Any Closer and I'll Lose Control - Chapter 56

Wei Sijia’s eyes and brows resembled Wei Chuan’s, not delicate, but striking and spirited.

She politely declined with a smile, “The school is just ahead. I can walk back myself.”

Wei Chuan frowned. “It only looks close. It’ll take at least twenty minutes to reach the gate.”

Meng Tang said, “I don’t mind.”

From inside the car, Wei Sijia watched and thought to herself, This girl is really naive. The one who minds is clearly Wei Chuan.

When Chu Yin had told her Wei Chuan was acting like a simp, she hadn’t believed it.

Seeing the two still hesitating, Wei Sijia leaned forward slightly and smiled warmly. “Get in. We’ll drop you at the school gate, it’s no trouble.”

After repeated insistence, Meng Tang could no longer refuse. Murmuring, “Sorry for the trouble,” she climbed into the car.

The double seats in the back of the business van could swivel, so Wei Chuan and Meng Tang ended up sitting opposite Wei Sijia.

Noticing Wei Sijia’s scrutinizing gaze on Meng Tang, Wei Chuan cleared his throat. “Big Sis, what are you doing here?”

Wei Sijia replied, “Finished some business and was heading home. There was roadwork, so the driver took a detour. Didn’t expect to run into you here.”

Wei Chuan forced a laugh. “What a coincidence.”

“Quite the coincidence.” Wei Sijia’s eyes lingered on Meng Tang’s face again. “Miss Meng, are you from the art academy?”

“Just call me by my name,” Meng Tang said with a faint smile. “I’m in the sculpture department.”

“How did you and Xiao Chuan meet?”

Wei Chuan cut in, “I was a model at the art academy, and that’s how we met.”

“Did I ask you?” Wei Sijia shot him a glare. “I didn’t know you were taking side jobs at school. Short on money?”

Wei Chuan: “…What? No, I was just helping out.”

Wei Sijia drawled, “Oh, just helping out, huh…”

Wei Chuan straightened his back proudly, he was always happy to lend a hand.

Meng Tang found Wei Sijia’s expression a little odd, almost like she was watching a show.

Old Fu Street was close to the arts campus of Z University, and soon the van pulled to a stop at the main gate.

Meng Tang opened the door and turned to say goodbye to Wei Sijia.

Wei Chuan, who was heading home, waved at her from his seat.

Once Meng Tang was gone, Wei Sijia’s true nature emerged. She leaned over and pinched Wei Chuan’s ear hard.

“Ow, ow, Big Sis, what are you doing?” Wei Chuan quickly glanced back, afraid Meng Tang might see him looking so pathetic.

Wei Sijia was speechless. “Can anyone even see inside from out there? What’s your relationship with that girl? The wooden carving by your bed, she made it, didn’t she?”

“How did you know?” Wei Chuan grumbled, rubbing his ear.

Wei Sijia scoffed. “The moment she got in, I noticed a distinct woody scent on her. Then there’s her hands, covered in scars and calluses. It wasn’t hard to figure out.”

Wei Chuan cursed inwardly: Her eyes are too sharp.

“You still haven’t answered. What’s your relationship with her? Was she the one Aunt mentioned before?”

Wei Chuan was exasperated. “I told you, we’re just classmates. Since when do you believe Aunt’s gossip?”

“Classmates? You stood up the whole family for her. Mom even ran a background check, and you-”

“What?” Wei Chuan exploded. “She did what?”

Wei Sijia faltered. “Uh… it’s not what you think.”

“Then what is it?” Wei Chuan scowled. “How could she do a background check on someone?”

Wei Sijia sighed. “I stopped her. Knew you’d react like this, you hothead.”

Wei Chuan exhaled sharply in relief. If Meng Tang found out, would she ever speak to him again?

Chu Yin had always doted on Wei Chuan excessively, but fortunately, others didn’t indulge him, preventing him from developing a spoiled temperament.

Wei Chuan went back and coaxed her with a few words, securing Chu Yin’s promise not to run a background check on Meng Tang again.

Upon learning that her son and Meng Tang were merely classmates, and that he wasn’t acting like a lovesick fool, Chu Yin muttered, “Amitabha Buddha.”

Wei Sijia scoffed. Her mom was definitely celebrating too soon.

Back in his room, Wei Chuan couldn’t resist gently touching the wooden rose petals. He didn’t dare press too hard, afraid that over time, the petals might wear thin.

After showering and lying in bed, he suddenly burst into laughter.

A background check? Meng Tang’s household only had two people. Aside from her bedroom, he’d been everywhere else in her home.

…

Meng Tang spent Sunday resting in the dorm. Xie Lingyin and the others were all there, and in the evening, they bought a pile of barbecue skewers and gathered to chat.

Honestly, she really liked this kind of atmosphere.

But she usually played the role of the listener, quietly absorbing Shi Lan’s rants about their inability to find boyfriends.

Xie Lingyin smirked mysteriously. “Not necessarily. Who knows? Maybe someone in our dorm will start dating soon.”

Meng Tang froze for a moment, turning to look at Xie Lingyin. Wei Chuan had just bought art supplies yesterday, had he already hinted at something to her?

Shi Lan and Yang Ke glanced at Meng Tang, realizing Xie Lingyin was referring to her, and eagerly asked, “How’s it going with the guy you like?”

Meng Tang took a bite of her lamb skewer and shook her head.

“Come on, if you like him, just go for it,” Shi Lan encouraged. “If someone with your looks is stuck in a one-sided crush, I’d look down on you.”

Meng Tang smiled faintly. “We’ll see.”

Xie Lingyin winked. “This kind of thing should be left to the guy. If you two cross paths in daily life and he’s interested, he won’t be able to hold back.”

Meng Tang took a sip of cola. But she and Xu Heqing barely interacted. The bracelet she’d mustered the courage to give him had somehow ended up in Wei Chuan’s hands.

After Xie Lingyin got drunk, her own feelings and confession had stalled.

If there was already a thorn in her heart before anything even started, maybe it was better not to begin at all.

She might seem slow and oblivious, but when it came to this, she was actually quite clear-headed.

Seeing her reluctance to elaborate, Shi Lan steered the conversation toward Xie Lingyin’s upcoming birthday. Meng Tang thought it was quite a coincidence that her birthday was so close to Wei Chuan’s.

After handing Meng Tang a skewer of grilled corn, Xie Lingyin suddenly announced:

“On my birthday, I have something very important to tell you all.”

Shi Lan and Yang Ke exchanged glances, intrigued. “What is it?”

“I’ll introduce someone to you,” Xie Lingyin said shyly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

Meng Tang chewed the corn kernels slowly, now almost certain that Wei Chuan had already mentioned the confession to Xie Lingyin.

Shi Lan gasped dramatically. “Damn, Xie Lingyin! When have I ever seen you this shy? Are you dating someone?”

Xie Lingyin pressed a finger to her lips. “I’ll explain everything when the time comes.”

Shi Lan shook her arm. “At least give me a hint, is this guy from the art school or the sports academy?”

Xie Lingyin replied, “Sports academy.”

Meng Tang exhaled softly. Had Wei Chuan really succeeded? He truly was a man of action. Meanwhile, she… Well, no need to dwell on that.

“I can’t stand this! How many more days do I have to wait? It’s killing me!” Shi Lan, ever impatient, groaned.

Meng Tang said, “The 31st isn’t far off.”

She’d checked the calendar long ago, the first day of the twelfth lunar month fell on New Year’s Eve.

Shi Lan wailed, “What’s the hurry? There are still over twenty days left. I have to endure this torment for so long.”

Meng Tang smiled. Good things are worth waiting for.

There were still classes the next day, so around 10:30 p.m., the girls tidied up the dorm and got ready for bed.

Just as she climbed into bed, her phone buzzed with a notification. Assuming it was spam, she ignored it, until it buzzed a second time.

She unlocked her phone and opened the messages, only to see two blatantly insulting texts glaring back at her,

[How much to keep you? I can pay double.]

[Heard you get good grades, must be from sleeping around, right?]