After Confessing To My Childhood Friend - Chapter 21
Chapter 21: Three Heads Are Better Than One
◎ Wait… you mean you two aren’t dating? ◎
The relentless rain finally came to a halt on Saturday.
Yonghuai City returned to its sweltering summer heat. The puddles on the ground were evaporated by the high temperatures, turning the outdoors into a literal sauna.
Chen Mengyin, restless at home, went over to Xie Zhirou’s place to do homework. Senior year was packed with assignments, and the two of them worked from dawn to dusk, just barely finishing what the teachers had assigned.
After finishing and taking a shower, she didn’t even get to hang out much with Xie Zhirou before she had to rush to a class reunion dinner.
“I’m heading out! Let’s play games together when I get back. Don’t forget to bring your controller to my place!” Chen Mengyin reminded Xie Zhirou on her way out.
Xie Zhirou smiled and replied, “Have fun tonight.”
Chen Mengyin waved goodbye. “If you get bored, message me anytime.”
They lingered at the doorway for a while longer. Only after Xie Zhirou repeatedly promised she’d chat with her did Chen Mengyin finally leave, albeit reluctantly.
The class dinner was at the famous banyan tree food stalls on Linjiang Road, not far from Chen Mengyin’s home. It was less than a ten-minute walk. According to the class monitor, the location was chosen so dorm students could make it back to school easily afterward.
On the way there, flowers were blooming everywhere. The lush greenery pushed petals off the stems, scattering them on the ground, waiting for the cleaners. Chen Mengyin squatted down and picked one up, twirling it in her fingers as she walked.
Soon, the iconic banyan tree on Linjiang Road came into view.
No one knew how long the tree had been rooted there. Its massive canopy shaded the entire outdoor dining area. Thick roots wound across the ground, breaking through the cement pavement in several spots.
From afar, Xu Qingqing stood at the entrance waving at her.
“Mengyin, over here!”
Chen Mengyin casually tossed the flower into the dirt to become part of the earth again.
“Why’re you out here instead of inside?” she asked.
Xu Qingqing replied, “I figured you wouldn’t check the group chat. Our spot’s on the second-floor terrace. I came to get you or you’d be wandering around lost.”
Chen Mengyin smiled. “Thanks, Miss Xu.”
Xu Qingqing playfully punched her arm and led the way upstairs. “Don’t you try to charm me. For the record, I’m not interested in stealing Zhirou from you.”
Chen Mengyin laughed. “What are you even talking about?”
Xu Qingqing leaned in and whispered mysteriously, “Careful tonight. Word is someone’s planning to confess to you.”
What?! Someone was going to confess?
Chen Mengyin was shocked. She thought her feelings for Xie Zhirou were obvious to everyone.
“Who? Do I know them?” she joked. “Maybe you heard wrong?”
Xu Qingqing stomped her foot in frustration. “Believe it or not—but tonight you’re sitting between me and Wang Xueling, got it?”
“Okay, okay!” Mengyin surrendered. “Can we go eat now? I’m starving.”
They reached the terrace where Wang Xueling was already waving them over, pointing to two open seats.
“Busy lady—haven’t seen you all week,” Xueling said, handing her a cup of hot water to rinse the tableware.
As they prepped their plates, the three girls exchanged looks, eyes full of exaggerated exasperation.
Ever since Chen Mengyin and Xie Zhirou ended up in the same class, she was rarely seen alone—always trailing behind Zhirou, flaunting their closeness like a couple.
Xueling bet that if they weren’t both girls, people would’ve already reported them for dating.
Not that it wasn’t already obvious.
“Coke or coconut juice?” Xueling asked.
“Coke. Ice cold,” said Mengyin, already chugging the first cup and going for seconds.
“So, what’s your deal with Zhirou right now?” Xueling asked, lowering her voice.
Chen Mengyin went quiet.
She thought about the power outage the other night. After they finished their homework, they watched a dinosaur movie—and before bed, she even got a kiss on the forehead.
Touching her forehead now, Mengyin realized just how slow she was, especially when it came to Xie Zhirou. She often blurred the line between friendship and love.
But friends don’t want to kiss. Friends don’t want to cuddle all the time, even when sleeping.
It took her ten years to realize she didn’t just “like” Xie Zhirou as a friend.
Then another two years to figure out—Zhirou liked her back.
“Hey, earth to Mengyin!” Xueling poked her arm.
Startled, she blurted out the dilemma she’d been thinking about: “How do you confess without it feeling too cheesy? Should I buy flowers? Dress up? Maybe candles?”
“NO candles!” the two girls said in unison.
“Wait… so you two aren’t dating?” Xueling gaped.
She couldn’t believe it. With how close they were? What would they even be like once they did start dating?!
She looked at Xu Qingqing and saw the same level of despair.
Blushing, Mengyin nodded. “Nope… but flowers are okay, right?”
Xueling looked dazed, emotionally spiraling.
It was Qingqing who regained her wits first. “Just clean up, tie a big red bow on your head, and knock on her door. That’ll work.”
“Eh?” Mengyin blinked.
Xueling smacked Qingqing’s arm. “Don’t give her weird ideas! Look, a confession is all about sincerity. Flowers and candles are fine, but what matters is your heart.”
“You’ve known her longer than we have. You know what she likes. Follow your heart. When the time feels right, just go for it.”
Qingqing mock-applauded. “Wow. That advice was useless.”
Surprisingly, it clicked for Mengyin.
She grabbed Xueling’s hand, excited. “I knew asking you guys was the right move!”
Xueling squeezed her hand dramatically, exchanging glances with Qingqing behind Mengyin’s back.
See? I nailed it.
Yeah, sure—you’re just winging it based on vibes.
But come on, they’re this close!
…
“Food’s here! Stop whispering and eat!” someone at the table called out.
“Alright, alright,” Xueling laughed. “We’ll talk later.”
“I’m starving. First dish better be good—or I’m blaming the class monitor,” Qingqing added.
Laughter erupted around the table.
Chen Mengyin snapped a photo of the food and sent it to Zhirou.
Chen Mengyin: [Photo] Not bad. We should try it next time.
Chen Mengyin: What are you eating tonight? [Gif: “I want food!”]
Xie Zhirou: [Photo] Want some?
Mengyin opened the image—just a sad-looking bowl of salad.
Chen Mengyin: That’s it?
Xie Zhirou: Waiting for you to bring cake. [Gif: “Begging for food!”]
Mengyin melted. She spammed cute emojis, promising to bring sweets home.
Qingqing nudged her. “Enough texting your girlfriend—eat already.”
Mengyin playfully accused her of being jealous, earning a dramatic eye-roll.
“I’m heading home after dinner, by the way. You guys go sing KTV without me,” she said, clearly distracted and barely tasting her food.
The other two knew she just wanted to rush back to Zhirou, so they didn’t push her. “Just get home safe and let us know you made it.”
“Will do. Gonna go say bye to the monitor real quick.”
She made her way over to the class leader.
“I’m heading out. Have fun tonight!” she whispered.
The class monitor glanced at Zheng Xixi, who subtly shook her head. Seeing that, he let Mengyin go.
“Alright, just be careful. Message me when you get home.”
“Will do!” she smiled, sneaking away before anyone else noticed.
Just as she left, Zheng Xixi followed.
“Chen Mengyin! Wait!” she called from beneath the banyan tree.
Mengyin turned. “What’s wrong?”
Xixi took a deep breath, clearly nervous. Her voice trembled. “I… I like you!”
The lights wrapped around the tree blinked softly. Under their warm glow, tears shimmered in Xixi’s eyes.
So she was the one Qingqing warned her about.
“I’m sorry. I already like someone else,” Mengyin said gently. “But thank you—it means a lot.”
“I know. You like Xie Zhirou.” Xixi sniffled. “I never expected you to like me back. But if I didn’t tell you before graduation, I’d regret it forever.”
Mengyin was caught off guard. “Was it that obvious? I thought I was good at hiding it.”
Xixi laughed, “Anyone with eyes could see it. Go ahead. You’re in a rush, right?”
She gave Mengyin an easy way out—for both their sake.
“Alright. Have fun tonight!”
“You too. Be safe.”
Mengyin waved and turned to leave.
Behind her, Xixi stood beneath the banyan tree, tears finally falling.
Goodbye… my youth.