Chapter 32 Part 1

Later that evening, Gu Ningzi called. Chi Nuan had already turned off the lights and gone to bed. Hearing her groggy, sleepy voice, Gu Ningzi couldn’t bear to disturb her rest and simply said she would bring breakfast the next day before ending the call.

The next day, Chi Nuan struggled to drag her suitcase downstairs more than ten minutes ahead of the agreed time, hiding in the dorm doorway to wait for Gu Ningzi.

It was just past eight in the morning, but the sun was already high in the sky. It was another scorching hot day where even standing still could work up a sweat.

Not long after, Chi Nuan received a call from Gu Ningzi saying she might be a bit late.

Chi Nuan replied, “It’s fine. Take your time.”

She waited for over half an hour before Gu Ningzi arrived. She was driving the same Black Mercedes-Benz they had taken to L City, and Chi Nuan recognized the license plate right away. She hurried over, pulling her suitcase behind her.

The passenger window rolled down. Tang Siru, who had put on delicate makeup that day, smiled brightly at Chi Nuan. “Classmate, good morning.”

Chi Nuan hadn’t expected Tang Siru to come along too. She mustered all her enthusiasm and barely managed to squeeze out a single word: “…Morning.”

Gu Ningzi took Chi Nuan’s suitcase and loaded it into the trunk. Chi Nuan tactfully opened the rear door and got in.

Tang Siru turned around. “Sorry about this, Chi Nuan. I got up late and made A-Ning late too. Did you wait long?”

Chi Nuan wiped the sweat from her forehead. “No, I just came downstairs.”

Tang Siru breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good.”

Gu Ningzi finished loading the luggage, got back in the car, and said to Chi Nuan, “There’s an oil painting exhibition at the Art Museum. We’re dropping Tang Siru off on the way… Oh, and Chi Nuan, there’s breakfast if you’re hungry.”

The Art Museum was only a few blocks away, so it made sense for Gu Ningzi to give Tang Siru a ride.

Chi Nuan convinced herself of that and nodded. “Okay.”

The heat had killed her appetite. Only after the air conditioning cooled her down a bit did she pick up the insulated container on the seat.

Gu Ningzi had prepared seafood congee for her, with finely chopped celery floating in it. It smelled delicious.

Ahead was a crossroad, and the turn signal flashed red. Tang Siru held up her phone, tilting it toward Gu Ningzi in the driver’s seat, her head leaning against Gu Ningzi’s arm. “A-Ning, look here.”

She snapped the photo.

Tang Siru examined the picture for a while, zooming in and out. Gu Ningzi wore sunglasses and had an expressionless face, yet she was still stunningly beautiful. Tang Siru let out an “Aiya.” “A-Ning, how are you so good-looking?”

Gu Ningzi stepped on the accelerator and ignored her.

Tang Siru laughed to herself, then remembered something. “Hey, Chi Nuan, let me ask you—does anyone at No. 1 Middle School like A-Ning?”

Chi Nuan was sipping her congee absentmindedly when she looked up. “…I don’t know.”

Gu Ningzi glanced at Chi Nuan through the rearview mirror.

Tang Siru found it amusing. “A-Ning, just say if there is or not.”

Gu Ningzi: “Boring.”

Unable to get anything out of Gu Ningzi, Tang Siru turned back to Chi Nuan. “Let me tell you, back in the day, there were so many people who liked A-Ning that they couldn’t fit in one classroom. I don’t know why she attracts so much attention, especially from girls.”

Chi Nuan choked on her congee, her heart leaping into her throat. It took her a moment to find her voice. “…Girls?”

“Yeah,” Tang Siru said with a hand over her mouth, laughing. “All kinds, but A-Ning isn’t interested.”

Chi Nuan’s heart, which had risen so high, came crashing down. It felt like she’d been slapped out of nowhere, her face burning.

Gu Ningzi said to Tang Siru, “The Art Museum is coming up. Get ready to get out.”

Tang Siru said goodbye to Chi Nuan and coquettishly reminded Gu Ningzi, “Don’t forget our movie date at noon. I’ll send you the details later.”

After Tang Siru got out, Chi Nuan finally felt like she could breathe easier. But even the most delicious congee was now impossible to swallow.

She closed the insulated container and set it gently aside.

Gu Ningzi doesn’t like girls.

—Of course she doesn’t. What was there to be disappointed about?

In that instant, a wave of exhaustion washed over her, stirring the thought that she didn’t want to keep liking Gu Ningzi anymore.

She couldn’t help regretting that she hadn’t turned down her Brother last night. Why hadn’t she been firm and rejected Gu Ningzi’s offer to drive her home?

Gu Ningzi knew nothing, while she hid behind the pretense of “classmate,” shamelessly soaking up her care to nurture that hopeless affection in her heart.

Too despicable, too greedy.

…

The car maintained a steady speed. As they passed by that lake, Gu Ningzi in the driver’s seat suddenly spoke. “Is this the place?”

Chi Nuan looked out the window and thought for a moment before realizing what Gu Ningzi meant.

That day after the last exam, she’d taken the bus home and snapped a photo of the lake’s shimmering surface in the sunlight, sending it to Gu Ningzi on impulse.

If time could turn back to that moment, when she still didn’t understand her feelings for Gu Ningzi—ignorant and innocent—there wouldn’t have been anything wrong with it.

Chi Nuan smiled, a trace of inexplicable gloom at the corners of her mouth. “…Yeah.”

Just past ten-thirty, the car entered the familiar streets of Chi Nuan’s childhood neighborhood and soon pulled up outside her complex. Right on cue, Tang Siru’s call came in, asking if Gu Ningzi was on her way back. She’d already left the Art Museum and was planning to grab brunch before heading to the cinema.

Gu Ningzi said, “Not yet.”

After hanging up, she drove to the building where Chi Nuan lived and parked. They sat in the car for a moment before Chi Nuan reached for the door.

“Chi Nuan.” Gu Ningzi stopped her.

Chi Nuan: “Hm?”

Gu Ningzi: “Take me to get something to eat. I’m hungry.”

…

The car parked in the complex, and the two got out, crossed the street, and entered a noodle shop opposite.