Give Me Heartthrobs 41

Chapter 41: Awkwardness

— Today she hugged me.

— She acted coquettishly with me again.

Ever since posting that thread on the forum, Ye Qizhen would log in every few days to record some things. She also received quite a few replies: some waiting for updates, some giving blessings, some empathizing with the unrequited love, all sorts.

**

Another busy week.

The Fine Arts Academy and the campus TV station jointly planned an art exhibition and charity sale. Ye Qizhen and another girl from the TV station, Zhou Qing, were responsible for the promotion and filming of this event.

It would be sunny in Nancheng for the next week, so the event venue was chosen at the large plaza in front of the library, held outdoors.

Ye Qizhen was quite willing to participate in these things. Not because she could make her university life look colorful on her resume, but because she felt it was nice for everyone to work together on something meaningful and create more memories.

The event started on Sunday afternoon, but preparations for setting up the venue began a few days in advance.

“I heard there are a lot of handsome guys and beautiful girls in our school’s Art Department.” Her partner Zhou Qing was a somewhat silly and happy fangirl. She was also happy to take on this job, just for the chance to interact with good-looking people.

On Saturday afternoon, when Ye Qizhen walked to the library plaza carrying her camera, the event backdrop was already set up. Several people were standing in front of the backdrop drawing something. The posters this time were purely hand-drawn designs, taking a lot of effort and full of personality.

After getting closer, Ye Qizhen raised the camera in her hand. In the viewfinder, Wen Yu was wearing a black top and light blue jeans, with a baseball cap on her head.

She discovered that Wen Yu liked to wear a hat when painting outdoors, as if deliberately keeping a low profile and hiding her sharpness. But in fact, such a detached and cold temperament attracted people’s curiosity even more.

A few days ago, when Ye Qizhen told Wen Yu she would participate in their Fine Arts Academy’s art exhibition event, Wen Yu said she would also participate. Ye Qizhen was quite surprised; Wen Yu usually didn’t like getting involved in such things.

Hearing the click of the camera, Wen Yu turned around. She saw Ye Qizhen pointing the DSLR lens at her, half her face covered, lips curved upwards. Even without seeing her eyes, one could feel the sweetness.

Wen Yu didn’t speak, just smiled at Ye Qizhen.

Ye Qizhen found angles and took several shots in a row. When she put down the camera, she heard Zhou Qing chattering in her ear, “Holy crap, so handsome, so handsome.”

Although Zhou Qing’s voice was very low, Ye Qizhen still felt her excitement. She looked in the direction Zhou Qing was facing and saw a boy wearing a black T-shirt and also a baseball cap.

Ye Qizhen immediately recognized Nie Nanfeng.

“The girl next to him…” Zhou Qing continued to mutter, “They are so cool. Handsome guy and beautiful girl standing together is just pleasing to the eye.”

Ye Qizhen didn’t listen to what Zhou Qing was saying but looked at Wen Yu’s back.

At this time, the senior sister responsible for event planning walked over. They had met once during the meeting earlier. “You’re here.”

“Mn, hello Senior.” Ye Qizhen came back to her senses and also smiled and walked forward to say hello.

The senior sister had a baby face, slightly chubby, and spoke amiably and humorously. “If you want to shoot, shoot those two more. They are the department flower and department grass of our Fine Arts Department, the visual representatives.”

“Department flower is here, I don’t dare claim department grass.” Nie Nanfeng turned around at this moment and chimed in.

“Handsome guy, why are you being modest?”

“Brother Nan, you guys are wearing couple outfits.”

Several people painting chatted. Mentioning couple outfits, everyone unanimously cast their eyes on Wen Yu and Nie Nanfeng, who were both wearing baseball caps. Ye Qizhen naturally did too.

They do look like a couple, and their heights match too.

Wen Yu’s expression showed no specific emotion, still giving a cold and indifferent feeling. Nie Nanfeng could tell Wen Yu wasn’t someone who liked jokes, so he reminded the others, “Don’t talk nonsense.”

Ye Qizhen watched silently, her heart feeling blocked. If it were any other boy, she definitely wouldn’t care, but Nie Nanfeng… She still clearly remembered Wen Yu picking up the ball for Nie Nanfeng, brooding over it. So did Wen Yu break her rule to participate in the event this time because of him? Would she? Am I overthinking it?

The filming task today wasn’t heavy; tomorrow would be tiring. Ye Qizhen still had to go back to write a draft. Wen Yu’s hand-drawing wouldn’t be finished anytime soon. Before leaving, she specifically told Wen Yu: “I have to go back to write a draft, remember to eat something tonight.”

“Mn.” Wen Yu nodded.

Ye Qizhen told Wen Yu to remember to eat dinner, but forgot about it herself. By the time she finished writing the draft, she was past hungry and didn’t want to eat anymore. Although she loved eating, her appetite plummeted when she had something on her mind.

After finishing work, Ye Qizhen opened the forum out of boredom to check her post. Thinking back and forth, she quietly wrote a line:

— Seemed to see her being ambiguous with another boy, feeling bad…

The benefit of an anonymous forum was probably that there was no burden no matter how melodramatic or real the words were. Having a place to speak out was better than keeping it stuffed in the bottom of her heart. The forum was more active on Saturday than usual. late at night, when Ye Qizhen clicked into the post again, she found quite a few more replies.

— Straight girls really know how to flirt.

— Advise OP to calm down, all tricks of straight girls.

— Straight girls flirting with lesbians should be struck by lightning.

— Shocked, there are so many lesbians in our school?

…

— Experience from someone who’s been there, advise the OP not to provoke straight girls. Even if they hug, touch, and kiss you, it’s just pure sisterly affection, there will be no result.

Almost all were sobering replies.

Ye Qizhen lay on the bed. After reading this string of replies, she buried her face in the pillow, almost suffocating… So Wen Yu kissing her, hugging her, really meant nothing?

The art exhibition charity sale the next day went even smoother than expected and ended early.

Dusk.

“Let’s go eat at the cafeteria.” Zhou Qing pulled Ye Qizhen’s arm, tired and hungry after finishing work.

Ye Qizhen looked at Wen Yu.

Wen Yu didn’t want Ye Qizhen to accommodate her every time, making it awkward in front of friends, just like Ye Qizhen’s birthday last time. She actively said, “Together.”

Nie Nanfeng also finished work just then and stepped forward. “How about bringing me along?”

Zhou Qing smiled meaningfully: “Let’s go together then.”

Ye Qizhen’s mood was complicated, but being polite and well-mannered was the education she received since childhood, so she always wore a gentle, faint smile on her face.

Walking from the library to the cafeteria, Ye Qizhen was surprisingly quiet all the way. Although she wasn’t usually a chatterbox, she wasn’t this reticent either.

Wen Yu was sensitive and noticed the details. Perhaps she also vaguely guessed something. She whispered to Ye Qizhen, “Tired today?”

Ye Qizhen shook her head.

After entering the first floor of the cafeteria, Zhou Qing suddenly had a brainwave. She winked at Ye Qizhen and said, “Ye Ye, didn’t you say you wanted to eat rice noodles from the Second Cafeteria before? I suddenly want to eat too, shall we go?”

Zhou Qing’s behavior of not wanting to be a third wheel was slightly deliberate, and Ye Qizhen understood the meaning in her words in a second. Zhou Qing then cheerfully said to Wen Yu and Nie Nanfeng, “You guys eat together, we want to go to the Second Cafeteria.”

Neither Wen Yu nor Ye Qizhen spoke, but their eyes met in unison.

Zhou Qing was a woman of action and was already pulling Ye Qizhen to slip away.

In this awkward situation, Ye Qizhen was dazedly taken away by Zhou Qing. What should she do? Throw off Zhou Qing’s hand, rush back in, and take Wen Yu away? She indeed thought so in her heart…

The atmosphere changed abruptly. Wen Yu stood in place for two seconds, didn’t say goodbye to the person in front of her, turned around, and left directly.

“Almost became a third wheel.” Walking out of the cafeteria, Zhou Qing sighed. Based on years of shipping experience, she intuitively felt there was something between those two just now.

Ye Qizhen pursed her lips and didn’t answer. The afterglow slanted over, somewhat dazzling. It was almost mealtime, and more students were walking towards the cafeteria. Not paying attention, her left shoulder was bumped hard by someone.

Also at this moment, Ye Qizhen felt her wrist tighten; someone grabbed her. She looked back. The one grabbing her was none other than Wen Yu.

Wen Yu chased after her…

“I have something to say to her.” Wen Yu said to Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing didn’t quite know what happened, but suppressed by Wen Yu’s aura, she instantly let go of Ye Qizhen, still smiling cheerfully, and consciously withdrew.

Wen Yu pulled Ye Qizhen straight to a corner with few people. Ye Qizhen followed behind Wen Yu, feeling the small section of her wrist held tightly by Wen Yu was burning hot.

Occasionally someone passed by. The two stood stiffly looking at each other; neither spoke first for a while.

“Why did you come out?”

“Why did you leave?” Wen Yu stared at Ye Qizhen and asked.

Ye Qizhen tried to be natural, smiling and whispering, “Creating an opportunity for you.” Most of the time, she was quite good at pretending.

Creating an opportunity? Does she not have any romantic liking for me at all? Or is it really as Qi Yun said—kissed and hugged, but can still be treated as ordinary friends? Ambiguity is just my illusion? For the first time, Wen Yu didn’t want to see Ye Qizhen smile like this. She also asked Ye Qizhen with a faint smile, “You hope I get together with him?”

She didn’t discuss these things in a very serious tone, like joking. Probably the self-protection mechanism worked again; even though she cared terribly, she had to act like she didn’t care that much.

Ye Qizhen took a secret breath, her heart a tangled mess, but she forced the conversation to continue. “I hope you get together with someone you like.”

“When did I say I liked him?” Wen Yu looked at Ye Qizhen and asked back. After a long delay, she added in a low voice, “You overthought it, I have no interest in him.”

Ye Qizhen was stunned. Did she chase out in a hurry just to explain this clearly to her?

“You really are a bit silly.” Wen Yu was helpless.

The sky darkened bit by bit, hazy, just like the flickering thoughts of the two, wandering on the edge of being unable to hide and suppressing it.

“Ye Qizhen,” Zhou Qing waved not far away, “The minister said there’s a meeting at 6:30.”

The chat was interrupted.

After a moment of silence—

“Go busy yourself.” Wen Yu said.

“Mn… remember to eat dinner.” Ye Qizhen reminded habitually, always worried.

**

The next morning.

“Goddess, lend me the notes from last class.” Approaching the end of the term, Qi Yun started to care about taking notes and highlighting key points.

Wen Yu rested her chin on her hand, a bit distracted, not reacting immediately. After a while, she pushed the notebook over.

Qi Yun rarely saw Wen Yu spacing out and really wanted to take a picture of this scene with her phone. “What’s wrong with you? Thinking about something? Or having a tiff with Sweetie?”

Wen Yu looked down at her book, silent.

Qi Yun remembered something and suddenly shivered. “Wen Yu, that… that…”

Wen Yu was annoyed: “What?”

Qi Yun lowered her voice, staring at Wen Yu with eyes full of suspicion. “That post on the forum about liking a girl… you didn’t post it, did you?”