Shen Jia Yan’s mind was full of the fact that Wen Wan Ning’s team-building trip would last two days and one night. She didn’t notice the conversation between her and Su Yang.
According to the doctor’s instructions, Wen Wan Ning still needed to drink the herbal medicine for three days. Today was Friday, which meant she had to take it on time during those two days of the trip.
But the team-building event was away from campus—who knew if there would be convenient hot water to brew the medicine, or if she could drink it at the agreed times?
And… spending the night outside, with both boys and girls—Shen Jia Yan felt a bit worried.
Wen Wan Ning noticed her dazed gaze and called out to her. “Jia Yan, Jia Yan.”
“Ah? Oh.” Shen Jia Yan snapped back to reality.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing, nothing.” She looked up at Wen Wan Ning, her fingers unconsciously gripping the strap of her backpack tightly, knuckles turning slightly white. After a moment’s hesitation, she still asked, “Where is the team-building?”
She tried to make her voice sound natural, but she couldn’t control the quickening pace.
Wen Wan Ning brushed the stray hairs from her forehead. “At the Hot Spring Villa in the suburbs.” She paused, as if seeing through Shen Jia Yan’s worry. “Don’t worry—the president specially arranged for the girls to be in one compartment, and I’ll take my medicine on time.”
Hot springs, overnight…
Shen Jia Yan pressed her tongue against the roof of her mouth, forcing the words on the tip of her tongue back down.
“Jia Yan.” Wen Wan Ning suddenly stepped closer. The faint lavender scent hit her face. She reached out to straighten Shen Jia Yan’s slightly messy collar, her fingertips accidentally brushing against the other’s chin before quickly withdrawing.
“I’ll message you.” Her soft, clear voice brushed past Shen Jia Yan’s ear.
Shen Jia Yan looked up abruptly, meeting Wen Wan Ning’s smiling eyes. In those amber pools, she saw her own stunned expression reflected back.
“Okay.” She finally smiled.
She unzipped her backpack and took out a small box of lollipops, handing it to Wen Wan Ning. “Here—the medicine is bitter. Eat one after you drink it.”
Wen Wan Ning was always touched by her thoughtfulness. She took the candy, her lips curving into a gentle smile. “Thank you, Jia Yan.”
Shen Jia Yan returned to school in satisfaction.
Xu Jingyao, who was chasing a drama on her bed, saw her come back and paused it. “You look like you’re in a good mood—any progress?”
Shen Jia Yan set down her backpack. “What progress? She was sick, so I took her to the hospital. Why is your mind always on whether we’re together or not?”
“Yeah, Jingyao. She was sick—Jia Yan was obviously worried about her health. How could she think about anything else?” Fu Jinxi patted the lotion she’d just applied to her face.
Zhang Min pressed, “Is she better, Jia Yan?”
Shen Jia Yan sat down on a chair. “Yeah, much better. Nothing serious.”
“That’s good.”
Xu Jingyao sat up halfway, leaning against the headboard. “It’s the weekend tomorrow. Aren’t you going to keep her company?”
At that, Shen Jia Yan’s slightly improved mood sank again. “Her department is going on the team-building trip tomorrow—two days and one night.”
“One night? They have to stay overnight?” Xu Jingyao asked, puzzled.
“Yeah.”
“With guys and girls mixed together, and Wan Ning is so pretty…”
They had all seen Wen Wan Ning’s photos on Shen Jia Yan’s phone and agreed she was beautiful.
Fu Jinxi glared at Xu Jingyao. “Jia Yan, don’t listen to Jingyao. With so many people in the department, nothing will happen. And from what you’ve described about Wan Ning, she’s someone with boundaries. No need to worry.”
She was right—Wan Ning always had a sense of proportion in everything she did. She shouldn’t overthink it.
“Yeah.”
Shen Jia Yan steadied her mood and went to take a shower with her phone.
On WeChat, she chatted with Wen Wan Ning a bit more. Finally, after making sure she took her medicine on time, she went to sleep peacefully.
On Saturday evening, as dusk fell, Shen Jia Yan received a call from Wen Wan Ning.
Her voice on the other end was light and cheerful, with noisy background sounds—clearly at the team-building event.
“Having fun?” Shen Jia Yan asked calmly.
“Yeah, just finished soaking in the hot springs. It feels great.”
Shen Jia Yan pursed her lips and finally asked, “Did you take your medicine?”
There was a sudden second of silence on the other end. “Yeah, I did.” Wen Wan Ning’s voice hesitated noticeably.
Shen Jia Yan’s heart sank sharply.
She knew Wen Wan Ning too well. When she lied, her voice would waver unconsciously, the end of her sentence rising slightly, as if covering up her guilt.
She hadn’t taken the medicine.
Shen Jia Yan took a deep breath, suppressing her emotions. “You really took it?”
“Yeah…” Wen Wan Ning’s voice grew even softer.
Shen Jia Yan didn’t press further, just gave a low “mm.” She said a couple more casual things and hung up.
She stood in place, her chest feeling blocked by something, aching dully.
She had lied to her.
She had clearly promised to take it on time.
Shen Jia Yan gripped her phone tightly, countless thoughts flashing through her mind. She was angry that Wen Wan Ning didn’t take her own health seriously, angry that she forgot something she’d promised, and even more angry at herself—for not having a legitimate identity to supervise her openly.
If she were her girlfriend…
The thought rushed into her mind, making Shen Jia Yan’s breath hitch.
Then she could demand she take her medicine on time without hesitation, be openly angry, and—and take care of her rightfully.
But the next second, reason yanked her back harshly.
What if the confession failed? What if they couldn’t even be friends anymore?
Shen Jia Yan closed her eyes, her chest aching with sourness.
She didn’t dare to gamble.
In the end, she took a deep breath, picked up her phone, and messaged Su Yang: [Did Wan Ning forget her medicine?]
The reply came quickly: [Oh yeah. She left in such a rush this morning that the medicine was left on the dorm desk.]
Shen Jia Yan stared at the message, her fingertips trembling slightly.
As expected.
She gritted her teeth and turned back into the dorm.
Xu Jingyao saw her packing her backpack with a serious expression and asked softly, “What’s wrong? Heading out so late?”
Shen Jia Yan said coldly, “Going to deliver medicine to Wan Ning. I won’t be back tonight.”
She was afraid that if she went and came back, she’d miss curfew, so she decided not to return.
With that, she shouldered her backpack and left.
She was going to get the medicine and deliver it to her.
Even if she was angry, even if she felt wronged, she couldn’t bear for her to suffer.
Two hours later, at the Hot Spring Villa in the suburbs.
Wen Wan Ning was chatting with her classmates when someone suddenly called her name. “Wan Ning, someone is looking for you!”
She turned back in confusion, and the next second, she froze in place. Shen Jia Yan stood not far away, holding her packet of herbal medicine and a portable heating cup, her face as cold as ice.
Wen Wan Ning’s heart skipped a beat. She stood up instinctively and trotted over. “Jia Yan? Why—why are you here?”
Shen Jia Yan didn’t speak. She walked straight up to her, shoved the medicine and heating cup into her hands, and said in a low, heavy voice, “Drink it. Now.”
Wen Wan Ning opened her mouth. “Sorry, I…”
Shen Jia Yan turned her face away, her voice a bit hoarse. “No need to apologize. It’s your body.”
Wen Wan Ning lowered her head, gripping the medicine packet tightly. “Okay.”
Shen Jia Yan watched her obediently go fetch hot water, her chest swelling with soreness.
In the end, she still didn’t have the courage to say those words.
“I like you, so let me take care of you, okay?”
But she had still come.
Because even without that status, she couldn’t bear for her to suffer even a little.
Wen Wan Ning swallowed the last mouthful of bitter medicine, pressing her tongue against the roof of her mouth, tasting a lingering bitterness. She looked up at Shen Jia Yan, who was lowering her head to pack away the heating cup, her eyelashes casting shadows under the light, hiding all her emotions.
“Jia Yan,” she called softly. “Curfew at school has passed, right?”
Shen Jia Yan’s hands paused, but she didn’t look up. “Yeah, I’ll find a hotel nearby.”
The night wind blew through the villa’s corridors, scattering the stray hairs on Wen Wan Ning’s forehead. She stared at Shen Jia Yan’s tense profile and suddenly reached out to tug at her clothes. “Stay with me,” Wen Wan Ning’s voice was soft but clear as it reached Shen Jia Yan’s ears. “I’ll tell the president. There’s a homestay nearby—we can stay there.”
Shen Jia Yan looked up abruptly, meeting a pair of eyes brimming with starlight. She opened her mouth to refuse, but heard herself say, “Okay.”
At the homestay front desk, the clerk yawned as he handed over the room key. In the narrow elevator, Wen Wan Ning pressed herself against the wall as if trying to merge into it. Shen Jia Yan stared at the rising floor numbers and suddenly spoke. “Why didn’t you bring the medicine?”
Wen Wan Ning’s eyelashes trembled. “This morning, I got up late and rushed out.”
Shen Jia Yan stared at the jumping numbers. “Why didn’t you tell me the truth?”
Wen Wan Ning’s fingertips curled slightly, her nails nearly digging into her palm.
She knew Shen Jia Yan wasn’t just asking about the medicine—it was about her health, her attitude.
“I…” She opened her mouth, but the words stuck in her throat, unable to form complete syllables.
Shen Jia Yan finally turned to look at her, her gaze soft yet insistent. “You always do this—think that if you don’t say it, I won’t know.”
The elevator dinged to a stop, the doors sliding open slowly. Night wind blew in from the end of the corridor, carrying the unique chill of the mountains.
They entered the room one after the other. Wen Wan Ning took off her jacket and hung it casually over the chairback but didn’t sit. She walked to the window, gazing at the dark mountain shadows in the distance, as if trying to bury her emotions there too. “I didn’t want to worry you,” she said softly.
Shen Jia Yan stood at the door, looking at her back, her heart aching. “But I’m already worried.”
Wen Wan Ning’s shoulders trembled slightly.
“I know you might think I’m meddling too much, interfering too much in your life, maybe even feel like… I’m affecting you,” Shen Jia Yan’s voice was light, tinged with a sob. “But I’m just worried about your health, worried that you don’t care about your own body.”
Wen Wan Ning turned back abruptly, meeting Shen Jia Yan’s gaze.
In that instant, she saw the pain, grievance, and bottomless care in her eyes.
Suddenly, she was speechless.
She had always thought it wasn’t a big deal, that not saying anything was just to avoid worrying Shen Jia Yan. But it turned out that even well-intentioned lies could hurt the person who truly cared.
She bit her lip and said softly, “Sorry for worrying you. But I’ve never felt like you’re interfering. You’ve always been my best friend.”
