Love in the Midst of Mistaken Identities

“No. I just like it.” Xia Ruoxin’s dotted gently on the paper with her brush, pulled, and turned; and a circle emerged.

Liking could also become a hobby which could turn into motivation. The master was satisfied with her student’s reply. She couldn’t help herself from taking another look at her student—the one nicknamed ‘Beauty’ by the other students.

She truly had outstanding looks. Although she was not wearing any thick makeup, she looked refreshing like the tender grass in March accompanied by a flowery fragrant. She had nice features which were a natural gift.

Especially her smile—it was gentle like the daughter of an eminent family from an ancient time, with exceptionally good upbringing. Once one got closer to her, one would know that she was an extremely easygoing and down-to-earth person. She would crack jokes with others, bring something that she made, and share with everyone. Beauty now had another nickname—Masterchef because the food she made was delicious.

A young man walked over and produced a rose from behind him like magic.

“Sister Ruoxin, this is for you.”

He held the rose before her with both hands.

“For me?” Xia Ruoxin blinked her eyes. Why was he giving her a flower out of the blue?

“Yes, yes.” The young man smiled cheekily. “I plucked it from the side of the road. It didn’t cost me anything.” Of course, it hadn’t cost him any money because he had climbed over a wall and, in the process, gotten pricked by the thorns. He was almost bitten by stray dogs. Luckily, he escaped quickly enough. Otherwise, he might be taking a rabies vaccination now.

“Thank you.” Xia Ruoxin accepted the flower and placed it on her desk. It smelled fresh and pleasant. It was no wonder that many people liked flowers; flowers could cheer and lighten a person’s mood.

The young man’s tensed expression finally loosened up. However, his clasped fingers began to twine around each other. Oh gosh, Beauty had accepted his flower. Was it enough to prove that she had also accepted him?

“Sister Ruoxin, do you like the flower?” the young man asked cautiously. In fact, he had intended to ask ‘do you like me?’ too. However, he was too embarrassed. That’s why he didn’t.

Liking a flower didn’t mean that she had indirectly told him she liked him.

“Mmm, I like it.” Xia Ruoxin kept the flower properly. “My daughter likes roses, too.”

Suddenly, as though lightning has struck from the sky, the young man was burnt. His heart had been sliced apart, kneaded, and torn. He sighed pitifully as he held his bleeding heart.

“Sister Ruoxin, you... you have a daughter?”

“Oh, yes.” Xia Ruoxin put the flower on her desk, and then she reached out and rubbed the young man’s head. He was only fifteen years old, ten years younger than her. In her eyes, he was only a child.

“My daughter is three years old. She’s studying in a kindergarten not far away from here. I’ll bring her here when there’s time.”

The young man sniffled as though he had lost his first love. However, he didn’t seem very sad because there was a Little Beauty.

“Sister Ruoxin, you should bring her with you soon.” Stars shimmered in the young man’s eyes. What a splendid occasion it would be to have both the Big Beauty and Little Beauty here. He couldn’t wait.

“Okay.” Xia Ruoxin organized the pieces of paper on the desk and tidied up the studio. Right at this moment, sunlight shone on her. She looked warm and inviting. When she was younger, many had had the urge to fall for her.

A child would always have dreams which need not be crushed. Their dreams could be replaced with other things.

Xia Ruoxin’s life had been plentiful. In fact, she was so busy she didn’t have time. She spent her days in the art studio. After her classes ended, she would pick her daughter up from the kindergarten. As a doctor by profession, Gao Yi could have a heavy workload at times; and he could barely move after a few night shifts.

All Xia Ruoxin could do was prepare some tonics for him. At the very least, he would not starve when it came to food.

She was almost on-the-go the whole day. There was no time for her to think of other things because she was simply too busy.

She kept her tools and looked at her watch. It was past five o’clock. There were no vegetables at home so she had to go and buy some.

However, on her way back from the market, a car was coming from the opposite direction. It stopped beside her. The car door opened, and a tall man wearing a suit emerged.

He was a misfit standing at the market. This was an ordinary market whereas he was an elite from the society. His clothes were spotless while many people around him smelled like the market.

The smell of vegetables, mud, poultry, and fish.

“Ruoxin, can we talk?”

Chu Lui took a deep breath. The look in his dark eyes was complex. It almost drowned him.

Xia Ruoxin’s hand tightened around the handle of the basket. She didn’t know what she had to say to him.

Not too long after that...

They came to a western restaurant. Chu Lui, in his suit, looked like he belonged here. However, Xia Ruoxin didn’t. She was wearing casual attire, a pair of flat shoes, and carrying a basket full of groceries that she just bought.

Nevertheless, thanks for her good looks and gentle disposition, she did not look out of place upon her arrival at the restaurant.

“What would you like to have?” Chu Lui handed the menu to Xia Ruoxin as he asked.

“A glass of water. Thank you.”

Xia Ruoxin did not look at the menu. She wasn’t here to eat or drink water. It was because of basic courtesy.

“You don’t want anything else?” Chu Lui’s eyes darkened. “The steak here is quite good. Do you want to try it?”

“Mr. Chu, you might have forgotten about some things because of your busy schedule. I don’t like steak.” Xia Ruoxin placed both her hands on the table. She sounded sarcastic. That’s right. She never liked steak especially those cooked medium-rare. Xia Yixuan or perhaps Li Manni might like it.

Chu Lui’s held his glass, and his hand paused in mid-air, as though he had forgotten something. His heart was hollow.

He had truly forgotten about that. No, he had never bothered to remember that Xia Ruoxin did not like to eat steak. The Xia Ruoxin in the past was always laughing. No matter where he brought her or he ordered for her to eat, she would say it is nice as though she really liked it.

In reality, he had not paid any attention to her: the raised eyebrows and her pursed lips. How she must have endured it.

She had put up with it in the past because he was Chu Lui, and she liked him. Yet now, she could not tolerate him. Was it because she no longer liked him? At the thought of this, Chu Lui froze. It felt like something had been carved out from his heart when he was wide awake. He could not reconcile or endure the pain.

“Ruoxin.”

He called Xia Ruoxin’s name—a name that had not faded in his heart for the past four years. Time could not wash it away. He could not forget even with the distance between them. All these years, it just became clearer and clearer.