Cheng Yuxin's Worry

“Chen Zhixuan, are you really that hungry? Didn’t you order anything to eat just now?” Cheng Yuxin asked, watching him devour the food ravenously.

“I was too busy drinking earlier and didn’t eat anything. Now I’m starving to death,” Chen Zhixuan replied between bites, still eating voraciously.

“Did you start drinking at a young age? Do you smoke?” Cheng Yuxin asked quietly, as if burdened by some hidden concern.

“I only started drinking after high school. Maybe it runs in the family—I can hold my liquor a bit. But smoking? No way. That stuff smells awful on you. Haha, girls would hate it,” Chen Zhixuan answered with a silly grin.

“Right, girls really don’t like guys who smoke. You have to keep that habit away from yourself. Don’t let yourself be influenced. There’s so much nonsense online about how girls like the faint smell of cigarettes on guys,” Cheng Yuxin said seriously. Then, sensing something off, she noticed Xiao Ma and Xiao Si exchanging meaningful looks.

“I just want my friends to have good habits and lifestyles. It’s not wrong to care about a friend’s health, right?” Cheng Yuxin hurriedly added in her defense.

“Xiao Xin, we weren’t saying anything. No need to rush to explain yourself,” Xiao Si teased, half covering her mouth with laughter.

“Oh, Xiao Si, you really are something… Ah, I can’t even explain,” Cheng Yuxin said, feeling her face flush with embarrassment.

“Ah, this is the life—finishing a bowl of claypot noodles after drinking. So satisfying! What are you guys talking about? Why is Xiao Si laughing so happily? Hey, Xiao Xin, what’s wrong with your face?” Chen Zhixuan patted his stomach after finishing his noodles, truly seeming like a lovable fool at this moment.

“You’re such a pig, always just thinking about food,” Cheng Yuxin said, a little disappointed.

“I was really starving. After drinking, my stomach was completely empty,” Chen Zhixuan muttered foolishly.

“Alright, alright, you’re done. Let’s go,” Cheng Yuxin pretended to be angry.

“Fine, I’ll walk you guys out,” Chen Zhixuan continued.

“No need, you pig,” Cheng Yuxin said, now genuinely annoyed. She hadn’t expected Chen Zhixuan to be so dense.

“Xuan, me and Xiao Si are going to check the alley nearby for some meatballs. You and Xiao Xin wait here for us,” Xiao Ma said. “You and Xuan can talk alone later if you want. We won’t rush you. Haha,” he added with a knowing smile as he leaned in to whisper to Chen Zhixuan.

“Chen Zhixuan, have you ever been in a relationship?” Cheng Yuxin asked directly.

“I guess so. Mine was a very pure kind of love. No kissing, not even holding hands, but we both knew how we felt. Does that count?” Chen Zhixuan smiled.

“I think it counts. After all, you had feelings for each other,” Cheng Yuxin said, looking into his eyes as if trying to catch any hint of a lie.

“What about you? Have you ever been in a relationship?” Chen Zhixuan asked back.

“No, only one crush. But by graduation, he never even knew I liked him,” Cheng Yuxin recalled.

The conversation fell silent for a moment. Inside his mind, Chen Zhixuan kept wondering, “What should I say? What should I say?”

“So, what’s your view on love? Do you think it’s better to find someone you truly like, or just settle? If you like someone, there might be fights, conflicts, all kinds of problems. Settling might seem smoother, more stable,” Cheng Yuxin asked, a little agitated.

“Well, I definitely want to be with someone I like—and who likes me back. How could I settle for less?” Chen Zhixuan answered firmly.

“But what if you like someone but can’t be together?” Cheng Yuxin pressed further.

“Why can’t you be together? If you don’t try, how do you know it won’t work?” Chen Zhixuan remained resolute.

“But what if your family doesn’t support it? Does that not matter?” Cheng Yuxin asked, as if summoning all her strength for this last question.

“My family supports me. As long as I’m happy, that’s what matters. It’s my life, not theirs. Why should it matter if they like it or not?” Chen Zhixuan replied unwaveringly.

Cheng Yuxin fell silent. The reason she asked so many questions was because she came from Lucheng, where traditional family views on marriage were quite narrow. Few girls there dated outside their hometown; families often arranged matches locally. She had never imagined anyone could be so determined to be with the one they loved. Suddenly, she felt she ought to try harder to pursue her own happiness, even if it meant risking failure—at least then she would have no regrets.