I Come To See How Low You've Fallen

Jiang Jinyan averted his gaze away from the rows of cherry blossom trees outside the hospital.

Today was the day when Wei Xiameng would come. Even though Jiang Jinyan never showed it, he secretly looked forward to her arrival. He tried to straighten the blanket so as to cover his disabled leg from view. It was late in the afternoon, and her classes should have ended.

Jiang Jinyan waited…and waited…

But the woman hadn't arrived.

Worry started to surface in his heart, and once it started, he couldn't help to think of all the worst scenarios possible. He couldn't help it, ever since he woke up, the only thing he had was time. Ironically, in the past, he had wished that there were 72 hours a day, but now, even waiting for 5 hours felt like such a long time.

During his idle time, he started to think about all kinds of things. Thinking about his busy yet fulfilling life before, imagining if he wasn't in the hospital right now, maybe he would be mopping the training center's floor because of being late for practice again.

And then, he would work out a sweat for all afternoon before picking up his girlfriend in her university. She would run toward his embrace with a sweet, beautiful smile and told him her day without him even asking for it.

Sometimes she could be loud and naggy, oftentimes spoiled and whiny, but still he felt that it wasn't so bad.

So many…so many memories and what-ifs floated in his mind, all of which were too beautiful to come true ever again.

His fists tightened on his side, and he couldn't help but always be reminded of his leg. Such a shameful leg. Such a hateful leg. He really regretted it. If at that evening, he hadn't broken through the green light to cross the road, then what would have happened now?

The hospital door slid open and Wei Xiameng ran in, her breath uneven. "J—Jinyan…sorry I'm late!" The woman's hair was disheveled and there was a sheen layer of sweat covering her forehead. She was three years older than him, but still sometimes her behavior was so childish that it seemed that Jiang Jinyan was the older one.

He frowned even though all his worries were instantly dispelled at her presence. "Don't run so fast. It's dangerous."

"I know, I know." She grinned and lifted the plastic bag in her hand. "See what I brought!"

It was the cakes from 'Happy Sweet Paradise'. Every time Jiang Jinyan came to pick her up, she would often whine that she craved sweet desserts. Thus, they often went there to hang out together. Jiang Jinyan didn't really like sweets, but to accommodate her, he forced herself to pick up a spoonful or two.

His lips quirked up into a faint smile and he asked, "Are you late because of buying it?"

"No," She laughed and only then did she step aside. "I forgot to tell you. Qing Si came with me!" There was another boy behind her, smiling courteously as he gestured for her to enter first.

Jiang Jinyan froze.

Qing Si was quite a tall man, even though he fell short of Jiang Jinyan by seven centimeters, but now, as he stood in the room, his figure was hovering above him. He had short neat hair, sharp contours, thin pale lips and refreshing demeanor.

If he wasn't Jiang Jinyan's greatest rival in securing the place for the upcoming Olympics, then he would surely become a popular president of the student council in university.

Jiang Jinyan's smile was stiff as he greeted, "...thanks for coming."

Wei Xiameng didn't seem to realize the undercurrent between them as she eagerly opened the package of sweets. "Yeah, what are the odds of meeting him below?"

Qing Si smiled, but Jiang Jinyan could see that his eyes told otherwise. "It's good to see you, Jinyan."

Jiang Jinyan's fists tightened. He lowered his eyes to hide the emotions surging within. Wei Xiameng put on the rows of colorful desserts in front of him and asked joyfully. "Which one do you want?"

"Up to you," he answered lightly.

Wei Xiameng looked up, intending to ask Qing Si too. Only then did she sniff something wrong in the room. She scratched her head awkwardly. "Should I leave the two of you alone for a while?"

Qing Si beamed brightly. "Yes, please. How thoughtful of you, Miss Wei."

"No, no. It's nothing." Wei Xiameng glanced at Jiang Jinyan and when she received his slight nod, she finally slipped out of the room and closed the door for them.

The atmosphere plunged down to its freezing point when the two of them were left.

Jiang Jinyan turned his head to look out of the window. "What are you coming for?"

Qing Si shrugged. "Really, I am just visiting you. Afterall, we have been rivals for years already, right? It is the basic of what I should do." If Qing Si wasn't his rival, maybe they could have been friends.

But after competing for each other for years, adding to the fact that Qing Si wasn't the polite and courteous man he showed on the outside, Jiang Jinyan's impression of him fell lower and lower and in the end, they didn't even try to be friendly on the surface anymore.

He sneered. "Do you think I will believe you?"

Qing Si spread his hands helplessly. "What should I do for you to believe me?" He tapped his chin and then, as if he thought of something, he lowered his head until his lips were right beside Jiang Jinyan's ears. He spoke with a voice that only the both of them could hear. "All right, you're right. I do come to see how pathetic you have fallen into. And I have to admit that I am not disappointed."

"You—!" Jiang Jinyan's eyes grew red and he swung his fists hard.

Qing Si leaned back with ease, his eyes teasing. "Oops, that's dangerous. Can't have you injured again after such a condition, can we?"