Chapter 35: A Night Apart, A Morning of Questions

[– Where did you go today? Did you have fun?]

[– It’s almost five, why aren’t you back yet? Should I come pick you up?]

[– Did something happen? Why aren’t you replying?]

[– This isn’t the time for jokes, you’re making me really worried!]

[– If you don’t answer me, I’m coming to the school to find you.]

[– I’m so bored, please come home soon…]

[– Sigh, your phone isn’t connecting either. I’ll buy the groceries first, but you absolutely have to be back on time, okay?]

Ye Qing’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. For some unknown reason, the moment she saw these messages, an inexplicable heaviness settled over her body.

‘That girl went to buy groceries herself? She absolutely must not touch the stove.’

[– Sorry, I can’t come back today, something came up. It’s very cold, so don’t buy groceries. That fried rice shop downstairs is really good too.]

[– Please, don’t touch the stove. It would be terrible if you hurt yourself.]

Almost simultaneously, a reply message came through.

[– Why so sudden? You didn’t tell me in advance…]

[– Fine, I’ll forgive you this time. But if that fried rice isn’t good, you’ll have to reimburse me.]

[– Mmm.]

Ye Qing lay dazed on the bed, her body so heavy it felt as though she was sinking into the mattress.

For some reason, despite receiving understanding, she didn’t feel relieved. Those numerous, intricate words still hung on her heartstrings, ready to fray her nerves at any moment.

“What’s wrong, Ye Qing? Are you still scared?”

Tang Nuo gently nestled beside Ye Qing, resting her small head on Ye Qing’s soft shoulder, gazing curiously at her phone screen.

The phone had already gone dark, its screen reflecting Ye Qing’s clear, amber eyes, which were now slowly being swallowed by the shadow of her lowered lashes.

“It’s nothing.”

Answering with a complex mix of emotions, Ye Qing inhaled the faint scent of shower gel from the blue-haired girl.

For some reason, a sudden urge rose within her: to return to Tang Nuo’s gentle embrace and continue seeking that feeling of security.

With Gu Xuanyu, she had grown accustomed to being needed, to being sought after. But now, she felt a profound weariness.

“Xiao Nuo, stay with me tonight.”

“Eh? Eh?” Hearing Ye Qing make such a request so rarely, Tang Nuo couldn’t help but be startled.

‘This was clearly her line, wasn’t it? How did it come out of Ye Qing’s mouth?’

Yet, the black-haired girl’s soft, sweet voice lingered in her mind, refusing to fade, making it utterly impossible for her to refuse.

“Then you’re not allowed to go back on your word.”

Ye Qing remained silent, simply nodding.

‘It’s fine to indulge myself occasionally, of course. It’s just sleeping, after all.’

***

Meanwhile, at the fried rice shop beneath Ye Qing’s apartment.

The owner enthusiastically welcomed the rare customer on this winter night—a white-haired girl so exquisitely delicate, she resembled a virtual idol.

Her perfection felt almost unreal, so much so that it deterred any impure thoughts.

Yet, the white-haired girl now had her eyelids lowered, her wine-red eyes unfocused and dim, like a mere shell.

She listlessly scooped up fried rice with her spoon, unconsciously stuffing it towards her face, occasionally bumping her nose or the corner of her lips, smudging her pretty face.

The freshly cooked fried rice was scorching hot beneath, yet the girl swallowed it as if oblivious, allowing the pain to course through her chest.

‘It’s not tasty. I can’t taste anything.’

Gu Xuanyu took out her phone again, looking at Ye Qing’s brief message. The slender fingers gripping the spoon trembled slightly, whether from clumsiness or excessive force, she couldn’t tell.

‘I was only worried about Qing, so why did she apologize?’

‘Does Qing feel she did something to offend me? Or is she going to spend the night with a girl I don’t know?’

‘Will Qing cook for her, or comb her hair too?’

Gu Xuanyu’s hair had been styled by Ye Qing that very morning, adorned with a bow she herself had chosen. Even now, Gu Xuanyu dared not touch it, fearing she might mess it up.

But would the girl with Qing be able to freely let her hair down, then entangle it with Qing’s black hair, intertwining on the bed?

Gu Xuanyu bit down hard on the corner of her lip, overwhelmed by a sudden, profound regret.

‘If only I could keep Qing by my side forever.’

***

The next day, Ye Qing headed straight to school, her small black bag slung over her shoulder.

Her rosy complexion suggested she had slept exceptionally well the previous night.

‘It was just a rare, beautiful dream; there’s no need to elaborate.’

‘Should she really mention how comfortable the bed was, how soft the pillow, how smooth the blankets? Of course not. Who remembers the color, length, or width of a bed they only slept in by chance?’

‘That sounds rather irresponsible towards the bed, doesn’t it?’

Tang Nuo’s sleeping habits were far superior to Gu Xuanyu’s. Miss Glutinous Rice Candy simply lay quietly beside her, offering her warm back for Ye Qing to lean against.

The only sound in the room all night was the girl’s steady breathing—a perfect start to a beautiful dream… no, a warm bed.

Even Lin Shaoyao was astonished by her contented appearance, eagerly pressing for details.

“You… slept with Tang Nuo last night?”

“Mmm.”

“!!!”

Hearing Ye Qing’s casual reply, Lin Shaoyao was so stunned her mouth hung open.

‘So this seemingly aloof, black-haired girl is actually a frivolous and irresponsible scumbag behind the scenes?’

‘Such a scumbag absolutely requires a rigorous maid-style education !’

“Wait, are you getting the wrong idea? I really just slept with her.” Ye Qing, noticing Lin Shaoyao’s strange expression, tilted her head and asked.

Lin Shaoyao twitched the corner of her mouth.

“So you want to sleep with her multiple times?”

She decisively pinched Ye Qing’s dewy cheek, adding a little more force than usual to her slender fingers, making Ye Qing cry out in protest.

“Just sleeping? That doesn’t make sense either. Did you stay at her place?”

Ye Qing shook her head.

“It’s a bit complicated; I can’t explain it all right now. In any case, I need to go to class first. Let’s talk later.”

With that, Ye Qing quickly walked towards the art room, leaving Lin Shaoyao looking utterly bewildered.

‘…Too complicated to explain? Haki Qing, what exactly did you do to Xiao Nuo?’

Just then, Tang Nuo also arrived at the classroom. The dark circles under her eyes clearly indicated she had slept terribly the previous night.

Lin Shaoyao, her curiosity piqued like a scratching cat, quickly stepped forward to ask.

“Xiao Nuo, did you sleep with Ye Qing last night?”

Tang Nuo woodenly turned her gaze towards Lin Shaoyao, then nodded blankly.

“Yes, and I slept terribly…” Although her spirits were low, Tang Nuo’s words weren’t as misleading as Ye Qing’s. “I should have known; how could I possibly sleep in the same bed as her?”

To avoid disturbing Ye Qing, Tang Nuo had kept her body rigid all night. She could constantly feel the warm, soft jade pressing against her back, yet she could only stare blankly, enduring immense torment.

“I’m going to sleep for a bit in the classroom…”

Meanwhile, Ye Qing entered the art room and saw Shen Congqing.

However, Shen Congqing’s appearance seemed a little odd…

“Teacher Shen, why are you standing?”

Hearing this, Shen Congqing forced out an awkward smile, her hand unconsciously moving to cover her backside.

“It’s nothing, I just accidentally… fell…”