Chapter 27 : Finding a Partner

A gust of wind blew across the balcony, carrying with it the scent of laundry detergent mingled with the moisture from the freshly washed clothes, brushing past Hua Qi’an’s nose and making her want to sneeze.

Because she was wearing pajamas, she felt a bit chilly.

What was Lin Yanqiu talking about?

Wasn’t she the only one on the balcony?

Where did that woman’s laughter come from?

Hua Qi’an glanced back into the dorm room, just in time to meet the gazes of Zhao Yingying and He Yi.

Zhao Yingying wore a look of gossipy surprise, still standing with her arms crossed in front of the bathroom, not at all like someone who had just said she needed to wash up.

He Yi, perhaps having poked her head out only after Hua Qi’an stepped onto the balcony, looked equally unsettled and kept biting her nails.

Even though both of them were looking in Hua Qi’an’s direction, she was sure she hadn’t heard them laughing.

She couldn’t understand what Lin Yanqiu meant at all.

Maybe she misheard some static on the phone?

Before Hua Qi’an could ask further, the person on the other end had already hung up.

Staring at the phone’s home screen, Hua Qi’an was at a loss for words.

A friend request pop-up appeared—it was Lin Yanqiu.

Hua Qi’an quickly accepted the friend request.

Lin Yanqiu’s social account was very clean; she wasn’t the kind to casually record her life, and her profile was practically empty.

“Remember to apply the medicine on time.”

Half a minute later, the other party sent this reminder, not continuing the previous topic.

Hua Qi’an thought for a moment, then raised her phone and took a selfie facing herself and the dorm.

Send.

“(Picture)”

“Okay, thank you for your concern, sis.”

“I just finished the laundry, I’m getting ready for bed.”

The photo showed her in pajamas, with the dorm balcony door behind her, the room’s interior faintly visible.

This should put Lin Yanqiu at ease.

Although Hua Qi’an didn’t know why Lin Yanqiu kept questioning her whereabouts again and again.

After all, Lin Yanqiu probably had faster ways to know where she was, since Hua Qi’an hadn’t changed to a new phone yet.

But since she was indeed in the dorm, sending proof to Lin Yanqiu wasn’t a big deal.

If this could finally set Lin Yanqiu’s mind at ease, all the better.

“……”

A string of ellipses came from the other end.

Then, the chatbox showed “The other party is typing…”

“Come shopping with me this weekend. I’ll buy you new pajamas.”

Hua Qi’an’s eyelid twitched.

Before she could finish typing a reply, Lin Yanqiu added a few more lines.

“Consider it a gift from me.”

“The one you’re wearing is such poor quality, it’s an eyesore.”

Hua Qi’an silently deleted her unfinished message in the chatbox and sent Lin Yanqiu a voice message instead.

“Alright, thank you, sis.”

Using voice seemed to better convey her tone.

After sending it, the other party didn’t send any more messages.

Hua Qi’an relaxed her expression, sighed softly, and glanced down at her pajamas.

A white two-piece set printed with cartoon puppy faces.

She’d bought it online on sale.

It hung loosely on her, a bit big.

The collar was made quite wide and loose, since it was sleepwear.

When she looked down, she could see her own fair skin at her chest.

It was pretty cute.

Was the quality really that bad…?

Was it so bad that Lin Yanqiu wanted to replace it as soon as she saw it?

But since Lin Yanqiu offered to give her a new set for free, Hua Qi’an wouldn’t refuse.

Curling her lips slightly, she opened the balcony door and returned to the dorm.

The moment she entered, she sensed that the atmosphere was off.

Zhao Yingying was still giving her a knowing, ambiguous look.

He Yi looked as if she couldn’t believe what she saw.

Even Li Xiaozhen, who had been shaken by last night’s events, poked her head out now, looking at Hua Qi’an with surprise.

Hua Qi’an knew the balcony wasn’t soundproof—her voice on the phone probably carried into the dorm.

But what did they mean by looking at her like this?

“Who would’ve thought, really…”

Zhao Yingying spoke up first.

“Xiao Qian, who knew you could talk to someone so sweetly?”

While Hua Qi’an was talking to Lin Yanqiu, Zhao Yingying had called He Yi over to join in the fun.

From the way Hua Qi’an answered her phone, Zhao Yingying knew there was bound to be something interesting.

With shoddy dorm construction like this, how could the balcony possibly be soundproof?

And since they hadn’t drawn the balcony curtain, Hua Qi’an’s expressions were clear for all to see.

Though they couldn’t make out what was said on the other end, they could hear Hua Qi’an’s voice.

“Every time we talk about dating in the dorm, Xiao Qian, you always say you’re not interested in relationships.”

“And yet you’re the first to find someone?”

She deliberately teased Hua Qi’an like this.

She used to wonder how Hua Qi’an, always so cheerful in the dorm but so socially anxious with outsiders, could possibly have someone interested in her.

Who’d have guessed, in front of her sugar mama, Hua Qi’an was another person altogether—a three-faced schemer.

Zhao Yingying was already planning which of her friends she’d share this juicy gossip with tonight.

At the same time, after seeing Hua Qi’an like that, she started to re-examine her.

Why hadn’t Chen Zhiyan added her yet?

She’d even asked the Pen Spirit what Chen Zhiyan liked…

Logically, after reading her letter, Chen Zhiyan should’ve added her right away.

It was only because Hua Qi’an was always so obedient—emotionless with outsiders but always helpful for the past year—that she’d asked her to deliver the letter.

But could she have been wrong?

What if Hua Qi’an now had backing, and didn’t feel obliged to help, so she lied and never delivered the letter at all?

The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

Otherwise, why hadn’t Chen Zhiyan added her yet?

Zhao Yingying glared at Hua Qi’an, gnashing her teeth in her heart.

But Hua Qi’an had no idea she was already the villain in someone else’s mind.

“What do you mean, ‘found someone’?”

“It was my sister calling me.”

Hua Qi’an found Zhao Yingying’s words inexplicable.

Although she knew Zhao Yingying always twisted her relationship with Lin Yanqiu, hearing her outright say they were dating still made her skin crawl.

She frowned instinctively and retorted.

“…So Xiao Qian, you can show that kind of expression too.”

He Yi’s muffled voice came.

Hua Qi’an turned her gaze to He Yi.

He Yi looked disappointed and lost.

Although Hua Qi’an had always greeted them in the dorm with a smile, this was the first time she’d seen her smile like that.

She used to think Hua Qi’an was emotionally dense, but today’s scene completely shattered that belief.

Even though she kept telling herself not to believe in superstitious nonsense… last night’s answer from the Pen Spirit kept surfacing in her mind and just wouldn’t go away…

So Hua Qi’an really would never like her…?

“Ha…”

A soft sigh came from Hua Qi’an’s direction.

Zhao Yingying and He Yi snapped out of it, surprised, and looked at Hua Qi’an.

“Think what you want, I’m going to bed.”

Hua Qi’an’s gaze narrowed, her face expressionless as she looked at them.