Chapter 34

After returning to the dorm, Tang Tianman told Ruan Ruan about Jiang Xue following her on the run.

Ruan Ruan’s expression remained calm. “It’s such a small campus. She’s just running on the track behind you.”

“No, she was really close,” Tang Tianman argued.

“What’s wrong with being close? It’s a huge school with tons of people. Does getting close mean you start dating?”

Tang Tianman fell silent.

A little while later, she remembered a detail and went back to Ruan Ruan.

“She definitely wanted to call out to you. She even reached out, but you just ran off.”

Ruan Ruan pursed her lips, her face full of sarcasm. “Do you call someone by reaching out? Don’t I have a name?”

Tang Tianman frowned. “Why are you being so nitpicky today? I just mean there might be a misunderstanding between you two.”

Ruan Ruan shot back, “Is there a misunderstanding between you and Zheng Xiyu?”

“No,” Tang Tianman said.

“Has she confessed to you?”

Tang Tianman blushed a little. “What are you talking about?”

“Have you confessed to her?”

“Oh, come on, why would I?”

Ruan Ruan spread her hands. “So what are you two playing at?”

Tang Tianman trailed off.

She couldn’t answer.

Tang Tianman was certain that she wanted to date Zheng Xiyu deep down, and she was pretty sure Zheng Xiyu wouldn’t turn her down.

But she felt like the time wasn’t right yet. Besides, things were perfect as they were—vague, flirtatious, hesitant yet trusting.

It was so wonderful that she wanted to stretch it out forever, until the day she finally got tired of it.

After all, once this phase passed, it was gone for good. And on the very first day they’d met, she’d already blurted out a messy confession in front of everyone. Now it only seemed fair to let Zheng Xiyu make the move.

She had plenty of her own reasons, even if they didn’t make complete sense. Her feelings were there, and that was enough.

What else did relationships run on if not emotions? It wasn’t holding anything up, so Tang Tianman saw no problem.

Ruan Ruan reached up and hooked a finger under her chin. “So when you’re giving advice to others, think about your own situation first.”

Tang Tianman bristled. “That’s not the same!”

Ruan Ruan suddenly snapped, “Not the same, huh? You two are always rubbing your romance in my face! Can you just stay away from me?”

She was genuinely angry.

Tang Tianman froze.

Li Tong pulled back her bed curtain and called out, “Ruan Ruan, what’s going on?”

Ruan Ruan grabbed her backpack and muttered, “Heading to the library,” before storming out without looking back.

Tang Tianman felt so upset she nearly burst into tears.

Li Tong leaned over from her bed to console her. “You know she’s been in a bad mood lately. Just give her some space.”

“Why take it out on me? She should go vent at whoever pissed her off!” Tang Tianman kicked a chair.

“Hasn’t she? Didn’t you say she won’t even acknowledge Jiang Xue anymore?” Li Tong reached up to the shelf for a small cake and took a bite. “And think about it—she’s been dieting for so long, hasn’t touched anything sweet, oily, or spicy. Her mouth’s gone completely bland. Poor thing.”

Tang Tianman supposed she had a point.

Li Tong smacked her lips. “Ah, sweets make people happy. Just let her suffer a bit without them.”

Tang Tianman’s anger faded. “I’ll look into a couple more places so her diet meals can actually taste good.”

“Hey,” Li Tong said, giving her a thumbs-up. “World’s Best Roommate.”

Once the World’s Best Roommate realized her thing with Zheng Xiyu was bothering Ruan Ruan, she texted Zheng Xiyu that she wouldn’t do morning runs anymore.

Zheng Xiyu had some free time and called her, asking why.

Tang Tianman didn’t tell the truth. She mumbled, “I can’t get up that early anymore. The weather’s getting colder, and the bed’s too comfy…”

Her voice was so soft and whiny that Zheng Xiyu couldn’t bear to push her. “So no more running at all?”

“Not exactly.”

Tang Tianman hesitated. If they kept running, she’d see Zheng Xiyu every day. Without even that, who knew when they’d meet next in their current vague setup?

“I think… moving a little every day feels pretty good.”

“Hm…” Zheng Xiyu thought for a moment. “What about evenings? A short run at night?”

“Aren’t you super busy at night?” Tang Tianman asked.

“I have to do my training either way, morning or evening. We can schedule it—no big deal.”

“That works!” Tang Tianman’s spirits lifted. “I’m either at the library or studying in the dorm at night. Just call me when you’re ready to start.”

“Got it,” Zheng Xiyu said. “Starting tonight?”

“Tonight? No way!” Tang Tianman exclaimed. “We already ran this morning!”

Zheng Xiyu laughed on the other end of the line, chuckling for a good while.

It hit Tang Tianman that Zheng Xiyu was teasing her.

She really was easy to tease—her brain must’ve been eaten by a dog, blurting out how much she hated exercise.

Tang Tianman pouted for ages until Zheng Xiyu finished laughing. “If you really don’t like it, you don’t have to…”

Tang Tianman cut her off before she could finish. “There are tons of things I don’t like in the world. Does that mean I stop doing them all? We’re adults—we need to be rational! We should do more things that are good for us!”

“Alright,” Zheng Xiyu replied, amusement in her voice. “I’ll listen to Senior Sister.”

Satisfied, Tang Tianman chatted a bit more before hanging up.

The next morning, she didn’t join Ruan Ruan for the run.

When Ruan Ruan came back with a steaming bag of fragrant braised food, it startled Tang Tianman so much she jumped.

Ruan Ruan held it out to her. “I didn’t eat any. Not a bite.”

“Oh, okay, okay.” Tang Tianman patted her chest. “Don’t break your diet. It’s hard to get back on track once you do.”

“I know.” Ruan Ruan grabbed a fruit cucumber that Tang Tianman had bought specially for her and crunched into it.

Tang Tianman stared at the braised food for a long moment before it clicked. “Wait… you bought this for me?”

Ruan Ruan rolled her eyes. “Who else? A pig?”

Li Tong cried out from her bed, “That’s too much! How can you exclude your roommate like that?”

Ruan Ruan snorted. “You can have some too. When have I ever left you out when buying food?”

Li Tong tumbled down from her bed. “Watch me devour it all.”

Ruan Ruan tugged Tang Tianman’s sleeve. “Hurry up, or there won’t be any left.”

This was Tang Tianman’s favorite food. Just like how yesterday’s fight had nearly made her cry from anger, today their makeup nearly had her crying from emotion.

Ruan Ruan furrowed her delicate brows, eyeing that expression with disgust before turning away.

“I swear, ever since you started dieting, your heart’s gotten harder,” Tang Tianman accused.

“Know why?” Ruan Ruan picked up a notebook and thwacked it against Tang Tianman’s chest. “Because when you trim the extra fat from your heart, it gets lean and tough.”

Li Tong gaped at her, speechless. “Have you lost your mind from dieting?”

Ruan Ruan turned to Tang Tianman. “Is Zheng Xiyu all hard and tough?”

Tang Tianman flipped through the notebook absentmindedly. “Nah, she’s soft to the touch normally. She just gets firm when she tenses up.”

Li Tong was so stunned she couldn’t even shove the meat in her mouth.

Ruan Ruan blinked. “…You two are at that stage already?”

Tang Tianman backpedaled. “Huh? Oh! Haha, I was just talking nonsense, haha, ha, ha…”

She changed the subject. “What’s this?”

“Some books from your reading list that I read before. These are my notes.”

Tang Tianman really did start tearing up this time. She threw her arms around Ruan Ruan’s neck. “You’re the best.”

“Get off,” Ruan Ruan said. “Say that again once I get tough.”

It was a pleasant day.

Before heading to the library that evening, Tang Tianman made sure to spruce herself up. Even in sneakers and sweatpants, she aimed to be the most dazzling girl at N University.

A little past nine, Zheng Xiyu texted asking if she was coming.

Tang Tianman swiftly packed her books, locked her bag in the library’s temporary locker, and bounced out the door.

Zheng Xiyu was waiting in front of the library.

Tang Tianman had seen her countless times, but every meeting still drew a heartfelt sigh from deep within: She’s so tall.

So gorgeous.

With proportions like that, she’d look good even in a sack.

So envious.

She bounced right up to Zheng Xiyu and hopped a couple more times to peer at her face.

“Hm? Something wrong?” Zheng Xiyu crouched down to make it easier.

Saying there was nothing wrong felt too obvious, so Tang Tianman channeled her playful little tail-wagger side and lied, “Looks like something on your forehead.”

Zheng Xiyu simply squatted fully, one knee nearly touching the ground right there at the busy library entrance. She tilted her head up earnestly. “Help me wipe it off.”

Tang Tianman’s hands, already warm from the stuffy library, grew even hotter. Her fingertips brushed Zheng Xiyu’s forehead lightly. “There, all good.”

Then she turned and bolted.

Zheng Xiyu caught up with her long strides. “Why the rush?”

“You’re short on time,” Tang Tianman said, her mind full of excuses. “Still heading to the sports field?”

“Yeah, it’s nicer to run there.” Zheng Xiyu glanced around. “Might be a bit crowded, though.”

“No big deal. People aren’t wolves—what’s to fear from a crowd?” Tang Tianman declared, full of bravado.

But once they reached the sports field, her confidence wavered.

This wasn’t just a crowd problem—it was a crowd full of people not doing anything productive!

Along the track, barely anyone was actually running properly. Mostly couples strolling hand in hand, or tucked into dark corners making out.

In this freezing cold! Tang Tianman couldn’t fathom it. Didn’t these couples have anywhere else to go?

Is the sports field really a good spot for a date? Wouldn’t a milk tea shop be better? What about a barbecue stall? Aren’t the Home Inn and 7 Days Inn just two hundred meters away, all warm and brightly lit?

“Tch~” Tang Tianman rolled her eyes theatrically.

Zheng Xiyu stood right in front of her, leaning down with a smile. “What’s wrong?”

“There aren’t even a few people here running seriously!” Tang Tianman scolded. She swung her arms and legs, starting her warm-up stretches.

Zheng Xiyu just watched her and smiled.

Tang Tianman shot her a fierce look. “Why aren’t you warming up? You have to warm up before working out! Otherwise, you’ll pull a muscle!”

Zheng Xiyu extended one arm toward her. “I’m already nice and warm. Here, feel it if you don’t believe me.”

“Feel what!?” Tang Tianman smacked her arm. “We’re not like those people!”

“Okay, okay.” Zheng Xiyu pulled her arm back.

Once Tang Tianman had stretched out her legs and feet, she began jogging at an easy pace.

Zheng Xiyu didn’t even bother pretending. She just walked.

Tang Tianman glanced at her. “Were you training earlier? Or have you already run a few laps?”

“I was working out on the equipment,” Zheng Xiyu said.

“Where?” Tang Tianman sounded surprised.

“Right here.” Zheng Xiyu pointed off in a direction. “Under the sports field over there, there’s a whole row of equipment rooms.”

“Oh my god!” Tang Tianman’s surprise turned into outright shock. “You guys at the Sports Institute have perks this good? There’s even a dedicated gym???”

“Sort of,” Zheng Xiyu replied.

“I haven’t even heard about it!” Tang Tianman felt a twinge of unfairness. “If you hadn’t mentioned it today, I’d have graduated from N University without ever knowing it existed.”

Zheng Xiyu smiled at her. “Want to check it out?”

Tang Tianman was a curious soul, and she’d been waiting for exactly those words. Her head bobbed up and down faster than she could run. “Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!”

And just like that, the girl who hadn’t even completed half a lap veered off and followed Zheng Xiyu right out of the sports field.

The equipment room lights were all off. Zheng Xiyu pulled out a key and unlocked the door, revealing a whole new world to Tang Tianman.

The space was fairly large and the gear was comprehensive. The only downside was the faint musty smell.

Zheng Xiyu shut the door behind them and flipped on the ventilation. She jerked her chin toward the machines. “Want to give them a try?”

Tang Tianman stared at Zheng Xiyu in the empty room. She recalled the firm feel of that arm and swallowed hard.

Fine, she thought, still judging others when you’re hardly innocent yourself.

Look at her—the junior was dressed all modestly, but Tang Tianman’s mind was already wallowing in the gutter.