CH 44

The first Friday of May was a warm, sunny day.

Yi Ran was riding her scooter home under the cloudless, cerulean blue sky, and Song Yu Meng was coincidentally walking along the same route home. They bumped into each other on a straight stretch.

They could even bump into each other like this? Yi Ran couldn’t stop herself from smiling, a soft expression on her face.

“Beep beep!” She pressed her horn twice, and when Song Yu Meng turned around and stopped walking, Yi Ran stopped her scooter near her.

“Hey beautiful, want a lift?”

Yi Ran whistled, a cheeky smile on her face as she leaned forward and hugged the front of the scooter, holding out the helmet with a crooked index finger.

She had one foot on the scooter’s footrest, and one foot extended to rest on the ground while she had her head tilted to look at Song Yu Meng.

Song Yu Meng was walking along this road when she heard the horn. The first thought that came to her mind was Yi Ran. She had stopped and turned around expectantly.

Her gut feeling was right, it really was Yi Ran and she immediately felt elated.

Song Yu Meng smiled. “Yi shifu, is your scooter safe? It can’t be a black vehicle that’s used to kidnap people, right?”

Yi Ran smiled and got off, walking to her. “It’s not a black vehicle, it’s a dedicated vehicle. Didn’t you say that nobody except you can sit on my passenger seat?”

“Wear it, I’m kidnapping you home.” She put the helmet onto Song Yu Meng’s head and did the clasp.

With just those few words, Song Yu Meng’s breath hitched and her heart started pounding as her face reddened.

She lowered her head and grabbed on the hem of her clothes tightly. Yi Ran definitely didn’t know she was so nervous, she thought.

She got on the passenger seat, and the first thing she did was to hug Yi Ran’s waist tightly.

“Why aren’t you starting to ride?” Even her tone was tinged with happiness.

Yi Ran lowered her head to look at the arms wound tightly around her waist, her heart feeling as light as a balloon.

“I’m riding now.”

Yi Ran had wanted to remind her to hold on tightly, but she didn’t expect Song Yu Meng to take the initiative. It seems like she kept it in mind.

On the road, neither of them spoke. Song Yu Meng kept hugging Yi Ran tightly, pressing her face against her back and feeling the warmth of her body as well as enjoying her favourite scent. Her smile never left her face.

After Yi Ran reached, Song Yu Meng got off and said goodbye reluctantly. She didn’t want to go, and she looked back to Yi Ran every time she took a few steps.

Yi Ran waited there with a smile, also not wanting her to go home.

She was disappointed when she had to leave Yi Ran, but Song Yu Meng was visibly happy when she got home. After all, Yi Ran’s scent was still lingering on her clothes.

Mrs Song saw her daughter skipping into the house and found it odd.

These days, her daughter had been incredibly happy when returning home. There were times when she had wanted to bring milk into her room, and she saw Song Yu Meng smiling at her phone screen. What could possibly be making her so happy?

Mrs Song: “Xiao-Yu, what are you so happy about? Did something good happen at school?”

“Nothing much, mom. Maybe it’s just the good weather making me happy.” Song Yu Meng was a little embarrassed to tell her mother she was so happy because of Yi Ran.

Mrs Song looked at her doubtfully. “How have you and that Liu Luo Yang been recently? I haven’t heard you mention him in a long time.”

“Mom, I’ll tell you honestly, I don’t like Liu Luo Yang anymore. Not a single bit.”

Hearing such a convincing tone, Mrs Song was finally relieved. She had thought her daughter was dating Liu Luo Yang to be so happy.

“That’s good.” Mrs Song then continued happily. “Then how have you and Xiao-Yi been getting along? I just saw her sending you home, your relationship should be quite good?”

“Um…… It’s quite good.” Song Yu Meng was a bit shy. She didn’t expect her mom to have seen Yi Ran sending her home. Then did she also see Song Yu Meng hugging Yi Ran tightly?

Just thinking about it was embarrassing.

“She was the one who insisted on giving me a lift!”

Mrs Song didn’t think too much of it either.

Mrs Song said eagerly: “That kid is really good-hearted and treats you well. Xiao-Yu, she treats you well, you must also treat her well, got it?”

Her impression of Yi Ran was really good.

“I know, mommy.”

……

– Chinese class –

Song Yu Meng didn’t pay attention to class, opting instead of sneak glances at Yi Ran. Using her peripheral vision to look at Yi Ran’s side profile, it was sunny and mesmerising. She liked the two shallow dimples on her cheeks whenever Yi Ran smiled.

But as she was in a daze, she felt a bit of alarm as well: Crazy Yi is so good looking, and she’s got a good character too. Plenty of people must like her, right?

Just thinking about a bunch of people liking Yi Ran, Song Yu Meng was as sour as if she had drunk a vat of aged vinegar. She couldn’t sit still, looking at Yi Ran with both attraction and annoyance.

Being so good looking and treating everyone nicely, she must be scum, liking a lot of people before! Song Yu Meng started to think nonsense.

Yi Ran didn’t know that she had been labelled a “scum woman[1]” by Song Yu Meng, if she knew, she would have been upset for sure.

As class went on, Yi Ran suddenly wondered why she felt a chill to her side. She turned her head and saw Song Yu Meng’s angry eyes at once, with the other girl propping up a book to hide that she was staring at Yi Ran.

Yi Ran’s heart skipped a beat and she gulped. “That… Why are you looking at me like that, did I anger you?”

Song Yu Meng stared at her. “You must have tricked a lot of people into liking you with that face of yours, right?”

Yi Ran’s face was a gigantic question mark.

Song Yu Meng pressed on. “You better confess, did you like a lot of people before?”

“……???” Yi Ran forced an awkward smile. “Like who, Xu Yuan?”

“What!” Song Yu Meng’s eyes widened in anger. “Ha! I knew you liked that green tea. You still dared to lie to me at the start and say you didn’t like her, hmph!”

She turned away and folded her arms, leaning on the wall with a “happy” smile.

Yi Ran knew she had messed up and moved her chair closer, pushing Song Yu Meng’s shoulder gently in a flirtatious manner. “I was just spewing nonsense. I really don’t like Xu Yuan, I didn’t lie to you.”

Song Yu Meng was unmoved. “Oh, you don’t like Xu Yuan. Then your good friend He Xiao Meng?”

“You already said she’s my good friend.”

“Oh. Then Liu Luo Yang?”

“….. I hate scheming males.”

In the next few minutes, Song Yu Meng mentioned all their classmates, going by the seating arrangement. Yi Ran denied all of them.

The last person she had yet to mention was herself.

The teacher was explaining frantically, but Yi Ran leaned closer and smiled cheekily. “Continue asking, why did you stop? Isn’t there one more person to mention?”

Song Yu Meng’s ears were all red. She wanted to ask, but she didn’t dare to ask. She wanted to know the answer for her, but she was scared of knowing. She couldn’t figure out if Yi Ran was joking or serious.

“I’m not asking anymore, I’m going to listen to the teacher!” She snatched up her pen and started taking notes, frightened to death.

Yi Ran looked at her, eyes darkening, as if she was deep in thought.

After class, He Xiao Meng walked over to Yi Ran and Song Yu Meng was still at her seat.

“I have something to tell you.” He Xiao Meng said to Yi Ran, blushing and looking nervous.

Yi Ran smiled. “What’s up?”

He Xiao Meng looked at Song Yu Meng, and Yi Ran glanced over too.

After being discovered eavesdropping, Song Yu Meng acted like she didn’t care. “What are you looking at me for? If you want to talk, go elsewhere and walk. This lady isn’t interested in eavesdropping on your conversation.”

Yi Ran said to He Xiao Meng: “Then, let’s go outside.”

Yi Ran and He Xiao Meng exited through the rear door, and looking at their silhouettes moving away, alarm bells went off in Song Yu Meng’s head. That feeling of danger she felt in class was back.

Her intuition told her He Xiao Meng was about to confess to Yi Ran. The moment she thought about it, she felt like she was sitting on needles. All she could think was: Will Crazy Yi agree to be with her!

After hesitating, she followed them out. Looking at them going up the stairs, she guessed they must be going to the rooftop, so she snuck up and avoided being discovered.

The metal door wasn’t closed, so Song Yu Meng hid in the corner by the door to listen.

She knew eavesdropping wasn’t right, but she couldn’t control herself.

The sun was beaming on the rooftop and it was warm and comfortable.

He Xiao Meng confessed to Yi Ran in such an environment.

“Yi Ran, I have something to say, mm…… I like you.” She lowered her head in nervousness and shyness.

Song Yu Meng was both freaking out and jealous when she heard the confession. She wanted to rush out to stop it, but she controlled herself because she wanted to hear Yi Ran’s answer.

One hand on the wall and one hand clutching onto the hem of her shirt, her palm was all sweaty and her clothes were wrinkled. She was so nervous her heart felt like it was in her throat.

She was waiting for Yi Ran’s reply, and so was He Xiao Meng.

After a second, Yi Ran softly said: “That… Sorry… Possibly…. Mm…. I can’t.”

She didn’t seem happy at being confessed to, nor did she look unhappy. She just looked surprised and a little lost, unsure how to reject He Xiao Meng kindly so that she wouldn’t be hurt. Yi Ran had never expected her good friend to like her.

He Xiao Meng didn’t look too upset after being rejected, she even patted Yi Ran’s shoulder and said: “So be it if you can’t, what’s the big deal?”

“It’s okay? I thought……”

“Thought what?” He Xiao Meng continued for her. “Thought I would be sad or something?”

Yi Ran nodded.

“I won’t, it’s not like I’m the only one who’s gotten rejected after a confession.” He Xiao Meng said. “Actually, I knew that I would most likely be rejected even before I confessed, so I already mentally prepared myself.”

She thought about it for a while, then said: “Mm—— I just felt like I shouldn’t have anything I regret not doing in my youth. If I like someone, then I’ll confess. It’s fine even if I’m rejected. We’re still friends, right?”

“Of course.” Yi Ran replied quickly.

“Then it’s not a bad ending. At least I don’t have this as a regret. There are many great students in school, I can just find someone else to fall for. There will eventually be someone who feels the same way about me.”

Listening to He Xiao Meng, Yi Ran’s guilt was pretty much gone. She was happy He Xiao Meng was so optimistic, or her guilt and self-reproach probably wouldn’t have been gone so quickly.

The sunlight shone from the blue sky, warmly landing on Song Yu Meng’s head. She had already went down, and she had calmed down.

She felt He Xiao Meng had said one thing right, not to leave behind any regrets in their youth. Honestly, she was a little envious He Xiao Meng could confess so bravely and even take rejection so calmly.

If she could also confess as bravely, it would be great. In her heart, she had long accepted the fact that she liked Yi Ran.