The Healing Sunshine (一厘米的阳光)

Chapter 18.1 - Two Opposite Poles of the World (1)

"No real matters. I'm just staying at my [maternal] aunt's place for this holiday time, and I remembered that you live around here, so I thought I'd come give it a try to see if I could find you."

With one hand propped against the doorframe, Jì Chengyang gave a little laugh that was tinged somewhat with resignation. "Then come in and sit for a while." Opening the shoe cabinet, he took out a pair of guest slippers and set them on the floor.

Liu Wanxia stepped in through the door. In just that brief period when she bent down to change her shoes, she had already caught sight of Jǐ Yi.

She first paused in surprise, feeling that this girl looked familiar. Very quickly, she clued in. Oh, it was that little girl. Without any shift in expression, she gave greeting. "Hello."

"Hello," Jǐ Yi replied in a warm voice.

Thinking for a moment, she jogged into the kitchen and poured a glass of warm water.

Right as she was about to bring it back out, she realized that this seemed to be too simple and neglectful a way to treat a guest. Hence, she simply went back out and asked the woman who had just taken a seat on the couch, "Are you more accustomed to drinking tea or coffee?" When these words were spoken, Liu Wanxia finally detected hints that there was something not quite right. This was a manner that belonged only to the host and master of the household. It was not as she had believed when she first stepped through the door, that the girl was "another guest."

"Tea, I suppose. Thank you—" She could not remember Jǐ Yi's name.

"Jǐ Yi." Jǐ Yi smiled.

"Sorry, it's been too long. I suddenly couldn't remember." Liu Wanxia's voice was soft, like gently flowing water. "The last time I saw you, you were still wearing the school uniform of Fuzhong. Have... you graduated from high school yet?"

"I have. I'm soon going to be in second-year university."

After saying this, Jǐ Yi went back once more into the kitchen. Before long, she brought out a cup of tea and set it on the glass table.

And then, she casually handed a cup of coffee to Jì Chengyang.

Liu Wanxia cast a glance at Jì Chengyang. The latter did not show any out-of-the-ordinary behaviour. He even quietly told Jǐ Yi to go to the study and read or find a movie to watch if she was not used to staying here, and after he saw the guest out, he would spend time with her again. Jǐ Yi also felt that it would be very awkward being here with a woman she did not know and having nothing to say, so very docilely, she went into the study.

The behaviour of these two people was simply too open and unruffled, and it was actually Liu Wanxia, this surprise guest, who felt somewhat self-conscious.

She had merely, while strolling around earlier, suddenly thought about that time when Jì Chengyang had driven her and dropped her off at that street intersection, and having also heard him mention the name of his community compound before, she wanted to try her luck. She believed in fate, just like how she and Jì Chengyang had been classmates in high school and now were also both working at the same television station; there was a sort of predestined affinity between the two of them. But she believed even more in hard work and effort. Sometimes, the power of fate is actually very weak, and it needs a helping hand from some people...

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Based on her sensitivity that came with being a woman, as she sat on the couch, she could perceive that everywhere in this room, there were traces showing that a girl lived in this house. From here where she sat, she could even see a first-year-university English textbook peeking out from beneath the glass coffee table. Awkwardly, she pulled her gaze back. According to her understanding of Jì Chengyang all this time, he was not at all one of those men who, because they have a little bit of success in their careers, like to seek out young girls in order to make up for their youth that they lost. Moreover, in the hospital, that girl's manner had been like she was his relative.