The Unreturnable Refrigerator - Chapter 28.1
Chapter 28.1: New Year’s Eve (Past)
Lu Yin pulled the curtains shut again, went back to bed, rolled into the blanket, and buried her face in the pillow.
Sheng Xiali had someone she liked, and she was even pursuing her…
The former didn’t surprise her too much; it had been five years, it was normal for her to like someone.
The latter, however, was what shocked her.
Lu Yin had always thought that someone like Sheng Xiali would never take the initiative. She would only stand calmly in one place, scrutinizing every person who approached her. If she felt it was appropriate or had a flicker of interest, she might, in her great mercy, accept the affection that was offered.
But it turned out not to be like that…
Or perhaps it was just like that for her.
Lu Yin couldn’t help but think back to their past, to the time when she had worked so hard to chase Sheng Xiali.
In the beginning, it was just a small crush and a deliberate desire to get closer. Unfortunately, she never had the chance. Although she finally got to talk to her a bit because of a volleyball exam, they were still not close.
At that time, Lu Yin wasn’t that serious about it, but everything changed during the summer of her freshman year.
She ran away from home, met Sheng Xiali, and ended up becoming her “roommate.”
Sheng Xiali, who was stunning from afar, was even more captivating up close. Lu Yin’s initial small crush turned into a deep affection.
She took the initiative to get closer, treating her well in her own way, wanting to enter her heart and claim her for herself.
Finally, after relentless effort, she felt Sheng Xiali’s resistance soften on that stormy night.
They finally “squeezed” onto the same bed, and she even almost kissed Sheng Xiali.
Although the kiss ultimately landed on Sheng Xiali’s forehead, the light flickering in Sheng Xiali’s eyes gave her a huge boost of encouragement.
To this day, Lu Yin remembers how fast her heart was beating that night, surpassing the storm outside.
After the kiss on the forehead, no one said a word. Lu Yin didn’t make any further moves. She just held Sheng Xiali tightly, feeling the pulse beating in the hollow of her neck, echoing the fireworks exploding in her mind.
She thought she would be up all night, but to her surprise, she fell asleep quickly and had a good night’s sleep.
But when she woke up, and tried to take things a step further with Sheng Xiali, she was back to her old polite and distant self.
She was like the sudden downpour of the previous night, appearing abruptly and disappearing without a trace, leaving no sign once the sky cleared.
In fact, there was a new, inexplicable hint of resistance.
Sheng Xiali wouldn’t even let her go out with her anymore.
“Why?”
Lu Yin was full of confusion, looking at the person who had already packed her bag and was about to leave.
Was it because she hadn’t gone out with Sheng Xiali to the movie theater the day before?
That was just her little tactic of taking one step back to take two steps forward.
After all, when a person constantly revolves around another, the other person easily gets used to it, and it’s easy for them to forget how important that person is.
At that point, only a change can make them realize that they can no longer do without that person.
That was what Lu Yin wanted to achieve.
But now, it seemed the script wasn’t going as she had planned.
Sheng Xiali put on her bag, turned to Lu Yin, and said calmly, “You’ve seen those movies so many times. There’s no need to waste money.”
Did she think she was wasting money?
“Then I won’t watch movies. I’ll just shop around the mall and wait for you to get off work.”
Sheng Xiali continued to walk out. After opening the door, she paused.
“Lu Yin, where you go and what you do has nothing to do with me, but please, don’t follow me anymore.”
She said it to Lu Yin, but she didn’t turn around to look at her. After speaking, she closed the door behind her.
Lu Yin stared at the closed dorm door, even more puzzled. What was wrong with Sheng Xiali? How could she change so much overnight?
Lu Yin stood there, dazed for a long time before she came back to her senses.
She quickly ran to the balcony, leaned out a little, and looked down. Soon, Sheng Xiali walked out of the dorm building and headed toward the school gates.
She had really just left alone.
Lu Yin had no idea what had happened or what her words meant.
Did what happened last night upset her?
Lu Yin thought back to when she tried to kiss Sheng Xiali and she had moved away. So she wasn’t willing?
But why didn’t she say so last night? And the way she looked at her last night, it didn’t seem like she was unwilling at all!
She even saw a smile in her eyes. And when she was pressed against Sheng Xiali later, she didn’t push her away.
What was going on now? Why did it feel like they were back to the beginning?
Lu Yin thought about it all day but couldn’t figure it out. When she tried to talk to Sheng Xiali again that night, she just said everything was fine and that she didn’t want Lu Yin to waste her time and money following her.
But how could that be a waste of time?
Every minute and every second she spent with Sheng Xiali made her happy. How could happy moments be a waste of time?
If that was a waste, then what wasn’t?
After that, their relationship went back to how it was when Lu Yin first moved in—courteous and polite, but with a sense of distance.
It was a one-sided distance from Sheng Xiali. She never slept in her bed again.
It wasn’t until two days before the new semester started, when Lu Yin was packing to move back to her original dorm, that Sheng Xiali spoke a long string of words to her, mainly to tell her how to organize and pack her belongings that had nearly filled an entire dorm room.
After the semester started, Lu Yin saw Sheng Xiali even less. Sheng Xiali barely responded to her messages unless they were about something serious.
After half a month, Lu Yin felt like she was going crazy.
Especially after she saw a post on her social media: The happiest moment is when you are close to happiness.
Lu Yin closed her laptop with a “clack.” She didn’t know if being close to happiness was the happiest, but she now knew how miserable it was to think you were close to happiness only to fall into an abyss!
This was the first time Lu Yin had ever liked or pursued someone. She didn’t know if this stage was a necessary part of the process or if everyone was as hard to chase as Sheng Xiali. But when she thought of Sheng Xiali, and the beautiful light in her slightly upturned eyes when she smiled, she didn’t want to give up.
Lu Yin got up, changed her clothes, and put on her slippers to go out. She ran into Cheng Siyu and Song Xinlei, who were just coming in.
“Where are you going?” Cheng Siyu asked, holding a thermos, curious. It was already 9:30 p.m., and Song Xinlei had just gotten back from the library.
Lu Yin stepped aside to let them in. “I ate too much and am going for a run on the track.”
Cheng Siyu walked in with the thermos: “What did you buy? What delicious thing did you eat that made you so full?”
“Grab whatever is on the table. I didn’t bring my keys. Can you open the door for me later?” Lu Yin said, walking out.
Song Xinlei, who was next to her, pouted as she watched Lu Yin leave. She was so focused on her figure, but seeing her toned and beautiful legs, she felt a little envious.
She needed to exercise more, too. Her diet at home over the summer was too good, and she had gained weight.
Song Xinlei walked inside, pulling her phone out of her pocket. Since Lu Yin wasn’t there, she didn’t have to go to the balcony to make a call. She pulled out a chair, sat down, and called Sheng Xiali.
“Hello, Xiaxia, have you gotten off the bus yet?”
“Almost.” Sheng Xiali looked out the window. There were only two stops left until the school station.
Song Xinlei smiled and put down her backpack: “Did you not see the message from the class monitor?”
The class monitor she was talking about was their high school class monitor. Today, she had tagged everyone in the high school chat group, saying she wanted to organize a class reunion during the National Day holiday.
The class monitor had also messaged Song Xinlei privately, wanting to know if Sheng Xiali would attend. Song Xinlei understood that if Xiaxia went, more people would be willing to go.
At least she would agree immediately.
Song Xinlei knew Sheng Xiali had a part-time job that night, so she timed the call perfectly.
Sheng Xiali declined. She had already made plans for her part-time job during the long holiday.
Song Xinlei wasn’t surprised. The reunion was in their hometown, and Xiaxia had said she didn’t want to go back after she left.
Since Sheng Xiali wasn’t going, she wouldn’t either.
Song Xinlei refused on behalf of herself and Xiaxia.
Sheng Xiali hung up, and the bus arrived at the stop. Before she could get off, she saw someone standing by the bus stop sign.
The newly renovated bus stop had a new sign and lights. They were much brighter than before. The stark white light illuminated the entire station and the person who looked cold in the wind, hopping and rubbing her arms.
She didn’t know what she was thinking. There was a smile on her face, and a light was dancing in her crescent-shaped eyes.
Lu Yin heard the bus arrive, looked up, and her eyes met Sheng Xiali’s, who was waiting to get off by the door. The smile on her face instantly became brighter.
She had just been counting, telling herself that the person would appear once she reached one hundred.
In the end, she cheated and counted slower and slower. When she heard the bus arrive, she finally reached one hundred and looked up, right at Sheng Xiali.
The doors opened, and a gust of wind rushed out, sweeping a few fallen leaves on the ground. It was already September, and the nights in Hengcheng had suddenly become cold.
Sheng Xiali looked at Lu Yin, who shivered when the wind blew, and at her arms exposed under her short sleeves. Her gaze deepened.
“What a coincidence~” Lu Yin said, rubbing her arms with a smile.
Sheng Xiali stared at her. She clearly didn’t find her joke funny.
Lu Yin saw her serious expression and gave an awkward laugh.
“Is there something you need?” Sheng Xiali asked calmly, taking a step forward.
Lu Yin followed, walking quickly to get ahead of Sheng Xiali. She walked backward, facing her, and said, “Yeah, I need something.”
Sheng Xiali stopped and looked at her: “What is it?”
Lu Yin pursed her lips: “I haven’t thought of it yet.”
She laughed at herself. She had been thinking on the way here about what kind of excuse to use, but even after seeing her, she still couldn’t think of anything.
She and Sheng Xiali didn’t really have any connection anymore. This year, they didn’t even have the same PE class, even though Lu Yin had once again chosen volleyball.
The volleyball teacher laughed when he saw her. She could only explain that her hands were too slow.
Sheng Xiali looked at the person who was so matter-of-fact about not having an excuse. For a moment, her poker face almost broke, and a smile flashed in her eyes.
Seeing Lu Yin still backing up, not noticing the “obstacle” behind her, Sheng Xiali grabbed her and pulled her a few steps to the side.
Lu Yin turned her head in surprise. A tricycle selling roasted sweet potatoes had appeared on the street.
It wasn’t even autumn yet, but there was already a vendor selling roasted sweet potatoes.
What was even more surprising was that Sheng Xiali actually stopped to buy one. Just as Lu Yin was taking out money from her pocket to buy one as well, something warm was placed in her hand.
It was a roasted sweet potato, not too big and not too small, and it felt warm and comforting in her palm.
Lu Yin was astonished. Sheng Xiali was so sudden. She was about to thank her when Sheng Xiali started walking again.
Lu Yin looked at the item in her hand. After a moment of愣神, her eyes lit up, and she quickly ran to catch up.
As soon as she caught up, before she could ask why she bought her a roasted sweet potato, Sheng Xiali spoke.
“Don’t come to the bus station alone so late at night.”
The bus stop near their school dorms was far from the one before and after it. At night, it was almost deserted except for the occasional late-night student.
The area was also heavily landscaped, so even with streetlights, it looked a little dark and spooky at night. Sheng Xiali glanced at the person who was smiling foolishly and thought that she really lacked a sense of safety.
Lu Yin was surprised that Sheng Xiali would suddenly say this to her. She was about to ask if she was worried about her when she heard a loud roar behind her.
Before she could turn to look, an arm was placed on her shoulder, and she was half-pushed and half-pulled by Sheng Xiali to the inner side of the road.
At the same time, a motorcycle sped past them.
Sheng Xiali sighed in relief and looked at the still-dazed Lu Yin. A strange anger rose in her. She grabbed Lu Yin’s wrist and walked quickly toward the dorm area.
Sheng Xiali’s strides were too big. Lu Yin felt like she was jogging. Was the dorm about to close?
Lu Yin didn’t have a free hand to check the time on her phone, so she just tried her best to keep up, determined not to be a burden to Sheng Xiali.
When they arrived at the dorm building, she saw the clock hanging inside and realized there were still more than ten minutes until curfew.
“Go inside. Don’t run around at night.”
Before Lu Yin could ask what had happened, Sheng Xiali spoke first. After saying that, she turned and walked away. Lu Yin tried to follow her for two steps but gave up when she realized she couldn’t keep up.
Watching her disappear around the corner, Lu Yin sighed deeply, feeling a little frustrated. But when she saw the roasted sweet potato in her hand, she felt a little better.
When Cheng Siyu saw what Lu Yin was holding, she was a little surprised: “Didn’t you say you were full and were going to exercise? You can still eat that?”
Lu Yin peeled off the burnt black skin and took a bite of the orange, sweet potato inside. A sweetness filled her mouth.
“I did exercise. Eating after exercising is even more delicious.”
Maybe the hardest people to chase were the sweetest when you finally got them.
Lu Yin looked at the roasted sweet potato in her hand. What should she do if she didn’t want to give up? Then she would keep going, of course.
Lu Yin, munching on the roasted sweet potato, opened her laptop, went to the school’s forum, found some part-time job postings, and added the contact information.
…
During the National Day holiday, Xijia Square was bustling with people. Lu Yin’s heart suddenly raced when she saw Sheng Xiali, who had just changed into her uniform, walking toward her.
They were both wearing the same uniform—a blue fitted short-sleeved top, a white pleated skirt, and white short boots. It was a cheap outfit, but it looked absolutely amazing on Sheng Xiali.
Lu Yin couldn’t take her eyes off her. It felt like one pair of eyes wasn’t enough. She didn’t know where to look first. Everything looked good, so good that Lu Yin felt Sheng Xiali’s hair was especially dark and smooth today.
Sheng Xiali hesitated as she passed Lu Yin. Lu Yin’s gaze was too intense to ignore.
She glanced at Lu Yin’s hair, which was tied up for a change, and then at the white skirt that swayed with her small taps of her feet. Sheng Xiali held her breath and walked past quickly.
Lu Yin’s heart was pounding. She didn’t notice the flash of irritation on Sheng Xiali’s face.
All morning, no matter what she was doing, Lu Yin’s gaze would always end up on Sheng Xiali.
So much so that a classmate who was working with her asked Lu Yin if she was jealous of Sheng Xiali’s long legs.
Lu Yin looked at Sheng Xiali’s skirt, which was always swaying in the wind. She wasn’t jealous; she was worried.
This wind was really annoying today!
Lu Yin thought for a moment and came up with an idea. She reached for the back of her head, took out her hair clip, and, while pretending to get a gift bag, quietly approached Sheng Xiali. She quickly clipped the hair clip to Sheng Xiali’s skirt to add weight to the hem.
Sheng Xiali noticed her approaching but didn’t know what she was doing. She looked down and saw a fuzzy strawberry-shaped cartoon hair clip attached to her skirt.
Sheng Xiali looked back at Lu Yin, who avoided her gaze and quickly walked away. She was afraid that Sheng Xiali would give the item back to her.
When she no longer felt Sheng Xiali’s gaze, she turned her head.
Lu Yin smiled happily at the fluffy strawberry on the hem of the skirt, but soon her smile faded. Sheng Xiali’s legs, which were exposed outside of the skirt, looked a little red.
As if they were cold.
Lu Yin felt a pang of heartache. She glanced at her watch. Good, it was almost lunchtime.
As soon as it was time, Lu Yin disappeared.
Sheng Xiali finished tidying up and didn’t see Lu Yin. She thought for a moment and went to get her work meal alone.
As she got closer to the break room, she heard laughter from inside.