You Like The Smart Ones? You Should Have Said So Sooner! - Chapter 40

Chapter 40: Why

Every time the topic of him leaving Z Province came up, he got angry.

“Qin Mian, don’t you regret this.”

Chen Miao sighed helplessly, pulled open the door, and prepared to leave. He happened to run right into Song Ying, who was standing at the door with his hand raised to knock. This time, Chen Miao didn’t have the energy to bicker; he just shot Song Ying a glance, said nothing, and left.

A flash of doubt crossed Song Ying’s eyes: Strange, the drama queen actually isn’t looking for trouble today?

Qin Mian hadn’t heard the door close and thought Chen Miao had left it open on purpose to annoy him. He let out a displeased “tch.” But when he turned around, he locked eyes with Song Ying.

He hadn’t had time to pull back his cold, frustrated expression.

Song Ying understood immediately. “Had a fight?” He entered and closed the door behind him.

“He asked for it. He’s begging for a beating.” In front of Song Ying, Qin Mian didn’t bother pretending; he didn’t even hide his cold face.

Song Ying sat down casually next to Qin Mian. By now, whether it was entering Qin Mian’s home or his actions inside, he was as relaxed as if he were in his own house. The owner of the room didn’t find anything odd about it either.

“What happened? From the way you two have been getting along these past two days, it didn’t seem like you were the type to start a fight.”

Qin Mian’s gaze shifted slightly. He didn’t answer the question directly, but instead asked: “Song Ying, is your goal school University A?”

The person being questioned blinked and nodded, not quite understanding why he was being asked. “Of course.”

That night when they were walking on the playground, hadn’t he made that clear enough? Why did Qin Mian need to confirm it again?

Instantly, Song Ying sensed something was wrong. “Why the sudden question? You… don’t want to go to University A?”

Qin Mian didn’t say a word, but his eyes drifted elsewhere.

Song Ying found it difficult to comprehend. “Why?”

“Your grades are so good. If you don’t go to University A, anywhere else would be a waste.”

“University A has such great resources. If you go there, we can still be together.”

“If not University A, then where do you want to go? Is there something about Province A you don’t like? Or someone you don’t like?”

Pausing, Song Ying suddenly remembered the mention of University Z that night. “Or rather… you want to go to University Z? You want to stay in Dong’an?”

“…Why?”

Qin Mian listened to Song Ying say all this without giving a single response. Chen Miao’s words from earlier kept echoing in his mind.

After a long while, Qin Mian looked up, meeting the other’s gaze. “Do you have to go to University A?”

Song Ying was stung by the expression on Qin Mian’s face. It was the look of someone who had already made up his mind—a look that said, “I’ve made my choice; as for yours, if it’s different from mine, then we’ll just part ways.”

Though he couldn’t understand why Qin Mian was so insistent on University Z, for a split second, a thought flashed through Song Ying’s mind to stay in Dong’an with him. But he immediately dismissed it.

He chose University A not just for himself, but because he carried the wishes of another person. Perhaps Qin Mian had some hidden difficulty that forced him to choose University Z. But that didn’t change things for Song Ying.

He looked back at Qin Mian earnestly, watching his own reflection in those clear eyes, and spoke with a firm voice: “Yes.”

Qin Mian suddenly laughed. But the laugh carried a recognition of Song Ying’s excellence mixed with a hint of bitterness.

Sure enough, Song Ying was determined to go to University A.

“That’s good.” He looked away, awkwardly trying to find an excuse for both of them. “At least we can still be together for another ten months.”

“Like you said before, between Province A and Province Z, it’s just a high-speed train or a flight away.” Sensing Song Ying’s stare, Qin Mian didn’t look back, joking to himself, “If you really miss ‘Great Handsome Qin’ that much, you can spend some money and come to Z Province to find me. If that doesn’t work, ‘Great Handsome Qin’ can reluctantly go and find you.”

After these words were spoken, no one responded.

Qin Mian didn’t say anything further, quietly staring at the white wall. The room fell into a heavy silence, the atmosphere stagnant.

Yet Song Ying’s gaze remained fixed on Qin Mian, watching those eyes that were avoiding him. Those eyes refused to turn back and look at him even once.

After a long standoff, a trace of exhaustion flashed in Song Ying’s eyes. He took the lead to break the silence. “Qin Mian, can I ask… why?”

Qin Mian opened his mouth. Just when Song Ying thought he was going to explain seriously, the words took a turn at the tip of his tongue: “What other reason could there be? I’m just reluctant to leave Dong’an. I don’t want to go.”

Song Ying masked his disappointment and forced a slight smile. “Fine.”

He stood up, stating his reason for coming today before he left: “Teacher Ding messaged me just now. He said there’s a mobilization meeting for the mid-term exams when school starts. He wants either me or you to go up as the student representative and give a speech.”

Qin Mian didn’t have much of a reaction. “You were rank one last time, so it should be you.”

He didn’t hear a reply from Song Ying. Nearly a minute passed, and the only sound he heard was the door opening and closing.

Afterward, the room returned to absolute silence.

The sunset cast golden fragments across the bed and onto the person sitting upright at the desk. But the light couldn’t dispel the sense of isolation surrounding him. Qin Mian sat like a lifeless statue, his gaze hollow, lost in thought.

After an unknown amount of time, Qin Mian’s lips twitched into a self-mocking smile.

See, Qin Mian? You’ve messed everything up again.

In such a short time, you’ve driven away the only two people who care about you.

He checked his phone, which had been on silent. It showed the message from Ding Zi. His slender fingers swiped lightly across the screen, and the message was deleted, as if it had never been received at all.