Try Saying You Don't Like It - Chapter 61

Chapter 61

He Xinglan certainly knew. It was just that when she bought breakfast, she instinctively bought a portion for Yin Qiuman. If Yin Qiuman ate it, that would be even better; if she didn’t, He Xinglan wouldn’t force her.

As for Xiao Hua’s comment, He Xinglan could feel the hostility coming from her.

He Xinglan ignored her, sat properly in her seat, took out her Chinese textbook, flipped to the classical Chinese text she had memorized last night, and recited it silently in her heart while slowly eating her breakfast.

Seeing He Xinglan’s uncharacteristic behavior, Xiao Hua frowned and couldn’t help but ask: “He Xinglan, are you really planning to study hard?”

He Xinglan didn’t respond. She was reciting, and answering Xiao Hua would interrupt her.

He Xinglan had never been one to be bothered with before. Xiao Hua, receiving no satisfaction, retracted her gaze but couldn’t resist looking again.

Had the sun truly risen from the west? He Xinglan, the infamous low achiever, was starting to study seriously?

Xiao Hua ran through all the reasons in her mind for He Xinglan’s sudden change, finally concluding that it must be the influence of the top student.

After all, when she was Yin Qiuman’s deskmate, she was always driven to study by Yin Qiuman as well.

And now… envy, jealousy, and hate.

So, Xiao Hua glared at He Xinglan even more fiercely.

He Xinglan was halfway through her breakfast when Yin Qiuman arrived.

Seeing the breakfast on her desk and the half-eaten breakfast in He Xinglan’s hand, Yin Qiuman immediately understood that the breakfast on her desk was bought by He Xinglan.

After putting down her school bag, Yin Qiuman picked up the breakfast, ready to eat. Xiao Hua, who had been staring at Yin Qiuman and He Xinglan, quickly said: “Manman, did you not eat breakfast at home today?”

Yin Qiuman paused, looked at Xiao Hua: “I did.”

“Then why are you eating now?” Xiao Hua looked at Yin Qiuman, confused.

Yin Qiuman glanced at He Xinglan, her lips curving slightly: “I didn’t eat much at home; it was digested on the way here.”

Of course, the most important thing was that He Xinglan had bought it for her.

He Xinglan heard Yin Qiuman’s explanation but didn’t believe it. He Xinglan understood that Yin Qiuman’s words were just to fool Xiao Hua. The reason she was eating was because of her.

Because of her. He Xinglan felt delighted inside.

However, she still said: “If you can’t eat it all, don’t force yourself. It’s uncomfortable to overstuff your stomach.”

Yin Qiuman didn’t speak, lowered her head, took a bite of the still-warm breakfast in her hand, chewed a few times, and then said: “It’s delicious.”

Xiao Hua watched as Yin Qiuman meticulously finished every bit of the breakfast He Xinglan had bought.

Then, she watched Yin Qiuman flash a brilliant, gentle smile. Xiao Hua wondered if it was her imagination, but she always felt that Yin Qiuman’s smile toward He Xinglan was different from any she had seen before.

So, Yin Qiuman was bought off with one breakfast by He Xinglan?

Realizing this, Xiao Hua was filled with regret.

Why didn’t she think of bringing breakfast to Yin Qiuman to deepen their friendship before?!

Thief!

Xiao Hua had a new, refreshed negative impression of He Xinglan.

The class bell rang just in time, and Xiao Hua had no choice but to swallow her complaints about He Xinglan.

Perhaps thanks to the nourishment of love, He Xinglan never zoned out in class anymore. Her focused attention amazed the teachers who were lecturing.

When had He Xinglan ever been so serious in class?!

Furthermore, He Xinglan’s progress, from being at the bottom of the class to being able to answer some questions when the teacher spot-checked her, made the teachers feel that the class teacher’s decision to change He Xinglan’s seat was simply too late.

It should have been done earlier.

Otherwise, with He Xinglan’s intelligence, even if her grades couldn’t catch up to Yin Qiuman’s, she could still be close behind, right?!

Then their class would have another top student?!

He Xinglan naturally couldn’t know the internal thoughts of her teachers. As soon as the dismissal bell rang, she couldn’t help but pull Yin Qiuman out of the classroom.

Consequently, Xiao Hua’s plan to ask Yin Qiuman a couple of questions fell through again.

In the hallway outside the classroom.

“Where are we going?” Yin Qiuman asked, keeping pace with He Xinglan.

“To the restroom,” He Xinglan replied without looking back.

In school, two girls going to the restroom together was a very common occurrence.

So, even though she was holding Yin Qiuman’s hand, no one gave them strange looks.

Only those who knew He Xinglan was the low achiever and Yin Qiuman was the top student were curious: When did the top student and the low achiever get so close?

Yin Qiuman didn’t overthink it until He Xinglan pulled her into the same stall.

“What… are you planning to do?” Yin Qiuman, unlike He Xinglan, hadn’t read many novels, and was momentarily confused about entering the same stall with He Xinglan.

“Miss you,” He Xinglan whispered, then reached out her hands and pulled Yin Qiuman into a hug.

The stall itself was small, and the two of them were already close just standing there, but it was nothing compared to now, with their bodies pressed tightly together.

Perhaps the longing was truly bone-deep, as He Xinglan held Yin Qiuman tightly and firmly, as if trying to embed her into her own body.

Yin Qiuman even felt her breathing become difficult before saying to He Xinglan: “Don’t… hug so tight.”

He Xinglan obediently loosened her grip slightly, then continued to hug her, occasionally touching Yin Qiuman’s neck with her nose. The hot breath on Yin Qiuman’s skin made her pale, tender skin break out in small goosebumps like rice grains.

It felt ticklish, making her want to push He Xinglan away.

And Yin Qiuman did just that.

But as soon as she pushed her away, she met He Xinglan’s aggrieved, pouty eyes.

It was as if she was asking her why.

A hint of helplessness flashed in Yin Qiuman’s bright eyes.

“Class is about to start,” Yin Qiuman said.

So that was the reason. The darkness in He Xinglan’s eyes instantly brightened, and she responded with a particularly obedient ‘oh’.

“Then let’s go back to the classroom.” He Xinglan finished speaking and was about to push open the stall door to leave.

Just as she moved, Yin Qiuman held her hand down.

He Xinglan looked at Yin Qiuman in confusion, blinking.

“You go out first, go back to the classroom first,” Yin Qiuman said after a few seconds of hesitation.

Dating early was still a bold move for Yin Qiuman. She was afraid that going out with He Xinglan might reveal something.

Yin Qiuman knew that few people would suspect two girls were dating, but it was better to be safe than sorry. Yin Qiuman still felt it necessary to be cautious.

“I’ll wait two minutes.”

He Xinglan was momentarily stunned and then understood. Biting her lower lip, her heart wanted to refuse, but she also knew Yin Qiuman was right.

They were high school seniors now. Dating at this stage was bound to require hiding and sneaking around. Any grand gestures would have to wait until after the college entrance exams, or perhaps until university.

Reluctance aside, there was no choice. Compromise was essential.

“Okay, I’ll go back to the classroom first.” He Xinglan was very well-behaved and obedient, but if she didn’t take this opportunity to ask for some benefits, she wouldn’t be He Xinglan!

So, before leaving, He Xinglan pointed to her cheek: “Give me a kiss.”