Chapter Twenty-One

On the surface, Lin Zimo insisted that Yu Xingyue shouldn’t carry those things, but Yu Xingyue always helped lighten the load for her. No matter how strong a girl might be, it was impossible to carry everything alone. When they arrived at the shopping district, Lin Zimo looked at the list and suggested they split up: she headed to the east market, while Yu Xingyue went west.

Yu Xingyue glanced at the shopping list. Lin Zimo, blessed with an excellent memory, didn’t need the list herself and handed it to Yu Xingyue. Following the items on the list, Yu Xingyue began searching. Although Lin Zimo had previously explained the Chinese meanings, the Japanese characters left Yu Xingyue’s mind in a jumble.

“Oh no! What was this again?” Yu Xingyue patted her head, frustrated that she’d forgotten the meaning and growing more troubled by the minute.

“Forget it, I’d rather shop with Lin Zimo. I just can’t get used to her not being around,” she sighed, turning back to look for Lin Zimo. Unable to read Japanese, Yu Xingyue had no choice but to return. By then, Lin Zimo had already bought half of the items. Seeing Yu Xingyue come back empty-handed, she explained the situation.

After listening, Lin Zimo said, “See? Understanding all those Japanese terms is really tough. For now, just help me carry things—I’ll do the shopping.”

Yu Xingyue took the items from Lin Zimo’s hands, and together they headed to the west market to continue shopping. The errand lasted an hour and a half, during which they ran into someone familiar.

Yu Xingyue exclaimed, “Wu Siying!”

“Oh, it’s you two!” Wu Siying replied.

An awkward silence fell. The last time they’d met flashed through their minds, and both blushed.

Seeing them hang their heads and say nothing, Lin Zimo was full of questions. “What’s wrong with you two? Aren’t you classmates? Why are you blushing?”

Yu Xingyue hurried to explain, “Oh, it’s nothing. Just the sun making us red.”

“That’s right,” Wu Siying quickly agreed.

“Is that so? But there hasn’t been any sun this morning,” Lin Zimo said, glancing up at the cloudless sky.

“Anyway, it’s the sun! Zimo, you haven’t finished shopping—let’s get moving,” Yu Xingyue urged.

“Alright, alright, I’ll go. Let’s leave it at that,” Lin Zimo said, bidding farewell to Wu Siying and continuing with Yu Xingyue. Still, from their reactions, she began to suspect something.

“Yuguo, is there something going on between you and Wu Siying?”

“What? Why would you ask that?”

“Oh come on, don’t I know you? The moment you saw Wu Siying, your face turned as red as a monkey’s backside. Tell me the truth—do you like her?” Lin Zimo felt a surge of anxiety, afraid Wu Siying might steal Yu Xingyue away.

Yu Xingyue gave a helpless sigh. “Looks like I can’t hide it anymore. Zimo, here’s what happened…”

Yu Xingyue explained their relationship to Lin Zimo, who listened intently. When she learned that Yu Xingyue’s first kiss had been with Wu Siying, she was genuinely surprised.

“I was completely stunned. How did that happen? Just like that, my first kiss was gone,” Yu Xingyue said, a sense of resignation in his voice.

Lin Zimo was certainly a bit upset that Yu Xingyue’s first kiss had been given away so easily, yet she also found it funny. “If I’d been Wu Siying, I’d probably have done the same—desperate to get rid of that guy chasing her.”

“So you’re not angry that I kept this from you for so long?”

“Of course I’m angry! You kept it from me until now and still think you’re in the right?” Lin Zimo looked annoyed.

Yu Xingyue nervously asked, “So, what do you plan to do with this ugly guy?”

Calling himself “ugly,” Yu Xingyue had clearly steeled himself for a dramatic punishment, feeling it was time to accept the consequences for hiding things from his friend for so long.

Lin Zimo chuckled. “Silly, what are you so nervous about? I’m not going to do anything to you. I just need you to do something for me.”

Yu Xingyue was overjoyed. So Lin Zimo wasn’t angry after all? As long as she understood him, whatever she wanted done was no problem.

“What do you want me to do?”

Lin Zimo grinned mischievously and moved closer. “I want you to…”

“And then?” Yu Xingyue was as skittish as a startled colt. Lin Zimo only said those three words and then fell silent, drawing closer and closer. Yu Xingyue backed away in fear, unsure what Lin Zimo was up to.

“Hahaha, you actually believed that? You’re too funny,” Lin Zimo smiled. She’d just been teasing Yu Xingyue, something she hadn’t done to anyone in a long while.

“You nearly scared me to death,” Yu Xingyue gasped, still recovering from the tension Lin Zimo had created.

“Just kidding! We’ve almost got everything now. Let’s go.”

Meanwhile, Wang Tianqi was having a chat over tea with Chen Siyu.

Chen Siyu looked listless. “Do you think he’ll ever realize I’m the one who wrote it?”

Wang Tianqi was puzzled. “Who are you talking about? Is this person important?”

“He still hasn’t figured out what I wrote. He’s such a blockhead.”

Wang Tianqi laughed. “You must mean Huang Feifan. That blockhead probably can’t keep up with your way of thinking.”

“When will he ever get a clue?”

Wang Tianqi smirked knowingly. “Sisi, do you have feelings for that blockhead?”

“Who are you talking about?”

“Huang Feifan, of course! The way you talk about him is completely different. Come on, admit it—do you like him?”

Faced with Wang Tianqi’s directness, Chen Siyu nodded. “You’re right. I don’t even know when I started feeling this way. He’s not outstanding or particularly talented, but he’s the core of our team.”

Wang Tianqi smiled. “You think highly of him. Does he know?”

Chen Siyu shook her head. “He has no idea. He only hangs out with the male team members. Why would I, as a girl, butt in?”

“That’s where you don’t get it. I’ve seen Yuli and the team medic get along just fine; now she’s practically one of the guys.”

Chen Siyu set down her cup. “Senior Xiao Jian once told me that the five of them started the gaming team together. Yuli was one of them, and because she’s close to the team medic, Xiao Jian, they all became friends, Huang Feifan and Zhang Yi included.”

Wang Tianqi smiled wryly. “If only I could fit in with the guys like that. It’d be much better than staying home watching idol dramas all day.”

“You’ve got it good. Look at me—I can’t play games or watch TV. I’m buried in books all day. It’s so boring.”

“Let’s put that aside. The real issue is how to get Huang Feifan to notice you. Do you have any ideas?”

The question stumped Chen Siyu. She’d never taken initiative in matters of the heart, and faced with Wang Tianqi’s question, she truly didn’t know how to respond.

Wang Tianqi understood her silence. She’d seen enough of these adolescent romances to know that those who dated just for fun weren’t really in love—they were just wasting their feelings.

“I can’t stop you from liking Huang Feifan, but I have the right to look out for you,” Wang Tianqi said, her tone suddenly gentle—a side of her Chen Siyu had never seen.

“You’re being so gentle. I’m not used to it.”

“Don’t change the subject. So, do you have any plans?” Wang Tianqi persisted.

“No plans. I just know that I like him. Feelings take time to develop—they’re not a matter of a day or two. I’ll just wait and see,” Chen Siyu replied, sipping her tea. Wang Tianqi didn’t press further; after all, it wasn’t her place to interfere.

…

On her way back, Yu Xingyue stopped by the church—a Christian one. She was a devout believer and held the faith in great respect.

She wasn’t alone. Huang Feifan, also a Christian, had been waiting there for a while. He’d asked her to come because there was something he couldn’t figure out.

Since talking aloud was forbidden in the church, they communicated by phone.

Huang Feifan messaged: “I’m really glad you could make it.”

“So, what did you need to discuss here?”

“It’s a long story.”

Huang Feifan’s question was much like Chen Siyu’s earlier one: he wanted to know what Chen Siyu meant. Even Wang Tianqi had noticed, but Yu Xingyue couldn’t quite grasp what he was after. What should have been simple, he made complicated.

“What on earth are you talking about? Could you be any more confusing?” Yu Xingyue complained in her reply.

“That’s all I know. What else can I do?” Huang Feifan responded, feeling aggrieved.

Yu Xingyue thought over what he’d told her. Chen Siyu’s tone and demeanor toward Huang Feifan had changed. She used to tease him, but after that one time, she hadn’t done so again.

Yu Xingyue replied, “People change. Maybe she feels she’s grown up and that kind of behavior seems childish now.”

“Really? Somehow, I don’t think that’s the case,” came Huang Feifan’s reply.

“What more do you want from me? That’s the best analysis I could manage,” Yu Xingyue answered.

Huang Feifan looked up at Yu Xingyue, who could only shake her head in helplessness. With things so convoluted, she couldn’t give him a clear answer.

“So, do you think she might have feelings for me?” Huang Feifan texted.

Yu Xingyue replied, “It’s possible. It depends on you and her—on your actions. I don’t really know Chen Siyu; you know her better than I do.”

“Alright, I’ll just wait and see what she’s up to.”

When their conversation ended, both put their phones away. They couldn't leave until the service was over, so they stayed in the church for several more hours.

At last, the service ended, and they left together.

Huang Feifan spoke up, “Xingxing.”

“What did you just call me?” Yu Xingyue wondered if she’d misheard.

“Xingxing. Since your name has ‘Xing’—star—in it, it just rolls off the tongue.”

“You—!” To her, the nickname “Xingxing” sounded like a girl’s name, but there was nothing she could do about it. Now, instead of her old nickname Guoguo, she was “Xingxing” thanks to Huang Feifan.

Yu Xingyue couldn’t help but feel that “Xingxing” sounded a lot like “gorilla,” which irritated her.

Trying to keep her cool, she said, “What gorilla? Just call me Team Medic Yu or Brother Yu.”

“Alright, Xingxing Team Medic.”

Yu Xingyue was left speechless, not bothering to argue. Why get upset over a nickname?