Chapter 53: Because I’m Going Home With You

Shen Jia Yan still hadn’t found her phone in the end. Jiang Jing bought her a new one, but her mood seemed much better than before she lost it.

Xu Jingyao teased her. “The club and student council aren’t busy lately? We can see Your Ladyship in the dorm almost every night now. Unlike before, when we had to make an appointment just to talk to you about something.”

For a while, Shen Jia Yan had scheduled her time packed full. After class, she was either at the club or the student council, and she usually didn’t return to the dorm until just before lights out.

But lately…

Xu Jingyao noticed that she spent most of her time returning to the dorm with them, and then she would go out at her “fixed time” to make a phone call.

Shen Jia Yan rolled her eyes at her. You know full well.

Ever since the day she lost her phone, after their brief chat with Wen Wan Ning, the distance between them seemed to be slowly closing again, and the frequency of their contact was gradually increasing.

Xu Jingyao sat on a chair, crossing her legs, and analyzed with mock seriousness, “I have a feeling about you two. There’s something there. You’ll make it.”

Fu Jinxi, who was packing her bag with her head down, couldn’t help but burst out laughing at those words. “What kind of feeling? Just because they’re talking more now?”

Xu Jingyao rolled her eyes, though the corners of her mouth couldn’t hide her upward curve. “You don’t get it. This is called ‘rekindling the spark.'”

She turned to Shen Jia Yan, her eyes carrying a hint of “I get you.” “Am I right, Jiayan?”

Shen Jia Yan felt a bit embarrassed at being seen through, a faint blush rising on her face.

She lowered her head, coughed lightly, and pretended to be calm. “No such thing. I just finished all the busy stuff from before.”

“Right.” Xu Jingyao drew out the word. “So you don’t need to use meetings and rehearsals to avoid anymore?”

Shen Jia Yan froze, understanding her meaning.

Yeah, she didn’t need to avoid anymore.

Before, she always filled her schedule to the brim just so she wouldn’t have idle time, wouldn’t overthink, and especially wouldn’t accidentally disturb Wen Wan Ning.

She was afraid Wen Wan Ning was too busy, afraid she’d get annoyed, afraid she’d feel pressured.

But now…

Their contact had slowly resumed. Though still cautious, it carried a warmth they hadn’t felt in a long time.

Shen Jia Yan smiled softly, her gaze gentle. “Maybe.”

She neither denied it nor tried to hide it.

She didn’t know what this shift in her relationship with Wen Wan Ning meant, or what Wen Wan Ning was thinking. She only knew that she could be by her side again, caring for her like before, and that made her happy.

※

It was the end of the month again. As usual, Shen Jia Yan went home during the last week of every month, and so did Wen Wan Ning.

Lately, because the high-speed rail from North City to Star City was under maintenance, if they wanted to go home this weekend, they’d have to take the direct long-distance bus.

On Thursday evening, during their phone call.

Shen Jia Yan hesitated for a long time before finally asking, “Wan Ning, are you going home this weekend?”

Wen Wan Ning didn’t think much of it and responded directly, “Yeah.”

Shen Jia Yan continued, “Is someone picking you up at home?”

Wen Wan Ning climbed onto her bed and plugged in her earphones. “No, driving back and forth is too tiring. I don’t want to bother them. I can go back on my own.”

Hearing this, Shen Jia Yan’s lips curved up slightly. “So how are you getting back?”

“Um, still taking the high-speed rail.” Wen Wan Ning pulled down her bed curtain.

“The high-speed rail’s suspended this week for maintenance. Didn’t you know?”

“Ah?” Wen Wan Ning sat up straight instantly. “When did that happen? I really didn’t know.”

“Um—” Shen Jia Yan looked out the window and thought for a moment. “Probably starting from this week. Might last two weeks.”

“Oh.” Wen Wan Ning frowned, muttering to herself, “Then maybe I won’t go home this week? But there’s something at home…”

Shen Jia Yan heard her and suggested, “I’m going home this week too. How about…” She gripped her phone tighter. “You come back with me on the bus?”

She had once suggested going home together to Wen Wan Ning, but it had always been refused. This time, she wanted to try again, even if she might be rejected.

The brief silence on the other end of the line felt like an eternity. Shen Jia Yan held her breath unconsciously.

Just as she was about to give up on the idea, a soft “Okay” came from the other side.

She froze, her heart suddenly racing, as if struck by something soft in the chest. “You said okay?” She couldn’t help but confirm, her voice laced with incredulous joy.

Wen Wan Ning chuckled lightly on the phone, her tone gentle. “Yeah, I said okay.”

Shen Jia Yan’s lips curved up uncontrollably, like emotions long suppressed had finally found release.

“I’ll book the tickets then. Just come find me at the station when it’s time.” Her tone was lighter than usual.

“Okay.” Wen Wan Ning was infected by the happiness spilling from her voice.

After hanging up, Shen Jia Yan gazed out the window, clutching her phone. Something warm and soft swelled quietly in her heart.

They were going home together.

Not a chance encounter on the same bus, not a coincidental meeting, but her proposal made on her own initiative that Wen Wan Ning willingly accepted.

It was a small step closer, yet it carried so many emotions she dared not express easily.

Wen Wan Ning also lay awake for a long time after hanging up.

She stared at the ceiling, Wen Jia Yan’s voice echoing in her mind—gentle, restrained, yet tinged with cautious anticipation.

She suddenly realized that the distance between them wasn’t as far as she’d imagined. Before, she had always deliberately kept it that way.

But now, she was finally willing to take a small step closer.

The night breeze blew gently, rustling the leaves outside the window.

Shen Jia Yan slept soundly, filled with anticipation for tomorrow.

On Friday afternoon, she had only one class. As soon as the bell rang, she was the first to pack her bag and leave the classroom.

Sunlight streamed through the glass windows onto the corridor. She trotted back to the dorm in the light and shadow, grabbed her backpack.

Xu Jingyao leaned against her bed, watching her nimbly search for her ID. She couldn’t help laughing. “Whoa, rushing off to a love rendezvous?”

Shen Jia Yan’s face reddened, but she snapped back stubbornly, “You talk too much.”

She finished packing, slung on her bag, and waved to them. “I’m heading out. The bus won’t wait.”

Fu Jinxi shook her head with a smile. “This girl’s finally come alive.”

Zhang Min nodded in agreement. “Yeah, before, she seemed so calm and rational with all that nonstop work. But now…”

Shen Jia Yan arrived at the bus station, picked up the tickets, snapped a photo of them, and sent it to Wen Wan Ning.

Wen Wan Ning replied quickly: [You’re there? Thanks for the hard work. I’m almost there too. (Happy kitten.jpg)]

Shen Jia Yan looked at the message, her lips curving up. She pocketed her phone, looked up at the bustling station hall, her heart beating a bit faster.

She knew that in just a moment, she’d see her. It had been so long.

Soon, a new message from Wen Wan Ning popped up: [I’m at the station entrance. Where are you?]

Shen Jia Yan paused, then hurried toward the exit, typing as she walked: [Just picked up the tickets. In the waiting area. You’re here already?]

She quickened her pace, nervous yet brimming with irrepressible excitement.

From afar, she spotted Wen Wan Ning standing to one side of the station entrance.

She wore a colorful knit cardigan over a white T-shirt, a light blue baseball cap, light blue jeans, and white sneakers. Her long hair under the hat swayed gently in the wind, making her look fresh and captivating.

Shen Jia Yan’s steps halted for a moment, her gaze fixed on her, like a beam of light piercing the crowd to illuminate her heart.

She took a deep breath and walked up. “Wan Ning.”

Wen Wan Ning looked up. The moment she saw Shen Jia Yan, a smile flickered in her eyes.

“You’re here.” She said softly.

Shen Jia Yan nodded and took her luggage. “Yeah. Wait long?”

“Not long. Besides, weren’t you the one waiting for me?” Wen Wan Ning looked at her. “You seem especially happy today.”

Shen Jia Yan smiled, her gaze soft. “Because I’m going home with you.”

Wen Wan Ning paused slightly, then lowered her head, her lips curving up gently.

They boarded the bus according to the schedule.

“16A, 16B.” Shen Jia Yan found their seats per the tickets and stowed both backpacks on the luggage rack one by one.

As she turned after placing the luggage, she saw Wen Wan Ning gazing out the window in a daze. Sunlight spilled through the glass onto her profile, her lashes casting a small shadow under her eyes, like butterfly wings at rest.

“Here.” Shen Jia Yan pulled out a yogurt—Wen Wan Ning’s favorite—from her bag. “Drink it whenever you want on the way.”

Wen Wan Ning took the yogurt. “Thanks.” Thanks for always being so thoughtful.

The bus slowly started moving, the scenery outside flowing by, like memories scattered by the wind, unfolding bit by bit.

Wen Wan Ning removed her baseball cap, revealing soft bangs on her forehead. She tossed the hat into her bag, her gaze unconsciously sweeping over Shen Jia Yan’s profile.

Shen Jia Yan adjusted her seat, then turned to ask, “Wanna listen to music?”

Wen Wan Ning nodded. “Sure.”

Shen Jia Yan handed her one earbud. Wen Wan Ning hesitated briefly but took it and slipped it into her ear.

A familiar melody played—the old song they often listened to together in high school. The rhythm was gentle, tinged with nostalgia, quietly awakening a sealed corner of time.

Shen Jia Yan appeared calm on the surface, a faint smile on her lips, but inside, her heart surged like tides.

She pretended to focus on scrolling her phone, but her peripheral vision quietly captured every subtle expression on Wen Wan Ning’s face. The melody flowed through the earbuds, like time rewinding, taking her back to those nights of listening alone, lost in memories.

Back then, she always thought that if she could sit with Wen Wan Ning, sharing earbuds in silence, it would satisfy her for a long, long time.

And now, that fantasy was unfolding right before her eyes.

Wen Wan Ning leaned by the window, her hair strands gleaming faintly in the sunlight, her profile soft, lashes casting gentle shadows on her eyelids.

It still made her heart race as fiercely as ever.