You Are the Star I Cannot Touch - Chapter 35

Chapter 35: Don’t Be Afraid

“Okay,” Gong Yutong quickly agreed. Sure enough, she’s a crybaby.

“Really, thank you,” Mu Yan grabbed her hand excitedly, “Thank you.” She smiled at her, an unusually sweet smile.

No one knew that after everything she had been through, she hadn’t smiled for over a year, but now she was smiling because of a stranger, because of a stranger’s words, she smiled happily.

Gong Yutong looked at the hand grasping hers. She rarely let others touch her, or rather, she disliked it. She didn’t like physical contact; this stemmed from her little brother, who clung to her relentlessly. Actually, she could have skipped school, but her brother’s persistence gave her a headache, so she stayed at school for some peace and quiet.

This little hand is so soft and gentle.

Other classmates saw this scene and became more certain that the two of them must know each other. They wanted to get to know Gong Yutong through Mu Yan, but Mu Yan didn’t like others approaching her either, so their goal was ultimately doomed to fail.

Mu Yan wasn’t particularly good at studying, nor was she particularly bad, but Chemistry was quite difficult for her. During the Chemistry class’s group work, Gong Yutong naturally wouldn’t choose anyone, and Mu Yan, of course, only wanted to stick with Gong Yutong. They formed a pair, while everyone else was in groups of four. Even if only two people were left, they could only be placed into other groups, but if Gong Yutong was unwilling, no one dared to insert them into her group.

The experiment was to measure the oxygen content in the air.

Mu Yan had read the textbook beforehand, but she wasn’t very good at the actual operation. She felt quite unconfident, especially with Gong Yutong.

“You do it. If there’s a problem, I’ll tell you,” her voice was still icy.

“Mm-hmm,” encouraged by her words, Mu Yan started the operation. She made a mistake along the way, but Gong Yutong quickly corrected her. After all, experiments couldn’t have errors. Then, Mu Yan performed the operation again, and it went smoothly, leading to the conclusion.

“Oxygen accounts for about one-fifth of the total volume of air. This experiment also shows that nitrogen is not easily soluble in water, and it neither burns nor supports combustion.” Mu Yan stated the conclusion she had drawn, still feeling a bit unsure; she just lacked confidence when facing Gong Yutong.

“That’s correct.”

Hearing her words, Mu Yan smiled. Being praised naturally felt good, and especially being praised by her.

Gong Yutong frowned. Is there really that much to be happy about? The conclusions of these experiments are actually quite simple, as long as you understand the principle.

When all the groups finished their experiments, the teacher asked for the conclusion. Mu Yan actively spoke her conclusion and received praise from the teacher. She glanced at Gong Yutong, very pleased.

After Chemistry class, Gong Yutong got up to go to the restroom. She was good-looking, coupled with her tall figure, drawing frequent backward glances from classmates as she headed for the restroom. Mu Yan followed her. Mu Yan was also good-looking, and some students were looking at her too.

Gong Yutong washed her hands. Mu Yan watched her hands, distinct knuckles, round and full nails, pink—so beautiful.

“Aren’t you washing your hands?” Gong Yutong asked the distracted Mu Yan.

“Washing,” Mu Yan quickly washed her hands, then dried them and followed Gong Yutong. Looking at her walking ahead, her back view was also beautiful, lonely, and arrogant.

Mu Yan wasn’t very attentive in English class; she was always good at English. After class, only the evening self-study session remained. She was exceptionally happy today.

“Do you want to eat?” Mu Yan looked at Gong Yutong, wondering if she would come to evening self-study or go straight home. It seemed like it wouldn’t matter if she didn’t attend class.

“Mm.”

“Outside school or the cafeteria?”

“The housekeeper brought it to the dorm. Do you want some? I can bring you a portion?”

“Yes, thank you,” she said with a little shyness.

“Mm.” She sent a message and got up to return to the dorm.

Seeing this, Mu Yan quickly followed. In her haste, she easily missed a step and stumbled. She somewhat resigned herself to falling, but she didn’t. This scent was familiar to her; after all, it had been all over the dorm for the past few days.

She had landed in Gong Yutong’s arms. Looking up into her icy eyes, she felt slightly embarrassed. “I… I’m actually not clumsy, I’m quite smart.”

Her embrace was so warm and safe, and she was so beautiful, with flawless, smooth skin.

“How long do you plan to hug me?”

“Sorry,” Mu Yan quickly pulled away from her.

Gong Yutong walked away, and Mu Yan quickly followed again.

Back at the dorm, the food was just delivered: four dishes and one soup.

“You like light food, and so do I.”

“Mm.” Gong Yutong ate without speaking.

“Are you going back tonight?”

“No.”

“Then are you going to evening self-study?”

“I’ll be at the library. Eat properly.”

“Oh.” Mu Yan continued to eat. After eating, she asked, “Can I go with you? I could use your help. Chemistry, Math, and Physics are my worst subjects.”

“I’ll go to the library tonight to borrow a book and teach you back in the dorm. The library might disturb others.”

“Mm, thank you.”

Gong Yutong finished eating and leaned against the bed, continuing to read.

Mu Yan held her phone. “Can I add you on WeChat?”

Gong Yutong took the phone, scanned her code, and continued reading.

Mu Yan left, then washed some strawberries. “Here, they taste like cream, very delicious.” She picked one up and offered it directly to her mouth.

Gong Yutong opened her mouth, ready to refuse, but the strawberry was popped into her mouth. Her lips touched Gong Yutong’s fingertips, and an emotion flashed across her face before it was replaced by coldness again.

Mu Yan was startled; she didn’t understand this feeling, only that it was tingling and made her body feel soft. “Here,” she placed the strawberries in front of her. Mu Yan continued to eat strawberries while playing on her phone.

Gong Yutong was a little distracted. She was used to being alone, and suddenly having someone so close beside her was somewhat unsettling. But if she told her to move away, would she cry again? Thinking of this, she remembered her crybaby little brother at home, and a headache instantly came on. Let her be.

If I can’t provoke her, I can at least tolerate her.

When it was almost time for evening self-study, Gong Yutong was going to the library, and Mu Yan wanted to follow. She simply let her. At the library, Mu Yan changed her mind. There were good books here, so she would read.

The two came out of the library at ten o’clock. Mu Yan looked at the pitch-black school and remembered something; she was afraid. She looked at the person in front of her, slowly reached out her hand, and tentatively grasped hers. Seeing that she didn’t pull away, she held her hand completely.

“I… I’m a little scared,” her voice was very low. Looking around, her body trembled slightly, reminding her of the first night after she left home.

Gong Yutong slowed her pace and walked side-by-side with her. She chose to walk where there were lights.

Mu Yan’s grip tightened, and she pressed herself entirely against Gong Yutong.

Gong Yutong reached out and half-hugged her. “Are you afraid of the dark?”

“Mm.” With her half-hugged, she felt much better, though she was still cautiously looking around.

“Don’t be afraid,” her voice was cold, devoid of much emotion.

But to Mu Yan’s ears, she sounded very gentle. Her heart felt warm. Don’t be afraid, such touching and warm words. No one had ever said them to her except Yue’er. From her birth until now, truly no one else had. She was the second person.

“Thank you.” Coming here to school was the wisest choice she had ever made.

Perhaps it was because Gong Yutong allowed her to approach and be intimate with her that she couldn’t help but fall in love with her, an infatuation deeply rooted, though she didn’t know when it began.

It was also from this night that she wanted to get closer to her, to be near her. Once this thought arose, it led to ten years of obsessive love, eventually driving her to madness.