The Only Choice - Extra 3

Song Li's niece, Fei'er, was a sophomore in high school. Her grades were poor, and her English was especially abysmal.

After Xu Xiaoqian became her tutor, Fei'er's final exam scores for the second semester showed marked improvement. Her parents were thrilled and decided to continue hiring Xu Xiaoqian, even giving her a raise.

Xu Xiaoqian's family circumstances were modest. Her family could cover her basic expenses, but anything extra had to come from her own part-time work.

She liked and genuinely needed this tutoring job, so she agreed to continue the lessons.

One morning, after finishing her own classes, she prepared to head to Fei'er's house for their session.

But unexpectedly, on her way to the West Gate, she ran into Yang Cheng.

They had broken up almost a year ago. Over that year, she had progressively blocked him on every platform she could think of, to avoid him bothering her every time he drank… She remembered the last time he got drunk, he'd even messaged her through Alipay, which was utterly absurd.

"Xiaoqian." He called out to her as she passed.

Xu Xiaoqian glanced back at him, her expression blank. She couldn't muster any warmth for Yang Cheng, even after all this time.

Fanfan had once asked her if she was still in love with him, if that's why she couldn't move past the hostility.

She thought, no, it wasn't about still loving him. It was precisely because she had loved him that she couldn't amiably pretend to be friends.

"Xiaoqian, I just want to say a few words… I'm going to the UK as an exchange student. Leaving in a few days. Wanted to let you know."

Xu Xiaoqian said flatly, "Oh. Congratulations."

Having said that, she turned to leave. Yang Cheng immediately grabbed her arm. "Wait—"

Xu Xiaoqian frowned. "What are you doing?"

"Just… as a final meeting, can we talk properly? Without all this… sharpness?"

"You're overthinking it. I'm not deliberately refusing to talk properly. It's just… what else is there for us to say?"

A pained look crossed Yang Cheng's face. "Everything that happened before was my fault. I know no matter how I change or what I do now, you won't forgive me, so I'm not begging to get back together. I just… I still hope you'll be well."

"I am well. Sorry, I'm running late. If there's nothing else, I'm leaving."

"That guy, Song Li… he's not right for you! He won't give you the outcome you want!" Yang Cheng blurted out. "I hope you'll be well, so even if it's not with me, it shouldn't be with him! You need to understand, you're not Zhou Fanfan. She's from the same social stratum as those people, but you're not. Wake up!"

Xu Xiaoqian's gaze turned icy. "I know exactly who I am. No money, no influence, just an ordinary person, nothing special. That's why you, Yang Cheng, gave up on me and went for a girl with money and connections. So, it's fine for you, but not for me?"

Yang Cheng deflated. "Xiaoqian, there's nothing between me and her anymore. Don't deliberately oppose me just because…"

"Whether there is or isn't anything between you two, I don't care at all now. I'm not with Song Li to oppose you either. I'm just… dating. You're overstepping. And you say he won't give me the outcome I want? Did I ever say I needed any specific outcome?"

"You—"

"Alright, let's not say any more. Have a safe trip. I'm leaving."

Xu Xiaoqian quickly walked away, leaving Yang Cheng behind. She reached the school gate and hailed a taxi.

As the campus receded outside the car window, she watched the shifting cityscape and put in her earbuds.

She was an ordinary person. She didn't come from a powerful family. So, someone like Song Li, from an established lineage… there was no future in it.

She didn't need anyone to tell her that.

She was, in fact, painfully aware. Aware as she watched herself sink deeper, and aware as she prepared to eventually extract herself.

Over and over, engaged in a relationship that wasn't really a relationship at all.

—

By the time she finished tutoring Fei'er, it was 5 PM. The family invited her to stay for dinner, but she politely declined and left.

"Hey beautiful, need a ride? Hop in."

A flashy sports car was parked outside, and leaning against it was Song Li, holding the passenger door open for her.

A smile touched Xu Xiaoqian's eyes as she walked over. "What are you doing here?"

"Sent you a message, you didn't reply, so I came directly."

Xu Xiaoqian explained, "I was in the middle of Fei'er's lesson. My phone was on silent."

"Ah, no problem. Beautiful can treat me any way she likes." Song Li grinned cheekily and leaned in to steal a kiss. "Let's go, get some food."

"What do you want to eat?"

"Haven't decided. We'll figure it out on the way."

They ended up at a members-only Western restaurant where a single meal cost more than her living expenses for several months.

In the time she'd been with Song Li, she had been exposed to a world she'd never known before. It also made her realize how down-to-earth her friend Zhou Fanfan had always been when they hung out.

This world of wealth and privilege was dazzling and intoxicating. She found herself irresistibly drawn into it, yet simultaneously held back, refusing to let Song Li spend excessively on her. She never accepted his truly expensive gifts. Whenever Song Li suggested she didn't need to work her part-time jobs, she insisted she had to.

She thought Song Li must find her terribly pretentious. Sometimes she felt that way herself, as if by not taking his things or his money, she could somehow distinguish herself from his previous 'girlfriends.'

After dinner, Song Li took her to change clothes and get her hair and makeup done, as she'd agreed to accompany him to a business cocktail party.

But she hadn't expected to run into one of Song Li's old flames there.

Song Li had quite a history, but during their time together, she hadn't been bothered by any exes. This was a first.

At the time, Song Li was off chatting with some company executives. Left to her own devices, she stood to the side, sipping a drink.

"So, you're Song Li's current flavor."

The woman approaching was exceptionally beautiful. Xu Xiaoqian recognized her—Ge Siying, an actress, though not very famous nowadays.

Xu Xiaoqian felt uncomfortable under her appraising stare. "Can I help you with something?"

Ge Siying smiled. "Nothing much, just curious. I heard Song Li had a girlfriend he'd been with for a while now. Wanted to see what formidable person had managed it. But looking at you now—" Ge Siying didn't finish, but Xu Xiaoqian got the gist: she thought Xu Xiaoqian was ordinary.

"Hey, Song Li isn't an easy one to pin down. What's your trick for keeping him around so long?" Ge Siying sighed theatrically. "Before you, I was the one he stayed with the longest, you know."

Xu Xiaoqian took a sip of her wine and replied calmly, "No tricks. I don't know why he's been with me this long either. Perhaps, compared to you, Miss Ge, I simply have something… exceptional."

The smile on Ge Siying's face faded. She stared intently at Xu Xiaoqian for a moment, then let out a short laugh. "Can't see anything exceptional on the surface. Unless it's… that you're particularly wild in bed? Song Li does enjoy his fun. Even I found it a bit much back in the day."

Ge Siying had been separated from Song Li for quite some time and had already latched onto a new patron. But she'd never quite gotten over Song Li, and seeing his current partner was just an ordinary girl rubbed her the wrong way, making her want to get in a few digs.

Unexpectedly, the woman before her remained unruffled, even smiling slightly as she said, "Hmm, we are quite compatible in that area. Your guess makes sense. No wonder he can't leave me."

"…………"

In the end, Ge Siying left with a face like thunder.

The moment she was gone, Xu Xiaoqian's composed expression faltered.

Half an hour later, the party ended, and Xu Xiaoqian returned with Song Li to his place.

Lately, she'd been staying over frequently; they were in a sort of semi-cohabitation situation.

"You seem a bit off. What's wrong?" Song Li asked once they were home.

Xu Xiaoqian:"It's nothing. Just tired from running around today. I want to rest."

"Alright, let's turn in early then." Song Li wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling close. "Shower together?"

Xu Xiaoqian removed his hands and headed straight for the bedroom. "Separately. I'll just take a quick rinse."

Song Li shrugged. "Fine."

After her shower, Xu Xiaoqian got into bed. Soon, Song Li returned from showering in another room.

He slipped under the covers, pressing against her back from behind, his hands beginning to wander. "Baby."

Xu Xiaoqian felt irritable and grabbed his wrist. "Let's sleep. Don't."

"We can sleep later… You've been at school all week, haven't slept with me…"

As he spoke, he turned her over and kissed her neck—

The image of the woman from earlier popped into Xu Xiaoqian's head. She turned her face away, evading him. "I'm tired. I want to rest."

"We can rest after."

"I want to rest now."

"Come on, have some pity on your boyfriend…"

For some reason, a wave of anger suddenly surged up in Xu Xiaoqian.

"I said I'm tired and want to rest! Can you not be in heat anytime, anywhere like some animal!? Is there anything else in your head besides this when you're with me!?"

Song Li's movements halted abruptly. He lifted his head, his eyes cooling as he looked down at her.

He watched her silently for a long moment, then, without a word, rolled off the bed and left the room.

Xu Xiaoqian stared at his retreating back, stunned herself. She hadn't expected to snap like that, to say those things.

Was it because of what Yang Cheng had said? Or because meeting Ge Siying, and hearing her few remarks, had made her dwell on his past?

But she'd known all about his world of sensual pleasures from the start. Their being together was purely a matter of hormones, just about having a good time in bed.

How could she lose her temper over this?

Don't be like this, Xu Xiaoqian.

It's just a physical fling without emotional strings. Don't be like this…

Yet even as she admonished herself, she felt a profound sadness.

Her heart felt hollow, as if she'd wandered into a dead-end alley. She knew she shouldn't, knew she couldn't, yet she was still sinking deeper step by step.

She didn't know how much time had passed when footsteps sounded again in the quiet room.

Xu Xiaoqian was lying on her side, wide awake. Her heart clenched at the sound.

Soon, she felt the covers lift and someone slide in beside her. He moved close, pulling her into his arms.

"Sorry, baby. My fault. You were already busy tutoring Fei'er all day, and I still dragged you to that party. You must be exhausted." Song Li's anger had cooled, and he was back to coaxing her gently.

Xu Xiaoqian's nose stung, and she wanted to cry, but she quickly held the tears back.

"I was wrong just now, shouldn't have pressured you. Let's just sleep properly now, okay? I won't bother you."

Xu Xiaoqian took a deep breath and said, "I ran into an old flame of yours at the party today."

Song Li paused. "Who?"

"Ge Siying."

Song Li turned her to face him. "So that's why you were upset with me? What did she say?"

"Nothing much." Xu Xiaoqian looked up at him, trying to keep her tone light, to let go of any lingering resentment. "Song Li, why did you break up with her? She's so beautiful."

"Beautiful? She's nowhere near as gorgeous as you." Song Li insisted. "Isn't my baby the cutest girl in the whole world?"

Xu Xiaoqian gave a faint smile, the knot in her chest easing slightly. "People who aren't pretty enough get called 'cute'."

"Who told you that nonsense? I mean 'cute' seriously!"

Xu Xiaoqian rolled her eyes. "Whatever… You still haven't said. Why did you break up with her?"

Song Li thought for a moment. "That was a long time ago. If I remember right, she bullied Xiao Wu. Yuanbai and Chengyan were both involved. She offended a whole crowd of people, caused me a lot of trouble, so we broke up."

"Bullied Xiao Wu? Then breaking up was the right move…" Xu Xiaoqian murmured. Then, softer, "But you make breaking up sound so simple… Have you thought about when you'll break up with me?"

Song Li was taken aback, then laughed. "Now you're just being unreasonable. Why would I break up with someone as adorable as you?"

Xu Xiaoqian punched his arm lightly. "I'm being serious!"

"So am I." Song Li looked at her, his peach-blossom eyes seemingly capable of drowning a person in their depths. "Baby, I like you. I'm not breaking up with you.”

---

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