That Girl Who Skipped Class — You're In Big Trouble! - Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Today was one of those rare cool summer days at A University. Intermittent breezes blew away the slight heat emanating from the sun in the sky. An Qianyang, with her single-strap bag, walked across the edge of the main track and field, heading towards the art studio.

“Students who haven’t come to class, hurry up. The teacher is taking attendance and says there’s an important announcement.” The class monitor sent a message in the class group chat. An Qianyang put her phone back in her pocket and quickened her pace.

Inside the art studio for the second-year Art and Design department, nearly 60 students were gathered, a rare sight, in front of their respective easels, listening to the Head of the Department, who was standing in the center of the studio. An Qianyang slipped in through the back door and sat down in her spot. She glanced at the unfinished sketch on her easel from the previous semester and sighed unconsciously.

“…The general plan is as follows. We will set off during the National Day holiday. Students from the three classes will be led by their respective class monitors. You must submit your work after the National Day holiday as part of your final exam. Furthermore, your works will be graded uniformly by the design department teachers. The top 3 students will represent our school in the national product design competition this November, where executives from Huawei and Tencent will participate. Students who perform well may receive direct job offers.”

Whispers began to circulate in the classroom at this point.

“I’m finished,” the Head of the Department clapped his hands. “Everyone should take good advantage of this opportunity. Start self-study now.”

A hand reached out in front of An Qianyang, “Hey, which beautiful girl is this? Long time no see.” Li Chenchen, wearing a baseball cap, looked at her with a beaming, handsome face. He crouched down in front of her easel. “Yangyang, I heard the Wuzhen Theatre Festival is great. Let’s go check it out together during our sketching trip.”

“We’re going to Wuzhen for a sketching trip during the National Day holiday?”

“Hehehe, you came late again, you little scatterbrain.” Li Chenchen reached out and ruffled An Qianyang’s hair.

“When did we get back together?”

“What? Get back together? We never broke up, okay?”

An Qianyang leaned forward, suddenly serious: “Chenchen, let’s talk outside.” She then walked out of the art studio to the nearby corridor. A few people were playing basketball on the court outside the corridor.

Li Chenchen followed closely, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with An Qianyang. He opened his mouth with slight hesitation: “Yangyang, I thought for a long time after the last incident. It was definitely my fault back then, but your attitude was really hurtful. Afterward, didn’t I keep calling and texting you? You didn’t reply at all.”

Li Chenchen saw the girl turn her head to look at him in the sunlight, a hint of guilt in her eyes: “Chenchen, I’m sorry. I think I need to break up with you.”

“Haha, I knew it all along. You don’t like me anymore. I could feel it. I’ve been giving myself all sorts of excuses to deceive myself during this time. I explained it to myself by saying you were still pouting and might feel better if I just coaxed you.” Li Chenchen’s face turned pale, and his hands were tightly clenched, as if restraining his anger.

“Yes, I don’t like you anymore. I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to be like this either, but I can’t control myself. If staying with you is going to hurt you, then I’m truly sorry.”

“That’s enough, I don’t want to hear anymore,” Li Chenchen roared. “Everything Miss An says and does is right. I’ve known all along that you are this cold-blooded, this selfish, and this inconsiderate of other people’s feelings. We’ve been together for a year, and you truly never did anything for me, and you never showed me any consideration! I’m the one who’s sorry! I can’t cater to you anymore!”

An Qianyang remained silent.

A moment later, Li Chenchen grabbed her shoulders and yelled with red eyes: “Tell me, who is the person that made you change your mind? Tell me! Who has such great charm!”

An Qianyang saw a figure rushing towards them—it was An Dong.

An Dong darted forward, pulling Li Chenchen, who was shaking An Qianyang’s shoulders, away, looking surprised: “What’s wrong with you two? That’s enough! Your voice is so loud the whole floor can hear you.”

“An Dong, take care of Chenchen. I’m leaving.”

An Qianyang ran into the art studio, grabbed her bag, and left the academic building without looking back.

…

That night, in a famous lounge bar in C City, Bei Xuan helplessly watched the slightly drunk An Qianyang from across a pile of empty bottles.

“Five years, Yangyang. From middle school until now, I’ve never seen you like this. Are you stupid? Rejecting Li Chenchen, who has been following you around since childhood, just to fall for a… woman… you’ve only met a few times?!”

“I don’t know,” An Qianyang mumbled. “Me, An Qianyang, a lesbian? Xuanxuan, I’ve been obsessed with her these past few days. When I shower, when I eat, when I sleep, when I walk… I think about her 24 hours a day. Logically, I should be immune after seeing so many captivating hussies! What is this if not love?”

Bei Xuan suddenly became bashful: “You don’t like someone like me now, do you?”

“Hey, hey, hey, that’s enough,” An Qianyang supported her dizzy head. “She’s not like you.”

“Yes, yes, yes, she’s the most beautiful.” Bei Xuan picked up her wine glass and took a perfunctory sip. Her brightly colored nail polish shone faintly under the soft light. “So, what are you going to do now?”

“Since I like her, I definitely have to pursue her, just like those boys pursued me.” An Qianyang picked up her phone, took a picture of the empty wine bottle in front of her, opened WeChat, and, as if determined, sent the picture to Xiao Xuan.

“Alright,” Bei Xuan waved her hand. “Waiter, check please.”

An Qianyang shook Bei Xuan’s arm: “Help me look her up. She studied abroad in Australia and worked at the Pullman Hotel in Cairns, I heard. I’m very curious about what she did over there.”

“Fine, but you have to treat me to a big meal.” Bei Xuan said, taking her wallet and walking towards the counter.

An Qianyang’s phone vibrated on the table. Xiao Xuan replied: “Not home yet?”

An Qianyang: “Chatting with a friend. Are you asleep?”

Xiao Xuan: “Almost.”

An Qianyang: “What are your plans for the National Day holiday?”

Xiao Xuan: “Going to Wuzhen for a conference.”