Chapter 44: The Splash and the Shelter

“Yaqi!”

Gongyu quickly moved around to see Yaqi soaking wet like a drowned rat, muddy water still dripping from her bangs.

“You…!”

“Ahaha…”

Yaqi laughed awkwardly and was about to wipe her face when Gongyu grabbed her hand.

“Don’t move!”

“Hmm… but I can’t open my eyes…”

“Oh dear… I know. Just close your eyes. I have tissues. I’ll wipe them for you.”

“Mm… okay…”

Gongyu took a tissue from her pocket, folded it in her hand, and carefully wiped Yaqi’s eyes.

“This water is dirty. You can’t rub your eyes directly. If water gets in, it could easily get infected.”

“Mm… mm…”

Seeing Yaqi soaking wet, Gongyu’s anger flared up. She said angrily:

“Seriously! How did that driver drive? There were people on the roadside, and he drove so fast! He clearly wanted to splash water on others!”

“Exactly! Good thing I reacted quickly!” Yaqi said smugly.

“Quick? You should have run! Why did you block for me? Honestly…”

Gongyu frowned, looking at her with reluctance. Yaqi took her hand, opened her eyes, and smiled:

“Oh, if I didn’t, wouldn’t you have gotten wet?”

“But now you’re wet instead?”

“This is better than both of us getting soaked, right? Haha!”

Yaqi laughed carelessly, took the tissue from Gongyu, and wiped her face.

“What kind of twisted logic is that…”

Gongyu’s ears turned red. She looked at Yaqi reproachfully but smiled helplessly.

“My home is nearby. Even if I got wet, I could go home and shower. But you…”

“Oh, it’s fine!”

“Yaqi, you really… Thanks, then.”

“No problem!”

Yaqi was about to wave her hand when she suddenly noticed the books in her hand. She panicked.

“Ah! The books…”

Yaqi quickly wiped her hands on her skirt, took out the books, and checked them. Luckily, they had plastic wrapping, with only a few drops of water on the surface. The books themselves were fine.

“Ah, scared me to death…”

“Good thing they’re wrapped. Should be fine. The water didn’t seep in.”

“Yeah, indeed. What a relief.”

Just then, a bus pulled up. Yaqi smiled and waved, ready to board.

At that moment, Gongyu’s gaze accidentally fell on Yaqi’s chest. She panicked, grabbed her, turned her toward herself, and hugged her close.

“Huh? Are you getting on?” the driver asked, poking his head out.

“Ah! I…”

“Sorry! We’re not getting on!”

Before Yaqi could finish, Gongyu interrupted. The driver closed the door and drove off.

Yaqi stared blankly at the bus’s taillights as they disappeared at the next intersection. She looked at Gongyu in confusion and stepped out of her embrace.

“Gongyu, why didn’t you let me get on?”

Gongyu’s face darkened, then flushed red. She looked around, pulled Yaqi behind the bus stop billboard. Seeing no one around, she sighed in relief and turned away shyly.

“Yaqi, didn’t you notice everyone on the bus staring at you?”

“Huh? Were they?”

Yaqi tilted her head in confusion. Gongyu pointed at her chest. Yaqi looked down and immediately widened her eyes. She hugged herself, her face turning bright red.

“Ah!”

“Your clothes are completely see-through. Your underwear is showing.”

“This! I… I…”

Yaqi still didn’t have a school uniform, so she was wearing her own clothes. Her skirt was fine, but the cream-colored blouse was very thin. Normally it was fine, but when wet, everything underneath was exposed.

Black lace bra, the curves it held, and her fair skin were all plainly visible to Gongyu.

“Ugh! I shouldn’t have worn such a thin blouse… Did everyone see?”

Yaqi was about to cry, looking at Gongyu pitifully.

“Don’t worry. I grabbed you right when you turned, so no one saw.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. At most they might have seen your back shoulders.”

Saying this, Gongyu gently pulled the back shoulder of Yaqi’s blouse to show her. Yaqi relaxed, sighed weakly, and lowered her head.

“Oh dear, this is bad…”

“Sigh, if only you hadn’t blocked for me.”

Yaqi looked up, frowning at her.

“If I hadn’t blocked, we’d both be embarrassed. So don’t say that.”

“Heh, fine. Can’t argue with you.”

“Hehe. It’s just… how do I go home like this? Ahaha…”

Yaqi frowned, laughed awkwardly, and hugged herself tighter.

“How about you come to my place first?”

“Huh? Your place?”

“Yeah. In that complex.”

Gongyu turned and pointed at a rooftop in the distance, about a hundred meters away.

“Oh, okay. But… is that okay?”

“Of course it is. Besides, you can’t go out like this. What if some pervert sees you?”

“Mm… then… thank you, Gongyu.”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Gongyu took the books from Yaqi’s hands.

“Stay behind me. I’ll shield you.”

“Mm, okay.”

The sun was setting, and the sky was darkening.

Gongyu deliberately chose a less crowded path. Yaqi obediently followed behind her.

They walked cautiously, looking around like thieves with guilty consciences. Even a cat jumping out from behind a trash can to shake off water made them scream softly.

They finally reached the entrance of the complex, but it was rush hour, with people coming and going.

Gongyu looked around. It was already getting dark and visibility was poor. She told Yaqi to hold her arm to cover herself, and Yaqi obeyed. They didn’t notice any strange looks from passersby.

At the building entrance, Gongyu quickly entered the code, opened the door, turned and pulled Yaqi inside, then quickly closed the door. She lowered her head to catch her breath, then turned and bumped into Yaqi.

“Hmm…”

“Mm…”

The air was very still. The noise from outside gradually faded.

They stood silently, bodies pressed together, breathing heavily. The rich sweetness of the chocolate from lunch break lingered on their breath, swirling between them.

“Yaqi…”

“Gongyu…”

“Pfft!”

“Hahaha!”

They couldn’t hold it in anymore. They covered their mouths and laughed heartily.

The laughter echoed up the stairs, filling the silent corridor with life.

“Haha… Gongyu, we were just like thieves! Haha!”

“Hahaha, exactly! I was so scared! Haha!”

Yaqi laughed until tears came. She rubbed her eyes and continued:

“Haha… oh, I’m the one who’s embarrassed. Why were you scared?”

“Heh… it was still scary! What if someone saw?”

“Hehe.”

They took a deep breath and smiled at each other.

“Let’s go!”

“Mm!”

“By the way, what floor are you on?”

“Sixth floor. It’s a bit high.”

“Oh, it’s fine. Don’t underestimate me!”

“Haha.”

Despite her words, Yaqi was indeed a bit tired climbing. By the time they reached the sixth floor, Gongyu was as usual, but Yaqi was sweating and breathing heavily.

“Hehe. Tired?”

“Ahaha… seems like a bit… haha…”

“Pfft.”

Gongyu took out her key, unlocked the door, held it open for Yaqi to enter, then followed and closed the door behind them. She turned on the light.

“I’m home.”

“Huh? Is someone else here?”

Yaqi stood up straight and looked around cautiously.

“Ah, no. I just have a habit of saying that. I live alone.”

“Haha, I see. Huh? Alone?”

“Yeah.”

Gongyu changed her shoes and walked to the living room.

“Oh, Yaqi, don’t just stand there. Come sit!”

“Should I change my shoes?”

“No need. Make yourself at home.”

“Okay.”

Gongyu put down her backpack, took off her loose hair tie, held it in her mouth, tied her ponytail again, and secured it. Then she went into the bathroom and fiddled around. It sounded like she turned on the water heater.

Yaqi took the chance to look around.

Gongyu’s home was an old apartment building. Outside, the paint was peeling. Inside, the once white walls had turned gray.

The apartment was three bedrooms and a living room, about 80 square meters. The decoration was simple, just basic necessities, nothing luxurious.

The master bedroom had a neat blue bed, and the other items were tidy. It looked like no one had stayed there for a long time.

The second bedroom on the right had some cute plush toys, wallpaper on the walls, and a bookshelf. The bed was unmade and messy. That must be Gongyu’s room.

The third room was probably a study, with a computer, a bookshelf, and a folding bed. It seemed ready for guests.

After looking around, Yaqi returned to the living room. She saw the sofa and was about to sit down, but then noticed her dirty dress, so she silently stood up and waited by the wall.

“Huh? Aren’t you going to sit?”

Gongyu came out of the bathroom, walked up to Yaqi, helped her take off her backpack, then carried it and the books Yaqi had bought, putting them next to her own backpack.

“Well… I’m too dirty to sit down.”

“Huh? It’s fine. Sit!”

Gongyu pulled Yaqi toward the sofa. Yaqi stepped back until she hit the wall.

“No, no! How can I? It’s okay, I’ll just stand.”

“Oh, come on!”

Gongyu looked at her reproachfully and sighed helplessly. But Yaqi was being polite, so Gongyu didn’t insist and let her be.

Just then, the bathroom made a beeping sound. Gongyu glanced over and said, “Yaqi, take off your clothes.”

📚 Also on NHV Novels

Feelings of love

darkHealinglove

Read Now →
Not interested