Hopeless Romance (GL) - Chapter 20

Chapter 20

When Chen Pupu told Ye Du that she was dating Yu Xiao, Ye Du couldn’t quite describe the sensation in her heart, but it was certainly tinged with surprise. She had never considered that two girls could be together in the same way a boy and a girl were. Furthermore, she didn’t fully grasp the implications of “dating”; perhaps it meant that Yu Xiao would become the most important person to Pupu. The thought made Ye Du feel a pang of unease; she suddenly realized how easily possessiveness can be nurtured by the soil of habit. Nevertheless, she decided to be happy for Pupu. Although she didn’t think dating was a wise choice at their age, she could see the genuine joy radiating from Pupu. She finally understood where that high-spirited glow she’d seen at KFC had come from. She told herself that if this decision brought Pupu happiness, then the troubles of tomorrow could be dealt with tomorrow.

Chen Pupu didn’t tell Jiang Xinwan or Wang Zhu. She was still reeling from Yu Xiao’s confession and the fact that she had actually said yes. She vividly remembered walking with Yu Xiao from the training ground to the school gate after practice. At a corner, Yu Xiao stopped and asked directly, without any preamble: “Pupu, can I date you?” At that moment, Pupu thought she had misheard. She had never given a thought to romance, let alone romance with another girl, and she didn’t even know this was called “homosexuality.” While she didn’t feel repulsed or afraid, she was overcome with shyness and shock.

It wasn’t that she had never been confessed to before—several boys had liked her over the years—but this situation was uniquely different. The campus after school was quiet, save for the rustle of leaves overhead. Unable to meet Yu Xiao’s gaze, Pupu turned her back.

“I’ve always liked girls,” Yu Xiao said, stepping closer. “I noticed you at the start of this semester. It was during a long break; you were walking with Ye Du and the others, laughing about something. You looked so cute. After that, I’d always look for you in your class line during morning exercises, but you were always too far forward. Basically… I really like you.” Yu Xiao took Pupu’s hand. Feeling the heat in Pupu’s palm, Yu Xiao was so nervous it felt as if she were the one being confessed to.

The two stood hand-in-hand in silence for a long time before a very soft “Okay” escaped from Pupu.

…

After they started dating, Pupu ate lunch with Ye Du and the others less frequently. When Jiang Xinwan asked, Ye Du would truthfully say Pupu was having lunch with Yu Xiao. Hearing them tease Pupu about “forgetting old friends for a new one” made Ye Du feel conflicted; she wanted to defend Pupu but knew she had to keep the secret. Later, Ye Du became busy with Math Competition training. Her own lunches became hurried affairs—no more leisurely chewing followed by a soda and a stroll around the playground before a slow walk back for a nap.

Occasionally, Pupu would invite Ye Du and Yu Xiao to eat together. Eating alone with Yu Xiao made Pupu feel guilty and paranoid, as if everyone could tell they were dating. Yunchuan Middle School was strict about “early love,” and getting caught meant a meeting with parents. Although Qin Wei and Chen Sijun doted on her, Pupu had promised them she wouldn’t date in middle school. The fact that her partner was a girl added an extra layer of anxiety.

During these trio lunches, Pupu would usually find a seat while Yu Xiao and Ye Du went to get the food. Close contact with Yu Xiao confirmed for Ye Du where her initial aversion came from: Yu Xiao was too sharp, too hyper-independent. Ye Du feared that with Pupu’s soft personality, she would inevitably be the one yielding in the relationship. But she didn’t know how to bring this up; after all, love is blind.

The school uniform pants were tight at the ankles and lined with a white mesh that became stiflingly hot in the summer. Unable to stand the heat, Ye Du had taken hers to a tailor to remove the mesh and open the ankles. It looked better and felt much cooler. The first time Yu Xiao ate with her, she bluntly asked where Ye Du had modified them. Before Ye Du could even answer, Yu Xiao said she’d bring her spare pair the next day for Ye Du to take to the tailor for her. Ye Du was already annoyed by the relationship itself; Yu Xiao’s demanding attitude only made it worse. Out of respect for Pupu, she said nothing, but the next day, Yu Xiao actually brought the pants to school.

“Hey, help me find Ye Du. You know, the one who’s first in your class,” Yu Xiao said, having picked Shang Ruixi to run her errand. Shang Ruixi, who was already fuming from being constantly outperformed by Ye Du, gave Yu Xiao a heavy eye-roll and walked off. Eventually, Yu Xiao asked Jiang Zhouchi to deliver the package. When Ye Du opened the bag, she nearly threw it straight into the trash.

“Ye Du, which ‘admirer’ sent you such a… unique gift?” Jiang Xinwan joked. “The top student’s pursuers really have different taste. No breakfast, cake, or notes—just a pair of school pants. How original.”

“It’s from Yu Xiao. She wants me to get them tailored for her,” Ye Du said, tying the bag shut and shoving it under her desk before returning to her problems.

“What? Seriously? I don’t even let myself disturb your study time, and she has the nerve to ask that? First she steals Pupu, now she wants to boss you around?” Jiang Xinwan realized with a start that it had been ages since she’d had lunch with Pupu. She missed her.

“What do you mean ‘steals Pupu’?” Ye Du stopped her pen, finding the choice of words interesting.

“Well, Pupu hasn’t eaten with us or walked home with us in forever. Yu Xiao must be dragging her away,” Wang Zhu said, returning with water and placing cups on Ye Du and Jiang Xinwan’s desks.

“Yeah, our group of four has become three,” Xinwan grumbled.

“It’s normal to have other friends. You and Gao Fengyuan get along fine,” Ye Du said, turning back to her booklet.

“Everyone gets along with the ‘Class Flower’,” Xinwan replied. Gao Fengyuan was actually a boy, nicknamed “Class Flower” because of his gentle temperament. Unlike some boys who bullied girls, he was clean, quiet, and spoke softly. He never got angry when provoked; he simply ignored people. Even when given a feminine nickname, he didn’t explode; he just quietly said he didn’t like it. But rowdy middle schoolers didn’t understand boundaries. Once, he was teased until he cried, but after a few days of peace, the name returned. Eventually, he just accepted it—not because he liked it, but because he couldn’t change their minds.

“I heard at the water fountain that Peng Zexue is going abroad next semester,” Wang Zhu shared.

“Peng Zexue?” Xinwan couldn’t place the name.

“The genius from Class 11. The girl who took first in the grade a few times,” Wang Zhu clarified.

“Going abroad so young? Impressive. But hey, that’s one less competitor for our Ye Du,” Xinwan said, acting like Ye Du’s number-one fan.

“What are you guys talking about?” Pupu asked, walking into the classroom.

“We’re talking about our pitiful lives without Pupu,” Xinwan teased, switching to a playful, whiny mode. She was still secretly annoyed by the bag Yu Xiao had sent, but since Pupu was in the middle and Ye Du had accepted it, she didn’t know what to do.

Pupu blushed instantly. Before she could think of a reply, the bell rang.

…

Over time, Ye Du grew used to the long entries in their shared notebook about Pupu and Yu Xiao. Pupu would always watch Yu Xiao train, sitting on a sideline chair guarding their bags, alternating between homework and watching Yu Xiao. Consequently, Pupu started getting home later and later. She exhausted every excuse she could think of and was nearing the limit of Qin Wei’s trust. Yu Xiao walked her home every day, sometimes taking the bus, or—if the weather and mood were right—taking a long walk. They would buy snacks and eat as they walked; Pupu initially found this unrefined and worried about the dust from the cars, but Yu Xiao didn’t care. If she saw something she wanted, she bought it and ate it immediately. They talked incessantly, sharing gossip about classmates, teachers, and school rumors. They exchanged intel like seasoned spies until every rumor lost its luster.

For the first time, Pupu was filled with an infinite anticipation for school. The dull textbooks and endless exams were still there, but in that previously unexplored space of her life, she now had someone who gave her courage and made her feel special. She wasn’t just a student at Yunchuan Middle School; she was a girl with a girlfriend who supported her more than anyone. She could share every thought with Yu Xiao. Even if Yu Xiao’s responses weren’t always what she imagined, the mere existence of that connection gave Pupu the confidence to face life. At that moment, she was convinced that no matter what happened in the future, there would always be one person she could turn to.

But the irony of life is that this very confidence often becomes one of the great, unpredictable variables.