Pursuing Her Best Friend after Confession Failed

Xia Zhijin lay crying in her grandmother’s arms for quite a while before eventually stopping her sobs.

Her eyes were red, tears still evident, but her gaze gradually hardened in determination.

Towards Li Yuan, she loved deeply, more than anyone else.

Even forsaking principles, giving up boundaries, sacrificing her dignity.....

From their first encounter at the class meeting, to bonding during military training, watching movies together, shopping together, cooking together, starting a company together, exchanging childhood stories.....

All those were such beautiful experiences.

Until later on, she realized she was not the only one.

How many nights had she silently shed tears alone.

Claiming not to care, how was that possible?

But her love for Li Yuan transcended all.....

"Gran, I won’t leave him, unless he doesn’t want me anymore."

Xia Zhijin’s gaze was exceedingly firm, the recent tears were just the most authentic emotions coming forth only before her closest family.

She had pondered her future with Li Yuan.

But no matter what others said or thought, she believed firmly that Li Yuan would always love her and provide her the future she desired.

Even if this love was shared among several people...

The old lady gazed at the granddaughter in her arms, this girl she raised had already grown up, reached the age of discussing marriage, and had her own thoughts and opinions.

"Jin, Gran will always support you, this will always be your home."

"Just a few more days until the new year, and Gran will be 75. Won’t live much longer, only hope to see you married while I’m still alive, perhaps give birth to a chubby boy, then Gran can die peacefully....."

Xia Zhijin hugged the old lady again, crying out: "Gran, Gran, you will surely live a long life....."

"Gran, I want you, Ning, and me to move to Modu together."

"Li Yuan has bought me a big house there, once it’s renovated after the new year, we can move in together, okay?"

Upon hearing Xia Zhijin’s words, the old lady’s aged face momentarily froze.

After a moment of contemplation, a pair of hands marked by the toil of years, wrinkled and strong, holding Xia Zhijin’s small hands tightly, touched her smooth black hair, sighed gently:

"Jin, living here in Shancheng is also quite good, you can often see your uncles, cousins, Ning just became familiar with her classmates, can understand the conversations now....."

"Gran is old, no longer wishes for any upheaval, your thoughtfulness is enough....."

Listening to the old lady’s words, Xia Zhijin’s eyes were red, silent.

She naturally understood her grandmother’s sentiments and thoughts.

In Shancheng, whether it be customs or the daily necessities, they don’t differ much from the old home in the hills, not to mention the uncles, aunt, and eldest cousin also live in Shancheng, frequently visiting, taking care of each other.

If they moved to Modu, besides herself and Yanyan the sister, it would be a completely unfamiliar place. For the elderly who are attached to their roots, it’s difficult to adapt.....

Xia Zhijin whispered through her sobs: "Gran, then I will often come back to see you....."

The old lady patted Xia Zhijin’s head, smiled and said: "Sweet child, don’t cry, it’s already late, go to Li Yuan’s room, he’ll leave early tomorrow."

"Keep him company tonight, give Gran a chubby grandson soon....."

"Gran!" Xia Zhijin playfully chided, her cheeks instantly blushing.

...

On the 29th of the twelfth lunar month, early morning.

Li Yuan struggled out of the warm embrace of Xia Zhijin, amidst the reluctant gazes of Xia Zhijin, Chu Yanyan, Xia Zhining, her three uncles, and others, and was ceremoniously seen off to Shancheng Jiangbei International Airport.

Throughout the journey, Xia Zhijin’s small hand was tightly holding onto Li Yuan’s large hand, appearing very reluctant.

Li Yuan, unperturbed by the eyes of the crowd, first patted her head, then directly pulled her into his embrace, bending down to kiss her.....

After a long while, Li Yuan finally let go reluctantly.

"Zhijin, stay home to accompany Gran and Ning, in a few days, after the new year, I’ll come to pick you up."

Xia Zhijin gazed at Li Yuan with deep affection, her face flushing, replying softly: "Okay, be sure to stay safe on the road!"

Li Yuan chuckled: "Got it, silly girl, once home I’ll video call you!"

After speaking, Li Yuan looked at the group seeing him off, bidding them farewell one by one:

"Gran, Uncles, Ning, Yanyan the sister.....don’t bother seeing me off, I’m leaving!"

Those seeing him off responded in succession:

"Li Yuan, stay safe on the road."

"Brother-in-law, stay safe!"

"Call once you’ve landed~"

In the crowd,

Chu Yanyan wore a thin down jacket, her graceful figure and dazzling face rendered her and Xia Zhijin alike, akin to "sister flowers," exceptionally eye-catching amidst the bustling travelers at the airport.

She stared at Li Yuan’s disappearing figure in the crowd, sighed softly in her heart, feeling bittersweet emotions.

Thinking of the conversation with her mother last night, she couldn’t help but feel her cheeks heat up, her heart pounding, somewhat guiltily glanced at Xia Zhijin who was still waving at Li Yuan’s disappearing back.

Scenes from last night’s conversation with her mother suddenly resurfaced in her mind.

"Yanyan, did you meet a boy you liked in college?"

When her mother Chu Yue asked, the image of Li Yuan instinctively surfaced first in her mind, but she quickly extinguished it firmly.