My Straight Girlfriend with Skin Hunger Syndrome - Chapter 42
Chapter 42
Ying Yuan couldn’t understand why Yi Shanshan had suddenly become a poet.
Even more bewildering was why all these poetic images were being projected onto her.
Every word Yi Shanshan uttered—nose, mouth, distant mountains, grass—made Ying Yuan’s heart tremble.
Yi Shanshan’s constantly moving lips seemed like a dizzying kaleidoscope, churning Ying Yuan’s reason and thoughts into chaos. Ying Yuan was almost certain she had entered some inexplicable dream realm.
As she stood frozen, the weight of the head in her palm felt heavier than ever. Yi Shanshan’s eyes, filled with laughter, were like lakes beckoning her to fall in. Ying Yuan felt that if she could speak at that moment, she too would likely become a poet.
“Don’t you think so?” After a long pause, Yi Shanshan urged Ying Yuan for an answer.
Think so about what?
Ying Yuan frantically dredged up her memories, recalling Yi Shanshan’s comments about her lips.
She had said her lips looked cold.
How could lips be cold? Unable to free her hands, Ying Yuan pressed her lips inward and licked them with the tip of her tongue.
The lips felt soft, and compared to the warmth inside her mouth, they seemed… slightly cool.
“You were right,” Ying Yuan confirmed through experience.
Yi Shanshan burst into laughter, her gaze fixed on Ying Yuan’s slightly reddened lips. Her entire body shook with mirth, and the dreamlike world around them trembled along with her, dissolving into Ying Yuan’s vision like swirling petals.
“You’re truly something else, Ying Yuan,” Yi Shanshan said between fits of laughter.
Her phone rang. Still upside down, Yi Shanshan deftly retrieved it and answered.
“Arrived already? Okay, I’ll be right over.”
The call was brief, and she hung up immediately.
“Help me up,” Yi Shanshan said, “get me up.”
Ying Yuan snapped out of her daze and leaned forward, carefully sliding her palm beneath Yi Shanshan’s neck to support her as she sat up.
“Whew—” Yi Shanshan exhaled deeply.
“Are you okay?” Ying Yuan asked.
“Perfectly fine,” Yi Shanshan replied, her eyes crinkling into crescents. “Actually, that was kind of… exhilarating.”
Exhilarating? Ying Yuan felt her cheeks burning again.
Yi Shanshan grabbed her phone and headed outside. “Wait a minute, I’m going to get the food.”
Ying Yuan took a few steps forward, then stopped, remembering that the person waiting was Yi Shanshan’s friend.
She stood at the top of the grassy slope, looking down. Yi Shanshan hopped and skipped through the flower garden like a gleeful fawn, bounding toward the Clear Breeze and Bright Moon Pavilion.
Sure enough, someone was waiting beneath the pavilion.
It was a tall, slender girl with mid-length hair, dressed in trendy, cool attire. Even from this distance, Ying Yuan could clearly see how beautiful she was—the kind of beauty that knows its own worth, one that amplifies every striking feature to its fullest potential.
Just like Yi Shanshan.
Most of Yi Shanshan’s friends were like that: flamboyant and dazzling.
So Ying Yuan truly couldn’t understand why Yi Shanshan had looked at someone as ordinary as her and showered her with so much praise.
Yi Shanshan reached the pavilion and collected the food. As they spoke, the girl’s gaze drifted past Yi Shanshan, locking onto Ying Yuan in the distance. For a fleeting moment, their eyes met. Ying Yuan lowered her gaze, averting her eyes.
Yi Shanshan soon turned back, carrying the food container as she headed back.
The uphill climb was much more tiring than the downhill descent. Fawn’s skips lost their carefree bounce.
Ying Yuan moved forward to meet her.
“Hehe, yummy!” Yi Shanshan naturally handed the lunchbox to Ying Yuan.
Ying Yuan took the box, but hesitated to offer Yi Shanshan her arm, reminding herself that such casual intimacy wasn’t appropriate for her.
Yi Shanshan, innocent and naive, could freely initiate casual touches among friends.
Ying Yuan, however, carried her own burdens, forcing her to remain constantly vigilant about her actions.
“Thank you for your trouble,” Ying Yuan said. “And thank your friend for me too. It was really kind of her to do this.”
Yi Shanshan glanced back. Lin Feng was still standing in the same spot, arms crossed, watching them.
“Her name is Lin Feng,” Yi Shanshan said, a smile tugging at her lips. “She’s my childhood bestie. You’ll probably run into her a lot around here.”
“Your childhood bestie goes to the same university?” Ying Yuan asked, surprised.
“Yup! She spent middle and high school abroad. Who knows what possessed her to come back to China for college? We ended up in the same major, the same class, and even the same dorm room!”
“That’s… quite fortunate,” Ying Yuan replied.
Ying Yuan’s mind drifted uncontrollably.
If they’ve been best friends since childhood, their bond must be incredibly deep. If Yi Shanshan needed someone to confide in and embrace, why would she turn to me?
Shouldn’t Lin Feng be her first choice?
Perhaps… right now… whenever Yi Shanshan needed comfort, she was already seeking out Lin Feng.
In corners hidden from my view, they embrace tightly, melting away all of Yi Shanshan’s anxieties and sorrows.
Ying Yuan felt an indescribable pang of bitterness and jealousy. She glanced back again. Lin Feng stood there, seemingly superior to her in every conceivable way.
“Hmm?” Yi Shanshan noticed her gaze. “Captivated? Want to meet Lin Feng right now?”
Ying Yuan startled, quickly averting her eyes. “Ah… no.”
“No need to be shy,” Yi Shanshan said. “It’s perfectly normal to be drawn to her. She’s very popular with girls.”
“No, no, no!” Ying Yuan shook her head vigorously. “That’s not what I meant at all.”
Yi Shanshan studied her, then blurted out, “So, what kind of people do you like?”
Ying Yuan froze, lifting her head to meet Yi Shanshan’s gaze.
Yi Shanshan paused, then smiled. “I meant… as friends. What kind of friends do you like to make?”
Lively, adorable, intelligent, full of life.
These words hovered on Ying Yuan’s lips, but as she gazed at Yi Shanshan, not a single syllable escaped.
Lowering her gaze, she murmured, “Making friends is mainly about finding people who share your interests and goals.”
Yi Shanshan’s big eyes fluttered with excitement. “Then we’re definitely on the same wavelength now! We’re on the same project team, working toward the same game. I can understand almost everything you say now!”
“Mhm,” Ying Yuan nodded.
“Great!” Yi Shanshan’s mood brightened as she quickened her pace. “Let’s hurry and eat lunch! We still need to discuss project details afterward. Time’s ticking! Time’s ticking!”
Whenever Ying Yuan felt pressured about studying or work, she would immediately dive in without hesitation.
She and Yi Shanshan quickly returned to their bench and devoured their lunch. Yi Shanshan pulled out her pink notebook, and the two began studying the data-filled screen together.
Explaining concepts to Yi Shanshan was remarkably easy; she grasped them almost instantly. Now that they were working on the same project, confidentiality restrictions were lifted, and there were no longer any spatial or temporal barriers. Face-to-face communication allowed Ying Yuan to offer a few pointers, which sparked a flood of inspiration in Yi Shanshan.
Yi Shanshan grew animated, her expressions vivid as she gesticulated wildly to illustrate her points to Ying Yuan. Her eyes sparkled like stars, and her smile radiated warmth like the sun, her vibrant confidence and exuberance only amplifying the charm of her insights.
“You’d be perfect for giving presentations and speeches,” Ying Yuan couldn’t help but say.
“If our game ever needs someone for that role, I’d gladly volunteer,” Yi Shanshan declared enthusiastically.
The two chatted animatedly until the sun began to dip lower in the sky.
A gust of wind swept through, scattering a shower of colorful flower petals. Ying Yuan jolted awake from her reverie, glanced at her phone, and realized it was already 3:30 PM.
“We should head back,” she said. “I need to discuss the trigger mechanisms for Act Two’s puzzles with Senior Qi this afternoon.”
“Let’s go,” Yi Shanshan sprang to her feet. “Can I listen in while you two talk?”
In theory, it should be fine. Qi Hongyue encouraged Project Team members to familiarize themselves with every aspect of the game.
But Yi Shanshan was a special case. Ying Yuan wasn’t sure if Qi Hongyue might have other considerations.
“We’ll see when the time comes,” Ying Yuan replied evasively.
Yi Shanshan pouted. “Your Senior Qi doesn’t like me much, does she?”
After packing up, Yi Shanshan and Ying Yuan returned to the Activity Room. Quite a few members who had attended the morning meeting were still working there.
As they entered, all eyes turned to them, including Qi Hongyue’s.
“What were you two up to together?” someone asked.
Yi Shanshan tugged Ying Yuan’s sleeve, signaling her not to reveal their secret.
“Just grabbing lunch,” Yi Shanshan replied.
“Lunch took that long? Ying Yuan’s usually the first one here, but today she’s almost the last!”
“After eating, we took a stroll through Green Lake Park to digest,” Yi Shanshan said with a satisfied smile. “The weather’s so perfect today! If we don’t enjoy the late spring now, summer will be here before we know it!”
“Good point!” The Artist immediately raised their hand and looked at Qi Hongyue. “Team Leader, I propose we all go enjoy the late spring together this afternoon!”
Qi Hongyue, her expression unchanged, replied, “Proposal rejected.”
“Aww… awooo…”
A chorus of disgruntled wolf howls erupted in the Activity Room.
Seizing the opportunity, Yi Shanshan slipped back to her seat and gave Ying Yuan a discreet wink.
Noticing Qi Hongyue’s gaze fixed on her, Ying Yuan cleared her throat softly and sat down at her computer.
Once she settled in, most of the others began to leave.
As the Activity Room gradually emptied, Yi Shanshan was called away by a phone call.
The sun set, and the moon rose.
When only the two of them remained in the Activity Room, Qi Hongyue approached Ying Yuan, watched her code for a while, and suddenly remarked, “Looks like you’re adjusting well.”
“Hmm?” Ying Yuan knew what she meant but deliberately feigned ignorance.
Qi Hongyue chuckled softly, offering no further explanation. “As long as you can keep yourself in check.”
As long as you can keep yourself in check.
As long as you can restrain your heart’s fluttering in her presence, suppress your affection.
As long as you can genuinely treat her as a friend, a colleague, a companion in ordinary tasks—things commonplace to her, yet extraordinary to you.
That’s all that matters.
Ying Yuan nodded.
Life continued. Yi Shanshan didn’t frequent the Activity Room often, nor did she stay long when she did visit.
But every time she came, she would seek out Ying Yuan, discussing project ideas, sharing gossip from the gaming world, eating meals together, attending meetings together, and then secretly complaining: Qi Hongyue is so fierce!
She was like a brilliantly colored butterfly fluttering into this old, dimly lit space.
Because she always hovered around Ying Yuan, the Project Team members had already assumed they were close, beyond ordinary classmates—best friends.
Even when Yi Shanshan wasn’t around, people would constantly ask Ying Yuan:
What’s Yi Shanshan doing?
When is Yi Shanshan coming over?
When is Yi Shanshan leaving?
Does Yi Shanshan like this?
Does Yi Shanshan hate that?
Ying Yuan always answered everyone’s questions about Yi Shanshan earnestly. If she didn’t know the answer, she would text Yi Shanshan to find out.
Just like colleagues should share accurate information: crisp, efficient, no embellishments, no personal feelings, no delays.
In just over a week, Ying Yuan had grown accustomed to this dynamic.
Today was Tuesday.
The Activity Room was nearly empty in the afternoon, with only Qi Hongyue and Ying Yuan each busy with their own work.
Yi Shanshan appeared at the classroom door, holding a bouquet of vibrant pink roses. As soon as she entered, she walked straight to Ying Yuan.
“Look at these flowers, Ying Yuan!” Yi Shanshan smiled, shoving the roses into Ying Yuan’s arms. “Aren’t they beautiful?”
They were indeed beautiful.
The large, bright blooms were undeniably stunning.
Ying Yuan looked up at Yi Shanshan. Today, Yi Shanshan had her hair curled and half-tied, adorned with a butterfly ribbon, making her look like a noble little princess.
It was undeniably beautiful.
“Beautiful,” Ying Yuan replied.
Yi Shanshan shrugged. “Then I’ll give it to you! Do you like it?”
Ying Yuan froze, puzzled by Yi Shanshan’s sudden gift.
From the corner, Qi Hongyue turned to face them, saying, “Finders keepers. What about me?”
Ying Yuan was even more surprised. Qi Hongyue was actually making such a playful request.
She looked at Yi Shanshan, who whipped around, clapping her hands together. “Oh, Team Leader, you’re here! I didn’t even see you earlier.”
Qi Hongyue: “……”
Yi Shanshan: “Team Leader, the wall is white, and you’re wearing white too. You’ve blended right in!”
Qi Hongyue: “……”
Yi Shanshan plucked a rose from the bouquet as she walked over, explaining, “My friend picked these fresh from the rose garden in Nanshan. They’re all newly cultivated varieties—absolutely stunning.”
Reaching Qi Hongyue, she held out the rose. “I just wanted to share these beauties with everyone. Of course, there’s one for you, Team Leader.”
Qi Hongyue accepted the rose. “Thank you, Shanshan. How thoughtful of you.”
“Of course!” Yi Shanshan twirled back to Ying Yuan. “I adore our Project Team! I love everyone so much—I want to share all the good things with them.”
Relieved, Ying Yuan lowered her head to admire the beautiful roses for a long moment before looking up at Yi Shanshan. “I’ll find a vase to put them in and display them in the Activity Room. That way, everyone can enjoy them when they come in.”
Yi Shanshan blinked. “Sounds great!”
Ying Yuan stood up and began searching for something that could serve as a vase. Yi Shanshan didn’t return to her seat; she followed Ying Yuan around like a shadow. When Ying Yuan moved left, she moved left; when Ying Yuan moved right, she moved right.
“What’s up?” Ying Yuan couldn’t help but ask.
Yi Shanshan tugged at her sleeve, pulling her aside into a corner hidden from Qi Hongyue’s view. She whispered, “I need your help with something super important today.”
Ying Yuan lowered her voice too. “What is it?”
Yi Shanshan crouched down, pretending to rummage through a pile of bottles and jars.
Ying Yuan crouched down beside her, pressing close, and listened intently to her hushed words.
“Didn’t I tell you last time? The game’s still in pre-release phase. There’s nothing for me to do, which makes me feel so useless.” Yi Shanshan’s voice was dejected and pitiful. “Lately, I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure out something I can do to keep up with everyone else.”
“And guess what? I actually came up with an idea! I could try doing voice acting for the characters! After all, my voice is truly enchanting~” Yi Shanshan leaned closer to Ying Yuan, her eyes gleaming with newfound excitement, her lips nearly brushing Ying Yuan’s ear. “Right, Ying Yuan~?”
With that last line, she had clearly slipped into character.
Yi Shanshan deliberately softened her tone, speaking so close that her voice felt like a warm, sticky breeze.
Ying Yuan was jolted by the sudden intimacy, a wave of goosebumps erupting across her skin. A tingling, electrifying sensation shot from her ear straight to her heart.
She shrank back slightly, her ears flushing crimson.
Seeing Ying Yuan’s reaction, Yi Shanshan chuckled softly, her voice still dripping with the character’s seductive timbre. “Looks like it’s worth a try after all~”
Ying Yuan, abandoning all personal bias, nodded with impeccable fairness.
Yi Shanshan reverted to her normal speaking voice, pressing her forehead against Ying Yuan’s. “That’s why I booked a recording studio with a friend.”
“Huh?” Ying Yuan was awestruck by her sheer impulsiveness.
“Usually, time here is so precious—they never have time for me to play around. But since it’s a weekday and they happen to be free today, they’re letting me use the studio for free.”
“Wow,” Ying Yuan exclaimed, awed by Yi Shanshan’s connections.
“I can use the equipment, but not the staff. They’ve finally gotten a day off and need to rest.”
Ying Yuan nodded.
Yi Shanshan grinned, her eyelashes fluttering like tiny scissors. “So, Ying Yuan, you’re going to be my recording engineer.”
Ying Yuan: “!!!”
Yi Shanshan: “Don’t worry if you don’t know how. I’ll teach you the basics.”
Yi Shanshan: “Let’s just try it out. We can treat it like a game—no pressure at all.”
Yi Shanshan: “This will be our little secret, okay? Don’t let Qi Hongyue find out, or she’ll veto me again!”
Yi Shanshan: “Tonight, from 9:00 PM to 10:30 PM. Just the two of us.”
Yi Shanshan: “We can walk back together afterward. It’ll be safer that way.”
Yi Shanshan had already planned everything meticulously, burning with enthusiasm to experiment with the game and contribute her efforts.
Ying Yuan was her secret ally, their unbreakable bond forged since that night they first discussed the game.
How could Ying Yuan refuse?
Ying Yuan couldn’t refuse.