Chapter 10 Part 2

“Hm?” Chi Nuan turned.

Gu Ningzi tossed something over. Chi Nuan caught it hurriedly.

It was a Paper Ball.

Chi Nuan unfolded it to find a candy wrapped inside. She smiled, pocketed the candy, and her gaze fell on the contents of the Paper Ball. She froze.

“Gu Ningzi, you…”

Gu Ningzi waved it off. “I’m off.”

Chi Nuan smoothed out the Paper Ball and took it back to the dorm. Xu Dan had brought food back and was munching from her lunchbox as she walked up. “Whatcha looking at?”

Then she choked, eyes wide. “…Holy shit, Gu Ningzi is a living saint?”

Zhao Jingjing: “What? What did Gu Ningzi do?”

Xu Dan said incredulously, “This—it’s the Registration Form! That’s her handwriting, right? She signed up for all the women’s track events…”

…

That evening, Chi Nuan finished her homework and silently read ancient texts from her Chinese textbook. The other three in the dorm lounged on their beds with face masks on, playing on their phones.

A knock sounded at the door.

Chi Nuan was closest and opened it.

Cai Miao stood outside. Chi Nuan tensed up at the sight of her, but Cai Miao hung a bag on the door handle and forced a stiff smile. “Xue Wen got you guys a night snack.”

Chi Nuan: “Huh?”

Cai Miao: “She was going to come herself, but something came up at home, so she went back first.”

Chi Nuan: “…No, she’s too polite. I—”

Cai Miao cut her off. “I’m just running the errand for her. Whatever it is, tell her yourself.”

Chi Nuan: “…”

Cai Miao turned to leave, then reluctantly turned back. “Um… sorry about last time.”

…

Chi Nuan brought the bag into the dorm. Xu Dan and the others had overheard the conversation with Cai Miao and crowded around to look.

Milk Tea and Thousand-Layer Cake.

Xu Dan was baffled. “Nuannuan, what good deed did you do behind our backs? Why does Xue Wen keep sending us food like this?”

Du Min said confidently, “She’s apologizing on behalf of Cai Miao and Zhu Zhu, right?”

Xu Dan: “An Eldest Miss like Xue Wen might not even apologize for her own mistakes, let alone others’?”

Zhao Jingjing said, “Last time it was cookies—maybe she bumped into us and sent a box, not weird. But this time, specially having Cai Miao deliver it—what’s that about?”

Chi Nuan was also puzzled. Was it because of the apple?…

Xu Dan said, “Just call Xue Wen. Didn’t Cai Miao say to talk to her directly?”

Chi Nuan: “I don’t have her number…”

The three: “…”

Chi Nuan: “Really, we’re not that close…”

…

The day before midterms, Chi Nuan ran into Xue Wen on campus. Xue Wen had just won an award in a cello competition; the notice was posted on the bulletin board. After morning exercises, Chi Nuan bumped into her at the stairs and said, “Congrats.”

Xue Wen brushed off the award, stepped forward, and tugged Chi Nuan’s skirt hem down a bit. “Isn’t it a little short?”

Chi Nuan felt the school skirt had gotten short too—she had grown a bit this year. As she adjusted it downward, Xue Wen asked, “You wearing safety shorts?”

Chi Nuan: “…Yes.”

Xue Wen: “Good then.”

Xu Dan and the others came over horsing around. Seeing Chi Nuan talking to Xue Wen, Xu Dan slung an arm around Chi Nuan’s shoulder and wheedled, “Class Monitor~, I wanna eat that Thousand-Layer Cake from last time.”

Chi Nuan: “…”

Xue Wen smiled and asked, “Was it good?”

Zhao Jingjing and Du Min nodded vigorously. Xu Dan: “Oh man! It was super delicious. Toward the end, we were fighting over the last bits!”

Du Min punched her. “Not that exaggerated!! You were just greedy, okay?”

Xue Wen laughed. “Then I’ll have the shop send a big one over.”

As she pulled out her phone, Chi Nuan said, “Hey, no, just kidding.”

Xue Wen: “No big deal.”

Xu Dan had always thought someone like the popular Xue Wen was worlds apart from her. Not knowing better, she subconsciously assumed goddesses were unapproachable. She hadn’t expected Xue Wen to be so easygoing. Knowing Chi Nuan was thin-skinned and that she’d asked for the cake herself, Xu Dan said straightforwardly, “Xue Wen, we’d feel bad always eating your stuff. After finals, it’s my birthday—let me treat you to hotpot!”

“Hotpot, huh,” Xue Wen thought for a moment. “Sure.”

Xu Dan: “Then let’s swap numbers and plan it later.”

Xue Wen already had her phone out and handed it to Xu Dan. As Xu Dan entered her number, she caught sight of Gu Ningzi passing by and called out immediately, “Gu Ningzi, we’re talking about my birthday hotpot. Wanna join?”

Gu Ningzi was already heading upstairs. She looked down at them. “No.”

Xu Dan: “…”

Time flew by. Midterms ended, and it was the weekend again.

Chi Qingchuan called Chi Nuan and asked if she’d come home tomorrow.

“I bought some good beef today. I’ll braise it tonight, so you and your sister-in-law can eat it together when you get back tomorrow. Got ribs too—Brother will make you Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs.”

Chi Nuan said, “Okay.”

In the evening, the weather was muggy. Xu Dan treated everyone to a well-reviewed hotpot place in Yuncheng and even ordered beer to celebrate.

Chi Nuan finished one cup and felt her head go fuzzy, so she stopped drinking. Instead, Du Min and Xu Dan were determined to settle who had the better tolerance. Zhao Jingjing egged them on, slapping the table with laughter. Chi Nuan smiled as she watched them fool around, then suddenly heard Xue Wen beside her ask, “You like hotpot?”

In the boisterous hall, Chi Nuan turned her head. Because of the bit of alcohol, her face was flushing, and her voice carried an unwitting sweetness. “Yeah, I like it.”

Xue Wen’s eyes curved with a smile. “Me too.”

…

Author’s Note: When you like someone—

Xue Wen: Eat! (The “eat” as in eating food)

Gu Ningzi: Do! (The “do” as in doing things)