After Confessing To My Childhood Friend - Chapter 31
Chapter 31: Ferris Wheel
◎ Let us be together forever ◎
That night, Xie Zhirou and Chen Mengyin returned home. After eating the late-night snack Li Ran had specially prepared for them, they took a shower and lay on the bed, chatting.
“Were you mad at me this afternoon?” Chen Mengyin turned to face Xie Zhirou.
She had clearly sensed that something was off with Xie Zhirou’s mood in the afternoon. Chen Mengyin thought maybe it was the teasing comment she made that upset her. She had been worrying all evening about how to apologize.
Xie Zhirou looked clearly confused, not understanding what she was referring to. “What?” she asked.
Chen Mengyin rubbed her nose, slightly embarrassed. “I mean when I teased you about being popular.”
Only then did Xie Zhirou realize what she meant. “Oh, that. No, I wouldn’t be mad at you for something like that.” She reached out and gently touched Chen Mengyin’s face. “I’d never be mad at you.”
That final sentence filled Chen Mengyin’s heart with sweetness for quite a while. Then she added, “But your mood clearly wasn’t great this afternoon.” During evening self-study, her face looked colder than usual and she talked even less. Chen Mengyin didn’t bring up those little details—she just silently remembered them.
“I was just reminded of some bad things from the past,” Xie Zhirou said. “Do you remember what happened in middle school?”
Chen Mengyin thought to herself: If it was about those idiotic things those jerks did, even if she had one foot in the grave, she’d still crawl out to say she remembered.
She said, “Yeah, I remember.”
Back in 8th grade, she remembered overhearing a guy from the neighboring class blocking Xie Zhirou at the school gate to publicly confess. If Xie Zhirou hadn’t held her back, Chen Mengyin would have beat the guy to a pulp.
Tch, talking sweet but doing stupid stuff.
Even now, Chen Mengyin still thought that Xie Zhirou had been too polite that day. She should’ve beaten that guy up and cursed him out.
Xie Zhirou sighed. “I thought I was hiding it well, but you still noticed.”
Chen Mengyin smiled confidently. Maybe she was slow about other things, but when it came to Xie Zhirou, she could always sense things sharply.
Except for the part where they both secretly liked each other but took years to admit it.
“So what do you plan to do? Add her contact and tell her?” The girl who confessed had picked a moment when no one was around, so Chen Mengyin didn’t think too badly of her. The only weird part was how she glared at her in the end.
Xie Zhirou sighed helplessly. “You really didn’t hear the end of it. I told her I already like someone. She asked me who.”
“And then?” Chen Mengyin tugged her sleeve eagerly.
Xie Zhirou pinched her nose. “I told her that person is my silly, easily bullied deskmate.”
Chen Mengyin started tickling her. “You’re the silly one!”
No wonder that girl glared at her after bumping into her. Chen Mengyin thought it was because she got caught eavesdropping. Though… that might still be part of it…
Xie Zhirou burst out laughing, breathless, until she couldn’t take it anymore. She grabbed Chen Mengyin’s mischievous hand and kissed it.
When they pulled apart, a shiny thread still connected their lips. Chen Mengyin laughed and said, “You’re done for. You just stole a kiss from someone’s daughter with her mom next door.”
Xie Zhirou raised an eyebrow and gave her waist a playful squeeze. “Are you going to tell your mom?”
Chen Mengyin gasped and punched her on the shoulder. “You’re getting naughtier!”
“Don’t like it?” Xie Zhirou held her hand.
After so many times, Chen Mengyin finally realized that Xie Zhirou was just using her pretty face to get away with things—testing her limits bit by bit, knowing she liked her too much to resist.
But the truth was, she kind of liked it. Maybe it was just because it was Xie Zhirou. With her, Chen Mengyin was always a little more forgiving and patient, taking the bait again and again without learning her lesson.
“I like it.” Chen Mengyin kissed her, wrapping her arms around her waist. “I want to tell my mom about us after the college entrance exam. What do you think?”
“Sounds good.” Xie Zhirou didn’t hesitate at all. “Let’s tell them together after the exam.”
Chen Mengyin smiled. “But what if they don’t agree?”
Xie Zhirou chuckled. “Then I’ll run away with you. Didn’t you say you wanted to go to Tibet to see the stars? We’ll leave Yonghuai, go to Sichuan, then take a train to Tibet. We won’t answer anyone’s calls and just live there for a while.”
“Mmm, I also want to go to Qinghai… see Qinghai Lake…” Chen Mengyin was getting sleepy. Her voice trailed off and soft snores followed.
Alright then, Xie Zhirou silently answered her in her heart. She kissed her forehead gently and fell asleep holding her.
…
After that talk, Chen Mengyin studied even harder. She probably wanted to score well in the college entrance exam to be worthy of Xie Zhirou and maybe avoid getting beat too hard by her mom when they came clean.
But the weekend Ferris wheel date was still on.
Chen Mengyin stood in front of the mirror trying on outfit after outfit. The bed was already covered with discarded clothes, but she still couldn’t decide.
She pulled out her phone and messaged Xie Zhirou:
Chen Mengyin: Zhizhou, what color are you wearing today?
Xie Zhirou: White.
Chen Mengyin: OMG
White… Chen Mengyin looked at her wardrobe full of colorful clothes and rolled her eyes. She ended up picking her favorite T-shirt and cargo shorts.
Before she left, her mom Li Ran transferred her some money on WeChat. Since the Xie family always treated them well, she told Chen Mengyin to be proactive and pay when they went out—courtesy is key in relationships.
Chen Mengyin readily agreed. She was taking Xie Zhirou out on a date—of course she couldn’t let her pay!
“I’m heading out!” she called, skipping out the door with her crossbody bag.
Xie Zhirou stood under a vine-covered trellis in a flowing white dress, smiling softly when she saw her.
Chen Mengyin jogged over, took her hand, and hailed a car to head across the Huai River.
Across the river was the commercial district—unlike the residential Lake An District where Chen Mengyin lived. Skyscrapers, subways, and buses made it perfect for dates and shopping.
It was still hot in Yonghuai in November. They headed into a mall to cool off. Chen Mengyin pointed at a floor map. “Want to check out some accessory shops before dinner?”
Xie Zhirou nodded. She wasn’t that into shopping but was happy to go along with Chen Mengyin.
“You know, my mom transferred me money today and told me not to let you pay. I think she likes you more than she likes me now,” Chen Mengyin said on the escalator. “When we come out, she might even be happy she gained a new sweet daughter.”
Xie Zhirou held her hand and smiled. “My mom likes you too. She always asks about you when we talk and said she loves the wind chime you gave her. It’s hanging in her office.”
Chen Mengyin beamed. “Hehe, really? She really said that?”
Xie Zhirou: “Of course. We’re here—watch your step.”
Chen Mengyin stepped off. “Then let’s buy something for our moms. If we butter them up now, they’ll go easier on us later.”
“My mom won’t hit anyone,” said Xie Zhirou.
“I meant my mom,” Chen Mengyin said dramatically. “Li Ran will probably say I corrupted you, then drag me to your mom’s house to kneel and apologize!”
Xie Zhirou laughed at her dramatic tone and reassured her. “Then I’ll protect you. I won’t let you get beaten in front of me.”
Chen Mengyin hugged her arm, eyes teary. “But I’ll still get beaten once we’re home…”
“Then I’ll go home with you, how about that?” Xie Zhirou smiled. “Didn’t you want to look at accessories? Let’s go.”
Chen Mengyin perked up instantly, holding Xie Zhirou’s hand as they happily picked out accessories.
“Okay, that’s all!” Chen Mengyin chose some rings and bracelets—not expensive, but cute and easy to wear or take off.
She also picked out matching couple earrings and rings for herself and Xie Zhirou. Too bad they couldn’t wear them at school, so they’d have to keep them at home and admire them in secret.
“Let’s eat!” They had left late, and after shopping a bit it was already evening. Dinner and a post-meal stroll would be just in time for the Ferris wheel. “I booked a Korean BBQ place—let’s go!”
Xie Zhirou: “Sure.”
The BBQ place was packed. Even with a reservation, they still had to wait in line.
“See anything you want to eat?” Chen Mengyin handed Xie Zhirou her phone. She picked a few things and gave it back.
Chen Mengyin quickly ordered more, afraid she wouldn’t eat enough.
“If we can’t finish, we can pack it up,” she added when Xie Zhirou gave her a look.
Soon a server came with a cart to help them grill. While waiting, Chen Mengyin chatted non-stop. Xie Zhirou, who usually wasn’t one to laugh easily, couldn’t help but smile several times. Finally, she had to put on a stern face to tell her to eat seriously before she burned herself.
Chen Mengyin took that as her being caring and happily bit into a grilled mushroom, completely satisfied.
“Ahhh~ I’m so full.” Chen Mengyin held her stomach as they left. The last two plates of beef could’ve been skipped, but she’d ordered them in case Xie Zhirou wanted more.
By the end, she was forcing herself to eat. Just smelling beef made her nauseous. Xie Zhirou told her to pack the rest, but she insisted on finishing.
After dinner, they walked around the plaza downstairs to digest—just in case Chen Mengyin threw up on the Ferris wheel.
“We can check out the stalls while we’re at it,” she said cheerfully.
Xie Zhirou gave her a helpless look but accompanied her on two laps around the plaza, then got in line for the Ferris wheel.
“Wow, it’s been here forever but this is my first time riding it,” said Chen Mengyin.
Same for Xie Zhirou. They rarely came to this part of the city.
“It’s our turn!” The previous group entered their cabin, and the staff ushered them into the next one.
They sat inside the gently swaying cabin as it rose. Chen Mengyin gripped Xie Zhirou’s hand tightly. The city lights slowly came under their feet, then they stopped at the top.
Chen Mengyin licked her lips. “They say if a couple kisses at the top of the Ferris wheel, they’ll be together forever. But I think we’ll be together forever even if we don’t kiss.”
Xie Zhirou asked, “Not gonna kiss?”
Chen Mengyin immediately answered, “Kiss!”
Across the river, someone set off fireworks. The dazzling display lit up the cabin windows, colorful lights dancing across their faces. At the very top of the Ferris wheel, Chen Mengyin gently cupped Xie Zhirou’s face and kissed her.
Oh Ferris wheel, let us be together forever and ever.