The Paranoid Film Queen Hooked Me, and I Fell in Love - Chapter 70

“Xu Zhiyan, why are you always smiling lately?”

Cao Yueyue leaned on her desk, watching as Xu Zhiyan absentmindedly chewed on her pen and broke into another goofy little grin.

After the final exam results came out, the teacher—following tradition—reshuffled their seats. Xu Zhiyan remained in her usual spot, but her new desk mate was none other than the gossip queen herself: Cao Yueyue.

Xu Zhiyan covered her face, wearing a look that practically screamed, “You wouldn’t get it.”

Last weekend, a sudden thunderstorm rolled through Lixian late at night. With lightning and booming thunder, it looked and sounded terrifying.

And Xu Zhiyan, as she’d hoped, had used the storm as an excuse to climb back into Shen Buhui’s bed — once again getting to fall asleep wrapped in her warmth.

Ever since she started middle school, Shen Buhui had insisted they sleep in separate rooms. So now, the only way she could sleep with her was by “playing scared” during bad weather.

Sure, she wasn’t scared anymore. But Xu Zhiyan had no plans to confess that truth.

She spun her pen lazily, heart brimming with a secret smugness.

Seeing she wasn’t answering, Cao Yueyue didn’t press. Instead, she switched gears, voice curious:
“Did Zhou Peng do something to you lately? You’ve been kinda mean to him.”

Xu Zhiyan glanced back at the boy snoozing at the back of the classroom and wrinkled her nose.
“He didn’t do anything.”

But his brother sure did.

Cao Yueyue’s eyes lit up like she’d just discovered a plot twist.
“Oh, I get it! You’re totally crushing on him, aren’t you?”

She leaned in conspiratorially.
“It’s like Yaya and her girlfriend — all that teasing at first? Classic sign!”

Her grin widened.
“Zhou Peng’s pretty cute too, don’t you think? Not the same kind of handsome as his brother, but he’s got his own vibe. If you like him, I totally support you going for it!”

Xu Zhiyan shot her a glare.
“What nonsense are you spewing now?”

She already had someone she liked, thank you very much. Loyal in body, heart, and soul. A one-woman woman!

And Zhou Peng? He was the brother of her romantic rival. That made him automatically off-limits.

Not that Cao Yueyue cared — she kept making silly faces even as the teacher walked in.

Girls at their age were obsessed with romance — who liked who, who might secretly be dating. And Cao Yueyue was the queen of it all.

—

After school, Xu Zhiyan hummed a happy tune to herself.

Shen Buhui’s birthday was coming up, and she’d already started planning the surprise. What to make, how to decorate, which gift to buy — everything had to be perfect.

“Hey, Xu Zhiyan!”

Cao Yueyue jogged to catch up, matching her pace as they exited the building.

“Are you walking home with Shen-senpai again today?”

Xu Zhiyan nodded.

Cao Yueyue sighed dramatically.
“So jealous. You two are so close. And she’s so gentle with you.”

Everyone wanted to be close to their beautiful, cool upperclassman, but Shen Buhui never gave anyone a chance — except Xu Zhiyan.

“I told you already,” Xu Zhiyan said, ears going red with pride, “Shen Buhui likes me the most.”

She emphasized the claim, repeating the same thing Cao Yueyue had scoffed at before.

But Cao Yueyue suddenly looked away, distracted by something across the street.
“Yeah yeah, I know…”

Xu Zhiyan: “…”

She doesn’t get it. She really doesn’t get it. Why am I even talking to her?

With a huff, she turned to leave, ready to meet Shen Buhui at the school gate.

“Wait, wait, don’t go yet, Xu Zhiyan!” Cao Yueyue tugged her sleeve, eyes gleaming. “Look over there—guess who!”

Xu Zhiyan’s first thought was:
Shen Buhui!

Her face lit up with joy.

But when she turned… it wasn’t her.

It was Zhou Peng, slinging his backpack over one shoulder, walking alone.

Cao Yueyue elbowed her with a knowing smirk.
“See what I mean?”

Xu Zhiyan’s face fell instantly.
“I already told you, you’re overthinking this.”

She shoved Cao Yueyue’s elbow away, now annoyed.

If Shen Buhui saw that and misunderstood… it would be a disaster.

Shrugging her off, she stormed off, practically speed-walking toward the school gate.

Sure enough, Shen Buhui was already waiting there.

It was Friday. The high school always let out half an hour earlier than the middle school, and as usual, Shen Buhui was there to wait for her — without fail.

“Jie!”

Grabbing her hand, Xu Zhiyan grinned up at her, voice sweet like melted honey.

Shen Buhui nodded and replied with a soft “Mm.”

“Only Us From Start to Finish”

Shen Buhui scanned the school gate briefly, her gaze pausing on the two people who had walked unusually close to Xu Zhiyan moments ago. She said nothing, only looked down at the hand tightly holding her own.

“Yan Yan,” she asked gently, “did anything happen at school today?”

“Nope.” Xu Zhiyan shook her head immediately. “Nothing at all.”

She wasn’t lying — technically. Anything that happened during the day, she always shared with Shen Buhui over dinner. And vice versa. They had no secrets between them…

Well, except for one kind of secret — the kind where people confessed to Shen Buhui.

Shen Buhui had never told her about those.

She didn’t want Xu Zhiyan to think too much about things like that — especially now, in the middle of puberty and all its rebellious moods. She thought it best to quietly keep such matters to herself.

“I see.” Shen Buhui nodded, still soft-voiced. “Then… is anyone in your class dating?”

As they strolled the familiar path home, she casually bought two ice creams — one for each of them.

Just moments ago, she had remembered how this little rascal cried not too long ago, upset over “dating.” Shen Buhui suddenly realized: perhaps it was better to guide than to shield.

And so, clever as always, she changed tactics.

“Um… maybe?” Xu Zhiyan paused, thinking. “I think so?”

Thanks to Cao Yueyue, she’d heard quite a few juicy stories.

And honestly, some people were really obvious. It wasn’t like she was blind — she’d noticed.

“So when you see people dating… do you feel envious? Ever want to try it yourself?”

Xu Zhiyan shook her head wildly.
No. Absolutely not.

She’d seen her classmates date. And honestly? It looked so immature. One day they liked this person, the next they liked someone else. It was messy. It wasn’t real.

She didn’t envy them one bit.

If anything, it just made her want to grow up faster — to become an adult, to make her own choices, to not be dismissed by others just because of her age.

Shen Buhui smiled at that, reaching out to pat her head.

“Good girl. You’re still too young right now. It’s not time to date yet. You should focus on becoming a better version of yourself first. Only then will you have the confidence to chase someone you like.”

Xu Zhiyan nodded seriously.

Then she peeked up at Shen Buhui, eyes shining.
“You think that way too, right?”

“Of course.”

Grinning mischievously, Xu Zhiyan added:
“So you have to follow the same rule too! You’re still young — you have to focus on school and stuff. No dating allowed!”

This little gremlin was trying to discipline her now?

But Shen Buhui had already said it — no dating until you’re ready — and she wasn’t about to contradict herself.

“Of course,” she said, unlocking the door. As she stepped inside and changed her shoes, she teased,
“So when do you think would be the right time for me to date?”

Xu Zhiyan followed behind her and, upon hearing the question, immediately panicked. She started calculating in her head. Then, very seriously, she said:

“…When you’re 23.”

“Twenty-three?” Shen Buhui turned around, brows raised.

She was seventeen now. Eighteen in a week. So that meant Xu Zhiyan was setting the “date limit” to five years and one week from now.

Xu Zhiyan suddenly felt a bit guilty and started fidgeting with her fingers.
“Well, by then I’ll be eighteen. I’ll be a legal adult, so I can help you screen any potential partners. Y’know, just to make sure there aren’t any scumbags out there who’d hurt you.”

Yes, that was the reason.

Her own brain whispered: Also because I’ll be old enough to be the one you like…

She placed her backpack down and fetched Shen Buhui a glass of water, then squatted beside her, blinking her big eyes.

“Right?”

Enjoying the attentive treatment, Shen Buhui put on a thoughtful expression.

A child and a teenager, plotting out the future years of their lives together.

“You make a good point,” she said with a smile.

“But even if I’m twenty-three… I don’t think I want to date anyone.”

“…What?” Xu Zhiyan’s eyes widened in shock.

What would she do then?!

Shen Buhui kept smiling, clearly amused by her reaction. She rubbed her head again and said softly:
“Isn’t it better this way?”

“If I don’t date anyone, and you don’t date anyone, then we can just stay together forever. Isn’t that nice?”

It wasn’t just Xu Zhiyan who couldn’t imagine a future without Shen Buhui. Shen Buhui, deep down, felt the same way.

She had never once envisioned herself falling in love with someone else, building a home with someone else. In her life plan, there was only one constant: Xu Zhiyan.

Truthfully, she hadn’t wanted to discuss this topic yet. Xu Zhiyan was still too young — high school hadn’t even begun. It wasn’t the right time.

But today, seeing her walking out of school and chatting closely with someone else…
Shen Buhui lost her cool.

Most people probably assumed Xu Zhiyan was more dependent on her. That she was the one who couldn’t let go.

But they were wrong.

Because the truth was — Shen Buhui couldn’t imagine her life without Xu Zhiyan either.

From that one evening six years ago, when a small hand had reached out to hers in the firelight — she hadn’t been able to let go since.

They were already part of each other’s bones and blood, hearts and habits.

And now this little girl, barely reaching her shoulder, looked visibly conflicted at her unexpected question.

Shen Buhui frowned slightly, seeing the struggle on her face. But then she softened again.

“If you’re not sure how to answer,” she said gently, “it’s okay to wait. You can tell me on your eighteenth birthday.”

No rush. Take your time.

Think long and hard.

Because no matter what your answer is — unless it’s “I want to be with you” — I won’t accept anything else.

Shen Buhui gently stroked her hair, the corner of her lips curving into a quiet, secret smile.

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