Later…
Later, nothing new happened either. After some time, that freshman girl no longer appeared outside the Senior Year Class 6 classroom, and Gu Ningzi still came to school whenever she felt like it.
The roommates exchanged knowing looks. Everyone knew the girl didn’t have a chance, but whether it had been hopeless from the start or only became so after some interaction remained unknown.
Chi Nuan bundled up tightly, wrapped in a scarf and wearing a hat, as she headed home for the weekend on a chilly evening with biting winds. The house had the heater blasting. Little Wutong, dressed in a thin cotton jacket, lay in the cradle in the living room. The wind chimes hanging above the cradle softly played children’s songs. He played by himself, grunting and kicking nonstop. The blanket had long been kicked away, and one of his little socks had come off too.
Chi Nuan gently put the sock back on him for him. Little Wutong’s eyes turned toward where Chi Nuan stood, and he babbled in his mouth as if trying to talk to her.
“Nuannuan, just wait a bit longer. Dinner will be ready soon,” Chi Qingchuan called out from the kitchen, poking his head in.
Chi Nuan played with Little Wutong for a while, and soon three dishes and a soup were served. Chi Qingchuan kept piling Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs onto Chi Nuan’s plate, urging her to eat more. “You come back skinnier each time lately. Are you studying too hard and not getting enough nutrition?”
Chi Nuan said, “No, I eat a lot. —Is Sister-in-law not coming back for dinner?”
Chi Qingchuan replied, “The real estate ad she shot last time got a great response, so she picked up a new one. She has to go out of town for 7 to 10 days and has already been gone for two.”
Chi Nuan asked, “So how’s Little Wutong being taken care of?”
Chi Qingchuan said, “We gave Auntie Lu a raise and asked her to help out during the day.”
Chi Nuan nodded and saw Chi Qingchuan still piling food onto her plate. “…Brother, that’s enough! You eat some too.”
That night, Chi Nuan slept with Little Wutong. Half-asleep, she sensed movement by her side and thought Gu Ningzi was having a restless night. In a daze, she reached out to hold her hand, only to jolt awake with a pounding heart.
—There was no Gu Ningzi.
Time flew by to late December.
On Christmas Eve, shops along the streets blared Christmas songs, filled with thick holiday decorations everywhere. Chi Nuan went out with her roommates for dinner off-campus to celebrate. While waiting for the food, Chi Nuan was still looking at practice problems. Du Min reached over and pressed down on her workbook. “Come on, give yourself an hour off and chat with us.”
Chi Nuan looked at her roommates’ smiling faces and sheepishly put the workbook away in her bag.
“Think you can break into single digits in this monthly exam?” Zhao Jingjing filled everyone’s cups with barley tea. “You’ve been studying so diligently you’re on the verge of Qi Deviation these past few months.”
“It’s iffy,” Chi Nuan said after sipping her tea.
Xu Dan slapped the table, drawing everyone’s attention. “So, what’s the verdict? Are we going to Zhou Damao’s New Year’s Eve event or not? This is our last New Year’s Eve in high school. Who knows where we’ll all be next year.”
Zhou Damao had rallied the class that day for a group New Year’s Eve outing. There was a fireworks show at the Riverside, and this year’s was supposed to be especially grand. Xu Dan’s question made her intentions clear—she wanted to go.
Zhao Jingjing and Du Min, both lovers of excitement, predictably said, “Of course we’re going!”
Xu Dan: “Great, three to one. Nuannuan has no choice but to obey.”
Chi Nuan: “…”
The first dish arrived, and Xu Dan quickly grabbed her chopsticks. Seeing Chi Nuan’s hesitant expression, she grinned. “Don’t worry. Zhou Damao said he’d handle transportation and lodging. He guaranteed it!”
After dinner, the four emerged from the small restaurant and dove into a street-side accessory shop to browse. The food that night had been a bit salty, so Chi Nuan went to buy milk tea for everyone.
Two girls stood outside their usual milk tea shop, and Chi Nuan lined up behind them.
“How come I haven’t heard you mention Gu Ningzi in ages?” one girl said.
Hearing “Gu Ningzi” out of the blue startled Chi Nuan, and she wondered if she’d misheard.
“What’s the point? She’s got no chance of liking me back. It’s so pointless,” the other girl replied listlessly.
Chi Nuan casually sized her up and realized the girl in front was the freshman with the ponytail who’d pursued Gu Ningzi before.
“Nothing’s impossible if you try. You’re such a great person—hardly anyone dislikes you. Maybe persistence will pay off?”
“No,” the ponytail girl said as she took the milk tea from the clerk and split one with her friend. “She has a girlfriend, and she really likes her.”
“Huh? Did she tell you that herself?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s just an excuse to turn you down. We’ve never seen her with anyone…”
The two left the shop while chatting, and Chi Nuan stepped forward. The clerk waited for her order, but Chi Nuan stared at the menu, suddenly speechless.
She’d always thought things would get better, but Gu Ningzi had become an incurable ache in her heart.
Gu Ningzi didn’t show up for evening self-study. Before it started, the Study Committee Member gave Chi Nuan a Peace Apple. Zhou Damao, on the other hand, made a flashy entrance by giving every girl in the class a red rose.
Du Min looked at him with newfound respect. “Not bad, you’ve got some moves.”
