The Gaze of the Radio Girl (GL) - Chapter 17

In Xue Ran’s eyes, Wu Lele’s smile always bloomed unexpectedly.

Their first real meeting on the rooftop, she smiled.

When she couldn’t recognize faces, she smiled.

In danger, she smiled.

Smiling was her subconscious shield.

But now, her smile was one of peace.

It calmed her, and it calmed Xue Ran.

The agitation that had lingered for days cooled instantly. Xue Ran said softly: “Yeah, I’m willing.”

The issue was never Xue Ran’s willingness, but Wu Lele’s way of explaining things.

“Look, point A and point B, don’t they look like two stars?”

“Uh… yeah…”

“Now I whoosh extend this line, find the intersection, then swoosh back, and here—crackle pop—extra angles and helper lines appear, then guide this here, plug the data in there, shuffle these formulas around, and bam, the answer pops out.”

“…”

Done for—dizzy, with a side of heart attack.

Xue Ran slumped on the bedroom desk, staring hopelessly out the window.

No wonder she got recommended—genius brains were just different.

Xue Ran accepted her fate.

If she could brave Wu Lele’s thousand-word essays without going blind, a little “whoosh crackle” was manageable.

Calming down from Wu Lele’s verbal assault, Xue Ran slowly got used to her unique system, finally appreciating the brilliance of her thinking.

Problems she couldn’t solve before suddenly clicked; ones she’d solved found simpler proofs.

Why didn’t Wu Lele need to listen in class? She grasped formula derivations fast, applying them flexibly, figuring things out on her own.

Xue Ran had been jealous of Wu Lele’s recommendation, but now, she was convinced.

And such a person was tutoring her like it was a proposal. Xue Ran secretly smiled where Wu Lele couldn’t see.

“Wow, you got it! Ran, you’re smart.”

“Hehe.”

Xue Ran learned Wu Lele’s goofy laugh.

As they chattered, Xue Lin knocked: “Ladies, ready to go?”

Senior year’s winter break passed quickly. They celebrated New Year, set off fireworks, and school started again.

Technically, Wu Lele didn’t need to attend, but she loved it, still napping shamelessly in class.

When Peking University opened, they took leave, accompanied by Xue Lin for a two-day visit.

Wu Lele aimed for physics and astronomy, so the physics department was their first stop.

Everything came alive. She clung to Xue Ran’s arm, looking everywhere, asking nonstop, concluding: “I belong here.”

Xue Lin laughed: “Decided that easily? These majors usually need grad school.”

Wu Lele: “Tao Tao said I could get scholarships. I think I’ll try.”

“That’s awesome, our Lele can do it.”

“Hehe, by the way, Sister, what’s your major?”

“Me? Communications engineering. Interested?”

“Does it involve electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields?”

“It does.”

“Are there amateur radio clubs?”

Xue Ran, pondering majors, froze as Wu Lele’s words hit.

Trouble.

Xue Lin: “Yeah, didn’t Little Ran tell you?”

“Hm? Tell me what?”

Xue Lin glanced at Xue Ran: “I was the club’s president, licensed and all.”

“Really? I got my license too.”

“Wait, I didn’t know?” Xue Lin’s eyes narrowed at Xue Ran. “We’ve got equipment at home. Want it? No need to buy.”

“You don’t use it, Sister?”

“No time to play. I’ll be slaving away soon, plenty of chances, haha, haha.” Xue Lin gave a dry laugh. “Want it? I’ll grab it later.”

“Really okay?”

“Of course!”

“Cough, cough, cough cough cough.”

“You okay, Little Ran?”

Xue Ran: “Ah… probably cold air, choked.”

Xue Lin: “…”

Wu Lele pulled out a thermos: “Ran, quick, drink.”

“…Thanks.”

Xue Lin’s gaze grew weirder, like she saw through Xue Ran’s soul.

Using the drink as an excuse, Xue Ran dodged, then said: “I want to see something too.”

Wu Lele: “Where? Let’s go.”

“Psychology department.”

Studying psychology, especially applied psychology, wasn’t family-approved.

Long ago, they wanted Xue Ran to pick something practical, employable—like law or engineering like Xue Lin.

Xue Ran didn’t know how to choose. Anyway, it’d depend on scores, picking the best school and major her grades allowed.

That night, the Xue family of four talked in Xue Lin’s room.

Xue Haichao: “Why psychology?”

“I… because… I think it’s a shame for Lele. If I’m right, she has some reading and language barrier, so despite her talent, her English, language, and humanities grades kept her from better schools. If Tao Tao hadn’t shown up, she’d be buried. It’s not her choice—she’s a victim, and it’s painful. I want to help Lele, and more kids.”

Lin Ran: “…”

Xue Lin: “…”

“Society’s too uncertain. Even the hottest majors now might flop in four years. If nothing’s certain, why not do what I love?” Xue Ran’s tone grew passionate. “I’ve always believed if I master something I love, no obstacle can stop me. Now I’ve found it—let me try.”

The study stayed silent.

Xue Lin spoke first: “Little Ran, I said don’t compromise for money. That stands. I support you.”

“Yeah… doing what you love should make you happier. If it’s wrong, you can switch majors or careers,” Lin Ran said, nudging Xue Haichao. “Your job’s unrelated to your major, right?”

“Times now aren’t like back then,” Xue Haichao frowned, sighing. “Go, pick what you love. You’re free, but freedom means responsibility. Your biggest responsibility is living your life without regrets.”

Xue Ran lowered her head: “Thank you… thank you all…”

“Enough moping, get going,” Xue Lin ruffled her hair. “Lele’s waiting.”

In the room, Wu Lele had dozed off waiting.

Xue Ran covered her with a jacket, pulled a chair, sat beside her, and kept working.

Unseen, Wu Lele blinked, unsure whether to get up or keep pretending.

She closed her eyes, and within a minute, fell asleep for real.

Waking the next morning, she was on Xue Ran’s bed.

Her class monitor’s long lashes made her a sleeping beauty.

Wu Lele couldn’t resist touching them—ticklish, cute, addictive.

She touched again, but Xue Ran grabbed her hand.

“This hand’s confiscated.”

Freshly awake, Xue Ran’s voice was lazy, nasal, buzzing, reminding her of the Deep Space Witch.

Xue Ran gripped her wrist, pinning it to the bed, as if to stop more mischief.

“Ran, time to get up.”

“Few more minutes… alarm hasn’t gone off…”

“It’s close.”

“…Nag.”

Xue Ran’s long arm pulled her into a hug.

Wu Lele couldn’t move.

She didn’t dare.

She saw something heart-racing she shouldn’t have, quickly closing her eyes, pretending nothing happened.

Hold on—the alarm’s coming soon.

Wu Lele, Ran’s so great, be a gentleman!

Five minutes dragged like years. The alarm rang, and Wu Lele rolled out: “I’ll brush my teeth, wash up.”

Her heart pounded, limbs shaky. In the bathroom, she realized the face wash and toothpaste were gone.

Face wash could wait, but not toothpaste.

She returned, asking: “Got any…”

Wu Lele froze.

Blinking, she saw her class monitor curled in the blanket, grinning ear to ear.

Seeing her, Xue Ran flattened her smile, expressionless: “What?”

“Oh…”

Was she imagining it?

“Ran, got new toothpaste? We’re out.”

Xue Ran pointed: “New one in the cabinet, take it.”

“Okay.”

“Squeeze from the bottom.”

“Okay.”

Taking it, Wu Lele headed out but was stopped.

“Close the door.”

“…Oh.”

She felt her class monitor was hiding something.

She wanted to ask, but she felt guilty—she was hiding something too.

Wu Haosen’s court date was around the second mock exam. She and Tao Tao agreed not to tell Xue Ran—if she knew, she’d sacrifice her scarce study time again.

For Wu Lele, Xue Ran’s importance kept growing.

She had so many things she wanted to do with her. For Wu Haosen…

Not worth it.

Honestly, those three words shocked even Wu Lele.

Once, she relied so heavily on that man, thinking she couldn’t live without him, so she endured, silent.

Until she saw Xue Haichao, Lin Ran, and Xue Lin, she realized what a healthy family looked like.

Having seen light, she couldn’t go back.

She couldn’t untangle her feelings for Wu Haosen—how much hate, love, or just fear and resistance.

Too complex.

All she knew was she wanted to stay with Ran.

Using the Peking University visit as an excuse, with Xue Haichao, Lin Ran, and Xue Lin, she sat in the plaintiff’s seat for the first time.

In quiet nights, she’d imagined confronting him countless times, ready to bare her scars.

But reality wasn’t like TV. The lawyer, hired through legal aid by the women’s federation, submitted evidence early. It felt procedural, solemn, calm.

Wu Haosen sat nearby, an aisle between them.

His gaze stuck to her like plaster.

Wu Lele felt uneasy, guilt surging back.

—He’s your father, your only family.

—You’re disowning kin, unfilial.

—Even if he hit you, it’s for your good. What father hasn’t disciplined their child?

Some don’t—Xue Haichao wouldn’t hit Xue Lin or Xue Ran.

Wu Lele lifted her head, meeting Wu Haosen’s gaze.

It went smoothly until the defense presented a mental illness certificate.

She knew Wu Haosen was sick, but the jargon was beyond her.

She only understood he was deemed partially incapacitated, eligible for probation and treatment.

Panic hit—did this mean she’d have to live with him again?

Wu Haosen seemed to read her, suddenly saying: “Lele, don’t abandon Dad. Dad knows he was wrong…”

“Defendant, be quiet.”

—Wu Lele, will you really treat your family like this?

In that moment, she was back months ago, curling up, shrinking into a ball.

Everyone noticed her change, but the process continued until the judge’s gavel fell.