Any Closer and I'll Lose Control - Chapter 66

Meng Tang was stunned for a moment. Shouldn’t Wei Chuan have gone to help Xie Lingyin? Why was he helping her instead?

The photo of the four of them looked awkward no matter how they viewed it.

Meng Tang turned slightly and tilted her head up to speak to Wei Chuan. “Should we take another one?”

Wei Chuan kept his eyes on the photo but glanced at her from the corner of his eye. “Let’s just keep this one. It’s kind of fun.”

They still had classes the next day, and time was already tight. It wouldn’t do to keep delaying things for photos.

Since the birthday boy didn’t want to retake it, Meng Tang didn’t push further.

Once inside the restaurant, Qin Yuan helped Wei Chuan with the seating arrangements. “We’re all friends here, no need for formalities. Just sit wherever you like.”

Qin Yuan noticed the four girls wanted to sit together, so he deliberately left four empty chairs in a row and gestured for them to take those seats.

Meng Tang ended up on the outermost side. Just as Wei Chuan was about to walk over, Qin Yuan grabbed him.

Wei Chuan frowned. “What are you doing?”

Qin Yuan clicked his tongue and pulled him aside, whispering, “Didn’t you say Meng Tang likes Xu Heqing? I’m seating them together.”

Wei Chuan choked on his words.

Xie Lingyin was sandwiched between Yang Ke and Shi Lan, and Xu Heqing couldn’t very well switch seats with the girls. Thanks to Qin Yuan’s subtle maneuvering, he ended up sitting next to Meng Tang.

Meanwhile, Wei Chuan found himself wedged between Qin Yuan and the basketball team members, directly across from Meng Tang.

The round table was massive and heavy, so much so that even someone with glasses might struggle to see the person opposite them clearly.

Wei Chuan had excellent eyesight, though. He could even make out the faint delight on Meng Tang’s face as she stared at the chopstick rest.

The rest was shaped like a small fish, somewhat resembling a sea bream.

Meng Tang lightly tapped the ceramic chopstick rest with her fingertip and smiled softly.

Compared to the boisterous noise from Wei Chuan’s side of the table, Meng Tang’s side was much quieter.

But with Xu Heqing sitting beside her, she couldn’t relax. An inexplicable tension settled over her.

Wei Chuan urged everyone to start eating. Out of the corner of her eye, Meng Tang caught Xu Heqing glancing at her, or at least, she thought he was. She instinctively held her breath.

Ever since stepping back, she had deliberately, sometimes unconsciously, avoided Xu Heqing. Whenever Wei Chuan brought him up, she always changed the subject.

The truth was, with no interaction between them, she could almost ignore the flutter in her heart whenever Xu Heqing was involved.

But she couldn’t remain entirely indifferent to him either. Meng Tang knew she just needed time to soothe her emotions.

Yet tonight, they were within arm’s reach of each other.

Originally, as long as they didn’t exchange a single word, Meng Tang could have remained unshaken. But then Xu Heqing leaned slightly toward her and, amidst the clamor of voices, spoke in a low tone:

“Actually, I’ve been meaning to thank you.”

Thank her? Meng Tang paused her chopsticks. “For what?”

Xu Heqing’s eyes weren’t particularly deep, but they always gave off a warm, comforting vibe. Meng Tang found herself momentarily lost in them.

“A while back, when I organized donations for that senior, I heard from Lingyin that you contributed five thousand.”

“It was the least I could do.” Meng Tang thought it was something trivial. “That was all I had at the time. I just hope it helped her.”

“The money was important to her, but what really mattered was the wooden bird you gave her. She loved it and said she hoped to thank you in person someday.”

Meng Tang hadn’t expected that at all. The wooden bird had just been a little thing she’d carved on a whim during her freshman year. She’d given it away simply to cheer the girl up.

Snapping out of her thoughts, Meng Tang asked Xu Heqing, “Why didn’t Lingyin mention this to me?”

Xu Heqing sighed, “The senior’s illness isn’t easy to treat. She probably didn’t mention it to you because she was afraid you’d take it to heart. If something were to happen in the future… she didn’t want you to feel bad when you found out later.”

Meng Tang exhaled softly, touched by the sentiment.

Perhaps influenced by her family’s preference for sons over daughters, Lingyin had always been considerate of others.

Meng Tang instinctively glanced at Wei Chuan, who was being pestered by Tian Yu to toast with tea instead of wine.

“Lingyin… she’s really kind.”

Wei Chuan had good taste, they were well-matched.

“You’re also wonderful, and so is everyone in your dorm,” Xu Heqing unexpectedly added.

Caught off guard, Meng Tang paused briefly before offering him a faint smile.

When Wei Chuan finally freed himself from Tian Yu’s antics and looked up, he caught sight of that fleeting smile.

He wondered what they were discussing, they seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Aside from that one inexplicable outburst, Wei Chuan could vouch for Xu Heqing’s character.

He and Meng Tang were friends, bound by a shared secret, which made him pay closer attention to her.

If she and Xu Heqing ended up together, she wouldn’t have to return home after graduation to marry and start a family. That would be a good thing.

Yet the more he thought about it, the deeper his frown grew.

Alcohol was prohibited during training, so he unscrewed a bottle of VOSS and took a sip, his lashes casting shadows under his eyes.

The two were still chatting when Wei Chuan nudged Qin Yuan under the table. “When are we lighting the candles?”

Qin Yuan immediately stood up. “Alright, let’s turn off the lights and light the candles. Someone get the birthday hat for the guest of honor!”

Qin Yuan had prepared a three-tiered cake in dark hues, placed on the table behind them.

Wei Chuan was held down by Shao Yiming and Tian Yu as they forced the birthday hat onto his head.

He thought it looked ridiculous and resisted at first, but when he noticed Meng Tang smiling too, he withdrew his hand from removing it.

The group belted out the birthday song so loudly the restaurant seemed to shake. Even someone as outgoing as Wei Chuan wished he could vanish into the floor.

The waitresses nearby grinned from ear to ear, getting to see so many handsome college boys in one night was a treat.

“Make a wish, make a wish!” Qin Yuan egged him on.

Wei Chuan closed his eyes for five seconds before blowing out the candles.

Qin Yuan, ever tactless, asked, “What did you wish for?”

Wei Chuan shot back, “None of your business.”

“Must be about a girlfriend.”

“Hasn’t Chuan always had someone he likes? Why hasn’t he confessed yet?”

“Afraid she’ll reject you?”

“Seriously, with your looks, just go for it.”

Wei Chuan retorted defiantly, “Back off. Let’s eat the cake.”

Tian Yu teased, “If you don’t confess soon, someone else might snatch her away.”

Wei Chuan instinctively looked at Meng Tang, only to find her deep in conversation with Xu Heqing again.

She wasn’t usually one to smile much, but tonight she’d exceeded her quota.

There was only enough time for eating and drinking, none of the planned activities happened.

The basketball team, exhausted from a full day of practice, lounged around in small groups, either at the tables or on the sofas, chatting idly.

Meng Tang held a small slice of cake, nibbling at it slowly.

Xie Lingyin and Shi Lan excused themselves to the restroom, while Yang Ke tapped Meng Tang’s shoulder. “You coming?”

Still finishing her cake, Meng Tang shook her head. “You go ahead.”

Yang Ke whispered, “There are a few guys smoking by the window. I’m just stepping out for some air.”

Meng Tang nodded, her eyes scanning the room for Wei Chuan.

The little figurine of the golden retriever she’d carved was still in her bag, she wanted to find the right moment to give it to him.

Finally finishing the cake, Meng Tang unscrewed a bottle of water and took a sip, the cloying sweetness in her mouth fading slightly.

Qin Yuan raised his voice: “It’s only eight o’clock, wanna go play some pool or sing karaoke?”

“Karaoke sounds boring. Let’s play a round.”

“Let’s go.”

Before long, the restaurant was empty except for Meng Tang. Xie Lingyin called her, saying they had gone to the karaoke area and asking Meng Tang to join them.

Just as Meng Tang was about to stand up, Wei Chuan walked in through the door, pulled out the chair beside her, and sat down.

After a few seconds of silence, he finally asked in a low voice, “Where’s my gift?”