Shen Jia Yan opened a piece of chocolate, broke it in two, popped one half into her own mouth, and offered the other to Xia Yuxin. “What situation? I’m just too popular, can’t help it.”
Xia Yuxin took the chocolate and placed it on the wrapper on the desk. “Shen Jia Yan, do you really think that?”
Shen Jia Yan chewed on her piece of chocolate and mumbled vaguely, “What else?”
Xia Yuxin straightened up, turned to face her, and analyzed seriously, “I remember Shao Han has given you things more than once. Sometimes when she buys pens, she’ll get two for you; sometimes when she buys snacks, she’ll bring some back for you; and during PE class, she’ll even bring you water…”
“Mm.” Shen Jia Yan swallowed her chocolate and said indifferently, “So what? Don’t I occasionally bring her stuff when I buy things too?”
“That’s different.”
“How is it different?”
Xia Yuxin frowned slightly. “Yours is just returning the favor—you’d feel bad taking things from her for free. Hers is different; she buys them for you on her own initiative.”
“So that’s why I say I’m popular.” Shen Jia Yan flipped open her book.
Xia Yuxin rolled her eyes at her helplessly. “I really don’t know if you’re pretending to be clueless or if you’re actually that dense.”
Shen Jia Yan spread her hands and looked at her in confusion.
Xia Yuxin shook her head. “Forget it, forget it. Class is about to start. I’ll give you a proper breakdown at lunch.”
As an observer, she could sense Shao Han’s special treatment toward Shen Jia Yan, much like how Shen Jia Yan treated Wen Wan Ning differently. Although Shao Han didn’t show it as fervently as Shen Jia Yan did, it was still distinct enough from how she treated other classmates.
She hadn’t paid much attention before when Shao Han showed concern for Shen Jia Yan. After all, as Shen Jia Yan herself said, she had strong personal charm, and it was normal for people to want to be friends with her. But lately, this concern had become more frequent, forcing her to consider other possibilities.
Shen Jia Yan was so smart, yet she hadn’t noticed a thing.
She was truly full-hearted and single-minded about her good deskmate.
At noon after class, Jiang Yufei and Chu Ye discussed going to a new rice noodle shop off-campus for a taste, then browsing the nearby gift shop afterward. They asked if Shen Jia Yan and Xia Yuxin wanted to join.
Xia Yuxin refused, using the excuse that she was too sleepy and needed to nap back at the dorm.
She and Shen Jia Yan grabbed a simple lunch at the cafeteria and headed back.
Their group of four got along well, and Shen Jia Yan didn’t want to hide anything from Jiang Yufei and Chu Ye. But given the current awkward situation, it didn’t feel like the right time—not to mention the college entrance exams were approaching, and everyone was focused on studying. She didn’t want to distract them with her issues.
Back in the dorm, they tidied up briefly.
Xia Yuxin turned her chair to face Shen Jia Yan and sat down.
“Spill it. What happened between you two that’s got you so distracted and listless lately?”
“Sigh…” Shen Jia Yan let out a soft sigh. “I feel like she’s been deliberately distancing herself from me lately.”
“Distancing?” Xia Yuxin teased. “You’re already pretty distant. If you hadn’t engineered those ‘chance encounters’ day after day, you two probably wouldn’t see each other more than a few times a week.”
“Hiss—” Shen Jia Yan shot her a glare. “I’m done talking.”
“Hey, hey, don’t—I’ll get serious.” Xia Yuxin toned down her expression. “Go on.”
Shen Jia Yan gave a general rundown of Wen Wan Ning’s recent odd behavior.
Xia Yuxin crossed her arms over her chest and frowned slightly. “So why did she suddenly start acting like this? Was there any turning point?”
Shen Jia Yan paused, then continued, “On Christmas, when I went to give her chocolates, Lü Yue casually said, ‘If we weren’t all girls, I’d suspect something was going on between you two.'”
“I think things changed after that.”
“I see,” Xia Yuxin narrowed her eyes and nodded slightly. “If that’s really what set it off, then it might not be good.”
Shen Jia Yan’s heart sank at her words.
She lowered her head and muttered softly, “Really?”
Seeing how dejected she looked, Xia Yuxin felt a pang of sympathy and comforted her, “Don’t take it too hard. Her reaction is understandable, actually.”
“After all, realizing someone you’re fond of is the same gender—most people need time to process that. But,” she suddenly thought of something, “I don’t think her feelings for you are purely platonic.”
The corners of Shen Jia Yan’s mouth twitched upward suddenly, then she quickly pressed them flat. “How do you figure?”
“Ever since I learned about her, the connection between you two has never been one-sided.” Xia Yuxin leaned back in her chair.
“Do you remember when I asked if you liked someone, and I guessed Wen Wan Ning right away the first time?”
“Yes.” Shen Jia Yan nodded.
“I nailed it not just because of how special you are to her, but because of her responses to you and the things she’s done for you on her own.”
“For her to do all that, her feelings for you go beyond just classmates or deskmates.”
Hearing this analysis, light returned to Shen Jia Yan’s eyes.
But in an instant, it dimmed again.
Regardless of whether Xia Yuxin’s analysis was right or wrong, Wen Wan Ning’s current distance was real, and the lack of reply to the letter she’d sent was also real.
Even if Xia Yuxin was spot on and Wen Wan Ning did harbor feelings beyond friendship, she might not realize it herself—or even if she did, she might not accept it and choose to avoid and distance herself instead.
Xia Yuxin thought for a moment and came up with an idea. “If you don’t want to confess your feelings yet and don’t want to lose even your friendship with her, how about misleading her first? Tell her you have no other intentions—that it’s just the fondness between good friends.”
“Actually…” Shen Jia Yan pursed her lips. “I’ve already written her a letter explaining things, but she hasn’t replied yet.”
She had never planned to confess her feelings to Wen Wan Ning before graduation.
She knew that for Wen Wan Ning, the only important thing in these three high school years was the looming college entrance exams. She didn’t want to, and couldn’t, disturb her.
She only hoped to quietly stay by her side and accompany her—that was all.
But now, was even that opportunity slipping away…?
At a loss for what to say about the situation, Xia Yuxin changed the subject. “Mm, just wait a bit more. Let’s talk about something else.”
“By the way, you really don’t think Shao Han treats you differently?”
“Hm?” Shen Jia Yan turned to look at her. The topic switch was abrupt. “I don’t feel anything different.”
“Hiss—” Xia Yuxin furrowed her brows and leaned forward slightly. “Can you let your one-and-only Wen Wan Ning take a tiny break from your eyes and actually pay attention to the people around you?”
A blush crept over Shen Jia Yan’s fair cheeks, and she coughed lightly a few times. “So, what makes it different?”
Xia Yuxin sighed helplessly. “Do you randomly buy things for classmates all the time for no reason? Do you constantly observe their moods, noticing when they’re happy or down?”
“I—”
Before Shen Jia Yan could finish, Xia Yuxin smacked her forehead. “I forgot—you do.” For Wen Wan Ning, she went above and beyond.
“Besides Wen Wan Ning, do you do that for other classmates?”
Shen Jia Yan came to a sudden realization and frowned. “You mean Shao Han… has a bit of other feelings for me?”
She put it mildly.
Xia Yuxin crossed her legs and leaned back. “You finally get it. And it’s probably more than a bit.”
Shen Jia Yan looked troubled. “No, that won’t do. My heart’s too small—it can only hold one person.”
“Where do you get all these cheesy lines?” Xia Yuxin rolled her eyes at her.
“Should I clear things up with her then, so she doesn’t waste her efforts on me?”
Though Shen Jia Yan had no shortage of admirers, and some had boldly confessed to her, she’d turned them all down without exception. So she had plenty of experience in setting boundaries and quashing false hopes.
But the previous confessors had all been boys. This was her first time with a girl—and one she’d always seen as a good friend, no less.
Girls were more perceptive and sensitive than boys. She worried she might handle it poorly.
“I think,” Xia Yuxin pondered, “Shao Han hasn’t confessed yet, so you don’t need to rush into declaring your stance. But you can’t keep accepting her gifts—that sends the wrong signal.”
“Once you start turning down her things, she’ll gradually get the hint.”
Shen Jia Yan nodded in agreement. “You’re right. I wasn’t paying attention before, but now that I know how she feels, I definitely can’t continue.”
With that, she gave Xia Yuxin a meaningful look and said slyly, “How does a single person like you know so much about this stuff?”
“I’ve never eaten pork, but I’ve seen pigs run. Read enough novels, watch enough movies and dramas—you pick up everything.”
An entire afternoon passed, and Shen Jia Yan still hadn’t received a reply from Wen Wan Ning.
Four more classes dragged on in a daze.
Seeing her like this, Xia Yuxin comforted her, “You’ve done all you can. Give her some time. The monthly exams are coming up—focus on reviewing hard. Who knows, maybe you’ll end up at the same university, and then you’ll have your chance.”
“Mm.”
Before evening self-study began.
“Jia Yan, someone’s looking for you.” A girl near the back door of the classroom called out to Shen Jia Yan.
“Okay.” Shen Jia Yan stood and headed out.
She reached the doorway and looked left and right.
“Over here, Jia Yan.”
Shen Jia Yan followed the voice—it was Lü Yue.
Her eyes immediately locked onto the letter paper in Lü Yue’s hand.
Her steps halted abruptly.
Was it a reply? The realization made her breathing quicken, blood rushing in her ears.
Lü Yue called out again when she didn’t react.
Shen Jia Yan snapped back and walked mechanically toward her, stopping in front of Lü Yue.
Lü Yue curved her lips into a smile. “What’re you thinking about so intently?”
Shen Jia Yan forced a smile. “N-nothing.”
“Here.” Lü Yue handed her the letter. “Wan Ning had some unfinished problems and couldn’t come, so she asked me to give this to you.”
“Oh, okay, thanks.” Shen Jia Yan took the letter expressionlessly.
