Love in the Depths of Time (GL) - Chapter 13

Lin Xi walked into the library, sunlight streaming through the tall windows, casting a warm glow on the bookshelves. The scent of paper and ink filled the air. She found a quiet corner, sat down, and opened a programming book. Lately, she had been trying to distract herself with coding, but the shadow of Jia Le lingered in her mind.

Just then, a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Lin Xi, long time no see!”

Lin Xi looked up and saw Yang Sheng standing in front of her, holding a programming book in his hand and smiling warmly.

“Yang Sheng?” she said in surprise.

Yang Sheng sat down across from her and placed his book on the table. “I came here to find you. There’s something important I want to discuss.”

Lin Xi put down her pen and gestured for him to continue.

“Our school is hosting a programming competition soon, and we need a team of four. I’ve thought about it for a long time, and I think you’re one of the best choices. You’re really good at coding, and we’ve worked together before—we make a great team,” Yang Sheng said seriously.

Lin Xi hesitated. She had been avoiding these kinds of activities ever since she decided to distance herself from Jia Le. She looked down, then replied, “Yang Sheng, I really appreciate you thinking of me, but right now…”

Yang Sheng interrupted her, “I know you’ve been dealing with some things lately, but this competition is really important to us. We’ve already found two other team members. If you join, I believe we have a great chance of doing well.”

Lin Xi was silent for a moment before finally nodding. “Alright, I’ll give it a try.”

The next day, Lin Xi arrived at the library’s meeting room as promised. Yang Sheng was already inside, and as soon as she walked in, he stood up with an expectant smile.

“Lin Xi, you’re here! These are our other two team members—Jia Le and He Xiaoyong,” Yang Sheng introduced.

Lin Xi’s heart sank. She hadn’t expected Jia Le and He Xiaoyong to be part of the team.

Jia Le’s eyes widened in surprise, and he stepped forward with a grin, lightly patting her shoulder. “Lin Xi, long time no see! What made you suddenly decide to join us?”

Lin Xi forced a smile. “Yang Sheng asked me to join. He said there’s a programming competition.”

Jia Le nodded. “Yeah, that’s why we’re all here. Yang Sheng said you’re really good at coding. With you on our team, I’m sure we can win.”

Lin Xi knew Jia Le genuinely wanted to work with her, but she couldn’t forget the promise she had made to Jia Le’s mother. She forced herself to remain calm and said, “Let’s do our best together, then.”

He Xiaoyong also stepped forward and extended his hand. “Nice to meet you, Lin Xi. We’ll be working together a lot from now on.”

Lin Xi shook his hand but felt uneasy inside. She knew He Xiaoyong had always liked Jia Le, and yet she had to keep her own feelings buried deep.

In the following days, the team worked hard to prepare for the competition. Every day, they gathered in the library’s meeting room to discuss programming problems. The atmosphere was both tense and energetic, but Lin Xi couldn’t shake the turmoil in her heart.

One day, during a discussion, He Xiaoyong suggested an idea. Lin Xi didn’t think it would work, so she rejected it outright.

He Xiaoyong’s face changed slightly, but he quickly composed himself. “Lin Xi, I see your point, but I still think my idea has merit.”

Lin Xi shot him a cold look. “I’m not against trying, but I just want us to solve problems efficiently.”

Jia Le, sensing the tension, gave an awkward laugh. “Maybe we can test both ideas and see which one works better?”

Yang Sheng quickly chimed in. “Yeah, we’re all here for the competition. Let’s not get too personal about this.”

Lin Xi nodded, but the frustration in her heart didn’t completely fade. She knew she needed to focus on the competition, but her emotions were hard to suppress.

As the competition day drew closer, the team’s stress levels increased. One night, they stayed late in the library, making final adjustments. Lin Xi sat in front of the computer, focused on debugging the code, while Jia Le and He Xiaoyong discussed some technical issues nearby. He Xiaoyong was leaning in close to Jia Le, guiding her hands as she adjusted the program.

Suddenly, his hand accidentally brushed against hers. Jia Le’s face turned slightly red.

“Jia Le,” He Xiaoyong said, his voice dripping with warmth, “look here—if you change this part like this…”

Yang Sheng rolled her eyes. “Oh great, here comes the flirting again.”

“He Xiaoyong, can you be more careful?” Lin Xi said coldly.

He Xiaoyong paused, looking embarrassed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

Jia Le looked at Lin Xi, confused. “Lin Xi, what’s wrong?”

Lin Xi took a deep breath and tried to keep her voice steady. “Nothing. I just think we should focus. Time is running out.”

He Xiaoyong’s expression darkened slightly, but he didn’t say anything. Yang Sheng, noticing the tension, quickly interjected, “Alright, let’s not argue. Let’s just keep working, okay?” Then she turned to Lin Xi and suddenly said, “Hey, want to go up to the rooftop for some air?”

On the rooftop, the cool evening breeze blew gently. Yang Sheng leaned against the railing and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. Lin Xi stared at her in surprise.

“You smoke?” she asked.

“Only sometimes.” Yang Sheng lit a cigarette and exhaled a ring of smoke. “When I’m stressed.” She looked at Lin Xi with a smirk. “So, do you think Jia Le will say yes to He Xiaoyong?”

Lin Xin’s heart clenched. She hesitated. “I… I don’t know.”

“I have my doubts,” Yang Sheng said. “Jia Le may seem easygoing, but she’s actually really stubborn.” She turned to Lin Xi and asked, “But you—if you like her so much, why don’t you say something?”

Lin Xi was stunned. “I… I…”

“Don’t even try to deny it,” Yang Sheng said with a knowing smile. “The way you look at her, even a blind person could tell.”

Lin Xin lowered her head, feeling her cheeks heat up. She never thought someone would see through her feelings, let alone Yang Sheng.

“Honestly,” Yang Sheng said, stubbing out her cigarette, “I think you two are a good match. Jia Le needs someone like you—someone who can keep her in check.” She paused, then looked Lin Xi straight in the eye. “The question is, do you have the courage to tell her how you feel?”

Lin Xin bit her lip, her heart racing.

The night of the competition arrived, and the atmosphere in the library’s meeting room was tense. The four team members sat in front of their computers, making final preparations. Lin Xi’s fingers flew over the keyboard as she focused on refining their code. Jia Le and He Xiaoyong were discussing some technical details nearby. He Xiaoyong leaned closer to Jia Le, guiding her hands over the keyboard. By accident, his fingers brushed against hers.

Jia Le blushed slightly and instinctively pulled her hand back. Lin Xi’s heart sank. She felt an indescribable pang of loss and frustration.

“Jia Le,” He Xiaoyong said, his voice gentle. “Look here. If you change it like this…”

Yang Sheng rolled her eyes. “Oh great, here comes the flirting again.”

“He Xiaoyong, can you be more careful?” Lin Xi said coldly.

He Xiaoyong hesitated for a moment before forcing a smile. “Sorry, it wasn’t on purpose.”

Jia Le looked at Lin Xi, confusion in her eyes. “Lin Xin, what’s wrong?”

Lin Xin took a deep breath, trying to keep her composure. “Nothing. I just think we should focus—we don’t have much time left.”

He Xiaoyong’s face darkened, but he didn’t argue. Yang Sheng noticed the tension and quickly tried to lighten the mood. “Alright, no fighting. Let’s just focus on the competition.”

The atmosphere remained tense as the competition approached. One evening, the team stayed late at the library to finalize the details. Lin Xi sat at the computer, her fingers flying over the keys. Nearby, Jia Le and He Xiaoyong discussed technical issues. He Xiaoyong leaned in close, guiding Jia Le’s hand as she debugged. Suddenly, their hands touched. Jia Le blushed and quickly pulled away.

Lin Xi’s heart sank. She felt a deep, unexplainable sense of loss and frustration.

“Jia Le,” He Xiaoyong said softly, his voice dripping with warmth. “If you change it like this…”

Yang Sheng smirked and rolled her eyes. “Oh great, here we go again. More flirting.”

“He Xiaoyong, can you be more careful?” Lin Xi said coldly.

He Xiaoyong paused, an awkward smile on his face. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

Jia Le looked at Lin Xi, confused. “Lin Xin, what’s wrong?”

Lin Xin took a

deep breath and forced herself to stay calm. “Nothing. Let’s just focus.”