Chapter 151: Stirred Feelings

The next day, Luo Yixia had no morning classes and lingered in bed, unwilling to get up early.

When she finally opened her eyes, she found the person beside her still asleep.

“Aren’t you supposed to have an early class? Why haven’t you left yet?” Luo Yixia met his gaze.

“I want to stay in bed a little longer,” Song Chengyi said, reaching out to pull her into his arms.

Luo Yixia coquettishly snuggled closer.

After some lingering, Luo Yixia still didn’t want to hold him back, fearing that this good student would be late.

“You should go to class. I’m getting up now.”

“I’ll just play truant,” Song Chengyi didn’t budge.

Luo Yixia looked up at him. “Don’t, it’s still not too late to go now.”

“I’m afraid it’s too late now,” Song Chengyi’s voice was low and husky.

Luo Yixia frowned in confusion. “What’s wrong?”

Song Chengyi reached down, grabbed her hand, and touched something hot. His whole body tensed.

“Help me,” he whispered, biting her ear.

Luo Yixia’s cheeks flushed. She looked conflicted but finally nodded.

Song Chengyi emerged from the bathroom looking refreshed.

Luo Yixia lifted her head from under the covers, glanced briefly, and immediately slipped into the bathroom herself.

Although Song Chengyi had cleaned up before entering the bathroom, Luo Yixia felt sweaty and uncomfortable all over and wanted to wash as well.

When she came out, Song Chengyi had already gone out to buy breakfast and returned.

“Finished washing up? Come eat.”

Luo Yixia awkwardly cleared her throat and went over, spooning the porridge slowly.

It was sweet and tasted very good.

“Do you have class tonight?” Song Chengyi asked.

“No class tonight.”

“Good, then come out early, I’ll take you out to eat.”

“Mm-hmm,” Luo Yixia nodded.

Whenever something happened, Luo Yixia always felt a little embarrassed.

“You seem happier today,” Gan Yanyan teased with a mischievous smile beside her.

“I’m going out to eat with him tonight.”

“Tsk tsk, you little couple…” Gan Yanyan shook her head with mock disdain.

“Yanyan, can I ask you something? Yesterday at noon when I got up and went to the bathroom, I heard someone talking on the balcony,” Luo Yixia raised an eyebrow, smiling slyly.

“Huh?”

“Honestly, have you got a boyfriend?”

“No! I don’t have a boyfriend. Unlike you, I wouldn’t hide things from my friends,” Gan Yanyan said defensively, while slyly throwing a jab at Luo Yixia.

Luo Yixia awkwardly rubbed her nose, feeling a little guilty but unwilling to give up. “Who was it? You sounded so cheerful on the phone.”

“Uh… Yu Bin,” Gan Yanyan avoided her gaze.

“Wow, no way, Yanyan, could it be what I think it is?” Luo Yixia’s face was full of gossip.

“It’s not like that. Remember when we got caught spying on Song Chengyi’s rehearsal? Yu Bin’s the screenwriter. We chatted, and he asked for my help revising the script. So that’s why he was on the phone,” Gan Yanyan explained.

“Really? That simple? Then why were you so guilty just now, avoiding my gaze?” Gan Yanyan pressed, unwilling to let it go.

“I wasn’t guilty at all,” Gan Yanyan declared confidently but felt a twinge of guilt right after. Why did she feel that way when nothing happened?

Gan Yanyan steadied herself.

“Oh,” Luo Yixia responded, though her expression clearly said, “I don’t believe you.”

Gan Yanyan fell silent, deciding not to explain further; the more she said, the more tangled it got.

When the appointed time came, Luo Yixia changed clothes in the dormitory.

No choice—she was naturally fond of looking beautiful and wanted to dress prettily.

She wore a pink sweater underneath, a pleated skirt, and a beige coat over it, topped with a white beret—like a little fairy.

“Don’t you think you look a little underage like that?” Among the dorm mates, only Lin Ya was younger than Luo Yixia, who was a year older due to delayed enrollment.

But among the four girls, Luo Yixia always appeared the youngest at first glance.

It was inevitable—Luo Yixia had good temperament, looked beautiful, had a flawless figure, and, most importantly, her skin was flawless even without makeup.

She usually dressed in soft pastel colors, truly like a young girl.

Luo Yixia kept her head down, stepping on fallen leaves, occasionally glancing toward the end of the street, but she never saw anyone.

Usually, the two of them would walk back together from here. It was already five o’clock; classes should be over by now.

At this hour, it was nearly dark.

The streetlights flickered twice before decisively turning on.

Her phone buzzed. Luo Yixia hurriedly checked it.

The message was from her crush: [I suddenly have an urgent experiment; I might be a bit delayed. You go to the restaurant first and wait for me.]

Then he sent the address and the private room number.

The sparkle in Luo Yixia’s eyes dimmed slightly as she exhaled. Well, there was nothing she could do.

Besides, he wasn’t doing it on purpose.

Luo Yixia didn’t take a taxi but walked there. The place was near campus, the same Jingyue Pavilion she had visited with her dormmates before.

Hands in pockets, she walked alone along the roadside, solitary and pitiful.

After about ten minutes, she arrived and reported the room number. The waiter led her inside.

The private room had a large backyard with artificial rocks and even a small stream running through it.

Luo Yixia found the room stuffy and sat by the rocks, watching the clear water where little fish and shrimp played.

Meanwhile, Song Chengyi texted again, saying he’d need another half hour and told her to start eating.

Luo Yixia had completely lost her appetite.

She just wanted to eat together. How could she start without him?

She squatted by the water, stretching out her hand as if to catch one of the still ornamental fish.

Suddenly, a voice behind her startled her so much she nearly fell into the water.

“Be careful, the water’s deep there,” the voice cautioned.

Someone quickly came over, steadying her and helping her up.

Luo Yixia finally saw his face and pulled back her arm. “What are you doing here?”

He Zhen smiled. “Eating here. Aren’t you waiting too?”

Luo Yixia wrinkled her nose at the strong smell of alcohol on him and took a step back.

He Zhen noticed but didn’t seem displeased; instead, he smiled and leaned closer.

“I’ve seen you standing here a while. Have you eaten? Alone?”

“I’m waiting for a friend,” Luo Yixia replied.

“Male or female? Why have you been waiting so long? That’s not very nice,” He Zhen said with mock regret.

“He’ll be here soon,” Luo Yixia said nothing more; He Zhen didn’t know whether the friend was male or female.

“Haven’t eaten yet? How about you come eat with me first? I’m bored too, and I’m alone,” He Zhen smiled, but Luo Yixia sensed a profound loneliness beneath it.

Song Chengyi would probably arrive later, so Luo Yixia decided to go to the adjacent private room.

Upon entering, a strong and pungent smell of alcohol hit her.

The table was cluttered with empty bottles. Luo Yixia had only tried beer and red wine before; she didn’t recognize the other drinks.

There were many dishes on the table, mostly untouched.

Luo Yixia frowned. “Why have you drunk so much?”

“Guys don’t need a reason to drink,” Song Chengyi smirked, then placed a plate of small pastries before her.

Luo Yixia picked up a little rabbit-shaped treat and nibbled on it.

“Good, right? I really like their pastries.”

“Mm, last time I came I didn’t get to try them. I didn’t realize they had pastries,” Luo Yixia nodded. They really were delicious.

While eating, Luo Yixia observed He Zhen. Though he kept smiling, she could see he was unhappy and lonely.

“Is something wrong? You don’t seem very happy.”

He Zhen glanced at her and was silent for a long while before speaking slowly, as if talking to her but also to himself:

“What unhappiness? I’m a rich second-generation, a spendthrift, idle and aimless, always causing trouble. Am I not unhappy? I do whatever makes me happy.”

Luo Yixia caught the ambiguous meaning behind his words.

“I wasn’t good at studying growing up, failed at everything. I studied dance for over ten years but ended up mediocre. I have nothing else to show for myself. My family runs a company; I’m their only daughter. In the end, I came to study medicine, knowing nothing at all. Recently, my father got sick, and the company is struggling. I can’t help at all. Even when I go to the company, I understand nothing. Sometimes I feel useless, but I still hold onto hope. Life is mine, and the future might be bright. Maybe if I work hard, I’ll succeed?”

Luo Yixia stared at him, her eyes shining like the crescent moon outside.

He Zhen looked back, his ears involuntarily reddening.

“So, don’t think you’re useless. I noticed your grades in the last exam. You did well, even better than me. You’re really excellent.”

He Zhen had never been praised like that before. Everyone saw him as a failure, despised him. His father sent him to City A to keep him out of sight. No matter what happened, if he was around, it was always his fault.

His family feared him fighting for inheritance, guarded against him like a thief. So he ended up studying medicine, disconnected from the family business. Still, they weren’t satisfied.

Of course, he had a younger brother who excelled at everything. Compared to him, he was just a useless waste.

“We medical students know that drinking too much is bad for your health. You should cut back,” Luo Yixia said softly.

She could only offer advice but could not intervene in others’ affairs.

He Zhen had always thought this girl was different and interesting, but this was the first time he truly felt attracted to a girl.

He always found her cute, but now she was irresistibly adorable.

Luo Yixia’s phone vibrated. She checked it; Song Chengyi had arrived at the private room and asked where she was.

A smile spread uncontrollably across her lips.

“The person I’m waiting for is here. I have to go. Bye~” Luo Yixia stood and left.

Before going, she looked back and couldn’t resist saying, “You should ask the waiter to get you some honey water from the pharmacy. Hangovers are tough.”