Chapter 102: The Astounded Crowd

For reasons unknown, even though it was just a brief conversation, Song Chengyi felt much better afterward. Over the years, he and Song Zeming had never gotten along, but Song Zeming had always held a significant place in his heart. Even though he was reluctant and never liked to call Song Zeming “brother,” Song Zeming was, in Chengyi’s eyes, a very competent older brother.

Early the next morning, Luo Yixia was awakened by the sound of her phone ringing. Her head was pounding, and the persistent ringing only made it worse. Who could be so desperate as to call at such an hour? Half-awake, she fumbled for the phone by her bedside. Squinting her eyes, she glanced at the screen—only to be startled. She immediately sat upright and pressed the answer button.

“Hello? Mom?”

On the other end, Zhou Yun watched as Luo Yixia finally picked up. “Xiaxia, you’re still asleep, aren’t you? Did I wake you?”

Luo Yixia shook her head quickly. “No, no, I just woke up.”

“It’s like this—I heard from Zeming that you’re on holiday today?” Zhou Yun asked.

“Yes, I’m coming home today.” Luo Yixia raked her fingers through her messy hair, feeling a bit confused. Was the holiday really today?

“I called Chengyi as well. Are you still at school? Chengyi said he’ll come pick you up soon, so be sure to get your things ready,” Zhou Yun continued in her gentle tone.

“Okay, I’ll pack right away.” Luo Yixia nodded in agreement.

“Mm, be careful on the way home. Mom will cook something delicious for you, to help you recover—you’ve worked hard all month.” Zhou Yun truly cherished Luo Yixia as her own, forgetting she had two sons who were equally exhausted.

“Thank you, Mom.” Luo Yixia’s lips curled into a smile.

After hanging up, Luo Yixia was still in high spirits. She compared other people’s mothers to her own—hers hadn’t even called once in all this time.

Lin Ya and the others were awakened by Luo Yixia’s conversation. “When did you start speaking so politely to your mom?”

“Huh? Hahaha.” Luo Yixia laughed it off awkwardly. She wasn’t her real mother—or rather, now she was.

“Why does my head hurt so much? Did I get drunk last night?” Luo Yixia’s memory was hazy, recalling only that she’d had a little to drink, but the rest was a blur.

Gan Yanyan pulled open the dorm curtain, revealing two dark circles under her eyes. “You have the nerve to talk? Think carefully about what you did last night! We were so embarrassed, we wanted to throw you out right then and there.”

Luo Yixia looked baffled. What had she done?

Lin Ya sighed. “Xiaxia, you really shouldn’t drink anymore.”

Xu Jiayu also opened her curtain and spoke with concern. “You guys are too cruel—let her forget it.”

“What did I do?” Luo Yixia’s eyes widened, sleepiness gone.

Gan Yanyan snorted. “You’ll regret it.”

Sitting on her bed, Luo Yixia tried to piece together what might have happened last night. Suddenly, fragments of memory rushed in—wailing, clinging to Song Zeming, Gan Yanyan and the others dragging her away while she stubbornly held onto Song Zeming…

What was all this?

Luo Yixia held her head, unable to believe it.

“Believe it—you really did all that,” Gan Yanyan said, crushing her hopes.

“Did I say anything?” Luo Yixia asked, her face mournful.

“You said plenty. What exactly do you want to know?” Gan Yanyan replied, her tone full of implication.

At once, Luo Yixia panicked. Did she spill something about Song Chengyi? Yet, in those scattered memories, Song Chengyi didn’t seem to appear.

“What did I say?” Luo Yixia clung to the bedrail, anxious.

“Xiaxia, do you like Instructor Song?” Lin Ya suddenly asked.

“What?” Wasn’t it supposed to be Song Chengyi?

Did she call the wrong name, wanting to say Song Chengyi but ended up saying Song Zeming?

“Last night, you hugged Instructor Song and kept calling ‘Zeming brother.’ Hahaha—isn’t that a secret crush?” Xu Jiayu, now dressed, poked her head out.

“Ah? Really?” Luo Yixia hadn’t expected that at all…

“Anything else?” she probed.

“You just kept crying in Instructor Song’s arms, telling him not to leave. You said if he left, ‘he’ would bully you. Who’s ‘he’?” Lin Ya pressed for details.

“I was drunk, I don’t remember…” Luo Yixia covered her face.

Even without thinking, she knew it must be Song Chengyi. But judging by their reactions, she’d only said these things—not exposed Chengyi.

“Xiaxia, I feel like you know Instructor Song quite well. When you hugged him crying, he patted your back to comfort you. He was so gentle!” Xu Jiayu clasped her hands together, wistful.

“Haha… I was drunk…” Luo Yixia kept dodging the questions.

For the rest of the morning, Lin Ya and Xu Jiayu interrogated her relentlessly.

Gan Yanyan quietly packed her things, occasionally teasing her.

Luo Yixia never gave a straight answer, always feigning ignorance.

After a morning of questioning, she stuck to her excuse—she was drunk and remembered nothing.

Once their bags were packed, everyone prepared to head home.

“Xiaxia, don’t think you’re off the hook. When school starts, I’ll get to the bottom of this,” Lin Ya called from ahead, glancing back at Luo Yixia.

“I told you, I was drunk. I really don’t like Instructor Song,” Luo Yixia moaned.

Little did she expect, as soon as they left the dorm, with people coming and going, she found herself the center of attention.

Luo Yixia wished there were a hole to crawl into. It was mortifying to know she’d gotten drunk and clung to Song Zeming last night.

“Xiaxia, you’ve become famous at school,” Xu Jiayu added, reminding her of her “crime.”

Luo Yixia wanted to bang her head against the wall. Mortification had reached its peak.

She lagged behind the group, trying to hide behind them, her head nearly buried in her collar.

As they descended the stairs, Lin Ya spotted a young man outside the dorm. From behind, he looked strikingly handsome.

Whose boyfriend was this?

When he turned around, the girls were stunned.

They were used to seeing Song Zeming in his military instructor uniform. Now, in a black shirt and trousers, he was almost unrecognizable.

“Instructor Song… what are you doing here?” Lin Ya asked as she approached Gan Yanyan.

“I’m here to pick someone up,” Song Zeming replied politely, smiling.

“Oh, right.” Song Zeming looked at Luo Yixia, who was walking with her head down, and walked over.

At once, everyone nearby stopped in their tracks.

Song Zeming walked over and took her suitcase.

Luo Yixia stared as her suitcase was grabbed by a strong, slightly tanned hand. She hesitated, then looked up to see Song Zeming smiling at her.

“Ze… Song… Instructor Song…” Luo Yixia stammered.

“Your mom called me and asked me to pick you up. Let’s go,” Song Zeming said, taking her suitcase.

Everyone gasped.

They’d thought Luo Yixia was just acting drunk, but now it seemed there really was something between them.

“No… don’t look at me like that… It’s nothing,” Luo Yixia pleaded, glancing nervously at the judging eyes around her.

“What’s nothing?” Song Zeming asked, puzzled.

“No… Ze… Instructor Song… Why are you here?” Luo Yixia was nearly in tears.

Though Zhou Yun had called her, she thought he’d be waiting outside the school—and that it would be Song Chengyi. Why was Zeming here, right outside the girls’ dorm?

“Is this a misunderstanding?” Song Zeming mused.

“Earlier, I forgot to tell you all, and since Xiaxia didn’t know, I didn’t ask her to explain,” he said calmly. “Actually, Xiaxia is my little sister—the neighbor next door. We’ve known each other for more than ten years.”

With this explanation, everyone understood.

No wonder…

Luo Yixia stood aside, head bowed. Now that Song Zeming had explained, why did she still feel uneasy?

“Oh, so that’s why you’re here—instructor Song, you’re picking Xiaxia up? Go ahead,” Gan Yanyan jumped in, breaking the awkward silence.

“Alright, I’ll take Xiaxia home. Next time, I’ll treat you all to dinner.” Song Zeming smiled and led Luo Yixia away.

Everyone was still lost in Song Zeming’s smile.

After the pair left, the tension began to ease.

“So Xiaxia really knew Instructor Song all along—no wonder she called him ‘brother,’” Lin Ya said, dragging her suitcase.

“I wish I had such a handsome neighbor to carry my bag,” Xu Jiayu said, envious.

“Ah, some of us aren’t so lucky,” Gan Yanyan sighed. But you still haven’t grasped the key point—when you do, you’ll go mad.

“Song Zeming is Xiaxia’s neighbor… Does that mean I have a chance to pursue Instructor Song?” Lin Ya laughed.

“Stop dreaming,” Xu Jiayu shot back.

“Wait… I think I just realized something incredible,” Lin Ya suddenly stopped.

“What is it?” Xu Jiayu asked.

“Everyone says Instructor Song and Song Chengyi are brothers. If Instructor Song is Xiaxia’s neighbor, then Song Chengyi and Xiaxia…”

“Damn, have we been fooled by Xiaxia? So she knows Song Chengyi?” Xu Jiayu suddenly understood.

Gan Yanyan kept silent, finally seeing them catch on. But they weren’t shocked enough yet—Xiaxia’s not just a neighbor, she’s practically part of a young couple. When they find out, who knows how stunned they’ll be.