Chapter 23: A Promise and a Revelation

Third period, Liu Ya barely made it, slipping into the classroom as the bell rang.

In class, Tang Yaqi listened attentively while Liu Ya’s mind was a tangled mess, her breaths ragged.

Seeing this, Yaqi leaned over and whispered, “Liu Ya? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing! Just focus on your class!”

Liu Ya snapped back, and Yaqi felt a bit hurt by the cold reception.

“Hmph. I was just asking because you were talking about me behind my back…” she muttered, but soon she tapped Liu Ya’s arm again to ask a question, making Liu Ya both exasperated and amused.

‘Really… how can she have the nerve after that? Eating her words so fast!’

‘But… I shouldn’t feel down. I already knew Qiqige didn’t feel that way about me. Hearing it for real still stings, though…’

‘From now on, she can’t do without me in schoolwork. I’m the only one who can explain things. The plan is going smoothly.’

‘If I make her rely on me, things will only get better. Yeah, I can’t give up! It’ll be fine!’

Liu Ya’s spirits lifted as she thought this.

‘Come to think of it… Qiqige has never been to the school cafeteria. I’ll take her. Our first meal at school together? That’ll be great, hehe.’

A few minutes before class ended, Liu Ya felt a sudden urge to pee. She checked the time and nudged Yaqi.

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Yaqige, you don’t know where the cafeteria is, right?”

“No…”

“Wait for me in the classroom. I’ll go to the bathroom, then take you there.”

“Okay!”

The bell rang. As the teacher left, Liu Ya hurried out and jogged to the restroom.

After washing her hands, she ran into Ye Nuo at the stairwell, carrying a stack of something.

“Ye Nuo? What are you doing here? Isn’t the senior building behind us?”

Ye Nuo walked straight toward Liu Ya, as if looking for her.

“Don’t even ask! I came to find you.”

“Find me?”

Ye Nuo split the papers in half and handed one pile to Liu Ya without waiting for a reaction.

“What’s this?”

“Order list for textbooks and materials. Just came down. Quick, follow me. The teacher’s waiting in the office. Li Xueqin and Han Meng are already there.”

“Huh? Now? But lunch…”

“Oh, they already packed ours and took them along.”

“Then… should I call Yaqige?”

“Uh…”

Noticing Liu Ya’s disappointment, Ye Nuo understood her intentions but shook her head.

“Sorry… but this is important. Otherwise, the teacher wouldn’t have called us so urgently.”

“She just got here. Maybe another time?”

“But…”

Liu Ya’s expression dimmed. She sighed reluctantly. “Fine.”

“Sorry.”

“I’ll at least tell her how to get to the cafeteria.”

“Oh, classmates will take her. We’ll be late if we don’t go now!”

“Hey, wait…”

Ye Nuo grabbed Liu Ya’s hand and dragged her toward the office.

—

In the classroom:

“Want to eat together, Yaqi?” Liu Mengmeng and Yang Xue came to Yaqi’s desk.

“Sure…” Yaqi started to get up, then remembered she’d promised Liu Ya. She hesitated and sat back down.

“What’s wrong?”

“Thank you, but…”

Yang Xue caught on and nudged Mengmeng, giving her a look. They both drooped in disappointment.

An awkward silence fell. Yang Xue spoke first. “Are you waiting for Liu Ya?”

“Yeah.” Yaqi nodded weakly.

Mengmeng added, “Ah… no helping it. This is your first time eating here, after all. We’ll go together next Monday!”

“Okay! For sure.”

“And not just us. Ye Feng… you know her? From that day in the restroom… haha.”

“Oh, right. I know.” Yaqi chuckled.

“Yeah. She was going to come too, but she’s an introvert. It’s too much of a challenge for her.”

“Hehe, I see. By the way, didn’t you call Gongyu? You guys are close, right?”

“Yeah. She went to the restroom; told us to go ahead. We said we’d call you, and she agreed.”

Mengmeng’s expression grew troubled. After a pause, she said, “Sorry about our first meeting, Yaqi. Did we look like delinquents? Haha…”

Yaqi couldn’t help laughing. Yang Xue looked puzzled. “What are you talking about?”

“Oh, don’t interfere!” Mengmeng pushed her face away.

Yaqi smiled. “No, not at all. I thought you guys had personality!”

“Really…? You’re too honest…” Mengmeng blushed but asked hopefully, “You mean it?”

“Yeah.”

‘Besides, there’s Liu Ya and Ye Nuo… when I first joined the student council, their aura made me think I’d wandered into some mafia organization. Compared to them, this is nothing…’ Yaqi sighed inwardly, recalling earlier events.

“Hehe, then I’ll take your word for it! Oh, right, I was talking about Gongyu.”

“Hm?”

“Well… Yaqi, even though Gongyu was cold to you at first, she’s really nice! She can be a bit rigid…”

“But she’s not targeting you. It’s because of Xinyu… she’s a classmate, on leave now…”

“I know. Gongyu told me this morning.”

“She did?”

“Yeah.”

“Ah! That girl! She explained to you but didn’t tell me? I was agonizing over how to bring it up! Seriously…”

Yaqi laughed, and Mengmeng relaxed, sharing a smile.

“Alright then! It’s a deal. Monday together!”

“Okay!”

“Bye!”

Mengmeng dragged Yang Xue away. Yaqi watched Yang Xue cling to Mengmeng’s arm, whispering with a sly grin, while Mengmeng looked disgusted and turned away.

Yaqi covered her mouth, amused. She looked around; everyone had paired off and left.

Soon, only Yaqi remained in the now-quiet classroom, sitting with her chin in her hands, staring blankly at the door.

‘Is Liu Ya taking that long? Constipation?’

Footsteps approached. Yaqi perked up, thinking it was Liu Ya, but it was Gongyu, shaking water off her hands.

“You didn’t go eat?”

“Ah, I don’t know where the cafeteria is. Liu Ya said she’d take me, so I’m waiting.”

“I see.” Gongyu went to her seat, grabbed some tissues to dry her hands, then came over.

“I saw Liu Ya and Ye Nuo heading toward the faculty building with some papers. Are you sure she said she’d go with you?”

“Huh? Then… maybe student council stuff…” Yaqi looked down, disappointed, her thumbs fiddling.

Gongyu paused. “I remember Mengmeng said they’d call you. Looks like you turned them down to wait for Liu Ya.”

“Yeah.”

“Want to come with me? I’ll take you.”

“Can I?”

“Sure. Let’s go before the food gets cold.”

“Okay.” Gongyu smiled and pulled Yaqi up. They walked to the cafeteria together.

Since they left late, the hallways were nearly empty, with only a few students heading back after eating.

Yaqi hadn’t expected to end up with Gongyu. Gongyu was quiet along the way, but Yaqi’s mind lingered on Xinyu’s matter. She wanted to ask but didn’t know how. She turned her head slightly, glanced, then quickly looked away.

Feeling Yaqi drawing strangely closer and acting nervous, Gongyu thought the silence was too heavy. “What did Liu Ya want from you earlier? Can you tell me?”

“Oh, I…”

‘Wait… Gongyu thinks Liu Ya caused Xinyu’s situation. If I say Liu Ya got me into the student council, it’ll probably stir up more trouble. Better not mention it for now.’

“Nothing much… she just took me to pick up something.”

“…I saw you two heading to the activity building from the window. Liu Ya made you join the student council, didn’t she?”

Yaqi froze, eyes wide.

“How… how did you know?”

“…Sigh.” Gongyu sighed and walked closer. “I didn’t. But now I do. Not to be rude, but how are you so honest?”

“Uh…”

“So, did you agree?”

“…Yeah. But I also…”

“Not willingly?”

“More or less…”

Gongyu frowned, expression turning serious, eyes complicated. Yaqi didn’t say anything, standing obediently, turning to look at a tree.

“I want to ask, what does Liu Ya mean to you?”

“Like a little sister, though we’re not blood-related.”

“And to her? Do you know?”

“I… might.” Yaqi lowered her head, unsure.

Gongyu pursed her lips. “I’m not trying to drive a wedge between you, but… she might not be the person you once knew.”

“Let me tell you something. Xinyu was personally recruited into the student council by Liu Ya.”

“What? That…”

“Yeah. And that’s what started everything.”

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