Being "Crushed" - Chapter 24
“William.”
Song Yuhan caught the voice and glanced toward the door. A striking silhouette was clearly reflected in her eyes.
However, after her gaze shifted away, Lu Sifang remained completely still, as if the voice outside hadn’t called him at all. His focus stayed locked on the person before him with unwavering intensity, as if his eyes were trying to convey countless unspoken thoughts.
“May I?” Xue Fei crossed her arms and glanced briefly at Song Yuhan before fixing her gaze firmly on Lu Sifang, making it clear who she was addressing.
Though it was only a quick look, Song Yuhan’s perceptive nature noticed a fleeting hint of wariness in Lu Sifang’s eyes lasting less than two seconds.
She understood the question wasn’t meant for her and chose not to speak. Her eyes lowered, clouded with a misty expression, lost in thought.
Everything was visible to the man beside her. His sharply arched brows twitched briefly, and he slowly tilted his head, as if puzzling over something.
With no response forthcoming, Xue Fei’s features sharpened slightly, and her jaw clenched noticeably as if struggling to hold back her feelings. Finally, she turned her attention to Song Yuhan, who quietly kept her head bowed and said nothing. Xue Fei’s eyes flickered with surprise and contemplation as she studied her thoroughly.
Feeling the scrutiny, Song Yuhan curled her fingers inward, raised her head deliberately to meet Xue Fei’s piercing gaze, and smiled softly: “You two talk.” After that, she tidied her things, gave Lu Sifang one last look, and headed toward the door.
Hearing her intention to leave, Lu Sifang finally moved. Yet just as he raised his hand, he forced it back down, clenching his fist weakly as he watched her walk away step by step.
Xue Fei lingered by the door, standing firm and refusing to move aside.
Facing her, Song Yuhan’s eyes showed a flicker of respect. She returned a polite smile and gestured for Xue Fei to step aside.
Only then did Xue Fei’s brows twitch as if snapping out of a trance. She quickly stepped aside and said, “Sorry.”
Just then, Zhou Shangqing came rushing back and accidentally bumped into Song Yuhan’s retreating back. Surprised by the abrupt end to the interview, he glanced toward where she had gone. A flash of movement caught his eye, and he saw someone’s back fleeing—the very person they had just turned away.
Not thinking much of it, he turned and noticed the familiar golden hair by the door.
No, it was Xue Fei.
Startled, he decided to follow Song Yuhan discreetly, torn between helping her escape the awkward situation and pretending nothing happened.
Inside the studio, Xue Fei hesitated before cautiously approaching Lu Sifang.
“…Am I disturbing you?”
Lu Sifang closed his eyes with a sigh, brows tightening in impatience, his tone cold: “What are you doing here?”
“I… heard you were interviewing athletes, and I wanted to give it a try.” Xue Fei’s face fell slightly at his impatience, and she quickly offered a vague excuse.
Lu Sifang bent down to pick up the notebook scattered on the floor, studying the neat handwriting carefully.
Unable to resist, Xue Fei pressed on: “William, that woman just now… Is she the one you were with last night? The one in the scandal?”
Lu Sifang’s sharp gaze silenced her. After a moment, he replied firmly:
“No.”
Xue Fei breathed a relieved sigh and began to smile, though her heart wasn’t fully at ease, until Lu Sifang added quietly:
“She’s someone I care about. There’s no scandal.”
He then stood up to leave but paused and turned back toward Xue Fei.
“As a friend, I’ll give you some advice.”
She looked up slowly, waiting.
“Don’t let those who aren’t worthy influence you.” His unruly brows twitched, but his eyes held no romantic affection—only a deep helplessness and regret.
Xue Fei was stunned. She opened her mouth to say something, but Lu Sifang cut her off and strode away.
That proud man had lowered himself to calling others “unworthy” just to protect her from distraction.
For a moment, feeling frustrated, she called after him, “Are you sure you want to give up all other possibilities for someone you’re not even sure you can be with?”
Lu Sifang didn’t stop but replied without hesitation:
“I never made a choice. It’s not a choice. And you shouldn’t think of yourself as anyone’s option.”
His voice echoed in her mind, its firm conviction leaving her speechless. The tall figure soon disappeared from sight.
Her carefully applied eyeliner drooped, fists clenched tightly, and her face darkened with bitterness.
Meanwhile, Zhou Shangqing secretly followed Song Yuhan, intending to observe her mood and report back to Lu Sifang.
In such an awkward situation, if the “Song University bully” still cared about Lu Sifang, he wouldn’t just stand by!
He kept talking to himself and silently vowed: Don’t worry, brother! As a master of micro-expressions, I’ll complete this mission perfectly and bring back valuable intel!
But before Song Yuhan even reached the main entrance, she saw a limited edition luxury car waiting as if it had been parked there just for her.
An impeccably dressed man stepped out. Taller than Song Yuhan, with a fair complexion and silver-rimmed glasses that only enhanced his refined demeanor.
Zhou Shangqing gasped and covered his mouth: Oh my God! Brother Fang has a rival! And it’s the sophisticated and attentive “Diamond Wang Laowu”!
What should we do? This competitor looks formidable, and Brother Fang’s temper can’t match that…
So he hid quietly in the car, debating whether to “rush to the front lines” and risk his life snapping photos or immediately inform Lu Sifang.
Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind.
“What are you doing?”
Lu Sifang opened the car door and stared at the crouched figure inside with puzzled eyes.
Zhou Shangqing turned, startled to face his formidable opponent.
“Brother Fang, do you know you have a rival?”
“…”
“I’m sure you don’t know… right?!”
Noticing something on Lu Sifang’s face, Zhou Shangqing paused, then realized he actually did know.
He jumped up, scanning Lu Sifang up and down curiously, then teased:
“Tsk, tsk, tsk… I trusted you, brother, but you actually—”
He lowered his voice, almost whispering: “You actually want to be a mistress!”
Lu Sifang closed his eyes, calmly ignoring him. Opening his eyes, he glanced toward where Zhou Shangqing had been spying and saw the man gently escorting Song Yuhan with a warm smile.
Something sharp jabbed at his chest, twisting painfully before sinking into a sea of sourness, stirring jealousy and regret.
Sensing his gaze, the man turned, narrowing his smiling eyes behind silver glasses into a cold, disdainful glare before sliding into the driver’s seat and driving Song Yuhan out of sight.
Just like before.
It’s him again.
Seeing Lu Sifang’s dark expression, Zhou Shangqing blinked nervously and tried to comfort him:
“Well, you came first, right? You and Song Xueba were the first to be together, before this guy even knew where to cool off! Besides, he’s gentler and more considerate now…”
Lu Sifang’s face darkened suddenly, fingers tightening on the steering wheel, veins pulsing. He fell silent—if he can’t say it, better not to say anything at all.
Zhou Shangqing gave up talking.
The car grew quiet, the atmosphere heavy with the suffocating tension radiating from the man behind the wheel.
“Hey—!” Zhou Shangqing wrapped his collar, swallowed nervously, and said carefully, “Brother, let me drive. You’ve worked hard today…”
He quickly got out of the back seat and swapped places with the composed man.
Love makes people scary! He didn’t want to be forced into a race or become headline news for all the wrong reasons.
As he started the car, he noticed one or two vehicles ahead turning off and clearing the road.
And there, leading the way, was the luxury car carrying Song Yuhan.
Zhou Shangqing shook his head and glanced at Lu Sifang’s increasingly gloomy face in the rearview mirror.
This is bad! Even worse!
His mind raced for a moment before deciding: No matter what happens, to unbind the bell, you have to tie the bell ringer. The most dangerous topic is the safest one!
“Brother,” he began cautiously, “I still don’t get it… You two were so close to being officially known to the world, so why did it all end up like this?”
He recalled that everything seemed fine until the college entrance exam, when their confession plans were finalized. They were going to the same university and everything made sense.
But on the day of the confession, everything was oddly silent. Given Lu Sifang’s personality, if the confession had succeeded, he would have shouted it to the world!
Yet afterward, there was no word from him.
News of Song Xueba’s admission to Chung King University spread far and wide, but Lu Sifang left the country. Since then, no one saw them together again.
Silence answered Zhou Shangqing’s question.
The man’s sharp profile was visible in the mirror, his eyes deep in shadow, making them seem even more mysterious.
Whether he heard Zhou Shangqing’s words or not, he kept his head bowed, trapped in memories he couldn’t escape.
Yes… why did it all end?