Chapter 180: Are We Close?
Nangong Ying, having grown accustomed to Yu Linna’s absence, now felt a growing emptiness, a void she hadn’t noticed before. Though she didn’t need Yu Linna to survive, her absence left her feeling strangely incomplete.
It was a reminder of how important Yu Linna had been to her.
But what was the point of regrets? She had made her choice, choosing her dream over their friendship, their paths diverging.
She had heard Yu Linna had become a novelist, wondering what she wrote, how she was doing, the thoughts occasionally intruding upon her studies.
It was now May, barely a month until the gaokao. Her grades were stable, her performance consistent. If she maintained her current trajectory, she would be attending university in Beijing in the fall. But walking home, passing the ice cream shop, she felt a pang of loneliness, buying a double popsicle, then realizing she had no one to share it with. The person she used to share her ice cream with… was gone.
She had pushed her away.
“Hey, Xiaoying, how are you doing? Is the pressure getting to you?”
“I’m fine, Sister Yuexin. If I perform normally, I should be okay. How are you?”
“I’m doing well. The band is finally taking off. I’m planning a concert in August. Maybe you can join us?”
“Okay.”
“Xiaoying, is something bothering you?”
“I’m fine, really. Just… a bit lost.”
Nangong Ying’s laughter was tinged with self-deprecation.
She missed Yu Linna.
Before, it had been guilt and regret; now, it was a longing for their shared past, the memories resurfacing.
Perhaps, with the passage of time, the simple joys of their friendship had become more precious.
She constantly questioned her decision, telling herself she had done the right thing, that it was fate. But life without Yu Linna felt empty.
Why had she let her go…?
Why had she made that choice?
As she had said, for her dream, she would do anything. But had it been worth it?
“Xiaoying, I don’t know what you’re struggling with, but I hope you can move on, let go of the past. You have your own future to build.”
“It’s so hard, Sister Yuexin…”
Nangong Ying’s smile was bitter.
Letting go… was it really that easy?
She wished it were. She wished her heart were stronger, her resolve firmer. But it wasn’t that simple. Since betraying Yu Linna, she had been living with guilt and nightmares, constantly reassuring herself that she had done the right thing.
But forgetting Yu Linna… it was so difficult.
“Everyone’s path is different, Xiaoying. Take your time. You need time to adjust. How about we go on a trip after your exams? My treat~”
“Okay…”
Ending the call, Nangong Ying looked at the road ahead, the red traffic light a barrier, the ice cream in her hand melting, only a small portion remaining.
She was starting to regret her decision…
And that feeling intensified after her encounter with Tang Yumeng.
She wanted to see Yu Linna…
And Yu Linna? Though focused on her studies, she hadn’t forgotten Nangong Ying, though the pain of betrayal had dulled, replaced by a quiet indifference, no longer harboring any illusions about their friendship.
The person she had trusted most… had turned out to be just like everyone else.
Since they could no longer be friends, there was no point dwelling on the past. Letting go was the best option. She had other friends now.
“Hey, Linna, this chocolate is really good! It cost me a fortune! Here, try some.”
Yu Linna was studying at her desk when her classmate, Gao Yueran, approached, offering her a chocolate ball, its gold foil wrapper and enticing aroma impossible to resist. Yu Linna hesitated, then shook her head.
She had money now; she could afford her own expensive chocolate. She didn’t need handouts. Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.
“What do you want…?”
“If you don’t want it, I’ll take it back.”
Gao Yueran’s playful tone made Yu Linna reconsider.
“Who said I didn’t want it? Give it here.”
She snatched the chocolate, unwrapping it and popping it into her mouth. It was delicious.
“I have more. Want some?”
“Yes.”
“I also bought some cookies, but… you probably don’t want any, right?”
“Give them here.”
Fang Jiangning, watching from her desk, was stunned.
Her deskmate had been bribed with snacks!
Gao Yueran, having observed Yu Linna’s love for popcorn during their cinema trip, had bought some expensive chocolate as a test, and it had worked.
“Yueran, what are you trying to do to my deskmate?!”
“Ningning, you’re being unfair! Why didn’t you tell me your deskmate loves snacks?”
“You found out!”
Fang Jiangning felt a sense of betrayal.
With graduation approaching, Yu Linna’s weakness had been discovered. Now, their classroom would be turned into a snack bar!
This was supposed to be her secret!
It was all over!
“Heehee, Ningning, she’s so easy to manipulate. It pained me to spend so much money, but it was worth it!”
“Stop it!”
“The aloof, top-scoring prodigy… is actually a snack-loving little girl! What a valuable piece of intel!”
Yu Linna, happily munching on the snacks, ignored their conversation, her focus solely on the food.
The news of Yu Linna’s weakness spread quickly, and a group of girls started pooling their money to buy her snacks, claiming it was a reward for helping them with their studies.
“Linna, these Three Squirrels nuts are really good! Want some?”
“Yes.”
“Linna, this dried bamboo shoot is delicious! Want some?”
“Mmm-hmm.”
“These potato chips smell so good!”
“Let me try.”
“This is a snack pack I bought with my allowance! Please accept it!”
“Thank you…”
Yu Linna’s desk was soon surrounded by admirers, offering her a variety of snacks.
The once aloof, unapproachable top student, though helpful with schoolwork, had always maintained a polite distance from her classmates, Fang Jiangning her only close friend.
But now, with the promise of snacks, she had become a cuddly, approachable creature, happily accepting their offerings, even letting them pinch her cheeks as she ate.
So, the top student was easily bribed with food, her aloofness melting away, replaced by a childlike delight.
She was like a little animal!
So cute!
“My deskmate…!” Fang Jiangning wanted to cry. Her deskmate had been stolen, corrupted by snacks! These girls were so cunning! And her deskmate hadn’t even resisted!
That was her deskmate!
A few boys, attempting to join the fun, offering their own snacks, were chased away by the girls, who declared Yu Linna their exclusive property.
As graduation approached, the advanced class, as Fang Jiangning had feared, had indeed become a snack bar, much to Yu Linna’s delight.
“Don’t you worry about gaining weight, eating so much every day?” Fang Jiangning asked, watching her deskmate constantly munching on snacks.
Weight gain was the enemy of all girls! Though food was essential, weight was a serious concern!
“I’ve never thought about it. I never had enough to eat before. Now that I do, why not indulge? Besides, have I ever been fat?”
Okay, you win, Fang Jiangning thought, realizing that perhaps, Yu Linna simply had a fast metabolism.
“Yu Linna, Nangong Ying from the special arts class is looking for you. She’s at the door.”
Yu Linna paused mid-chew, crumbs clinging to the corner of her mouth.
She looked at Nangong Ying standing at the classroom door, the guilt evident in her eyes. She didn’t want to see her, but confronting her here, with so many people watching, wouldn’t be appropriate. She wiped her mouth with a tissue, put down her snacks, and walked outside.
“Linna!” Fang Jiangning called out, her voice laced with concern.
“I’m fine,” Yu Linna replied, walking towards the door.
“Let’s talk outside.”
She followed Nangong Ying out of the classroom, ignoring the curious glances from her classmates, who were aware of their past friendship, their frequent visits to each other’s classrooms. But since Nangong Ying’s rise to fame, they hadn’t seen her visit Yu Linna.
Stepping outside, the heat of the sun made Yu Linna regret not staying in the air-conditioned classroom.
“Just say what you want. I’m busy.”
Nangong Ying hesitated, her expression troubled, words forming then dissolving before she could speak them.
“Linna, how… have you been?”
“Heh…”
Yu Linna’s response was a dry chuckle, devoid of anger, sadness, or even resentment.
“Are we… close?”
