Try Saying You Don't Like It - Chapter 63

Chapter 63

Yin Qiuman’s worry lasted for a long time this time, from the moment she left the dinner table until she went to school the next morning.

Even during the morning self-study period, her mind was not on her textbooks.

For the first time, the open pages on her desk became mere decorations in front of her eyes.

Her mind kept circling the same question: What if her parents found out about her relationship with He Xinglan? What if the teacher found out? Or what if her classmates did…

The more Yin Qiuman thought about it, the more worried she became, and the more worried she was, the less she could concentrate on reading and studying. Her mind was completely out of control, replaying every interaction since she and He Xinglan confirmed their relationship: Was there any unintentional exposure of intimacy? Did anyone accidentally see them when they were close?

Bit by bit, in meticulous detail, she seemed completely obsessed.

“Manman, Manman~”

It wasn’t until He Xinglan’s voice reached her ear that Yin Qiuman vaguely looked at He Xinglan. Her gaze moved first, but it took a moment for her eyes to focus on He Xinglan.

“What is it?” Yin Qiuman asked.

“That’s what I should be asking you,” He Xinglan’s eyes were full of concern: “You’ve been distracted all morning self-study, and you looked absent-minded when I called you just now. Manman, did… did something happen?”

Did something happen? Did almost being discovered about dating count? Yin Qiuman opened her mouth, but the words didn’t come out.

Perhaps she had been obedient for too long, resulting in her current mindset, which was on the verge of collapse over doing something that might only be slightly unconventional.

Her usual arrogance and confidence suddenly were less than ten percent of what they used to be, leaving only endless worry, fear, and even… a slowly growing sense of… regret?

“Nothing,” Yin Qiuman shook her head, looking at He Xinglan: “Maybe I didn’t sleep well last night.”

Is that so? He Xinglan didn’t believe Yin Qiuman’s reason at all, but Yin Qiuman clearly didn’t want to say more. He Xinglan thought for a moment and decided not to press, only saying: “Then hurry up and put your head down on the desk and sleep for a bit. I promise I won’t disturb you.”

He Xinglan smiled brightly, showing two rows of neat, white teeth.

He Xinglan’s smile was beautiful—youthful and sunny—and in the past week, every time Yin Qiuman met her gaze, it filled her with strength, as if just seeing He Xinglan’s smile meant the future was definitely full of hope.

But now, Yin Qiuman lowered her eyes subtly, her gaze somewhat evasive.

“Mhm, I’ll sleep for a bit.” Yin Qiuman put her head on the desk and closed her eyes.

He Xinglan looked at Yin Qiuman resting on the desk, feeling puzzled. Something felt wrong, but she couldn’t figure out what it was. Her head started to ache from trying to think, so she simply gave up.

While Yin Qiuman was napping, she went to the restroom, then went to the school store and bought two bottles of coffee. She put one on Yin Qiuman’s desk when she returned.

The class bell rang, and Yin Qiuman finally lifted her head, her eyes clear as she looked at the blackboard.

Forty minutes passed quickly. As soon as the break bell rang, He Xinglan eagerly looked at Yin Qiuman.

Her eyes were full of excitement and anticipation.

Class was over. It was finally time for her to snuggle with her girlfriend today.

Yin Qiuman met He Xinglan’s eyes and, for the first time since they confirmed their relationship, chose to refuse.

“I’m a bit tired, I want to catch up on some sleep.” Yin Qiuman said the words as quickly as possible and didn’t wait for He Xinglan to speak before putting her head down on the desk.

Yin Qiuman lay on the desk with her eyes tightly closed, feeling a little distressed.

Resting her head on the desk was originally a suggestion made by He Xinglan out of concern, but unexpectedly, only one class later, she was using it to hide from He Xinglan.

But her heart was truly in chaos.

He Xinglan, however, didn’t overthink it. Although disappointed, hearing that Yin Qiuman was tired left her only with worry.

She thought, Manman must have stayed up all night doing practice problems.

She even started reflecting on herself, wondering if she was being too clingy, always pestering Yin Qiuman for this and that, forcing Yin Qiuman to make up the lost time at night.

But, who could blame her? She and Yin Qiuman had just started dating.

She truly hadn’t gotten enough of the sweetness of love.

But she really needed to restrain herself. Look how tired her girlfriend was; she had slept through two breaks already.

He Xinglan decided to let Yin Qiuman rest during the next break too. After all, she was a person who doted on her girlfriend.

Consequently, this was the first day since He Xinglan and Yin Qiuman’s secret relationship started that He Xinglan didn’t seize the time to get close and snuggle.

Even when walking Yin Qiuman home after school, He Xinglan was well-behaved, dropping her off downstairs at the community and preparing to leave without pulling her into the alley.

“He Xinglan,” Yin Qiuman called out to the turning He Xinglan.

“What is it?” He Xinglan turned around, smiling broadly at Yin Qiuman, leaning closer mischievously and whispering: “I haven’t even left yet, and my girlfriend is already missing me?”

Yin Qiuman calling her back. He Xinglan couldn’t think of any other reason.

She hadn’t kissed, hugged, or snuggled with her girlfriend all day.

Since she was being so good and thoughtful, wasn’t it perfectly normal for her girlfriend to miss her?!

He Xinglan was about to stretch out her arms for a loving hug when she heard Yin Qiuman speak: “If… in the future, ‘we’ are no longer ‘we’…”

Yin Qiuman looked into He Xinglan’s eyes, speaking with difficulty.

“‘We’ are no longer ‘we’?” He Xinglan didn’t understand, her eyes full of confusion and a request for clarification.

Yin Qiuman moved her lips, paused for a moment, and then spoke again: “… I read a novel last night. The main characters were a couple at first, but later they separated. So, it started as ‘we’, but later ‘we’ turned into ‘I’ and ‘you’…”

“So they broke up?” He Xinglan understood, realizing the meaning.

So, her girlfriend was worried about their future?

This sense of security absolutely had to be provided.

He Xinglan didn’t hesitate, instinctively and definitively saying: “Then I will make ‘I’ and ‘you’ become ‘we’ again.”

“I don’t care what the protagonists in the novel thought, I will never let go of your hand no matter what.”

He Xinglan’s tone was firm and resolute.

Although she and Yin Qiuman had been dating for less than a week, saying such words might be an exaggeration, and perhaps no one would think a one-week relationship could be important enough to be irreplaceable. But He Xinglan was firmly convinced that Yin Qiuman was the one for the rest of her life.

It was Yin Qiuman.

Her heart only moved once in a lifetime.

Yin Qiuman smiled brightly for the first time that day.

“Are you that confident?” Yin Qiuman smiled at He Xinglan. The heart that had been tightly held all day finally found a moment to breathe.

He Xinglan raised her eyebrow: “Of course! I’m He Xinglan.”

The curve of Yin Qiuman’s lips deepened. She stared at He Xinglan and warned: “Then you have to remember what you said today.”

So, she was allowed to temporarily separate from He Xinglan, right?!