My Upperclassman Wants me to confess my feelings - Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Playing Hard to Get

“Then it’s a deal. You must come to the gala.” Cheng Wu smiled, said her goodbyes to Xia Xiaohan, and left.

Watching her Senior’s figure disappear, Xiaohan felt a sense of relief, but it was quickly followed by a pang of loss.

On the way back to the dorm, Xiaohan received a call from her mother.

“Xiaohan, you saw your brother today, didn’t you?” Xia Yu leaned against the hospital bed, her eyes exceptionally tender as she watched Zhou Rui busying himself around the room.

“I saw him. Brother even treated me to a meal.” Xiaohan felt her mother’s voice sounded a bit weak and couldn’t help but ask, “Mom, do you have a cold? Why do you sound so tired?”

Xia Yu panicked for a moment but quickly turned serious. “I’m getting older, and with the cold weather, how can I be full of energy every day!”

Hearing her mother’s tone return to normal, Xiaohan felt at ease. “That’s good. Don’t push yourself too hard, Mom. Get some good rest during the holidays. I’ll be back for New Year’s Day.”

The mother and daughter chatted for a while before Xiaohan hung up.

However, she was still a bit worried. Usually, for simple greetings, her mother would send a WeChat message. Why did she suddenly call today?

Xiaohan’s right eyelid suddenly twitched violently, making her stop in her tracks. Fortunately, the right one stopped quickly, but then the left one started twitching incessantly.

When she returned to the dorm, she happened to run into Ningning. Xiaohan mentioned the twitching eyelids.

“Left eye or right eye?”

“Right eye.”

Ningning immediately comforted her. “That’s just superstition. We have to believe in science. It’s definitely because you’re under too much pressure.”

“Really? But after a while, the right stopped and the left twitched for a long time.” Xiaohan also felt it was because she was overthinking things regarding her Senior.

Yet, an inexplicable unease lingered in her heart.

As soon as she finished speaking, Ningning suddenly broke into a grin. “Twitching in the left eye means wealth! Something good is definitely going to happen to you soon!”

Xiaohan hesitated before asking, “But didn’t you just say we should believe in science?”

“Heh! We’re only human; don’t be so pedantic! A twitching right eye means you’re stressed, but a twitching left eye means good luck is coming.” Ningning emphasized the distinction repeatedly.

Although it didn’t make much sense, it was comforting to hear.

After showering and getting into bed, Xiaohan looked back at the dorm door and touched her right eye. Senior should be okay, right?

She took out her phone and sent a message to Sun Wenze: Senior, where are you?

Sun Wenze replied quickly: In the Management Department auditorium. Sister Cheng is rehearsing and I’m helping out. Are you looking for her?

“No, no, no! I’m just asking. Why are you at the Management Department?”

Xiaohan originally wanted to ask directly if her Senior was there, but she felt that would be too obvious.

Immediately, Sun Wenze sent a voice message: “The Finance Department has President Zhao and President Fan presiding over it, and the Student Union isn’t doing a Christmas or New Year’s gala. Chang Le happened to ask for help, so I came over.”

After much deliberation, Xiaohan organized her thoughts and sent a long message: Ningning and the others will be going to the gala later. I’m not sure what the program is. Is Senior still hosting this time? Is she rehearsing too? Ningning likes skits, and Senior Zhao Ru likes music. Do you have a favorite, Senior?

After the long message was sent, there was no response from Sun Wenze for a long time, and Xiaohan began to worry.

Over at the auditorium, Sun Wenze felt the message was very strange. Xiaohan wasn’t usually so talkative. Moreover, these words felt like useless filler. After some thought, he typed back: The one you want to ask about is Sister Cheng, right?

Xiaohan panicked instantly. She typed “No,” then felt it was inappropriate and deleted it quickly. After struggling for a while, she made up her mind: Yes. I want to ask if Senior is at the auditorium. Nothing happened, right? Please don’t let Senior know I asked you!

Sun Wenze looked at his phone with a frown, wondering if the two had gotten into a fight.

Just then, a soft laugh reached his ears, scaring him into shielding his phone. He looked up to find it was Cheng Wu!

Seeing the glint of a smile in Cheng Wu’s eyes, Sun Wenze stopped hiding and asked softly, “Did you see everything, Sister Cheng?”

“I saw it. Reply to her according to her intent. She’s probably worried that I haven’t returned this late, so she’s checking with you.” After saying that, Cheng Wu went back to help Chang Le tidy up.

Soon, Xiaohan received the message from Sun Wenze and finally felt relieved.

Just as she lay down, she remembered her mother’s call again. If Senior is fine, could it be Mom? Xiaohan wasn’t at ease. Seeing it was only a bit past nine, she dialed the number.

To her surprise, Zhou Rui answered. She immediately grew worried. “Brother! Why are you answering the phone?”

Ningning, who was watching a drama below the bed, pricked up her ears. She glanced toward Xiaohan, feeling worried for Cheng Wu: Instead of checking on Sister Wu, she’s calling Zhou Rui before bed!

“Auntie is staying at my house today and left the phone in the living room. I happened to see it and picked it up. Do you want me to give it to her?” Zhou Rui lied without changing his expression.

Remembering her mother’s poor health, Xiaohan shook her head. “No, no need. Let them rest.”

After that, she remembered the gala the day after tomorrow and asked, “Brother, Senior is performing at the gala the night after tomorrow. If you’re free, you can come watch.”

Zhou Rui looked into the hospital room, his brow deeply furrowed. If Xiaohan knew about this surgery, she’d be too worried to sleep for days.

He adjusted his emotions and agreed to her request. The surgery was tomorrow morning, and the results wouldn’t be out until the afternoon at the earliest. Going the day after tomorrow would be perfect; he could have a good talk with Xiaohan then.

With both sides confirmed to be fine, Xiaohan finally fell asleep.

However, she dreamed all night. In her dream, that man was chasing her relentlessly with a thick broomstick. She ran for her life and finally escaped that dark home, arriving at a wasteland. She walked for a long time but met no one.

The surroundings were filled with bare trees, charred and cracked. The ground was split like a tortoise shell, and the entire forest was shrouded in a gray mist. Xiaohan walked barefoot and suddenly saw a giant tree that nearly reached the sky. From the topmost branch hung a cloth-like object fluttering in the air.

For some reason, she couldn’t help but run over, nimbly climbing to the top to grab the object. Taking a closer look, it was a black silk scarf. It belonged to her Senior.

While Xiaohan was in a daze, the branch suddenly snapped. Her body plummeted, and the intense feeling of weightlessness startled her awake.

She sat up and found the dorm was very quiet. Looking around, no one was there.

Xiaohan got dressed and came down. Just then, the bathroom door on the balcony clicked, and Cheng Wu walked out. Xiaohan immediately sat at her desk, pretending to look for a book.

Cheng Wu saw through her at a glance but didn’t expose her. Instead, she asked, “Junior, Ningning went to help A-Ru at the Finance Department. I need to go to the photography studio to pick up some clothes today. They’re a bit heavy and I can’t carry them alone. Can you help me?”

“I… I can.” Xiaohan agreed instinctively, though she was still bothered in her heart—this time, her Senior didn’t even use her name!

Things went smoother than expected, so Cheng Wu urged her to wash up. Once they were ready, they left the dorm.

Cheng Wu took a sandwich out of her bag and handed it to her. “Eat this on the way. We’re going straight to get the clothes.”

“You eat it, Senior.” Xiaohan didn’t take it, inexplicably reminded of her dream last night.

Before she could think further, Cheng Wu stuffed the sandwich into her hand. “This wasn’t specially prepared for you. I originally planned to have Ningning help me, but A-Ru had something come up, so she went to help her instead.”

Xiaohan looked up. “I-is that so?”

So it wasn’t specially for me… and she didn’t intend to ask for my help at first.

She tore open the plastic wrap and took a bite. It was her favorite: cheese, ham, and egg. But this time, she couldn’t taste the usual flavor; it felt like chewing wax.

After finishing it mechanically, Xiaohan comforted herself as she walked: It’s normal for Senior to keep her distance from me.

As they were about to leave the school gates, Xiaohan sadly sniffled.

Cheng Wu suddenly stopped and looked at her. “Are you crying?”

“No! I’m not!” Xiaohan quickly looked up and opened her eyes wide, afraid that closing them would squeeze out the tears. To prevent Cheng Wu from noticing, she pretended to fan her eyes. “Dust got in my eye. It’ll be fine in a moment. Let’s hurry and get the clothes.”

Cheng Wu’s heart ached, but she couldn’t show her concern.

They arrived quickly at the photography studio where they were borrowing clothes. Only a part-time receptionist was there. After Cheng Wu showed the receipt and verified the order, the receptionist pointed toward the storage room. “Go ahead and find them yourselves. I need to stay at the front. If you need anything, just come out and ask.”

Cheng Wu led Xiaohan into the storage room. It was much larger than expected, with twenty rows of clothes. Once Xiaohan entered, Cheng Wu closed the door.

Xiaohan had seen the order earlier; the clothes her Senior wanted to borrow were in the nineteenth row, almost at the very back. She walked straight ahead, completely unaware that Cheng Wu hadn’t followed her.

Reaching the rack, Xiaohan found the clothes immediately. Just as she was about to tell Cheng Wu, she realized no one was behind her. Xiaohan hurried back and saw Cheng Wu crouching on the ground after just a few steps, looking very distressed.

“Senior, what’s wrong?” Xiaohan panicked and crouched down to support her.

Unexpectedly, just as Cheng Wu was about to stand up, the two collided and fell against the clothing rack by the wall. Cheng Wu pressed against Xiaohan, gripping her arm tightly, and said weakly, “I didn’t eat last night or today. It might be low blood sugar. I’ll be okay in a moment.”

“Then… then why did you give the sandwich to me?!” Xiaohan suddenly understood. That sandwich was her favorite flavor, one that Ningning didn’t particularly like.

Cheng Wu’s hand moved up Xiaohan’s arm to brace against her shoulder. “The dress I have to wear is the smallest size. I won’t fit into it if I eat.”

“Then pick a size larger!” Xiaohan couldn’t understand at all. Her Senior was already so thin; why would she trouble herself with such a small dress?

Cheng Wu’s face looked weak. Even with light makeup, she appeared somewhat haggard. She raised her right hand and gently caressed Xiaohan’s face, her gaze somewhat blurred, her voice restrained and deep. “This is the first time Xiaohan will see me perform. How could I not show you my most beautiful side?”

Xiaohan looked into Cheng Wu’s eyes—eyes that should have been full of charm but were now shimmering with tears, as if she were about to cry.

“I know that in your heart, I can’t compare to Zhou Rui at all. I’m not important. But even watching you from afar makes me very happy…”

Cheng Wu’s voice grew weaker and weaker. She closed her eyes and tilted forward, fainting onto Xiaohan’s shoulder.

Xiaohan immediately wrapped her arms around Cheng Wu’s waist, holding her tight.

That’s not it, Senior. You are very important in my heart.