Chapter 47: Surprise
Zhao Lin hadn’t been feeling well recently and had even been hospitalized, so Wen Yu wanted to visit her on the weekend. Knowing Zhao Lin and Ye Qizhen got along well, she invited Ye Qizhen to come along.
Ye Qizhen was naturally willing. She rarely heard Wen Yu mention people around her; Teacher Zhao was the only one. She knew well that with Wen Yu’s personality, anyone she mentioned frequently must be someone she cared about.
The next morning, when Ye Qizhen saw Zhao Lin, her face looked a bit haggard, her complexion not fully recovered. “Teacher Zhao, we came to see you.”
“Just a minor surgery, nothing serious. Come in quickly.” Zhao Lin had her sleeves rolled up, water droplets still on her hands; she had already started bustling about in the kitchen.
After Wen Yu and Ye Qizhen entered, Zhao Lin bustled around and said with a smile, “You guys sit and watch TV for a while, we’ll eat soon.”
Wen Yu took over Zhao Lin’s words: “You rest, I’ll cook.”
“How can I let you…”
“It’s fine.” Wen Yu uttered two simple words, then looked at Ye Qizhen and whispered, “You keep Teacher Zhao company chatting, I’ll cook.”
After speaking, she walked towards the kitchen.
Zhao Lin smiled helplessly and said to Ye Qizhen, “Been like this since childhood.”
Ye Qizhen understood what Zhao Lin meant. Even when Wen Yu cared about someone, she always carried a hint of coldness and indifference, appearing not to care so much, as if deliberately hiding her soft side and not letting people get close easily.
She liked seeing Wen Yu act coquettishly, liked seeing Wen Yu relaxed. At least, in front of her, Wen Yu could relax completely.
In the kitchen, Wen Yu bent over washing vegetables, occasionally glancing towards the living room. Ye Qizhen was chatting with Zhao Lin about something, and Zhao Lin had a constant smile on her face.
Being with Ye Qizhen puts everyone in a good mood, right? Even if Ye Qizhen is unhappy herself, she will find ways to make people around her happy. Quite silly.
After accompanying Zhao Lin for ten minutes or so, Ye Qizhen strolled lightly into the kitchen and stood quietly by the side, watching Wen Yu chop vegetables. Her hand holding the knife handle was too thin, skin white, pale blue veins clearly visible on the back of her hand.
A while later.
“What’s so good to look at about chopping vegetables?” Wen Yu said while turning to look at Ye Qizhen. “What were you chatting about just now, laughing so happily?”
“Chatting about your childhood,” Ye Qizhen answered.
Wen Yu smiled faintly, said no more, and continued chopping vegetables on the cutting board.
Only the sound of the blade hitting the cutting board remained in the kitchen.
The topic stopped abruptly just like that; obviously, Wen Yu didn’t want to say too much.
Ye Qizhen stared silently at Wen Yu’s brows and eyes, always feeling Wen Yu still harbored unresolved worries. Sometimes she wished Wen Yu could tell her more, instead of keeping a lot of unhappiness to herself.
She wanted to understand Wen Yu a little more so she could do a little more for Wen Yu.
There was still a long time ahead; they could take it slowly.
Seeing a strand of Wen Yu’s long hair fall down, Ye Qizhen took a step forward, hooked that strand of hair with her fingertips, gently tucked it behind Wen Yu’s ear, and then smoothed Wen Yu’s hair—an intimate gesture of petting her head.
Wen Yu looked back. “What’s wrong?”
Ye Qizhen dropped her hand and tilted her head. “I want to learn to cook.”
Wen Yu asked, “Why do you want to learn to cook?”
Ye Qizhen looked at Wen Yu for a while, her voice consciously lowering a few degrees. “To cook for my girlfriend in the future.”
Hearing this, Wen Yu also lowered her voice: “So doting on your girlfriend?”
Ye Qizhen was thick-skinned. “Of course.”
Wen Yu smiled with lowered eyes and tapped the tip of Ye Qizhen’s nose with a wet fingertip.
Ye Qizhen felt she was hopeless. Wen Yu just hooking the corner of her mouth at her could make her swoon, especially after confirming the relationship. Before, she restrained herself and dared not think too much, but now, she could think a lot.
“What are you spacing out for? Help.”
“Oh,” Ye Qizhen carefully took the knife from Wen Yu’s hand. “I’ll chop, you stir-fry.”
Working together in the kitchen was definitely much more efficient than one person, and much more fun.
Ye Qizhen learned quickly. Following Wen Yu as an assistant chef, she soon looked the part. During the process, Zhao Lin wanted to come help but was forcefully pulled away by her to rest.
By twelve o’clock noon, the dining table was filled with aroma.
Looking at the table full of food prepared by the two girls, Zhao Lin was both moved and apologetic. “Invited you for a meal, but you had to cook yourselves.”
Ye Qizhen thoughtfully served a bowl of soup for Zhao Lin. “Teacher always makes delicious food for us; taste our cooking today.”
Zhao Lin: “Good, good, good. Looks, smells, and tastes great.”
Wen Yu stared at the food on the table, unable to help thinking of her childhood. Every time Zhao Lin took her home for dinner, she would shake her head and say no, but actually, she wanted to in her heart.
Every time class ended, she would guess in her heart: Will Teacher Zhao take me back today?
Funny to say, only when eating at Zhao Lin’s house did she feel a little bit of home, but it was never truly home.
“Student Wen—” Ye Qizhen called out dramatically.
Wen Yu came back to her senses, turned her head, and saw Ye Qizhen had also served a bowl of soup for her.
The atmosphere at the table was very good. Ye Qizhen found various opportunities to put food into Wen Yu’s bowl. “Eat more.”
“Wen Yu, look how heartily Little Student Ye eats. Don’t think Teacher is nagging, you have to eat on time usually. Don’t ruin your stomach at such a young age.” In contrast, Zhao Lin couldn’t help saying a few words about Wen Yu. Among all students, she cared most about Wen Yu. After all, she watched her grow up, and Wen Yu was also the most spiritual student she had encountered.
“Teacher Zhao, don’t worry.” Ye Qizhen looked at Wen Yu and volunteered, “I’ll manage her from now on.”
Wen Yu usually couldn’t stand restraint, but hearing Ye Qizhen say she would manage her in the future, her heart felt warm.
Zhao Lin didn’t notice anything fishy on the side, simply thinking the two girls had a good relationship and Wen Yu’s condition had improved a lot. She couldn’t help sighing with relief: “Didn’t like to smile before, changed a bit after going to college. Girls should smile more; how beautiful it is to smile.”
Zhao Lin was very nostalgic and would often talk about the past.
Ye Qizhen liked accompanying Wen Yu to visit Zhao Lin. On one hand, Teacher Zhao was amiable and enthusiastic, very comfortable to get along with; on the other hand, she could hear some things about Wen Yu’s past from Zhao Lin.
Towards the person she liked, she was curious about every little thing, never knowing enough. As long as Zhao Lin talked about Wen Yu, she listened exceptionally seriously, even slowing down her eating.
“…Wen Yu was more sensible than average kids since childhood. Other kids were playful, only she could sit still, sometimes quietly for a whole afternoon.”
Being quiet and sensible at an age meant for playing wasn’t necessarily a good thing. Ye Qizhen understood this feeling very well, but she still had friends around her, while Wen Yu…
She always thought, If only I could have met Wen Yu earlier.
After lunch, it was time for just the two of them.
Walking into the descending elevator, Ye Qizhen stood in the corner pressing against Wen Yu’s arm. After exchanging a glance, the backs of their hands brushed, and they held each other’s hand in unison, then interlaced fingers tightly. The small action revealed their impatience.
In front of Teacher Zhao in the morning, it was inconvenient to show ambiguity. Now with only the two of them in the elevator, the atmosphere changed instantly.
Ye Qizhen tilted her head and asked softly, “Where do you want to go play?”
Wen Yu saw Ye Qizhen’s eyes shining with anticipation. “Listening to you.”
“Mn.” Ye Qizhen already had a pile of backup plans in her heart. Still the familiar mode of getting along, but with added sweetness.
Just entering early summer, the afternoon sun wasn’t scorching but had a special bright vitality. Landing on the body, it was comfortably just right. Wen Yu said she liked summer, and Ye Qizhen now also had a preference for summer. Besides, she met Wen Yu in summer.
Ye Qizhen dragged Wen Yu to a newly opened shopping mall nearby. She heard from Tang Tang that there were especially many places to eat, drink, and play there.
When she heard Tang Tang mention it that time, Ye Qizhen thought about bringing Wen Yu to visit someday. Whether happy or unhappy, the first person she thought of was Wen Yu. When she realized she liked Wen Yu, she had actually liked her for a long time.
The weekend mall was bustling with noise.
Browsing casually, they found an indoor bumper car arena with a cartoon children’s theme on the basement floor. The decoration style was strangely cute, attracting many children. Ye Qizhen stopped, suddenly remembering a sentence Wen Yu once said, which was still fresh in her memory.
Wen Yu noticed. “Want to play?”
Ye Qizhen asked Wen Yu on a whim, “Do you want to play?”
Wen Yu reminded her: “All kids.”
It was a bit embarrassing, but Ye Qizhen decided anyway, “Let’s play this.”
Bought tickets. Inside the arena, there were couples like them too, but most were parents with children. After all, it was a children’s theme, simply a paradise for little kids, full of joy.
The staff gave simple instructions, and the two got into a two-seater bumper car together.
The last time Ye Qizhen played bumper cars was in middle school, and Wen Yu had never touched these things. The kids next to them operated more skillfully than them.
Squeezed in the bumper car, bumping along mixed in with a bunch of kids.
Wen Yu never imagined that she would play something she hadn’t even played as a child now that she was grown up. She turned to look at Ye Qizhen, who was in high spirits, feeling as if some regrets in her heart were slowly being filled.
Seeing Wen Yu playing along with her, Ye Qizhen smiled and asked loudly, “Is it fun?”
Wen Yu looked a bit disdainful. The environment was noisy, and she rarely raised her voice to speak: “Ye Qizhen, aren’t you childish?”
Ye Qizhen smiled until her eyes curved. I can be childish in front of Wen Yu, she thought.
Just then, their car was bumped.
Ye Qizhen shouted: “Bump back!”
Wen Yu: “…”
The opponent was a seven or eight-year-old kid.
Ye Qizhen played quite crazily. Being with a bunch of little ones made her feel like an overgrown child herself. Holding the steering wheel, she kept urging Wen Yu, getting serious: “Hit him, hit him.”
Compared to playing children’s bumper cars while listening to nursery rhymes, Wen Yu found Ye Qizhen’s expression at this moment even funnier. Probably influenced by Ye Qizhen, she gradually got into the game too.
Playing around like this, a round passed quickly. Ye Qizhen stared at Wen Yu eagerly: “Play again?”
Wen Yu considered it, also wanting more, and agreed: “Okay.”
“And you called me childish.” Seeing Wen Yu gradually let go, the smile on Ye Qizhen’s face became even brighter. Life always has regrets, but what you have is more important than what you lost. She hoped the Wen Yu she saw had more happiness than sorrow, wanting to tell Wen Yu that even if she wasn’t that happy before, she could be happy in the future.
This day, Wen Yu followed Ye Qizhen, letting Ye Qizhen hold her hand and take her around to play and stroll. Anyway, everything was a surprise to her. Or rather, Ye Qizhen was the biggest surprise she had encountered, sketching her black-and-white life into color bit by bit.
Night fell. They watched a movie before returning to school.
Having strolled for most of the day, they were quite tired. The grass behind the Arts Building was a place where they used to rest and relax often. It was quiet here, suitable for chatting, with a view of the lake by the library in the distance, and stars above.
The moonlight was hazy.
Ye Qizhen sat on the grass with bent legs, turning her head to the side. Wen Yu’s profile came into view, beautiful as a painting.
Wen Yu also turned her head.
Both raised the corners of their lips simultaneously.
A bit silly, wanting to laugh as soon as looking at each other.
Ye Qizhen suddenly called out childishly: “Wen Yuyu.”
Wen Yu let Ye Qizhen call her that. “Mn.”
Ye Qizhen paused for a second, speaking gently and seriously: “Hope Wen Yuyu is happy every day.”
Couldn’t find a second person who cared about whether she was happy or not like Ye Qizhen, right? Wen Yu gazed at Ye Qizhen for a long time. “Of course, my girlfriend is so sweet.”
Ye Qizhen liked hearing Wen Yu praise her sweetness too much. She followed Wen Yu’s words: “Then your girlfriend wants to ask you a question.”
Wen Yu waited for Ye Qizhen to continue.
Ye Qizhen asked dawdlingly: “When did you… start having thoughts about me?”
She was curious, very curious.
“First semester of freshman year.” Wen Yu answered crisply. She admitted she had thoughts about Ye Qizhen very early on, and it was also because of Ye Qizhen that she realized her sexual orientation. As soon as Ye Qizhen got close to her, that feeling was too obvious. She could vaguely sense that Ye Qizhen should be like her, but Ye Qizhen was too good at playing dumb. Clearly liking each other, yet remaining “ordinary friends” for so long.
First semester of freshman year? That means right at the beginning… Ye Qizhen was surprised. Before she could say anything, she heard Wen Yu say again: “I thought you wanted to chase me.”
Ye Qizhen: “…”
Putting it that way, do I have to thank Tang Xiao?
“Weren’t you the one who had thoughts about me first?” Wen Yu changed the subject, bringing up old matters. “Started paying attention to me in high school, and always staring at me. Thought I didn’t know?”
At first, she thought Ye Qizhen hated her as a love rival.
“I was…”
“What?” Wen Yu pressed.
“Liked looking at beautiful girls.” Ye Qizhen’s tone was light. What kind of lame excuse is this? After speaking, she played dumb and looked towards the library straight ahead.
“Liked looking at beautiful girls?” Wen Yu quickly grasped the key point. Propping one hand on the grass, she leaned over, using the other hand to cup Ye Qizhen’s cheek, making Ye Qizhen look at her.
Face close, lips too. Seeing Wen Yu lean in like this, Ye Qizhen’s chest began to heave unconsciously, the cheek being touched burning hot.
A sufficiently ambiguous distance.
Wen Yu’s breathing also became uneven. She stared straight into Ye Qizhen’s eyes, leaned closer, and whispered, “Who else have you looked at besides me?”
The breath of liking assaulted her. Ye Qizhen’s mind went blank briefly. She forgot to answer without a word, and as her eyelashes lowered, she kissed the corner of Wen Yu’s mouth…
