My Upperclassman Wants me to confess my feelings - Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Going Home

During the meal, Cheng Wu received a phone call and went outside.

The four of them had ordered quite a few dishes, but with Xiaohan there, everything was finished in less than half an hour.

Sun Wenze wiped his sweat with a tissue, looking shocked. Damn, she’s going to eat me into bankruptcy!

Finally, at Zhou Weiwei’s suggestion, they added a fish pot.

The fish pot was made with live fish. Sun Wenze went to pick the fish himself, deciding to choose one with a lot of bones.

With no one else in the private room, Zhou Weiwei tried to find a topic of conversation: “Xiaohan, what do you usually like to do?”

“Solve math problems.”

Zhou Weiwei froze for a moment but still asked with a smile: “What about extracurricular activities?”

Xiaohan felt something was off. Her extracurricular activity was solving problems; was that too broad?

After a moment’s hesitation, she said: “If I’m not solving problems, I’ll try to prove the Poincaré conjecture and the Riemann hypothesis.”

This what is this? Zhou Weiwei didn’t understand at all.

Just then, Sun Wenze came back and sat down: “What are you guys talking about?”

“The Poincaré conjecture and the Riemann hypothesis,” Xiaohan said with a timid smile.

Sun Wenze was equally dazed. He felt like he had heard those two names mentioned by a teacher in a Calculus class once.

Do people in the Math department always chat like this?

Coincidentally, Cheng Wu walked back in and overheard Xiaohan. After sitting down, she praised: “I didn’t expect Wenze to actually understand the Riemann hypothesis.”

Sun Wenze felt his cheeks burn and blurted out: “Weiwei and Xiaohan were the ones talking about it.”

Zhou Weiwei, having been pointlessly pushed into the spotlight, looked embarrassed. Fortunately, Cheng Wu didn’t ask further.

However, Xiaohan’s interest was piqued. She looked at Cheng Wu with glowing eyes: “Senior! You know about the Riemann hypothesis?”

Cheng Wu nodded: “I know a little.”

This caused the usually quiet Xiaohan to immediately open up, starting a discussion with Cheng Wu.

It wasn’t that Cheng Wu actually knew how to prove it, but she was very well-versed in the history of science.

Xiaohan did most of the talking while Cheng Wu listened intently, occasionally asking a few questions about the relevant background.

Across from them, Sun Wenze’s head began to ache; he felt like he was back in a Calculus lecture.

But he couldn’t just get up and run.

Zhou Weiwei was okay, though her heart was full of bitterness.

She could tell that Cheng Wu didn’t actually understand the math, yet Cheng Wu was able to keep up with Xiaohan’s rhythm perfectly.

It seemed the rumors were true: Cheng Wu hadn’t been pushed out of the Student Union by Li Ya; she had resigned on her own accord.

Once the fish pot arrived, Cheng Wu told Xiaohan to eat first and talk later.

Sun Wenze was overjoyed and quickly spoke up: “Sister Cheng, I still have some things to take care of. How about Weiwei and I leave first while you guys finish eating?”

“Sure,” Cheng Wu said, seeing through him but not calling him out.

Before leaving, Zhou Weiwei took out her phone: “Xiaohan, why don’t we add each other on WeChat?”

Xiaohan put down her chopsticks and said okay, and they added each other.

Once they left, Xiaohan suddenly asked: “Senior, does she want something from me?”

Cheng Wu scooped a piece of fish for her: “Yes.”

“Then why didn’t she just say so?” Xiaohan looked at her phone; Zhou Weiwei had sent a greeting.

Cheng Wu looked out the window: “Probably because the person she’s looking for isn’t actually you.”

…

Back at school, they ran into Li Ya downstairs at the dormitory.

Cheng Wu told Xiaohan to go up, but as soon as she turned around, Xiaohan received a call from Bei Wenxin.

She hurried over to the neighboring dorm building.

As soon as she entered the main gate, Bei Wenxin pulled Xiaohan aside and whispered: “Have you seen the post on the forum?”

“What post? Where?” Xiaohan looked bewildered.

Bei Wenxin was startled: “You don’t know? The Jiangda Forum! All the news and gossip are on there!”

She took out her phone, opened the forum, and showed it to Xiaohan. The top post’s title was: Two Great Goddesses Meet by the Lake What is it for? For the Heartbroken School Grass or Someone Else?

She clicked in. There was no content, only a few photos of Li Ya and Cheng Wu by the lake.

Xiaohan noticed the first high-voted comment: Why did the Glamorous Goddess suddenly change her makeup? Is this a challenge to the Pure Goddess’s status?

Glancing down, she saw a second high-voted post: Don’t represent all Jiangda people, person above! The Pure Goddess in my heart is Junior Bei Wenxin!

Seeing Xiaohan staring at the second comment, Bei Wenxin quickly hid her phone: “Do you know why Senior Cheng Wu suddenly went to find Li Ya?”

Xiaohan shook her head: “I don’t know. Could it be related to Fan Jia?”

“We have to go see.” Bei Wenxin couldn’t let it go. Her intuition told her this was related to Fan Jia, but that definitely wasn’t the main reason.

Just as they walked out of the dorm entrance, they ran into Li Ya passing by.

Bei Wenxin stopped immediately. Li Ya looked over and gave them a smile.

Watching Li Ya departing back, Xiaohan said curiously: “Senior Li Ya seems very nice.”

“You! You can know a person’s face but not their heart!” Bei Wenxin couldn’t help but poke Xiaohan’s forehead. Someone who is good friends with Ye Sisi how good could they be?

…

Back in Xiaohan’s dorm, Cheng Wu was reading. Seeing them arrive, she stood up and gave a bottle of mineral water to Bei Wenxin.

“Have a seat.”

Bei Wenxin took the water and smiled: “Thank you, Senior.”

After sitting down, Xiaohan asked Bei Wenxin: “How do you open that forum? Do I need to download it?”

As soon as she said this, Cheng Wu, who had been reading, turned to look.

Suddenly, Bei Wenxin felt like she had done something wrong.

Cheng Wu thought for a moment. It seemed impossible for Xiaohan to never look at the forum, so she told her she could just add the forum link within the Educational Administration app.

After opening the forum, Xiaohan saw the Mathematics department section and clicked right in.

After scanning a few featured posts, she said excitedly to Bei Wenxin: “How did I not know about this forum before! There are so many posts left by seniors that are very useful!”

Bei Wenxin was stunned. Then she saw Xiaohan prop up her phone and take out her notebook and scratch paper.

Just as she was about to start writing, Xiaohan felt something was off and turned to ask: “Wenxin, do you want to look at these posts together?”

Looking at the screen full of numbers and symbols, Bei Wenxin wiped a fake sweat from her brow, stood up, and said: “I don’t have anything to do right now, so I’ll head out. Contact me on WeChat if you need anything.”

“Mhm!” Xiaohan saw her off and immediately began taking notes upon returning.

Beside her, Cheng Wu leaned against the desk, watching Xiaohan without moving.

Xiaohan really is different from others.

…

The next morning, Xiaohan and Cheng Wu left the school together and said goodbye at the subway station.

After an hour on the subway and another hour on the bus, Xiaohan finally arrived home.

After putting away her backpack, she put on an apron, grabbed a broom and a mop, and began cleaning.

Her brother was coming back today, and she couldn’t let him see the house was dirty.

After only half an hour of cleaning, her phone suddenly rang. Xiaohan ran joyfully to look: it was her brother calling!

After answering, a familiar voice came through: “Xiaohan, I met a friend today. I’m planning to go to Kyoto with her, so I won’t be back for National Day. I’ll come see you at Christmas instead.”

“Okay… then have fun, Brother!” Xiaohan tried her best to suppress her sadness, pretending to sound very happy.

The person on the other end apologized: “I’m sorry, Xiaohan! I really like her. This is the first time in a year she’s been willing to see me, so I want to give it a try.”

Xiaohan understood instantly: “Is it that sister from Jiangda?”

“Yeah. If you met her, you would definitely like her.” The voice on the phone carried an irrepressible joy.

Soon he added: “I’ll call you after National Day. That sister is here.”

Xiaohan nodded quickly: “Okay, Brother. I’ll hang up then.”

She was about to press the end-call button, but the line went dead with a beep before she could.

After sitting blankly for a while, Xiaohan stood up again and continued cleaning.

As darkness fell, there was movement outside the door.

Xiaohan hurried to open it and immediately shouted happily: “Auntie!”

Hearing the voice, Chen Lan turned around and was pleasantly surprised: “Xiaohan! You’re back!”

She peeked into Xiaohan’s house: “Where’s your brother? Is he home?”

Xiaohan smiled and said: “Brother went… he met that sister and went to Kyoto instead. He said he’ll come see us at Christmas!”

Chen Lan was a bit unhappy: “That kid! It’s fine to chase a girlfriend, but how can he not even come back to see his sister!”

She came into Xiaohan’s house and saw it was very clean, which made her feel even more sorry for Xiaohan: “You’re such a sensible child! Come to my house! Your mom has to work overtime today, so Auntie will cook for you.”

Xiaohan nodded and followed Chen Lan to the house across the hall.

For the seven days of National Day, Xiaohan stayed home during the day reading featured posts. When Auntie and her mom finished work, she went shopping and ate delicious food with them.

…

On the morning of the 8th, Chen Lan drove Xiaohan back to school.

After getting out of the car, Chen Lan patted Xiaohan’s head: “Your mom won’t be busy in a while. I’ll come with her to see you then.”

“Mhm. Thank you, Auntie.” Xiaohan gave Chen Lan a hug before heading into the school.

Only after Xiaohan’s figure disappeared did Chen Lan get back in the car. She put on her Bluetooth headset and made a call.

“A-Yu, what did the hospital say? I’m heading there now.”

…

Back in the dormitory, Ningning immediately gave Xiaohan a bear hug.

“Xiaohan! Come, come! These are specialties from my hometown! Come try some!” Ningning pulled her straight to the table.

Looking at the pile of food on the table, Xiaohan’s eyes widened: “This is way too much!”

Ningning lifted her chin proudly: “I told my dad that a new junior joined the dorm who eats a lot but is incredibly smart. So he prepared two big bags for me to give to you!”

“Ningning! Thank you, but I only brought some duck necks that my mom and Auntie marinated.” Xiaohan took out a lunch box.

As soon as she opened it, a salty, savory aroma filled the room.

Zhao Ru, who had been washing clothes on the balcony, didn’t even wash her hands before running over: “It smells so good! Let me smell it and see what spices were added.”

Zhao Ru accurately named fifteen different spices. Xiaohan was amazed: “Senior Zhao Ru! You’re incredible!”

“Of course! A-Ru’s talent points are all in cooking!” Ningning said, hugging Zhao Ru’s arm with pride.

The dormitory door was pushed open, and Cheng Wu walked in. She sniffed the air and asked: “Who bought duck necks?”

Ningning stepped forward and said: “Xiaohan’s mom made them.”

Cheng Wu walked over and looked at the duck necks in the lunch box: “Then I must have a taste.”