My Childhood Friend is Secretly in Love with Me - Chapter 1

“Sorry, I already have someone I like.”

“You brat! Didn’t you agree to report for registration with Xiaoxiao tomorrow? Why did you run off on your own first?”

The sharp voice coming through the phone nearly pierced Zuo Yi’s eardrum.

Zuo Yi took a deep breath and lowered his voice to explain, “Mom, I have some business to take care of. If Sister Xiao asks, help me explain it to her.”

Without waiting for a reply from “Old Song,” he quickly cut the call.

Zuo Yi stood straight at the entrance of Jingxi University, staring at the gold-plated plaque baking under the sun. His silhouette was like a newly sharpened javelin, sharp and eye-catching. Standing nearly 190 cm tall and dragging a black suitcase, the metallic body of the luggage reflected the cold glint beneath his peach blossom eyes. He exuded an aura that warned strangers not to approach.

A week ago, Zuo Yi had specifically reserved a spot to visit Jingxi University today. Traveling from Jiangcheng to Jingxi, he did not go to the Physical Education Institute to report first. Instead, he headed straight here the moment he stepped off the plane. He dragged his suitcase deep into the campus, the sound of the wheels grinding against the ground carrying a hint of suppressed irritation.

In truth, Zuo Yi knew perfectly well that he might not encounter that “nuisance” who had been on his mind for over a year today. He knew that freshman registration usually happened a few days earlier than that of the returning students, but a stubborn streak drove him to try his luck anyway. After all, this person was the sole reason he, a former academic slacker, had fought so hard to get into a school in Jingxi City. Zuo Yi wanted to ask him clearly to his face why he moved out of the Moonlight Bay courtyard without a word and deleted all his contact information to pull a vanishing act.

It was early September, and the sun hung high. He walked along the school’s artificial lake for so long that he felt he might suffer a heat stroke. His vision began to blur. Just as he planned to ask a passerby for directions to the men’s dormitories, a commotion broke out nearby.

A crowd had gathered in the small plaza by the lake. In the center, a short-haired girl spoke with a voice that carried an undetectable tremor, “I like you. Will you be my boyfriend?” Her voice was not loud, yet it was exceptionally clear in that small space.

The surrounding students fell silent, their gazes shifting between the two. Some wore kind smiles, while others looked on with anticipation, hoping for some gossip.

“Sorry classmate, I already have someone I like. Thank you for your feelings. I wish you a smooth start to the semester.” The boy’s voice was gentle and clear, but to Zuo Yi’s ears, it was like a clap of thunder.

That voice was so familiar. It was.

Zuo Yi stopped abruptly. The sound of his suitcase wheels ceased instantly as his heart began to pound wildly. Looking toward the front right, he saw a tall boy in the crowd wearing a simple white shirt and jeans. His posture was just as outstanding as it was in Zuo Yi’s memory. He kept his head slightly bowed, wearing a polite yet distant smile. It was Qi Yan, the person Zuo Yi had only seen in his dreams for the past year.

Having not heard that voice for a long time, hearing it now, though it had gained a touch of maturity, instantly stirred a wave of bitterness in Zuo Yi’s heart. With just one glance, Zuo Yi noticed he had lost a lot of weight. His chin was sharper, and his frame was thinner, yet he remained the most radiant presence in the crowd.

The phrase “I already have someone I like” echoed repeatedly in Zuo Yi’s ears. Zuo Yi could not care less about the joy of a childhood friend’s reunion. He felt as though his feet were pinned to the ground, unable to take another step forward. He wanted to leave this place.

Just as he turned to go, Zuo Yi collided head-on with a female student who had just finished getting hot water. With a thud, the thermos shattered. Scalding water splashed onto his lower leg, turning the skin red instantly.

“Cl-classmate, your leg, your leg is burned. Let me take you to the infirmary,” the girl stammered, clearly frightened.

Zuo Yi could not help but frown in pain. Gritting his teeth, he said, “No need. I am fine.”

“But your leg is.”

The girl tried to persist, but Zuo Yi cut her off word by word, “I said, I am fine.”

The commotion he caused was a bit loud, making it hard not to attract attention. Fortunately, more students were passing by now, and a large tree happened to block much of Qi Yan’s line of sight. Ignoring his injury, Zuo Yi dragged his suitcase and hurried away as if fleeing an unfavorable battlefield. It was not until he ran out of the Jingxi University gates that he dared to look back.

The burning sensation on his leg was a constant reminder. Even if he had fought his way to Jingxi, so what? The gap between him and Qi Yan was more than just that one blank year. On his first day in Jingxi, he had found the person but did not dare to step forward and identify himself. It made his year of hard work seem as pathetic as the shattered thermos on the ground. His feelings were like a sprout of wild grass that, just as it was growing vigorously, had been pinned down by a heavy, damp stone after the rain, perhaps never to break through the soil again.

Zuo Yi dragged his listless body to the Jingxi Physical Education Institute. He completed his freshman registration, took his dormitory key, and entered the empty room. By the time he finished making his bed, he was as exhausted as if he had just finished a long distance freestyle swim.

Faced with this unfamiliar environment, Zuo Yi began to miss the Moonlight Bay courtyard, especially the days when the “Iron Triangle” reigned supreme. That was a time and place that belonged solely to them.

The phone he had tossed on the bed rang, breaking the silence. Zuo Yi picked it up and saw it was Ding Wenxiao, the only girl in the Moonlight Bay Iron Triangle. He answered and slumped onto the mattress, his tone low, “What is it?”

“Zuo Yi, what are you doing?” Ding Wenxiao’s roaring voice came through the phone, making Zuo Yi’s eardrums ache. “Did we not agree to go to Jingxi together tomorrow? Auntie Song said you ran off early this morning. This move of yours is impressive. Are you afraid of helping me with my luggage?”

Zuo Yi twitched the corner of his mouth, feigning a relaxed tone. “How could I? I just came early to scout the way. Tomorrow, big brother will take you out to a restaurant for a welcome feast.”

Ding Wenxiao stamped her foot in anger, shouting, “Brother my ass! I have let you off by not forcing you to call me big sister since we were kids. Do not push your luck.”

Hearing Ding Wenxiao’s familiar style of threats, the dark clouds over Zuo Yi’s head dissipated slightly, and his mood improved. Zuo Yi rolled his eyes and teased, “Fine, fine, I was wrong. What time does your flight land tomorrow? Your humble servant, Little Yi, awaits your arrival!”

“10:30 tomorrow morning. Do not be late.”

“As you command, my sister.”

“So cheesy. Hanging up.”

After the call ended, Zuo Yi checked the time. It was time for dinner. However, he got up and went to the bathroom to wash up, intending to go straight to sleep.

The next day at 10:00 AM, Zuo Yi appeared early at Jingxi International Airport to welcome Ding Wenxiao. The sun was high as the plane landed on time. Ding Wenxiao emerged unhurriedly, wearing oversized black sunglasses and a light pink jumper dress. Zuo Yi spotted the pink figure and walked up to meet her.

Seeing that she had actually arrived made him feel much more grounded. He could not help but joke, “With Sister Xiaoxiao’s presence, Jingxi truly shines today!”

Ding Wenxiao gave her two large suitcases a stylish shove, and the wheels rolled them precisely to a stop in front of Zuo Yi. She nimbly removed her sunglasses, tilted her head at him, and said, “Lead the way.”

“Yes, yes. May I ask if Sister Xiaoxiao wants to report to school first or go eat?”

Zuo Yi rarely praised her so openly. These two had bickered since childhood. One was always causing trouble and taking pleasure in annoying Qi Yan, while the other followed Qi Yan around like a role model. They often caused a scene in the courtyard. However, to each other, they had long been like family.

Ding Wenxiao had resolutely given up her guaranteed admission to Jiangcheng University for the sake of the Iron Triangle, ranking first in both academic and professional scores to get into the Jingxi Film Academy. Zuo Yi could not help but be moved by this loyalty. Now that they were embarking on this journey in Jingxi together, at least his back was not exposed.

Ding Wenxiao had been too excited to sleep well and did not feel like bickering. She decided to go to school first to drop off the two cumbersome suitcases. By the time the registration process was finished, it was near dinnertime, and both were starving. Zuo Yi chose a local specialty restaurant. Despite the air conditioning, eating copper-pot hot pot in September still left them drenched in sweat.

Ding Wenxiao dipped a piece of beef into the pot, swiped it in some chili flakes, and took a large bite. Before swallowing, she asked unclearly, “Did you go to Jingxi University yesterday?”

“No, why would I go there?” Zuo Yi denied it flatly without looking up.

Ding Wenxiao put down her chopsticks and took a sip of iced soda to wash down the beef. She smiled. “I thought you would not be able to resist running over to show off to Brother Yan. After all, it took a layer of skin for a slacker like you to pass the exams.”

Zuo Yi’s heart tightened as he recalled Qi Yan’s words from the day before. He had been in a bad state all day yesterday. Even now, the burns on his leg had not been treated properly, resulting in several blisters that he covered with long pants today. When had he ever been this pathetic?

“No need. Coming to Jingxi was our childhood promise. I just did not want to break it. There is nothing to show off.”

Zuo Yi’s words were half-truths. It was true he did not want to break the promise, but he also desperately wanted to show off in front of Qi Yan. He craved Qi Yan’s appreciation. He wanted Qi Yan to be proud of him.

Ding Wenxiao felt a sting in her nose. She had not broken the promise either, but could they ever find the original intentions they had when they first made that pact?

“Yeah, we made it. Come on, let us toast. After I am done with things in a few days, I will go to Jingxi University to find Brother Yan. The Moonlight Bay Iron Triangle is finally reunited in Jingxi City!” Wenxiao raised her cup of cola and clinked it against Zuo Yi’s.

After finishing their meal, Zuo Yi sent Ding Wenxiao back to her school. On the way, they agreed to go shopping for daily necessities tomorrow. On his way back, he stopped by a pharmacy to buy some burn ointment. Just as he reached his dormitory door, he heard a commotion inside.

It seemed his roommates had arrived. Zuo Yi was thinking about how to greet them when the door was opened from the inside.

“Hello.”

The person at the door froze for a moment upon seeing Zuo Yi and was the first to offer a greeting. Zuo Yi nodded. “Hello, I am Zuo Yi.”

He walked inside and took a quick look. There were five people. Including him, the room was now full. Zuo Yi passed them and sat on his bed. Seeing the others fall silent and stare at him unabashedly, he stopped what he was doing and explained, “I arrived yesterday but went out early this morning. I just got back.”

A dark-skinned boy standing opposite him walked over and said proactively, “Hey handsome, I am Li Zihao, a track and field student.”

Zuo Yi replied politely, “Hello, I am a swimming student.”

Li Zihao was naturally outgoing. He sat down next to Zuo Yi and began chatting, “Since you arrived late and missed our ice-breaker, let me introduce the roommates to you personally.”

“Thanks.” Zuo Yi agreed.

“The little guy who opened the door is Guo Jingjing, also in track and field. The tall guy with the washbasin is Xie Biao, Journalism and Communication.” He then pointed to a clean-cut boy sitting on the top bunk playing games. “That is Ji Yuxin, also Journalism. They are in the same department.”

Zuo Yi gave a slight nod as a greeting. Li Zihao was a master at breaking the ice. He tirelessly introduced everyone, “The one with glasses is Feng Sang, Economics.” He leaned in and whispered to Zuo Yi, “This kid is pretty slow to warm up. He has not really talked to us all day and did not come with us for dinner.”

“Mm,” Zuo Yi acknowledged quietly.

Li Zihao felt encouraged. He suddenly stood up in the middle of the room and spoke from the heart, “Listen up everyone, starting today, we are going to struggle together here for four years. During this time, we might be family, brothers, friends, or even lovers if you want.”

“Lovers?” Zuo Yi straightened up abruptly, thinking he had misheard.

“What is wrong with lovers? You have a problem with sexual orientation?” Li Zihao shot back.

Zuo Yi waved his hands quickly. “No, I do not.”

He liked men himself. How could he be biased? Could it be that this guy liked men too? Zuo Yi observed secretly. As expected, students at the Physical Education Institute were full of hidden depths. If he did not mention it himself, one really could not tell.

Li Zihao continued, “My point is, why do I not treat you guys to a night out tomorrow? It is rare for our dorm to have such a super handsome guy. We have to take him out to see the world!”

His proposal was met with unanimous agreement. Only then did he remember to ask the group, “Are any of you guys homophobic?”

Everyone shook their heads in unison. Specifically, the tall guy, Xie Biao, let out a laugh for some reason.

Zuo Yi was by no means quiet. Since childhood, he was a famous troublemaker in the courtyard, but he was well-bred and polite, making him a favorite among the elders and neighbors. If Qi Yan was the benchmark for excellence, Zuo Yi was the darling of the community. Whenever he did something wrong that warranted a beating, there were always kind neighbors to cover for him.

But now, being put on the spot by this ice-breaker king, he felt a bit of social anxiety. He could not imagine how exciting dormitory life would be from now on.

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