Chapter 341: Are You Happy Being With Me?
Back at the dormitory, Li Qing Xue plopped herself onto her own bed, looking like she just finished a marathon of crying, sweating, and binge-watching soap operas—except it was just her mind racing a million miles an hour.
Her brain was caught up in images—specifically, those hilarious photos Ye Liang Chen had sent. She reached into her phone, eyeing the chat window with Hu Yu Ying and Lin Wan Ning. Her finger hesitated like a squirrel crossing the street during rush hour, but finally, she clicked Close. Nope, not gonna look at those pictures anymore—kind of like closing a fridge and pretending the cake isn’t there.
Her mind was a mess—like spaghetti on a windstorm. She couldn’t believe that Dragon Brother (yep, that’s Dragon Brother) was actually that kind of person. Impossible. Too familiar, too close to her, so she refused to accept the truth. She also wasn’t brave enough to spill the beans to Hu Yu Ying or Lin Wan Ning, fearing it would explode into chaos—like a soda bottle shaken vigorously, waiting to pop.
After a long inner debate, she decided: tomorrow, she would confront Dragon Brother. She’d ask him about those mysterious photos, no matter what. He mustn’t betray Hu Yu Ying—who she didn’t want to hurt—and she definitely didn’t trust her own feelings either, which felt like a roller-coaster ride on a sugar rush.
She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. No way could Hu Yu Ying find out now—she liked Dragon Brother so much, if she knew, Li Qing Xue was pretty sure her heart would shatter into a million pieces. Plus, a tiny flicker of anger flared inside her—how dare that girl? What’s so great about her? Just looks? Li Qing Xue and Wan Ning weren’t exactly shabby, right? If anyone’s got to compare, it should be her or Wan Ning—preferably, not that Hu Yu Ying.
Thinking that, she shook her head vigorously. “No, no, what am I even thinking?” she muttered, rubbing her temples in frustration.
“Dragon Brother, you better give me an explanation, or… hmph! I’ll curse you into next week!”
She huffed and puffed, took off her shoes, and sat cross-legged on the bed like a stubborn kitten. If memory served, tomorrow was Friday—after the specialized courses at T University, there were no general classes. Perfect. She planned to ask her friends to help her get some time to confront Dragon Brother. That was her mission—no more distractions.
Sleep? Yeah, right. She was so full of thoughts—the not-so-good kind—that she turned and turned all night, tossing and turning like a fish out of water. By morning, her mood was as bumpy as a dirt road.
After brushing her teeth and tidying up, she left the dorm, walking toward the cafeteria. Suddenly, behind her, she heard a light jog—like a puppy excited for playtime.
In the next second, Hu Yu Ying threw her arms around her in a big, fluffy hug.
Li Qing Xue looked up, trying to avoid her overly cheerful face, and quickly turned her head away. “What’s wrong, Qing Xue? Did you not sleep well last night?”
Listening to Hu Yu Ying’s caring voice, Li Qing Xue sighed silently—like a balloon slowly deflating. But hey, she still had herself, right? She forced a weak smile and said, “Nothing much, just didn’t sleep very well last night.”
Seeing her smile, Hu Yu Ying affectionately pinched her little face. “I just love your happy face.”
Her tiny hands mischievously squeezed Li Qing Xue’s slender waist. “You have no idea—without dorm life, I’d be so bored I’d d*e! Come shower with me tomorrow—long time no bath together!”
“Sure, whatever you want,” Li Qing Xue said, feeling her heart flutter. She’d been so focused on Dragon Brother lately—hadn’t played with her sisies in ages.
Parted ways, but something bugged her. Maybe it was the stuff inside her head, or some weird feeling—time was crawling today. Finally, at 3 p.m., Li Qing Xue whispered goodbye and sneaked out of A University, hopping on a little bike heading toward T University.
It had been ages since she last rode, and honestly, it felt kinda fun. Like discovering a new superpower: “Wow, I can actually do this!”
All the way there, she was smiling and humming happily.
But as she neared T University, reality hit her. What was she even doing here today? Her face tightened up—serious mode engaged.
She parked the bike in the designated spot and looked toward T U. Seriously? She’d just let Lin Wan Ning follow her? Well, she’s got her own stuff, so she decided: better not get too many eyes involved in her Dragon Brother investigation.
Passing the Conservatory of Music, she saw a familiar silhouette—almost instinctively, she wanted to call out “Lin Wan Ning!” But she clenched her fists. Nope, today was not the day for big dramas—she’d keep this under wraps for now.
Instead, she trailed behind her. She thought Lin Wan Ning was just out shopping, but then—surprise! Lin Wan Ning was heading straight for T University too. Could she be after Dragon Brother as well? Hoo boy.
Li Qing Xue hesitated briefly, then decided to spill her secret—about Ye Liang Chen’s photos. She trusted Lin Wan Ning wouldn’t betray her. Two against one—they could team up to get Dragon Brother to spill the beans. That’s right, she was feeling hopeful.
Suddenly, Lin Wan Ning cheerfully called out, “Brother!”—and then, to Li Qing Xue’s shock, she dashed into Dragon Brother’s arms like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Li Qing Xue’s crystal-clear eyes shimmered with a foolish glint. She blinked rapidly, almost unable to believe what she saw. Was this real? Sorry—she had to rub her eyes twice to be sure.
Whoa. Totally blanked out. Yep—that’s the word: blank. Confused, confused as a puppy finding its tail.
Her steps toward Lin Wan Ning froze. Until Dragon Brother and Lin Wan Ning walked away, and Li Qing Xue finally snapped out of her daze and instinctively followed them.
Her brain was having a meltdown—like an overloaded PC. It was just too much to handle.
Walking down the street, Dragon Brother was silent, brooding, while Lin Wan Ning was bubbling with excitement, sharing her latest amusing stories.
Suddenly, noticing his silence, Lin Wan Ning asked cautiously, “Big brother, what’s wrong?”
Dragon Brother stopped in his tracks, looked at Lin Wan Ning, and said, “I think, if this keeps going, it’s only going to get worse.”
Lin Wan Ning froze, then pursed her lips and looked at him sideways. “I just can’t hide from Ah Ying anymore—and honestly, it’s unfair to you too.”
She looked at him, softly asking, “Are you happy when we’re together?”
Happiness? Well, yes—because she’s done all sorts of silly, cute things that made him realize he’d never experienced that kind of joy with anyone else before. It was different.
“I haven’t affected you guys… Big brother, if you really mind, can we only meet on Wednesdays?”
“Wan Ning doesn’t ask for much. I promise to bring you more happiness.”
Her voice trembled with humble longing, and Dragon Brother gently grasped her hand. “I can’t let go of Xiao Girl, but I can’t help liking you either.”
Even just a few times… strangers might develop feelings, right? How could he not? How could she not? She’d poured her heart out, and how could he not be moved?
Looking at her happy face, he realized he couldn’t keep hiding things from her anymore. He couldn’t keep her in the dark.
Lin Wan Ning gently stepped on her tiptoes and kissed his mouth softly, guiding his hand to her heart. “Wan Ning won’t make things difficult for big brother. If you’ve decided, let me say it for you.”
“Everything stems from Wan Ning…”
And with that, their complicated tangled feelings deepened—like a web that wouldn’t let go.
