Siheyuan: Sending Shazhu into the call center, Yi Gu is useless

What made him feel most gratified was that Ran Qiuye would come to the store from time to time to check on the situation. Every time she came, Chen Rufeng's heart was filled with joy and expectation. Although their relationship was still that of friends, Chen Rufeng had a new desire deep in his heart. Perhaps one day in the future, he would have the courage to express his true thoughts to her. He was willing to wait slowly and let this feeling gradually heat up in daily communication and interaction. Chen Rufeng found that his feelings for Ran Qiuye were getting stronger and stronger. He began to look forward to meeting her every day, began to care about her every move, and would even be happy for several days because of a caring word from her. Ran Qiuye's every frown and smile left a deep mark in his heart, as if she had become an indispensable part of his life.

Chen Rufeng was not a person who was good at expressing his emotions, but he understood that if he did not take action, this feeling might gradually fade away with the passage of time. One evening, when the afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on the blue bricks of the courtyard, the courtyard was quiet, with only the rustling sound of the leaves gently blown by the wind, he finally made up his mind to confess to Ran Qiuye.

That day, after buying some daily necessities and preparing to leave, Chen Rufeng summoned up his courage and called her: "Qiu Ye, can I talk to you for a few words?"

Ran Qiuye stopped, looked back at him, and smiled: "Of course,"

Chen Rufeng hesitated for a moment, his heart beating fast, but he knew that he could not retreat. He said slowly: "Qiu Ye, actually I... I want to say that I have always liked you. Ever since you started to come to the store often, I found that I had different feelings for you. I know you may not have noticed, but these days, I have been thinking about whether I can get closer to you."

After saying these words, Chen Rufeng felt like a huge stone was lifted from his heart, but at the same time, he felt uneasy and nervous. He didn't know how Ran Qiuye would respond, nor did he know what she was thinking.

The moment of Ran Qiuye's silence seemed like a long time to Chen Rufeng. He felt his heartbeat getting faster and faster, and his palms were even slightly sweaty. He knew that this moment would determine whether his relationship with Ran Qiuye would continue to remain the same or change completely in the future. Ran Qiuye took a deep breath, raised her eyes, and looked at him with a little apology.

"Rufeng," Ran Qiuye's voice was very soft, but with a firm strength, "You are a very good person, and I have cherished the time I have spent with you these days. But..." She paused, as if looking for the right words, "I really have no way to respond to your feelings. I have always regarded you as a very good friend, and I am very grateful for your care and concern for me. But the relationship between us may not develop as you expect."

These words were like a stream of cold water, instantly extinguishing the hope in Chen Rufeng's heart. He felt a dull pain in his chest, as if something was slowly breaking. He lowered his head, not daring to look directly into Ran Qiuye's eyes. Although he had been mentally prepared, when this rejection really came, he still felt extremely lost.

Ran Qiuye couldn't help feeling sorry when she saw Chen Rufeng lowering his head. She reached out her hand, patted his shoulder gently, and said softly, "I'm sorry, Rufeng. I'm really sorry. I hope we can still be friends, if you want."

Chen Rufeng tried to force a smile, although it seemed very forced. He raised his head and looked at Ran Qiuye, his voice a little hoarse: "It's okay, I understand. You don't have to feel sorry for it. I just... maybe I think too much."

Ran Qiuye looked at him, her eyes full of apology and a hint of mixed emotions, but she knew that any extra explanation at this time would only make the situation more awkward. She nodded: "Thank you for understanding. I really cherish our friendship."

Chen Rufeng stopped talking, just nodded silently, and then watched Ran Qiuye walk out of the store and disappear in the afterglow of the sunset. He stood there, his mind blank. The feeling of loss and frustration surged like a tide, making it difficult for him to breathe. He had imagined their future countless times, but now, all of this has turned into a bubble.

As night fell, the courtyard was shrouded in silence, with only the leaves rustling in the wind. Chen Rufeng sat alone in the yard, feeling as if his heart was hollowed out. He felt that he needed to find someone to talk to, even if it was just to vent his inner distress. So, he suddenly thought of Jia Dongxu, an old friend with whom he had a good relationship.

Jia Dongxu is a friend that Chen Rufeng has known for many years. The two grew up together in a courtyard and have a deep friendship. Jia Dongxu is generous and cheerful, and he can always make Chen Rufeng laugh. Although Jia Dongxu is sometimes a little heartless, he is a trustworthy person. At this moment, he just wants to talk to Jia Dongxu, maybe he can make him feel better.

Chen Rufeng stood up, locked the door of the store, and walked quickly to Jia Dongxu's home. He could walk through the courtyard with his eyes closed. The dim light shone on the stone road, casting mottled shadows. Chen Rufeng felt heavy, and every step seemed to be a heavy weight, but he knew that he had to walk through it.

Jia Dongxu's door was half open, and the sound of the TV came from the room. Chen Rufeng knocked on the door gently, and Jia Dongxu came out immediately. Seeing Chen Rufeng standing at the door, he smiled and said, "Rufeng, why do you come to see me so late?"

Chen Rufeng forced a smile: "Dongxu, I...I feel a little upset,"

Jia Dongxu noticed that Chen Rufeng was in a bad mood, so he quickly let him in. The two sat on the old sofa, and Jia Dongxu handed Chen Rufeng a glass of water, his expression becoming serious: "What's wrong? Tell me."

Chen Rufeng held the cup, and the temperature of the water passed through the cup wall to his palm, but it could not warm his cold heart at the moment. He whispered: "Dongxu, today... I confessed to Ran Qiuye."

Jia Dongxu was stunned for a moment, then raised his eyebrows and showed a surprised expression: "You finally spoke?"

Chen Rufeng smiled bitterly and shook his head: "She... rejected me. She said she only saw me as a friend and had no other intentions. Suddenly he was speechless. He knew that Chen Rufeng must be very upset. So he patted Chen Rufeng on the shoulder and tried to comfort him: "Brother, don't be too sad. When it comes to feelings, just let it go. Sometimes you can't force it. Although he knew that Jia Dongxu meant well, the pain in his heart did not ease much. He raised his head and looked at Jia Dongxu,