Give Me Heartthrobs 59

Chapter 59: School Uniform

Returning home, Ye Qizhen felt like she had entered another world. The atmosphere in the Ye family was very serious and dull, so serious that her childhood friend Tang Tang was afraid to come to her house for dinner.

Lunchtime, four people eating, the dining table as quiet as always. Ye Qizhen noticed that the dishes today were obviously more sumptuous than usual, probably because her sister Ye Qifan came home for lunch.

“Don’t you love shrimp?” Chen Yin moved a plate of boiled shrimp in front of Ye Qifan. “Eat more.”

Ye Qizhen chewed her white rice silently, accustomed to having a low presence at home and accustomed to her sister receiving better treatment in all aspects. Her family’s educational style was like this: since childhood, whoever had better grades and was more outstanding received more rewards. And she could clearly feel that the family liked her sister more. Not to mention others, even she felt her sister was unrealistically perfect. Ye Qizhen spoke little, a proper aloof academic god, and her resume from childhood to adulthood was beautiful, giving her parents enough capital to show off.

The sisters’ facial features were quite similar, but their temperaments were completely different. Ye Qifan was steady and capable, acting like a little adult since childhood, while Ye Qizhen loved to smile and gave a much softer impression.

Halfway through the meal, Chen Yin turned the topic to Ye Qizhen. “Are you very close with that girl from the hospital last time?”

“Mn, very good relationship,” Ye Qizhen answered.

“Is she about your age?”

“Mn.”

“Which university does she attend?” Chen Yin asked again.

Ye Qizhen felt a bit uncomfortable hearing this, but still said patiently, “Also Z University, we’re in the same grade, and were high school classmates.”

She knew why Chen Yin asked this. She remembered in middle school, she was close to a girl, but just because that girl ranked low in grades, Chen Yin sternly lectured her not to play with her anymore.

Sure enough, hearing the other party was also from Z University, Chen Yin didn’t say anything else, just nodding. After a while, “Almost junior year, what are your plans?”

Ye Qizhen had a clear career plan. “Postgraduate entrance exam.” To be precise, she felt she could strive for a guaranteed postgraduate recommendation.

Chen Yin picked up food, instructing calmly, “Mn, change your major for postgraduate studies. If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask your sister more. Such good conditions.”

Ye Qifan sat aside eating, remaining quiet.

Ye Qizhen said stubbornly, “I don’t want to change my major. I quite like my current major and don’t regret it. Besides, I have my own plans, you don’t need to worry.”

“What plans do you have? It will be too late to regret then.” Chen Yin was a bit annoyed; she didn’t like repeating herself. “Let me tell you, the news industry is very deep, and being a reporter is very hard, not as naive and simple as you imagine.”

Still this rhetoric. Ye Qizhen gritted her teeth secretly. “I just want to do what I like.”

Chen Yin sneered. “Would we harm you? Look at your sister listening to the family; how many fewer detours did she take? With such a good role model, why don’t you learn?”

Ye Qizhen held her breath, wanting to continue refuting. At this moment, the sound of a porcelain bowl lightly touching the table was heard—

Ye Qifan put down her bowl. “I still have work to do, have to go first.”

“Haven’t even finished eating.” Chen Yin saw the remaining rice in the bowl.

“In a rush, no time,” Ye Qifan said.

After Ye Qifan left, the atmosphere at the table became even stiffer. Ye Qizhen had no appetite either. She hurriedly finished the remaining mouthfuls of rice and said, “I’m done too.”

Got up and went back to her room.

Another unpleasant meal.

Cooped up in her room in the afternoon, Ye Qizhen lay on her desk watching raindrops hit the green leaves outside the window, ticking and tacking. Beilin had rained twice in the past few days, and the air was slightly less stifling.

But her heart felt stifled.

Playing with her phone, just as she was bored and wanted to call Wen Yu, she saw Wen Yu calling her first.

Putting the phone to her ear, Ye Qizhen looked at the small rain flowers blooming on the glass window. Before Wen Yu could speak, she grinned and said softly first, “Missed me already?”

Wen Yu never tired of teasing Ye Qizhen. She answered lazily, “It’s okay.”

Ye Qizhen was relentless. “You just missed me.”

Wen Yu laughed on the other end.

Ye Qizhen laughed happily too. It seemed no matter what they talked about, it was interesting and made their mood bright. After a pause, she told Wen Yu, “My sister came back for lunch today.”

Wen Yu asked sensitively, “Not happy staying at home?”

Ye Qizhen lowered her head. Couldn’t say unhappy; she had long been used to it since childhood. But Wen Yu’s concern gave her a special warmth and satisfaction. Before meeting Wen Yu, she hadn’t tasted the feeling of being held in the palm of someone’s hand. She couldn’t help whispering coquettishly to Wen Yu, “No~”

The rain gradually lessened, and the rain clouds dispersed, showing signs of clearing up. Wen Yu looked up at the sky. “Rain is stopping, coming out?” She knew Ye Qizhen wasn’t like her; Ye Qizhen had to fly around like a bird, otherwise she would be bored.

With so many things happening recently, Ye Qizhen also wanted to drag Wen Yu out for a walk to relax. But then she thought Wen Yu should be taking care of Wen Qiuxian and might not be able to get away. “Is Auntie better? Don’t you need to take care of her?”

Wen Yu smiled. “She went out to play cards all afternoon.”

Ye Qizhen immediately calculated in her mind. “How about we go out to take photos, and you be my model?”

Wen Yu asked deliberately, “Any benefits?”

“The benefit is…” Ye Qizhen in love was a sweet girl. She smiled and kept her in suspense, “You can see your cute girlfriend.”

Through the phone, Wen Yu could imagine how sweet Ye Qizhen’s smile was when saying this, and became even more impatient to meet.

Before hanging up, Ye Qizhen suddenly thought of something else. “By the way, is your high school uniform still there?”

“School uniform?”

…

In the closet of the old house, Wen Yu easily found her high school uniform. She stared at the uniform slightly dazed. Wen Qiuxian seemed not to have touched anything in this room at all; things from a few years ago were all preserved intact.

Remembering a long time ago, she shouted at Wen Qiuxian once not to touch her things.

“You don’t want me to wear the school uniform for photos, do you?” Wen Yu asked Ye Qizhen.

“I’ll wear it too. Let’s go to school together to take photos.” Ye Qizhen lifted the paper bag by her hand. On a whim, she really wanted to wear high school uniforms with Wen Yu and take some photos as a memento.

They met each other very early, but this period of memory had no intersection.

Seeing Ye Qizhen in high spirits, what could Wen Yu do? Cooperate with everything. As long as Ye Qizhen liked it.

No. 1 High School’s summer uniform was uniformly a white polo shirt and blue sweatpants for both boys and girls. The collar was also blue. Washed too many times, it had faded and looked old.

When Ye Qizhen came out wearing the school uniform, Wen Yu happened to be changed too. The uniform was loose to begin with, and their body shapes hadn’t changed much in these few years, so it still fit well.

Standing in front of the mirror, the two looked at each other and laughed in unison. At the same time, there was a wondrous feeling, as if this moment had returned to the past.

Seeing Wen Yu’s hair down, Ye Qizhen walked behind Wen Yu, gathered Wen Yu’s long hair, and gently played with it with her fingers. No. 1 High School had strict discipline; girls with long hair had to tie it up.

This school uniform didn’t evoke many good memories for Wen Yu, but looking at Ye Qizhen in the mirror, also wearing the uniform and carefully tying her hair, her heart felt scalded by something.

Wen Yu’s hair was very long. Ye Qizhen spent some time fixing it for her, then tilted her head to admire. Wen Yu’s face was too exquisite; she looked good no matter what.

Ye Qizhen asked, “What are you spacing out for?”

Wen Yu turned to look at Ye Qizhen, her heart warm. “Don’t you think it’s a bit silly?”

Wearing high school uniforms again a few years after graduation was a bit silly, but Ye Qizhen enjoyed it, saying, “It’s okay, we’ll be silly together. Besides, we look so fresh and lively, others won’t be able to tell.”

Wen Yu couldn’t hold back her laughter. Indeed, couldn’t tell. Ye Qizhen’s current attire was exactly the same as in high school. Reminded her of the past.

Dusk, the sky cleared up.

The air after the rain was exceptionally fresh.

No. 1 High School was open as usual during summer vacation. Ye Qizhen held Wen Yu’s hand and familiarly led her to sneak in through the small gate.

Wen Yu followed Ye Qizhen’s steps, passing familiar basketball courts and teaching buildings. She had walked these places alone countless times, but now, someone was holding her tightly, accompanying her by her side.

Ye Qizhen turned back to look at Wen Yu. Just then, the slanting sun was gentle, and everything in sight was beautiful.

Meeting Ye Qizhen’s backward glance, Wen Yu instantly smiled like a flower.

Ye Qizhen stared at Wen Yu’s smile, entranced. She had never seen Wen Yu smile like this wearing a school uniform before.

She often thought: How good would it have been if I met Wen Yu earlier? I definitely wouldn’t let the girl I like face so many terrible things alone.

Now, it could be considered making up for some regrets in a disguised way.

Ye Qizhen raised her camera and took a few steps back, recording Wen Yu’s smile and the campus scenery together in the lens. Eighteen-year-old Wen Yu could also smile very happily because of her. She said loudly, “Student Wen Yu, you are so beautiful.”

Because of Ye Qizhen’s sentence, Wen Yu smiled even more brightly and movingly under the sunlight.

Walking forward, climbing a dozen steps, there was another teaching building. On the first floor of the easternmost side were two large art studios, unfortunately locked and inaccessible.

Walking through the corridor, Ye Qizhen pointed to one of the studios and asked Wen Yu confidently, “You used to stay in this studio often, right?”

“Remember even this?” Wen Yu grasped the key point. “Seems you stole quite a few glances at me.”

“I often recited texts by the flowerbed in the back.” Ye Qizhen was too embarrassed to say she liked reading by the flowerbed next to the art studio because there was a girl inside with a cold and special temperament who looked too beautiful.

“I know.” Wen Yu not only knew but could even describe the impression as deep. She liked watching Ye Qizhen smile, only back then she thought Ye Qizhen hated her like everyone else.

Tired of walking, Ye Qizhen and Wen Yu stood side by side on the edge of the corridor, leisurely enjoying the breeze. Looking into the distance, the scenery in the school hadn’t changed much; it seemed nothing had changed.

Turning to look at Wen Yu’s profile, Ye Qizhen suddenly sighed, “If only we had met earlier.” Then they could have experienced more things together, and more importantly, Wen Yu wouldn’t have been lonely.

“Not late,” Wen Yu said with a smile. She never expected to meet someone who made her heart flutter so much and gave her warmth. So as long as they met, it was never too late. She just hoped such times could last longer.

Ye Qizhen was always optimistic. “Mn, not late.”

Resting for a while, Ye Qizhen excitedly took Wen Yu’s hand again, leading her to wander around the back playground. Walking and talking to Wen Yu with relish about interesting things from high school.

Although both spent three years here, Ye Qizhen knew far more than Wen Yu.

Wen Yu listened attentively, occasionally amused by Ye Qizhen. She seemed to understand why Ye Qizhen insisted on bringing her to school to take photos.

Hand in hand, wearing school uniforms walking through the campus, it was like truly returning to the busy yet stolen leisure of high school days, returning to those green summers, dreamlike.

Walking under an old ginkgo tree, Ye Qizhen said mysteriously, “Tell you a secret.”

Wen Yu: “What?”

Ye Qizhen: “Back then, everyone secretly dating liked to come here.”

“You know so clearly.” Wen Yu asked unexpectedly, “Came here with someone before?”

“No way,” Ye Qizhen explained helplessly, “My dorm was right over there. Actually, here… kissing, could be seen from the dorm building.” Said she was shy; how innocent back then.

Wen Yu scanned around; indeed a secret base. She stared at Ye Qizhen and suddenly asked, “Is there no one in the dorms during summer vacation?”

Ye Qizhen nodded subconsciously. Before she could react to why Wen Yu asked this, she was gently pressed against the tree trunk.

Wen Yu tilted her head, smiling and kissing the corner of Ye Qizhen’s mouth.

Ye Qizhen also hooked her lips in a smile.

Hiding in a hidden corner of the school, hugging the person she liked, quietly exchanging breath.

Softness touching into sweetness.

The setting sun sprinkled dappled light through the treetops, falling on their tightly pressed lips, kissing each other gently, like kissing sunlight.

The school was empty during the holidays, but footsteps and chatting could occasionally be heard nearby.

Ye Qizhen was still touching lips with Wen Yu. This feeling of secretly kissing made her heart jump to her throat, yet she was reluctant to separate.

Wen Yu was the same, hugging Ye Qizhen tightly. At this moment, she felt her most gloomy and decadent period of time was also lit up.

…

Leaving school, it was about dinner time.

Ye Qizhen took Wen Yu to a popular snack shop nearby.

Their disguise was very successful, looking like out-and-out high school students, because as soon as the snack shop owner saw them, she asked enthusiastically: “Yo, school started already?”

Ye Qizhen smiled awkwardly, not knowing how to answer, silently throwing a smug look at Wen Yu.

Wen Yu smiled with squinted eyes. Sure enough, being with Ye Qizhen, she always had ways to make you happy. Today, Ye Qizhen really gave her a very special and precious memory.

Ordered two portions of signature wonton noodles. Ye Qizhen even brazenly asked the proprietress to take a few photos of her and Wen Yu together. After eating and drinking their fill, they strolled on the street to digest for a while before returning to the old house.

The moment before sunset was always beautiful; the delicate warm yellow afterglow was the best lighting.

Arriving at the entrance of the alley.

Ye Qizhen quickened her pace to walk in front of Wen Yu, then raised her camera to Wen Yu and shouted, “Wen Yu—”

Whenever calling Wen Yu, Ye Qizhen would subconsciously raise the end of her tone, her voice clear and sweet, audible with a smile.

Looking at Ye Qizhen not far away, Wen Yu felt she liked Ye Qizhen to a hopeless degree; just hearing Ye Qizhen call her made her unable to stop smiling. She also shouted back: “Haven’t taken enough photos yet?”

“Mn!” Having Wen Yu be her model, Ye Qizhen had coveted this for a long time. Walking and shooting in the afternoon satisfied her long-held wish. Photographing her own girlfriend, no need to be polite.

Ye Qizhen photographed Wen Yu all the way until they reached home. Only then did she put down the camera, pulling Wen Yu to sit on the sofa to look at the photos taken in the afternoon.

There were photos of them together in the snack shop, taken very casually, without much technique. In the photo, two people sat side by side looking at the lens, smiles bright. Perhaps because of the school uniforms, they looked exceptionally youthful.

Like old photos from a few years ago.

Wen Yu leaned close to look with Ye Qizhen. “I like this one.”

Ye Qizhen turned her head. “Me too.”

The simultaneous head-turning action brought their nose tips together. Instantly, silence fell on the sofa, wisps of breath quietly stirring up heart itches.

Wen Yu kissed Ye Qizhen nearby, moved her lips away, and continued to gaze into her eyes.

A gentle touch successfully made Ye Qizhen forget about looking at photos. She consciously put down the camera in her hand, pressed her lips to the same spot on Wen Yu, and kissed.

Back and forth, the two looked at each other and smiled. Without needing to say another word, hearts beating, they lowered their eyes and tacitly held each other’s lips, kissing bit by bit.

Separated for this period, missing terribly. That short while at school in the afternoon wasn’t satisfying at all. Both of them felt it.

Once kissing, Wen Yu always had a passion for Ye Qizhen that couldn’t be kissed enough. For some reason, looking at Ye Qizhen in uniform right now, this passion expanded even more. Wanted to possess more—

It was getting dark. She pulled Ye Qizhen’s arm around her waist and asked in a whisper, “Going back tonight?”