Chapter 8 To experience a great love.
1506 Words
Thinking of this, I took a deep breath and looked at Xia Xinyu in shock. She sensed my gaze, turned to glance at me, and a hint of surprise crossed her face. She recognized me as the person who listened to her play that day, while Wei Zixuan also turned around, beaming with pride.
At that moment, Xuanxuan walked out of the office and stood behind me, watching the departing handsome man and beautiful woman. She sighed, "Looks like the cowherd has arrived. Little Nuan, you have no chance now."
"I can't get close to her," I said blankly, my mind still reeling from the shock.
I always thought that Xia Xinyu had never looked at Wei Zixuan because she disdained superficial "ordinary people." Now I realize it was just her aloofness in her heart.
It seems Xuanxuan was right; even fairies secretly come down to earth to fall in love, and this fairy has quite the clever tactics, using a little fawn to crash into his embrace, taking the initiative without anyone noticing. I couldn't help but wonder if the legendary Weaving Maiden also deliberately let the Cowherd steal her clothes, which led to that famous tale.
"Xuanxuan, if it were you, would you like a high, rich, and handsome guy like Wei Zixuan?" Xuanxuan has become increasingly insightful since she started dating, and I'm curious about her views on love.
"Yes and no."
"What do you mean?" Her mysterious tone left me puzzled.
Wei Zixuan is tall, rich, and handsome, meeting all the standards of girls' ideal partners. Which girl wouldn't feel a rush of affection upon seeing him?
"You said it yourself; he's the standard high, rich, and handsome type. Which girl wouldn't be moved? I feel a kind of joy seeing him; he's good-looking and generous, which definitely stirs up a girl's desire to chase. This should be called liking."
"That should be called infatuation." I took the opportunity to tease her, making her smile sweetly.
"But I wouldn't like him. In movies and novels, there are often Cinderella stories, but in reality, we can't live in fairy tales. The disparity in status, different living environments, and life trajectories make it a fantasy to be together. Even if they do get together, can the prince understand Cinderella's frugal life? Can Cinderella understand the prince's worries about wealth? That’s not love; it’s just a moment of impulse, and the one who gets hurt will definitely be the weaker party. So I don't hold any romantic illusions about such people and won't like him." Xuanxuan seriously expressed her thoughts, her clear eyes sparkling with sincerity, untouched by vanity. I understood her pure and genuine heart.
"But in this society, love can't be eaten, and material wealth is the first standard of happiness. Many girls are willing to choose men with better material conditions. We work hard to earn more money, to marry prettier wives, right? Even in college, the attraction of rich second-generation guys far exceeds that of ordinary boys. If you can be his girlfriend, everyone would be envious. If you marry him, you won't even need to work as a*****e manager anymore." I continued the topic, eager to hear more of Xuanxuan's thoughts.
"Do you know why the previous assistant manager left?"
"Did she marry into a wealthy family?"
"She came here with me from our hometown, worked here for a year, and had a very good boyfriend. I envied her so much. One day, she suddenly quit her job, left her boyfriend, and I don’t know where she went. I only learned from her boyfriend that she was being kept by a rich boss."
In just a few sentences, Xuanxuan revealed an endless sadness. I guessed that the former assistant manager and Xuanxuan were like sisters, having promised to come to the bustling A city together to strive for a better life, filled with hopes for a beautiful life and pure love. But one of them couldn't resist the temptation of wealth and was lost.
I've heard too many stories like this, and I've grown numb to them. But if one day it happened to a good friend, how would I feel then?
"She abandoned her boyfriend who loved her, gained an enviable material life, and became someone else's plaything. A girl's youth is only these few years; shouldn't she love well during this time? In the end, life is just dust. Chasing some things always comes with a price. I’m willing to spend my youth chasing love." A smile formed on Xuanxuan's lips, a testament to her inner conviction.
Xuanxuan's positive outlook on love made me feel a surge of admiration. Although she's young and her thoughts are pure and kind, she worked hard to reach the position of store manager and has experienced various aspects of life. Witnessing her friend become infatuated with vanity yet maintaining her genuine and simple heart—was it a realization after tasting life's bittersweetness, or an unwillingness to yield? I felt a pang of guilt.
At seven, you can chase butterflies across fields; at seventeen, you might run through streets to buy a gift for someone you like; but at twenty-seven, you settle for living with just anyone, claiming you're too lazy to pursue love.
Love can be easily shattered by reality and trampled by money. Is it humble? Cheap? Yet Xuanxuan's words tell me it is priceless, as you only have these few years of youth to seek it; after a few more years, you really will be too lazy to love.
Xuanxuan's perspective on love felt like a warm ray of sunshine entering my heart, warming me up. Looking at her sweet smile and clear eyes, I truly felt sorry for Xiaopang; he had such good taste but couldn’t keep this girl.
Gazing at Xuanxuan's warm smile, I pretended to be sad and said, "Xuanxuan, after hearing you, I feel old, and I don’t have the courage to pursue love anymore."
"I was just rambling, Little Nuan, don’t take it seriously." Xuanxuan spoke with a gentle tone, mixed with a hint of apology.
"But you saw it too; the fairy has been helped away. The cowherd she chose is that rich and handsome guy."
"Just because she sprained her ankle and needed help doesn’t mean Xia Xinyu likes him."
Was this Xuanxuan's kind consolation? Xia Xinyu and Wei Zixuan looked like a match made in heaven; what was wrong with that?
"Then what kind of boy do you think Xia Xinyu would like? Is it someone like me?"
"I don’t know, but it definitely won’t be that kind of rich, handsome guy."
"Why not?" Her answer piqued my curiosity.
"Women have intuition. If she comes again, I can help you talk to her." A cute expression appeared on Xuanxuan's face. She clearly didn’t understand Xia Xinyu’s little fawn collision and had no idea that the fairy had already secretly developed feelings for "Wei the Cowherd."
"Xuanxuan, has the mango mousse arrived?" A staff member's call interrupted our conversation.
"Ah, I got so caught up in talking to you that I forgot about work. From now on, you can’t chat with me during working hours!" Xuanxuan feigned a scolding look.
"Isn't it because you kept talking?" I grinned at her mischievously.
"Come help me out!"
As I walked away, I reflected on my conversation with Xuanxuan. Women’s intuition? She also thinks Xia Xinyu wouldn’t like any "ordinary people"? What kind of view on love does Xia Xinyu have?
Forget it, it has nothing to do with me. Why am I analyzing it so much? However, I increasingly felt that Xuanxuan was a friend worth getting close to. I had no other thoughts about her; she has a boyfriend she lives with, and she is pursuing her love.
When I got off work in the evening, I told Xuanxuan I wanted to treat her and her boyfriend to dinner. I actually wanted to meet her boyfriend. Having a hardworking girlfriend like Xuanxuan who is devoted to love is a blessing.
"Little Nuan, you haven’t received your salary yet. It’d be too awkward for you to treat us both. How about this: tomorrow after work, you come to my house, and I’ll cook for you to try my skills." Xuanxuan was actually considerate of my current financial situation and turned the tables, which, although a bit embarrassing for a girl to acknowledge, touched me.
I've been drifting alone for so long, and while I've had colleagues in the past, we weren't close enough to visit each other’s homes, let alone show concern. Suddenly being moved by Xuanxuan left me a bit at a loss.
Seeing me silent, she laughed and said that counts as my agreement. I thought I had planned to treat them to dinner, but Xuanxuan was being considerate of my wallet, so I couldn’t lose face.
"Then I’ll buy the groceries tomorrow. When I get my salary, you’ll be the first one I treat to a meal."
She happily nodded.
- Writer
