Chapter 90: Caught Up in Conversation

The principal was speaking animatedly by the side. Song Chengyi kept his head lowered, showing no expression from Luo Yixia's vantage point. Yet Luo Yixia felt a bitterness lingering in her heart.

"He was only trying to help me. If Senior Song hadn’t found me, I might have been stuck in the woods for a long time. If anyone deserves punishment, Principal, let it be me," Luo Yixia said, gazing directly at the principal.

Old Sheng stared at her in disbelief. This quiet girl, who rarely spoke, suddenly had such nerve? Hadn't she just been scolded at length, and yet it was as though the words had gone in one ear and out the other?

Song Chengyi, meanwhile, looked at the righteous girl beside him. At last, she’s shown some backbone...

The principal was taken aback. "No, no, Song Chengyi’s actions deserve praise, not punishment—though it was dangerous." Truthfully, the principal was all bluster; not only should this be commended, but a reward was in order.

"This time, since it’s your first offense, go on, head back," the principal said, waving his hand to dismiss them.

Luo Yixia and Song Chengyi left eagerly. Old Sheng finally breathed a sigh of relief. Being a homeroom teacher was no easy feat; he worked diligently and yet, it was his own students who got into trouble.

The principal had just mentioned Song Zeming as well. Now, with the two main culprits gone, only Song Zeming remained to be dealt with.

"Officer Song, I know you’re from a military academy and have always been outstanding. Serving as an instructor here may be beneath your talents, but the students’ safety must always come first. Thankfully, both are unharmed. By the way, has Luo Yixia’s family been contacted?" the principal asked the two men.

Old Sheng hurried over, realizing he hadn’t contacted the family, and turned to Song Zeming.

"They’re both my younger siblings. Their parents have been informed," Song Zeming replied.

"Wait—your siblings?" the principal was confused.

"Song Chengyi is my brother, and Luo Yixia is the girl next door. We’re close; I’ve already contacted her parents," Song Zeming said, standing tall.

"I see... No wonder," the principal murmured thoughtfully.

Old Sheng stared at Song Zeming. "No wonder—both brothers are so outstanding."

Song Zeming didn’t respond.

Meanwhile, Luo Yixia and Song Chengyi stepped outside.

Luo Yixia let out a breath. "That scared me to death. I thought the principal would dock my credits and stop me from graduating!"

Song Chengyi glanced at her, her worried look actually quite endearing.

As Luo Yixia spoke, she suddenly crouched down.

"Hold still, let me see your leg," Song Chengyi said, kneeling on one knee and rolling up Luo Yixia’s pant leg all the way to her knee to examine it.

The swelling had gone down considerably, but perhaps she’d overexerted herself that day. Song Chengyi saw her knee was still red and, reaching out, pressed it gently.

"Ow, that hurts," Luo Yixia flinched away.

"Serves you right," Song Chengyi replied, rolling her pant leg back down and standing up.

Luo Yixia pouted, looking aggrieved.

"Did you take your medicine this morning?"

"I did."

"It’s almost noon now. After lunch, wait for me in the woods behind the dormitory," Song Chengyi said, pursing his lips.

"Is something up?" Luo Yixia asked warily. The base wasn’t as big as the school, and this place was crowded. What if someone saw them?

"Don’t worry. Everyone else will be resting at noon," Song Chengyi said, then walked away.

Luo Yixia returned to her dorm and the group dispersed. Students went off in twos and threes toward the cafeteria.

Gan Yanyan spotted Luo Yixia and rushed over. "How did it go? Are you alright?"

Luo Yixia smiled. "I’m fine, just got a talking-to."

Gan Yanyan breathed a sigh of relief. "That’s good. But... what about Song Chengyi? Is he okay?"

"He’s fine. He was only helping me; they won’t punish him."

The two chatted as they walked to the cafeteria. Gan Yanyan was still worried about her leg and told her to find a table while she queued up for food.

As soon as Luo Yixia sat down, the pain in her leg became unbearable. She realized she had really overdone it; if only she hadn’t tried to act tough. She pressed on her knee, hoping to ease the pain, but it only burned more. She sighed. After eating, she still had to meet Song Chengyi. She wondered what he wanted.

Chen Nan, carrying his tray, looked for a seat and spotted Luo Yixia sitting alone. He walked over with a smile.

"Yixia, why didn’t you get your own food?" noticing the empty table in front of her.

"Gan Yanyan went to get it for me," Luo Yixia replied.

"I see." Chen Nan sat down. "I saw Officer Song take you both to the principal’s office earlier," he said, concerned.

"Yes, just about me getting lost. Got scolded a bit," Luo Yixia replied nonchalantly.

"Glad you’re alright. But how’s your leg? You did training this morning, too."

"Much better," Luo Yixia replied with a smile, though her knee throbbed fiercely. She discreetly touched it—still so painful.

Chen Nan continued chatting, but Luo Yixia wasn’t really paying attention. She didn’t know Chen Nan well and felt awkward sitting together. All the while, she wondered why Gan Yanyan was taking so long—she was hungry. And why was Chen Nan chatting with her while holding a whole tray of food, especially with her favorite braised pork right in front of her? The cafeteria rarely served braised pork—she hoped Yanyan had gotten her some.

Her impatience grew.

"Do you have a boyfriend, Yixia? It’s not someone from our school’s fifth class, is it?" Chen Nan asked, nervously poking at his food with his chopsticks.

Luo Yixia only half-registered the question and responded vaguely.

"What, you have a boyfriend?" Chen Nan suddenly asked, excited.

Startled, Luo Yixia widened her eyes, replaying his question in her mind. Flustered, she quickly shook her head. "No, I don’t. I don’t have a boyfriend."

"Really?" Chen Nan asked, delighted.

"Mhm," Luo Yixia replied awkwardly, turning away to search for Gan Yanyan, completely missing the smile on Chen Nan’s face.

"Isn’t that Luo Yixia and Chen Nan over there?" Yu Bin asked, carrying his tray alongside Song Chengyi and pointing to a nearby table.

Song Chengyi glanced over and, sure enough, saw Luo Yixia sitting with Chen Nan, who was grinning from ear to ear. For some reason, a wave of irritation washed over him.

"There are seats here—let’s sit," Yu Bin said, noticing empty spots nearby.

Before he finished speaking, Song Chengyi was already striding toward their table.

"Hey?" Yu Bin watched as Song Chengyi walked straight over and sat down beside Luo Yixia.

Luo Yixia glanced at him, wondering why he looked so upset.

"Aren’t you eating?" Song Chengyi asked.

"Gan Yanyan went to get my food," Luo Yixia explained.

"Hi," Yu Bin greeted awkwardly as he sat next to Chen Nan.

"Hi," Luo Yixia replied with a smile.

At that moment, Gan Yanyan finally arrived, balancing two trays as she rushed over. Seeing the full table, she carefully placed a tray down and sat next to Yu Bin.

"There were so many people—I had to squeeze through. You must have been hungry, Yixia."

"Not really," Luo Yixia replied.

"With how busy she is, how could she be hungry?" Song Chengyi suddenly interjected.

Everyone turned to look at him.

Song Chengyi slowly raised his head and looked at Chen Nan. "She’s busy chatting," he said coolly.

Luo Yixia stared at him. What was going on? Why did he look like he wanted to murder someone?

Gan Yanyan and Yu Bin could almost smell the gunpowder in the air.

Chen Nan didn’t understand why Song Chengyi’s words sounded so hostile. He hadn’t done anything to offend him, had he?

Beneath the table, Luo Yixia tugged at Song Chengyi’s sleeve.

Without a word, Song Chengyi reached out and took her hand, intertwining their fingers tightly.

In an instant, Luo Yixia’s face flushed. Was he jealous because she’d been talking to Chen Nan?

She smiled, lowered her head, and quietly ate her food.

The atmosphere at the table was tense and awkward; everyone decided it was best to focus on their own meals. Yu Bin felt like he might have indigestion—something just felt off. Song Chengyi seemed ready to explode.

After lunch, Luo Yixia and Gan Yanyan returned to the dormitory. Remembering her appointment with Song Chengyi, Luo Yixia decided to sneak out. "I’m going out for a bit. I’ll be back soon," she lied.

"Alright," Gan Yanyan nodded.

Luo Yixia jogged to the woods behind the dorms. Because the base was built in the wilderness, the landscaping was excellent and the woods behind the dorms were expansive. She craned her neck, searching for that familiar figure. Where was he? Had he not arrived yet?

"Over here," came Song Chengyi’s voice from behind.

Turning around, Luo Yixia saw him standing not far away, carrying something in his hand as he approached her. He took her by the hand and led her to a shady spot.

Under a large tree, Song Chengyi sat her down and rolled up her pant leg. He took out some ice and began to apply it to her knee.

"Where did you get this?" Luo Yixia asked.

"I asked the cafeteria auntie," Song Chengyi replied, focused on his task.

Luo Yixia watched as he wrapped the ice in a towel and carefully pressed it to her knee. He always looked after her so attentively.

Her heart swelled with sweetness, as if she’d eaten honey. "Thank you, Song Chengyi," she blurted out.

"Don’t start acting silly again," Song Chengyi teased, glancing at her.

Luo Yixia grinned foolishly. This was the real Song Chengyi...

"What were you and Chen Nan talking about at lunch? You seemed pretty happy," Song Chengyi asked, trying to sound casual.

"Chen Nan? I wasn’t laughing," Luo Yixia protested, aggrieved. She definitely hadn’t been happy.

"Really?" Song Chengyi asked, his tone cool.

"I wasn’t. I was starving and he just sat there with a bowl of food in front of me. If I was thinking about anything, it was the braised pork," Luo Yixia said earnestly.

Song Chengyi looked at her and let out a soft laugh.

"I know," he said, reaching out to pinch her cheek.