Fall - Chapter 14

Bo Wanzhao could sense the cautious concern in Yue Can’s voice. She replied softly, “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Neither said more. Yue Can didn’t press further; their relationship hadn’t yet reached the level of intimacy where they could share their deepest thoughts. Still, Yue Can admitted to herself that she had harbored a faint hope—a hope that Bo Wanzhao might open up on her own.

Perhaps it was a rebellious streak, but the more Bo Wanzhao maintained her aloofness, the more Yue Can felt a burning curiosity to break through her defenses and get closer.

But Bo Wanzhao showed no signs of offering an opening.

Yue Can shifted the conversation to a trivial topic. “You still haven’t answered my question.”

“What question?” Bo Wanzhao asked.

“How am I as a playmate?” Yue Can asked, recalling the rare, genuine smile that had flashed across Bo Wanzhao’s face when they had tumbled together earlier.

“Quite professional,” Bo Wanzhao replied.

Professional? What a detached and objective description. Yue Can winked at her, grinning smugly. “So, you’re completely satisfied with me?”

Bo Wanzhao smiled faintly but remained silent.

Yue Can found her too “reserved.” Bo Wanzhao never displayed strong emotions—no visible joy, anger, happiness, sadness, care, or indifference.

After skating for over an hour, they left their “secret base” at dusk. The lingering sunlight painted the bustling streets in warm, healing hues, like a scene from an anime.

Yue Can pulled out her phone to snap a few photos.

Bo Wanzhao noticed and stopped to wait for her.

“Done,” Yue Can said, tucking her phone back into her pocket after taking two quick shots.

As they continued walking home, their long, slanted shadows merged on the ground. Yue Can pondered: Perhaps Bo Wanzhao agreed to come out today mostly to fulfill my request. Making someone who’s already in a bad mood go out of their way to accommodate me…

That’s kind of annoying, Yue Can suddenly realized. She glanced sideways at Bo Wanzhao and blurted out, “Do you find me annoying?”

Bo Wanzhao turned her head.

“If you do, you don’t have to always go along with everything I want…” Yue Can continued, thinking more carefully. She seemed to always be troubling Bo Wanzhao, who always unconditionally complied.

Before she could finish her mumbling, Bo Wanzhao softly replied, “I don’t.”

Yue Can fell silent, her gaze lingering for a few seconds. She noticed the sunset casting a gentle, flattering glow on Bo Wanzhao’s face. She couldn’t tell if Bo Wanzhao was being sincere or just giving a perfunctory answer. After all, even if Bo Wanzhao did find her annoying, she would never say it directly.

The next day at noon, Yue Can and Zhong Ran were in the cafeteria, tackling their lunch.

Zhong Ran stared at the negligible slivers of meat in her carrot stir-fry, groaning dramatically. “I’m practically turning into a rabbit! It’s the same few dishes every day—there’s absolutely nothing to look forward to.”

“Just hang in there for another month and a half,” Yue Can replied, eating listlessly. “Then we’ll have something to look forward to.”

“You really should have come to the movies with us this weekend…” Zhong Ran said, her voice trailing off. She hadn’t dared suggest watching an R-rated lesbian film with Luo Yang at home, so they ended up going to the cinema. During lunch, she eagerly recounted the movie to Yue Can.

It turned out to be the critically acclaimed animated film. Yue Can picked ginger slivers out of her bowl and casually remarked, “I saw it yesterday afternoon. It was pretty good.”

“You went to the movies yesterday afternoon?” Zhong Ran exclaimed, realizing the discrepancy. “Didn’t you say you were catching up on your studies?”

“Can’t I take half a day off to relax after studying hard?” Yue Can retorted.

Zhong Ran’s face was a mask of confusion. “Last week when I begged you to take half a day off, what did you say? You acted like you were completely obsessed with studying, like you were possessed!”

Yue Can fell silent, realizing she was somewhat in the wrong.

“Who did you go with?” Zhong Ran suddenly noticed another oversight, her voice rising in protest. “Why wouldn’t you hang out with me when I asked, but you’d go with someone else?”

“It was a last-minute decision,” Yue Can replied.

“So, who was it?” Zhong Ran’s sensitivity flared. Considering Yue Can’s recent unusual behavior, suspicion was inevitable. “Can ah, do you… have someone?”

Yue Can sighed, cutting off Zhong Ran’s spiraling thoughts. “You’re overthinking things.”

“What’s there to be embarrassed about telling me? I promise I won’t tell anyone.” Zhong Ran leaned closer, her eyes gleaming with gossip, and boldly speculated, “Did you fall for a top student?”

Yue Can: “……”

Zhong Ran’s mind seemed to be filled with nothing but such matters.

“So…” Zhong Ran had already conjured up a whole scenario in her mind. “You skipped class yesterday afternoon for a date? How romantic!”

“What are you even imagining?” Yue Can retorted, her face twisted in disdain. She cut straight to the point: “I went with Bo Wanzhao.”

“Bo Wanzhao? Your tutor even watches movies with you? That’s amazing!” Zhong Ran knew Bo Wanzhao’s name—she had relentlessly pestered Yue Can to reveal it earlier. Her eyes widened, brimming with envy. “What kind of god-tier tutor is that? How come I never get one like that?”

“No, our relationship is… complicated,” Yue Can hesitated, then briefly explained to Zhong Ran that she had become acquainted with Bo Wanzhao through Tan Ming. She didn’t mention the financial support—Bo Wanzhao preferred to keep such personal matters private.

After listening, Zhong Ran asked, “So she’s like your older sister?”

“You could say that, but we’re not very close,” Yue Can replied.

Zhong Ran recalled how Yue Can had described Bo Wanzhao as a “demon” during winter break, yet now her attitude had completely shifted. “So you two developed feelings for each other while studying?”

Yue Can pursed her lips. The way Zhong Ran phrased it sounded so inappropriate. Still, over the past two months, she had indeed grown much closer to Bo Wanzhao…

Bo Wanzhao always took care of her. It was only right that Yue Can reciprocate her kindness.

After the May min-exam, the countdown to the national college entrance exam dwindled to less than thirty days. The temperature gradually rose, and the scent of summer grew stronger.

The warm air outside finally seemed to penetrate the walls, making the air in the rented room less chilly. A warm breeze drifted through the worn-out window from the alley, bringing with it a hint of summer.

Since their trip to the ice rink, Yue Can felt her relationship with Bo Wanzhao was gradually “warming up,” much like the weather in Naxia in May. They had become more familiar with each other.

Besides lectures and study sessions, Yue Can occasionally joked with Bo Wanzhao. If Yue Can’s mind wandered, Bo Wanzhao would gently tap her head with a pen and remind her to “focus.”

In the May monthly exam, Yue Can improved her score by another thirty points, feeling she was finally on the verge of joining the ranks of good students.

The breeze rustled the exam papers as Bo Wanzhao meticulously reviewed them, conducting her usual post-exam analysis.

Yue Can waited beside her, idly twirling a pen in her hand. Bo Wanzhao remained silent, her eyes fixed on the papers. Unable to contain herself, Yue Can offered a friendly reminder: “I scored thirty points higher than last time.”

Bo Wanzhao, still looking down, simply murmured, “Mm.”

Yue Can prompted more directly, “Aren’t you going to praise me?”

Bo Wanzhao closed the exam paper in her hand and looked at her.

Yue Can continued to nag, “You didn’t praise me after the Second Mock Exam either.” She remembered it vividly. She had deliberately slipped her grade report into the exam paper and waited ages, but Bo Wanzhao hadn’t uttered a single word of praise.

Bo Wanzhao said, “Not bad. You’re improving every time.”

Yue Can’s lips pressed together more tightly. Is that supposed to be praise? she thought. It’s practically dripping with insincerity. She blurted out, “That’s such a half-hearted compliment!”

Bo Wanzhao set down the exam paper. “How should I praise you to make it sound sincere?”

Yue Can pondered for a moment. “Like… for example…”

Bo Wanzhao met her gaze. “For example?”

Yue Can locked eyes with her, a sudden impulse rising within her. Her lips curved into a smile as she said softly, “Baby, you’re amazing! Keep up the good work.”

Bo Wanzhao stared at her, her brow furrowing slightly.

Yue Can burst into laughter at Bo Wanzhao’s utterly serious expression. This is so much fun! she thought, nearly choking from laughter.

Bo Wanzhao’s gaze shifted, and she simply watched Yue Can laugh.

Yue Can was adept at pushing her luck, even muttering impatiently, “Say it…” She gazed expectantly at Bo Wanzhao, her lips and eyes brimming with laughter, as if waiting for her to speak.

Bo Wanzhao’s expression was ambiguous, neither smiling nor frowning. She stared into Yue Can’s laughing eyes and asked slowly, “In a good mood today?”

Yue Can nodded. “Not bad.” Though Bo Wanzhao always reacted calmly to her teasing, Yue Can still found it amusing.

Bo Wanzhao: “Since you’re in such a good mood, how about we add two extra study sessions tonight and do two more practice tests?”

What?!

Yue Can’s smile visibly stiffened.

Bo Wanzhao watched her calmly, maintaining her usual unflappable demeanor.

Yue Can: “Bo Wanzhao.”

Bo Wanzhao: “Hmm?”

Yue Can: “You’re a devil…”

Bo Wanzhao lowered her head, flipping through another test paper.

Yue Can noticed a faint curve at the corner of Bo Wanzhao’s lips as she looked down.

The brief exchange lightened the study atmosphere. Yue Can conscientiously picked up her error notebook to review. After flipping through a few pages, she glanced at Bo Wanzhao. “Are you free tonight?”

Bo Wanzhao looked up at the opportune moment. “What is it?”

Yue Can: “Adding two extra study sessions wouldn’t be a problem.”