Chapter 64: Awkwardness
Exhausted from the previous night, neither of them got up early the next morning. Fortunately, Z University’s registration period lasted two days, so they could rest for another day.
The sunlight through the gap in the curtains was intense. Wen Yu opened her eyes and glanced at the time; it was past ten o’clock. Ye Qizhen was still pressed against her side, her brows relaxed, sleeping soundly.
Wen Yu glimpsed the mottled marks below Ye Qizhen’s collarbone. On her porcelain-white skin, every hickey was eye-catching, like an exclusive brand. She lightly brushed her fingertips over them, and the details of last night couldn’t help but leap into her mind, making her heart race again.
Ye Qizhen rubbed against Wen Yu and continued sleeping, showing no sign of waking up.
Afraid of waking Ye Qizhen, Wen Yu’s caressing movements became lighter, as did her kisses on Ye Qizhen’s lips.
After a while, Ye Qizhen lazily opened her eyes. Seeing Wen Yu’s face close at hand, she didn’t speak but smiled involuntarily first.
“Want to sleep more?” Wen Yu asked softly.
Ye Qizhen slowly woke up from her half-dream state. Her body was still weak, but she wasn’t sleepy anymore. Realizing something, her cheeks felt slightly hot. After showering in the latter half of the night, they didn’t even have the strength to put on pajamas, hugging each other and falling asleep as soon as they hit the bed. So now…
“How do you feel?” Wen Yu asked again, her hand stroking and wandering over Ye Qizhen’s smooth waist under the covers.
“Hm?” Ye Qizhen actually understood Wen Yu’s meaning, but subconsciously played dumb.
“Was it comfortable doing it?” Wen Yu switched to a more direct way of asking. Judging by Ye Qizhen’s reaction last night, she should have enjoyed it.
Ye Qizhen wanted to avoid this question.
Wen Yu smiled, her palm sliding along her waist directly kneading upwards, unable to resist wanting to bully her. Ye Qizhen half-pushed and half-yielded, humming in a small voice, “Wen Yu.”
“Mn, you kissed me all over last night, why weren’t you shy then?” Wen Yu whispered in Ye Qizhen’s ear relentlessly, deliberately making Ye Qizhen blush, finding a different kind of fun in it.
Many things were done in the moment, but recalling them made one more embarrassed. Ye Qizhen looked at Wen Yu’s brows and eyes hazily. After a long while, she bit the bullet and popped out a sentence: “You started it.”
“Really?” Wen Yu asked back.
“Yes.” Ye Qizhen was serious with her.
Hugging each other, a few gentle sentences made the air in the room sweet.
Ye Qizhen blushed and smiled.
Wen Yu said no more, seriously kissing the corner of Ye Qizhen’s mouth.
Shy as she was, Ye Qizhen couldn’t hide the liking in her eyes. Couldn’t say exactly what changed, just that after physical communication… it felt very different. A little intimacy with Wen Yu made her extremely happy, let alone something like last night.
Soon, the step-by-step class mode started again.
Ye Qizhen was busy enough in the first month of school. The documentary filmed during the summer vacation would be sent to a competition. She was the main person in charge, checking everything from copywriting to editing.
Plus, it was a team work, so she was even more serious and attentive, devoting almost all her spare time to this matter. Fortunately, the effort paid off satisfactorily. After the review, they won the first prize in the team group.
Late at night, eleven o’clock.
Wen Yu came out of the bathroom after showering and saw Ye Qizhen still sitting at the desk.
Ye Qizhen stared at the document interface until she was wrapped in a familiar and pleasant fragrance. She turned her head; Wen Yu was bending over, resting her chin on her shoulder.
“I haven’t showered yet.”
Wen Yu smiled and ignored it, maintaining the intimate posture, holding Ye Qizhen’s hand, staring at her and asking, “Hasn’t the review passed? Why still busy?”
“Awards ceremony the day after tomorrow, there’s a work presentation. I want to revise the draft again.” Too close. Smelling the scent on Wen Yu felt like something scratching her heart. The pale pink skin after showering made one’s imagination run wild.
“Must revise it tonight?” Wen Yu kissed the corner of Ye Qizhen’s lips, touching her cheek, asking raspily.
Ye Qizhen didn’t answer, unable to resist holding Wen Yu’s lips and kissing for a while longer. Not sure if she endured too long before, but after getting together, she completely couldn’t resist even a tiny bit of Wen Yu’s flirting, even just a look.
Wen Yu’s feeling came immediately. Rubbing Ye Qizhen’s neck, opening her lips to kiss deeper, Ye Qizhen dodged back and let go.
Wen Yu leaned in, wanting to continue kissing.
Ye Qizhen dodged again.
Wen Yu failed again.
“You go to sleep first, I have to revise the draft.” Ye Qizhen whispered. She dared not kiss too long; if they continued, they would definitely… then nothing would get done tonight. Cohabiting for only a month or so, everything was fresh and passionate. Remember watching a movie at home last weekend? They only watched the opening credits; the rest of the time was spent kissing, and other things.
Wen Yu frowned helplessly, unable to do anything with Ye Qizhen. She looked at Ye Qizhen quietly for two seconds, then said, “I’ll accompany you.”
So late, how could Ye Qizhen bear to let Wen Yu stay up late with her? She immediately smiled and said, “No need, you sleep first.”
Wen Yu knew she couldn’t help much either. She rubbed Ye Qizhen’s head. “Don’t stay up too late.”
“Got it.” Ye Qizhen looked obedient. “Goodnight.”
Afraid showering too late would disturb Wen Yu, Ye Qizhen showered first before getting busy. After showering, she saw Wen Yu lying on her side in bed, probably too sleepy and fell asleep.
The room was a studio apartment, and the desk was close to the bed. Ye Qizhen turned off the floor lamp by the desk, then hugged her laptop and nestled in the corner of the sofa, turning on a rechargeable night light. Only a small, weak light remained in the dark room.
Twelve o’clock.
Ye Qizhen yawned twice in a row, unable to hold on anymore. She closed her laptop, tiptoed to the bedside, pulled open the quilt, and lay down on the bed, making almost no noise. But as soon as she lay down, the person beside her turned over and hugged her.
“Finished?” Wen Yu asked in a deep voice.
“You haven’t slept yet?”
“Waiting for you.” Wen Yu closed her eyes again, humming two words.
By the dim light, Ye Qizhen looked at Wen Yu’s face. “Had a nightmare again?”
“No.” Wen Yu had a heavy mind and indeed dreamed a lot when sleeping. She would dream of those unhappy things in the past—being misunderstood, insulted, drowned in endless rumors, facing everything alone.
Sleeping poorly at night, heartbreaking. Ye Qizhen changed her posture, letting Wen Yu pillow on her arm, and pulled Wen Yu into her arms so she could hug tighter.
As expected, Wen Yu hugged her tighter in return.
“I think you’re the clingy spirit.” Ye Qizhen laughed at her.
“Can’t I cling to my own girlfriend?” Wen Yu’s voice became smaller and smaller, tired.
Ye Qizhen looked at Wen Yu’s long eyelashes, silent. She felt her clinginess was more about liking to act coquettishly with her partner, but Wen Yu’s clinginess looked more like insecurity.
After a long time, her arm went numb. Ye Qizhen dared not move, falling asleep holding Wen Yu like this.
***
The next day, Ye Qizhen had evening classes.
After the bell rang, students filed out of the classroom.
Ye Qizhen didn’t rush to leave. After a while, she saw a familiar figure at the front door of the classroom. “Senior Sister, here.” When Shu Chen approached, she handed over the pre-printed presentation draft.
This competition was supposed to be handled by Shu Chen, but Shu Chen was busy with her internship, so she handed it over to her. In the afternoon, she asked Shu Chen about the presentation draft, and Shu Chen said she happened to have a meeting in the teaching building at night and could discuss it face to face.
Getting the draft, Shu Chen read it carefully, muttering, “Written very well, nothing to modify. I think this part can be supplemented…”
Once Ye Qizhen got involved, she turned a deaf ear to outside matters. Discussing with Shu Chen, she completely didn’t notice someone waiting for her in the corridor outside the classroom.
Wen Yu had no classes in the evening and should have gone back first, but she stayed in the art studio for a few extra hours, wanting to wait for Ye Qizhen to finish class and go back together.
Although Ye Qizhen sent her a WeChat message in the afternoon saying she would go back late tonight and asked a senior sister to help her revise the draft. However, seeing Ye Qizhen sitting side by side with Shu Chen, discussing seriously at times and chatting familiarly at others, she still felt uncomfortable.
Only met Shu Chen twice, but she had a deep impression. Smiling gently and sunny, she was the kind of girl most popular, just like Ye Qizhen.
The temperature dropped in the early autumn night. Standing in the corridor feeling the wind, the chill hit. Wen Yu didn’t walk into the classroom, just stood stiffly in place, gazing silently in Ye Qizhen’s direction. Waiting.
After revising the draft, Shu Chen said casually, “I’m going out of town tomorrow, can’t watch you receive the award.”
“It’s okay, they will definitely send you a video then.”
“But I want to see it with my own eyes,” Shu Chen said.
“There will be opportunities in the future.” Ye Qizhen could only say so.
“Mn, hope so.” Shu Chen smiled. “A bit reluctant to part with you…”
A sudden sentence made Ye Qizhen suddenly sensitive, not knowing how to reply.
“And Little Zhou, Liu Liu and the others.” Shu Chen paused and smiled again.
“We are reluctant to part with Senior Sister too.” Ye Qizhen breathed a sigh of relief, thinking Where did my mind go? They wouldn’t have many chances to meet in the future, so saying reluctant to part was normal.
Shu Chen hesitated, but still took a book out of her bag. “This is for you.”
It was a collection of poems she had recommended to everyone before. Ye Qizhen naturally felt embarrassed to accept. “I’ll buy it myself.”
Shu Chen wouldn’t take it back. “Keep it as a memento.”
In the end, Ye Qizhen accepted it. After Shu Chen left, she read the draft again, fully focused, until someone sat down in the seat next to her. She turned her head.
“Planning not to go back?” Wen Yu threw out a sentence.
“Why are you at school again?” Ye Qizhen remembered Wen Yu had no classes tonight. She realized a beat later that Wen Yu probably hadn’t gone back at all tonight, waiting for her at school until class ended.
“Stayed in the studio a bit longer, just in time to go back with you.”
Sure enough. Where was “just in time”? Clearly deliberate. Ye Qizhen guessed Wen Yu must have come over right after the second period ended; she just didn’t notice. “Why didn’t you tell me, waiting so long.”
“Let’s go back.” Wen Yu didn’t say much, helping Ye Qizhen pack up books and notes. Seeing that collection of poems felt like a thorn, piercing her eyes.
Ye Qizhen also noticed Wen Yu’s attention was on that collection of poems. Vaguely apprehensive; not happy, right?
On the way back, Wen Yu remained silent, distracted with thoughts.
This made Ye Qizhen even more apprehensive. Returning to the apartment, as soon as she entered, the first thing she did was hold Wen Yu’s hand, then pull Wen Yu into a hug. “What’s wrong?”
Wen Yu looked at her and asked lightly, “What do you mean what’s wrong?”
Still not admitting it. If she hugged her so proactively usually, it definitely wouldn’t be this reaction. Ye Qizhen thought for a moment, took the book Shu Chen gave her directly, handed it to Wen Yu, and confessed honestly: “Senior Sister recommended this book to everyone before. Should have given one to everyone, saying it’s a memento.”
Clearly an old book. If giving to everyone, why give an old book? Wen Yu pretended to be casual, flipping it open casually. Her gaze froze suddenly. After pausing for a second or two, she closed it calmly and returned it to Ye Qizhen.
“Page fifty-two.”
Ye Qizhen was puzzled. Lowering her head to flip through the book, she didn’t need to look for it specifically; flipping casually led to that page because a postcard was sandwiched inside. Seeing the line of words left on the postcard, she was dumbfounded.
It was Shu Chen’s handwriting:
Can I like you?
Confession?
An unexpected confession.
“I, I didn’t know this was inside. If I knew, I definitely wouldn’t have accepted it.” Ye Qizhen was completely stunned seeing this confession letter. No wonder Shu Chen seemed to have something to say to her tonight.
Wen Yu was unruffled, her expression unchanged.
“I’ll make it clear to her right now.” Ye Qizhen wanted to send a message to Shu Chen, but thought calling would be faster. After brewing briefly, she dialed Shu Chen’s number immediately.
Shu Chen seemed to be waiting for her reply; she answered the phone very quickly.
“Senior Sister…”
Wen Yu glanced at Ye Qizhen and returned to the desk to draw practice drafts.
Ye Qizhen spent more than two minutes explaining the situation clearly to Shu Chen, full of awkwardness. But she couldn’t care about awkwardness right now. After the call, she bit the bullet and walked to Wen Yu.
Ye Qizhen guessed Wen Yu’s mind probably wasn’t on the draft either. She actively said, “I explained everything to Senior Sister. And that book, I’ll return it to her.”
Wen Yu looked at Ye Qizhen. “Mn.”
Just that? But seeing a confession letter written by someone else to one’s girlfriend, it was impossible to smile, right? Ye Qizhen was at a loss for a moment. Thinking back and forth, she finally whispered to Wen Yu, “If you’re unhappy, lose your temper at me. You can be as fierce as you want.”
Seeing Ye Qizhen immediately putting on an obedient posture of admitting mistakes, who could lose their temper at this appearance? Besides, it wasn’t to the point of losing her temper; feeling uncomfortable inside was true, and this postcard simply added frost to snow.
“You want to argue with me?”
“No.” Ye Qizhen frowned. She would rather Wen Yu vent her dissatisfaction directly than be lukewarm to her. Wen Yu leaving her hanging like this made her uncomfortable, even a bit teary.
“Why should I lose my temper at you? It wasn’t you confessing to her.” Wen Yu paused, saying grumpily, “…Or do you like her?”
Hearing this, Ye Qizhen got anxious, her eyes slightly red. “You know I only like you.”
