Give Me Heartthrobs 53

Chapter 53: Long Distance

This summer was even hotter than the last.

Wen Yu stayed in Nancheng as usual. Wen Qiuxian didn’t call to urge her to come home, and she didn’t call back either. Perhaps this state was quieter and freer for both mother and daughter.

People’s perception of time is always easily influenced by subjective emotions. For example, Wen Yu felt this summer vacation was exceptionally long.

In stark contrast to Ye Qizhen’s fulfillment and busyness, her life was quiet and dull. Most of the time was spent painting—some practice drafts or commercial commissions. The orders were introduced by Qi Yun. Boredom was boredom, so she took the ones that interested her.

After sending the revised draft to Qi Yun, Wen Yu realized it was already dusk. A ray of slanting sun shone through the window, casting a warm yellow light on the desk.

She opened her palm and slowly moved it into the beam of light, as if holding it, her palm slightly warmed by the sun.

She smiled suddenly; she had seen Ye Qizhen do this childish action sometimes.

Staring at the sunset in her palm, Wen Yu rested her chin on her hand and spaced out again, unable to help wondering: What is Ye Qizhen doing now?

Definitely not as bored as me.

Until the phone rang, disturbing her thoughts.

It was Qi Yun calling.

“Goddess.” Qi Yun called out sweetly from the other end.

“Need more revisions?” Wen Yu asked.

“No, it’s settled, settled. The client is very satisfied and said they’ll look for you again. I say, how about you post some photos of yourself on Weibo? Attract more attention, guarantee the people asking for commissions will explode.” Qi Yun spoke without taking a breath; clearly two words could explain it, but she could expand it into a pile.

Wen Yu only registered a Weibo account in the second semester of freshman year. She didn’t have many followers and posted little. She only registered one because she saw Ye Qizhen often posting on Weibo. Attracting attention and such, she wasn’t interested.

“Speak if you have business.” Wen Yu only replied with five words. She usually got straight to the point on the phone, having no patience for rambling. Qi Yun calling specifically wouldn’t be just to chat idly.

“Do you have time tonight? Since we’re both in Nancheng, want to get together? Sigh, I’m bored to death.” Qi Yun revealed her true purpose. She didn’t return to Beilin for the summer vacation either, disliking the nagging at home; staying at school was more comfortable.

Wen Yu believed Qi Yun was truly bored; if Qi Yun could find anyone else, she wouldn’t look for her.

“I know a newly opened Cantonese restaurant that is super delicious. You’ll regret not eating there, I tell you.” Qi Yun continued speaking with exaggerated tone, then felt her brain had short-circuited. What’s the use of telling Wen Yu this? Saying it was a waste of breath. Wen Yu was someone who didn’t partake in earthly food, almost living on dew; how would she care about this?

Wen Yu looked out the window, her fingertips tracing on the desktop. After a brief silence, she asked directly, “What time?”

Huh? Qi Yun was completely shocked. She didn’t expect Wen Yu to agree, and agree so readily?

…

Past seven in the evening, lights were just coming on.

The two met at the agreed restaurant. Seeing Wen Yu, Qi Yun stared at her, not rushing to speak.

Wen Yu choked her unexpectedly: “First time seeing me?”

“Sorry, I’m just too flattered.” Qi Yun was still finding it incredible inside, complaining along the way, “When have you ever agreed when I asked you out to eat before?”

Indeed true. Wen Yu was noncommittal, just passing the menu to Qi Yun. Hearing Qi Yun say the taste here was good, she wanted to come and try it; Ye Qizhen quite liked Cantonese food.

“Drinking beer is okay, right?” Qi Yun looked down at the menu.

“Okay.” Wen Yu was casual.

Just after ordering, a large pitcher of draft beer was served first.

Qi Yun poured two glasses. Raising the glass, it seemed she had to say something. After a pause, she smiled at Wen Yu: “Congratulations, finally got your wish and seduced Sweetie.”

Specifically emphasized “seduced.”

She ate the melon (gossip) about Wen Yu and Ye Qizhen getting together on the forum. The replies to that post were too easy to guess. Later she gossiped with Wen Yu, and Wen Yu didn’t deny it.

“Can you use a normal word?” Wen Yu glanced indifferently.

“Tsk, did I say wrong? Didn’t you seduce her?” Qi Yun threw out two questions in a row. With how Wen Yu acted in front of Ye Qizhen, she thought using the word “seduce” wasn’t excessive at all. The scene of Wen Yu bringing Ye Qizhen back to the dorm for the first time was still vivid in her mind.

Wen Yu took a sip of beer. She was always too lazy to lie, so she defaulted.

Qi Yun smiled silently. From the moment she guessed Wen Yu had her eyes on Ye Qizhen, she felt it was only a matter of time before Wen Yu caught Ye Qizhen. She admitted that a girl like Wen Yu was indeed very attractive; even a straight girl would probably be shaken if flirted with by Wen Yu.

Not long after, all the dishes were served. Wen Yu tasted them; the signature dishes indeed tasted good, especially the shrimp dumplings and spare ribs.

Dining peak, people in the restaurant gradually increased. In stark contrast to the lively environment was Qi Yun’s quietness.

Qi Yun just focused on drinking and eating; her words were noticeably few tonight.

Wen Yu saw Qi Yun’s abnormality but didn’t say anything, after all, she was never the one to liven up the atmosphere.

After drinking quite a bit of beer, Qi Yun couldn’t hold back and actively talked to Wen Yu: “Don’t you think I’m talking very little tonight?”

Wen Yu cooperated fairly well: “Think so.”

Qi Yun touched her neck and said eight words lightly: “I broke up, got dumped again.”

Hearing this, Wen Yu didn’t say anything for a while. When Qi Yun was heartbroken in high school, she made a scene of life and death, daring not to date easily again, but she still got a girlfriend after college.

“Give a little reaction, okay?” Qi Yun smiled bitterly.

“Why?” Wen Yu asked.

“Found out we weren’t suitable, didn’t like me that much anymore, or met someone better…” Qi Yun looked at the beer bubbles in the glass one by one, muttering in fragments. Both tone and expression were calm, as if complaining about a trivial matter. “Very normal, no big deal.”

Wen Yu didn’t know if Qi Yun was pretending. She gazed at Qi Yun quietly for a moment and said lightly, “Taking it quite well this time.”

Is there such a way to comfort people? Qi Yun felt finding Wen Yu to relieve boredom was truly a brain cramp. But she looked at Wen Yu with new eyes, realizing she had really misunderstood Wen Yu before. Wen Yu only looked loose on the surface; deep down, she was pure. Amazing.

“Fooled once, would I be fooled a second time? Then I’d really be a fool.” Thinking of the past, Qi Yun smiled self-mockingly. After a while, she suddenly sighed softly: “Actually, only first love is the silliest, thinking you can be together for a lifetime.”

There was some sadness in her words.

Wen Yu held the glass in her palm, silent.

A beat later, Qi Yun vaguely sensed the atmosphere was a bit wrong. Saying breakup just as someone got off the single list indeed seemed inappropriate. She didn’t want to continue chatting about sad things, so she picked up her glass and clinked it with Wen Yu’s, making a crisp sound.

…

Late at night.

After showering, Wen Yu came out of the bathroom wiping her wet hair. The first thing she did was check her phone.

No missed calls, no WeChat notifications.

Just as she was about to put down the phone, a call rang unexpectedly. The screen displayed a string of familiar numbers without a saved name. She stared at it for two seconds, mood indescribable. After answering, she didn’t speak, simply holding the phone to her ear.

“…Have you returned to Beilin yet?”

Every word carried the smell of drunkenness. Through the phone, Wen Yu could almost smell the alcohol. Since she could remember, Wen Qiuxian had a problem with alcoholism.

“Are you back yet?” The other side shouted incessantly.

Accompanied by the sound of opening and closing doors, noisy and piercing.

Wen Yu only felt annoyed, not wanting to say a single sentence: “Not returning, busy.”

“If you don’t return, don’t ever return! Raised an ingrate…” Wen Qiuxian cursed drunkenly. She had a big temper usually, even more so after drinking, shouting at the slightest provocation.

What else could Wen Qiuxian call her for? Lost at cards, drank too much, finding someone to vent on.

Wen Yu hung up calmly, expressionless. She really had no nostalgia for that home, even feeling she never had a home. When she was very young, she would envy others too. Later—

Numb, and accustomed to all good things having nothing to do with her.

So when Ye Qizhen was willing to approach her initially, she was surprised and happy.

Wen Qiuxian didn’t call again.

Wen Yu lay on her side in bed, cheek buried in the pillow, continuing to wait for Ye Qizhen’s call. Haven’t seen her for half a month; missed her. And tonight, like a fit, missed her terribly.

Around ten o’clock, Ye Qizhen called on time. They didn’t contact much during this period. The signal in the remote mountainous area was bad, often unable to receive messages. Ye Qizhen was busy usually, only able to find time to call Wen Yu during lunch or evening breaks.

“Wen Yuyu, did you eat properly tonight?” Ye Qizhen’s daily check-up. Although Wen Yu was good at taking care of her, she wouldn’t take care of herself; she always worried.

Hearing Ye Qizhen’s voice, Wen Yu smiled instantly, saying impatiently, “Went to a Cantonese restaurant with Qi Yun tonight, tasted very good. Let’s go eat together when you’re back.”

“I find you’re getting more and more gluttonous.” Ye Qizhen grinned hearing this.

“Can I be as gluttonous as you?” Wen Yu asked back with a smile. It is said that couples become more and more like each other after being together for a long time; perhaps there is truth in it. On one hand, she wanted to change herself for Ye Qizhen; on the other hand, she liked herself when she was with Ye Qizhen. She hugged another pillow in her arms. “What about you, used to it over there?”

How good could conditions in the mountainous area be? Although she wasn’t pampered, she hadn’t suffered much hardship either. Not wanting Wen Yu to worry, Ye Qizhen’s tone was relaxed: “Used to it.”

“Tired?” Wen Yu asked again.

“Not tired, the kids here are very cute…” Ye Qizhen stomped her feet lightly as she spoke. Her dorm had no signal; she had to walk to the yard every time to call or send messages. There were many mosquitoes here, the biting kind, and she happened to have delicate skin, specifically attracting mosquitoes to bully.

Wen Yu heard Ye Qizhen say once that doing what she liked wouldn’t feel tired. Moreover, shooting a charity documentary had always been Ye Qizhen’s wish; doing what she wanted must be very satisfying, right? Listening to Ye Qizhen talk with relish, her mood brightened a lot. “Seems you’re quite happy.”

Ye Qizhen’s voice carried a smile: “Mn.”

Wen Yu lowered her eyes. At this moment, the conversation turned, and she said very lightly, “That means you didn’t miss me.”

“No,” Ye Qizhen retorted quickly. She bit her lower lip, her voice low when she spoke again, carrying a trace of grievance: “Miss, miss especially—”

Started from the first day apart.

Even more so when Wen Yu said this.

Wen Yu was hooked by this sound from Ye Qizhen. Some words Qi Yun said tonight, as well as that phone call from Wen Qiuxian, actually made her a bit depressed. She hugged the pillow in her arms, imagining Ye Qizhen by her side, and said muffledly, “I want to hug you so much right now, what to do?”