For the first time, Su Qing felt a sense of powerlessness and bitterness, something she couldn't grasp.
How to say it.
On the one hand, her own ego kept her from accepting the boy's kindness, despite their financial disparity.
On the other hand, she wanted to treat him well in her own way.
Perhaps it was because of her humility, or perhaps it was because Jiang Sui was too pure and bright, but he just let her do what she wanted.
He wasn't upset, but was trying hard to appear happy. He was actually seriously trying to buy matching outfits with her, which made Su Qing feel completely uncomfortable.
Her heart felt like it was soaked in vinegar. She closed her eyes and watched the endless stream of cars.
Jiang Sui didn't know why Su Qing had pulled him out. "Qing Qing, what's wrong..."
Before he could finish his words, the girl flung herself into his arms, her whole body, trembling slightly, into Jiang Sui's arms.
On the side of the road.
"Jiang Sui, I'm sorry."
The girl's voice was tinged with sobs, her arms tightly wrapped around his waist.
"Qing Qing, did I do something wrong..."
Jiang Sui's voice was strained, and for a moment, he didn't even dare to place his fingers anywhere, letting them hang limply.
Someone on the street saw the handsome boy, his pale eyes gleaming with a glint of darkness, so compelling that one would want to comfort him.
"No, no, no, no, it's not you who's wrong, it's me, Jiang Sui."
Su Qing bit her lip, clutching Jiang Sui's waist, letting the tears fall freely.
She was crying...
"Qing Qing, don't cry... don't cry."
Her crying seemed to kill him, and Jiang Sui was completely bewildered.
"Jiang Sui, I, I,..."
Su Qing was sobbing and breathless that she couldn't stop hiccupping.
She hadn't known this would happen, and she felt even more compelled to let out all the clamor within her heart.
The young man gently patted Su Qing's back.
"Don't cry, don't cry, tell me what I did wrong."
The young man, feeling heartbroken for the first time, didn't know what to do, especially since he felt so soft inside.
Su Qing's breathless hiccups were filled with embarrassment.
It took a long time, but she still didn't stop. Although she had stopped crying, she was still hiccupping.
"Qing Qing, I'll take you to get some hot water."
Su Qing pursed her lips and nodded.
She could see Jiang Sui's sadness. It was almost evening. In a small restaurant, Jiang Sui grabbed some snacks and asked the owner for a small bowl of hot water, which he placed in front of Su Qing.
The girl lowered her brows and never looked up.
She felt pity for him, he knew. Even with his youthful intelligence, he understood why she was crying, even if he wasn't fully aware of it.
But the girl didn't say anything, and Jiang Sui didn't point it out.
After taking a sip of water, Su Qing raised her eyes. "Jiang Sui, I think I'm so hypocritical."
Hypocritical?
Jiang Sui didn't seem to have the word in his vocabulary, and his eyes were filled with confusion.
Su Qing explained to herself, "I'm so conflicted. I know the gap between you and me, but I can't seem to close it. I want to buy you clothes, but the clothes I see at the market don't suit you."
Su Qing had never thought much of those cheap things before. She simply wanted to give Jiang Sui the best, as if this young man was born to deserve the best. This left Su Qing with nowhere to express her feelings, unsure what to do.
Su Qing bit her lip, her head bowed. She'd been busy all day, doing everything, and it had messed up both of their moods.
She was like a child who had done something wrong.
"Qing Qing."
Watching her pick at her fingers, Jiang Sui grabbed them, preventing her from moving.
"Qing Qing, I believe whatever you give me is the best."
Her thoughts, after countless twists and turns, finally came to him. Jiang Sui felt happy, yet also a little sad, because she had thought so much.
"Whether it's from the market, from the mall, from mud, or from gold, as long as it's you, it's fine."
His eyes were so intense, fixed on her alone.
Su Qing felt as if she were healed in that instant.
His words had already lowered his attitude to the lowest level, and Su Qing knew it.
He had ordered the snacks because he wanted some hot water for Su Qing, but knowing the girl didn't like to waste food, Jiang Sui finished them all.
"Qing Qing, let's go to the mall and buy a down jacket first. Let's find some on discount, okay?"
The boy seemed to know how to compromise and arrange things. When Su Qing blinked, he said, "And Qing Qing, I really like the market that Qing Qing took me to just now. There's a school bag stall just at the entrance. I like that one. Let's go buy some after we buy our down jackets, okay?"
Seeing the girl nod, Jiang Sui's heart finally settled a little.
He was willing to be with her, and she was willing to be with him. This was the best.
Afterward, the two went to the mall and bought two discounted down jackets, the same style. While not a couple's pair, they looked like they were because they were the same color. Both were black. Jiang Sui had originally wanted to buy Su Qing a different color, but the girl said the pink one wouldn't stain easily, so she ordered the same color as Jiang Sui, both black.
Luckily, both had very fair skin, and black complemented their complexions even better. Su Qing, however, was thin, and black made her look even thinner.
As they walked hand in hand to the market, Jiang Sui stopped at a nearby window and bought a thermos. He also asked the clerk to fill it with hot water.
They bought two matching backpacks, pink for Su Qing and blue for Jiang Sui. Too much black would have been too dull, so Su Qing made the decision.
There are ways to balance things out.
For the sake of love, why not be tolerant?
Dinner was at that little wonton restaurant, but Su Qing clearly didn't eat much. Jiang Sui had been forcing her to eat a bit more.
When he was about to take Su Qing home, she pinched her fingertips and looked up sheepishly, "Jiang Sui, I told Mom I was out today."
The boy's eyes gleamed slightly, and then he pursed his lips. "Qing Qing, I still have to take you home, be good."
The boy's integrity instantly brought a faint blush to Su Qing's cheeks.
Su Qing hadn't expected Jiang Sui to refuse. He was so serious, sending her home and saying something that sent a burning sensation through her ears.
"I'm afraid I can't hold it."
It burned Su Qing's heart.
Su Qing pursed her lips, lowered her head, and quickly closed the door without a word.
Through the window, Su Qing could still see the boy. After she waved, the figure under the streetlight gradually walked away.