A Cold and Aloof Top Student Is Relied Upon - Chapter 41

Chapter 41: Comfort

◎An Embrace◎

The waves of cicadas chirped relentlessly. The summer heat was so intense it felt like it would evaporate all the moisture from a person’s body. The ceiling fan hummed overhead, and the newly installed air conditioner blew out cold air, allowing students who had just entered the classroom to expel a long, stuffy breath and finally feel alive again.

This was the last week of the second year of high school, the final stretch of exam week.

The summer heat made it hard to move. Days of endless revision filled their brains until they felt swollen, and even eating felt like a chore. The only thing that got a warm reception was the big pot of sweet herbal tea served in the cafeteria. Gu Zhu was no exception. Filling her thermos with the herbal tea and then asking the convenience store owner for a few cubes of ice was her way of beating the heat.

“Another semester is over. Time really flies. When you come back next semester, you’ll be a senior. I feel like I’ve inexplicably aged a year just thinking about it.” The owner leaned on the glass counter, sighing as she watched Gu Zhu cool herself in front of the air conditioner. Seeing her eyes half-closed and her hair lifted by the cold air, she couldn’t help but warn her, “Don’t sit there for too long, you’ll get a headache. And you should drink less cold stuff; it’s not good for you. But new bodies are tough. At our age, we have to start taking care of ourselves.”

After the heat subsided and the sweat on her forehead finally dried, Gu Zhu moved away from the AC and sat down in front of the counter. She picked up a pen, quickly scanned a workbook, made corrections and added notes. She finished a few problems in no time. She closed the book and pushed it toward the owner. “Last time. I won’t have time after this.”

“I know, it’s exam time. You also have to go to the competition. Good luck!” The owner stuffed the workbook into a drawer as if she never wanted to see it again. For a parent, helping with homework was like another form of torture. Although she herself was a university graduate, she didn’t want to see anything related to academics. Because she didn’t want to work for anyone, she grunted and came to be her own boss.

“Here you go, this month’s.” As usual, it was a box of imported dark chocolate. She didn’t know why this girl loved it so much, as if she could never get tired of it. She then rummaged through her bag and pulled out two wooden charms. “These are for you and Bai Tan. They’re ‘academic success’ charms. You can hang them on your bag or by your bed. They’re not worth much, but the blessings are what count, got it?” As if afraid Gu Zhu would refuse, the owner added this last line.

“Thank you.” Gu Zhu didn’t refuse. The wooden charms were identical except for the color of the tassels. She hung the red one on her own bag and put the other in her bag to give to Bai Tan later.

“By the way, how come Bai Tan isn’t with you today? It’s rare to see her not following you.”

Gu Zhu smoothed the tassel of the charm and, hearing the question, replied, “Her family came to visit, and they took her back for a bit.” Apparently, her mother had returned from abroad specifically to see her. They left before the morning exercise had even ended; she only had time to say a quick goodbye.

When it came to Bai Tan’s family, Gu Zhu was still in the dark. The class chat no longer discussed the reason for the young mistress’s transfer, and everyone had implicitly accepted that she was a member of Class 3, Grade 2. No one speculated on the reason for her transfer anymore.

Gu Zhu pinched her fingers. She had never asked Bai Tan either. It was as if they had an unspoken understanding not to ask about each other’s secrets. But perhaps one day, when the time was right, they would be able to be open with each other.

It was strange, but in the last half month, she hadn’t run into Zhu Li again. It was as if her appearance here was truly just a coincidence. Sometimes Gu Zhu wondered if she was just being too cautious and had imagined everything to be so much worse than it was.

That evening, as she was coming down from the lab building, she unexpectedly saw someone she thought wouldn’t be back so soon.

Bai Tan was sitting under the eaves of the teaching building opposite the lab. The now-empty senior building was bathed in a shallow halo of light from the streetlights, outlining the long figure of a young girl. The girl was playing with the light, using her hands to mimic the shapes of various small animals, a picture of leisurely contentment as she waited for someone.

Gu Zhu watched her quietly for a long time. Because of the heat, Bai Tan’s long curly hair was tied up in a messy bun on top of her head. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly, and a faint smile was on her face. When the breeze came, her shadow swayed gently, like a peaceful and beautiful painting.

It seemed that no matter when, her gaze was easily drawn to her.

Every unintentional glance made her heart race. Her emotions would be pulled along, most of the time feeling a light, floating sensation, as if she was secretly trying to pay attention but was afraid of being found out.

Gu Zhu didn’t make her wait any longer. She walked over, caught Bai Tan’s attention, and with a slight smile asked, “Why are you back so soon?”

Bai Tan turned around, her eyes full of joy at seeing her. She quickly walked to the side and picked up a thermos. “My mom made some soup, and I wanted you to try it!”

She came closer in a few steps. “It’s a nourishing chicken soup with cooling herbs. It’s great for balancing yin, clearing dryness, and replenishing your energy and blood. It’s perfect for you since you just finished your period and have been in the AC so much!”

Gu Zhu was stunned. She took the chicken soup Bai Tan handed her, not expecting this reason at all. She hesitated for a moment before continuing to ask, “Is it okay that you didn’t stay with your mom for longer?”

Bai Tan gently pinched her cheek. The soft, smooth feeling was so pleasing that she loved it, but she quickly pulled her hand back, afraid Gu Zhu would dislike it. Before she put her hand down, she gave her another quick rub. “It’s fine. She just came to see me and left since nothing was wrong. By now, she should already be on the freeway, on her way to the airport in the next city.”

Gu Zhu touched the spot on her cheek with the back of her hand. Hearing this, she looked at the smiling girl with some surprise, her eyes searching her face as if to find something.

Gu Baozhi always wanted to have control over every aspect of her life. Big or small, she would do anything to take on the burden for her. Although her birth was not ideal, she had still received so much love from her family. Because of this, she couldn’t quite understand why Bai Tan’s parents would so confidently leave her alone to live in their hometown.

A visit every few months, a quick check to make sure everything was okay, and then an immediate departure.

It was as if her well-being was only related to her physical health and nothing else.

Gu Zhu quietly took Bai Tan’s hand. On their way back to the dorm, she desperately wanted to say something comforting, but she found that she seemed to lack the ability. In this moment, her language system was as empty as if a delete command had been executed, and she couldn’t even manage a single word.

She wanted to say, It’s okay, I’ll be with you from now on.

But she was afraid that if she broke her promise one day, Bai Tan would be even sadder.

Nothing in this world is 100% certain. Just like a weather forecast that says there’s a 98% chance of heavy rain tomorrow, there’s still that 2% chance of a scorching, sunny day.

As if she had guessed what Gu Zhu was thinking, Bai Tan put her arm around her, and they stumbled and swayed down the road together.

The person next to her suddenly laughed out loud. Gu Zhu was left in a daze by the impact, and then Bai Tan cupped the back of her head and patted it again. The young mistress’s voice was bright and bold. “Baby, don’t always try to figure things out. Your science brain should be used for the stars and the sea. As for those emotions you can’t understand, you can just let me teach you.”

Gu Zhu stopped and pulled her to a halt. “Then teach me now. How can I understand your emotions?”

Her eyes were so serious, so persistent, as if she would be heartbroken if she ignored her feelings now. Bai Tan’s smile slowly faded, and she also became serious. “Ask me. Ask me directly what you want to know.” Bai Tan’s emotions, especially for Gu Zhu, would never be hidden. The secrets she wouldn’t tell anyone else, only Gu Zhu could know.

Gu Zhu trusted every word Bai Tan said, so she asked, “Are you happy now?”

“I’m happier when I see you.”

So… she was still unhappy. Gu Zhu’s heart suddenly ached. A surge of protective emotion welled up in her chest, making her eyes sting. Usually, when she was feeling down, the young mistress would cheer her up. But now that the young mistress was unhappy, she was so slow to realize it and didn’t even know how to comfort her.

She tried to use her own understanding. Under the young mistress’s gentle gaze, she hung the large thermos on her hand, then took Bai Tan’s hand and wrapped it around herself, pulling her in for a tight embrace. “Does this make it a little better?”

Bai Tan froze. The person she had always been the one to hug was now holding her tightly in return. The person who had been learning to be a good friend seemed to have fully mastered the lesson, which made her want to be bolder and get more, and more.

“It does,” she answered softly, her eyes gently closing as she savored the warmth and peace of the moment.

Without a word, the moonlight passed through the treetops, casting a soft glow. In this lonely corner, they hugged each other quietly for a long time.

Caring for someone sometimes doesn’t need many words. When my mouth is clumsy, I hope my body can be your harbor from the wind and rain.

You don’t need to tense up your steel bones and iron ribs, or hide your fangs. I am happy to be the bay where you can rest.

She listened to Bai Tan’s heartbeat and felt her hugging her back with equal force. Gu Zhu quietly pursed her lips, hoping her feelings could be conveyed to Bai Tan in this summer dream.

“I hear your feelings.”

The voice in her ear was soft and lazy. Gu Zhu was surprised for a moment, and the person holding her chuckled and swayed. “Gu Zhu, your hands are so strong!”

Gu Zhu instinctively tried to pull away, but she heard Bai Tan stop her the next second. “Don’t let go. I like it when you’re like this.”

A beam of light suddenly shone from a distance, and the voice of a patrolling security guard carried over. “Who’s over there!”

They quickly broke apart and ran, holding hands. As she ran, Bai Tan’s voice carried back. “Uncle, we’re going back now, sorry!”

The strong beam of light illuminated their backs. Seeing that they were just two girls and not a couple, the security guard shook his head and called out, “Slow down! Don’t fall!”

After they finished sharing a thermos of soup in the dorm, Bai Tan asked before she left, “Can I move in with you next semester?”

Gu Zhu looked at her for a long time. Just as Bai Tan thought she was going to refuse, she heard her say, “Okay.”

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