Chapter 49: She Was Willing to Wait

Wen Wan Ning’s fingertip hovered above the figurine, as if suddenly pressed on pause.

“Friends… they do this too, right?” Her voice was soft, as if persuading Yu Xiaohuan or perhaps herself.

Yu Xiaohuan sighed, her finger lightly tapping the Hidden Edition Figurine. “When my brother was chasing his girlfriend, he ran all over the city just to buy limited-edition sneakers.”

“The way she looks at you,” Yu Xiaohuan continued, “is exactly like the way my brother looks at his wife.”

Wen Wan Ning abruptly snapped the gift box shut, the plastic packaging emitting a crisp sound. The action was so sudden that even she herself was stunned.

“I…” Her voice caught in her throat.

“Wan Ning?” Yu Xiaohuan waved her hand in front of the dazed girl. “Your face is so red.”

Wen Wan Ning stood up in a panic, the gift box nearly sliding off her lap.

She wasn’t without suspicions about Shen Jia Yan’s kindness toward her, but Shen Jia Yan had always explained it as them being good friends, so she deliberately suppressed those seeds of doubt time and again.

The word “friends” was like a gentle barrier, shielding Shen Jia Yan’s hidden emotions completely. Wen Wan Ning had once believed it was true, so she stayed comfortably in this relationship, avoiding deep scrutiny of those moments that made her heart race, ignoring the affection that nearly overflowed from her gaze.

Now, with the issue laid bare before her, she had no choice but to confront it.

Too many scenes flashed through her mind, too vivid and clear.

Shen Jia Yan quietly tilting the umbrella toward her in the rain, half her own shoulder soaked yet smiling as she said “it’s fine”;

Rushing to her aid first whenever trouble arose, becoming resolute and bold for her sake despite not being the assertive type; always remembering her tastes and preferences, even spending so much money and pulling so many strings for a casual Moments post…

And those countless inadvertent gazes, which clearly weren’t the look friends should share.

They held cautious anticipation, restrained deep affection, and a gentleness that refused to disturb.

Wen Wan Ning realized that Shen Jia Yan liked her.

Not the care between friends, not the tacit understanding between classmates, but a deeper, softer, more complex emotion.

She stared at the gift box, a mix of unclear emotions surging in her heart.

Was it surprise? Touch? Or… a hint of panic?

Shen Jia Yan’s feelings for her had never been just simple friendship.

But precisely because she realized this, she became even more afraid.

She could feel that she liked Shen Jia Yan too.

She liked her gentleness, her firmness, how she was always there when needed, how she loved her so much yet never pressured or demanded, content to wait silently.

But precisely because of that liking, she dared not draw closer easily.

Because it meant facing whether she could truly accept a same-sex relationship.

She had once thought “friends” explained everything, but now, seeing through the gaze Shen Jia Yan hid behind “friends” and recognizing her own buried emotions, she realized they had long crossed the boundary of friendship.

Yet she hadn’t thought about this issue yet.

She didn’t know how to define this feeling or how to respond to such fervent yet restrained affection.

She feared she would back away, hurt Shen Jia Yan, or that once she took this step, there would be no turning back.

Wen Wan Ning gently closed the gift box, her fingertip lingering on the lid for a moment. Wind blew in from the half-open window, carrying the chill of early autumn, yet it couldn’t dispel the heat on her cheeks.

Her phone screen lit up with a message from Shen Jia Yan: [It’ll cool down tomorrow. Remember to add an outer layer.]

Such a simple sentence made Wen Wan Ning’s fingertip hover over the screen, unable to reply for a long time. In the past, she would have sent a cute emoji without hesitation, even teasing that the other acted like her “mom” worrying about her warmth. But now, every word felt as heavy as a thousand catties.

In the end, she only replied with a single “Mm,” deleting the habitual heart emoji that followed.

“Keep your distance…” she told herself inwardly, though the decision brought a dull ache to her chest.

She put away the gift box, then picked up her phone, opened the banking app holding her little savings.

After checking the balance, she opened Alipay, found Shen Jia Yan’s account, and transferred what she estimated was the cost of the figurine set.

Afraid Shen Jia Yan wouldn’t accept, she chose the unrefusable Alipay transfer.

After the transfer succeeded, she sent her a WeChat message: [Jia Yan, I’ve transferred the money for the figurines to your Alipay. If it’s not enough, let me know. Thanks for working so hard to collect them for me.]

Shen Jia Yan had returned to school in high spirits, but after receiving Wen Wan Ning’s WeChat reply of just a “Mm,” her mood sank unconsciously.

She figured Wen Wan Ning was busy and hadn’t replied much, so she didn’t dwell on it.

Before she could think further, her phone rang again.

Seeing Wen Wan Ning’s message, Shen Jia Yan’s smile gradually faded from her face.

She had still been immersed in the gentle, cherishing smile Wen Wan Ning had when holding the gift box, thinking it signaled some subtle closeness between them. But now, this WeChat message was like a basin of cold water, extinguishing the spark of hope that had just ignited in her heart.

“I’ve transferred the money for the figurines to your Alipay,” “Thanks for working so hard to collect them for me.”

Two sentences, calm, restrained, distant, as if ending an improper closeness.

Shen Jia Yan sat on the chair in the dormitory, her finger pausing on the phone screen, not opening Alipay for a long time.

She knew Wen Wan Ning hated owing anyone anything, be it favors or money. But this time, it wasn’t about giving a product; it was a token of her heart.

She wasn’t selling her a set of figurines; she was telling her she was willing to do anything for her.

Yet now, Wen Wan Ning had turned this affection into a transaction in the most decent, polite way.

Shen Jia Yan glanced down at the Alipay notification; the transfer had arrived.

She didn’t tap it open but picked up her phone and replied to Wen Wan Ning: [No need for the money.]

Five short words, tone calm, yet hiding a trace of disappointment she herself hadn’t noticed.

She wanted to say more but feared seeming too attached, so she only added: [I just wanted to make you happy.]

After sending, she stared at the screen, her heartbeat unconsciously quickening.

Five minutes later, Wen Wan Ning replied: [I know your intentions, Jia Yan, but as good friends, you’ve done more than enough for me. I can’t keep letting you give without return, just like with Lü Xin and Lü Yue—they’re childhood friends like you, and I wouldn’t let them spend so much on my hobbies either.]

She was deliberately emphasizing their “good friends” relationship.

Shen Jia Yan stared at the three words “good friends” on the screen, her fingertips tightening unconsciously. The phone’s edge dug into her palm, but it paled compared to the dull ache in her chest.

The sky outside had fully darkened, streetlights under the dormitory building flickering on one by one, casting slender shadows on the ground. She recalled Wen Wan Ning’s slightly red ear tips when holding the gift box, the gentle way her fingertips caressed it.

In those moments, she had clearly seen the same heartbeat in her that she felt.

Yet now, Wen Wan Ning was gently pushing them back to the safe line.

She typed slowly: [Okay.]

She stared at that simple word for a long time until the screen auto-dimmed.

She believed Wen Wan Ning could sense her feelings, it was just…

She might fear the weight of those feelings was too much to respond to, and that continuing this way would make their relationship harder and harder to define.

Shen Jia Yan sighed softly. She could actually understand Wen Wan Ning’s choice.

After all, liking someone—especially not the straightforward kind, but one requiring breaking norms, facing oneself, even enduring external scrutiny—took time for many people.

She didn’t want to pressure Wen Wan Ning or force any decisions.

So, once again, she chose compromise and waiting.

Because it was Wen Wan Ning, she was willing to keep waiting.

She could continue being that “good friend,” tilting the umbrella in the rain, remembering her preferences, collecting every little detail about her.

True liking was never about possession but giving the other the right to choose.

She was willing to wait.

Wait until Wen Wan Ning no longer feared the weight of those feelings, until they could both face their emotions openly.

Wait until she no longer feared gender, labels, societal expectations.

Wait until she was finally willing to take her hand and step into each other’s hearts.

The night was gentle, starlight dotting the window outside.

Shen Jia Yan picked up the voice recorder pen she’d bought long ago and recorded what she wanted to say to Wen Wan Ning at this moment:

It’s okay, Wan Ning.

Take your time.

I’ll be here waiting for you, always.

When you’ve figured it out and want to come closer, I’ll be right there when you turn around.

※

Ever since that figurine series was given away, the connection between them loosened like a thin thread, silently unraveling.

Their former nightly calls were an unspoken ritual. Shen Jia Yan called on time, chatting about the day’s little things, while Wen Wan Ning tidied up and listened to those trivial yet warm daily stories.

But now, their call times gradually shortened—to half an hour, ten minutes, five, then to every other day, and later, just once every few days.

Wen Wan Ning would always explain gently, “The class has been a bit busy lately,” “Student council added a sudden task,” “I’ve been prepping for a competition these days”…

Her tone sincere and restrained, as if afraid Shen Jia Yan would misunderstand, or that saying too much would reveal something.

Shen Jia Yan just smiled and agreed, “Mm, rest well,” “Tell me if you need help,” “We’ll chat after you’re done”…

She didn’t call it out or press, acting as if it was truly just “too busy.”

But deep down, she knew better than anyone: it wasn’t that Wen Wan Ning was too busy; she was pulling away.

She hadn’t done anything wrong or said anything wrong; she was still as gentle, considerate, and caring as before.

Just that her gentleness now carried a hint of distance, a cautious restraint.

Shen Jia Yan could feel it—that if-near-if-far distance, like an invisible wall separating her from Wen Wan Ning.

She didn’t want to disturb her or make her feel pressured.

So she cooperated too, making every contact light and casual, as if everything between them remained calmly normal.

Only occasionally, in the dead of night, would she scroll through their chat history, page by page.

Looking at those once warm words, the emojis, voice messages, and “good night” from Wen Wan Ning.

She was willing to give her time.

Even if these silent days hurt more than any confession.

She just hoped her “cooperation” and waiting could bring Wen Wan Ning turning back, rather than drifting further apart…