Unable to Fall in Love Syndrome - Chapter 19

Chapter 19 – Time Speaks 09

Zuo Yi cut her off, his tone a bit odd. “I’m in your heart? You’d melt into my broad chest?”

Qiao Shan let out a soft hum, then realized what he meant and suddenly clamped her mouth shut, saying nothing more.

Zuo Yi carried her on his back along the muddy dirt road, the two of them falling into a silent awkwardness. Finally, it was Qiao Shan who broke the quiet first. “Zuo the Stingy, you’re actually pretty decent in a pinch. It’s just that you don’t know how to talk or make a girl happy.”

Zuo Yi didn’t respond, listening quietly.

“Your way of thinking is different from other guys. You’re the most unique man I’ve ever met.”

“Hm?”

“Yeah… You seem childish, but not in a really childish way. It’s probably just low emotional intelligence. No wonder you’ve been single for so long—your skills with the opposite s3x are seriously lacking.” She sighed.

Beside the road flowed a tributary of the Ling River, with green grass along the banks. Under the intense sunlight, waves of heat shimmered and rose. Zuo Yi suddenly felt a tightness in his chest, his mood growing heavy.

Qiao Shan said, “Let’s make peace. We were desk mates as kids—it’s fate, so why not be good friends? Open up and tell me what kind of girl you like. I’ll pick from my matchmaking database and play matchmaker for you.”

Zuo Yi replied, “No need.”

Taking advantage of her position, she slapped his shoulder. “Your big brother is going all out to help you get out of singlehood—do you know how much effort he’s putting in?”

Zuo Yi said, “I’m still young, no rush.”

“You’re 28 already, and no rush?”

“What about you? You’re not much younger than me, right? Hm?”

“I… I’m different. I have people chasing me—from China all the way to America.”

Zuo Yi quipped, “Yeah, on a world map scale.”

*

Back at the horse farm, Zuo Yi’s upper body was soaked with sweat. He set Qiao Shan down on a long bench in the rest area, took off his jacket, and went to buy a towel to wipe himself down.

Underneath, he wore a black tank top. Grabbing the towel, he lifted his shirt to wipe the sweat from his abs and back. Qiao Shan pinched her own belly fat, then looked up at his solid muscles, feeling a wave of sadness.

Such a sturdy, well-built body—prime material, really. If she didn’t know him, she might actually suspect he was gay.

The others rushed over from the stables, crowding around her. Everyone bombarded her with questions about whether she was okay. Only Xiao Jia stood at the back of the group, staring straight at her.

Once the crowd dispersed, Xiao Jia came over and sat down, glancing at her leg. “Scared out of your wits?”

Qiao Shan nodded. “Scared so bad I couldn’t walk.”

It was a lifelong issue for her—extreme fright made her legs go weak. The doctor said it was psychological.

Earlier, when Zuo Yi had carried her back into the horse farm on his back, Xiao Jia and everyone else had seen it clearly. Even if the two involved thought there was nothing between them, to outsiders, there was an unusual vibe.

Xiao Jia felt a strong sense of crisis, even pressure.

The setting sun slanted down, dyeing the horse farm in a fiery orange hue.

The boss drove the three-wheeled cart to the rest station and called for them to hop on for the ride back. Qiao Shan’s legs were still weak; she rubbed them, preparing to try standing up. The next moment, her body lifted into the air, weightless, as Xiao Jia scooped her up horizontally and placed her on the cart.

Feeling Lin Zhen’s gaze, Qiao Shan immediately felt like a child caught misbehaving, scooting her butt inward until she stopped right by Zuo Yi’s feet.

An invisible awkwardness permeated the cart. Lin Zhen watched Xiao Jia, Xiao Jia watched Qiao Shan, and Qiao Shan leaned against Zuo Yi.

The boss looked at the cart full of young people and didn’t know what to say. Anyone with eyes could see what was going on—young folks in a love triangle… or more.

Qiao Shan was in an awkward spot. Even a wise judge struggles with family disputes, and a matchmaker has it tough with friends and relatives. Lin Zhen had roped Xiao Jia into this matchmaking, but often, there was little she could do.

Back at the inn, Old Ying and Ximi had already prepared dinner.

Ximi noticed something off about the group. She handed Qiao Shan a bowl of rice and sat down next to her, piling food into it. “Sister, I heard you’re a matchmaker? That’s such an old-school job. We have one in our town too, but she’s not as pretty and cute as you.”

Qiao Shan coughed, nearly choking.

Xiao Jia’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “Yeah, she’s the youngest and prettiest matchmaker around our parts.”

Ximi teased, “Professor Xiao, that’s just beauty in the eye of the beholder, huh?”

The atmosphere at the table shifted. Lin Zhen slammed her chopsticks down with a “pa,” her face darkening. “I’m full. I’ll head upstairs first—everyone, take your time.”

The old lady grabbed her. “Eat a bit more, girl. Don’t go hungry.”

Lin Zhen said, “No thanks. Seeing a certain someone ruins my appetite.”

Qiao Shan buried her head in her rice, knowing without a doubt that Lin Zhen had misunderstood her relationship with Xiao Jia. As a fellow woman, she got it and sympathized. Women are sensitive creatures, especially around the person they like—it’s easy to lose reason.

Understanding this, Qiao Shan subconsciously shifted further along the bench, nearly pushing Ximi off.

She redirected the focus to Wenwen. “Wenwen, did you have fun at the inn with Grandpa and Grandma this afternoon?”

The little girl gripped the end of her chopsticks, clumsily picking at her food, with two grains of rice stuck to her mouth.

She nodded obediently. “Yeah, it was fun. Grandma braided my hair.” She touched the two little braids on her head. “Daddy Xiao can’t do this.”

The topic swung back to Xiao Jia, and Qiao Shan didn’t dare say more.

Ximi scrolled on her phone with one hand while eating with the other. “Ugh, I just don’t get you older folks. If you’ve got something to say, why not say it outright? Why bottle it up and give everyone the cold shoulder? Right, Uncle?”

She nudged Ying Shengnan beside her, who snapped to attention and immediately said, “Yeah, I mean, Brother Xiao, it’s obvious Little Lin likes you—who here doesn’t know? Did Little Lin come because of you? She got here first, but it’s hard to say someone didn’t tip her off about your plans…”

His gaze landed on Qiao Shan.

Qiao Shan glared at Ying Shengnan and stomped on his foot hard under the table.

But Ying Shengnan showed no sign of pain on his face. Instead, Zuo Yi paused while picking food, his brows furrowing.

Zuo Yi set down his chopsticks and looked at her mildly. “Legs better?”

“Uh…”

“Yeah, looks like it. Quite a bit of strength there.”

Ximi finally pieced it together and let out a meaningful “Oh,” drawing out the sound. “I get it now. Sister Lin Zhen likes Professor Xiao, but Professor Xiao likes Sister Qiao, and yet Sister Qiao and Big Brother Zuo are hitting it off!”

Wenwen swung her legs from the long bench, looking a bit conflicted. She bit her chopsticks and mumbled, “What to do? I like Daddy Xiao, but I also like Uncle Zuo. It’s so hard to choose… Why don’t you marry both home, Mommy Qiao!”

Everyone fell silent. “…”

Embarrassed, Qiao Shan said, “What nonsense! Xiao Jia and I grew up together like siblings. I’ve always seen him as a brother, and he’s always treated me like a sister—nothing more! And Zuo Yi? Even less likely! We just made up today and officially became good buddies!”

Zuo Yi said nothing, focusing on his food as if none of this concerned him. Truly detached from the table drama!

Xiao Jia, who had been silent until now, finally set down his chopsticks, took a breath, and said softly, “Qiao Shan, they’re all right. I like you. Even people we’ve just met can see it—why can’t you? Or have you been playing dumb all along?”

… Qiao Shan never dreamed she’d be confessed to in front of everyone.

And by her childhood friend, no less. Xiao Jia confessing felt about as weird as her own brother suddenly declaring his love… utterly bizarre!

For the first time, she understood what bone-deep embarrassment felt like.

The person beside her continued, “Qiao Shan, you work in Jinyang, so I applied to transfer there on purpose. Not for anything else—just to be closer to you. You said you didn’t like the neighbors joking about us, so I agreed to take care of Wenwen and let everyone assume she’s my biological daughter. My feelings for you aren’t just brotherly—they’re deeper. I want to marry you, spend my life with you.”

Everyone at the table stared blankly at the two leads.

Only Wenwen sighed like a little adult. “So I’m just a shield, huh? Kinda hurts.”

The old lady patted her head comfortingly.

Qiao Shan gripped her chopsticks, staring fixedly at the plate in front of her, not daring to look up, speak, or even breathe—nearly suffocating herself.

She couldn’t stay here anymore. She tossed down her chopsticks, stood up, and bolted upstairs.

Xiao Jia got up to chase after her, leaving the table with no appetite left. Everyone turned their eyes to Zuo Yi, their meaning clear. Only Ying Shengnan voiced it: “Aren’t you going after her? If someone else succeeds in confessing, you’ll lose your chance.”

Zuo Yi glanced at the group stubbornly. “Which eye of yours thinks she and I are hitting it off?”

The old couple chorused, “Both eyes.”

Ximi nodded too. “Yeah, not just the eyes—my hands and feet feel it too.”

Ying Shengnan slapped his shoulder. “Kid, there are plenty of good men in the world, but good women are rare. If you don’t step up, even with me as your big brother trying to help, I can’t save a heart headed straight for lifelong bachelorhood.”

“Ahem…” Zuo Yi cleared his throat lightly, lowered his head, and ate primly, ignoring the table.

*

With the thin veil between them pierced, Qiao Shan felt so awkward she didn’t know how to face him.

Xiao Jia stood outside her door, saying a lot, but she didn’t hear a word. She’d never thought of him as talkative—today was an exception. She silently summed up his words in her mind, her thoughts drifting far back.

When she was in middle school, Xiao Jia was the big brother type in high school. He was smart, good-looking, and popular, voted school heartthrob by his classmates.

And this heartthrob picked her up from school every day. Before afternoon classes, he’d run over from the high school side to bring her snacks—water and popsicles in summer. Back then, any guy who brought water and snacks daily was a god in girls’ eyes. On top of that, Xiao Jia prepared pads for her every month, just in case.

Qiao Shan was obsessed with matchmaking back then, and countless girls liked Xiao Jia—she’d tried setting him up, but never succeeded. So far, she’d only failed at matchmaking for two people.

One was Xiao Jia, the other Zuo Yi.

She wasn’t charging for Lin Zhen’s match, partly because she had no confidence. After all, the guy was Xiao Jia—the one she’d grown up with, who knew her inside out.

Their bond transcended friendship but never quite reached romance.