novelraw Chapter 165 - Reserving a Spot
Chapter 165 - Reserving a Spot
Day .
Xin Mubai appeared at six o'clock sharp as always.
Come down. Remember to wear flat shoes.
Xin Mubai was wearing a white T-shirt, jeans, and canvas shoes, with an old canvas bag slung across his shoulder, looking like a college student who had just finished class.
"Where's the car?"
"Closed today." He slung his canvas bag over his shoulder. "I'll take you somewhere."
"where?"
"You'll see when we get there." He turned and walked forward, then turned back after a couple of steps. "Are you afraid to walk?"
"I'm not afraid."
"Okay. It'll take half an hour to walk. Let me know if you can't handle it."
They walked slowly along the street.
"Qiqi scolded me yesterday," he suddenly said.
"What did I say to you?"
"They scolded me for being too high-profile, saying that even though you're leaving, you're still spamming my social media feed every day."
Lu Xiran chuckled. "She still has the nerve to say that about you."
"Yes! And I told her that it's precisely because we're leaving that we need to make a big splash." He put his hands in his pockets and looked at the road ahead. "Otherwise, what if you forget about me when you get to Switzerland?"
He turned to look at her.
"I need to give you something to think about."
Lu Xiran lowered her head and remained silent.
They walked down one street after another. The streetlights grew dimmer, and the number of pedestrians dwindled. Lu Xiran didn't know where he was taking her, nor did she ask. When she was with him, she was always too lazy to ask—he wouldn't disappoint her, after all.
After walking for about half an hour, Xin Mubai stopped in front of an old building.
"arrive."
It was a very old red brick building, the paint on the exterior walls was peeling, the iron gate was rusty, and the corridor was dark.
"This place?"
"Come with me."
He pushed open the iron gate and went inside. There were no lights in the hallway, only a little light coming in from outside. He took out his phone and turned on the flashlight, the orange-yellow light shining on the concrete steps.
"Be careful, the stairs are a bit steep."
He walked ahead, taking each step slowly, as if waiting for her. Reaching the third floor, he stopped and pushed open a wooden door.
Lu Xiran walked in and froze.
It was a rooftop. Not large, but very clean and tidy. Several old rugs were laid on the floor, and a few potted plants sat in the corner, their vines climbing up the wall, shimmering with a soft green in the moonlight. Several folding chairs were scattered around, and in the middle was a low table with a thermos and two enamel mugs on it.
The most breathtaking thing is the scenery in front of me.
The entire river stretched out beneath my feet, the lights on both banks reflected on the water, shattering into a flowing golden expanse. In the distance, a bridge stretched across the river like a ribbon of light, and car headlights streaked across the water like shooting stars. The moon was large and low, so low it seemed I could reach out and touch it.
"Where is this?" Her voice unconsciously softened.
"My secret hideout from high school." Xin Mubai walked over, sat down on a folding chair, and started pouring water. "Back then, if I didn't want to go to class, I would climb over the wall and run away, sitting here alone. Later, they found out, and the rooftop was locked. But my dad was on the school board, so I secretly made a copy of the key."
He pushed the enamel mug towards him.
"Herbal tea. You said you didn't sleep well last night, this will help calm your nerves."
Lu Xiran sat down opposite him, holding the cup in both hands. The tea was warm and had a faint, pleasant fragrance.
"When did you prepare this?"
"This afternoon. I came to scout out the place, wiped off some dust, and boiled some water." He picked up his cup and took a sip, speaking casually as if he were talking about buying a bottle of soy sauce at the supermarket today.
Lu Xiran lowered her head and watched the flowers in the cup slowly bloom in the water.
Xin Mubai.
"Um?"
Why are you so good to me?
He was silent for a while.
"You know, I was really naughty when I was little, and I was always getting into trouble on this street. Once I fell down from a tree and scraped my knee, and it was bleeding profusely. My mom was heartbroken, but my dad said, 'You'll know it hurts when you fall, so you won't climb trees next time.'"
He looked at the river in the distance.
"But I still climbed. I fell several times, and it hurt every time, but I just didn't learn my lesson."
He turned to look at her.
"Later, my dad told me, 'It's not that you don't learn your lesson, it's that you think the view from the treetops is worth the risk.'"
The wind blew across the river, scattering some of his words.
"You too. I know you have someone else in your heart, I know you may never choose me. But I still want to be good to you. Because—" He paused, "I think you deserve it."
Lu Xiran's eyes were burning hot.
"I've checked, you're afraid of the dark, heights, and small animals." He counted on his fingers. "We've been to an escape room once, I don't dare take you a second time. Pet shops are out, amusement parks are out too. I've thought about it for a long time, I don't know where else I can take you."
He looked up at the moon.
"Then I thought, let's bring you here. This is my favorite place since I was a child. Whenever I'm unhappy, I sit here and look at the river, and I feel better after a while."
He turned to look at her.
"I've given you the best place."
Lu Xiran's tears finally fell. Silently, one by one, they landed in the enamel cup.
Xin Mubai didn't offer her a tissue, nor did he tell her to stop crying. He just sat there, waiting for her to finish crying.
A boat sailed by on the river, and the sound of its horn could be heard from afar.
"You know what," he said softly, "these past few days have been the happiest days of my life in recent years."
Lu Xiran raised her head.
"It's not because of what we did, it's because of who we were with." He smiled, a faint smile, but more genuine than ever. "Fireworks, secret rooms, cookies—none of that matters. What matters is that you're here."
The wind carried away his voice.
"So thank you. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be kind to you."
Lu Xiran wiped away her tears and took a deep breath.
"Xin Mubai." She called his name, her voice still trembling with tears.
"exist."
"You are really nice."
He looked at her without saying a word.
"It's wonderful." She lowered her head, her voice growing softer, "But..."
"I know." He interrupted her, stood up, and poured the last bit of herbal tea from the thermos into her cup. "You don't need to say anything."
He stood on the edge of the rooftop, his back to her. The moonlight made him glow, and the wind ruffled the hem of his clothes.
"Lu Xiran, I have a question for you."
"Um."
"If there's a next life, could I stand in line? So he wouldn't cut in line."
She paused for a moment, then said seriously, "No. I still want to find him in my next life."
Xin Mubai smiled helplessly, "To be honest, I really admire your persistence, but the person you're persistent about isn't me."
He stood in the moonlight, his shoulders twitching slightly, as if he were smiling or sighing.
A moment later.
"Let's go, I'll take you home." He turned around, still with that carefree smile on his face. "You have to catch a flight tomorrow, don't stay up too late."
Lu Xiran stood up and put the cup back on the table.
Xin Mubai.
"Um?"
You will meet someone better in the future.
He walked down the steps and stopped one step ahead of her. Moonlight shone down from above, falling on his face and casting a long shadow.
"I know," he smiled, "but before that, I'll reserve a spot. Just in case you change your mind someday."
She didn't speak. He didn't say anything more either, but just continued walking, taking each step very slowly, as if afraid she wouldn't be able to keep up.