My Upperclassman Wants me to confess my feelings - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Obsession

“You’re in the dormitory?” Zhao Ru looked at the newcomer in surprise.

Cheng Wu handed a water glass to Xia Xiaohan, stretching her back as she spoke. “Giving the freshmen some practice so I can take a break.”

When her gaze landed on Xia Xiaohan, Zhao Ru seemed to realize something. She didn’t ask further, said her goodbyes, and left the dorm.

After finishing her porridge and water, Xia Xiaohan originally wanted to go to sleep, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw the Senior reading a book. Left with no choice, she took out her homework and started writing.

Cheng Wu was indeed holding a book, but she was lost in thought. Her mind kept wondering exactly what had happened with the scar on Xiaohan’s back.

It wasn’t until her phone rang that Cheng Wu looked up; it was an unknown number.

Once connected, Bei Wenxin’s voice came through: “Senior, it’s Wenxin.”

Xia Xiaohan, who was currently racking her brain over her work, suddenly paused her right hand, pricking up her ears to listen to the sounds beside her.

“Mm, are you feeling better? How is the recovery going?” Cheng Wu replied. She glanced sideways and caught Xia Xiaohan peeking at her.

Startled, Xia Xiaohan quickly lowered her head to look at her scratch paper, her pen pretending to move as if she were writing.

Cheng Wu couldn’t help but curve her lips into a smile. At the same time, she listened to Bei Wenxin: “Much better. The doctor said I can be discharged to recover at home. I’ve already asked the counselor for leave. I’m leaving tonight. Are you free, Senior?”

“I’m free. Xiaohan and I will come see you off then.” After Cheng Wu finished speaking, she gave a few words of advice before hanging up.

…

In the hospital ward, Bei’s mother had already packed everything.

She looked at her daughter, who was still lingering, and said, “Why don’t you just call them and say never mind? You have to come back to school later anyway; it’ll be the same when they see you then.”

Bei Wenxin gripped the edge of the hospital bed, saying stubbornly, “It’s not the same.”

Senior Cheng Wu is different from other people.

Helpless, Bei’s mother took the luggage downstairs first, saying she would come back up to get her in a while.

Before long, Cheng Wu’s voice finally appeared outside the ward: “Wenxin is in this room.”

Bei Wenxin stood up excitedly, staring fixedly at the door, her mood exceptionally nervous.

Soon, Cheng Wu appeared at the entrance. She entered first, with Xiaohan following closely behind.

But Cheng Wu was still looking outside the door, and then Ding Ming and Yang Xing also appeared in view.

“Xiao Bei! Why are you standing up!” Yang Xing was the first to worry, running straight past Cheng Wu and Xia Xiaohan to reach Bei Wenxin.

“No, it’s fine.” Bei Wenxin’s gaze remained fixed on Cheng Wu. It seemed there was no way to speak with the Senior alone today.

The group took turns offering greetings. Yang Xing wished he could drive everyone else away, gesturing wildly behind them.

Cheng Wu sensed his intentions, so she made an excuse and called Xia Xiaohan and Ding Ming out.

Outside the door, Ding Ming felt a mountain of pressure the moment he saw Cheng Wu. He made an excuse to go to the restroom and quickly made his escape.

Cheng Wu sat beside Xia Xiaohan. Seeing her with her head lowered in thought, Cheng Wu’s gaze unconsciously moved to Xia Xiaohan’s back. As if possessed, she opened her mouth: “Xiaohan, you—”

“Senior! Let’s walk Wenxin downstairs!” Yang Xing suddenly appeared at the door, looking quite disappointed.

Xia Xiaohan stood up immediately, turning to call Cheng Wu: “Senior, let’s go inside.”

Back in the ward, Bei Wenxin leaned on a crutch with one hand, pursing her lips as she reached out toward Cheng Wu.

Seeing this, Xia Xiaohan stepped forward of her own accord to support her: “Let me do it, I have a lot of strength!”

This time, she really wasn’t trying to stop Cheng Wu from helping on purpose; she just felt she had troubled the Senior all day. Since Wenxin was her friend, she felt she should be more attentive.

Hiding her disappointment, Bei Wenxin smiled and thanked her.

As the group walked out of the ward, Cheng Wu worried that Bei Wenxin might misunderstand Xiaohan, so she brought up the sports meet: “Xiaohan took first place in both javelin and shot put today.”

“First in javelin and shot put?” Bei Wenxin’s attention was successfully diverted, and she was shocked.

Though disappointed, Yang Xing didn’t miss the chance to talk to Bei Wenxin: “Yeah, yeah! None of us realized Xiaohan was so amazing. Especially the javelin—her preliminary score was even better than the finals!”

The group chatted as they headed downstairs to the hospital entrance.

Bei’s father drove the car over. Bei’s mother looked at them, very pleased: “Thank you all so much for Wenxin’s injury this time.”

Xia Xiaohan and Ding Ming weren’t very comfortable in this kind of social setting, and Yang Xing was a bit timid, so Cheng Wu stepped forward to chat with Bei’s mother.

After a few words, they saw Bei Wenxin get into the car.

After closing the door, Bei Wenxin rolled down the window, looking at Cheng Wu and asking, “If I have any problems in the future, can I ask you directly, Senior?”

“Of course, you are Xiaohan’s good friend.” Cheng Wu smiled gently.

Bei Wenxin was inherently clever. Between Cheng Wu saying she’d come with Xiaohan on the phone and now mentioning she was Xiaohan’s friend, she suddenly understood something.

“Mhm.” Bei Wenxin rolled up the window, looking at Xia Xiaohan with both envy and a sense of loss.

…

The next day, Chang Le couldn’t hold things down on her own, so Cheng Wu had to go back to help.

Xia Xiaohan stayed in the dorm to read and do problems, but for some reason, she couldn’t calm her heart.

The image of the Senior kept appearing in her mind.

On the day the sports meet ended, Xia Xiaohan was forcibly dragged away by her class monitor to a meal.

To her surprise, the Mathematics Department and Management Department were actually holding a joint celebration.

Cheng Wu was naturally there. She looked at the dazed Xia Xiaohan with a smile: “What? Are you surprised?”

“Mhm, I didn’t know before I came.” Xia Xiaohan couldn’t help but curve her lips, feeling lucky in her heart that she had come.

For this meal, the Management and Math departments sat mixed together.

Xia Xiaohan sat beside Cheng Wu, eating quietly, occasionally listening to the Senior talk with others.

She couldn’t join the conversation, but she was inexplicably happy.

Midway through the meal, Xia Xiaohan received a phone call. Seeing the name on the screen, she stood up abruptly, said a word to Cheng Wu, and went out to take the call.

On the restaurant’s balcony, Xia Xiaohan was both excited and happy: “Brother!”

“Be good, Xiaohan. Are you adjusting well at school?” Hearing her voice, Zhou Rui was already certain she was doing fine.

Xia Xiaohan nodded hurriedly: “Very well! I’ve met many great people, and they are all very good to me! You don’t need to worry about me!”

Zhou Rui felt relieved: “That’s good. It was my fault for not coming back to see you during National Day. From now on, no matter what, I’ll find time to visit you.”

Xia Xiaohan shook her head: “No need, no need! It’s enough that Brother thinks of me. But how are things going with that ‘Sister’? Do you want me to go see her for you? I’m at Jiangda anyway.”

At the mention of this, Zhou Rui’s eyes dimmed, but his tone remained unchanged: “Don’t worry about the business between me and that Sister. She is very good; it’s I who am not good enough for her.”

“How could that be! You are the best brother in the world!” Xia Xiaohan was indignant. “Tell me her name, or at least let me see a photo!”

Zhou Rui chuckled. Given Xiaohan’s quiet and homebody personality, even if she were very famous, Xiaohan might not necessarily know her or have seen her.

After a few more exchanges, Xia Xiaohan finally gave up, but soon smiled: “Fine! But Brother is not allowed to say he’s not good enough for Sister again!”

“Alright, alright.” Zhou Rui nodded repeatedly.

Inside the private room, Cheng Wu leaned against the window, holding a tall glass and swirling it gently. Her gaze stayed on the bright, flower-like smiling face outside the window.

In all this time, this was the first time she had seen Xiaohan smile so happily.

Unconsciously, Cheng Wu could no longer hear any other sounds. Her eyes were filled entirely with Xia Xiaohan’s vivid features, her charming expression, and the way she raised her hand to tuck a stray hair behind her ear.

That kind of care and joy radiating from within made Cheng Wu watch with obsession. A thought surged in her heart: in the future, she must make Xiaohan smile only like this for her.

Finishing the call, Xia Xiaohan turned around and saw Cheng Wu. She quickly waved and called out: “Senior!”

Before she could enter the room, Cheng Wu walked out, saying with a smile: “I’ve had a bit too much to drink. Stay out here with me for a bit.”

“Mhm.” Xia Xiaohan looked left and right, then took Cheng Wu’s hand. “Let’s go sit over there.”

The moment Xia Xiaohan touched her, Cheng Wu felt a flicker of something strange in her heart.

Coming to the terrace seating, Xia Xiaohan let go of her hand. Cheng Wu took the opportunity to sit down: “Who were you calling just now? Why were you so happy?”

“My brother! He’s studying abroad.” Xia Xiaohan’s eyes and brows were full of joy.

She propped herself up with her hands on the chair, looking up at the night sky, her two legs swaying unconsciously.

Cheng Wu was curious: “But isn’t your family only you as an only child?”

Xia Xiaohan withdrew her gaze and looked into Cheng Wu’s eyes: “My mom only has me, but Auntie Chen and my mom have a very good relationship. My brother is Auntie Chen’s child. We grew up together, and we lived right across from each other.”

So they were childhood sweethearts.

Cheng Wu felt relieved, but seeing Xia Xiaohan’s look, she suddenly asked jokingly, “Then, do you like your brother?”

“Of course!” Xia Xiaohan answered without the slightest hesitation, her face showing no trace of romantic ambiguity or unease.

This made Cheng Wu curious—was it just as a brother?

Being with Cheng Wu, Xia Xiaohan was always very relaxed, so she said a few more words: “Actually, in the beginning, I also called Auntie Chen ‘Mom,’ but later my brother’s grandmother didn’t like it, so I stopped.”

“Why?” Cheng Wu keenly sensed a slight abnormality.

Xia Xiaohan replied: “My mom and Auntie Chen grew up together and their relationship is great. Back when my mom took me…”

Halfway through, she suddenly changed her phrasing: “Anyway, when life was going very poorly, Auntie Chen did her absolute best to help us. She even told my brother that from then on, I would be his real sister. We’ve been like that ever since.”

“Your mother and Auntie Chen’s relationship is truly wonderful.” Cheng Wu thought of something, and the smile on her lips slowly gained warmth.

Xia Xiaohan nodded: “Yeah, the duck necks from last time were made by my mom and Auntie Chen together!”

Recalling the taste, Cheng Wu said with great envy: “The duck necks were delicious. They tasted like home.”

“Then I’ll bring some for you again next time, Senior.” Xia Xiaohan’s eyes were glowing. She noticed that the Senior’s gaze seemed different.

After the meal, they walked side by side back toward the school with the crowd.

Suddenly, a motorcycle sped past the side of the road. By reflex, Cheng Wu pulled Xia Xiaohan into her arms.