My Upperclassman Wants me to confess my feelings - Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Heartbeat

The surroundings fell into a dead silence. Fan Jia was stunned, Ningning was shocked, and the audience members thought something was wrong with their hearing.

Only Xia Xiaohan felt the temperature of Cheng Wu’s palm and heard her own thumping heartbeat.

Se—Senior’s favorite person is me?

A layer of pink quickly surfaced on her cheeks. Xia Xiaohan pursed her lips tightly, her eyes shimmering. Her free right hand pressed against her chest; she lifted her head with a mix of nervousness and a tiny bit of joy.

In that instant, Cheng Wu’s smile was branded into Xia Xiaohan’s heart.

After a brief moment of being dazed, Fan Jia regained his senses. Putting on a calm front, he still maintained a gentle smile: “A-Wu, I know you like her, but my ‘liking’ is different.”

Cheng Wu’s smile gradually widened, a flicker of sarcasm crossing her eyes.

Before anyone could react, Cheng Wu tilted her body slightly, gave a gentle pull, and drew Xia Xiaohan into her arms. Her black hair cascaded like a waterfall, blocking the view of the audience. A kiss, as light as a dragonfly skimming water, landed on Xia Xiaohan’s face.

From Fan Jia’s angle, it looked like Cheng Wu had kissed Xia Xiaohan on the lips.

His smile gradually stiffened and then cracked. Fan Jia retreated two steps in disbelief, opening his mouth as if to say something, but he couldn’t make a sound.

Cheng Wu lifted her head, gripped Xia Xiaohan’s hand tightly, and raised her eyebrows. She spoke with pride and confidence: “Fan Jia, you are very handsome, your grades are great, and your personality is good. Many girls like you. But I, Cheng Wu, will never be one of them.”

She originally hadn’t wanted to say such blunt and heartless words in a public setting. But since Fan Jia used this occasion to threaten her, then sorry she didn’t need to save him any face.

The bouquet of roses fell to the ground with a thud, and the microphone rolled away. Fan Jia was humiliated to the extreme. The lights in the auditorium quietly brightened; the gazes of the juniors all turned into sympathy. Student Union leaders quietly organized the freshmen to exit.

The shock on Ningning’s face turned into a delighted smile as she looked at Fan Jia provocatively.

Cheng Wu ignored Fan Jia and whispered to Xia Xiaohan: “Let’s go.”

Holding Xia Xiaohan’s hand, she went backstage. Seeing this, the others found various reasons to leave the room. As the room quieted down, Cheng Wu lifted their joined hands and smiled: “I should go change my clothes.”

Xia Xiaohan’s face exploded in a bright red. she hurriedly let go: “Oh, oh, oh!”

When Cheng Wu walked into the changing room, Xia Xiaohan habitually turned her back, clasping her hands over her chest. She thought: Why did my heartbeat feel different just now?

Unexpectedly, the door behind her opened suddenly, startling Xia Xiaohan. She turned around quickly. Cheng Wu leaned her head out, extending a pale, lotus-root-like arm to hand out the gown.

Seeing Xia Xiaohan instinctively avert her gaze, Cheng Wu raised a half-exposed shoulder, her smile deepening: “Little sister Xiaohan, can I trouble you to help me fold my clothes?”

“Mhm, mhm, mhm!” Xia Xiaohan stepped forward to take the gown, not daring to look around at all.

As she turned around, she met Ningning’s ambiguous, mischievous grin. Xia Xiaohan immediately restrained her expression and pretended to be calm while folding the clothes. A faint scent of rosemary drifted out. Xia Xiaohan couldn’t help but sniff, murmuring to herself: “Is this the smell of perfume?”

“What are you sniffing?” Ningning walked over in a few steps, staring at her sideways.

Xia Xiaohan quickly folded the gown, put it in a cardboard box, and sat down to wait for Cheng Wu to come out. Seeing her stiff face, Ningning found it quite boring. After sitting beside her, Ningning swung her legs and asked: “Xiaohan, do you have someone you like?”

“No.” Although Xia Xiaohan answered this way, for some reason, Cheng Wu’s image surfaced in her mind.

Ningning jumped down from the high stool, cupped Xia Xiaohan’s face, and asked giggling: “Don’t you like Sister Wu?”

Panic instantly filled Xia Xiaohan’s heart. Fortunately, at that moment, Cheng Wu walked out after changing. She interrupted Ningning’s teasing: “Stop intentionally teasing Xiaohan! She’s still young! She’s not like you!”

Ningning had to let go: “Alright, alright! I’ll stop joking.”

…

Walking out of the backstage, some people remained in the auditorium. The previous male host, Chang Le, saw them and was forced to come over. He bit the bullet and said pleasingly: “Sister Cheng, you worked hard today. Leave the rest to me and the logistics department; go back and rest well.”

Cheng Wu still wore a smile. She swept her gaze to the side; the other Student Union members immediately looked away, either checking their phones or chatting. It seemed everyone knew about Fan Jia’s confession. Cheng Wu didn’t want a repeat of this in the future.

She straightened Chang Le’s tie for him and said pointedly: “I did work hard today, but compared to you all—busy with the gala and preparing ‘special acts’—my bit of hard work is nothing.”

“Not at all, not at all!” Chang Le became highly tense and said hurriedly: “Sister Cheng put all the effort into the gala; we just did the odd jobs. How could we be as tired as you!”

Cheng Wu patted his shoulder: “Then don’t work so hard in the future, otherwise I might have to take the blame and resign.”

Did this mean she wouldn’t pursue it? Chang Le was overjoyed and personally escorted Cheng Wu out of the auditorium.

A moment later, other Student Union members came forward: “Sister Cheng isn’t angry, right?”

Chang Le turned around and warned them seriously: “Don’t interfere in the business between the President and Fan Jia anymore. Cheng Wu isn’t someone who refuses to save face for others, but she was truly angry today though she wasn’t angry at us.”

…

Walking out of the department building, there were still groups of people on the road. What happened just now was too shocking; many people peeked at them and whispered.

Xia Xiaohan gritted her teeth, grabbed Cheng Wu’s hand, and said indignantly: “Senior, let me hold your hand and walk!”

After a moment of startle, Cheng Wu felt a warmth in her heart and replied with a “Good.”

All the way from the building, the two walked on the school’s tree-lined path. Ningning tactfully stayed two meters behind, not bothering them. The orange streetlights fell, casting two connected silhouettes. The young girl beside her kept her head down, but her hand gripped her tightly. Cheng Wu suddenly felt all her fatigue and unpleasantness swept away.

“Thank you for today.”

“Mhm.” Xia Xiaohan didn’t actually hear clearly; she just replied instinctively. Her entire mind was currently thinking: By what right do they look at Senior like that! The despicable one is clearly Fan Jia!

Cheng Wu looked at her sideways and couldn’t help but laugh: “Did you actually hear what I was saying?”

“Saying what?” Xia Xiaohan looked up, her eyes full of confusion.

At this moment, Xia Xiaohan had no idea that from Cheng Wu’s perspective, she looked both dazed and adorable. Cheng Wu’s heart flickered slightly. She reached out to pat Xia Xiaohan’s head: “Let’s go!”

…

On the forum, posts related to the Management Department gala exploded. The center of the hot topic was Cheng Wu, followed by Fan Jia and Xia Xiaohan. Posts about Bei Wenxin were completely suppressed. All over school, many people were discussing the ins and outs of the incident.

Only Dormitory 520 was the same as usual. Ningning was watching dramas and eating snacks, laughing from time to time. Xia Xiaohan returned to the dorm and opened her phone; she had received a math problem from a classmate and was buried in calculations. Cheng Wu was removing her makeup and showering. Zhao Ru hadn’t returned yet.

When 11:00 PM arrived, the lights in the dorm went out instantly.

Ningning jumped up: “Damn! Power out at the critical moment again!”

The problem-solving Xia Xiaohan was stunned for a moment, then turned on her phone’s light. Just as she picked up her pen, she suddenly remembered Senior was still showering. She pricked up her ears no sound of water!

Xia Xiaohan quickly put down her pen, took her phone, and went to the bathroom door: “Senior! Do you need help?”

“I’m fine! I have my phone! The hot water circuit is separate! Don’t worry!” Cheng Wu’s voice came from inside, and the sound of the shower started again.

Turning back into the room, there was a knock on the dorm door. Ningning got up to open it. To her surprise, as soon as the door opened, Zhao Ru fell into Ningning’s arms, saying feebly: “Quick, give me water to drink!”

Xia Xiaohan rushed to get Zhao Ru’s cup while Ningning helped Zhao Ru sit down. After catching her breath, Zhao Ru gulped down a liter of water, leaving Ningning dumbfounded. After drinking, Zhao Ru collapsed onto the table.

Ningning was panicked: “Ru! Ru! What’s wrong?”

At this moment, Zhao Ru had no strength left. She pointed at Xia Xiaohan, then at the bathroom door.

Just then, Cheng Wu walked out. Wrapped in a bath towel, she entered the room. The phone light highlighted her swan-like neck, making it look even more slender. Below her porcelain-white shoulders, water droplets clung to her collarbones, making Xia Xiaohan’s breath stall.

Cheng Wu was about to explain Zhao Ru’s situation when she noticed Xia Xiaohan turn her back. The corners of her mouth curved as she changed her mind to tease: “Xiaohan, my shoulders hurt a bit. Can you help me massage them?”

“I… I…” Xia Xiaohan was incoherent. Her mind was filled with the image from just now, and her heartbeat was completely out of control. She closed her eyes and gritted her teeth to calm herself: “Let Senior Ningning help you!”

A snort of laughter came from behind. Cheng Wu took her pajamas and changed. Only then did she stifle a laugh and say: “I’ve changed my clothes; you can turn around.”

Ningning was stunned for a moment and couldn’t help but ask curiously: “We’re all girls! Why is Xiaohan shy?”

Her cheeks were incredibly hot. Xia Xiaohan returned to her seat and explained in a very small voice: “This is my first time living in a dorm… no experience.”

Even though she knew she shouldn’t care, she still didn’t dare look around randomly. Ningning looked at the nonchalant Cheng Wu, then at the nervous and cramped Xia Xiaohan, and slowly let out an “Oh,” trailing the end of the word for a very long time.

Cheng Wu climbed onto her bed with a smile. When she saw a dark red stain on the bed, she immediately slapped her forehead. She had been too busy these past few days and forgot to wash the sheets! Having come to school in a hurry, she hadn’t brought spare sheets. Although she didn’t have a pathological obsession with cleanliness, just making do for a night was still a bit unacceptable.

After considering for a moment, Cheng Wu glanced at Zhao Ru and Ningning; squeezing in with them for a night didn’t seem right.

“Xiaohan.”

“Here!”

Xia Xiaohan looked up instinctively, only to find herself facing Cheng Wu’s collar. Her pajamas were cross-collared. Xia Xiaohan froze, reflexively fixing her gaze forward.

Then she heard Cheng Wu’s slightly hesitant voice: “Is it okay if I sleep with you tonight?”

At this moment, Xia Xiaohan clearly heard her heart skip a beat.