69. Brief Farewell
As the class bell rang, Ning Chu couldn’t help but feel a wave of disappointment wash over her. She stole a glance at the luggage sitting by the side and sighed softly in her heart.
Logically speaking, she wasn’t the type to rely on others, but Wen Yang was different.
In a sea of unfamiliar faces, Wen Yang was her first friend. In a world where perverts were lurking around every corner, Wen Yang was the only one who could guarantee her safety. During the toughest times after becoming a woman, it was Wen Yang who patiently comforted and cared for her…
He was more than just a friend who was after her body; he was her best buddy and the male protagonist of her story.
This tangled web of identities and reasons only deepened Ning Chu’s sense of melancholy. She gazed longingly at her classmates crowding by the classroom door, secretly hoping they’d squeeze in for a few more minutes.
“Wen Yang, do you want me to drive you to the bus station?”
“No need, there’s a bus that goes straight there.”
Ning Chu could hear the conversation between Zhang Shaoqing and Wen Yang.
“Coming back this weekend? I remember there’s a good kn*fe-cut noodle place near the bus station. Can you grab a few bowls for me?”
“Sure, I’ll check it out.”
Wen Yang stood up, grabbing his suitcase as he turned to glance at Ning Chu, who remained silent and hunched over her desk.
“Ning Chu?”
“Coming.”
Though she didn’t want to appear too downcast, Ning Chu found it hard to plaster on a smile. She stood up and expressionlessly followed her friends out of the classroom.
Once outside the teaching building, they walked several hundred meters along the wide path towards the dormitory until they reached the intersection at the school gate.
Wen Yang stopped, pulling his suitcase along. “Guess I’m off.”
“Get lost! Don’t forget to grab those noodles on your way back!”
His gaze lingered briefly on Ning Chu’s face. He nodded and walked straight towards the main gate.
Just a couple of steps in, a light patter of footsteps chased up from behind.
Ning Chu hurried to catch up with Wen Yang, anxious that her roommates might misunderstand. She hurriedly explained, “I just happen to need to pick up a package off-campus too, let’s go together.”
“I can’t believe it! You two really aren’t having a secret fling, are you?” Zhang Shaoqing shouted from behind, ever the troublemaker, teasing them mercilessly.
“How could that be…?” Wang Jie, the trustworthy one, jumped in to defend her, “Knock it off!”
Ning Chu did her best to ignore the jibes, her cheeks flushing slightly as she stole a furtive glance at Wen Yang, only to find him smiling back, making her flustered and quickly look away.
“What are you laughing at?”
“Nothing, right?” Wen Yang slowed down and smiled warmly, “My uncle is having surgery tomorrow, I’ll try to get back quickly.”
“Why are you telling me this? Do whatever you want.”
Ning Chu didn’t dare to meet Wend Yang’s gaze. She lowered her eyes, focusing on the pattern of bricks on the sidewalk.
The moment they stepped out of the school gates, her hand was suddenly wrapped in warmth.
Without resisting, she mumbled, complaining, “What if someone sees us?”
“Then I’ll just be the pervert who likes men.”
“You’re already a pervert…”
Ning Chu let out a soft sigh, and her rational mind told her she should let go of Wen Yang’s hand, should cheerfully wave him off.
Once Wen Yang left, she wouldn’t have to worry about triggering her plot, wouldn’t have to stress over his entanglement, and she could start adapting to life without the protagonist’s halo.
But it seemed she was more in tune with her feelings.
Feeling the subtle texture of Wen Yang’s palm, the slightly calloused skin, and the warmth radiating from him… Her earlier melancholy eased quite a bit. Her mind, usually cluttered with chaos, began to empty, her emotions settling, and she instinctively leaned a little closer to him.
She liked this way of being together.
Her brain no longer dwelled on the bad woman, no longer ached over the plot, and wasn’t troubled about the future…
A rare peace bubbled within her, gently sweetening her heart, as if savoring a light cup of honey water.
Ning Chu suddenly thought that if the walkway to the bus station were just a bit longer, just a bit farther, that would be great.
But just a hundred meters later, they finally reached the bus stop.
Wen Yang glanced at the bus schedule, identified the right bus, and turned his attention to Ning Chu’s often flushed face.
Not knowing what to say, he simply tightened his grip on her hand a little more.
“Be careful on the way.”
“Mm.”
“Don’t go messing around outside, and get into trouble.”
“Don’t worry, I’m not that kind of person.”
Ning Chu suddenly felt like a lovesick schoolgirl saying goodbye to her boyfriend.
Dazed, she looked down at her hand, wrapped snugly in Wen Yang’s, lips pursed, still unable to make sense of her own feelings.
It was all Yan Xinya’s fault; if it hadn’t been for Wolf Girl’s torturous probing that day, she wouldn’t constantly overthink her actions or question if she actually liked Wen Yang.
“What’s going on there…?”
A vaguely familiar voice broke her thoughts. Ning Chu instinctively looked up only to find an acquaintance from class.
Her complexion changed instantly, and she quickly pulled her hand away from Wen Yang, turning her head away in embarrassment.
Not just a classmate, but also a neighbor from the next dorm!
Oh no! If he spun some tales in class, she’d be doomed in the dorms!
“It’s nothing, just messing around,” Wen Yang explained with a laugh.
“Oh?”
Having only exchanged a few words, they weren’t exactly close friends. The classmate casually nodded and walked off.
Watching nervously as the classmate moved further away, Ning Chu glared angrily, “I told you someone would see us!”
“And what’s wrong with that?”
“Hmph!”
“If you’ve got nothing to hide, why worry?”
“…”
Ning Chu found herself at a loss for words.
Indeed, among friends, holding hands, hugging, or even lying in each other’s arms was perfectly normal. At most, it showed they were a bit overly friendly, but if both sides were innocent, it was just a friendly interaction.
She stood stunned for a moment but quickly snapped back, “I’m a girl, okay! It’s different.”
Not buying her excuse, Wen Yang quickly changed the subject, looking off down the road, “My bus is here.”
“Oh…”
He picked up his suitcase and stepped to the curb, waiting for the bus to pull up.
Ning Chu stayed behind, calling out, “Text me when you arrive!”
“Alright, see you.”
She watched Wen Yang get on the bus, gazing as it drove farther away, her lips pressing together and letting out a heavy sigh.
Great! Now she had to face all the trouble alone.
As Wen Yang’s figure disappeared from view, a chill ran down Ning Chu’s spine.
She knew it was just a psychological effect, but she still gripped the hypnosis spray in her pocket and hurried off towards the package pick-up point.
Be brave! After all, she used to be a guy!
“Hey, beautiful, could I maybe add you as a friend?”
Just as she reached the pick-up point, a bespectacled guy suddenly popped up from nowhere, awkwardly smiling to strike up a conversation.
“……”
Ning Chu was flabbergasted, completely forgetting the package and sprinted away.
The guy stood there, scratching his head in confusion, “Do I really look that scary?”
