Chapter Seventy-Four: A Little More Than Friendship

"Do as you please," Dong Yanyan said, slumping over her desk, her eyes dull and listless, clearly resigned.

"Actually—" Ren Jiaxuan touched the corner of his mouth, his smile gentle and soothing. "Actually, I only tried to cheer you up yesterday because you seemed down. Some things I said were just jokes, don't take them seriously."

Dong Yanyan forced an awkward smile. "I know. I was just messing around with you too. I didn't expect to drink so much; I lost control and didn't realize my own strength. Please don't mind."

"You do know you were rough with me, look at how you marked my wrist." Ren Jiaxuan rolled up his sleeve and stretched his arm under her nose for her to see. Dong Yanyan grimaced as she glanced at the thin red marks, still faintly visible, and she was rather shocked.

"You can't be serious? How can a guy have such delicate skin?" She grinned sheepishly, full of apology. "I'm really sorry, I didn't mean it."

"Why not check again if my skin is delicate? Don't be embarrassed. Last night you touched my face for ages," Ren Jiaxuan teased gently and ambiguously, picking up her hand and pressing it to his wrist. Dong Yanyan tried to jerk her hand away, but he held on. Anxious, she seized his wrist, and with gritted teeth, threatened in a low voice, "Don't mess with me! Or I'll make you cry rhythmically and die systematically!"

"I knew you couldn't pretend to be docile for long—now you're bristling again, aren't you?" Ren Jiaxuan bared his small white teeth and laughed lazily at her flustered expression.

Dong Yanyan laughed too. "So you really are a glutton for punishment. Fine, I'll go upstairs and tell the teachers right now, let them satisfy your masochistic tendencies." She took his hand and stood up to leave, but Ren Jiaxuan quickly pulled her back. "You'd really go report me? Can't you take a joke? Actually, I came to ask about the song you sang last night. Whose was it? It was nice, I want to find it."

"Huh? What song?" Dong Yanyan asked, completely lost.

"The one you sang last, you only got halfway through," Ren Jiaxuan prompted.

"Sorry, I really don't remember," Dong Yanyan admitted with embarrassment. "I hardly ever drink that much. Last night I didn't even know how I got home, and I still have a headache."

"If your head hurts, go rest—" Ren Jiaxuan began, but the back door of the classroom was suddenly kicked open with a bang. Leng Haoyang burst in, shouting excitedly, "I heard someone from the Broadcasting Class tied a girl to a sofa to sing 'Pearl of the Orient' at Lotto last night! Was it—"

Dong Yanyan grabbed a book and hurled it at Leng Haoyang. Caught off guard, he was hit and instinctively wanted to throw it back, but then noticed Ren Jiaxuan sitting at the back of the classroom. He covered his mouth in alarm.

Silence fell at once.

Ren Jiaxuan shot Dong Yanyan a dark look, as if to say: Wasn't that a dead giveaway?

Dong Yanyan could only give him a wry smile. "That's just my luck—I'm usually so well-behaved, but the one time I get drunk, everyone finds out."

Ren Jiaxuan chuckled. "Well, I don't dare go to Lotto again. That's our dorm's hangout, and all the staff know me. I bet my dormmates will know by now too. Tonight's going to be rough for me."

"I can't show my face there either. In fact, I may never go anywhere again," Dong Yanyan said, disheartened.

"I think you should catch up on sleep first. You look half dead," Ren Jiaxuan joked.

Dong Yanyan sighed. "I don't have time to sleep; I haven't finished my homework. There are a bunch of calculus problems I can't solve, and my brain isn't working."

"Calculus? Let me see!" Ren Jiaxuan grabbed her workbook, glanced through it, and laughed. "These are easy. I'll explain them to you."

Dong Yanyan eyed him suspiciously. "You really know how? Doesn't your class skip calculus?"

Ren Jiaxuan tapped her head with his pen. "You think I didn't go to high school? This stuff is child's play for me."

*

During evening study, Song Mingcheng was absent again. Around eight, Teacher Wang came in with a few student council members to check attendance. When she reached Dong Yanyan, Lin Mei tapped on Song Mingcheng's desk and asked, "Who sits here?"

Lin Feng, following behind, whispered, "That's Song Mingcheng. He asked for leave tonight."

Lin Mei nodded, and the group left through the back door.

As soon as they were gone, the classroom burst into life. Students quickly rearranged their seats as if by magic. The class had an almost equal number of boys and girls, and soon those who were dating, discussing life goals, or doing homework in pairs all sat together.

Liu Siying moved over to Xu Cheng, cradling her books, and chatted with Dong Yanyan. Xu Cheng took out a box of Chinese checkers, turned around, and set it on Dong Yanyan's desk. The three played while they talked.

Just before study ended, Dong Yanyan sensed someone sitting beside her. Turning, she saw the busybody had returned!

She shrunk into her seat, gave him a sheepish smile, and said, "Thank you for delivering the newspaper for Tiantian today."

Song Mingcheng glanced at her coolly. "No need," he replied, his tone indifferent.

Feeling snubbed, Dong Yanyan silently returned to her game.

"Yanyan, was it really you who tied Ren Jiaxuan to the sofa last night?" Xu Cheng asked with a laugh.

She shot him a glance. "It was. What are you getting at?"

Xu Cheng grinned. "I just think you’re amazing."

"Really? Then you should thank someone for my training," Dong Yanyan retorted, tossing a checker and flashing him a radiant smile. She had once been a naive, foolish girl. If not for a formidable mother-in-law and all those heartbreaks and quarrels, she would never have become so tough and resilient.

"Oh?" Xu Cheng laughed along, not quite understanding.

Dong Yanyan now found his dopey nature unbearable—what she once thought was easygoing now just seemed dull and weak. With such a personality, he was bound to be bullied. After years of trying to change him, she’d finally given up.

"You think you did the right thing?" Song Mingcheng interjected from the side, still cool and detached. Dong Yanyan turned to see him scowling, clearly angry, but it felt more like an act.

"I know I was wrong, it won’t happen again, okay, desk mate? Don’t be angry," she coaxed, trying to appease him. He did mean well, after all.

"I’m not angry, but I should tell your father you’re dating. That way, he’ll know I’m not responsible for you anymore, and if anything happens, it’s not on me." Song Mingcheng stretched, putting his hands behind his head.

"Are you still a child, running to tattle? And what does my dating life have to do with you? You’ll still have to carry my bag for me when we go home," Dong Yanyan pouted, a little annoyed.

Song Mingcheng gazed at her for a long moment, then curled his lips in a cold smile. "Do I owe you something?"

In his icy gaze, Dong Yanyan could clearly see a trace of disdain. Her heart chilled as if he’d suddenly become a stranger, distant and unfamiliar. Her nose stung, and she forced a bitter laugh, lowering her head to flip through a book. She didn’t even hear what Liu Siying was saying to her.

When the bell rang for the end of study, Liu Siying and Xu Cheng quietly slipped out. Feeling pointless, Dong Yanyan gathered her books to return to the dorm.

Song Mingcheng glanced at her, and asked with a smile, "Are you really angry?"

Dong Yanyan sighed and forced a laugh. "What right do I have to be angry? You’re always right, and if you look down on me, you’re right too. I’m always causing you trouble." As she spoke, her eyes reddened and she felt utterly dejected. She knew well the feeling of waiting for someone late into the night, the anxiety and worry that could drive a person mad. She knew he’d always looked down on her, but what could she do?

Song Mingcheng was taken aback for a moment, then grinned sheepishly. "I don’t look down on you. I only got mad because I care about you. I worry you’ll get hurt or be taken advantage of."

"I know." Dong Yanyan smiled and stood to leave. Suddenly, Song Mingcheng got up, chased her into the corridor, grabbed her arm, and hesitated, studying her for a long time before saying, "Yanyan, why do you seem different from before?"

She was puzzled by his look. "Am I? In what way?" she asked casually.

"Yanyan, we—"

"Yanyan, Jiaxuan asked me to give you this!" Li Zhe from the Broadcasting Class tapped her on the shoulder and handed her an envelope.

"Thanks," Dong Yanyan replied, accepting it and tucking it into her book.

Li Zhe glanced at her, then at Song Mingcheng, and slung an arm around Song Mingcheng’s shoulders, saying, "Song Mingcheng, I need a word with you. Let’s talk as we walk."

Dong Yanyan watched the two of them go upstairs, arms around each other. She knew Li Zhe was a gentle sort and wouldn’t bully Song Mingcheng, so she quietly returned to her dorm.

*

Back in her room, Dong Yanyan pulled the curtain closed, opened the envelope and found a temporary TV station entry pass and a neatly folded letter. She unfolded the letter, written in precise script:

Yanyan, I have some things to take care of these days and may not be able to return to school. Let’s meet at the TV station entrance at one o’clock on Wednesday afternoon. Please don’t be late, and I’ll try my best to make it. The address and contact number were written below.

Signed: Ren Jiaxuan.

"Wu-jie, who sent you a letter? Let us see!" Tiantian called from the floor.

Dong Yanyan put the letter back in the envelope, drew the curtain open and smiled, "Of course it’s from a classmate."

"Really? A male or female classmate?" Tiantian teased.

"You and your endless questions! Go wash your face!" Dong Yanyan scolded playfully.