Chapter 39: Play Slowly, My Darling

After an unknown amount of time, Su Cheng, who was looking down at her phone, suddenly felt someone wiping the sweat from her forehead.
She couldn’t help but look up to find the source.
Gu Xiya was holding a tissue, helping her wipe the sweat.
Although her face was still pale, the pain in her ruby-like eyes had lessened considerably.

“Uh…”
Gu Xiya managed a slightly pale smile, speaking softly, “Thank you… Senior Sister.”
Her voice sounded like she had regained some strength, but it was still hoarse with fatigue.

“Uh… I’m not a senior sister,” Su Cheng waved her hand awkwardly, scratching the back of her head, “I’m a new student too.”

“Ah?
I’m sorry…”
Gu Xiya looked a little embarrassed, then seriously looked at Su Cheng again.
“Then… what’s your name?
My name is Gu Xiya.”
Su Cheng’s heart skipped a beat.
‘It really is her, the internet singing sensation who will become incredibly famous in the future.’
Although she had added her on WeChat in her previous life, they were now “meeting for the first time.”
Su Cheng suppressed her excitement, trying to answer calmly: “Su Cheng.”

“Su Cheng, such a nice name.”
Gu Xiya repeated it softly, as if trying to commit the name to memory.
“Thank you very much tonight.
If it weren’t for you, I might have been squatting under the streetlamp until dawn.”
Su Cheng’s lips curved, and she said softly, “It wouldn’t have come to that, right?
Maybe someone else would have passed by and seen you.”
Gu Xiya shook her head: “I don’t think so.
At this hour, most people are already in their dorms.”

“How do you feel now?
Are you better?”

“A little better.”
Gu Xiya braced herself with her hands on her knees, gritting her teeth as she slowly stood up, her trembling legs looking as if they might give way at any second.
Su Cheng saw this, quickly supported Gu Xiya, and slowly helped her up to sit on the low wall at the edge of the flower bed.

“I’m just a bit weak still, don’t have much strength.”
Gu Xiya leaned against the wall, barely managing to stand straight.
She looked at Su Cheng’s concerned face, hesitated, and then asked softly, “Are you heading back to your dorm?”
Su Cheng nodded gently, a hint of concern in her soft tone: “But I’m not in a rush.
We can wait until you feel a bit more comfortable, and at least I’ll see you back to your dorm.”
Gu Xiya was both surprised and delighted to hear Su Cheng’s words, but still wanted to politely decline Su Cheng’s kindness.

“That’s too much trouble for you.
How about you go back first?
I’ll feel better in a bit and can go back to my dorm myself.”
Su Cheng shook her head forcefully, a hint of seriousness appearing on her pretty face: “No, I’m not at ease.
What if some bad person kidnaps you?”
Gu Xiya chuckled softly: “No way, Su classmate, you’re overthinking it.”
Su Cheng stared earnestly at Gu Xiya, hands on her hips: “I’m not kidding.
Better safe than sorry.
Classmate Gu, you’re so pretty, there’s bound to be bad people coveting you.”
“Besides, I at least know some self-defense.
I can protect you if we run into bad guys.”
Su Cheng herself felt that these words sounded fake.
The Su Cheng of her previous life had never learned self-defense, nor was she as delicate as she was now, let alone being targeted by ruffians.
So, these words were just an excuse to make herself stay.
In her previous life, this could even be considered flirting.
Although Su Cheng actually wanted to go back to sleep, leaving a beauty like Gu Xiya alone was simply out of the question.
Moreover, she still wanted to listen to her sing in the future.
If she was gone, she’d be listening to nothing but silence.
Gu Xiya giggled, seemingly persuaded by Su Cheng’s words.

“Then I’ll trouble you, Classmate Su.”

“It’s nothing, Classmate Gu, rest assured.”
Su Cheng pledged, patting her chest.
Gu Xiya’s voice was very soft, her gaze falling on Su Cheng’s profile: “Um, Classmate Su, which building do you live in?”
“I live in Building 5, right here.”
Su Cheng pointed to the dormitory building on her right, which had a large sign above the entrance with a big “5” on it.
“Oh, I live in Building 6.
That’s a shame.
What’s your major?”

“I’m studying biological science.
What about you, Classmate Gu?”
Gu Xiya didn’t rush to answer, pausing for two seconds before replying.

“Music performance major.
I prefer singing.”
After hearing her words, Su Cheng feigned surprise, of course.

“Oh, so Classmate Gu studies singing!
Your voice is so beautiful, you’ll definitely be very popular in the future.
I have high hopes for you!”
Su Cheng said with a beaming smile, not noticing the fleeting surprise and astonishment on Gu Xiya’s face.
‘These words, they sound familiar…’

“Thank you.
If there’s a chance in the future, I can specially sing for Classmate Su.”
Gu Xiya took out her phone, opened WeChat Moments, and scrolled through past posts to show Su Cheng.
“These are all cover videos I recorded before, but I just filmed them at home for fun.”
Looking at the dozens of posts in her Moments, Su Cheng’s eyes were filled with surprise.
Su Cheng had no idea these videos existed.

“If Classmate Su wants to watch them, add me on WeChat.
I’ll occasionally post some videos to my Moments in the future too.”
Gu Xiya said to Su Cheng, blinking with a hint of hope.
Before Su Cheng could even take out her phone, Gu Xiya had already opened her scanner, ready to scan and add her as a friend at any moment.

“I’ll scan you.”
Su Cheng reacted, then pulled out her phone.
She found it hard to refuse Gu Xiya’s move.

“Alright, go ahead and scan.”

“Beep beep.”
A crisp sound echoed in the small space between them.
A happy smile appeared on Gu Xiya’s face.
Su Cheng looked at the screen, which showed a friend request from “Vocal Xiya,” and felt a rush of nostalgia.
The name was exactly the same as in her previous life.

“Orange?
And a Dorothy avatar?
Your phone seems to be a Dorothy collaboration too, haha.”
A sweet laugh rang out.
Su Cheng curiously looked at Gu Xiya: “You know Dorothy too?”
Gu Xiya nodded: “Of course, I’ve collected many Dorothy memes.”
Su Cheng exclaimed: “Wow, send me some Dorothy memes later, I want to collect them too.”
Gu Xiya made an OK gesture: “Can do, no problem.
No Problem.”
Su Cheng didn’t change Gu Xiya’s contact name; she knew who it was just by the ID.
As for what Gu Xiya would name her contact, Su Cheng didn’t know.
Putting away her phone, Su Cheng felt her butt getting cold and stood up to stretch.
Gu Xiya thought she was about to leave, and thinking her stomach felt a bit better, her shapely rear slowly lifted off the flower bed.

“Classmate Gu, are you sure you’re alright?”
Su Cheng unhesitatingly grabbed Gu Xiya’s arm, afraid of any mishap.
It wouldn’t be good if she fell and hurt her face.

“It’s fine, trust me… Ow, ow…”
Gu Xiya’s body uncontrollably leaned towards Su Cheng.
Her lips had regained a hint of color, but she hadn’t recovered much strength.

“I’ll support you then.”
Su Cheng carefully let Gu Xiya’s arm rest on her slightly slender shoulder.
Her other hand, initially wanting to gently support her waist, brushed against her slender waist and instantly recoiled as if shocked.
Gu Xiya smiled faintly: “It’s alright, I don’t mind.”
Su Cheng gave an awkward smile, her warm hand finally resting on Gu Xiya’s slender waist.

“Then let’s go.”

“Okay.”
Su Cheng supported Gu Xiya’s body weight, and the two slowly shuffled towards the dormitory area, step by step.
At this moment, the two were very close.
Su Cheng could smell the faint lavender scent on Gu Xiya, which was relaxing and comforting.
Gu Xiya tilted her head slightly, her nose closer to Su Cheng’s hair, allowing her to better catch the scent of oranges.
‘She’s so fragrant, so soft…’
Su Cheng was a little confused.
Even Gu Xiya was nearly two fingers taller than her.
In terms of height, she was utterly defeated.
The streetlights stretched their leaning figures into long shadows.
Most of Gu Xiya’s weight leaned on Su Cheng; otherwise, she would be unable to move a step.
Su Cheng could clearly feel the other’s weakness.
Gritting her teeth, she was determined to support Gu Xiya until she reached her dorm.
Silence enveloped them.
Gu Xiya only heard Su Cheng’s somewhat heavy breathing, knowing her struggle.
But with such a delicate build, she still wanted to protect Gu Xiya.
A ripple stirred in the girl’s heart, a wave named nostalgia.
Seeing the number plate of Building 6 just three to five meters away, Gu Xiya slightly tilted her body to the other side, reducing the weight on Su Cheng.
Finally, the two stopped in front of the closed dormitory building entrance.

“I’m here.”
Gu Xiya stood more steadily.
Although her hand was still subconsciously pressing her stomach, her complexion had improved further, and she showed Su Cheng a sweet smile.

“Thank you so much tonight.
I’ll find a time to treat you to Haidilao.”

“It’s nothing, just a small help,” Su Cheng smiled, removing her hand from Gu Xiya’s waist.
“Remember to be careful with what you eat at night from now on, especially spicy food.”
“You’ll be alright going back to your dorm alone, right?”
Gu Xiya shook her head, raising her voice a few degrees: “No problem, I’m already here.
Just a few more steps, you go back quickly.”
Su Cheng nodded, smiling faintly: “Okay, then I’m heading back, goodbye.”

“Mmm, goodbye.”
After Gu Xiya entered the dorm entrance, she didn’t rush to leave.
Instead, she turned and watched Su Cheng.
Her snow-white ponytail swayed gently in the night wind.
Watching the captivating figure gradually being swallowed by the darkness, a strange smile appeared on the girl’s face.
After pulling a small clip from her stomach, all of Gu Xiya’s uncomfortable expressions vanished.
Her lips returned to their original vibrant, luscious hue.
Everything was merely her disguise.

“Su Cheng… I can’t believe you became a girl…”
Gu Xiya murmured to herself, her red pupils gazing at the direction Su Cheng had left, but she couldn’t find a trace of her.
The color of her red pupils became even more vibrant, as if about to drip with water.
Through the iron gate, Gu Xiya reached out, clenching her hand in the empty air, and whispered: “But, so cute, I feel like… I feel like eating you…”
“My darling… I missed you before.”
“But this time, I’ll hold you tightly, so you can never leave me again, hehehe.”
An almost pathological, eerie smile hung on the girl’s exquisite face.
It was a hidden side of her.
At this moment, her red pupils seemed to emit a dangerous aura like a blood moon, and the curved corners of her lips were full of greed.

“No rush, no rush, I’ll play with you slowly, my darling…”
The golden figure disappeared into the stairwell, leaving only the lingering scent of lavender.
Su Cheng, who had just returned to the dormitory entrance, shivered abruptly.
A cold chill came from behind her, but when she looked back, there was nothing.

“Tsk tsk, so cold.
Gotta go back to sleep quickly.”
Su Cheng, rushing up the stairs, just wanted to quickly return to her warm bed and have a good dream…