Push Me Away When I Come, Don't Hold Me Back When I Leave - Chapter 162

Chapter 162: The Invitation from Xu Fengwu

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But Xia Ruoming couldn’t achieve this. Everything went wrong from the moment she made that bet with Jiang Ruhua. The so-called fair judgment that fate gave her was reset to its “proper course” by herself.

She chose a shortcut to obtain startup funding — but as the saying goes, sometimes shortcuts are the longest paths. Because of this, in this timeline after her rebirth, she inevitably reconnected with Jiang Ruhua again.

Xia Ruoming and Jiang Ruhua were destined to have this karmic bond.

Throughout their lives, there was no escape.

Because she feared that Jiang Ruhua would stubbornly wait at the station for hours and leave alone dejectedly, she still drove eagerly to pick up Jiang Ruhua, just like her past self who always cared about why Jiang Ruhua wasn’t happy every day. Because she worried about Jiang Ruhua being alone in the dorm during her period with no one to help, she brought Jiang Ruhua to live together in her villa, even sharing the same bed.

Actually, when Xia Ruoming secretly went to the study alone to draw that day, choosing to draw her future self with Jiang Ruhua, she knew she hadn’t grown much at all.

No matter when, she could never be cold-hearted, nor could she completely forget the past.

Xia Ruoming, you still care about her the most, no matter how much time has passed. Yes, Chu Suhe illuminated your life, so you believe she’s the best girl in the world, but Jiang Ruhua was the first person you thought of before your death. She was the one who stayed with you for many years because of a contract, never despising you as your youth faded, never making inappropriate demands. How could love at first sight triumph over love that grows over time? You’re just afraid, afraid of dying again, and who isn’t afraid of death? — Listening to her inner voice, Xia Ruoming, focused on painting, could only show a bitter smile.

She thought she had transcended worldly matters by being able to calmly let go of those brilliant sparks that didn’t belong to her, but she was still just an ordinary person after all, only different from others in her mundane aspects.

Two phoenixes were never meant to be, how could both be attained.

Xia Ruoming knew that Liu Ruoxue had once gone to a temple to draw divination lots about her and Xu Fengwu’s matters, and got the worst possible fortune. Many years later, she herself went to that same temple to seek divination about her and Jiang Ruhua’s relationship, and also got the worst possible fortune.

That temple, even when people draw bad fortunes, would usually tell them that divination isn’t necessarily accurate, that it depends on oneself, or that fortunes can be changed.

But both times, the temple monks said nothing, because people who seek divination generally believe in these things, and the temple’s fortune stick container never contained the worst fortune just to mess with people’s minds.

Among those fortune sticks, there was never supposed to be a worst fortune, yet Xia Ruoming drew it… Those monks had never encountered such an eerie thing before, even feeling a chill in the Buddha hall — especially when they learned that ten years ago, her mother Liu Ruoxue had also come to draw lots for her, and similarly got the worst fortune.

At that time, Xia Ruoming’s smiling comment “Who would have thought I could draw the worst fortune again after ten years” left the entire main hall in dead silence.

……

……

Stepping into the classroom, Xia Ruoming shook her head, forcing herself to clear her mind. Having already been reborn, it wouldn’t do to still dwell on matters from her past life. Now she was no longer that girl who needed Jiang Ruhua to fulfill her dreams. No matter what, she shouldn’t get too deeply involved in matters concerning Jiang Ruhua, at least… not get too deeply involved right now.

“Good morning, Ruoming~” Seeing Xia Ruoming enter the classroom, Xu Fengwu gave a sweet greeting, while continuing to brush Chu Suhe’s hair with an ebony comb. Chu Suhe was also unusually not shy, leaning against Xu Fengwu and letting her tend to her hair.

Looking at the empty seat “specially” left for her beside Chu Suhe, Xia Ruoming fell into deep thought.

Xu Fengwu had mastered the art of settling for second best to perfection. Ruoming doesn’t want to sit with me? Ruoming wants to sit with Chu Suhe? Fine, I’ll save the seat next to Chu Suhe for you, I’ll sit next to my good friend Chu Suhe, surely you won’t have any objections to that, Ruoming?

Seeing Xia Ruoming sit down, Xu Fengwu’s lips curved into a barely noticeable smile.

“Good morning to you too, Fengwu, and good morning Susu~ How have you been adapting to dorm life these past few days?” Xia Ruoming asked Chu Suhe after putting down her bag.

“Good morning, Ruoming… I’m, I’m doing fine… with, with Classmate Xu here, you don’t need to worry…” Chu Suhe said softly while leaning against Xu Fengwu.

Xia Ruoming glanced at Xu Fengwu, showing a strange expression. She did know that Chu Suhe and Xu Fengwu had become quite close now, and according to Chu Suhe, Xu Fengwu had taken good care of her often.

But… what Xia Ruoming cared about wasn’t this, but rather could Xu Fengwu really be this gentle? Why couldn’t she believe it? After all, Xu Fengwu’s lofty attitude and harsh words had left a deep impression on Xia Ruoming. Originally, Xia Ruoming thought the story would be like that of a malicious ex-girlfriend and a pure current girlfriend, which would give her a chance to make up her mind and not betray her various previous vows.

Mainly it was about that vow where she said she’d wash her hair with cola while doing a handstand if she ever liked Xu Fengwu again.

But now Xu Fengwu pulls this? Was it really because her Chu Suhe was too adorable, so adorable that even someone like Xu Fengwu would unconsciously be drawn to her?

“By the way, Ruoming, would you like to go camping? This weekend, I’ve prepared everything in advance~” Xu Fengwu interrupted Xia Ruoming’s thoughts, taking out her phone from her bag to show photos of camping equipment, waving it in the air.

Camping? The must-choose option for foreign lesbian dates? Lighting a fire at the firepit and watching stars together, then confessing feelings to each other? If she went, wouldn’t they end up talking about rekindling old feelings? Better not, she wasn’t mentally prepared for that yet.

“Um… I have something this weekend, so…”

“Oh? Does Ruoming really have plans? Little Suhe will be coming camping too, she’s already agreed to come with me. Is Ruoming really not planning to join us?” Xu Fengwu smiled cunningly, as if seeing through Xia Ruoming’s thoughts.

“…” Undeniably, Xu Fengwu’s words hit Xia Ruoming’s weak spot perfectly. The only time Xia Ruoming had successfully asked Chu Suhe out was through camping, and it was during that time that her relationship with Chu Suhe had significantly improved.

Camping held a special meaning for her and Chu Suhe.

“Suhe~ Don’t you agree, wouldn’t it be nice for everyone to go camping together?” Xu Fengwu said with a smile, seemingly talking to Chu Suhe but actually directing her words at Xia Ruoming.

“If, if Ruoming doesn’t want to come… we, we shouldn’t force her…” Chu Suhe said timidly, though while she said this, Xia Ruoming seemed to hear that Chu Suhe really hoped she would come.

After hesitating for a while, Xia Ruoming let out a light sigh and nodded, agreeing to the matter.

When she saw Xia Ruoming nod, Xu Fengwu almost cried, countless times thanking her caring mother in her heart who had always given her advice, and this time was no exception.