Chapter 54: Still Thinking It Over

Saturday night at 11:30 p.m.

Most people were already asleep, but some were still awake.

Right now, a girl in pajamas was rummaging through her cabinet.

She was preparing in advance for tomorrow’s outing.

The meeting time was set for the morning.

“Hmm, this one’s nice.”

Ning Xiaoyun pulled out a blue-and-white dress from the cabinet and spun slowly in front of the mirror.

“Going out with Xiaoxiao, I’m really looking forward to it.”

Although the other party had rejected her invitations for cookies, cakes, and regular hangouts, she still agreed to go out together on Sunday.

And in the classroom, she’d said it was because she had company that she was willing to go shopping.

What did that mean?

It meant Xiaoxiao cared about her.

She only agreed to go out at the right moment.

How nice.

Ning Xiaoyun cradled the dress and smiled.

I’ll bring a small packet of candies tomorrow and give her some.

After organizing her things, the girl finally lay down and fell asleep, just before dawn.

***

After the night passed, the first light of dawn crept over the edge of the city.

“Ding ling ling…”

A new day.

The alarm clock in Su Xiaoxiao’s room rang exactly at eight.

“Hoo…”

“Wake up!”

The girl was unusually energetic this morning.

She couldn’t help it—her heart was heavy, so she forced herself to stay spirited.

She carelessly tidied her hair and tossed it behind her.

Then she strode forward to begin her morning preparations.

After changing into cotton clothes, slinging on her backpack, and grabbing her phone, money, keys, and everything else, it was 8:23 by the time she was ready.

Su Xiaoxiao walked out the door, heading for Summer’s End Stop.

She reached the station quickly.

There weren’t many people here on a Sunday.

Most who came here were migrant workers anyway, since this place was near the city’s bustling district.

You ask why the place she lived in was so run-down?

This small area counted as a City Village.

Just a few streets away was the lively zone, same as where her sister lived and the Xiamuo Plaza they visited yesterday.

[Xiaoxiao]: Um, I’m already at the station. How long until you arrive?

Su Xiaoxiao took out her phone from her pocket to send a message, but the other side still hadn’t replied.

Looks like she really did come too early.

Forget it.

She’d wait another twenty or thirty minutes.

Though she was a bit anxious.

Speaking of which, did Xiao Li really not check her phone? She still hadn’t replied, and Su Xiaoxiao really wanted to know if that thing was true or not.

[Liu Yun]: Where are you?

Within a minute, a reply came through.

[Xiaoxiao]: You’re here? I’m at Summer’s End Stop.

She probably didn’t go to the wrong place, right?

[Liu Yun]: Oh, I see you now.

[Xiaoxiao]: Why didn’t I see you just now?

After that, the other party went silent.

But when Su Xiaoxiao looked around, she couldn’t see anyone nearby.

“Xiaoxiao, I’m here.”

A familiar voice came from behind.

Liu Yun grabbed her soft shoulder.

“Wah!”

Reflexively, Su Xiaoxiao let out a rather unladylike yell.

“Did I scare you? Sorry.”

Liu Yun let go slowly.

“By the way, you were behind this pillar, no wonder I didn’t see you earlier.”

“Huh? How could you not see me?”

“Xiaoxiao, you’re too skinny. You need to eat properly.”

“I eat normally.”

Su Xiaoxiao didn’t want to discuss it and immediately changed the topic.

“Um, where does Xiao Li live? If everyone’s here, let’s go quickly.”

“Okay, follow me.”

Liu Yun started leading the way.

“But I didn’t expect you to be so concerned about Xiao Li’s situation.”

“Because we’re friends.”

Su Xiaoxiao looked at her innocently, as if she really had no strange thoughts.

“It’s not just that, is it? The others only care about gossip and wouldn’t be as anxious as you.”

Liu Yun turned her head, her gaze sharp as if she could see through everything.

“Uh…haha, I don’t know.”

If you’re a girl, saying you like Xiao Li would be strange, right?

“I can tell. Don’t pretend.”

Liu Yun’s tone was low.

“After all, so am I.”

Huh?

So are you what?

She didn’t understand. Could you explain?

“What did you see…”

Su Xiaoxiao was dazed.

“I knew from the first time I met you. I just didn’t say it. When I saw you in class, I thought another shy, quiet young lady had arrived, but it turned out you liked to sneak glances at people.”

The girl didn’t look disgusted—instead, there was a hint of comfort.

“Ah.”

Ah…so it was that obvious? I’m doomed. I can’t fit in with the class anymore.

Wait, but she said she was too?

“You…”

“Forget it, let’s go.”

Liu Yun pulled the stunned girl along, her tone growing heavier.

“This might not be just a rumor like last time. Xiao Li told me she has someone she likes.”

“Like…”

Su Xiaoxiao repeated the word.

Her heart pounded faster, almost as if it would break.

Because that person was once also the one she liked most deeply.

She hadn’t had much time to look for Xiao Li this week because she was busy surviving and had to job-hunt first.

Then after getting home, she didn’t reply to her on qq.

Maybe, in Xiao Li’s eyes now, she was just an ordinary, unremarkable friend.

Still, that was better than her previous life.

Liu Yun led her down a small alley—the same road they’d taken earlier.

Xiao Li’s place was inside as well, surprisingly close to her own.

After a few minutes, they reached the entrance of a Sha County Snacks shop.

Beside it was an iron door, leading to the stairway for the apartments above.

“Xiao Li lives here?”

Su Xiaoxiao looked around in disbelief.

Wasn’t this the road she took every day when going out?

Just a bit further ahead was the “Toy Shop” with all those weird things.

“Yes, but I’ve only been here once. I still remember the room number, though. She shouldn’t have moved.”

Liu Yun stood to the side, looking even more serious than before.

“We can’t get up there now.”

No key, and qq contact didn’t work either.

“Let’s wait. Someone will come to open the door.”

“Alright.”

The two of them began the long wait.

After a dozen minutes, a male student carrying a bag of buns arrived.

“Beep.”

“Thank you.”

“Sure…”

The boy in a Xiamo No. 3 High School uniform walked in ahead of them, moving quickly and vanishing in moments.

Su Xiaoxiao and the other girl followed, arriving at room 301.

“Xiao Li, it’s me. Open up.”

“Yun? Why are you here? And in the morning, too.”

A sweet female voice came from inside, followed by the sound of the door unlocking.

“Huh? Xiaoxiao? You’re here too.”

Xiao Li looked surprised.

She hadn’t known this new friend would visit her house on the weekend.

“Mm…”

“Come in, both of you.”

Xiao Li pulled them in after seeing them.

“Is there something you wanted to talk about?”

Once inside, Su Xiaoxiao saw that this room was about the same as hers, just a little larger.

So she lived in this kind of environment too?

“Mm…”

Liu Yun sat on the bed, grabbing her pants tightly with both hands, as if she couldn’t get the words out.

She looked nothing like she had at the station earlier.

She was scared now—she’d chickened out at the critical moment, afraid to face the truth.

“Did that Second-Year Senior confess to you?”

Surprisingly, the one who asked the question was the usually shy white-haired girl.

Liu Yun looked at her, as if she’d found a savior.

“Yes.”

Xiao Li answered nonchalantly, then sat on the bed too.

“Is that what you came to ask about?”

“Yeah, because you didn’t reply to any messages.”

Liu Yun spoke.

“Ah, was I offline?”

“Oh, I was busy with drawing commissions yesterday. I forgot to switch accounts after finishing.”

Xiao Li checked her phone.

“Sorry, sorry. I’ll be more careful next time.”

“That’s not the main reason…”

Su Xiaoxiao moved closer.

“Did you accept it? The confession.”

As soon as she finished speaking, time seemed to stop.

Both girls in the room waited quietly for the answer.

“Not yet…”

“But he’s a good person. He helps a lot. I’m still considering it.”

Xiao Li looked at her and shared her thoughts.