My Upperclassman Wants me to confess my feelings - Chapter 9

Chapter 9: The Apology

At the entrance of the department building, Xiaohan and Ding Ming had just walked out when they spotted Cheng Wu standing under a streetlamp.

“Senior!”

Xiaohan raised her hand and called out, jogging over immediately and completely ignoring Ding Ming beside her.

Cheng Wu put away her phone, gave an acknowledging hum, and looked up at the person walking behind her.

Ding Ming stopped in front of them. When his gaze met Cheng Wu’s smiling eyes, his voice unconsciously became gentler: “Senior Cheng Wu.”

Compared to others, Ding Ming’s reaction was quite plain, but Cheng Wu could tell at a glance that he didn’t have any ulterior motives toward Xiaohan.

“Let’s go.” Cheng Wu’s smile became a bit more genuine.

Ding Ming felt somewhat uncomfortable.

When they reached the fork in the road leading to the male and female dormitories, Ding Ming said his goodbyes.

“Be careful on the way back, get some rest early. I’m heading back too.”

Xiaohan waved: “Mhm, you too. Bye-bye.”

Watching Ding Ming’s hurried retreating back, Cheng Wu let out a small laugh.

So there really are boys in the Mathematics department who avoid me like the plague.

…

For the next several days, Ding Ming left immediately after class, making Yang Xing’s head practically steam with frustration.

Xiaohan went to classes and meals with Bei Wenxin as usual. Sometimes they ran into Cheng Wu, and the three of them would go together.

One day, Xiaohan had a problem she couldn’t figure out. After class, she called out to Ding Ming: “Are you busy today?”

“I’m not! I’m not!” Yang Xing jumped out from behind Ding Ming, pointing at himself frantically.

Ding Ming swatted Yang Xing away with one hand: “Did you run into a problem?”

“This one.” Xiaohan handed over her book.

Ding Ming looked at it and immediately frowned; he had been thinking about this specific problem as well.

Seeing him lost in thought, Xiaohan suggested: “How about we stay for self-study?”

Yang Xing, who had been struggling to push his way forward, suddenly stopped: “Aren’t you eating with Wenxin today?”

“Not today; Wenxin has Student Union business.” Xiaohan looked at him curiously. Why does Yang Xing like eating with Wenxin so much?

Setting down the book, Ding Ming suddenly asked: “Senior Cheng Wu won’t be coming to wait for you today, will she?”

Xiaohan replied, puzzled: “No, Senior is busy preparing for the sports meet lately.”

A trace of relief appeared in Ding Ming’s eyes: “Then let’s study together.”

Wait, Senior Cheng Wu?

Yang Xing lunged in front of Ding Ming, blocking him: “You’ve been secretly meeting my goddess!”

“I don’t actually want to see her.” Ding Ming sat down with a calm expression.

“You don’t even want to! You’re infuriating! I haven’t even spoken a single word to a Senior!” Yang Xing really wanted to hit him, but thinking about how he needed Ding Ming’s help for the final exams, he held back.

However, after sitting down, Xiaohan asked curiously: “Why don’t you want to see Senior? She’s a very good person.”

Ding Ming reopened his book and thought seriously about the question. Beside him, Yang Xing also quieted down, even more curious than Xiaohan, staring at him expectantly.

After a moment of contemplation, Ding Ming explained: “Senior Cheng Wu is beautiful, charming, and has a great temperament.”

“Excellent taste!” It was the first time Yang Xing had heard Ding Ming use so many adjectives to describe a girl and his goddess at that. He crossed his arms and nodded repeatedly.

“Boys like her,” Ding Ming continued, then looked at Xiaohan. “Girls like her too. She has good grades, strong abilities, and the teachers like her even more. It’s fair to say no one dislikes her.”

Xiaohan agreed wholeheartedly: “I think so too. Everyone who has met Senior likes her.”

Ding Ming gave a bitter smile: “When I saw her last time, she was truly captivating. I’m afraid I’ll actually fall for her, and that would distract me from my studies.”

“You—” Yang Xing stood up in shock, pointing at Ding Ming for a long time without being able to speak.

Xiaohan thought about it seriously: “That makes sense. The way boys and girls like people is different.”

Ding Ming felt more and more that Xiaohan understood him; he was determined to keep her as a friend. The two began discussing the problem, while Yang Xing’s mouth twitched. He grabbed his bag and left to find Bei Wenxin on his own.

…

At nine o’clock that night, the two left the teaching building. Unexpectedly, they didn’t run into Cheng Wu, but they did encounter Sun Wenze. He seemed to be waiting specifically for Xiaohan and walked over in a few steps.

“Xiaohan, I have something to say to you.”

Ding Ming said he’d leave first, but after a few steps, he suddenly remembered this guy was Sun Wenze—the one who had asked people to find out about Bei Wenxin’s preferences.

He turned back and saw Sun Wenze blocking Xiaohan’s path. Ding Ming immediately walked over and stepped between them, ignoring Sun Wenze’s presence: “Xiaohan, he’s not a good person. I’ll walk you back.”

“Hey, hey, hey! What kind of nonsense are you talking about, kid!” Sun Wenze got angry instantly. Where did this greenhorn come from? He wouldn’t dare lay a finger on Xiaohan!

Xiaohan, worried Ding Ming would misunderstand, quickly explained: “He’s Senior Sun Wenze. He doesn’t mean any harm, and he really does have something to talk to me about.”

Since she spoke up, Ding Ming didn’t say more. He gave a few warnings and left.

With no one else around, Xiaohan pointed toward the dorms: “Let’s talk while we walk.”

Seeing that she was willing to listen to his explanation, Sun Wenze followed with relief.

“Xiaohan, about that time I helped Fan Jia trick you for the keys—it was all my fault! You must forgive me!”

Xiaohan gave him a helpless look: “Didn’t you already treat me and Senior to dinner to apologize last time? I’ve forgiven you.”

Mentioning that dinner made Sun Wenze’s face burn with embarrassment. After a while, he managed to say: “Actually, the person I really want to apologize to is Sister Cheng for not taking your matters to heart. I came specifically to apologize today. Next time, I’ll treat you to dinner at Han Street.”

Xiaohan didn’t care about such things: “It’s not necessary, as long as Senior forgives you.”

Only after confirming several times that Xiaohan wasn’t just saying it politely did Sun Wenze relax. Perhaps out of a need to vent, he suddenly blurted out: “Xiaohan, Zhou Weiwei and I broke up.”

This startled Xiaohan. She stopped and looked at him: “So soon!”

Sun Wenze shrugged: “It wasn’t that fast. But what surprised me was that the girl initiated the breakup this time. Before we split, Zhou Weiwei told me to be nicer to you, because Sister Cheng cares about you a lot.”

“Is that so?” Xiaohan’s heart tightened, and her hands unconsciously clenched.

Sun Wenze continued: “I didn’t really feel it before, but today Sister Cheng said I owed you an apology. That’s when I realized she treats you like a ‘best friend,’ not just an ordinary one. Even I’m just an ‘ordinary friend’ to her.”

By the end, Sun Wenze looked at her with a hint of jealousy. Xiaohan felt a secret spark of joy—Senior considered her a best friend, different from everyone else.

At the dormitory entrance, Sun Wenze said seriously: “Since you’re Sister Cheng’s best friend, you’re Sun Wenze’s friend too! If you ever need help, just come find me.”

“O-okay.” Xiaohan was a bit hesitant; she hadn’t forgotten Senior’s warning to stay away from Sun Wenze.

On the path outside the gate, someone suddenly stopped and looked toward Xiaohan and Sun Wenze. Seeing Sun Wenze about to turn and walk his way, the person quickly merged into the crowd.

Just as Sun Wenze walked away from the dormitory area, someone called his name from behind.

“Wenze.”

“Who?” Sun Wenze turned around, confused. Why would a guy be calling me near the girls’ dorms?

When he saw the person, he was very surprised: “Fan Jia! Are you… here to see Sister Cheng?”

Fan Jia gave a bitter smile and shook his head: “After that incident, she only maintains a surface level of politeness with me.”

“Then why are you here?” Sun Wenze walked alongside him. Li Ya didn’t live in this area either.

Suddenly, Fan Jia spoke with a smile: “I was walking a junior back.”

Sun Wenze thought he had finally moved on and patted his shoulder with a wink: “Who? Could she possibly compare to Sister Cheng?”

Fan Jia laughed: “Her name is Bei Wenxin.”

“You like Bei Wenxin too?” Sun Wenze grabbed him, clearly shocked.

“Of course not!” Putting an arm around Sun Wenze’s neck, Fan Jia added suggestively: “What about you? Didn’t you just break up with Zhou Weiwei? How are you interested in Bei Wenxin so quickly?”

Sun Wenze breathed a sigh of relief: “That’s good. I was going to pursue Bei Wenxin anyway, it’s just that Zhou Weiwei was interested in me first, so I figured I’d give it a try.”

After a few steps, Sun Wenze asked curiously: “Then why were you the one walking her back?”

Fan Jia was about to speak, but he suddenly remembered that Bei Wenxin was close to Xiaohan, and Cheng Wu was very special toward Xiaohan. He put on a dejected expression: “Bei Wenxin was being publicly confessed to, and I just happened to pass by and save the day.”

“I see.” Sun Wenze rubbed his nose. To respect Fan Jia’s feelings, he didn’t bring up Bei Wenxin again and changed the subject.

When he mentioned he was going to throw a birthday party, Fan Jia suggested casually: “If you like Bei Wenxin that much, you should invite her to your birthday party.”

Sun Wenze looked troubled: “I want to, but her friends—”

Suddenly, his eyes lit up. Little Bei’s friend is Xiaohan!

…

As the sports meet drew closer, the class monitor followed Xiaohan all day, pleading desperately.

“Xiaohan, please help me out! You’re the only girl in our class! If you don’t participate, where am I going to find a girl for the events?”

Xiaohan felt a headache coming on. She stopped and said to the monitor: “It’s not that I won’t participate, but I’ve already signed up for three events. Asking me to sign up for every single one is a bit much.”

Seeing her waver, the monitor promised: “Don’t worry! Our Math department has always been short on girls. You just need to show up! The monitor of the next class signed up for everything too.”

“You said Wenxin signed up for every event?” Xiaohan was stunned. During military training, Bei Wenxin’s stamina was terrible.

The monitor nodded vigorously: “Yes, yes! It’s all just for show anyway.”

After hesitating, Xiaohan decided to help: “Alright then, sign me up. I’ll do my best.”

Shortly after leaving the department building, Xiaohan ran into Sun Wenze.

“What is it now?”

Sun Wenze gave a cheeky grin: “This Sunday is my birthday. I’m having a party; you definitely have to come.”

Xiaohan’s first reaction was: “Is Senior going?”

Sun Wenze’s face fell: “Sister Cheng said she’d go if she has time.” He then added an invitation: “Xiaohan, Sister Cheng is the Student Union President, so the sports meet makes her very busy. She might not have time, but you do!”