Keep My First Kiss Safe For Me - Chapter 14

Chapter 14

“Tell me, tell me!” Fan Yue pleaded, pawing at Xie Yanyan like a puppy trying to get its owner’s attention. “I swear I won’t tell a soul. My lips are sealed!”

Xie Yanyan simply walked circles around her to avoid the pestering.

The two of them returned to the dormitory building, one chasing and the other dodging. Xiao Qian, who had been too worried to go up, was waiting at the entrance. Seeing them pulling and pushing at each other, she hurried over and yanked Fan Yue behind her, speaking bluntly to Xie Yanyan: “What are you doing to our Yue’er?”

“Your family’s?” Xie Yanyan raised an eyebrow at her.

Seeing that Xiao Qian had the wrong idea, Fan Yue stepped in to smooth things over. “It’s nothing, we’re just… bonding. Let’s go back.” She coaxed Xiao Qian back upstairs.

That night, after the lights were out, Xiao Qian lay on her bed grumbling sadly, “So much for sisterly love. Now that you have Xie Yanyan, you don’t want me anymore.”

“No way! You’ll always be my ‘wife’.” Fan Yue crawled into Xiao Qian’s bed curtains and squeezed into her quilt. It took a long time and a lot of sweet talk to get Xiao Qian smiling again.

As for the fact that Duan Feiyu was gay, it took Fan Yue several days to fully process it. As someone who struggled to keep secrets, she nearly shared it with Xiao Qian several times, but every time she opened her mouth, she remembered the “I’ll destroy you” look on Xie Yanyan’s face and promptly shut up.

Before bed one night, she and Xiao Qian were whispering again. Seeing Fan Yue looking like she was suffering from internal injuries from holding something back, Xiao Qian asked, “What is it you’re trying to say?”

“Nothing.” Fan Yue shook her head, but couldn’t resist asking, “Tell me… do guys really like other guys?” She knew what homosexuality was, of course, but she never expected to find it so close to home—and involving Duan Feiyu of all people!

“Of course they do.” Xiao Qian nodded, then realized something was up. She grabbed Fan Yue excitedly. “Do you know someone who is?”

Fan Yue denied it instantly. “No, I’m just curious.”

“Why the sudden curiosity?” Xiao Qian pulled out her phone with a mysterious grin and sent her a file. “I’ll show you something good.”

“What is it?” Fan Yue opened WeChat.

“Just look and you’ll see.”

With one click, a door to a new world swung open for Fan Yue. Xiao Qian had sent her a “danmei” fanfiction (BL). As Fan Yue read, her inner monologue was a constant loop of “Heaven help me!” “Holy crap!” and “Wow, wow, wow!”

The next day, seeing the dark circles under Fan Yue’s eyes, Xiao Qian was filled with regret. “My bad. I shouldn’t have shown you. Your self-control is non-existent; once you start, you can’t stop.”

Fan Yue, looking like a panda, shook Xiao Qian’s hand. “Got any more? Send me some more.”

Xiao Qian knew her too well and refused to send another file. She only managed to pull Fan Yue out of her trance by promising to give her even better ones once the holidays started so she could read to her heart’s content. Luckily, Fan Yue’s final exam results weren’t too terrible.

…

In previous years, Fan Yue’s family would have lunch together on New Year’s Eve, and then Fan Shicheng and Xie Rong would take her and Fan Xinghang to her grandparents’ house for dinner.

When Fan Shicheng first married Xie Rong, his parents had been staunchly opposed, even threatening to disown him. But he married her anyway, and for a long time, the old couple wouldn’t let him in the house. The turning point came with Fan Xinghang’s birth. That year, Fan Shicheng and Xie Rong showed up with the chubby, fair-skinned baby boy. The grandparents finally softened and didn’t kick them out. As Fan Xinghang grew older, they became absolutely doting.

In truth, they had always been kind to Fan Yue, but she could still feel a subtle bias. She didn’t enjoy the “happy family of five” scenes, so after paying her respects, she would usually head to Xiao Qian’s or Yu Ya’s.

Xie Yanyan, on the other hand, never went. To her, the relationship was far too distant. She had been independent and cold since she was a child, and even Xie Rong couldn’t do anything about it.

This year, Fan Shicheng planned to take the grandparents to Sanya for the New Year. The night before departure, he asked the girls again at the dinner table: “Yue’er, Yanyan, are you sure you won’t come? Sanya is warm, and you could use the break from your studies.”

“I’m not going. Have fun,” Fan Yue said, too lazy to travel.

Xie Yanyan shook her head. “Don’t worry about me.”

Xie Rong was still worried. “The New Year is only two days away. How are you two going to manage on your own?”

“Watch the Gala, eat dumplings. We’ll celebrate normally,” Fan Yue replied nonchalantly.

Xie Yanyan added, “We’ll figure it out.”

Despite their lingering concerns, the parents took the grandparents and the little boy onto the plane to Sanya the next day.

Being home for so long without supervision made Fan Yue ecstatic. She immediately started chatting with Xiao Qian.

Little Moon: Living the dream—sleeping until I wake up naturally, then just eating and sleeping again! Yay Princess Qianqian: How is that different from being a pig? Little Moon: How could a pig be as cute as me! Princess Qianqian:  Vomit Little Moon: By the way, the holidays are here. Time to fulfill your promise.

A file package was sent over.

Fan Yue sent back a red envelope and a kiss: Love you! Heart eyes!

This time, Xiao Qian sent a whole collection of BL novels. Fan Yue pulled two all-nighters in a row. On the third day, Xie Yanyan came out of her room and was startled by the panda-eyed girl. “What were you doing all night?”

“I have insomnia.”

Fan Yue’s head was spinning, and her appetite had vanished. The fridge was stocked with food Xie Rong had prepared that only needed reheating, but Fan Yue didn’t want any of it today.

Seeing her state, Xie Yanyan put a hand to her forehead. “No fever.”

Fan Yue shook her head weakly and flopped onto the sofa to watch TV. She eventually drifted off, only waking up in the late afternoon. She sat up slowly and realized a blanket had been placed over her.

Her stomach let out a loud growl. She went to the kitchen and opened the fridge. Technically, on New Year’s Eve, they should eat dumplings, but she had already eaten them all earlier. She was sick of the leftovers, but she didn’t know how to cook.

Closing the fridge, she started rummaging for instant noodles.

“I thought a mouse had gotten in.” Xie Yanyan leaned against the kitchen door frame, watching her. “What are you looking for?”

“Are there no instant noodles left?” Fan Yue searched high and low. Had they hidden them to stop her from eating junk?

“Hungry?”

Fan Yue answered honestly, “Yeah.”

Xie Yanyan opened the fridge. “What do you want to eat?”

“Huh?” Fan Yue didn’t follow. Xie Yanyan pointed at the few fresh vegetables left. “What do you want? I’ll cook.”

“You?” Fan Yue asked skeptically. “You know how?”

Xie Yanyan didn’t bother answering.

Fan Yue quickly placed her order: “I want noodle soup. And meat.”

“Wait outside.”

Xie Yanyan shooed her away, complaining she was in the way. Fan Yue obediently sat in the living room. Before long, a delicious aroma wafted from the kitchen.

Xie Yanyan brought out two bowls of noodles—clear broth with noodles, greens, a fried egg, and a sprinkle of spring onions. It looked and smelled amazing. Starving, Fan Yue dug in immediately, nodding as she ate. “Not bad. Pretty good, actually.”

Seeing her enjoy it, a faint smile touched Xie Yanyan’s lips. She turned back to the kitchen. Fan Yue called out with her mouth full, “Why aren’t you eating?”

“Didn’t you say you wanted meat too?” Xie Yanyan replied from the kitchen.

“Oh, right! Meat!” Fan Yue’s anticipation grew.

A moment later, Xie Yanyan brought out a plate of stir-fried pork with potato slices and sat down to eat. Fan Yue reached her chopsticks over for a taste. It was delicious. With her cheeks stuffed, she asked, “When did you learn how to stir-fry?”

“I was born with it,” Xie Yanyan said.

Fan Yue: “…”

After the meal, Fan Yue took the initiative to clear the dishes and wipe the stove. Feeling energized after a nap and a full stomach, she started pacing around the room to digest.

“Are you trying to make the neighbors downstairs come up and complain?” Xie Yanyan asked.

Fan Yue made a face. “What should I do? I think I ate too much. I’m uncomfortable.”

“Go for a walk, then.”

“Who goes walking alone on New Year’s Eve? What if someone kidnaps me?”

Given how goofy Fan Yue was being, it seemed like a genuine possibility. Xie Yanyan grabbed her long down jacket from the rack. “Let’s go.”

Fan Yue perked up and threw on her own coat.

The snow from a few days ago had mostly melted, leaving the ground wet. Most people were home having their reunion dinners, so the streets were quiet. As they passed the front building, where Xie Yanyan and Xie Rong used to rent, they saw warm yellow light glowing from the windows.

Fan Yue remembered a New Year’s Eve when they were kids. She had stayed too late playing there, and when Fan Shicheng came to get her for dinner, she had hidden in Xie Yanyan’s room. When her dad finally caught her, she threw a tantrum, refusing to leave and saying she wanted to spend the New Year with her sister. Since then, their relationship had only deteriorated.

Not wanting to get sentimental, Fan Yue instinctively quickened her pace. She accidentally stepped on a patch of unmelted snow, lost her balance, and started to fall. She was caught—again—but the momentum was too much this time, and she dragged Xie Yanyan down with her.

“Are you okay?”

Fan Yue stared up, stunned by the concerned look on Xie Yanyan’s face. Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that?

“I’m… I’m fine. Your coat!” Fan Yue helped her up and saw that Xie Yanyan’s light-colored down jacket was stained with slush. She winced. “It’s my fault. Let me wash it for you.”

“I’ll take it to the dry cleaners,” Xie Yanyan said, not at all angry.

“Then I’ll pay for it.” Fan Yue added before she could protest, “You’re not allowed to say no.” She pulled out her phone and sent a red envelope.

Xie Yanyan clicked it and saw it was 200 yuan. “It doesn’t cost that much.”

“It’s your New Year’s money from me.”

Xie Yanyan: “?”

Fan Yue gave a nervous laugh. “Well, I am older than you.” Then she whispered, “Are you going to cook tomorrow too?”

Faced with a persistent little foodie, Xie Yanyan gave a soft “Mm” and said, “Let’s go back.”

As soon as they entered the door, Fan Yue’s phone rang. It was a video call from Fan Shicheng. Fan Yue answered and brought Xie Yanyan into the frame. Xie Rong was there too, asking how they were and what they had eaten.

Fan Xinghang poked his head in. “Yue’er-jie, are you being a pig again—just eating and sleeping?” Her grandparents spoke to them as well, and after a round of noisy chatter, they hung up.

The Spring Festival Gala started on TV. The show seemed to get more boring every year, but it didn’t feel like New Year without it. Fan Yue scrolled through her web novels, occasionally glancing at the screen.

“What are you reading?” Xie Yanyan asked, turning toward her.

Guiltily, Fan Yue slammed her phone face-down against her chest. “Nothing!”

The two of them occupied opposite ends of the sofa, each on their own phone with the Gala as background noise. When they got tired, they headed to their rooms. They didn’t stay up until midnight to exchange greetings, but this was their first New Year spent alone together.