Translator: Dj22031
Editor: Dj22031
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“My friend drove the car away.”
Tan Xuzhe didn’t know what was wrong with him, but he wanted to take her on his motorcycle, and he lied without thinking.
He was carrying a black helmet in his hand. “Would you dare ride on a motorcycle?”
Shu Mian had no idea what he was thinking; she just thought the black motorcycle he had just ridden out of the underground garage suited him well and looked cool.
If he were to give her a ride on a motorcycle… then the two of them would be very close together.
“If you’re scared…”
Shu Mian quickly shook her head, her tone a little anxious, “I’m not afraid.”
“OK.”
Tan Xuzhe raised an eyebrow, opened the motorcycle seat compartment, took out a pink helmet, and handed it to her.
Shu Mian took it and glanced at it; it was clearly a women’s helmet, with a cute design.
So… who was this women’s helmet for?
Just as a slight soreness welled up in her chest, she heard his lazy voice, “It’s for the old lady at home, you can make do with it.”
Shu Mian paused for a moment, then subconsciously asked, “Your grandma’s?”
In high school, Tan Xuzhe was undoubtedly a prodigy. He was born with top-notch looks, always ranked first in his grade, played basketball well, and was even good at fighting… Such a dazzling person never flaunted his family background.
But in the second semester of her first year of high school, the two classes had an overlapping physical education class. It was then that Shu Mian overheard someone talking: “Isn’t the Tan in Tan Xuzhe the same Tan as the surname of the richest family in Yanjing?”
One of the boys said, “It’s that Tan.”
Shu Mian could tell that his family background was quite extraordinary, which was not unexpected.
Later she heard a lot more, such as that many school libraries in Yenching were called Huiqing Library, which were donated by his grandfather and named after his grandmother.
“Mmm.” A lazy syllable.
Shu Mian smiled, her eyes crinkling, and said in a light-hearted tone, “This helmet is adorable.”
Tan Xuzhe sat on the motorcycle, his long legs firmly planted on the ground. He glanced at the little girl’s sweet and gentle face, and a slight smile appeared in his peach blossom eyes as his gaze lingered on the dimples on her cheeks.
I wonder what it feels like to poke it.
Noticing his gaze, Shu Mian quickly put on her helmet to cover her burning cheeks, inwardly cursing herself for being so cowardly, blushing even from his gaze.
Sitting on the back of his motorcycle, she still felt like today was a dream.
“Are you seated?” Tan Xuzhe’s casual and pleasant voice reminded her that this was not a dream.
She sat up straight and said, “Okay, we can go now.”
Because he was inside the helmet, the boy’s voice sounded slightly deep. “Hold on to me, or you’ll be thrown off.”
“…”
She gave a soft “oh,” and reached out, only daring to grab his clothes.
“Will this give you a good grip?”
Even though Tan Xuzhe had his back to her, Shu Mian could imagine the nonchalant look on his face as he asked that question.
Before she could answer, she heard him say in a lazy tone, yet with an undeniable air of authority, “Hold onto my waist.”
“OK.”
She obediently agreed, carefully placing her hands on either side of his waist, her fingers tightening.
Through the thin cotton fabric, Tan Xuzhe could clearly feel the softness of those hands, and his Adam’s apple bobbed imperceptibly.
Even on a late summer night, the wind still carried a hint of dryness.
This distance was too short; it only took a few minutes by motorcycle.
Fortunately, the roar of the engine was enough to drown out Shu Mian’s violently beating heartbeat.
When she arrived at the school gate, she got out of the car, said goodbye, and entered the school gate in a daze, only to be stopped by a boy in his usual lazy voice, “Shu Mian.”
She turned around, blinked, and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Tan Xuzhe’s gaze fell casually and lazily on her, a smile playing on his lips. “You like this helmet that much?”
Shu Mian immediately realized that she had even forgotten to take off her helmet. “I’m sorry, I forgot.”
“You have to apologize for this too?”
Tan Xuzhe let out a low chuckle, wondering why this little girl was so obedient and gentle.
She also blushed easily.
Shu Mian took off the helmet and handed it back to him, her face slightly flushed. “Thank you, Tan Xuzhe.”
Tan Xuzhe raised an eyebrow and clicked his tongue, “I thought you didn’t know my name.”
It sounded quite nice.
“How could that be?” Shu Mian immediately retorted, then added quietly, “You’re very famous.”
How could she not know Tan Xuzhe’s name?
This name had lingered in her heart countless times, and she had written it on paper countless times.
Thinking of something, she rummaged through her bag and said softly, “Tan Xuzhe, could you lend me a hand?”
“Huh?” He seemed puzzled, but still obediently did as he was told.
“Thank you for bringing me back.”
Shu Mian placed a handful of star-shaped fruit candies in his palm; they were the kind he often ate.
The girl’s fingertips brushed against his palm, causing a slight itch. Tan Xuzhe paused for a moment, unable to say anything more, before she had already dashed into the school gate.
Running so fast.
If she stays a little longer, will he eat her?
Unaware that the corners of his lips were turning up, Tan Xuzhe peeled a fruit candy and popped it into his mouth.
It was quite sweet.
….
Shu Mian stood in an inconspicuous spot inside the school gate, watching the motorcycle speed away, just as she had silently watched his back countless times before.
Perhaps this is what unrequited love is like.
In countless moments, without your noticing, I secretly admired you with my eyes from a corner, over and over again.
She walked slowly on her way back to the dormitory, carefully recalling the details of her interaction with Tan Xuzhe.
When they arrived at the dormitory, Song Yiyi leaned over the bed and asked, “You’re back, Mian Mian. Have you eaten?”
“…I forgot.”
Shu Mian opened her eyes wide and patted her face. “Ahhh, I actually forgot to eat.”
She had planned to come back and have dinner at the restaurant, but she was so excited that she forgot.
“Yaoyao and I have already eaten dinner.”
Song Yiyi got out of bed and opened the drawer. “If you don’t want to get down, I have some bread here.”
Fang Yao was sitting at the table editing photos of her idol. “I also have a bottle of yogurt. You can have it for dinner.”
Shu Mian really didn’t want to go down anymore. She smiled and revealed two small dimples. “You guys are so kind. How much is it? I’ll transfer it to you.”
“Why are you being so polite? I often eat your food too.”
“Yeah, you even gave everyone duck legs last time.”
After spending half a month together, the girls in dormitory 303, despite their different personalities, got along very well.
Shu Mian tore open a piece of bread and took a bite. “By the way, Sang Sang hasn’t come back yet. She’s been out all day. Shall we call and ask?”
“Don’t worry, it’s fine. She just said in the group that the milk tea shop was short-staffed, and after the interview, the boss asked her to stay and work. She won’t be back until later.”
Shu Mian was relieved to hear that. “That’s good.”
Xiang Sang came from a poor mountain area. Her family didn’t allow her to study and wanted her to get married early. Thanks to the help of kind people, she was able to finish high school and even got into Peking University. All three of them admired her from the bottom of their hearts.
After finishing her meal, Shu Mian took a shower and then sat down at the table to edit the videos she had filmed that day.
She had an account where she didn’t show her face; she simply posted videos of walking her dog or petting her cat, adding cute and funny voiceovers to the edits, and ending with a small comic she drew of the cat or dog she was serving.
Her videos were stress-relieving and therapeutic, and she had over 600,000 followers. She hadn’t updated for half a month during her military training, and the comments section was full of people urging her: When will the government’s disaster relief grain be distributed?
Of course, she would seek her owner’s permission beforehand; otherwise, she wouldn’t film and post the video. Most pet owners would agree to this.
Today, Tan Xuzhe’s dog was being walked; it was an order placed by his friend.
They had agreed that they could film as much video as they wanted, as long as the dog was walked properly.
It was almost 10 o’clock when her roommate Xiang Sang finally came back from outside.
You’re back?
Xiang Sang nodded and took off his backpack. “Making money is really hard.”
Shu Mian put down the mouse, rubbed her neck, and said, “Seriously, can’t some money just fall from the sky?”
“Yeah, really not?” Xiang Sang slumped down. “I’m exhausted.”
Shu Mian tilted her head and blinked, “You’re not allowed to die, I’ll watch 120 seconds of commercials to revive you.”
Hahahaha.
Her roommates all noticed that when they didn’t know Shu Mian well, she seemed quiet and reserved, but once they got to know her, she was quite fun. She’s just a homebody.
While looking at her phone, Song Yiyi suddenly exclaimed, “Holy crap! Someone posted that Tan Xuzhe has a girlfriend?!”
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