Xavier furrowed his brow, “I don’t care about it, so why should anyone else?” “But | care!” Norah's eyes suddenly reddened, her voice choked with emotion, “I could hardly sleep last night, worried that Zachary and the others wouldn't know how to take care of you. | dreamed you were standing in front of me, covered in blood!” Xavier was taken aback at the sight of her tearful eyes, a tightness in his chest leaving him speechless. Turning her head away, Norah took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling with either anger or sorrow. He passed her a tissue, speaking in a calm tone, “Norah, how many times do | have to tell you? We're from different worlds. Our childhoods, values, perspectives—they’re all different. We can’t share a life together in the future. You should be with someone your own age, start dating, and you'll forget aboutsoon enough!” Norah didn’t take the tissue, her eyes downcast, “Lots of guys my age have chased after me, but | don’t like them! | don’t know why I like you; | just know I'm happy when I'm with you, that’s all | want—to be happy.” “You have been in love before, right?” Xavier asked, eyeing her defiant profile, “Your first love must have been unforgettable, but you moved on. You're a brave and strong girl—you know when something’s wrong, and you fix it. It's the swith me. Your feelings forare misguided, but just like before, you can bravely move on.” Xavier wasn’t cold as he used to be; instead, he spoke with the patience of an older brother, gently guiding the conversation. Norah's eyes filled with tears, her lips pressed tightly together in stubborn silence. He continued, “There's an age gap, a difference in life experience, and social standing between us—it’s just not possible. Our families would never approve. What would you do then? Break ties with your family for my sake, go against the world? A relationship that’s this fraught and painful can’t end well.” “Rather than ending on bad terms someday, it's better not to start at all.
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Live well in your own world. If we meet again, I'll still treat you like a sister.” Norah's voice was choked with emotion, “I know you're right. You made it clear before. | hated your past so much, | swore I'd never see you again, to forget you! But what can | do? | miss you so much, | want to see you—it’s drivinginsane!” Her tears fell abruptly, “You wouldn't be so concerned about age and experience if you liked me. But because | like you, | don’t care about those things. My only fear is that you'll grow tired of me!” Xavier watched her, brows knitted, silent for a long moment. Norah, not hearing a response, turned to him, her eyes tearful out of sorrow and pain, “Say something. If you have any more wisdom to share, lethave it!” “I'm not sick of you,” Xavier said, his gaze deep, “But | don’t like you, either.” At his words of not being sick of her, Norah's spirits soared like fireworks, but his subsequent confession of not liking her doused AN F—, joy like a bucket of cold water. This was more heart-wrenching than any lecture. Norah bit her lip, “What does that mean? Aside from all those reasons you gave, can you honestly tellwhat you feel about me?” Xavier pondered, frowning, “I can’t quite describe it.
It's definitely not the romantic kind of ‘like’.” Because he felt no desire for her, or rather, he had never considered her in a romantic light. Norah's heart sank, her voice tinged with sadness, “I know, you prefer women with more maturity.” Xavier remained silent. With earnest eyes, Norah looked up at him, “If you don’t dislike me, could you givea chance?” “What kind of chance?” Xavier asked.
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