After I Cheated on the Heiress of a Powerful Family - Chapter 7

Chapter 7

“… Not really.”

Wen Yan was taken aback: “Huh?”

Xie Buyi clenched his fingers, glanced up at her with a cold expression: “I said, not really.”

Wen Yan chuckled softly: “That’s not your call.”

The top-ranking student didn’t have the privilege to pick their deskmate—it was up to others. As long as she secured second or third place, she’d have a good chance to force Xie to be her deskmate.

When the time came, whether he wanted to or not, he’d have to go along with it.

“Go back.”

Class was about to start, and Wen Yan didn’t linger. She had a new lesson to prepare for next, so she returned to her seat to review the material.

The morning had been sunny, and many thought there’d be no rain. But after the first period, the sky began to darken. The students were hoping for a downpour to cancel the running drills.

She waited between classes in the hallway, but the rain never came. When it was time to line up for the run, she headed out full of energy and came back exhausted. Just minutes before the third class began, the classroom was deathly quiet, except for the steady drip of water collecting from the drinking fountain.

Compared to others, Wen Yan still looked fine, though her cheeks had a slight flush.

Fang Sihui slumped at her desk, barely able to lift her head, watching Wen Yan’s steady breathing. She gave her a shaky thumbs up and sighed: “No wonder you can handle all those sports events—you’re in great shape!”

Wen Yan smiled faintly: “It’s unavoidable. I live on the eighth floor without an elevator. Climbing up and down every day keeps me fit. Plus, I’ve been working for two years, so my endurance is better.”

Fang Sihui sighed again and patted her arm: “That’s impressive.”

Wen Yan replied, “Almost makes a living from it. Without exercise, can you really maintain good fitness? There’s always a way.”

Fang Sihui quickly changed the subject, worried Wen Yan might feel pressured about her family: “Whether our class avoids last place at this sports meet depends on whether you can turn things around!”

Wen Yan smiled and promised: “Then I definitely won’t let our class finish last.”

They chatted happily in front, while Xie Buyi sat quietly in the back row, pinching the now-cold water bottle until it creaked.

“Even if the water cools down, you still want to keep it warm? Aren’t you afraid that the more you try to keep it warm, the more uncomfortable you’ll feel?”

Suddenly, the water bottle was pulled away, and the hot glass slipped onto his lap. Xie Buyi reflexively zipped up his uniform and glanced back at Wen Yan: “I can handle it myself…”

He rested his head against Wen Yan’s back, a stray lock of hair brushing over his eyes. He silently thanked her, but then froze.

Looking down, Wen Yan noticed his pale, delicate neck, the subtle curve of his collarbone, and a small mole beneath it—details that drew her gaze.

Her eyes lingered on the edge of his collarbone for a moment before drifting to his lips and locking with his startled eyes.

They both froze briefly; Xie Buyi dropped his gaze, and Wen Yan straightened up.

He rubbed his face as if to shake off an unfamiliar sensation stirred by her presence.

Half-turned toward Wen Yan, he said with a slight irritation, “Why are you standing so close?”

Wen Yan feigned innocence: “You’re my deskmate. If I’m not behind you, should I perch on your head?”

Thankful for the rise and fall of her chest, Wen Yan quickly spoke again before he could reply: “No need to add more hot water this time. Too much will make it scalding. Just cover it with your uniform and wait for it to warm up.”

Though the hot glass pressed against his clothes, it seemed like the heat was aimed right at his face.

Xie Buyi said nothing and laid his head back down. Wen Yan, unfazed, reached out to pat his shoulder and said playfully, “This is my cup—you’re responsible for it. If it breaks, you pay!”

Wen Yan thought the “eldest lady” would likely break the cup quickly and lose whatever was valuable, so she didn’t really mind.

Gao Yu, sitting next to Xie Buyi, frowned at how close Wen Yan was to him, unlike before when she wasn’t so forward. But Xie Buyi wasn’t reacting the same way this time!

Gao Yu dared not speak directly to Xie out of respect but sneered at Wen Yan: “So annoying! Could you please stop talking? Who doesn’t sit here has no business joining!”

Wen Yan stood behind Xie Buyi, ignoring Gao Yu completely. It wasn’t fair to be targeted for no reason.

Her eyes caught some classmates messing around at the back of the classroom. She cleared her throat and called out: “Stop fooling around back there! Didn’t you hear the academic committee? No more talking! If you’re not sitting at the back, don’t come back here just to chat!”

The students protested loudly: “Why can’t we talk after class? Not everyone has a seat in the last row, so why can’t we come here? What’s the big deal?”

Wen Yan grinned: “Academic committee? Then you speak!”

Gao Yu, furious, shouted, “Wen Yan!”

“Looks like class is starting soon. Let’s go.”

Wen Yan ignored her and sat down, leaving Gao Yu so angry she slammed the desk.

During the third Chinese lesson, the class moved outdoors, but the rain hadn’t come yet.

The sky darkened; lightning flickered silver-white in the thick clouds. Thunder rumbled faintly, signaling an approaching storm.

Midway through the fourth lesson, thunder roared, wind and heavy rain burst forth.

The teacher quickly instructed everyone to close the windows as the rain hammered against the glass.

Typically, a downpour like this wouldn’t last long, but even after the class ended, the rain showed no sign of stopping.

Most students didn’t check the weather forecast, and since phones weren’t allowed on campus, few had umbrellas. Those who did shared them and hurried to the cafeteria.

The classroom buzzed noisily, irritating some. Xie Buyi looked up, spotting Wen Yan standing nearby, holding a large umbrella and chatting with two others.

“Wen Yan, aren’t you going home for lunch? Heading to the canteen? Can we come with you?”

“I’m not going home. If you tag along, what will you do at my table?”

“Your umbrella’s big. Can you squeeze me in? Three of us can fit if we squeeze…”

Xie Buyi, annoyed, put on his headphones. With noise cancellation on, the classroom finally quieted.

He placed the warm glass from before on the desk, leaned back, and closed his eyes.

Wen Yan wasn’t going home in the rain nor borrowing an umbrella to the cafeteria. Lunch didn’t matter much to her, so she planned to rest in class until afternoon.

The silence stretched on until suddenly, his headphones were pulled off, and a familiar voice whispered near his ear.

“Why are you ignoring me? Thanks?”

Xie opened his eyes immediately, and Wen Yan’s face hovered close. She peered at the headphone shell and whispered, “There’s no sound, so you ignored me on purpose?”

He instinctively scanned the room, trying to find the two others who had left with Wen Yan—but they were gone.

“Everyone else has left. The teacher said there are umbrellas in the office, and those without have already left.”

Wen Yan pulled off Xie Buyi’s headphones, set them on the desk, and shook them. She grumbled, “There’s no one else left. I’m right here—who else do you want to see?”

He remained silent.

Wen Yan asked, “Hey, did you bring an umbrella?”

Xie Buyi pursed his lips but said nothing.

She guessed he hadn’t brought one. Being loyal, Wen Yan offered, “It’s pouring outside, and the roads must be blocked. Why not come to lunch with me?”

Finally, Xie spoke quietly, “No need.”

Wen Yan frowned, “No need? You didn’t bring an umbrella, so what else can you do but get wet?”

Irritation welled inside Xie Buyi. He snapped coldly, “Why do you care if I get wet?”

“Of course I care! You’ll catch a cold if you get drenched. I worry about you.”

Somehow, these words struck a chord. But Xie’s tone turned sharper: “Don’t you get it? I don’t need you looking after me. Even if I get sick, it’s none of your business! Got it?”

“Go wherever you want. Don’t bother me!”

Wen Yan thought maybe some people could only be spoken to firmly and loudly. Over time, they’d treat you like a loyal dog.

And a loyal dog couldn’t be seen by a cold, proud lady like Xie Buyi.

“I don’t understand, and I don’t want to.”

Wen Yan didn’t give him a chance to refuse again—she grabbed his arm and pulled him firmly against the wall.

Her usually cold smile sharpened into something almost threatening: “Tell me, really don’t want to have dinner with me? You don’t want me anywhere near you, do you?”

“You want to be invisible in class, live in your own world, no interaction at all, right?”

“If you say yes, I’ll leave you alone and never bother you again. Your purity will be restored.”

“Is that what you want?”

“Thanks,” Xie whispered.

He pursed his lips tightly but couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud.

Wen Yan said slowly, “If you don’t say yes, I’ll take you to dinner anyway.”

He stayed silent, but Wen Yan thought she glimpsed some subtle sadness on his face.

Umbrella in hand, Xie Buyi stood, and Wen Yan opened hers to shield them both. Her voice softened: “Now, start thinking about what you want to eat. Wontons? Soup noodles? A warm belly feels so good… Oh, and don’t you like soy milk? You didn’t drink what I brought yesterday.”

Though the traditional umbrella was bulky, it was larger than the average folding one, spacious enough for both of them.

Rain drummed on the umbrella, forming a curtain of droplets along its ribs, creating a world that belonged just to them. The noise around them faded, echoing softly in their small shared space.

Wen Yan talked for a long time without a response. She glanced at him, about to get annoyed when she heard his quiet voice:

“You shouldn’t be this close.”

The normally reserved Xie Buyi finally spoke!

Wen Yan grinned to herself and teased, “Why? Because the fiery eldest lady needs some space?”

Xie, who didn’t get jokes, said plainly, “I’m sick.”

Wen Yan replied, “Oh, so you’re contagious, huh?”

Suddenly, Xie stopped moving. Wen Yan stumbled forward one step before realizing he was behind her.

She quickly turned back, pulling him under the umbrella again.

His clothes were damp, but Wen Yan gently brushed the rain off him—until he grabbed her wrist.

“You should stay away from me.”

Rain crackled around them—the umbrella, the ground, the leaves. The sounds poured in, but Xie’s pulse thumping in her palm was even louder.

Caught off guard, Wen Yan locked eyes with him. He repeated slowly, “I’m sick.”

“That’s true.”