He came to find me
When Zhou Anran returned to the dormitory carrying four cups of milk tea, her mind was still in a daze.
She had left the KTV early, and it wasn’t even 9 o’clock yet. Bai Lingyun and Yu Xinyue hadn’t returned, leaving only Xie Jingyi alone in the room.
Zhou Anran walked over to Xie Jingyi and placed the milk tea on her desk. “I brought milk tea for you all.”
“Thanks, my dear Anran.” Xie Jingyi put down her phone and opened the packaging. “This green milk tea is for me, right?”
Zhou Anran nodded mechanically.
Xie Jingyi took out the green milk tea and inserted a straw.
Zhou Anran also took out another cup, inserted the straw, and took a sip without tasting much at first.
It was Xie Jingyi who first noticed something amiss. She glanced at the small label on Zhou Anran’s cup and let out a puzzled “Huh?” sound. “Anran, you’re drinking full sugar today? Don’t you usually find even less sugar too sweet?”
Zhou Anran belatedly realized the cloying sweetness in her mouth. Looking down, she discovered she had mistakenly taken the oolong milk cap tea she had bought for Bai Lingyun.
Xie Jingyi observed her expression and guessed, “Grabbed the wrong one?”
Zhou Anran: “…”
She nodded.
“What’s going on with you? You seem completely distracted,” Xie Jingyi asked. “And your lips keep curling up. Did something good happen? Why the sudden treat of milk tea for us?”
Zhou Anran bit her straw. “It’s nothing, just that I have a friend—”
She paused mid-sentence.
Xie Jingyi had a look of sudden realization: “The ‘I have a friend’ series, I get it. Something is going on, right?”
Zhou Anran had originally wanted to ask for her opinion about what had just happened, but seeing how perceptive Xie Jingyi was, she felt too embarrassed to ask now.
“It’s not that,” she shook her head, making up an excuse. “My friend just told me a joke.”
Xie Jingyi: “What joke?”
Zhou Anran recalled a joke that had left an impression: “Why is Doraemon’s world pitch black?”
“Because you can’t see your hand in front of your face, right?” Xie Jingyi looked disappointed, wearing a “that’s it?” expression. “Such an old, lame joke made you this happy? Or is it—”
She paused, her tone becoming gossipy again: “Or is it that this lame joke was told to you by a certain male friend?”
Zhou Anran hurriedly denied it: “No, it was my female best friend who told me.”
Xie Jingyi didn’t believe her: “Really?”
Zhou Anran: “…”
If Xie Jingyi had asked why she was happy, she might have accidentally revealed a bit, but this cold joke was indeed first told to her by Yan Xingqian.
“It wasn’t.”
“Alright then.” Xie Jingyi stared at her for two seconds. “I’ll let you off the hook today for the sake of the milk tea. Anyway, if you have something going on, you won’t be able to hide it from us for long.”
Zhou Anran: “…There really isn’t anything.”
“Oh, right.” Xie Jingyi seemed to remember something. “Did you ask that new person about playing instruments for me?”
After seeing Chen Luobai, Zhou Anran’s mind had been in chaos until now. How could she remember this?
“I’m sorry, I forgot to ask.”
“It’s fine.” Xie Jingyi waved her hand dismissively. “It’s not urgent. I was just curious. You can ask whenever you remember.”
Zhou Anran slowly sipped her milk tea.
She had added him on WeChat, so there should be a next time, right?
Zhou Anran finished the overly sweet milk tea. It still wasn’t late, and her other two roommates hadn’t returned yet.
Thinking that she wouldn’t be able to focus on studying tonight anyway, Zhou Anran decided to go take a shower.
After showering and lying in bed, Zhou Anran slowly opened WeChat.
There was a new conversation box on the main interface list.
Zhou Anran’s fingertip lightly tapped on it.
When she was buying milk tea earlier, she had already carefully looked at it several times.
His profile picture was a cartoon silhouette of an NBA player, his WeChat name was just the capital letter C, his signature was only a period, and his Moments were empty.
Zhou Anran stared at the system message in the conversation box that read “You have added C, you can start chatting now” for a long, long time, still feeling like she was in a dream.
How could Chen Luobai remember her name?
Even if he remembered her name, why would he be willing to talk to her again?
How could he even take the initiative to add her on WeChat?
Zhou Anran lay in bed, utterly perplexed.
She felt that what she had just drunk might not have been a cup of overly sweet milk tea, but a large bottle of soda water. The sweet and sour taste filled her chest, with tiny bubbles constantly rising and bursting.
She couldn’t calm down at all.
Zhou Anran exited his conversation and clicked into the four-person group chat with Yan Xingqian and the others.
The moment she tapped on the virtual keyboard, her fingertips stopped again.
How should she tell them?
Should she say that she accidentally ran into Chen Luobai today, and he even took the initiative to add her on WeChat and ask them what they thought his intentions were?
But maybe he didn’t have any intentions at all.
Perhaps it was just as he said, that he thought it was rare to meet a former classmate in college, so he added her on WeChat.
Telling them would only make them worry about her again.
It would also make her overthink things even more.
Better not to.
Zhou Anran exited again.
The tiny bubbles seemed to keep bursting in her chest, never allowing her to calm down.
After some thought, Zhou Anran finally decided to post a Moments update.
Just to commemorate this.
She chose a photo of some flowers she had casually taken on her way out this afternoon and picked one of the milk tea photos she had taken for Bai Lingyun and Yu Xinyue.
She hesitated for a long time over the caption, finally writing just a short sentence: “Today’s little bit of luck.”
Except her luck today wasn’t the flowers she encountered on the road, nor was it the milk tea. It was that he still remembered her, that she had added him on WeChat.
It was after thinking she could only be strangers with him from now on, suddenly a ray of hope appeared that they might still be friends.
As soon as she posted the Moments update, a notification popped up.
It was Yan Xingqian liking her post and commenting: [Aww, I want milk tea too]
Zhou Anran lay in bed and replied: [I’ll buy you some when we meet up next weekend]
After replying to Yan Xingqian, Zhou Anran saw that Sheng Xiaowen had also liked her post and commented: [I saw it! I even took a screenshot!]
Zhou Anran smiled and replied to her as well: [I’ll treat you too]
Soon, Zhang Shuxian also joined in.
She didn’t know why all three of them happened to be on their phones at this time today.
Zhang Shuxian: [I know you’re meeting up next weekend, but can’t you consider me, the left-behind child! Go to a private chat!]
Sheng Xiaowen replied: [Who told you not to come? We said we’d help you pay for the plane ticket, and we even added you to the meetup group chat, you can see everything in private messages too]
Zhang Shuxian: [You think I don’t want to? I don’t have time! Med students don’t deserve weekends [bitter][bitter][bitter]]
Yan Xingqian also replied: [It’s okay, I’ll ask Anran to buy an extra cup, and I’ll drink your share for you [doge]]
The group started chatting away in her Moments comments.
Zhou Anran’s notifications kept coming in, interspersed with likes from other classmates.
When another notification appeared, Zhou Anran saw that the profile picture showed Yan Xingqian’s idol. Assuming the three were still chatting, she casually tapped to open it.
In the next second, Zhou Anran’s heart skipped a big beat.
Among the comments from Yan Xingqian and the others, there was a notification that belonged to the new profile picture she had just added tonight—
Chen Luobai had liked her post.
Zhou Anran’s eyes widened, and she checked several times before daring to believe she hadn’t seen wrong.
She stared at his profile picture in the likes list for who knows how long, her heartbeat racing for just as long.
Wasn’t he always good at keeping his distance from girls? Why would he like her post?
Was it because he had forgotten about what happened back then, or did he think that after two years, her high school crush might have long since faded?
Zhou Anran’s fingertip couldn’t help but gently tap on his profile picture again. As soon as she opened it, she saw “The other party is typing” displayed at the top.
She unconsciously held her breath.
Was he going to send her a message?
Zhou Anran felt like this dream tonight seemed endless.
A few seconds later.
Or maybe it was much longer.
Her phone chimed.
C: [Are you free tomorrow night?]
Although she knew he was most likely contacting her for something specific and not to ask her out, Zhou Anran’s already racing heart beat even faster, almost leaping out of her chest.
Zhou Anran took a deep breath and replied: [I’m free, what’s up?]
Would “What’s up” sound too curt?
Zhou Anran deleted the last part and typed again: [I’m free, is there something you need?]
C: [There’s something at my cousin’s place, but she has plans tomorrow night and won’t be on campus. I only have time tomorrow night, so I asked her to leave it with you. Can I come pick it up from you tomorrow night?]
Zhou Anran guessed he was probably referring to Yu Bingqin, but to be safe, she still asked: [Your cousin is Senior Yu, right?]
C: [Yes]
C: [Is that okay?]
Zhou Anran’s heart was racing so fast, she didn’t even think before replying: [That’s fine, I’m free tomorrow night]
C: [Around 9 PM tomorrow, I should be passing by your dorm area. I’ll message you then]
Zhou Anran: [Okay]
The phone went quiet.
It seemed the conversation had ended just like that.
Zhou Anran stared at the chat window, feeling a bit regretful that she hadn’t said more in her last message.
Should she try to find another topic to chat with him about?
Maybe ask if his leg injury had fully healed?
Zhou Anran’s fingertips hovered over the screen, then moved away.
She let out a defeated sigh.
No, she couldn’t.
What if he thought she didn’t like him anymore, and that’s why he was willing to be friends with her?
The current situation was already so much better than any outcome she had expected. She didn’t dare risk it.
Better not to.
But just then, her phone vibrated again.
Zhou Anran’s heart seemed to skip a beat along with it.
C: [Can you send me a copy of your class schedule?]
Zhou Anran was taken aback.
Why was he suddenly asking for her class schedule?
Before she could think too much, another message from him came through.
C: [A friend wants to sit in on some classes in your department]
Zhou Anran let out a soft breath.
Oh, so that’s why.
Zhou Anran wasn’t disappointed.
Being able to be friends with him again was already a surprise.
Zhou Anran first replied: [Sure, give me a moment, I’ll look for it]
After replying, she found her class schedule and sent it to him.
A second later.
Her phone vibrated again.
C: [Thanks]
Zhou Anran looked at the last two words in the chat window, her lips curling up slowly.
During that year and a half at No. 2 High School, she didn’t regret giving him candy, didn’t regret slipping the medicine into his hand, and especially didn’t regret standing in front of him in the office that day, taking the blame herself.
She only regretted that time at the basketball game when, out of timidity, she didn’t dare to stand up, and in the end could only lie on her desk, listening to him thank someone else.
That regret seemed to have been slightly made up for today.
*
Early the next morning, Zhou Anran received the item Yu Bingqin had sent over. It was packed in a small paper bag, quite light. She didn’t open it to look, just carefully put it away in her cabinet after bringing it into the dorm room.
Afterwards, Zhou Anran went to the library with Yu Xinyue.
In the evening after dinner, it was just after 6 o’clock. Zhou Anran hesitated for a moment between “returning to the dorm to wait for him” and “going back to the library,” ultimately choosing the latter.
If she went back to the dorm this early, she would keep overthinking about his intentions like last night, and wouldn’t be able to study at all. Although going back to the library now meant she probably wouldn’t be able to focus much either, she could at least read a few more pages.
Zhou Anran stayed at the library until 8:10 PM before returning to the dorm early.
She had thought that at this time, the dorm would likely be empty, but as soon as she entered, she saw Xie Jingyi at her desk doing homework.
Zhou Anran had originally planned to come back and quietly put on some makeup.
But with Xie Jingyi in the dorm, she didn’t feel comfortable doing so anymore.
Besides, yesterday she had worn makeup for the club gathering, which was normal. But today, she had already arranged to meet him, so wouldn’t putting on makeup to see him seem a bit deliberate?
Zhou Anran hesitated for a moment, ultimately abandoning the idea of putting on makeup.
She looked at herself in the mirror.
Her skin condition was okay, but was her hair a bit frizzy?
Well, washing her hair before meeting him shouldn’t be a problem, right?
Xie Jingyi went to the bathroom to wash her hands midway through, and seeing Zhou Anran washing her hair again, she was curious: “Didn’t you wash it yesterday?”
Zhou Anran, rubbing shampoo into her hair, didn’t know how to explain to her, so she just made up another excuse: “I accidentally brushed against the wall earlier, I’m worried there might be dust.”
“Alright, take your time then.”
Zhou Anran certainly didn’t dare take her time.
She had indeed washed her hair yesterday, so today she just gave it a quick wash, but blow-drying took some time.
After drying her hair, she figured it probably wasn’t 9 o’clock yet, but not daring to be completely sure, she immediately picked up her phone.
8:50 PM.
It wasn’t 9 o’clock yet.
But there was already a message from him on her phone.
Zhou Anran’s heart started racing again as she quickly unlocked the screen.
C: [I’m at the bottom of your dorm building]
Just one minute ago.
Why did he come early?
Zhou Anran hurriedly replied: [I’m sorry, I was washing my hair. Wait for me, I’ll be right down]
He quickly replied.
C: [No rush]
C: [I arrived early]
Zhou Anran’s lips curled up slightly as she put down her phone and took out the paper bag Yu Bingqin had given her from the cabinet.
Before going down, Zhou Anran stopped in front of the mirror, intending to check if her hair was properly arranged. At that moment, Xie Jingyi, who was sitting nearby, suddenly stood up and tightly grabbed her wrist.
“Holy crap! Chen Luobai is waiting for someone at the bottom of our building!!” Xie Jingyi’s tone was extremely excited.
Zhou Anran: “…”
“I was wondering why all those big and small beauties from our school, and even other schools, failed in their attempts to flirt with him,” Xie Jingyi wore an expression of having discovered huge gossip. “Could it be that our great campus heartthrob Chen already has a girlfriend, and she’s in this very building?”
Zhou Anran hadn’t expected that he’d only been standing downstairs for a minute or two, yet the news had already reached their dorm room so quickly.
She weakly replied, “He’s probably here to see a regular friend.”
Although she wasn’t sure if they could be considered regular friends now, it seemed there was no better way to put it.
“How do you know?” Xie Jingyi asked, somewhat puzzled.
“Maybe because—” Zhou Anran paused. She didn’t want to hide it from Xie Jingyi anymore, mainly because she probably couldn’t keep it secret anyway. “He’s here to see me.”
Xie Jingyi was stunned for a second, then burst out laughing.
She reached out and pinched Zhou Anran’s cheek. “Anran, I can’t believe you’re making jokes like this now.”
Zhou Anran: “…”
If Xie Jingyi didn’t believe her, there was nothing she could do.
Worried about keeping him waiting, Zhou Anran didn’t say much more to Xie Jingyi. “I’m going down to give something to a classmate.”
Xie Jingyi let go of her hand. “Go on then.”
Zhou Anran picked up the bag from the table and was about to leave when she heard Xie Jingyi continue, “I’ll go to the balcony to take a look.”
Pausing mid-step, Zhou Anran asked her, “What are you going to look at from the balcony?”
Xie Jingyi winked at her. “To see which pretty little vixen has managed to snag our campus heartthrob Chen.”
Zhou Anran: “…”
Author’s note:
I’ve checked my drafts, and I’ll squeeze in another update for you tomorrow (feeling the pain, sob sob sob)
As usual, one update at 6 AM, another at 6 PM
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