Love in the Depths of Time (GL) - Chapter 15

Xiaoyong He had planned this “prank” long ago. Lately, he noticed that Jia Le seemed stressed, so he wanted to do something playful to cheer her up. He thought of a special way to make her smile. The setting sun cast golden patches of light on the floor of the equipment room through the window. On the small path in the schoolyard, Jia Le walked alone, carefully carrying a stack of sports equipment in her arms as she entered the equipment room. The sunlight filtered through the gaps between the leaves, casting warm patterns on her body. Her heart was filled with both anticipation for the future and anxiety about the unknown. Xiao Yong’s confession had caught her by surprise, but she realized that she had feelings for him too. She decided to give herself some time to adjust to this new relationship.

Just then, Jia Le suddenly felt a warm force wrap tightly around her from behind. Startled, her body tensed up, and her heartbeat pounded like a drum. Instinctively, she wanted to struggle, but then a familiar voice whispered, “Jia Le, it’s me.”

Jia Le instantly relaxed. She turned her head slightly and saw Xiao Yong’s face, filled with nervousness and anticipation. His eyes were full of warmth and caution, as if he was afraid of scaring her. A warmth surged in Jia Le’s heart, and she smiled slightly. In a soft voice, she said, “You scared me.”

Hearing her voice, Xiao Yong’s nervous expression eased a little. He remained standing behind her, gently resting his hands on her shoulders. Scratching his head awkwardly, he said, “Sorry, I was just too happy and couldn’t help but want to surprise you.”

Jia Le turned around to face Xiao Yong. She saw a slightly shy smile on his face, his eyes filled with affection for her. Her heart started beating faster, and her cheeks flushed slightly. Lowering her head, she whispered, “You really startled me.”

Seeing her reaction, Xiao Yong felt overjoyed. He knew she wasn’t angry, which gave him more courage. He gently took Jia Le’s hand and said, “I know I was a bit impulsive, but I really like you, Jia Le. Thank you for accepting me.”

Jia Le looked up and met Xiao Yong’s eyes. She saw the sincerity and anticipation in them, and the little bit of hesitation in her heart gradually faded away. With a soft smile, she whispered, “I just need some time to get used to this new relationship.”

Hearing her words, a bright smile spread across Xiao Yong’s face. He held her hand tightly and said, “Of course. I’ll give you all the time you need. As long as you’re willing, I’ll always be by your side.”

Jia Le was touched by his sincerity, and her heart filled with warmth and happiness. She gently leaned into Xiao Yong’s embrace and whispered, “Thank you, Xiao Yong.”

As Jia Le rested in his arms, Xiao Yong’s heart pounded. The equipment room was so quiet that only their breathing could be heard. The golden afterglow of the sunset bathed them, adding a romantic touch to the moment. Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yong summoned his courage, lowered his head slightly, and softly brushed his lips against the corner of Jia Le’s mouth.

Jia Le felt the warmth of his lips on hers, and her heart pounded even faster. Her face flushed as she lifted her gaze to meet his. The whole world seemed to go silent, leaving only the two of them in that moment. In a quiet voice, she said, “Thank you, Xiao Yong.”

Seeing the emotion in Jia Le’s eyes, Xiao Yong’s heart filled with joy. He gently held her hand and said, “This is what I should do, Jia Le. I will cherish you for the rest of my life.”

Jia Le was both touched and flustered by his words. She lowered her head, grasping the hem of her school uniform, trying to hide her emotions. The air around them carried a faint floral fragrance, and the sunlight cast a golden glow over them, as if blessing their love. In that moment, time seemed to stand still, and only the sound of their heartbeats echoed in the silence.

Lin Xi’s footsteps echoed softly in the hallway. She had only come to the equipment room to pick something up, but when she saw what was happening inside through the half-open door, the entire world seemed to freeze.

Xiao Yong and Jia Le stood in the corner of the equipment room, surrounded by scattered sports equipment. Yet, at that moment, everything else faded away. Xiao Yong held Jia Le tightly, while she rested her head on his shoulder. The two of them seemed lost in their own world. He gently patted her back, whispering something, and Jia Le’s face was lit with a soft smile, her eyes full of warmth and affection. The sunlight pouring through the window bathed them in a gentle glow, making the moment look like a scene from a romantic movie.

A sharp pain struck Lin Xi’s heart, making it hard to breathe. She stood frozen, her feet feeling as if they were nailed to the floor. She stared at them, her mind in turmoil. She had always thought that she held a special place in Jia Le’s heart, that every smile, every moment of care had meant something different. But now, the scene before her shattered all those illusions like a ruthless blade.

Inside her chest, it felt as though a fire was burning, yet at the same time, a block of ice was forming, freezing her heart. These two conflicting emotions tangled together, suffocating her. She thought about all the things she had done for Jia Le—those cautious attempts, the secret glances, the quiet affection she had kept hidden. But now, it all felt like a cruel joke. She clenched the doorframe so tightly that her nails dug into her skin, yet she felt no pain.

She didn’t know how long she had been standing there until she finally noticed Jia Le and Xiao Yong starting to clean up the equipment room. Only then did she snap out of her trance. She turned and ran, dashing across the schoolyard and back to the classroom. As soon as she reached her seat, she could no longer hold back her tears. She buried her face in her arms and let the tears flow freely.

The air around her carried a faint floral scent, and the setting sun cast long shadows through the windows, illuminating the classroom with a soft, golden glow. But for Lin Xi, it felt like time had stopped, leaving only the sound of her broken sobs echoing in the empty room.

Lin Xi’s footsteps echoed through the hallway. She had only intended to retrieve the basketball she had borrowed earlier, but when she pushed open the half-closed door of the equipment room, she saw everything. It was as if the world had suddenly gone silent.

Seeing Jia Le and Xiao Yong embracing in the corner, their world seemingly reduced to just the two of them, shattered something inside her. Lin Xi had always thought that there was something special between her and Jia Le. Every smile, every moment of concern, had made her believe she held a unique place in Jia Le’s heart. But now, this scene was like a cruel knife cutting through all her illusions.

She felt both burning anger and an icy numbness, a conflicting storm raging within her. Her fingers dug into the doorframe, her nails pressing deep into her skin, yet she felt nothing.

She didn’t know how long she stood there until she saw Xiao Yong and Jia Le slowly let go of each other and begin tidying up the equipment room. Only then did Lin Xi snap out of her daze. She turned and ran, crossing the schoolyard and rushing back to the classroom. As soon as she sat down, she could no longer hold back her tears. Burying her face in her arms, she sobbed uncontrollably.

The room was quiet, only the soft sounds of her crying breaking the silence. Her dormmate, Fu Mei, who had been resting on her bed, quickly jumped up and ran to her side, supporting her just in time as she almost collapsed. “Lin Xi! Are you okay?” she exclaimed.

Lin Xi said nothing. She pulled the blanket over herself, curling up like a wounded little animal. The air under the blanket was warm and stifling, but she didn’t care.

“I’ll get you some water,” Fu Mei said, rushing to help her sit up before running off.

Lin Xi didn’t respond. She lay still, her face buried in her pillow, the salty scent of her tears a painful reminder of her heartbreak. Memories of Jia Le flooded her mind—the first time they met, the moments of quiet care, the way Jia Le had always teased her for secretly watching her. But now, all those cherished moments could only be locked away in her heart, never to be revisited.