Chapter Forty-Two: Intelligence Drops to Zero Once Again

But at this moment, Dong Yanyan no longer had the heart to dwell on these things.

“Second Sister, Lin Feng has a girlfriend now? How come I didn’t know?” she asked hesitantly.

“You didn’t know? It’s Yang Lili! The whole class knows, doesn’t Old Four?” Yu Xia replied with utter certainty.

Leng Yue yawned lazily. “I have no idea! Let’s all go to sleep! We have class tomorrow!” With that, she disappeared under her covers to sleep.

Gu Xiaohan, having failed to reclaim her pillow, simply crawled onto Lu Tian’s bed, getting under the same quilt. The two of them whispered and giggled together. Liu Ying, seeing no one wanted to talk, returned to her own bed to keep reading her “Ball of Tallow.”

The dormitory suddenly fell quiet. Yu Xia found it rather dull and said nothing more.

Dong Yanyan drew her curtain and sat on her bed, unable to sleep. The more she thought, the more muddled her mind became, until finally she couldn’t bear it anymore. She climbed down, slipped on her slippers, and dashed for the classroom on the second floor.

I’ve traveled across more than ten years to be back by your side. How could you ignore me? How could you not want me? That’s impossible—it can’t be! I can’t lose you. I can’t lose you again! Stifling the urge to cry, she ran to the classroom, not thinking, and pushed open the door.

Inside, candlelight flickered. She immediately saw Lin Feng sitting at his desk, talking with Song Mingcheng about something.

“Lin Feng!” She blurted out his name instinctively, then froze. Lin Feng looked up in surprise; a few other students at the front turned to look curiously. Flustered, she knocked herself on the head, trying to appear normal and forced a casual smile. “Sorry, I shouted too loud. I just came to get something. Could you let me through?” She hadn’t really thought about what to do, acting on impulse, and hadn’t expected him to actually be here. But since he was, how could she ask what she wanted? How could she even bring it up?

Lin Feng stood up, watching as she absentmindedly turned her desk upside down.

“Your Walkman’s here.” Song Mingcheng fished it out from her desk and set it on top.

Dong Yanyan was dazed for a moment. She remembered that after graduation, she’d often dreamt of rummaging through her desk, searching for something she couldn’t name. Was this what she’d been looking for all along? How uncanny! Still, it was the perfect excuse—she couldn’t very well come all the way back just to grab a book at this hour.

“Thank you,” she said softly, then stood uncertainly, unsure whether to leave right away or find an excuse to say a few words to Lin Feng, to probe him a little.

“It’s so cold. Why are you running around in your pajamas? Go back quickly—your cold isn’t even better yet.” Lin Feng ruffled her messy hair, smiling gently.

Only then did Dong Yanyan realize what a wreck she must look. She frowned in embarrassment and managed a wry smile. Forget it, she thought, I’m a girl after all. How could I possibly ask him about his girlfriend in front of everyone?

“Let’s go. We’re heading back too. You look half-asleep—must not have rested well. Don’t listen to music too late, okay?” Lin Feng picked up his books and, grabbing her sleeve, led her out. Dong Yanyan followed him silently to the stairs. As he was about to go up, a sudden panic gripped her.

“Lin Feng…” she called softly.

He had already reached the turn in the stairs, but hearing her call, he stopped and looked back at her.

“I heard you wanted to buy a guitar. I know a good music store on Third Street. Want to check it out?” Dong Yanyan looked up at him with a smile.

“Really? That’s great! Let’s go tomorrow at noon!” Lin Feng’s answer was unexpectedly bright, with a hint of surprise and endearment.

Seeing his smile again, all her worries vanished like smoke. Boys are always guessing about girls, girls about boys—rumors are so often mistaken. It’s better to trust what you see for yourself. She could see so clearly that she was in his eyes.

*

The next day, Dong Yanyan was in high spirits. After lunch, she chatted with her friends in the dorm, growing more anxious as she wondered why Lin Feng hadn’t come to find her yet. Just then, there was a knock at the door.

“Yanyan, go open the door—it’s definitely for you!” Liu Ying called down from the top bunk, cracking sunflower seeds with a grin.

Dong Yanyan’s heart thudded wildly, but she tried to act nonchalant. “Tian Tian, it’s for you! He always comes for you at this time,” she said, referring to classmate He.

Lu Tian rolled her eyes helplessly at them. “You’re all so lazy. Fine, I’ll get it!” She checked her hair in the mirror, then strolled over to the door. On seeing who it was, she grinned, “You’re all wrong—it’s for Xiaohan!”

The moment Gu Xiaohan saw Xu Gang at the door, she sprang from her bed, but then paused, realizing she wasn’t acting very ladylike. She took two steps back, meaning to retreat, but Lu Tian, ever mischievous, gave her a little push, nearly sending her into Xu Gang’s face.

Xu Gang greeted everyone a bit awkwardly, then smiled at Xiaohan and Lu Tian. “Do you have time this afternoon? Our dorm is going out for dinner, and we’d like to invite you two along.”

“Sure! Let’s go!” Lu Tian agreed cheerfully. Xiaohan, a little shy at first, was instantly happy to nod her agreement when she saw Lu Tian so enthusiastic.

The rest of the dorm watched as both girls followed Xu Gang out.

“Taking both of them? How unfair. We sell one and have to throw in another for free!” Leng Yue laughed.

“It’s too much! Even if he came for Xiaohan, with so many of us here, he didn’t even give anyone else a chance. Who’d really go with him?” Li Hui complained.

Xinran glanced at Li Hui, gave her a genuine, innocent smile, and said slowly, “But what if you really went? Would he have to buy one, get two free?”

Li Hui choked on her words, her face turning bright red.

Dong Yanyan was speechless, secretly thinking this girl really had a talent for sharp tongues. To avoid any unpleasantness if Li Hui came up with a comeback, she preemptively dragged Xinran out into the hall.

“Why are you pulling me? I haven’t even put on my shoes!” Xinran muttered.

“Little sister, do you want to get dressed while listening to the boss start a fight inside? Your mouth is really too sharp!” Dong Yanyan chided her, tapping her on the head with a smile.

Xinran shrugged indifferently, then thought for a moment and asked, “So, where are we going now?”

That stumped Dong Yanyan. True, they couldn’t just stand in the hallway, but she was still waiting for Lin Feng to come for her!

Footsteps sounded from upstairs. Lin Feng appeared at the stairway landing, calling out from afar, “Yanyan, there you are! I waited for you in the classroom forever!”