Chapter 18: A Brick for Liu Ya

Coming out of the activity building, Yaqi saw that she still had some time, so she decided to take the opportunity to walk around the campus. Her mind was replaying the events of the morning.

(Can’t believe I actually ended up in the student council on my second day of transfer. It’s almost like a joke…)

(And about what Yu Gong said earlier… but I trust Liu Ya. How could she make someone do something like that?)

Even as she thought this, she remembered last night and her face instantly flushed red.

(T…that doesn’t count, right? I mean, who controls what they do when they’re asleep? But it also means I can’t sleep well…)

(Um… but… tonight I’ll ask Liu Ya if we can change it… yeah.)

Walking along, Yaqi didn’t know where she was anymore, but she heard someone talking nearby. She looked around, followed the sound, and finally found the source in the flower bed behind the teaching building.

(Huh? Only one person?)

A girl was standing alone in the small pavilion in the middle of the flower bed, pacing back and forth with her head down, muttering something.

(Huh? What’s she doing? I thought I heard someone talking?)

Just as Yaqi was about to step forward, the girl suddenly stopped, turned her head to look somewhere, and called out in a shy, soft voice that was neither too loud nor too quiet:

“I like you, Senior Liu Ya!”

“Huh?”

Yaqi froze, then quickly ducked behind the corner of the teaching building wall, peeking out to watch.

(What? Liu… Liu Ya? This girl likes Liu Ya? Oh my god…)

“Uh… maybe that was a bit loud? Hopefully no one heard?”

The girl nervously looked around. Yaqi quickly turned away to hide. The girl saw no one around, sighed in relief, and clenched her fists in front of her chest to psych herself up.

“See? Simple words are the best! No need to worry about getting too nervous to speak.”

“Okay, I’ll do it! This time I’ll definitely confess to Senior Liu Ya!”

The girl raised her head confidently, paused, then lowered it again, holding an envelope and swaying left and right.

“But… even so, maybe Senior Liu Ya is busy in the morning? It wouldn’t be good to look for her so early, right?”

“And also! There must be a lot of people in her class. How could I possibly be bold enough to call her out?”

After thinking for a long time, she said to herself:

“Then… I’ll wait until noon. Senior Liu Ya must go to lunch too. I’ll just wait on the way!”

She nodded, smiled, and left. Yaqi, still hiding, heard no more sounds and was about to turn her head when a hand covered her mouth, and another hand grabbed her chest, pulling her backward.

“Mmph!”

Yaqi struggled free and turned around. Liu Ya was standing there with her hands on her hips, breathing heavily, staring at her angrily.

“Liu… Liu Ya? Why are you?”

“Ha… ha… Who else would it be? Seriously… why did you suddenly run off?”

“You scared me to death…”

“How dare you say that! I wasn’t even finished talking and you ran off! What’s the matter with you? Ha… ha…”

“Ah, that… I thought you were done…”

“When… when did I say I was done? Ha…”

Only then did Yaqi notice Liu Ya was drenched in sweat, her hair sticking together and her collar soaked. Yaqi pulled out a tissue to wipe her face, but after a few wipes, Liu Ya snatched it and wiped herself.

“Um… Liu Ya, catch your breath first and wipe your sweat…”

“Hmph!”

“So, were you chasing me this whole time?”

“What else would I be doing!”

Liu Ya leaned against the railing, panting heavily. Yaqi looked at her and couldn’t help but laugh.

“Hehe… but it’s not that far. How come you’re so exhausted? Your stamina is terrible, right? Haha…”

“You…!”

Liu Ya felt a surge of anger, but she couldn’t vent it and had to suppress it, leaving her dizzy and lightheaded.

Liu Ya’s stamina wasn’t bad. She wasn’t outstanding in physical fitness tests, but she was always among the top in her class.

Running from the activity building to the teaching building, just a few hundred meters, wouldn’t normally exhaust her like this, unless there was another reason…

(Tang Yaqi! My stamina is terrible? It’s because you ran off!)

(What were you wandering around here for? I thought you went back to the classroom, so I ran straight to the west building, saw you weren’t there, and came down again. I circled the teaching building several times! I’m so angry!)

Liu Ya held her head, feeling the world spin, and almost fell. Yaqi quickly caught her.

“Hey! Careful.”

She helped Liu Ya sit down on the steps. Liu Ya glanced at her and let out a long, helpless sigh.

(Ah, forget it… At least I didn’t go back in vain.)

The two sat side by side without speaking. Liu Ya looked up at the leaves rustling in the wind, while Yaqi stared at her swinging legs. It seemed like a silent scene, yet it felt surprisingly noisy.

Yaqi turned to look at her, pursed her lips, and her expression turned complicated.

(What time is class? Why isn’t Liu Ya saying anything? Have I made her angry again?)

(And I’m still bothered by what Yu Gong said earlier… Even though I think it must be a misunderstanding, Liu Ya definitely wouldn’t do something like that, but…)

Liu Ya noticed Yaqi was quiet and sneaked a glance at her.

(Why isn’t Qiqi talking? What did the teacher mean earlier? What exactly did she tell the teacher? I’m dying to know…)

(I wish I had asked the teacher more at the time. How am I supposed to ask now? But… if I ask directly… wouldn’t it seem like I did something wrong? Seriously…)

“You…”

“Um…”

They both spoke at the same time, paused, then Liu Ya waved her hand, motioning for Yaqi to go first. After a moment, Yaqi began slowly:

“Liu Ya, about…”

She stared at Liu Ya’s face, hesitated for a long time, but ultimately couldn’t bring herself to ask about Xinyu. She quickly changed the subject.

“Hm? Go on…”

“Er, nothing. It’s just… I still don’t understand. Why did you pick me for the student council?”

“Why are we back on this?”

“Come on… I just transferred here yesterday. I don’t know anything, and my studies are a mess. Making me join the student council, isn’t that just making a joke out of me?”

“Seriously, didn’t I already explain? No special reason. There was just a vacancy. There’s a lot of work at the start of the semester, so we needed someone to fill in.”

“…That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

“Ah…”

Yaqi pouted in dissatisfaction and looked at her.

“Liu Ya~ Are you treating me like a kid?”

“Heh, I think you’re not much different from a kid.”

“How am I the same? That reason is way too perfunctory.”

Yaqi got serious and continued, looking at her:

“I really can’t do this! Since when has a transfer student ever joined the student council right away? I don’t understand anything; what can I even do? What if I cause trouble for everyone…”

“And… mmph!”

Liu Ya, annoyed, covered her mouth.

“Just be quiet for a second. So you didn’t listen to a word I said, did you?”

Yaqi blinked blankly, which pretty much confirmed it. Liu Ya sighed in exasperation, let go, and said softly:

“I… I already told you. I picked you because I trust you.”

“Do you think the student council is some kind of game? That anyone can just join? But… you’re considerate, honest, and gentle. You’re a good fit, so I let you in. Got it?”

“Re… really?”

They both looked at each other. The moment their eyes met, Liu Ya quickly looked away.

“Of course! Didn’t you say you wanted to make it up to me? So as your creditor…”

“Cre… creditor?”

“…Are you trying to back out?”

“No, no… I did say that. But that title is just…”

“What’s wrong with it?”

“Can’t… can’t you pick something else?”

“What, is, your, problem?”

Liu Ya darkened her face, slowed her speech, and leaned toward Yaqi in an aggressive manner, causing Yaqi to falter and nearly fall.

“No… nothing. Creditor, you’re right…”

“Then let me finish. From now on, you’re a brick for me. I’ll move you wherever I need you.”

“If I find out you’re just talk, then I’ll never speak to you again! Clear?”

“Okay… I get it.”

“Good.”

Liu Ya straightened up, swayed slightly, and showed a hint of delight. But Yaqi didn’t notice; she just lowered her head and sighed.

(Ah, Tang Yaqi, Tang Yaqi… This is what happens when you do bad things. Have you learned your lesson? Never make this mistake again. Now you’re just a brick… Heh.)

(But… so this is how Liu Ya sees me.)

(Yeah! Liu Ya is still the same as before! She might have changed a little, but she definitely wouldn’t become someone I don’t recognize! Hehe.)

“Oh, right,” Liu Ya suddenly said, a bit hesitantly.

“Um… by the way, our school changes seats every Friday.”

“Mm, I heard.”

Liu Ya slowly lowered her head, pursed her lips, clasped her hands together, and fidgeted with her nails.

“So… you…”

“Oh! Speaking of that, I actually have a small selfish request. Can you agree to it, Liu Ya?”

“Wh… what is it? Go ahead.”

Liu Ya’s voice was no longer as steady as before. She tried hard to stay calm, but a slight tremor remained. Her fingertips turned white from the pressure.

“It’s about today’s seat change…”

“Wh… what about it?”

“Um…”

(What about the seats? Spit it out already…)

Liu Ya tapped her foot anxiously.

“I… I want to sit next to you again.”

“Huh?”

Hearing this, Liu Ya let out a long breath, deflating like a balloon, her whole body slumping.

“You don’t want to?”

“Oh, you…”

Before she could finish, Yaqi grabbed Liu Ya’s hands and looked at her with sincere, pleading eyes.

Those sparkling eyes shone with a warmth that felt especially bright in the September weather.

“It’s like this, Liu Ya! I heard you’re very popular at school. Sitting with me must affect you.”

“But I just got here and don’t know anyone. And… well… I want to be desk mates with you!”

“I always wanted to go to school with you before, but never had the chance. Now I do. I want to make up for that regret!”

“So I went to the teacher and asked not to change our seats. The teacher agreed, but I still need to ask for your opinion… Do you agree?”

Yaqi’s eyes were pitiful, like a lonely little rabbit lost in the wilderness, unable to find its way home.

(So… that’s how it is. Geez! You scared me to death!)

“Really… Couldn’t you have said that earlier?”

“I… I’m telling you now that I have a free moment.”

“I… ah, fine. Since you put it that way, I agree!”

“Hehe, thank you, Liu Ya!”

Yaqi threw herself into Liu Ya’s arms, pressing her face close. The faint scent of shampoo wafted over, making Liu Ya a bit dizzy. She didn’t react for a moment, letting Yaqi shake her body while secretly feeling pleased.

Suddenly, the class bell rang, breaking the wonderful atmosphere.

“Huh? Liu Ya, what bell is that? Is it the class bell?”

“Ah, not good…”

They both noticed that the bustling crowds and noise around them had already faded into silence.

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