After Confessing To My Childhood Friend - Chapter 13
Chapter 13: A Sneaky Kiss
◎A little kiss should be fine, right?◎
By the time they got home, it was already past ten.
After watching the movie in the afternoon, they had Korean BBQ, and accidentally ate too much. Feeling stuffed, Chen Mengyin took Xie Zhirou to the arcade to play claw machines. When they left the arcade, Chen Mengyin was carrying two large bags of plush toys — anyone passing by might think she was there to restock a store.
On the way home, both Chen Mengyin and Xie Zhirou took a nap in the taxi. They felt much better afterwards, at least no longer yawning non-stop.
“Hm? Looks like my mom’s back.” The lights were on both upstairs and downstairs at Chen Mengyin’s house. She figured her mom must have returned from the team-building trip. “Why don’t you stay over tonight? You can wear my school uniform tomorrow.”
Xie Zhirou turned to look at her for a long time, staring until Chen Mengyin’s face burned, and then nodded in agreement.
As they walked toward the house, Chen Mengyin’s slow brain finally caught up.
She had almost kissed Zhirou that day, and now she was inviting her to spend the night… Isn’t this a bit too much?
Her brain was in turmoil, but she tried to stay calm as she opened the gate.
Inside, Li Ran was unpacking in the living room. Seeing her daughter come in, she asked, “Where’ve you been goofing off? Coming back this late?”
Chen Mengyin dropped the plushies and kicked off her shoes. “Just out and about. Mom, did you just get home? How was Guilin?”
“Scenery was nice, but it exhausted me. Next time they bring up another trip, I’m not going.” Li Ran replied. Noticing Xie Zhirou, she smiled and greeted her, “Ah, Zhirou’s here too. Did Mengyin give you any trouble today?”
Xie Zhirou chuckled, “Not at all, Auntie. Mengyin was very well-behaved.”
Chen Mengyin lifted her chin like a proud puppy. “Hear that? Your daughter was a good girl! Look, I even caught all these plushies!”
“You already have a mountain of toys in your room. Where are you going to put these?” Li Ran rolled her eyes and took her suitcase upstairs. “Let’s be real. If Zhirou wasn’t with you, I doubt you’d have made it home this early.”
“There’s watermelon in the fridge. Go shower and then come down for some before bed.”
Mom, you don’t know your precious Zhirou almost kissed your daughter today… Chen Mengyin muttered inwardly.
“Got it! Zhirou, you shower first. I’ll go help my mom with her luggage.” Chen Mengyin told her and dashed after her mom, grabbing the suitcase and dragging it upstairs.
Xie Zhirou followed behind them to the second floor.
“When’s Dad coming back?” Chen Mengyin asked as she plopped onto her mom’s bed.
Li Ran shooed her away. “About half a month. Why?”
“No reason. Just asking. He barely replies to my messages.”
Her father, Chen Lin, was the captain of the criminal investigation team. Recently, he and some colleagues had gone to the capital for training. Who knows if it was the program’s phone policy or what, but he took forever to reply.
Li Ran teased her, “He probably finds you annoying. Now fess up — what brings you to my room? Normally, you’d have run off to your own by now.”
Chen Mengyin’s little plan was instantly exposed, but she didn’t mind. She leaned over like a suck-up and started massaging her mom’s shoulders. “Well, I do need to discuss something with my dear Mother Li.”
“Speak.”
Chen Mengyin grinned sheepishly. “Can I get a bit more allowance this month? Just this much.” She held up two fingers.
Li Ran raised a brow. “Two hundred? Sure. I’ll transfer it to your WeChat.”
“No, no — not two hundred, I meant two thousand…”
“What for?”
So Chen Mengyin explained everything about Tang Jingxue paying for both her and Zhirou’s meals.
“You know Auntie Tang wouldn’t take money if I just gave it to her, right? So I thought I could buy a gift to thank her. Can’t freeload, can I?”
Li Ran agreed with the idea but was well aware her daughter would pocket a few hundred to buy game cartridges. She replied, “That’s thoughtful of you, but it’s not your responsibility. I’ll handle the gift — you don’t need to overthink it. Now go shower and have your watermelon.”
“But… my allowance…”
“Ask your dad.”
And with that, Li Ran shut the door in her face.
From the hallway, Chen Mengyin shouted, “Can Dad even receive messages where he is? He hasn’t replied in a week!“
No response came — Li Ran had already gone to shower.
Chen Mengyin sulked her way back to her room.
Xie Zhirou was still showering. Sitting at her desk, Mengyin drafted a message to her dad:
Dear Officer Chen Lin, your daughter Chen Mengyin is now calling for backup…
Just as she hit send, Zhirou emerged from the bathroom.
Her already fair skin now looked almost translucent after the hot shower. A few drops of water glistened on her collarbone.
Chen Mengyin gulped and quickly averted her gaze.
“The floor’s been mopped,” Zhirou said, toweling her hair. “You can go in now.”
Mengyin nodded frantically, grabbed her pajamas, and dashed into the bathroom.
While hanging up her clothes, she couldn’t help but replay Zhirou’s post-shower look in her mind. Her heart pounded like crazy.
Geez, she’s too gorgeous. Absolutely edible.
Still lost in thought, she finished showering and returned to her room. Zhirou was leaning against the headboard reading a book, fighting sleep.
Mengyin gently pulled the book out of her hands.
Zhirou stirred. Mengyin whispered, “Why don’t you lie down and sleep?”
“I was waiting for you,” Zhirou murmured, rubbing her eyes with a sleepy, soft expression that made Mengyin’s heart melt.
Completely flustered, Mengyin stammered, “I-I’ll just dry my hair, then I’ll come sleep. Do you… want watermelon?”
Zhirou shook her head. “I’ll eat it tomorrow.”
“Okay, then you sleep first.” Mengyin didn’t push her, knowing she was tired. She blow-dried her hair, turned off the light, and tiptoed out.
Downstairs, the lights were still on. Her mom was slicing the watermelon in the kitchen.
Seeing her, Li Ran asked, “Where’s Zhirou? Not coming down?”
“She’s sleeping.” Mengyin grabbed a slice and took a bite. “So sweet!”
Li Ran gave her a side-eye. “Next time don’t keep her out too long. Her health’s not as good as yours, and it’s hot. Be careful she doesn’t get heatstroke. Take some cooling oil with you tomorrow just in case.”
“Got it.” Mengyin tossed her rind in the trash and went to grab the medicine. “I’ll pack it in my bag.”
“Eat and go to bed. You’ve got school tomorrow.”
Mengyin gave her mom a big hug. “Good night, Mom.”
“Good night.” Li Ran didn’t resist even with sticky watermelon hands. After Mengyin ran upstairs, she washed her hands and turned off all the lights before heading to bed.
Back upstairs, Mengyin tiptoed into her room. Even brushing her teeth was done with care to not wake Zhirou.
She slipped into bed.
With only the soft glow of the nightlight, Mengyin watched Zhirou sleep.
Awake, Zhirou always looked cool and distant — like a spring breeze in February or unmelted winter snow.
But asleep, that breeze turned warm, and the ice softened — a side only Mengyin had seen.
Her eyes lingered on Zhirou’s soft-looking lips.
That afternoon, they’d almost kissed. If not for that annoying server…
But what if they had kissed? Would it have changed their relationship?
And why had Zhirou tried to kiss her? Was it just the atmosphere and lyrics, or… did she also like Mengyin?
Mengyin wasn’t sure. Or maybe she was — but too afraid to confirm it. Afraid to lose Zhirou, yet unwilling to settle for just friendship.
Her heart simmered as she looked at Zhirou, sound asleep without a care — totally unfair.
She poked Zhirou’s cheek and whispered, “Since it’s like this, I deserve a little compensation, right? If you don’t say anything, I’ll take it as a yes.”
Naturally, sleeping Zhirou didn’t respond.
Mengyin waited a few seconds, then, giddy, leaned in and planted a feather-light kiss on her cheek.
She squealed inside and ducked under the covers, watching with wide eyes to see if Zhirou would wake up and accuse her of stealing a kiss.
Luckily, Zhirou was truly exhausted. No reaction — just peaceful breathing, sweet and soft.
Mengyin touched her own lips, feeling satisfied beyond words — and drifted off to sleep.