Chapter 224 - 223: Han Ning: I... Can I... hug you?
This was the first time Gu Yifan had ever heard Han Ning speak to him about this.
Gu Yifan remained silent, only giving Han Ning a profound look.
Seeing him look at her, Han Ning met his gaze. As their eyes locked, she spoke softly, "Yifan, I regret it..."
But as soon as she said this, Gu Yifan fell silent.
Honestly,
If he hadn’t been reborn, if he didn’t know that in his past life he had continued to simp for Han Ning for over a decade with her attitude toward him never changing, he probably would have given in at this very moment.
But!
There was nothing to be done about it!
The experience of being a simp for decades in his past life was still as vivid as if it were yesterday.
Regardless of whether Han Ning’s regret was genuine or if she was telling the truth, the Gu Yifan of this moment felt nothing.
’Belated affection is cheaper than dirt!’
Seeing that Gu Yifan was still silent, Han Ning, for once, didn’t press him. She just turned away, tilting her head up to gaze at the starry sky. The faint autumn stars dotted the vast expanse with their weak light.
She lowered her head and said softly,
"Did you know?"
"Actually... I’ve always been so resentful. I don’t know what I lack compared to her, and I don’t understand why our childhood bond has ended up like this."
"We could have been so happy together, but now we’re like strangers."
As she said this, Han Ning’s eyes began to redden, and a single tear slid from the corner of her eye.
"Here, take this."
Gu Yifan took out a pack of tissues from his pocket, pulled one out, and handed it to Han Ning. These were the tissues Su Qinghe put in his pocket for him every day.
Han Ning was stunned for a moment, then reached out and took the tissue from Gu Yifan’s hand, saying in a small, choked voice, "Mm... Th-thank you."
Gu Yifan said nothing, simply turning to gaze into the distance as a thousand thoughts ran through his mind.
Though he felt a pang of pity seeing her like this, he truly couldn’t get over the mental block he had.
Everything that had happened in his past life made him understand that the two of them were simply not meant to be.
Besides, you really can’t force matters of the heart.
Not to mention that he already had this silly Hanhan, Su Qinghe; just considering everything that had happened between him and Han Ning, he truly had no feelings left for her!
’So... it’s better this way.’
’This is the best outcome for both of us.’
...
Silence.
After a long while.
Han Ning composed herself, though the slight redness in her eyes was proof she had just been crying.
She said, a bit embarrassed, "Sorry, you had to see me make a fool of myself."
"It’s fine."
Gu Yifan thought for a moment and said, "You didn’t just ask me out today to say this, did you?"
"Mm."
Han Ning nodded, then after a moment, she said softly, "I’m leaving."
"Hm?"
Gu Yifan was taken aback.
"You’re leaving?"
"Yes!"
"I applied for an exchange program in a minor foreign language, and I was accepted a while ago."
"My mom came to pick me up. I’m going home to get the paperwork ready to go abroad, and I’ll be leaving in a few days."
Han Ning turned to look at Gu Yifan and said softly.
"Oh."
Gu Yifan’s eyes widened in understanding. He nodded and said, "Congratulations."
"Thank you."
Han Ning smiled slightly.
But one could see that she was still very reluctant to leave.
"Well... it’s getting late. Aunt Qing is still waiting for you at the hotel. We should head back,"
Gu Yifan said.
"Okay."
Han Ning didn’t argue. She just nodded.
The two of them didn’t speak again, turning and starting to walk back.
"Oh, right. I almost forgot."
Han Ning suddenly stopped in her tracks. She took a small, wrapped box from her pocket and held it out to Gu Yifan. "This is for you. Think of it as a memento."
"Hm?"
Gu Yifan turned his head to look at Han Ning.
Han Ning met his gaze calmly, her expression unreadable.
"It doesn’t mean anything else. It’s just a gift between good friends parting ways."
Seeing Gu Yifan hesitate, Han Ning said softly.
After saying this, she pressed the small box into his hand.
Seeing this, Gu Yifan didn’t refuse. He nodded and said, "Okay, thanks."
"I’m sorry, though. I didn’t know you were leaving... so I didn’t get you a gift."
"It’s fine."
"You coming here tonight was the best gift you could have given me."
Seeing Gu Yifan accept the gift, Han Ning smiled brightly.
After speaking, she turned and walked ahead, skipping along, her steps light with a hint of relief and liberation.
Gu Yifan glanced at the gift in his hand, then at Han Ning walking ahead, and shook his head slightly.
Then he quickened his pace to catch up!
At the entrance of a hotel near Jinling University, Gu Yifan stopped. He looked at Han Ning and said, "I’ll say goodbye here..."
"Mm-hmm."
"Thank you for walking me back."
Han Ning said to Gu Yifan with a small smile.
"Don’t mention it."
Gu Yifan shook his head, then turned to leave.
"Wa-wait!"
He had just turned when Han Ning suddenly spoke up.
"Hm??"
Gu Yifan’s steps faltered slightly. He slowly turned back, looking at Han Ning with a puzzled expression.
"Can... I... hug you?"
Han Ning hesitated for a moment, but still said it out loud.
Gu Yifan: "..."
𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶
’He had no idea how to respond to that!’
"Can I?"
Han Ning asked again in a small voice, her face full of expectation.
"Okay!"
Gu Yifan thought for a moment before agreeing.
Hearing his reply, Han Ning’s eyes lit up. A smile graced her lips as she slowly walked toward him!
She rose onto her tiptoes and gently fell into his embrace.
Gu Yifan’s brows furrowed slightly, but then immediately relaxed.
For a moment, they were both silent.
Feeling the warmth of his chest so close, an indescribable emotion washed over Han Ning.
This was the first time they had been this close since middle school!
’So this is how warm and reassuring his chest is. It’s a shame I never cherished it back then.’
’Right now, she truly wished time could stand still forever.’
’But... that was impossible!’
’What’s lost is lost. Eventually, you have to face reality.’
...
Two and a half minutes later.
Although Han Ning was reluctant to leave Gu Yifan’s warm embrace, she knew it was time to let go.
She gently released her arms from around him and stepped back from his embrace.
"Alright."
Han Ning looked at Gu Yifan with a small smile, then said with a relaxed expression, "Thank you for fulfilling this wish of mine before I leave! I have no regrets now!"
"It’s nothing."
Gu Yifan just gave a slight nod, saying nothing.
’In truth, anything he might say right now would be wrong. It was better to just leave things as they were.’