With you for thirteen years CH11

Chapter 11: The Eleventh Year

S university's end of the class bell rang out, really fast, students like a surging tide scrambled out of the classrooms, gathering in small groups rushing towards the canteen.

Looking at them, it's like looking at an image of your younger self. Following at the back of the swarm of students, Hai Ruo and her new teaching assistant walked side by side discussing topics, the two said goodbye at the fork of the road, walking away in two different directions.

A few years ago when Xu Jing was basically in a flurry to flee from Hai Ruo's side, this was the first time where they are meeting face to face.

"Ah, it's Xiao Jing." Looking up and seeing her, Hai Ruo automatically showed a pleasant smile, with no pretense at all.

Xu Jing opened her mouth a bit, found that she couldn't say anything out loud, silently watching Hai Ruo walk over.

"Felt like I haven't seen you in a very long time, has it still been good these past few years." Hai Ruo wore a dark-colored long dress, along with a shawl draped on covered with white lace, carrying a big coffee-colored cat bag, the black cat inside the bag heard Hai Ruo's voice, vigilantly stretching out his head.

Indeed, many times something being an eyesore has to do with their aura, the ones that should be hated will still be hated. Seeing DongDong baring his teeth at her, she grimaced at him in her heart.

"I......am living pretty well." Xu Jing finally raised a smile on her face, simply replying to Hai Ruo, "So hungry, Hai Ruo, want to eat the curry rice you make."

Hai Ruo who was actually quite worried that it would be awkward between them sighed in relief, also joking, "Then I need to add lots and lots of carrots."

Actually Xu Jing wanted to come back and see Hai Ruo three-four years ago already, but that melancholy feeling of returning to the unfamiliar place that was once home stopped her footsteps, every time returning to S university, she would always unconsciously arrive at Hai Ruo's apartment's neighborhood and circle around it a few times.

Subconsciously, she would want to accidentally "meet" with Hai Ruo this way, afterward......afterward what? Couldn't think of what the development would be like afterward, every time, at the moment where Xu Jing spots Hai Ruo, she would subconsciously hideaway.

Until two years ago, she mustered all her courage, and knocked at Hai Ruo's apartment's door.

She knocked for a long time, a super long time. In the end, Hai Ruo's neighbor saw her, and told her——her Hai Ruo had already moved away from here.

Moved to where, the neighbor is a bit forgetful, no matter how much he worked his head he couldn't remember.

Until she finally saw her again on campus today.

"My phone number has never changed, why didn't you just give me a call?" Hai Ruo changed into house clothing, and tied her hair high up, DongDong jumped out of the bag, just like before sitting a far distance away from Xu Jing all the way on the opposite side of the sofa. Seeing Hai Ruo's new home that was completely different from the one she was familiar with for three years, she felt a bit lost.

"Ah, this is something left to me after my aunt passed away." Seeing Xu Jing sizing up the furnishings in the house, Hai Ruo took the initiative to explain, " Isn't it really Western-like? She really loved this type of feeling, I also didn't change it out."

"Sorry." Xu Jing doesn't even know what stupid thing she said herself.

"Puha," Hai Ruo laughed out, "You really haven't changed a bit."

Xu Jing looked at Hai Ruo's soft laughing appearance, and said: "You too, haven't changed a bit."

After saying so, both looking at each other laughing.

DongDong looked at the woman who had disappeared for a long time from their lives and today like resuming the breakpoint that happened casually blending back into Hai Ruo's atmosphere, can't help but feel a little unhappy.

"DongDong, it's your most loved curry rice, today a little bit of salt can be added." Hai Ruo half squatted down, and took out a bit with her pinky finger, he was easily comforted, shaking his head letting Hai Ruo stroke the fur.

After passing ten years old, he really became more and more like a kitten, acting coquettishly and cute with no difficulty, from the side watching Xu Jing could not accept it at all.

"You and me both haven't changed, but this cat has changed." Xu Jing looked at the corner of her eyes, looking at DongDong, sparks erupted from their eyes meeting, "No, he's still like that, possessive like he's your boyfriend."

"That's right." Hai Ruo scooped up the rice coming over, "Yesterday I bumped into an acquaintance couldn't even say more than a few sentences."

That was because you were so hungry that your stomach was hurting, DongDong meowed out in protest, isn't it being distressed over you.

"Then, this time coming back is there something going on?" Eating dinner, Hai Ruo chatted with Xu Jing like before, bringing out unconsciously the same tone of voice she would use when asking if Xu Jing had finished revising her thesis.

After all, she was the first student under her, and the student she spent most time and effort on.

Also, the student that she had the most complex feelings for.

"Yes, when I was studying at Mr. Wu's I went to a literary magazine site to work as an editor," Like reporting back from work, Xu Jing was serious putting down the tableware, "After graduation I was in charge of a column, now it's been developed into a newly published magazine, so now I work as the chief editor." In her tone you can hear her unconsciously showing off.

Like how before she was so proud of herself saying that she won today at a basketball game.

"So amazing." Hai Ruo herself has also published some literary books before, naturally knowing that reaching this level within a few years really wasn't something easy, at the same time feeling gratified at her student's accomplishments, "Xiao Jing is so hardworking."

Xu Jing all of a sudden had a feeling of wanting to cry.

How many nights had it been, she would think of Hai Ruo's words of encouragement to encourage herself to sleep, how many times where she fought alone, she would always think about Hai Ruo's expectations toward her.

You're the best student I've ever taught. Hai Ruo would always say this.

"You really are the best student I've ever taught." Hai Ruo was actually saying this now.

"Of course I am." Xu Jing burst out smiling, "All the credit belongs to Hai Ruo."

During those three years, Hai Ruo put much knowledge, much worldly wisdom, and the way of life all that she could give she taught, saying so truthfully, if there wasn't Hai Ruo to guide her, Xu Jing was sure that she wouldn't have the achievements today.

"Now the general headquarters will move over to this city, so......I might frequently trespass your hospitality." Seeing that black cat's action of seemingly blowing up, Xu Jing smiled wickedly.

After finishing dinner, the two washed the dished together, Hai Ruo carefully looked at the neat appearance of Xu Jing in a professional suit, "Yes this is the way it should be, compared to back then it's much better now."

"Hey, it was more convenient for playing ball back then." Xu Jing remembered back to her university days with the other graduate students periodically with a group of boys on the field passionately fighting around like bulls, feeling slightly disconsolate in the heart, those days won't come back again.

But seeing the Hai Ruo in front of her, and the black cat DongDong who is always by her side like a protector......she felt that many things actually haven't changed, she was still the same, school, home, two points one line*, maybe the years have polished her body leaving some kind of marking, like age-old bronzeware, leaving behind elegant marks.

They talked at home for a really long time,  a whole afternoon.

Talking about some of the interesting things that happened in the past, also talking about other student's development now, who came and left, left and came, the topics spoken about all seemed like hot out of the oven anecdotes to them, eliciting laughter again and again.

They both knew in their hearts of that missing section of time, that huge gap drew between them.

During this period of time, DongDong had always been laid out on Hai Ruo's lap, Hai Ruo brushed pass his back once at a time, the ten-year tacit understanding built between them circulating now, a kind of warmth that is hard to say but gives a pleasurable expression towards one's feelings.

The sky gradually turning darker, Hai Ruo turned on the wall lamps.

"Are you sleeping here tonight, there's a lot of empty rooms, there's also clean clothes."

Xu Jing's hands tightened a bit.

Are, you lonely? She wants to ask, the you who is still single till now are you lonely?

"DongDong, wipe your claws cleanly, or else you cannot sleep on the bed." Hai Ruo untied her hair, falling downward, draping over one shoulder, the black cat meowed out, getting picked up by her and placed on the other shoulder.

Suddenly Xu Jing couldn't ask anymore, the answer was obvious. Hai Ruo wasn't lacking company, Hai Ruo also wasn't lonely.

Being so lonely that they couldn't stand it, giving up, it was only her alone.

"This time coming, I also have something to give you......" Xu Jing's hands were trembling, faced with Hai Ruo's seeking eyes, taking out a pink envelope from her pocket.

I clearly know, that I see you as a student, a junior, a friend, but, within this there definitely isn't any other kind of feelings**.

She also clearly remembered, the words Hai Ruo once said to her.

"The next month, I'm getting married, the other party is a doctor, they are really good to me." Xu Jing lowered her head, not daring to look at Hai Ruo.

She was scared of crying on the spot.

"Hope......you can come."

It's truly unfortunate, but I don't love you**.

"Really, why didn't you say so sooner." Hai Ruo's surprised voice sounded out, immediately, Xu Jing felt herself being embraced in a warm hug, "Really so great, wishing you happiness, wishing you happiness."

Xu Jing finally raised her head, she herself didn't know that she had already leaked enough tears to cover her face, but smiled relieved and freely.

Only till now did DongDong really feel that Xu Jing had let go, the once fork at the road covered with flowers, she probably will never in her life forget even one of those fragrant flowers.

But in the end she walked back, and found the road existing only for her.

Not being hand in hand with Hai Ruo, still having to go on.

Xu Jing was picked up by her fiance, she turned back waving goodbye at both Hai Ruo and DongDong, that one human one cat standing together, gentle eyes mingled with vigilant eyes setting off sparks simultaneously shot at her.

Getting into the car, leaving the warm yellow light behind, she couldn't help but cry sitting in the front seat, her fiance is a considerate man, holding on to her hand not saying anything at all.

She doesn't regret it, no matter what she doesn't regret it.

A relationship isn't only valuable because it produced a positive result.

She understood this, and was able to survive through, walking on determined.

*Two points one line - This has the meaning where the person's life only contains these two points. Example: Her life only contains of going to the company and heading home, day and night.

**These two lines are both said by Hai Ruo during year 6. 

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