Chapter 297: The Final Goodbye
Your Yibao: [Where did you run off to @Penglai’s Snow? Your family is looking for you everywhere. Your mom has even cried!]
Your Yibao: [@Penglai’s Snow, reply quickly! How old are you to act so immature? What can’t you discuss with your family?]
Your Yibao: [@Fang Youbao, @Yuan Youfang, Has Peng Xue contacted you guys?]
Mei Fang was awakened by Xia Yuan in his sleep. Seeing the messages on Xia Yuan’s phone, he was quite surprised. “Why did Peng Xue run away from home? Do you know why?”
“It must be because of some communication issues with her family…”
Xia Yuan explained while trying to call Peng Xue, “I heard Xiao Xue complain before that her family strongly opposed her learning music like her cousin. They almost broke her bass once during an argument, and she had a cold war with them over this issue.”
[The user you dialed is currently powered off…]
“It’s no use, she’s turned off her phone…”
Sitting on the bed with disheveled hair, Xia Yuan was now as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, biting her finger and pondering where Peng Xue might have gone.
“Xiao Xue should think of me first when she runs away. Not contacting me… Is she going to stay with her cousin? Or somewhere else… If she ran off with a net friend and encountered bad people, what should we do!”
Mei Fang gently tucked Xia Yuan’s hair behind her ear and squeezed her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Peng Xue isn’t the kind of girl who would easily trust others. Have faith in her, wait for her to contact you.”
At this moment, Lin You Xi also woke up due to the whispers between Xia Yuan and Mei Fang. After hearing their story, she thought for a moment and said, “If Peng Xue left home because of an argument with her parents or just left quietly, understanding this is very important.”
So Xia Yuan called Yue Xinyi again. From Yue Xinyi, she learned that recently there wasn’t any conflict with her parents, but they had talked about dropping out of school.
After hearing Xia Yuan’s account, Lin You Xi fell into deep thought. “If that’s the case, Peng Xue’s departure might not be impulsive but well-planned. If we ask her parents if the room was cleaned before she left, we’ll know.”
“I will go call them again—”
Mei Fang patted Xia Yuan’s shoulder. “Worrying won’t help… Get up and wash up. Maybe Peng Xue will contact you soon?”
“Xiao Xue once said while climbing a mountain with us that she dreamed of driving a jeep around the world. What if she really decided to run away this time?”
“That’s unlikely.”
Mei Fang patted Xia Yuan’s shoulder again. “Do you remember what Peng Xue did first after receiving her bonus last year? She paid me back, settling the debt from my previous investment.”
“Now she still owes me a few thousand dollars. With Peng Xue’s personality, she wouldn’t leave without settling her debts.”
“Moreover, you’re her best friend. You planned to form a band together. Are you doubting your friendship with Peng Xue?”
“Of course not…”
Xia Yuan nodded slightly. “Let’s wait and see.”
It was Saturday, so there were no classes. However, Xia Yuan seemed distracted while getting up, washing, and eating. She kept staring at her phone, fearing she might miss any message.
Mei Fang and Lin You Xi were also worried about Xia Yuan’s state of mind. They washed dishes together and discussed Peng Xue’s whereabouts.
“I wonder if they’ve reported to the police yet. Even though it’s only been a short time since she left, the police should still search thoroughly.”
“How could she leave without leaving a note? Peng Xue is really troublesome.”
Mei Fang noticed Lin You Xi’s angry demeanor while washing dishes. “You seem quite upset.”
“Why wouldn’t I be? An eighteen-year-old girl is doing such childish things, not like a ten-year-old kid.”
Lin You Xi handed Mei Fang the clean dishes and said, “I don’t have any extra feelings for Peng Xue, but seeing her make You Yuan worry makes me uncomfortable, so naturally, I’m upset.”
“This expression reminds me of something from long ago.”
Mei Fang smiled. “Do you remember when Peng Xue insisted on walking home with us, and you disagreed with You Yuan bringing other friends, so you pulled her aside?”
“Of course, I remember that.”
Lin You Xi nodded. “That was the first time I told You Yuan ‘no.'”
“So you were jealous then, right?”
“Of course.”
Lin You Xi didn’t deny it. “That was the first time I felt that if I hadn’t said anything back then, Peng Xue might gradually replace me in You Yuan’s heart.”
“Is that how you feel?”
Lin You Xi nodded slightly, her gaze falling on the dishes in front of her.
“She and You Yuan… were really a perfect match. So much so that when I appeared with her in front of You Yuan in junior high, I could hardly get a word in.”
“But the feeling of being friends and family is different.”
“That’s now. I’ve grown a lot since then. But most importantly—”
Lin You Xi wiped her hands and gave Mei Fang a light pinch on the cheek. “Without you as the link, our relationship with You Yuan would have faded over time.”
“Because you are the common topic between us.”
After finishing the dishes, just as they were about to return to the living room to see what Xia Yuan was up to, Xia Yuan came running over.
“Fang, You Xi!”
“Peng Xue messaged me!”
Xia Yuan’s face was filled with excitement. “She said she’s at the entrance of our neighborhood. She came to see me.”
…
After informing Yue Xinyi and sending a message to Peng Xue’s parents, Mei Fang and Lin You Xi prepared to go downstairs and bring Peng Xue back. However, Lin You Xi did not join them.
“She probably hasn’t eaten lunch after taking the bus from Baimei County here. I’ll prepare something for her at home.”
“Thank you, thank you, You Xi, you’re so kind!”
Xia Yuan hugged Lin You Xi and kissed her cheek. “I love you so much!”
“What are you so happy about? I’m just worried I’ll scold her and drive her away again.”
Lin You Xi pushed Xia Yuan away with disdain, and both smiled simultaneously. Lin You Xi patted Xia Yuan’s shoulder. “Talk to her properly with Fang. Calm her down and convince her to go back to school. Don’t let her think too much.”
“Okay, I understand.”
Xia Yuan held onto Mei Fang’s arm. “Don’t rush to lecture her when we talk to her. Let me speak first, and we’ll listen to her thoughts together.”
“No problem.”
Mei Fang and Xia Yuan walked down the elevator to meet Peng Xue. Sure enough, they saw Peng Xue leaning against the neighborhood entrance with her bass guitar, looking up at the sky. When she saw Xia Yuan and Mei Fang, she greeted them with a smile.
Xia Yuan let go of Mei Fang’s hand and rushed over to hug Peng Xue. Peng Xue, like usual, hugged Xia Yuan and stroked her head, but her expression was not as cheerful as usual.
“It’s good to see you still full of energy. I can rest easy now.”
“What are you talking about? It’s you who doesn’t make people feel at ease. Coming to Jiangcheng to see us without telling the school or your family. Your parents are looking all over for you, making everyone worry!”
Peng Xue smiled and stuck out her tongue, not continuing Xia Yuan’s words, but instead putting down her bass guitar and leaning against the door.
Xia Yuan watched her rummage through her travel bag, puzzled. “Why are you unpacking at the door? You Xi is cooking for you at home.”
“This time, I’ve considered and prepared for leaving for a long time. I even thought about not seeing you, but I couldn’t bear to leave You Yuan, and then—”
Peng Xue took out a stack of money from her bag and handed it to Xia Yuan.
“This is the money Boss Mei lent me, plus what I repaid with my bonus. I believe I’ve paid everything back now.”
Peng Xue smiled. “I came here specifically to repay the money and say goodbye to You Yuan one last time.”
“Xiao Xue… What do you mean—”
Peng Xue patted Xia Yuan’s shoulder with a smile. “I no longer want to go to school. I’m already 18 years old. I want to explore the world outside and try to make it on my own with this bass guitar.”
To be continued.
