Chapter 54: From Twice a Month to Once Every Three Weeks |
The air seemed to freeze.
Han Wenwen almost thought she had misheard and asked again, "Xiao Qingqing… what did you just say?"
That brief moment of courage He Qing had earlier was completely gone—she couldn't bring herself to say it again.
Her face turned red as she fidgeted, unable to force out another word. Finally, she dove under her blanket, wrapping herself up like a cocoon, only leaving her adorable little head peeking out. Only then did she muster the courage to speak again.
"I said… I’m planning to confess to Lin Zhengran this winter… I want to be with him…"
Han Wenwen blinked at her and leaned in, teasing, "I still didn’t hear you clearly. Say it again?"
He Qing’s face was practically steaming at this point. She yanked the blanket over her head, muffling her voice even more.
"I said… I’m planning to… I want to… Ugh, Wenwen, stop asking! You heard me!"
Han Wenwen chuckled, covering her mouth to stifle her laughter. She reached out and poked the blanket. He Qing peeked through a small gap to glare at her.
He Qing nodded.
And so, the two best friends squeezed into the blanket together, forming a cozy, safe little cocoon.
Inside, Han Wenwen’s invisible fox tail swayed behind her as she curiously eyed her best friend.
"Xiao Qingqing, what made you suddenly get so bold? You’re just gonna end the competition like that?"
He Qing sat on the bed, drawing circles with her finger on the sheets.
"It’s not that I’m bold… I just don’t have a choice anymore. Ever since middle school started, haven’t you noticed how everyone keeps talking about relationships? Back in elementary school, no one really cared about these things, but in middle school, it’s everywhere."
She stared at Han Wenwen with wide, innocent eyes.
"It’s always ‘who's dating who,’ ‘who confessed to who,’ or ‘who got rejected.’"
Han Wenwen propped her chin with one hand. "Yeah, I’ve noticed. The books say it’s because of puberty. This is the age when girls’ emotions are at their most sensitive. If this were ancient times, we'd already be married by now."
He Qing blushed.
"I guess… I don’t know about that. But these topics are everywhere lately. I keep hearing stories about childhood sweethearts where one of them ends up liking someone else from another class. And those popular TV dramas lately…"
Her voice dropped.
"I watched a few out of curiosity, and I noticed that childhood friends always lose. The ones who win are always the ones who show up out of nowhere!"
Han Wenwen didn’t deny it. She read plenty of novels, anime, and dramas—childhood friends losing to newcomers was practically a rule at this point.
He Qing pouted, hugging her knees.
"Why, though? Logically, childhood sweethearts should have the best chance! They grew up together! How do they lose to someone who just appeared out of nowhere?"
"Probably for the same reason I told you before—being too familiar," Han Wenwen explained. "But Jiang Xueli isn’t exactly a ‘newcomer.’ She and Lin Zhengran are childhood friends too. Technically, you’re the real ‘newcomer’ here."
He Qing flinched.
"Huh? I’m a newcomer. But I’m his childhood friend too!"
Han Wenwen held up two fingers.
"One finger for a childhood friend," she said, touching one.
Then she touched the other.
"And one for newcomers. Double bonus. Because you only showed up in middle school."
He Qing’s eyes lit up. She popped her head out of the blanket excitedly.
"You’re right! If you put it that way, I am the real ‘newcomer’!"
Han Wenwen also peeked out from under the covers with a little "pop."
"Not also—only you. Jiang Xueli has been with Lin Zhengran since they were little. She’s got zero ‘newcomer’ energy."
He Qing grinned.
"That means I actually have a huge advantage!"
Han Wenwen closed her eyes and smiled.
"That’s why I’ve always thought you’d win."
Just as He Qing was about to get fired up, she suddenly remembered all the times she had annoyed Lin Zhengran in the past and deflated like a balloon.
"Wait, no… If I really had an advantage, then why haven’t things progressed between us? And why is Jiang Xueli getting closer to him instead?"
She hugged her knees again, shrinking into the corner.
"When I think about last semester, I just regret everything. I tried to get closer to him, but all I did was make him mad… He’s even meaner to me now."
Han Wenwen scratched her head awkwardly.
"Yeah, about that… I still don’t get why my strategies backfired so badly. Even if they didn’t help, they shouldn’t have made things worse."
He Qing sighed.
"Maybe they just weren’t right for me. I think I need to use my own method. So… I’ve decided to knit him a scarf this winter… and confess."
She thought of all the fluffy, lovey-dovey stories her classmates told.
The idea of Lin Zhengran hugging her, kissing her, and holding her hand made her heart race.
"I want to date him. I want him to spend more time with me."
Han Wenwen watched He Qing’s shy yet determined expression and leaned closer.
"Xiao Qingqing has really grown up. Since you’ve already decided, I’ll cheer you on. I hope you get your wish."
He Qing blushed and mumbled like a mosquito.
"Thanks, Wenwen…"
Then, unable to hold it in anymore, she blurted out her frustrations.
"But I really don’t have much courage…! And lately, he’s been spending less and less time with me. It used to be twice a month, but now it’s once every three weeks! And so many girls in our class like him, too! I’m really scared that if I wait any longer, he’ll…"
Han Wenwen smiled as she listened to her best friend’s complaints.
Xiao Qingqing really does like Lin Zhengran a lot.
For someone as timid as her, she was constantly trying to take action.
But…
Han Wenwen glanced out the window, her fox-like eyes unreadable.
This week happened to be the one He Qing called the "once every three weeks" weekend—meaning Lin Zhengran wasn’t spending time with her or Jiang Xueli.
But what was he doing instead?
On Saturday morning, the four of them gathered. Lin Zhengran slung his backpack over his shoulder and started heading home.
"This week, I won’t be hanging out with you guys. You two can practice on your own—or just take it as a break."
Jiang Xueli watched him leave, tilting her head curiously.
"Big dummy, what have you been up to lately? You used to hang out with us every two weeks, but now it’s every three weeks. It’s been like this since summer break…"
She turned to He Qing.
"He Qing, do you know what he’s been doing?"
He Qing shook her head.
If only I did… That’s exactly why I have to make my move soon. Otherwise, he might start meeting with us only once a month—or worse, stop spending time with us at all.
"I don’t know either… and I was too scared to ask."
Jiang Xueli sighed. She had tried asking—but her tsundere way of doing it got her nowhere.
She waved at them.
"Well, I’m heading home. See you guys next week, He Qing, Han Wenwen."
Han Wenwen and He Qing waved goodbye.
After Jiang Xueli left, He Qing asked, "Wenwen, are you working on videos again this weekend?"
She knew about Han Wenwen’s gaming videos.
As her best friend, He Qing also understood her financial situation, so she never disturbed her when she was working.
Han Wenwen nodded.
"Yeah, I need to film a few more. So I won’t be in the dorm during the day."
"That’s fine! But where do you film? An internet café? We’re not old enough to go into those, right? And those places seem kinda scary…"
Han Wenwen smiled.
"Nope! My uncle rented a place for me. It’s just for making videos. I’ll take you there sometime."
He Qing’s eyes widened.
"You rented a place?! That’s so cool! Take me there when you’re free!"
Han Wenwen nodded.
"Sure thing. See you tonight!"
She waved goodbye.
And then—she secretly headed to meet Lin Zhengran at the rental apartment.