How I Accidentally Bent My Best Friend - Chapter 29.1

In just a few sentences, Lu Wei’s heart felt like it had ridden a roller coaster, soaring to the clouds one moment and plunging to the depths the next. Fortunately, when she finally heard Chen Yushu say she didn’t like him, it settled back into place.

The emotional swings had been too swift and intense. Suddenly relaxing, Lu Wei froze for a moment, then calmly uttered an “Oh” before tossing the branch in her hand into the bushes.

Just then, she felt a sharp, burning pain on her hand. Looking down, she saw a series of nail marks on her left wrist, most of them broken and reddened.

Noticing this, Chen Yushu asked, “What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.” Lu Wei instinctively hid her left hand, then linked arms with Chen Yushu, still uneasy as she asked, “But what if he keeps bothering you in the future?”

“That’s just my guess. Maybe he never meant anything by it.” As she spoke, Chen Yushu grabbed Lu Wei’s hand to examine it. “Why haven’t you washed your hands clean?”

Luckily, it was the right hand.

Lu Wei glanced down and saw silver pencil smudges on the side of her palm. She had been in a hurry earlier and only wiped it briefly with a tissue.

“Here, wipe it off.” Chen Yushu handed her a pack of tissues.

Lu Wei didn’t take it, instead whining playfully, “You wipe it for me. I’ve been drawing all day I’m exhausted.”

Chen Yushu glanced up at her. “No strength left for that?”

Lu Wei immediately nodded pitifully, leaning her body weakly against Chen Yushu.

“Stand properly.” Chen Yushu chuckled, steadying her, then helplessly pulled out a tissue and began wiping her hand meticulously. Out of habit, she massaged Lu Wei’s wrist and knuckles, just as she had on many nights back in high school.

Lu Wei couldn’t help but sniffle, feeling a slight ache inside. She rarely experienced such subtle emotions and couldn’t quite put a name to the feeling. No wonder Wang Zhizhi always said she was heartless.

“But what if he really does like you and keeps bothering you?” she asked again, still anxious.

Without thinking, Chen Yushu blurted out, “What can I do? Find a fake boyfriend to crush his hopes?”

The speaker had no intention, but the listener took it to heart this time, their roles were reversed.

Lu Wei’s face instantly paled, and she clenched her left hand into a fist, trying desperately to hold onto that fleeting moment of imbalance.

“There.” Chen Yushu released her hand, but the next second, Lu Wei pressed her palm against Chen Yushu’s, interlacing their fingers tightly.

Due to years of holding a brush for painting, Lu Wei had a thin layer of callus on her index finger’s knuckle, which felt especially distinct at that moment.

Chen Yushu’s entire side went numb, as if struck by an electric current.

Unconsciously, the image from Lu Wei’s Weibo post flashed through her mind. Her fingers stiffened slightly, warmth rising within her. She let Lu Wei hold her hand, not daring to move at all.

For a while, neither of them spoke as they walked quietly.

Lu Wei couldn’t help but think, if only it could always be like this just her and Chen Yushu.

The two of them were a world unto themselves.

“Saturday and Sunday, and it’s mandatory?”

“I just want to lie in bed. I can’t move, not even a little!”

As soon as Chen Yushu returned to the dorm, she heard everyone heatedly discussing something and couldn’t help asking, “What’s going on?”

Ye Chiwan replied, “The school is planning a sports meet at the end of October, and freshmen are required to participate. They’re making us do everything we’re just the unlucky ones!”

Just then, Xia Ke suddenly spoke up, “Quick, look at the group notification. It says those who sign up for the competitions can get extra credits.”

Chen Yushu wasn’t particularly interested at first, but upon hearing that it could earn her extra credits, she immediately pulled out her phone.

However, one glance at the listed events nearly made her dizzy not a single one was her forte. Those credits were clearly meant for others.

Chen Yushu sighed and slumped back into her seat dejectedly.

While her roommates were enthusiastically discussing which events they wanted to join, Jiang Yuran noticed her silence and suggested, “Shushu, you could try the long jump. It’s relatively easier.”

Chen Yushu shook her head, her face crestfallen. “I can’t. I barely passed the long jump during the high school entrance exam.”

“Really?” Ye Chiwan’s jaw dropped in surprise. “Shouldn’t everyone score full marks in the long jump? At the very least, eight or nine points, right?”

The other two nodded silently in agreement.

Chen Yushu bit her lip, on the verge of tears. She refused to believe it!

“Hahaha.” After a good laugh, Jiang Yuran comforted her, “You must have used the wrong technique. The long jump is actually quite simple. With some practice, you’ll be fine.”

Ye Chiwan added, “Yeah, just sign up first. Worst case, we can take turns coaching you.”

Xia Ke gave her an encouraging nod.

The power of the crowd was undeniable. Gritting her teeth, Chen Yushu filled in her name.

However, since everyone was busy these days, she didn’t want to trouble them and thought of someone else instead.

When she mentioned it to Lu Wei, Lu Wei was more than willing and agreed without hesitation. They decided to practice for ten to twenty minutes on the sports field every evening after self-study sessions.

Monday evening, after self-study ended.

Chen Yushu followed the crowd out of the teaching building and spotted Lu Wei waiting not far away, her chest slightly heaving as if she had been catching her breath.

Upon seeing her, Lu Wei’s eyes lit up. She jumped up and waved enthusiastically, her smile so wide it revealed more than eight teeth.

Her exuberant demeanor resembled an excited puppy wagging its tail vigorously utterly adorable.

Chen Yushu struggled through the crowd and jogged over to her, a smile unconsciously spreading across her face.

It had been a long time since they had walked back from self-study together.

As soon as she reached her, Lu Wei wrapped her in a tight hug, her smile unwavering. She didn’t say a word, just gazed at her.

Enveloped in a faint, pleasant fragrance, Chen Yushu took a subtle whiff and couldn’t resist hugging her back. The warmth of Lu Wei’s body against hers melted her heart into a puddle.

The noisy chatter around them seemed to drift by like distant clouds, barely noticeable, leaving only the sound of their soft, steady breaths.

Long-suppressed emotions, like a prisoner confined for too long, seized an unguarded moment to break free, slipping out unnoticed and beyond her control.

The northern wind always blew at the most inopportune times. Under the streetlights, tree shadows swayed and rustled. Chen Yushu turned her head toward the source of the breeze, momentarily halting the flutter in her heart.

Lu Wei stared blankly at Chen Yushu’s profile, oblivious to the strands of hair dancing across her forehead.

There was no wind stirring only something else.

The mid-October night had grown chilly. Chen Yushu shivered and snapped back to reality, calling out to Lu Wei, “Let’s go quickly, or it’ll be too late.”

“Ah, oh, okay.” Lu Wei lowered her gaze, avoiding Chen Yushu’s brief eye contact, then puzzled over her own reaction. She lifted her head again, stealing a sidelong glance at Chen Yushu before discreetly touching her chest no unusual sensations.

Whew—! She secretly breathed a sigh of relief, linked arms with Chen Yushu, and interlaced their fingers, chirping cheerfully, “Let’s go.”

“Mm.”

The two of them walked together toward the sports field, leaving a trail of shadows behind them.

By the time they reached the field, the evening crowd had thinned out, with only a few people jogging around.

“I asked Senior Jiang, and she said the long jump competition will be held here,” Lu Wei led her to a sandpit and explained.

Chen Yushu glanced at it and immediately crouched down in agony, “This? I can barely manage a standing long jump. This might as well kill me.”

“The two are actually quite similar,” Lu Wei said, casually patting her head. Hmm, nice texture might as well pat it again.

Chen Yushu tilted her head away, giving her a displeased look, “You’re so annoying.”

“Hehe,” Lu Wei chuckled, moving her hand to the back of Chen Yushu’s neck, “Don’t be scared. I’ll teach you slowly. There are still two weeks until the sports meet we have plenty of time.”

“Really?” Chen Yushu asked hesitantly.

Lu Wei nodded firmly, “Even if you don’t believe in yourself, you have to believe in me.”

“Such a narcissist.”

Even as she said it, Chen Yushu couldn’t help but feel a little more reassured.

“Let me demonstrate first,” Lu Wei reached out and pulled her up, then stepped back, “Watch closely.”

Chen Yushu urged her, “Hurry up and start.”

Lu Wei made an “OK” gesture, focused her attention, and began her approach run, sprinted, and prepared to jump.

“Ah, oh my god, wait, wait a second ” Lu Wei came to an abrupt halt, her body leaning forward as she stood on tiptoe at the edge of the sandpit, “Uh, I was just warming up. It wasn’t the real thing yet. Stop laughing! Chen Yushu!”

On the other side, Chen Yushu was already laughing uncontrollably, clutching her waist and nearly losing her balance. She forced back her laughter and cheered her on, “Understood, understood. Go on, Teacher Lu.”

“Ahem,” Lu Wei’s expression shifted as she tried to act composed, “Now for the real teaching. Pay attention.”

Chen Yushu immediately clapped obediently, “Alright, go for it, Teacher Lu.”

Lu Wei returned to her starting point, wiped the sweat from her palms, gathered her focus for a moment, then began her approach run and sprinted.

Pfft!

Perhaps the previous incident had left too strong an impression, because Chen Yushu couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.

In response, Lu Wei lost her momentum and stopped abruptly, shouting in frustration, “Chen Yushu!”

“Sorry, sorry!” Chen Yushu clasped her hands together and quickly apologized, “My fault, Teacher Lu. I was wrong.”

Seeing this, Lu Wei couldn’t bring herself to scold her further and waved it off generously, “No more laughing this time, got it?”

“I promise,” Chen Yushu said sincerely.

Lu Wei let out a disgruntled hum and returned to her spot, muttering to herself, “I was about to succeed just now, all because of Chen Yushu.”

However, what followed was the same familiar routine, the same old story.

“Damn it!” Lu Wei shook her hands in frustration, then suddenly heard a faint, suppressed chuckle.

Turning around, she found Chen Yushu sitting on the ground, her head buried in her knees, shoulders shaking.

“Chen Yushu!”

“I didn’t do anything while you were jumping just now,” Chen Yushu looked up, swallowing her laughter, and blinked innocently.