A Painful Yet Beautiful Memory

But she didn't think much of it. There was another important thing she had to take care of.

When Tang Yan finished cooking and was setting up the table, Song Xia came over and sat down. "Where is he actually?"

Tang Yan replied, "It's nothing. He's just preparing to return. It doesn't concern you since you'll stay here with me."

Song Xia pondered before she winked at him and called out coyly, "Yanyan~"

Tang Yan cringed. 'Is this retribution?'

He was just doing this to someone else few days earlier! And now..

He gave her a disgusted look. "..Stop it!"

Song Xia blinked her eyes continuously as she continued speaking cutely, "Yanyan~ Will you do me a favor??"

"..What favor?! And can you just stop talking like that?! It's giving me goosebumps!" Tang Yan shivered.

Song Xia didn't listen to him, "Please do it.." She paused for a while before softly saying, Yan Gege!"

Tang Yan froze momentarily. He suddenly felt like deja vú was hitting him. Different memories flooded in his mind.

The memories of someone he didn't want to remember; the memories of her.

'Tang Yan, will you do me a favor and keep this a secret??' The girl nervously spoke.

'What? No way.. Don't tell me, you really like him?!'

'Hey, keep your voice down!!' The girl widened her eyes as she quickly covered his mouth and looked around carefully.

He silently removed her hand from his mouth and asked, '..You want me to keep it from him?'

'Y-Yeah.. So please..' The girl's face was red as she fiddled with her fingers. 'Yan Gege..'

The sight of the shy girl ticked him off. He stood up and stomped off.

He could hear her shouting behind him, 'Tang Yan! Where are you going?!'

'Tang Yan, you didn't promise me!'

'Hey! Tang Yan!'

"Tang Yan?? Hey, are you okay?" Song Xia jerked Tang Yan. The latter flinched before he looked at her with red eyes.

Song Xia was stunned. Did her coy act shock him so much? Or was he touched that she went to such lengths to beg him?

But before she could say anything, he spoke hoarsely, "..Eat up. I forgot to bring something from the kitchen. I'll get going!"

He then ran off.

"Hey, Tang Yan! Where are you running off to??" Song Xia shouted.

She then muttered to herself, "The kitchen is there, why is he going towards the opposite direction? He's gone crazy.."

But she couldn't help but think of his weird expression. It was longing with a hint of loneliness? How should she put this..

It was as if he was thinking about a painful yet beautiful memory. A memory that he hated but also loved.

However, she had no more time to think when she heard the doorbell. She stood up and opened the door.

"Why are you so late?"

She didn't know that she sounded exactly like a whining wife welcoming her husband who came home late from work.

Ellen was in a gloomy mood but when he saw her, he felt refreshed. He passed a bag to her, "Here."

Song Xia closed the door with her leg, then curiously looked inside the bag, "What is this??"

"Something for you."

Song Xia took out a velvety box from the bag and opened it with anticipation.

She was pleased to see a simple yet exquisite pendant, "Wow, it's so beautiful!"

Ellen watched her bright smile and took it from her before leaning forward to hug her. Song Xia was flabbergasted by his sudden actions.

Ellen gently removed the hair on her shoulders then he took the pendant and put it around her neck.

"Done." Once he clasped on the pendant, he pulled away and realized that it suited her really well, just as he had imagined.

"It suits you a lot. Do you like it?"

Song Xia, who was frozen stiffly, reacted and touched the pendant lying on her neck. She softly said, "Yeah. I like it a lot.. But why are you..?"

Ellen rubbed her head as he smiled indulgently, "When I'm gone, if you miss me, you can touch the pendant and think of me being by your side."

When he's gone..

Song Xia's heart pounded rapidly. 'What does he mean.. He's making it seem as if I'm ever gonna miss him!'

Ellen stared at her before retracting his gaze and lazily taking off his coat. "Right, where is Tang Yan?"

"..I think I angered him." Song Xia smiled uncertainly.

"Why? What happened?" Ellen slumped down on the sofa and slowly closed his eyes.

"It's nothing. I just asked him for a favor. I don't think he wanted to help so he ran off! But he was acting so strange earlier.. It was like.."

Hearing her soft voice chirping continuously, Ellen's tensed muscles relaxed and his breathing grew stable.

Moments later, Song Xia realized that she was the only one talking so much and her mouth hurt.

But when she spotted him peacefully napping, she turned quiet. She tiptoed her way towards the sofa and leaned closer to him.

Ellen looked really fatigued. There were dark circles around his eyes. He looked so tired that she felt helpless.

Was he speeding up his works for her? Why?

Though she knew that he liked her, she didn't think much of it. Only thought of it as a temporary fling which won't last forever.

However, years had passed, but he was still the same as before.

Even though he got more open about his feelings and she still acted like she didn't know, but the truth was that her heart was slowly opening towards him.

It was melting from his sincerity from all these years.

She hadn't realized it before but living with him, she grew fond of his endless adoration and pampering towards herself.

She didn't know why he was so adamant on choosing her and supporting her on whatever she did.

She feared that this would only last for a little while and that he'd suddenly grow tired of her.

She feared that he'd look at her coldly and throw her away once she expressed her feelings.

Sometimes, she even doubted whether she deserved such treatment from him..

'Why are you doing this to me?' Song Xia touched his face lightly. '..His face is so soft.. Is it supposed to be like this?'

She continued poking his face before her hand was suddenly grabbed.

She was shocked when she met Ellen's dark eyes. It looked just like a beast who had been disturbed from its slumber.

Before she could decipher it, Ellen's features gradually softened and he asked in amusement, his voice slightly hoarse. "What were you doing just now?"

Song Xia was flustered and quickly tried to withdraw her hand but he caught it instantly. "I-I.."

Ellen looked at her slender and fair fingers as he frowned, "Why are your hands cold?" The weather was warm but her hands were cold.

"Oh, I just washed my hands earlier.." Song Xia subconsciously tried to take back her hands from his grip.

Ellen rubbed her hands with his large ones and complained softly, "You don't seem to care about yourself properly. What will you do when I'm gone?"

Song Xia fell silent.

She hesitated before asking, "Ellen.. What am I to you?" He always took her back with his actions.