Chapter 4: Can You Help Warm My Hands?

Shen Jia Yan finally couldn’t hold back her curiosity and asked Wen Wan Ning seriously, “Classmate Wen Wan Ning, how come I’ve never seen you sleepy? What time do you go to bed at night?”

Wen Wan Ning couldn’t help but chuckle at that, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she replied, “I’m not telling you.”

After spending some time together, they had grown familiar with each other. After all, they spent more time with one another every day than with their own parents.

Shen Jia Yan curved her lips slightly, narrowing her eyes as she said, “You sure you won’t tell me?” As she spoke, she curled her finger and reached toward Wen Wan Ning.

The moment Shen Jia Yan’s hand touched Wen Wan Ning’s waist, Wen Wan Ning felt a jolt like an electric current and quickly gave in. “Stop, stop, fine, I’ll tell you.”

She hadn’t expected Wen Wan Ning to be so ticklish—it worked like a charm. Shen Jia Yan felt secretly delighted and made a mental note of this weakness.

Having succeeded, she tilted her head back, withdrew her hand, and said, “Alright, no more tickling. So, do you just go to sleep as soon as you get home?”

Wen Wan Ning toned down her smile. “Pretty much the same as everyone else—usually after 11 p.m.”

Shen Jia Yan looked shocked, her eyes widening. “And you’re really not sleepy at all? Not even a little?”

She could understand how most classmates managed to stay in control and rarely dozed off, but someone like Wen Wan Ning, who never nodded off even once? That was hard for her to fathom.

Wen Wan Ning said breezily, “Nope, not sleepy. I get plenty of sleep at night.”

Her adaptability and self-control left Shen Jia Yan thoroughly impressed. I really need to adjust myself and focus on listening in class, she thought.

As if reading her mind, Wen Wan Ning turned her head and asked gently, “Are you asking because you’re worried about dozing off in class yourself?”

Shen Jia Yan had assumed Wen Wan Ning was so focused on the lessons that she hadn’t noticed her own disheveled dozing moments. But hearing this question made her realize she probably didn’t have a great image in Wen Wan Ning’s eyes.

The more she thought about it, the more annoyed and embarrassed she felt. In an instant, a blush spread across her cheeks and up to her ears. She responded awkwardly, “Uh, yeah, a bit.”

Wen Wan Ning held back a laugh at the sight of Shen Jia Yan’s flushed face.

Then, in a soft voice, she said, “How about this? I’ll help you out. Next time you start dozing, I’ll give you a little scare to snap you awake so you can pay attention. Sound good?”

“Sure, I’m counting on you!” Shen Jia Yan placed her left palm over her right fist, like she was formally taking on a master.

Drowsiness struck without warning. After the class bell rang, Shen Jia Yan tried her best to stay alert, but without a nap during the break, the overwhelming sleepiness crashed over her anyway.

Her fluttering eyelids and head drooping and lifting repeatedly once again drew Wen Wan Ning’s gaze.

She still wanted to laugh.

But this time, she was going to help Shen Jia Yan wake up quickly and focus on class.

Just as Shen Jia Yan was about to close her eyes again, a sharp sting shot through her left arm. Instantly, she felt refreshed and alert.

She looked at Wen Wan Ning, who was holding a compass in her right hand and smiling toward the front of the classroom.

A compass, huh? It really works…

Shen Jia Yan leaned slightly toward Wen Wan Ning and whispered, “Thanks.”

The two exchanged smiles.

With Wen Wan Ning’s help, Shen Jia Yan gradually adjusted her biological clock. Aside from occasionally closing her eyes during breaks, she hardly dozed off in class anymore.

Shen Yan and Jiang Jing had applied for a dorm spot for Shen Jia Yan so she could rest properly at school during lunch. Of course, she could stay overnight too, but as a day student, she usually went home in the evenings.

The dorm was an upper bunk with a desk below, complete with a private bathroom, and four beds in total.

Not every student lived in the dorms, so some rooms weren’t full.

Shen Jia Yan’s Dormitory 406 had only three occupants. Two classmates had already moved in before her.

When Han Shuang saw Shen Jia Yan walk in, she hurried over in three quick steps, took the things from her hands, and flashed a light smile. “Jia Yan, you’re in our dorm? Awesome. I was worried we’d get someone hard to get along with.”

As she spoke, she set Shen Jia Yan’s things on the desk.

“Oh, right—our other roommate is Jiang Shuang. She’s in the bathroom.”

Shen Jia Yan was thrilled with her dorm setup and looked completely relaxed. “This is great. Sharing a dorm with you two—even if I’m just here for lunch naps—let me know if you need any help with anything.” She was always enthusiastic with people she knew.

They chatted idly for a bit, and Shen Jia Yan learned that Han Shuang and Wen Wan Ning had gone to the same middle school, though not the same class, so they knew each other.

Soon, it was time, and all three headed to their bunks for a nap.

The lunch break made a big difference for Shen Jia Yan. With that adjustment period, she could stay awake until the end of evening self-study.

After the last class of the afternoon, she planned to grab dinner with Tang Zhihan.

Lü Xin felt too lazy to move. Seeing Shen Jia Yan about to head out, she tugged at her clothes pleadingly with big eyes. “Jia Yan, could you and Wan Ning bring back some food for us? We’ll just stay here.”

Without hesitation, Shen Jia Yan said, “No problem. What do you want?”

Lü Xin lit up at her quick agreement and said in a half-spoiled tone, “Two hand-grabbed pancakes. Thanks, our best Yan Yan.”

Hearing that tone and nickname from Lü Xin gave Shen Jia Yan goosebumps. “Just call me by my full name. It’s no big deal. Wait for me.”

In the blink of an eye, Shen Jia Yan and Tang Zhihan returned with dinner. “We’re back. Here you go.” She handed the pancakes to Wen Wan Ning.

Wen Wan Ning took them and offered money to Shen Jia Yan.

Shen Jia Yan had no intention of taking it. Sitting at her desk and eating, she said, “What money? It didn’t cost much. Next time.”

Wen Wan Ning frowned, looking serious. “No way. One thing at a time. If you don’t take it, we won’t let you bring stuff next time.”

Shen Jia Yan grinned slyly. “Then next time, I’ll volunteer to bring it for you.”

Seeing it wouldn’t work with Shen Jia Yan, Wen Wan Ning turned to Tang Zhihan. “Zhihan, she won’t take it—you do.”

Tang Zhihan shook her head helplessly. “She paid for mine too. Just keep it for now. Next time.”

Wen Wan Ning and Shen Jia Yan went back and forth a few more rounds, but in the end, Shen Jia Yan still refused the money.

It wasn’t that she had money to burn. She just liked spending on people she cared about—friends she liked. It wasn’t about transactions; it was pure friendship. She cherished that clean, innocent bond between classmates and friends.

Wen Wan Ning found Shen Jia Yan enthusiastic, kind, and adorably silly. It wasn’t just because she was willing to spend on them; it was her sincerity toward friends that truly touched her.

She enjoyed being friends with her, but if Shen Jia Yan kept bringing things without accepting money, she wouldn’t let her do it anymore.

Wen Wan Ning reluctantly pocketed her money and pretended to be mad. “Shen Jia Yan, no more bringing stuff for us next time, hmph!”

“Hahaha.” Shen Jia Yan just laughed without replying.

Unbeknownst to them, summer had passed and autumn arrived. The campus plane trees began shedding leaves, rustling sounds occasionally drifting from the branches, while the chilly autumn breeze brought noticeable coolness.

That week, Shen Jia Yan and Wen Wan Ning were seated together again—a change Shen Jia Yan had been looking forward to since the previous week.

She didn’t know when it started, but she no longer minded splitting desks with Tang Zhihan like she had at the beginning of the semester. Now, she always hoped to sit with Wen Wan Ning.

It wasn’t that she liked Tang Zhihan any less as a friend. Through their daily interactions, she had simply grown to like this new friend, Wen Wan Ning, as well.

The twice-daily inter-class exercises were already the activity students least wanted to do, and with the sudden drop in temperature, no one wanted to go out even more. But they had no choice—except for the students on cleaning duty that day.

It was Shen Jia Yan’s group’s turn for duty, so she stayed behind in Classroom 302 during the exercise.

She felt lucky—the temperature was low that day, so staying inside to clean beat going out for exercises, even if just by a little.

After a quick cleanup, she sat at her desk waiting for everyone to return.

The cleaning time matched the exercise duration, so before she knew it, the students filed back in.

Everyone shivered as they entered, some rubbing their hands, others cupping their ears.

When Wen Wan Ning returned to her seat and saw how cozy Shen Jia Yan looked, she reached her hand toward her and said softly, “Can you help warm my hands?”

Shen Jia Yan froze for a moment, then snapped back. “Sure.”

She immediately placed both her hands over the back of Wen Wan Ning’s clasped ones.

Wen Wan Ning’s fingers were slender, her skin smooth and delicate. As Shen Jia Yan cupped them tightly, feeling the cool, silky touch, a faint blush crept onto her cheeks.

The class bell rang, and Wen Wan Ning withdrew her hands, a bright smile curving her lips. “Thanks. Your hands are so warm.”

Shen Jia Yan felt like she’d just been praised by the teacher—her heart bloomed with joy. Pretending to be calm, she whispered, “Next time your hands are cold, come find me.”

She figured it was no big deal. Girls holding hands to warm up was totally normal. She just didn’t know why it made her so happy when it was Wen Wan Ning.

After another inter-class exercise, back in the classroom, she was ready to warm Wen Wan Ning’s hands again. But after a while, Wen Wan Ning didn’t extend them.

Shen Jia Yan held back but finally couldn’t resist and asked softly, “Classmate, no hand-warming service needed today?”

Wen Wan Ning glanced at her and smiled faintly. “We both went out for exercises, so your hands probably aren’t warm either. Mine get cold easier than most people’s. I don’t want to make yours colder too.”

The answer surprised Shen Jia Yan. She hadn’t expected Wen Wan Ning to worry about chilling her hands. Her heart warmed, and she said, “No worries. I’m always warm—even in winter, my hands stay hot. I could use some cooling off, actually.”

With that, she took Wen Wan Ning’s hand into her own and warmed it for a bit.

The moment their hands touched, Wen Wan Ning did feel that Shen Jia Yan’s were warmer than hers—but not scorching like she claimed.

She knew Shen Jia Yan was probably just saying that because she didn’t want Wen Wan Ning to feel too cold or refuse her help.

Though Shen Jia Yan seemed carefree and playful usually, she could be surprisingly thoughtful. A wave of warmth filled Wen Wan Ning’s heart.

As the weather grew colder, Shen Jia Yan rarely stayed in the classroom anymore.

Before returning from each exercise, she rubbed her palms vigorously to heat them up quickly. This made Wen Wan Ning start believing her claim about being naturally warm.

The hand-warming service continued steadily through autumn and winter whenever Shen Jia Yan and Wen Wan Ning sat together…