Chapter 23 : Heckling

“……Are you okay?”

Hua Qi’an asked softly.

The whole scene looked strange no matter how she saw it.

Why was Chen Zhiyan looking into a mirror inside the classroom in the dark?

And why was she still keeping her head bowed?

Could it be that she wasn’t feeling well?

But even with Hua Qi’an’s questions, Chen Zhiyan didn’t move at all.

It made Hua Qi’an start to wonder if she had fallen asleep.

Only then did Hua Qi’an notice the exposed skin.

It was very pale, with an almost sickly tone.

Not the kind of fairness a normal person would have.

It even looked a bit bluish.

A bad feeling rose in Hua Qi’an’s chest, and she furrowed her brows slightly.

Just as she was debating whether to get closer and check on Chen Zhiyan, the person in front suddenly spoke.

【Did you need something from me?】

Her voice was calm, without any emotion, like a pre-programmed text being read out by a machine—completely mechanical.

It gave one chills.

But Hua Qi’an actually breathed a sigh of relief.

She thought Chen Zhiyan might have fainted or something.

It seemed she was awake, which made things much easier.

Hua Qi’an took the pink envelope and bouquet out of her backpack.

Then she held them out in Chen Zhiyan’s direction.

But Chen Zhiyan still kept the same posture, unmoving.

Hua Qi’an simply placed the two items right in front of her.

Chen Zhiyan moved slightly.

She lifted her hand and took the envelope.

Hua Qi’an noticed a beautiful red string bracelet on her left wrist.

The bright red stood out starkly against her pale wrist.

【…You like me?】

Chen Zhiyan spoke again.

Still calm, still devoid of any waves or emotion—purely mechanical.

Yet for some reason, the words sounded distorted in Hua Qi’an’s ears.

Like an old radio with bad signal.

Hua Qi’an was momentarily dazed but quickly snapped back, looking at Chen Zhiyan in confusion.

Despite the question, Chen Zhiyan still kept her head bowed, hiding her face.

Maybe it was just a hallucination.

Hua Qi’an didn’t think too much and naturally shook her head.

“My roommate asked me to give this to you.”

“She likes you.”

To Hua Qi’an, Chen Zhiyan didn’t have any social necessity, so she replied lightly, making it clear this was nothing to do with herself.

Though Hua Qi’an couldn’t see Chen Zhiyan’s expression, she could somehow feel the person in front stiffen.

The hand holding the envelope froze like rusty gears, hesitating before slowly pulling back.

The envelope fell back onto the desk.

Because only the podium lamp was on, the fourth row where Chen Zhiyan sat was still dim.

With only a single light source, the mirror’s shadow stretched long, completely covering the envelope and bouquet on the desk.

Hua Qi’an’s shadow was also elongated and cast onto the desk and floor.

Perhaps because most of the classroom behind was still dark…

Hua Qi’an didn’t see Chen Zhiyan’s shadow at all.

“……”

Since she had found a pen and delivered the items, Hua Qi’an felt no reason to stay.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave.”

Hua Qi’an zipped up her backpack, glanced at Chen Zhiyan with her head still lowered, then stood and walked toward the door.

【……】

She didn’t know why Chen Zhiyan was sitting in the dark classroom looking into the mirror, but it must have been for her own reasons.

Since Chen Zhiyan didn’t seem to need help, she’d probably leave on her own after finishing whatever she was doing.

Though not many people were around the teaching building at night, the doors wouldn’t be locked until after nine.

There was still plenty of time before then.

Before leaving, she took one last look at Chen Zhiyan.

As at the start, she still sat with her head bowed, unmoving.

Only now there was a pink letter and a bouquet on the desk before her.

Leaving the teaching building, Hua Qi’an walked toward the school gate.

She planned to go straight back to the dorm.

Tomorrow afternoon was free, perfect for picking out a new phone and getting some self-defense items.

According to the logistics update, the “company” had sent her a package arriving tomorrow morning.

Hua Qi’an was curious about what kind of things they’d send.

But she never expected to run into a surprising person on the way.

“…Chen Zhiyan?”

Seeing that familiar figure, Hua Qi’an frowned.

Chen Zhiyan also seemed surprised to see her here.

The two locked eyes on the road.

An awkward silence filled the air.

Hua Qi’an recalled she had just seen Chen Zhiyan in the classroom not long ago.

If Chen Zhiyan was here now, that meant she must have left the teaching building soon after Hua Qi’an.

There were several paths around the teaching building, so Chen Zhiyan probably took a different one.

That explained why they met at a crossroads.

After figuring out a reason for Chen Zhiyan’s presence, Hua Qi’an relaxed.

She always instinctively rationalized confusing situations.

Hua Qi’an glanced at Chen Zhiyan’s hands; both were empty.

Looks like Zhao Yingying’s flowers and love letter hadn’t been accepted.

But that didn’t seem to concern Hua Qi’an.

They weren’t close, and what needed to be said had already been said in the classroom.

So Hua Qi’an intended to ignore Chen Zhiyan and keep walking toward the gate.

Unexpectedly, Chen Zhiyan suddenly called out.

“You’re Hua Qi’an, right? From the same elective class?”

Chen Zhiyan took the initiative to speak.

Only the street lamps on either side of the road provided light in the teaching area at night.

Their shadows stretched long beneath the lamps.

Hua Qi’an stopped, expressionless as she looked at Chen Zhiyan, unsure of her intentions.

Chen Zhiyan wasn’t in the same major, and their family backgrounds seemed entirely different.

Why would Chen Zhiyan talk to her?

“Do you remember we participated in the same volunteer activity before?”

Chen Zhiyan stepped closer, eyes showing a hint of nostalgia. “I think… it was at the welfare home.”

Looking at Hua Qi’an, her eyes seemed to shine, hoping she would recall.

But Hua Qi’an had no intention of playing along.

“Sorry.”

“My memory’s not very good.”

Just being at the same volunteer event—was it necessary to remember it clearly?

If it weren’t for Zhao Yingying pestering her about the name, Hua Qi’an wouldn’t even remember who she was.

Chen Zhiyan blinked at the reply, not upset but instead gave a subtle look as she kept watching Hua Qi’an.

“But I do know you’re Chen Zhiyan.”

After thinking a moment, Hua Qi’an added that.

Though she didn’t need a good relationship with Chen Zhiyan, it wasn’t wise to be too sharp and damage it outright.

After all, Chen Zhiyan was quite a prominent figure, and bad blood would bring no benefit.

They’d just keep the relationship as neutral as possible.

Hearing Hua Qi’an, Chen Zhiyan tilted her head but didn’t reply, switching topics instead.

“Qi’an, what are you still doing in the teaching area at this hour?”

“You don’t have class tonight, right?”

Hearing the address, Hua Qi’an frowned slightly but said nothing.

Under the streetlight, Chen Zhiyan’s features looked somewhat softer.

So this was her personality?

Calling her so familiarly after just a few meetings…

Hua Qi’an had thought Chen Zhiyan would be cold and aloof.

“…That’s a strange question.”

They’d just seen each other not long ago—why was Chen Zhiyan asking what she was doing at this time?

Did Chen Zhiyan have a bad memory too?

“I dropped my pen during the elective, so I just went back to get it.”

“You were in the classroom, you should remember.”

Hua Qi’an was already generous not asking what Chen Zhiyan was doing in the classroom so late.

Chen Zhiyan looked confused. “Elective classroom?”

Hua Qi’an sighed.

“Didn’t I just give you the letter and flowers? Are you pretending not to remember?”

Chen Zhiyan’s eyes suddenly widened like she’d heard something unbelievable.

Her ear tips flushed red.

Just as she wanted to ask more, a commotion from the street broke the atmosphere between them.

“Ah, Zhiyan! You’re here!”

A mock serious male voice came from a distance.

Hua Qi’an noticed the sparkle in Chen Zhiyan’s eyes vanish at the sound, replaced by a coldness.

Her expression darkened.

But seeing Hua Qi’an still watching, Chen Zhiyan quickly softened her look again.

Hua Qi’an turned toward the voice and saw a boy surrounded by several others approaching.

Thanks to the streetlamp, she could see clearly.

The boy wore a gold chain around his neck, his hair curled in a perm.

He seemed dressed entirely in designer brands, unfamiliar to Hua Qi’an.

In his hands was a large bouquet of fresh flowers.

“Wang Chang, what are you doing?”

Chen Zhiyan clearly recognized the boy being surrounded and guessed his intent, showing a displeased expression.

Before Wang Chang could speak, the boys beside him began cheering.

“Sis Chen, I heard you came back to school and ran over here without even eating!”

“Wuhu, so passionate, Wang Chang!”

“Definitely the most devoted guy in Hangyang!”

“……”

The noisy cheers gave Hua Qi’an a headache.

She noticed the group starting to encircle the two of them.

Wang Chang, at the center, seemed to enjoy the compliments, and once satisfied, he put on a tender expression and walked over to Chen Zhiyan holding the flowers.

“Zhiyan, I really like you. Go out with me!”

He flicked his hand through his hair, trying to look cool.

Hua Qi’an noticed Chen Zhiyan unconsciously step back.

Her voice turned colder. “We’re not on that kind of terms yet.”

She frowned at Wang Chang, clearly unhappy with his familiarity.

The crowd had unknowingly formed a ring around them.

Even though Hua Qi’an was inside the circle, Wang Chang and the others seemed to completely ignore her.

In theory, Hua Qi’an could have slipped away quietly since this was Chen Zhiyan’s issue, not hers.

But looking at Chen Zhiyan standing alone under the streetlamp, Hua Qi’an couldn’t bring herself to move.

Chen Zhiyan’s hands were clenched into fists, her eyes full of gloom.

She looked lonely.

Hua Qi’an’s breath quickened.

Chen Zhiyan was all alone…

Standing in a circle of onlookers, ears filled with shouts of “Say yes!”

The way forward or retreat was blocked by the crowd.

The scene blurred, her head spun, and she felt nauseous.

Middle school memories began overlapping with the present.

Back then… the person confessing, she didn’t even remember his name…

Why did he have to look so passionate?

At that time, it felt like falling into an ice pit, unable to move.

She didn’t like him and should have rejected him.

But under countless stares and cheers, she couldn’t say the words.

If she said no, would everyone look at her with disappointment?

Would they say she made him lose face?

If she said no…

If she said no…

Under the piercing gazes, her heart held only one wish.

When she came to, Hua Qi’an realized she was gripping the red string on Chen Zhiyan’s right wrist, pulling her out of the circle.