Chapter 103: The Body Tells the Truth

However, this time, with Song Zeming openly revealing their relationship, how was Luo Yixia supposed to explain things? If she were to confess her connection with Song Chengyi now, she might truly be tormented by a few obsessive fans at the school.

The two walked out of the school, dragging their suitcases behind them.

Although the surrounding students were all in a hurry, there were still some sharp-eyed ones—after all, last night’s incident with Luo Yixia had spread throughout the campus.

Song Zeming was known as the most amiable among the instructors, and his exceptional looks made him impossible to ignore, even for students from other classes. Now, voices kept echoing around Luo Yixia.

She was on the verge of a breakdown.

They made their way toward the school gate.

Not far off, Song Zeming’s car was parked.

From a distance, Luo Yixia saw Song Chengyi sitting in the front passenger seat.

Song Chengyi noticed as well; the two exchanged a brief glance before Luo Yixia quickly lowered her head, avoiding his gaze.

She’d forgotten, after drinking, that she and Song Chengyi were still in the midst of a cold war. The words she’d said to him at the time must have infuriated him.

And last night, she’d surely embarrassed him again—thankfully, no one else knew…

Song Zeming placed their luggage in the trunk, and Luo Yixia quietly took a seat in the back.

Song Zeming watched their tense state with growing concern, but there was little he could do.

All along the drive, Song Zeming tried to lighten the mood.

“Xiaxia, are you feeling better? A few days ago, I heard from Zeming that you weren’t well, and he even went out to buy medicine for you,” Song Zeming said.

At his question, two pairs of eyes—one from the front, one from the back—turned toward him.

Song Chengyi’s gaze was warning, while Luo Yixia’s was puzzled.

Luo Yixia kept her head down. When had she needed medicine… Wait, could it have been that time…

She bit her lip, her cheeks instantly flushed. In a low voice, she replied, “I’m fine now.”

Song Chengyi only thought his elder brother was a troublemaker, never expecting him to bring up even this.

That day, Luo Yixia had told him she was out of something, so he went to Song Zeming, asking him to buy some medicine for her, thus earning permission to leave. But after all this time, Song Zeming had managed to bring it up again.

That day had been Song Chengyi’s greatest humiliation. In all his years, he’d never imagined he’d buy that kind of thing for a girl—it was utterly mortifying.

Song Chengyi irritably rested his arm across his face.

Yet Song Zeming was oblivious to the shift in their attitudes, and continued chatting away: “Xiaxia, make sure you take care of yourself this time. You two both study medicine, so you should pay extra attention to your health.”

“Mm, don’t worry, Brother Zeming, I know.” Luo Yixia nodded.

Afterward, Song Zeming and Luo Yixia continued their conversation.

They hadn't seen each other for a long time; although they'd met every day for a month, there hadn’t been a chance to catch up.

As they talked, Luo Yixia gradually opened up, chatting away as if a dam had burst.

For some reason, Song Chengyi was irritated by this—though he wasn’t sure whether it was her talking, or her talking to Song Zeming.

Either way, his mood was sour.

But with Song Zeming present, Song Chengyi kept silent, though his expression betrayed his impatience.

The car drove into the Song family’s villa.

Song Zeming pressed the horn, and soon the gates opened.

Zhou Yun and Yu Wenjing came out to greet them.

Luo Yixia was genuinely happy.

As soon as the car stopped, she couldn’t wait to get out.

This time, Song Chengyi didn’t give Song Zeming a chance—once the car was parked, he opened the trunk and hauled out both suitcases, his and Luo Yixia’s.

Song Zeming smiled silently, then quietly carried his own luggage inside.

Zhou Yun and Yu Wenjing rushed straight to Luo Yixia, who had gotten out first.

“Mom, what are you doing here?” Luo Yixia blurted to Yu Wenjing without thinking.

“Am I an eyesore to you?” Yu Wenjing had gotten up early to wait for her return, only to be greeted with this complaint.

“Xiaxia doesn’t mean it like that. Look at her—she’s tanned, and has lost quite a bit of weight,” Zhou Yun quickly helped divert the conversation.

Yu Wenjing was easily swayed and, looking at Luo Yixia, realized she had indeed become darker and thinner.

The two sons quietly carried their suitcases upstairs.

When they came down again, Zhou Yun went to check on them.

Song Chengyi, too, had gotten tanned—unsurprisingly, since Song Zeming had been in the military for years. It was hard to tell if he’d gotten darker than before.

But neither seemed thinner; Song Chengyi, however, looked less energetic, probably from lack of rest.

“Mom,” Song Chengyi greeted both mothers.

Song Zeming called out to his own mother, then politely greeted Yu Wenjing: “Hello, Aunt Yu.”

“I haven’t seen Zeming for years. You look even more spirited now,” Yu Wenjing grinned. She liked both sons of the Song family; each was more accomplished than the other—unlike her own.

She sighed at the thought of Luo Yixia.

“You haven’t had breakfast yet, have you? Come in, quickly, let’s eat,” Yu Wenjing ushered everyone into the living room.

Luo Yixia hadn’t eaten either. She’d been awakened by Yu Wenjing’s phone call, rushed out of bed still reeking of alcohol, and scrambled to shower, leaving no time for breakfast.

She had planned to sit as far from Song Chengyi as possible and took a seat beside Yu Wenjing.

But unexpectedly, Song Chengyi sat right next to her.

Luo Yixia pressed her lips together, trying to disguise her discomfort.

Yu Wenjing noticed her daughter’s subtle movements and frowned slightly: “Xiaxia, did you drink last night?”

The sudden question drew everyone’s attention to Luo Yixia.

“Last night… it was a gathering… I had a little,” Luo Yixia replied. She’d clearly showered that morning—how could her mother still smell it? What a nose!

“We were all there. They held a farewell party for me, and Xiaxia had a bit to drink,” Song Zeming quickly explained for her.

“How many times have I told you—not to drink! Girls shouldn’t drink. When you get drunk, you look a mess. Do you know how you looked?” Yu Wenjing scolded her.

Luo Yixia pouted inwardly. Why not scold me earlier, instead of waiting until I’ve embarrassed myself?

The mention of drinking made her even more uneasy; last night’s humiliation was unforgettable.

To make matters worse, both parties involved were now sitting at the same table.

She quietly took a bite of her bun.

Song Chengyi kept his head down, eating silently. Yet, just as before, he peeled an egg for Luo Yixia.

She couldn’t understand him. Weren’t they in a cold war? Wasn’t he angry? Why was he still peeling eggs for her?

But she was timid and obediently accepted it, eating it quietly.

Her heart was filled with frustration—why couldn’t she be stronger?

During breakfast, Zhou Yun and Yu Wenjing asked about recent events.

They both knew that Luo Yixia had gotten lost in the woods during military training.

Luo Yixia reassured them that she was fine.

Breakfast, at last, was finished.

After the meal, Luo Yixia wanted to leave, but the two mothers held her back, sitting on either side of her.

Song Chengyi and Song Zeming quietly returned to their rooms.

Watching their retreating backs, Luo Yixia felt a pang of anguish.

“Xiaxia, you’ve lost so much weight in just a month,” Zhou Yun said with concern.

Luo Yixia smiled and pinched her cheek: “It’s good to be slimmer. I’ve always wanted to lose weight.”

The three chatted for a while longer.

Zhou Yun steered the conversation toward Song Chengyi.

“Xiaxia, did Chengyi bully you during the past month out there?” she asked casually.

“No, he’s always been good to me. When I got lost, he was the one who found me, took me to the hospital, even prepared ice packs for me… He’s really very kind,” Luo Yixia answered sincerely, aware of their intentions but giving honest replies.

Zhou Yun and Yu Wenjing exchanged glances; hearing Luo Yixia’s words, they both breathed a sigh of relief.

They’d worried about the two throughout the month.

“All right, go find Chengyi. We’ll make lunch for you—Mom is making soup for you today,” Yu Wenjing saw the urgency in Luo Yixia’s eyes and let her go upstairs; everything that needed asking had been asked.

“No, let me help you. I can give you a hand,” Luo Yixia wasn’t keen to be alone with Song Chengyi.

“Go rest—you’ve worked hard all month. If we need help, I’ll help Wenjing,” Zhou Yun didn’t give her the chance and sent her upstairs.

Luo Yixia dawdled, glancing back at Yu Wenjing and Zhou Yun, who were smiling up at her from below.

Finally, she sighed and headed upstairs; left turn brought her to Song Chengyi’s room.

The door was open.

Luo Yixia decided to go in.

Song Chengyi sat in a chair, laptop on his lap.

He glanced at her as she entered.

“I… I’ll put away my clothes,” Luo Yixia offered, approaching her suitcase and opening it, though it only held a few garments. She spent a long time packing them into the wardrobe.

“When you’re done, help me with mine,” he spoke suddenly from the chair.

Luo Yixia looked at him in confusion.

She thought to herself: Don’t you have hands? Why should I pack for you? But her body responded honestly, nodding and saying, “Okay.”

She gritted her teeth. Fine, she’d count it as repayment for all the care he’d given her when she was injured, even if it wasn’t quite the same.

Luo Yixia opened Song Chengyi’s suitcase. His clothes were neatly arranged—his compulsive tidiness was evident.

She took each item out in turn and placed it in the wardrobe.

Then, spotting a small black bundle, she steeled herself, found the right drawer, and quickly shoved it inside.