Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 197: Extra — The Disappearance of Xiao Sijin (4)

“Is that all?” The more he heard, the more Xu Wang wanted to punch Chi Yingxue, having little confidence in his teammate. “Are you sure that’s everything?”

Chi Yingxue hesitated. Although he still didn’t think he did anything wrong, the increasingly dark expression on the other’s face forced him to be cautious.

Finally, the last piece, forgotten in a corner, reflected the light.

“Before going to sleep, he asked me if I knew where he was from.”

Xu Wang asked, “What did you answer?”

Chi Yingxue said, “I only remembered that his family grows tea, so I guessed it must be the South, maybe Zhejiang.”

Xu Wang: “You were that sure?”

Chi Yingxue: “Just a random guess.”

Xu Wang: “And?”

Chi Yingxue: “I was wrong.”

Xu Wang: “……”

Chi Yingxue: “……”

Xu Wang: “Then what?”

Chi Yingxue: “We just went to sleep.”

“Speaking of which,” Chi Yingxue seemed to come back to his senses, curiously tilting his head, “where is Xiao Si Jin actually from?”

“Why didn’t you ask him that yesterday!” Xu Wang felt like throwing cold water on him to wake him up.

Wu Sheng silently looked out the window, feeling relieved that there were people even lower than him on the “romantic IQ” food chain.

Xu Wang firmly believed that, with Kuang Jinxin’s character, he wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye and worrying his friends. Even if he wanted to end things with Chi Yingxue, he would have left an explanation rather than letting Chi Yingxue guess blindly.

Taking care of others’ feelings was a gentleness unique to Xiao Kuang.

“Let’s go back to the hotel.” Xu Wang made a decisive decision.

As soon as Chi Yingxue realized Xiao Kuang was missing, he called his brother and launched a sea, land, and air search before rushing over to consult with them. Xu Wang knew without asking that he must not have stayed in the hotel room for even a minute longer than necessary. Even if Xiao Kuang did leave something behind, that guy probably wouldn’t have noticed.

Half an hour later, Xu Wang’s deduction was confirmed.

In the tidied hotel suite, a light-colored envelope with the hotel’s logo lay quietly on the dark bedside table, as conspicuous as a sun hanging in the night sky.

Xu Wang walked over, grabbed the corner of the envelope, and shook it at Chi Yingxue, despairing, “How could you not notice this?!”

When he woke up, the room hadn’t been cleaned by the staff yet. It was a mess, and he was frantic, wishing he could rush out to search immediately—who would remember to check the tables and chairs?

But now, Chi Yingxue couldn’t care about defending himself and snatched the envelope.

The envelope wasn’t sealed, just symbolically folded.

Inside was a single piece of letter paper, neatly unfolded, with Kuang Jinxin’s neat and handsome handwriting—

Xiao Xue:

I’ve decided to go home.

Ever since graduation, my family has been urging me to return. During my university years, the tea garden was managed by my second uncle and aunt. It’s time for me to take on my own responsibilities.

Yesterday, when I asked you what you wanted to do in the future, I was hoping you would ask me the same question. If you had, I would have told you about my family’s situation and my plans for the future, including parts you might not agree with. Then we could have argued, maybe I would convince you, maybe you would convince me, or maybe we could compromise and make new plans together.

But you didn’t ask.

You said keeping things as they are is good enough.

This is the first time I’ve said goodbye to a friend in this way, because there are some things I don’t know how to say face-to-face.

Xiao Xue, I know you are happy now, and I hope you can continue to be happy. But living leisurely, as comfortable as it is, can make life feel empty over time. Find something you care about. It doesn’t have to be a struggle, just a hobby—cars, games, plants, animals, insects, and fish. When you have something you like, life has flavor.

I had a great time this month. Thank you.

After reading the letter, Chi Yingxue was even more perplexed than before.

Xu Wang and Wu Sheng, one on each side, also took in the contents of the letter.

“What do you think now?” Xu Wang asked.

Chi Yingxue stared blankly at the letter. “I don’t understand.”

Xu Wang, suppressing the complex feelings swirling inside, asked patiently, “Don’t understand why he went home? Or don’t understand why he left suddenly without a word?”

Chi Yingxue didn’t speak, as if unsure which to choose, or perhaps stubbornly not wanting to say.

Xu Wang’s patience ran out, cutting to the chase. “Going home, because there’s a tea garden that needs care—this is something Xiao Kuang has probably considered since graduation. He left suddenly without saying a word because he finally realized that these were his own matters. He just needed to decide and act on them.”

“He told me to find something I care about.” Chi Yingxue finally spoke, his focus completely unrelated to what Xu Wang said. “But I’ve already found it.” His beautiful eyes turned to Xu Wang, clear and determined. “It’s Xiao Sijin.”

“You care about him?” Xu Wang chuckled, shaking his head. “No, Xiao Xue, you only care about yourself…”

“You want Xiao Kuang by your side because you enjoy being with him; you share your past with him and open up everything to him because such release makes you feel relaxed. Your relationship always revolves around your ‘comfort level’. Do you know what Xiao Kuang wants? Or to put it another way…”

Xu Wang looked deep into his eyes, asking seriously, word by word. “Have you ever thought about stepping into his heart to have a look?”

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