Right after getting dumped, He suddenly learned that his best buddy was the legendary cold-as-ice school beauty. - Chapter 97

Lu Yibei didn’t even know why he was so nervous.

It was rare for him to feel such unease.

Perhaps this was the kind of anxiety that came before a confession.

But now, there was no way he could be honest with Ji Qingqian about it. So he shook his head, feigning nonchalance:

“Why would I be nervous? I don’t feel nervous at all… w-wait, heroine =3=”

Ji Qingqian’s hands pinched his cheeks harder. Her brows were slightly stern:

“Lying.”

“…”

“If you weren’t nervous, you’d have asked me earlier what I told my roommates to reassure them I was staying out overnight.”

“…Then, what did you tell them?”

Lu Yibei mirrored her words, asking the same way.

“I just said I went out with you,” Ji Qingqian answered honestly. “They trust you completely.”

“Then… thank them for trusting me, I guess…”

“So… what are you nervous about?” she asked again.

“I… okay, heroine… I admit it, I admit it =3=”

Lu Yibei quickly confessed. Since he couldn’t reveal the main reason—his confession—he disclosed his second worry:

“I’m worried I won’t see the sunrise.”

“If you don’t, you don’t,” Ji Qingqian said calmly.

“…I’m afraid it’ll make you disappointed,” he said.

“It won’t.”

Her eyes locked on his. They were clear, cold, yet beneath them flickered a passionate fire:

“It won’t be wasted anticipation. If we miss it this time, I’ll look forward to the next. If not then, the time after. Unless this is the only time you intend to take me out.”

“…Of course not,” Lu Yibei replied.

“So, it’s fine.”

Ji Qingqian released his cheeks and spoke softly: “Don’t be nervous. Let’s enjoy this trip properly, and happily.”

“…Mm.” Lu Yibei nodded.

The tension drained from his shoulders, his heart no longer caught in his throat. Calm returned.

Right.

She had already given him her answer that day.

He didn’t need to be nervous. He only needed to speak sincerely to her.

The sunrise and everything else were just scenery. The most important thing was him and her.

Two people.

Ji Qingqian pursed her lips, a faint smile playing at the corners.

She turned, hopped onto the roadside curb, and lightly spread her arms, walking with a graceful bounce.

“I’ve always wondered…”

Lu Yibei adjusted the heavy strap of his shoulder bag, matching her steps. Relaxed, he spoke more naturally: “What if you fall off the curb?”

Ji Qingqian glanced sideways, serious:

“You’d die.”

“…”

“Fall into hell.”

“…”

“Never be reborn.”

The heroine’s words grew more absurd by the second, and even she had trouble keeping a straight face.

Perhaps because she was concentrating on her dramatic speech, she didn’t notice her footing. A slight stumble, a tilted shoulder—and she fell from the curb.

Lu Yibei rushed to catch her.

But she landed steadily and quickly regained her balance.

“…”

“…”

They stared at each other, her earlier declarations echoing in his mind.

Then she jumped back up, resuming her playful posture.

Lu Yibei: …

Ji Qingqian: “If you go watch an ad, you’ll not only revive me, but give me three extra lives.”

Naturally, her stance wasn’t as fast as regular walking.

The academic building was not close to the campus gate—they walked for a full twenty minutes.

But Lu Yibei didn’t mind in the slightest.

He even felt that as long as the road continued, they could keep walking forever.

Could this road be… life itself?

…

The car was rented—a small Honda Fit they had used before.

But they couldn’t drive it into campus, and there was no convenient parking outside.

So Lu Yibei parked it in the paid lot outside his apartment.

They didn’t set off immediately. First, a short nap in the apartment would save their energy for a more indulgent adventure at dawn.

“By the way, the Ancient Culture Club you’re joining—do you have to wear hanfu?”

Walking into the apartment, they chatted casually.

“Yes, but Wang Jue asked the president. It’s okay if you don’t wear it,” Ji Qingqian said.

“It’s an Ancient Culture Club, not a ‘Hanfu Club.’ You just need to appreciate traditional culture.”

Lu Yibei nodded—sensible.

“But the club’s charm is wearing hanfu, right?” he asked again.

Ji Qingqian nodded slightly—Wang Jue had certainly been drawn in by hanfu.

Lu Yibei glanced at her profile, then slid the key into the lock.

“Can you wear it?”

Click. The door opened.

“No,” she answered firmly.

“You said hanfu looks nice,” Lu Yibei said.

“You said it looks nice too, but I’ve never seen you wear it,” Ji Qingqian replied.

Lu Yibei: …

He liked hanfu, but only for looking. Wearing it? He preferred lighter, comfortable clothes.

Even though he understood her reasoning, he still felt a twinge of regret at her “I can’t” answer.

“…Really… not at all?” he tried again.

“No.”

Ji Qingqian’s reply was short and cruel: “Wang Jue will wear it. You can watch then.”

“…Not fair.”

He thought her roommate might suit it, but all he wanted was to see her in hanfu. He sighed and gave up: “Fine, if you don’t want to wear it.”

Who knew what the future held?

Maybe after a few club activities, she’d discover hanfu’s charm and want to wear it…

Then he’d have to sneak into the club to admire her, blowing gentle words of praise in her ear.

She tossed her backpack onto the bed, and Ji Qingqian opened the zipper.

Lu Yibei watched as she pulled out countless unopened bottles—face wash, shampoo, body wash, essence, toner, moisturizer.

One by one, she unpacked them, stuffing them into the apartment bathroom.

“…Uh, heroine?”

Lu Yibei watched helplessly as she filled his tiny bathroom.

“When I live here, I’ll use them,” she said. “You can too.”

Then she pulled out skirts, pants, tops, and folded them neatly in Lu Yibei’s half-empty wardrobe.

She paused, then said:

“If you ever want to try women’s clothes, you can wear them too.”

Lu Yibei: “…What the hell.”

How many things had she stuffed into that backpack…?

He glanced at the white bag.

Some teal silk-like clothing peeked out—Ji Qingqian had been too quick in removing items.

But her sharp eyes caught it first, and before Lu Yibei could see, she stuffed it back in.

“No peeking.”

Ji Qingqian glared at him with mock intimidation.

…

…

Ps. I ended up cutting 2,000 words today.

Heavy rain, but the wind’s fine. Tomorrow—sunshine, surprisingly enough.