freed from her initial reservations, became more childlike, focusing on entertainment since she came out to play. She listened eagerly to Wang Ping’s explanations about the lanterns’ meanings, and looked to her right on the way there, left on the way back. When she walked out of the lantern-lit street, Ye Ling bought another string of candied hawthorn.

The courtyard residents finally gathered again, ready to head back, with Zhao Guodong showing an undisguised gloomy face. Wang Ping was still speaking enthusiastically, and Ye Ling listened intently. Ye Qian, dragged by Liu Rui, was too tired to focus on anything else. After regrouping, only Wang Ping continued to chatter, with Ye Ling occasionally interjecting, while everyone else walked silently.

Ye Qian watched Ye Ling’s ease and joy, feeling both envy and jealousy. All kinds of emotions poured out, and she whispered to Liu Rui, "My sister is really blessed."

Liu Rui was also eating candied hawthorn. She originally didn’t kind of food but bought one after watching Ye Ling eat all along. It really tasted nice, sour and sweet, as she glanced at Zhao Guodong. Hearing Ye Qian’s words, she turned her head, thought about Ye Qian’s words, then widened her eyes.

"Why did you suddenly say that?"

"Look at our group, only my sister and Wang Ping seem carefree, while the rest of us are burdened with worries." Ye Qian tasted bitterness in her mouth, while her heart felt even more bitter.

In the past, she was carefree herself, but now, after three decades of change, Ye Ling, who was always less successful than herself, lived so brightly.

Liu Rui was no longer a child, she was already in university. Listening to Ye Qian, she looked toward Ye Ling, only to see Ye Ling laughing heartily as Wang Ping said something. Glancing at everyone watching those two, recalling Ye Qian’s words, she understood much more.

"What you said is true, your sister has changed, unlike before when she hardly ever smiled." Liu Rui’s eyes flashed. "Maybe because she gradually met more people at university, she’s changed, haven’t we all? As far as I can see, you’re the only one who hasn’t changed much, still like you used to be."

Ye Qian couldn’t discern if Liu Rui was complimenting her or hinting at something, so she simply smiled without responding. When they reached the courtyard and everyone dispersed, Ye Ling went with Ye Qian to walk together. As they moved away from the others, Ye Qian looked at Ye Ling’s scarf.

Ye Ling walked ahead, not even turning her head. "Xiang Weilai gave it to me, he said his mom knitted it, and he’ll mention to his mom that he gave it to me."

Ye Qian thought about what Ye Ling previously said, "You two have a really good relationship; no wonder you trust him so much."

Ye Ling turned back, and in the moonlight, her cold smile was visible, "Ye Qian, can’t you keep your thoughts pure? Why does everything change once it comes out of your mouth? Besides, even if there’s really something between us, so what? He’s unmarried, I’m unmarried, we’re college classmates, it makes sense; after all, we have shared interests."

Ye Qian could definitely hear Ye Ling’s mockery of her failing to enter university. "Don’t laugh too early; you won’t even find a place to cry when the time comes."

Throwing down her words, Ye Qian bypassed Ye Ling and strode home, deeply resenting Ye Ling but struggling to find a way to deal with her, refusing to believe she’d always be overshadowed by Ye Ling. (To be continued. If you work, feel free to vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com) by recommending or monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com for reading.)