Fall - Chapter 13

Yue Can was nothing if not adaptable. When her stubbornness flared, it was truly fierce, but when she wanted to be charming, she could be quite endearing. She leaned over the table, silently staring at the person across from her, waiting for an answer.

Bo Wanzhao returned her gaze, her thin lips pressed together, saying nothing.

Yue Can suddenly grinned, knowing her little scheme had worked.

They had booked tickets for the 2:00 PM showing of a critically acclaimed animated film. Yue Can had seen everyone on her social media passionately recommending it, praising its dense humor and heartwarming themes—perfect for lifting a low mood.

The cinema was packed on the weekend, and with the film’s popularity, the theater was nearly full.

They were lucky that day. Though many parents had brought their children, everyone behaved well, without any strange or disruptive noises.

The theater was plunged into darkness as the screen flickered with vibrant images.

Yue Can always liked to snack during movies, so she had bought a double snack combo: an enormous bucket of popcorn and two drinks. From the moment the film started, her mouth didn’t stop moving.

After munching for a while, Yue Can turned to Bo Wanzhao and nudged her arm.

Bo Wanzhao turned her head to see Yue Can offering the popcorn bucket. She shook her head and looked back at the screen.

Taking “no interest” as her cue, Yue Can continued to enjoy the popcorn alone. She stared at the screen, lost in thought. Bo Wanzhao seemed indifferent to everything; perhaps her only real interest was making money? But earning a living was merely a means of survival, hardly a passion.

A film highly recommended by critics and audiences rarely disappoints. Laughter rippled through the theater in waves. Yue Can, with her notoriously low threshold for humor—the type to burst into hysterics at the lamest jokes—was thoroughly enjoying the movie. Each time she found something funny, she would unconsciously glance sideways at Bo Wanzhao.

Bo Wanzhao sat calmly, watching intently, her posture and expression unchanging.

Yue Can’s eyes widened in disbelief. Is she even human? How can she not laugh at something this hilarious? She couldn’t tell if Bo Wanzhao’s humor threshold was simply too high, if she was in a particularly foul mood today, or perhaps both. No matter how many times Yue Can stole glances, she never saw Bo Wanzhao crack a smile.

An hour into the movie, Yue Can had devoured more than half of the large bucket of popcorn.

Yue Can’s ridiculously low humor threshold stood in stark contrast to Bo Wanzhao’s stoicism. She couldn’t help but giggle even at mildly amusing scenes, completely unable to contain herself.

Bo Wanzhao quietly turned her head and saw Yue Can laughing so hard her shoulders were shaking. In the dim, flickering light of the silver screen, her eyes curved into crescents, and the delicate, beautiful profile of her face was clearly visible. A person’s experiences often subtly seep into their demeanor. Yue Can was the kind of girl who looked like she had grown up bathed in sunlight; even in the deepest shadows, her innate radiance couldn’t be concealed.

Yue Can turned her head slightly, her peripheral vision catching Bo Wanzhao’s gaze. Was she looking at me?

Their eyes met briefly, the connection fleeting and ambiguous.

Bo Wanzhao lowered her gaze and reached for the popcorn.

Yue Can glanced at her and proactively offered the bucket.

Bo Wanzhao silently ate a piece of popcorn, the sweet aroma of butter and syrup filling her mouth—much like the impression Yue Can gave.

Yue Can had assumed Bo Wanzhao was just trying a piece, but to her surprise, Bo Wanzhao began eating one after another. So she actually likes it…

The two-hour movie ended.

As they left the theater, Yue Can couldn’t help but tease, “Your sense of humor is way too high!”

“Or maybe yours is just too low?” Bo Wanzhao retorted, recalling Yue Can’s inexplicable, silly laughter throughout the film, which had been more amusing than the movie itself.

“What are you talking about? Didn’t you notice you were the only one not laughing?” Yue Can retorted, unconvinced. “You should enter one of those ‘Don’t Laugh Challenges’! You’d definitely get second place—no one could beat you.”

Bo Wanzhao silently waited for her to finish complaining. “Want to head back?”

Yue Can glanced at the time. It was still early. “Want to go to the ‘Secret Base’?” she asked.

“What ‘Secret Base’?” Bo Wanzhao asked.

If anyone else had asked, she would have immediately refused. Yue Can realized Bo Wanzhao had a double standard when it came to her, and she felt a strange sense of smugness. “It’s the ‘Secret Base’! Will you come with me?”

Again, Bo Wanzhao didn’t refuse.

Twenty minutes later, Yue Can led Bo Wanzhao to an ice rink called “Secret Base.” Looking at the sign, Bo Wanzhao was speechless.

Yue Can knew the owner. “Sis, long time no see!”

“What brings you here today? Aren’t your college entrance exams coming up?” Zhuang Qimeng, recognizing the familiar face, came out to greet her.

“Just taking a half-day break to hang out here.”

Zhuang Qimeng was Luo Yang’s cousin. A few years ago, she quit her job at a big tech company to open this ice rink. Yue Can had come here a few times with Luo Yang and the others, gradually becoming familiar with the place. It truly was their secret base for relaxation.

“Who’s this?” Zhuang Qimeng asked, glancing at Bo Wanzhao beside Yue Can.

Yue Can also glanced at Bo Wanzhao. She had meant to say, “My sister,” but when she opened her mouth, it came out as, “My friend.”

“Your friend is so pretty!” Zhuang Qimeng, ever the warm and welcoming hostess, greeted her enthusiastically. “Hello, I’m Zhuang Qimeng, the owner here.”

“Hello,” Bo Wanzhao replied with a polite nod.

Zhuang Qimeng was always generous with her friends. “It’s been so long since you’ve been here, let me treat you today, sis!”

Yue Can laughed. “That won’t do. Just give us a discount.”

“Don’t be so formal with me.”

“If you always give us freebies, I’ll feel too embarrassed to come back.”

“Alright, a discount it is,” Zhuang Qimeng said, pinching Yue Can’s cheek playfully. “Long time no see! You seem to have gotten much more well-behaved.”

Bo Wanzhao observed their interaction, sensing a close bond between them. She studied Zhuang Qimeng, finding her face vaguely familiar, but didn’t comment further.

Yue Can shot a quick glance at Bo Wanzhao. How could I not be well-behaved? she thought. I’m under the devil’s constant supervision every weekend! She urged Bo Wanzhao, “Come on, let’s go have some fun!”

Bo Wanzhao: “Just have fun.”

Yue Can: “What’s the point of me coming alone if you’re not joining me?”

Bo Wanzhao: “I don’t know how.”

“It’s easy! I’ll teach you,” Yue Can volunteered. “Free lessons from a cute little coach.”

Bo Wanzhao: “……”

How shameless to praise herself like that.

Yue Can grabbed her wrist. “Let’s go.”

Everywhere was crowded on the weekend, making their “secret base” feel anything but secret.

Yue Can bent down to help Bo Wanzhao put on her knee pads.

Bo Wanzhao, deeply uncomfortable with being “taken care of,” stopped her. “I can do it myself.”

Yue Can insisted on helping, meticulously ensuring all safety measures were in place.

As a seasoned skater, Yue Can made a convincing coach. She taught Bo Wanzhao exactly as Zhuang Qimeng had taught her, with unwavering patience.

The first step onto the ice brought a wave of insecurity, but as Bo Wanzhao gradually grew accustomed to the surface, her confidence grew.

Standing by the railing, Yue Can began by teaching Bo Wanzhao how to walk on the ice. As she instructed, she murmured, “How are you learning so fast?”

Bo Wanzhao: “Is learning quickly a problem?”

Yue Can: “You’re learning faster than I did. I feel defeated.”

Bo Wanzhao looked at Yue Can and found it amusing. Once she felt more comfortable on the ice and could glide while holding onto the railing, she said to Yue Can, “Go have fun on your own.”

So she doesn’t need me anymore? Yue Can looked at her. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Pretty much,” Bo Wanzhao replied. “I know my limits.”

Yue Can sensed an inexplicable confidence radiating from the academic prodigy. She felt that if Bo Wanzhao set her mind to learning something, there was nothing she couldn’t master. “Then be careful.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Bo Wanzhao stood by the railing, watching Yue Can glide effortlessly onto the ice, weaving through the crowd with a smile on her face, as free as the wind.

Yue Can noticed Bo Wanzhao watching her and returned a smile.

As Bo Wanzhao continued to observe, a man approached her. “Hey, beautiful, are you here alone?”

“No,” Bo Wanzhao replied.

The man lingered nearby for a moment. “Is this your first time skating? I could teach you…”

Yue Can glanced back and saw the scene unfolding. She immediately changed direction, gliding over in seconds and stopping sharply in front of Bo Wanzhao. She shot the man a cold glare. “She doesn’t need your help.”

“The little beauty skates pretty well.”

Yue Can ignored him with a haughty expression. She turned to Bo Wanzhao and extended her hand. “Let me show you around.”

Bo Wanzhao froze in place.

Yue Can naturally took her hand and gently pulled her forward, inching forward step by step.

Bo Wanzhao’s skin was more sensitive to touch than most people’s. After Yue Can took her hand, she felt the warmth more intensely than others would.

Yue Can, mindful of Bo Wanzhao’s discomfort, moved very slowly, keeping hold of her hand. “Don’t worry,” she said. “I won’t let you fall.”

“You don’t need to worry about me. Go have fun yourself.”

“I said I’d be your coach,” Yue Can replied earnestly, smiling. “Isn’t this fun? I often come here with friends when I’m feeling down…”

Though they were gliding slowly, leisurely strolling along, Bo Wanzhao still felt the gentle breeze caressing her face, a sense of ease washing over her. Perhaps this ease stemmed more from Yue Can’s carefree smile. Being with Yue Can occasionally gave her the illusion that she too belonged in the sunlight.

After spending half the day playing, Yue Can noticed that Bo Wanzhao still seemed tense and unhappy. Yue Can had suddenly suggested taking the afternoon off, partly because she was tired of studying, but mainly because she sensed Bo Wanzhao was in a particularly bad mood.

Yue Can felt truly defeated. Had she been too presumptuous in dragging Bo Wanzhao out to relax this afternoon?

“Bo Wanzhao,” Yue Can called out, her voice heavy with frustration.

Bo Wanzhao, sensing her gloomy tone, asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Am I really such a terrible companion?” Yue Can blurted out awkwardly, her eyes fixed on Bo Wanzhao’s face. “You haven’t even smiled once.”

Bo Wanzhao had noticed Yue Can’s frequent glances throughout the day, but she hadn’t realized it was an attempt to cheer her up.

“Ahhh! Watch out! Sorry, sorry!”

A clumsy beginner skated past, bumping into Bo Wanzhao hard enough to throw her off balance.

Afraid she would fall, Yue Can instinctively reached out to steady her, only to lose her own footing. The two of them tumbled onto the ice in a tangled heap, right in front of everyone.

Bo Wanzhao immediately asked, “Are you hurt?”

People often laugh when they’re embarrassed. Yue Can, still clinging to Bo Wanzhao, grinned through her frown, her voice tinged with playful complaint. “I fell! It hurts.”

Seeing her like this, Bo Wanzhao couldn’t help but smile. “Let’s get up first.”

Yue Can stared at Bo Wanzhao’s smile, dazed. Is she really happy…?

The two stood up. Bo Wanzhao noticed Yue Can’s dazed silence and assumed she had fallen hard. She asked softly, “Does it hurt a lot?”

Yue Can looked at her, wondering why she was always so gentle with her. Her gaze drifted to Bo Wanzhao’s scarred neck. “Does your neck hurt?”

Bo Wanzhao replied, “I didn’t fall.”

Still cautious, Yue Can asked, “I mean… the scars on your neck. Do they hurt a lot?”