After Confessing To My Childhood Friend - Chapter 55

Chapter 55: Graduation Trip

◎Heihei◎

Ever since Chen Mengyin and Xie Zhirou’s relationship was brought to light that afternoon, Chen Mengyin had become more and more uninhibited.

She and Xie Zhirou spent a whole day making two travel itineraries—
One for after graduation, traveling to Jiangnan;
Another for after their exam results came out, to travel the Sichuan-West route after filling in their university preferences.

As soon as the itineraries were done, Chen Mengyin, with her luggage already packed, rushed to the airport with Xie Zhirou by taxi. By nightfall, they had arrived in Jiangnan.

They had booked a hotel in the city center. After landing, they took a cab to the hotel. Exhausted from the day’s journey, and with Jiangnan being hot and humid in June, Chen Mengyin, too tired to explore the night market, opted to order delivery instead.

The city, known as a food desert, didn’t offer much even for late-night snacks. After scrolling through delivery apps for a while, Chen Mengyin finally chose the best-reviewed place and ordered spicy crayfish and noodle pieces.

By the time the food arrived, it was past 11 p.m. Although the city was infamous for bland food, the crayfish turned out surprisingly good—fresh and flavorful. The soup for the noodles was rich too, perfectly suiting Xie Zhirou’s taste.

After dinner and a quick shower, they collapsed onto the soft bed and ended their tiring day.

The next morning, refreshed and re-energized, they applied sunscreen, slung on their backpacks, and headed out.

Yonghuai was quite similar to Jiangnan in many ways—but Jiangnan leaned sweet in its cuisine, while Yonghuai preferred a sweet-sour palette and fried snacks. Yonghuai was mountainous, and people often opened their windows to a mountain view. Jiangnan, on the other hand, had flat terrain and expansive vistas.

Though summer in Jiangnan was sweltering and humid, it couldn’t hold back the uncontainable energy of two newly graduated high school seniors.

Chen Mengyin and Xie Zhirou spent half the day strolling under the scorching sun by West Lake.

They arrived just in time to catch B University’s rowing competition on the lake. Chen Mengyin spotted the B University team and pointed it out, saying, “Maybe next year, one of those competing will be you.”

Xie Zhirou looked at the girls on the boat—tan, strong, and graceful—and replied, “They’re much better than me. I’d just be the one cheering from the shore.”

Chen Mengyin burst out laughing, insisting that with enough training, Zhirou could do it too.

But Zhirou wasn’t a big fan of intense physical activity—especially those that made her sweat (with one exception).

The competition began mid-conversation.

Chen Mengyin raised her camera and captured those radiant, passionate moments of the girls giving it their all.

Even if the people onshore didn’t know the rowers personally, they all cheered for them wholeheartedly. Chen Mengyin included.

Whether she knew them or not, she screamed herself hoarse in support, full of energy.

After the race, Chen Mengyin was still caught up in the excitement, chattering to Zhirou about the highlights.

“Drink some water,” Zhirou said, handing her a bottle she’d just opened.

“Thanks.” Chen Mengyin took it and downed half the bottle in one go, finally quenching her thirst. Smacking her lips, she asked, “Want to go to Lou Wai Lou for lunch? I want to try the legendary, dreaded West Lake vinegar fish.”

Zhirou naturally couldn’t say no to her.

Since it was still early, they took a cab to Lou Wai Lou.

West Lake vinegar fish, Longjing shrimp, soup dumplings, water shield soup…

After a long morning walk, Chen Mengyin felt like she could eat an entire table’s worth—but her ambition was stopped short by the vinegar fish.

“…Wow.”

One bite, and the fish was sour and fishy. The sauce tasted like it was from another dish altogether.

The overwhelming fishiness nearly made fish-loving Chen Mengyin gag. She felt like kneeling before the dish in defeat.

Zhirou, intrigued by her dramatic reaction, ignored her warnings and tried a bite herself—just a little bit of fish with a dab of sauce.

Her elegant brows furrowed instantly, even her nose crinkling in protest. She chewed painfully before finally swallowing.

Chen Mengyin handed her the water shield soup to cleanse her palate.

“See? I told you it was bad,” Mengyin teased.

Zhirou stuck out her tongue after finishing the soup, clearly traumatized.

Mengyin chuckled and spooned some shrimp into her bowl.

…

Rain fell.

Just as they paid the bill, a drizzle began falling outside.

It didn’t relieve the oppressive heat—instead, it made the air feel even heavier, like being trapped in a giant open-air sauna. No one outdoors was spared.

“Want to see West Lake in the rain?” Mengyin turned her head to ask.

Zhirou responded with a faint smile, “Sure.”

And so, they returned to West Lake and rented a boat, drifting along the misty lake in the rain.

The rain got heavier, and a layer of fog floated over the lake. Mengyin stopped rowing to take photos of the mystical scene.

“So beautiful. It feels so different from Huai River,” she said, leaning over to touch the slick lake surface like others did.

The water in West Lake had a soft texture, wrapping around her fingertips with a cooling chill.

Unlike the Huai River—its water was harsh and biting, full of oceanic salt and chill, almost aggressive, keeping people at bay.

The boat drifted further. The distant peaks looked unreal, like carefully painted ink landscapes.

Raindrops tapped rhythmically against the yellow canopy.

Under the pale yellow tarp, someone stole a quiet kiss.

The rain came down harder.

Neither Chen Mengyin nor Xie Zhirou had rowed a boat before, and worried the downpour might capsize them, they carefully made their way back to the dock and ended the ride.

Despite their best efforts, they were still soaked by the time they got back to shore.

Looking at each other, drenched and dripping, they both burst into laughter.

Mengyin wrung out the edge of her shirt, water pooling beneath her. Gazing at the hazy lake, she sighed, “What a downpour. Good thing we came back early.”

“Yeah. A little later and we might’ve been stranded in the rain,” Zhirou said, shaking water from her hands.

Stranded in the rain.

That phrase lit a spark in Mengyin’s mind—imagining the two of them trapped alone in a tiny boat, close enough to touch…

Not a bad thought.

Suddenly, she regretted coming back so early.

“Ahem, let’s head back to the hotel. Too rainy to go anywhere else,” she said, trying to suppress her rising excitement as she opened the ride-hailing app.

Luck wasn’t on their side. Rain made ride demand spike. There were still 10–20 people in the queue ahead of them.

She pulled out an umbrella, and they huddled under a pavilion, watching the lake in the rain.

When the taxi finally arrived, it was already dark. Streetlights flickered on, casting reflections on the slick streets. Storefront neon signs danced in puddles like tiny bursts of fireworks.

The cab was air-conditioned. Getting in with their damp clothes made them shiver.

Mengyin grabbed Zhirou’s cold hand, passing her some warmth, and asked the driver to turn the AC down. The driver noticed their soaked clothes and turned up the heat.

Rain made traffic unbearable. What should’ve been a short trip took an hour.

Mengyin had ordered food on the way, so once they reached the hotel, she went straight to grab the delivery.

Soaked, chilly, and wind-blown, what they needed most was a hot shower—but there was only one bathroom. Who would go first?

Mengyin kicked off her wet shoes and socks, set the food on the table, and her eyes couldn’t help but wander.

She saw Zhirou wringing her wet hair, her pale fingers almost translucent in the warm lighting.

Mengyin suddenly had a bold idea.

Nervous, she swallowed hard, psyching herself up—

But before she could act, Zhirou turned to her and said, “Mengyin, do you want to shower first or—”

“Or do you want to shower with me?”

The cozy lighting turned subtly intimate. Zhirou stepped closer, her warm breath brushing against Mengyin’s skin like teasing fingers.

That almost translucent hand traced Mengyin’s lips, as she whispered with irresistible allure.

Under the spell of that voice, Mengyin met her eyes—foxlike and full of mischief.

She couldn’t recall what answer she gave. She only remembered that the next moment, two warm bodies collided and stumbled into the bathroom together.

Hot water poured over flushed skin. She couldn’t say who made the first move, who kissed who first—just that the steamy air couldn’t muffle their gasps and sighs.

One of them tilted her head back, dazed eyes staring at where ceiling met wall, hands trailing over slick skin.

They held each other under the shower for a long, long time—so long that Mengyin’s legs started trembling.

Zhirou carried her into the bathtub, surrounded by flower petals, where she asked for her again and again.

…

“I feel like I’m broken,” Mengyin murmured, curled in Zhirou’s arms, arms and legs too weak to move.

Zhirou gently massaged her waist, easing the soreness.

Mengyin, eyes half-lidded, melted into the comfort.

The bathwater had gone cold.

No matter how unwilling they were to separate, they eventually had to get out.

Mengyin sat on the edge of the tub, enjoying Zhirou’s tender care.

After drying off and putting on bathrobes, they emerged from the bathroom to find their food had long gone cold.

But with the rain still pouring outside, they reluctantly accepted their chilly dinner.

After eating, Mengyin yawned—already lightheaded from exhaustion.

Zhirou reminded her to brush her teeth.

Half-asleep, Mengyin managed to finish brushing and collapsed onto the bed with a thud.

Zhirou came out, saw her sprawled there, and chuckled. She tucked her in, kissed her cheek, and whispered, “Good night.”

“Mm… night,” Mengyin murmured, already dozing off into soft snores.

Zhirou turned off the light and lay beside her, their feet touching under the covers.