The Premeditated Seductress Childhood Friend - Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Holding Hands

Song Yixi’s father arrived in less than an hour, clutching red roses and a gold necklace to apologize to her mother.

As Song Yixi chewed on a bamboo shoot, she listened to his stream of sweet talk. Even though she’d heard it all a thousand times over the years, she still felt a twinge of envy seeing how patient her father was every single time.

Her personality had more or less inherited her mother’s “spoiled” streak; she had her fair share of temper tantrums, yet she hadn’t encountered anyone willing to coax and soothe her through every little mood.

“I’m done being a third wheel to you two,” Song Yixi said, wiping her hands and standing up. “I have to get back for evening self-study.”

With her husband there, Song Yixi’s mother—though still putting on an act of being “not quite appeased”—didn’t try to keep her. Without even looking at her daughter, she shooed her away.

Used to this, Song Yixi left with a toothpick in her mouth, taking a leisurely stroll back to campus.

She arrived just as self-study began. Yu Wei had saved her a seat in the very last row. Since phones weren’t allowed and there was a monitor present, the two girls spent the time secretly drawing a Five-in-a-Row (Gomoku) board on a piece of paper.

As they sat close together, Yu Wei caught a scent coming from Song Yixi.

“You disappeared for the whole afternoon. Were you with the senior?”

“No.” Song Yixi instinctively dodged the subject of Xu Qingyu. “I went to eat with my mom.”

Yu Wei sniffed again. “No, that’s definitely the senior’s herbal scent. Her scent is so unique—it doesn’t smell bitter; it’s clean and refreshing, but you can tell immediately it’s traditional Chinese medicine.”

Seeing she couldn’t hide it, Song Yixi brushed it off. “Yeah, my SIM card broke, so she bought me a new phone.”

“Wow, the senior is really good to you.” Yu Wei didn’t pry further.

They continued their game, chatting intermittently about class gossip. Song Yixi noticed Chen Jingyu sitting with her boyfriend; Chen even shot a disdainful look in her direction.

Song Yixi couldn’t be bothered. “How old is she? Still playing these childish games.”

“Let her have her moment. She’s probably been dying to show him off,” Yu Wei whispered. “Her boyfriend—did you see? He’s 6’3″ (190cm) and pretty popular in our department. She snagged him after chasing him for just a week.”

Song Yixi glanced over, indifferent. “Don’t know him. Didn’t notice he was popular.”

She had seen people much more popular than that. People whose desks were always overflowing with gifts from pursuers—food, drinks, gadgets—all of which used to end up in her hands.

Yu Wei asked, “Why do I feel like you don’t pay attention to anything?”

Song Yixi shrugged. “Who has time to care if he’s popular?” She’d rather worry about what her next meal would be.

Curious, Yu Wei asked, “What kind of person do you actually like?”

“I like…”

Xu Qingyu’s face surfaced in Song Yixi’s mind. She blinked and said, “I like people who talk a lot, who are humorous, sunny, and cheerful.”

Descriptions that were the polar opposite of Xu Qingyu.

Yu Wei said, “Mr. 6’3″ is exactly that type.”

Song Yixi was speechless. “What does that have to do with me?”

Yu Wei added, “I feel like he’s always looking at you.” Since she always sat next to Song Yixi, she could feel the gaze quite clearly.

Song Yixi focused on the game board. “Looking at me for what? Planning to help his girlfriend beat me up?”

Yu Wei was left without a comeback. She suddenly felt that Song Yixi didn’t seem like someone who had ever been in love; she seemed completely unawakened.

…

As soon as the bell rang, Song Yixi stood up. “I’m going for a late-night snack. Coming? I heard the fried chicken cartilage at the snack street is amazing.”

Yu Wei sighed. “Food is the only thing in your head. Fine, let’s go.”

“I’ll only eat a little,” Song Yixi promised as they walked. She didn’t want to eat too much late at night for fear of gaining weight.

But plans rarely survive reality.

Once they hit the snack street with its countless stalls, Song Yixi lost all restraint and bought several different snacks at once. In the middle of her excitement, she spotted Xu Qingyu.

Xu Qingyu had come with friends. The night wind was strong, whipping her long hair and clothes. Her neck looked slender, her shoulders narrow and thin; her sleeves hung loose, making her look like she might break if the wind blew any harder.

She was carrying two bags of food, walking slowly, looking quite tired.

Song Yixi’s brow furrowed. She tapped Yu Wei’s shoulder, her mind already elsewhere. “Wait for me, I have something to do.”

“Where are you going?” Before Yu Wei could react, she watched Song Yixi run toward Xu Qingyu, clutching her own armful of snacks.

Xu Qingyu was likely waiting for her friends, standing there in the dark looking precarious in the wind. Song Yixi ran up and, without a word, took the snacks from her hands.

Xu Qingyu looked up at Song Yixi, who was now blocking the wind for her. Her expression softened warmly. She didn’t speak either, just looked at Song Yixi more intently than she ever had when they were kids.

Song Yixi’s throat tightened as she saw the small cut on Xu Qingyu’s lip. For some reason, she wanted to kiss her.

Xu Qingyu saw right through her. She stood on her tiptoes and whispered into Song Yixi’s ear.

Watching from a distance, Yu Wei felt something was definitely off. She snapped a photo and sent it to Song Yixi with a message: [Why does it look like you two are dating?] And the more she looked, the more they seemed to match.

Song Yixi felt her phone vibrate in her pocket, but she was in no state to care. She only had ears for what Xu Qingyu had said: “Do you want to kiss me?”

Song Yixi clenched her fists. She didn’t answer, her gaze flickering away as she asked, “What are you doing out so late? The food here is greasy and dirty; you can’t even eat it.”

Xu Qingyu said, “I bought it for you.”

Song Yixi replied crossly, “I can buy my own. Why buy it for me? It’s so windy; you’re going to get sick again.”

“I thought you had gotten thinner. Cough, cough…” As she spoke, Xu Qingyu leaned over, her face turning pale.

Song Yixi immediately supported her. “See? Come on, I’m taking you back.”

After a short coughing fit, Xu Qingyu straightened up and tugged at Song Yixi’s sleeve. “I’m fine. I didn’t mean to make you worry. I just didn’t want you to keep dieting; it’s not healthy to get any thinner.”

“Eating this stuff isn’t healthy either.” Song Yixi stood firmly in front of her. “Let’s go back.”

Xu Qingyu lowered her head like a child who had done something wrong, gently swaying Song Yixi’s sleeve.

Song Yixi’s heart melted instantly. She had never seen Xu Qingyu act like this. “I won’t… I won’t diet. I stopped a long time ago.”

Xu Qingyu looked relieved. “Good. Eat more. If you run out of money, tell me.”

Song Yixi didn’t reply, but her heart felt incredibly warm. It was the same feeling she got as a child when she’d get into a fight and Xu Qingyu would stand by her side. But this time, it was even stronger—as if she had found something she thought was lost.

The urge to kiss Xu Qingyu grew even more intense. But she didn’t dare. She wanted to hold Xu Qingyu’s hand, but she hesitated, settling for gently grasping Xu Qingyu’s wrist.

With that grip, the thinness of Xu Qingyu’s wrist became a physical reality in her hand. Swallowing her heartache, she said, “Let’s go home.”

Xu Qingyu let herself be led, shooting a glance at her friends who were still waiting for their food. Her friends understood, waved her off, and let her go.

By this point, Song Yixi had completely forgotten about Yu Wei, who was still waiting for her.

Xu Qingyu shifted her hand, pulling her wrist back slightly. Thinking she was being rejected, Song Yixi frowned and began to let go.

With a slight curve to her lips, Xu Qingyu pulled her arm back just enough so that her fingers slid right into Song Yixi’s palm. Song Yixi instinctively closed her fingers, gripping her tightly.

Xu Qingyu looked satisfied. Like the way she used to teach her how to do homework, she said:

“This is how you hold hands.”