Give Me Heartthrobs 28

Chapter 28: Birthday

Ye Qizhen usually slept in, but the next morning, she woke up earlier than Wen Yu for once. Opening her eyes to see the unfamiliar room and feeling the body heat of another person beside her, she slowly realized she hadn’t slept at home last night.

Wen Yu was still lying on her side close to her, with an arm draped over her.

Ye Qizhen lay motionless, lazily looking at Wen Yu’s cheek. When Wen Yu was asleep, she wasn’t aggressive at all; it was like she was a different person, even a bit soft. In high school, she thought Wen Yu was very fierce, the kind who was particularly hard to deal with, because Wen Yu’s first impression was like that—as if no one could get close to her.

Wen Yu’s brows furrowed slightly, and she snuggled closer to Ye Qizhen, a sign of seeking security.

Now that they were closer, Ye Qizhen continued to stare at Wen Yu’s face, though her mind was much clearer.

She liked Wen Yu hugging her, liked being intimately close to Wen Yu; she realized this herself. Moreover, she felt that interacting with Wen Yu was a bit different from other girls; she wouldn’t have messy thoughts when interacting with other girls.

But thinking conversely, other girls wouldn’t flirt with her like Wen Yu did. Why did Wen Yu always like to flirt with her? Sometimes she would think astray, feeling Wen Yu was testing her.

Early in the morning, Ye Qizhen’s mind was very active, and she was entranced by looking at the beauty. So when Wen Yu woke up, she caught her red-handed, and for a moment, her eyes had nowhere to escape.

Wen Yu had insomnia last night and slept very late. Her eyes were swollen and dry right now. catching Ye Qizhen’s sneaking gaze, her voice upon waking was hoarse and lazy, “You woke up so early today?”

“Why are you looking at me?” Wen Yu asked immediately after. This wasn’t the first or second time this happened.

Ye Qizhen was completely awake now. Although guilty, she decided to play dumb. She looked elsewhere and didn’t speak, planning to muddle through. Wen Yu always had the ability to catch people off guard. Most people would just let an awkward stare pass, but Wen Yu insisted on asking why, making the atmosphere even more awkward.

Wen Yu didn’t find it awkward. She turned over to lie on her stomach, propped herself up with her arms, brushed back her messy hair, actively brought her face in front of Ye Qizhen, and rasped another sentence: “Didn’t say I wouldn’t let you look.”

The just-woken-up vixen was even more vixen-like. Ye Qizhen glanced at Wen Yu hastily, pulled open the quilt, and got out of bed. “I… I’m getting up.”

Wen Yu nestled lazily in the bedding, warm and exceptionally comfortable. She stared at Ye Qizhen’s back, lost in thought. She always felt the look in Ye Qizhen’s eyes wasn’t quite innocent either; she had felt this way since long ago.

Winter vacation ended quickly. The new semester started at the end of February, and Ye Qizhen’s birthday was in late March, the season of growing grass and flying warblers.

Every year on her birthday, Ye Qizhen would call her friends together for a lively celebration. This year would probably be the same; Tang Tang had mentioned it several times. Since they were gathering, she planned to invite her roommates, plus Tang Tang, Tang Xiao, and of course, Wen Yu.

The temperature warmed up in March. After school started, Ye Qizhen continued to run with Wen Yu once or twice a week as usual. Her physical fitness seemed to have improved a lot; jogging two kilometers was now a piece of cake.

Seeing Ye Qizhen was tired from running, Wen Yu slowed down with her, and the two walked around the playground.

The night was thick.

“Are you free next Wednesday night?” Ye Qizhen mentioned this to Wen Yu.

“Your birthday.” Wen Yu said accurately.

“How did you know?” Ye Qizhen was surprised.

“Saw you posted on Moments.”

That was last year. Ye Qizhen was still surprised. “You peek at my Moments?”

“Looking openly and honestly,” Wen Yu said bluntly.

Ye Qizhen always admired Wen Yu; she could say anything with righteousness. “Then are you free? I’ll treat you to dinner.”

“Yes.” Wen Yu agreed readily. She looked at Ye Qizhen, then asked, “Just us?”

“And my roommates and two friends.”

“Mn.” Wen Yu responded with a faint smile. For a birthday, given Ye Qizhen’s personality, she definitely wanted it to be lively. Thinking about it, it was impossible to be just with her alone. Actually, she had no interest in gatherings, but she felt Ye Qizhen would want her to go.

“Tang Xiao will be there, do you mind?” Ye Qizhen felt it necessary to clarify.

“Don’t mind.” Wen Yu didn’t keep Tang Xiao in mind at all.

Continuing to walk forward, Ye Qizhen took the opportunity to ask Wen Yu, “When is your birthday?”

“November 1st.”

Ye Qizhen calculated in her mind. “Why didn’t you tell me last year?”

Wen Yu said lightly, “We were having a tiff.”

Reminded by Wen Yu, Ye Qizhen realized. At that time last year, because she helped Tang Xiao chase Wen Yu, Wen Yu ignored her for many days. Thinking about it now, not only did she not accompany Wen Yu for her birthday, but she also made Wen Yu angry. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay, I don’t celebrate it anyway.” Wen Yu didn’t care.

“I remember now. I’ll accompany you in the future.” Ye Qizhen said seriously.

Wen Yu listened, noncommittal. She didn’t take this sentence too much to heart, or rather dared not to. Ye Qizhen could accompany her once or twice, but could she accompany her forever?

Several days before Wednesday, Tang Tang started organizing the dinner. When she heard Ye Qizhen say Wen Yu would also come, her reaction was exactly as Ye Qizhen imagined.

It was hard for Ye Qizhen to explain clearly to Tang Tang; she just emphasized that Wen Yu was a very nice person and asked them not to be prejudiced against her anymore.

The dinner location was chosen at a shopping mall near the school, a hot pot restaurant with a good reputation. Six or seven people, just enough for a round table.

Wen Yu arrived late. As she approached, without exception, the attention of the whole table was drawn to her. She smiled calmly at everyone, then looked at Ye Qizhen and handed over a gift bag. “Happy birthday.”

“Thank you.” Ye Qizhen accepted it with a smile, consciously saving the seat next to her for Wen Yu. She was afraid Wen Yu would be uncomfortable sitting next to strangers.

Not long after Wen Yu sat down, Ye Qizhen felt her arm being pulled by Tang Tang. She turned her head and heard Tang Tang whispering to her, “Truly a vixen.”

Ye Qizhen immediately frowned, looking unhappy.

“Complimentary term, praising her.” Tang Tang quickly explained clearly. Seeing her up close today, she finally understood why Tang Xiao was bewitched by Wen Yu. Aside from being good-looking, she indeed had temperament.

Everyone had arrived. Tang Tang raised her glass first. “Come come come, a toast to our little fairy. Wishing Student Ye Qizhen a happy birthday, and may she get off the single list soon.”

“Happy birthday.”

“Cheers.”

…

Both Tang Tang and Tang Xiao had social butterfly syndrome; with them around, there would absolutely be no awkward silence. Plus, Zheng Qianyu and Luo Bei were chatterboxes too. Several people chatted and laughed while eating hot pot, becoming familiar in no time, the atmosphere buzzing.

Wen Yu was always cool and detached, naturally appearing unique in such an atmosphere. Seeing Ye Qizhen chatting happily with others, she silently drank beer mouthful by mouthful.

Actually, Ye Qizhen and she weren’t the same kind of people at all. Ye Qizhen only occasionally remembered her to accompany her; Ye Qizhen would accompany many people like this. Thinking this way, her heart felt stifled and uncomfortable.

Although Ye Qizhen was joking with others, she was actually paying attention to Wen Yu the whole time. Wen Yu drank two glasses of beer without a word but didn’t eat anything. She touched Wen Yu’s hand lightly under the table. “Why aren’t you eating, feeling unwell?”

Wen Yu smiled and said, “No.”

Ye Qizhen nagged, “Don’t drink anymore beer.”

Wen Yu: “Mn.”

Ye Qizhen realized Wen Yu probably didn’t like participating in overly lively gatherings and only came to accompany her for her birthday, right? She didn’t have the heart to chat with others anymore, urging Wen Yu repeatedly, “Eat a little. Want me to feed you?”

Wen Yu raised an eyebrow. “Sure.”

Really shameless. Ye Qizhen smiled helplessly. Probably having a brain cramp, she ignored the others at the table and actually picked up a piece of tripe and brought it to Wen Yu’s mouth. “Come, open wide.”

Wen Yu wasn’t shy either and accepted it generously.

Finally ate. Ye Qizhen withdrew her chopsticks without being too high-profile, and fished a lot of vegetables into Wen Yu’s bowl. “Eat more.”

Wen Yu couldn’t withstand Ye Qizhen’s pestering. “Got it.”

…

Tang Tang saw Ye Qizhen caring for and being considerate to Wen Yu in various ways while eating hot pot. Whether it was an illusion or not, why was there a cloying vibe? It was weird; she completely didn’t understand how these two could be so close when the love rival matter in high school had caused such a ruckus.

When they were finishing up, Tang Tang patted Ye Qizhen on the shoulder. “Tell you something.”

Ye Qizhen saw Tang Tang acting mysterious. “What is it?”

Tang Tang took out her phone, opened the photo album, leaned in front of Ye Qizhen, and asked repeatedly, “Handsome or not, handsome or not?” Tang Tang had a verbal tic; when very excited, she would repeat her words.

The boy in the photo had fair skin, wore glasses, and looked quite refined and fresh. Ye Qizhen looked at the screen, then looked at Tang Tang seriously. “Don’t you have a boyfriend? This isn’t good.”

“I…” Tang Tang was speechless. She shook the phone in her hand vigorously, telling Ye Qizhen with an attitude of wishing iron could turn into steel, “I’m introducing him to you! What were you thinking!”

“Oh…” Ye Qizhen realized she had overimagined.

“How is he, how is he? I think he matches you so well. He’s more handsome in person than in the photo.” Tang Tang knew Ye Qizhen didn’t feel a spark for athletic boys, so she specifically chose a gentle, warm guy type. Tang Tang was quite amazing too; she loved looking at handsome guys and always had first-hand information on them.

Hearing Tang Tang’s words, Wen Yu unconsciously looked over.

Seeing Wen Yu looking over, Tang Tang pointed at the photo and chatted familiarly with Wen Yu, “Wen Yu, don’t you think this boy matches Ye Qizhen very well?”

Wen Yu glanced at the photo, didn’t speak, but observed Ye Qizhen’s reaction. Subtly, Ye Qizhen was also observing Wen Yu’s reaction at this moment. If Wen Yu was testing her before, would Wen Yu be uncomfortable seeing Tang Tang introduce a partner to her?

The two looked at each other silently for a second, each distracted.

Wen Yu just looked at Ye Qizhen, and slowly, as if inadvertently, smiled and said, “Like him? Quite a match.”

Ye Qizhen couldn’t figure out Wen Yu’s reaction, and… why am I letting my imagination run wild again?

“I think it’s really a good match.” Tang Tang was still immersed in her own world, not sensing anything wrong at all. “Don’t you really want to date? Such a good opportunity. How about I give your WeChat to him, you guys chat first?”

Ye Qizhen came back to her senses and told Tang Tang belatedly, “No, stop worrying about it.”

This was the first time Tang Tang saw Ye Qizhen refuse so slowly. Looks promising. She thought Ye Qizhen was embarrassed in front of Wen Yu, so she winked and said, “Alright, I know you’re shy. I’ll talk to you later.”

The glass made a sound scraping against the table. Ye Qizhen turned her head and found Wen Yu drank another glass of beer.

It was still early after finishing the hot pot. Tang Tang suggested playing LARP (Live Action Role Playing) games, and everyone agreed. Ye Qizhen looked at Wen Yu first. Wen Yu knew Ye Qizhen was asking for her opinion. She said, “I won’t go, you guys play.”

Everyone didn’t clamor for Wen Yu to go; Wen Yu looked like the kind of person who couldn’t be persuaded. Ye Qizhen spent a lot of breath arguing against the majority opinion, and in the end, didn’t go either.

Taking the transparent elevator downstairs, suddenly many people came in on the third floor. Ye Qizhen and Wen Yu were squeezed into a small corner, face to face.

Eyes meeting, Wen Yu’s voice was extremely light, asking Ye Qizhen, “Why didn’t you go with them?”

Close enough for breaths to intermingle, Ye Qizhen looked closely at Wen Yu, but answered irrelevantly, “Are you in a bad mood?”

A little bit, so Wen Yu didn’t deny it, whispering again, “You don’t have to worry about me.”

“Won’t ignore you,” Ye Qizhen blurted out.