Keep My First Kiss Safe For Me - Chapter 5

Chapter 5

“Yue-er!”

Cici came running into the classroom.

Fan Yue, slumped over her desk, replied weakly, “What is it?” The price of one ice cream a day had finally caught up to her; her period had arrived with a vengeance. Her stomach was cramping so badly she was whimpering, and she had skipped PE class to lie like a corpse in the classroom.

“The new male god is playing basketball! Quick, come watch!” The “new male god” Cici spoke of was Duan Feiyu, the handsome high school freshman. The last time Fan Yue saw him on the field, it was only from a distance, but after seeing him up close in the hallway, she had to admit he was truly handsome—and he really did bear a resemblance to Brother Ning Yuan.

A bet was a bet, so she had started buying Cici ice cream every day. Cici felt bad eating alone and would buy one for her in return. In a way, her current menstrual cramps were a “gift” from this male god. At the mention of Duan Feiyu’s name, Fan Yue’s stomach twinged painfully. She said in a trembling voice, “I’m not going~”

Cici came over and tugged her arm. “You’ll regret it if you don’t.”

Fan Yue clutched her stomach. “My ‘Auntie’ hurts.” (Note: Auntie is slang for period).

“The sun will make it feel better.” Cici’s small frame somehow found a burst of strength, and she dragged the weakened Fan Yue out the door.

Once outside, the warmth of the sun actually did make Fan Yue feel a bit better. A crowd had already gathered around the basketball court, with occasional bursts of excited screams. Cici pulled Fan Yue through the throng to the front row, standing right across from the hoop.

Heartbreak—or heart-throbs—can happen in an instant. Duan Feiyu leaped gracefully into the air, his long arms giving a gentle push. The basketball traced a beautiful arc through the air and swished straight into the hoop. That shot was like an arrow piercing Fan Yue’s heart.

The boy under the brilliant sun wore a simple white T-shirt and gym shorts. His tall, upright figure was full of youthful tension. His short hair, damp with sweat, lifted slightly as he jumped, revealing a pair of clear eyes…

The scene perfectly matched every beautiful fantasy a young girl could have of a first love. Amidst the screams of the crowd, Fan Yue could only feel her heart thumping like thunder.

“So handsome!” Cici shook her arm excitedly. “Yue-er, what do you think?”

Fan Yue was too stunned to answer. Her eyes followed the boy on the court as he ran freely, made another basket, and laughed while high-fiving his teammates. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and jogged to the sidelines to rest.

A few proactive girls went over to offer him water. Duan Feiyu waved them off, declining politely with a smile that was warm yet distant.

After resting for a moment, he looked into the distance, and his expression instantly became animated. Then, Fan Yue watched as the boy who had just made her heart flutter for the first time ran toward Xie Yanyan in front of everyone.

Xie Yanyan was walking across the field. The normally cold and aloof goddess turned her head when she heard someone call her name. Seeing it was Duan Feiyu, a smile broke across her face. The sight of the handsome boy and beautiful girl smiling under the scorching sun was too dazzling; it made Fan Yue’s eyes sting. She looked away, but the whispers from the surroundings drifted into her ears.

“Isn’t that Xie Yanyan?” “How does Duan Feiyu know her?” “I think they went to the same middle school.” “Really? So they’ve known each other for a long time?” “Yeah, I bet they’re dating!” “Makes sense. Duan Feiyu is polite, but he’s actually hard to get close to. Xie Yanyan is a famous ice queen—have you ever seen her give a guy the time of day?” “True. Guess I don’t have a chance.” “Haha, you’re overthinking it. It wouldn’t be your turn anyway.” “They’re so easy on the eyes. Like they walked right out of a manga.” …

Those words piled up in Fan Yue’s heart. Her racing heart began to feel heavy. A long-forgotten sensation surged back up, and she suddenly understood why some people go mad with jealousy.

Because there is always that one person who steals everything from you.

She stole your father, and now she’s stealing the first boy who ever made your heart skip a beat…

…

After Xie Yanyan moved into the family quarters, she attended the same kindergarten as Fan Yue. The two sisters were inseparable at school and always hung out after class.

When it was windy, they ran against the breeze holding windmills. On rainy days, they held hands and jumped into mud puddles until their pretty dresses were filthy, only to be dragged back by the adults for a bath. On sunny days, it was even more fun. Fan Yue had turned Xie Yanyan into a bit of a troublemaker. They would take turns blowing a little whistle in the middle of the day, waking up the napping adults until someone came out with a broom to scold the “bear children.”

There were quiet moments, too. Xie Yanyan learned to read early and could follow the plots of many picture books. Fan Yue would pester her to tell stories, eventually falling asleep while leaning on her.

One day, Xie Yanyan was telling her the story of Snow White. When she reached the part where the King married a new Queen, Fan Yue suddenly tilted her head and asked, “Yanyan, where is your dad?” She realized she had never seen Yanyan’s father or heard her mention him.

Xie Yanyan replied calmly, “I don’t have a dad.”

“How can you not have a dad?” Fan Yue asked in surprise. “My dad said you need a mom and a dad together to have a baby.”

Xie Yanyan closed the book. The sunlight outside was blocked by clouds, and the girl slipped back into the shadows. “I’ve never seen my dad. Mom says I don’t have one.”

Fan Yue’s large eyes welled up with pity. She hugged Xie Yanyan tightly. “It’s okay. I have a dad. I’ll share half of mine with you.”

She had no idea those words would become a curse.

At first, Fan Shicheng visited Xie Yanyan and her mother often, asking if they were adjusting, if they needed help, or if they had any difficulties. Later, he stopped going himself and used Fan Yue as a messenger. By then, people were already gossiping.

“The kid is so clueless; Yue-er is still playing with that girl.” “Do you think Engineer Fan and that woman are actually a thing?”

A child, naturally, couldn’t sense the weight of these whispers.

Fan Yue first sensed something was wrong from her mother. Yu Ya was a high-powered career woman; in Fan Yue’s memory, her mother was rarely home. But for a while, her mother began returning much more frequently. Fan Yue was happy at first, but her mother and father fought every time she came back.

As a child in the senior class of kindergarten, she could understand what the adults were saying. She heard her mother questioning Fan Shicheng: “What exactly is your relationship with her!”

Fan Shicheng repeated over and over: “We were just high school classmates.”

Yu Ya gave a cold laugh. “Who would believe that!”

Fan Shicheng continued to explain: “I ran into her at a high school teacher’s birthday banquet. I heard she was going through a hard time, raising a child alone, working odd jobs, and living in a tiny shack. Her daughter is the same age as our Yue-er. I just felt sorry for the mother and daughter… you have to believe me.”

Having seen too many “dog blood” dramas in her line of work, Yu Ya clearly didn’t believe him. She shot back: “There are so many pitiful people in the world. Why did you choose to help her?”

Fan Shicheng was at a loss for words.

Fan Yue heard him swear to the heavens: “There is absolutely nothing improper between Xie Rong and me. If there is, may I come to a bad end!”

“Fan Shicheng, don’t make oaths lightly, and don’t speak so surely,” Yu Ya said coldly.

The girl hiding behind the door understood every word, but putting them together didn’t make sense. Why were Mom and Dad always fighting? But she vaguely sensed that all of this was connected to Xie Yanyan’s mother.

Her usually strong mother eventually started crying. She cried so hard; her elegant face was covered in tears, and her strong facade crumbled into vulnerability. Little Fan Yue ran over to hug her, wiping away the tears with her small hands. “Mom, don’t cry,” she whispered.

Yu Ya held her tightly, trying to control the shaking in her voice. “Yue-er, don’t play with that girl anymore, okay?” Fan Yue nodded. She knew the “girl” her mother meant was Xie Yanyan.

Her daughter’s obedience made Yu Ya cry even more. She told Fan Yue: “They are going to steal your father away!”

But my dad is right here, and Auntie Xie is very nice. How could they steal my dad? Fan Yue didn’t dare ask. She listened to her mother and never went to find Xie Yanyan again. Xie Yanyan seemed to notice something, too, and stopped talking to her.

Later, they both started elementary school. One day after school, it started to rain. Fan Yue opened her little floral umbrella and saw Xie Yanyan taking shelter from the rain at the school gate.

They hadn’t spoken in a long time. Fan Yue couldn’t bear to see her get soaked and hesitated over whether to share her umbrella. Xie Yanyan saw her too. Fan Yue instinctively looked away; when she looked up again, Xie Yanyan had already run off into the rain.

Her figure grew smaller and smaller in the curtain of rain, running out of the tiny world that had once belonged to only the two of them.

Eventually, her parents’ fighting stopped, but her mother stayed away from home even more. When she missed her mom, Yu Ya would take her out for good food or to the amusement park, but she never saw her parents together again.

One day, Fan Shicheng took Fan Yue to eat her favorite cake. He pushed a heart-shaped cake toward her, watching her lick the spoon with satisfaction. Then, he straightened his posture and told her very solemnly: “Yue-er, Mom and Dad are divorced.”

The cake on the little spoon fell onto the table with a splat. Fan Yue asked uncertainly, “What does ‘divorced’ mean?”

Her reaction broke Fan Shicheng’s heart. But a marriage that had lost its trust could not be saved. He told Fan Yue: “Yue-er, even though Mom and Dad are apart, we will always be your parents. Will you live with Dad from now on?”

Huge teardrops fell from the girl’s confused eyes. Fan Yue asked blankly, “Does Mom not want me anymore?”

Fan Shicheng shook his head. “No, of course Mom wants you. She’s just too busy with work to take care of you.”

The moment the words left his mouth, Fan Yue jumped off the chair without warning and ran outside. Fan Shicheng scrambled to follow. He had no idea his tiny daughter could run so fast. He called out to her anxiously, but she didn’t stop until she tripped and fell.

Her knees under her princess dress were scraped and bleeding. Fan Yue let out a piercing wail. Fan Shicheng held her and tried to comfort her, but her hysterical crying drew a crowd. Some thought she was being kidnapped and demanded to know Fan Shicheng’s relationship to her. He said they were father and daughter, but the helpful bystanders weren’t convinced and asked if she knew this man. Fan Yue just cried and didn’t answer. The crowd was about to call the police when Fan Shicheng, in desperation, called Yu Ya.

By the time Yu Ya arrived, Fan Yue’s eyes were swollen from crying. She reached out heart-brokenly to hug her daughter, but the little girl took a step back. She tilted her fragile little face up and asked: “Mom, do you not want me anymore?”

“How could Mom not want you?” Yu Ya reached out anxiously to check her injured knee. “Yue-er, does it hurt?”

Fan Yue could no longer feel the pain in her knee. For the first time, she realized that besides physical pain, the heart could hurt too—and it hurt much more. She stepped back with tears in her eyes: “You’re not my mom anymore.”

Yu Ya froze. After a silence, a few tears rolled down her cheeks. She lowered her head and said, “I’m sorry, Yue-er. Mommy loves you.”

Fan Yue’s carefree childhood ended abruptly with her mother’s departure.