The Gaze of the Radio Girl (GL) - Chapter 20

“…Is that so? Well, congratulations then.”

Xue Ran turned her gaze away, leaving Wu Lele somewhat puzzled.

When Wu Lele got home, she hurriedly packed her things.

She didn’t have much to pack, but the most important thing was the gift for Xue Ran.

She prepared a small card, sat at her desk, and thought for a long time. She took the card out of the drawer, put it back, and repeated this several times before finally making up her mind and picking up the pen.

Her language skills weren’t great, and she didn’t know how to express her feelings, so she wrote just a few words and put them in an envelope. The envelope was placed inside a box, waiting for the right moment.

They finally chose an eastern island from many options. Early in the morning, they had to gather at Drum Tower Park, take a bus to the dock, and then board a boat to the island.

Xue Ran sat expressionlessly on the bus, staring out the window.

In contrast, before the trip even started, Hu Xin was already hyped up, livening the mood with the tour guide.

Amid the excitement, Wu Lele secretly glanced at Xue Ran. “Aran, I’m sorry, I stayed up too late last night. Are you tired?”

Xue Ran looked up at her. “No.”

“Then…”

“Lend me your shoulder to rest on.”

“Oh, okay…”

Wu Lele’s shoulder sank as Xue Ran leaned against her and closed her eyes.

As friends and family, Xue Ran’s trust and reliance made Wu Lele happy.

But she felt her ambitions growing, her heart pounding nonstop, bound to get her in trouble sooner or later.

Throughout the journey, Xue Ran seemed uninterested until they checked into the hotel and settled their luggage.

Outside the hotel was a vast beach.

Wu Lele had never seen the sea before and took out her phone to snap pictures wildly.

“Lele, time to gather.”

Xue Ran opened the room door, reminding Wu Lele it was time to go.

Wu Lele hurriedly followed, but Xue Ran stopped moving.

“What’s wrong?”

A cool sensation touched her head as Xue Ran placed a straw hat on her.

“Wear it. Be careful not to get sunburned.”

“…Okay!”

The graduation trip was on a tight budget, with a simple itinerary, all about enjoying a low-cost adventure.

The group chattered noisily, treating mountains and seas like they were nothing special. Even spotting a stick insect got them as excited as if they’d witnessed a world wonder.

As twilight fell and the tide rose, a bonfire was built on the beach. They sat around it, starting a barbecue.

Since working at a diner, Wu Lele had grown to love cooking and mixing drinks.

She sprinkled some cumin, and the aroma was enticing. Hu Lei walked over voluntarily. “I’ll help you. Is this how you flip it?”

“Yes. Hey, since you’re here, I’ll go mix drinks for everyone. What do you want?”

Hu Lei gave a helpless smile. “You choose for me.”

“Then a green grape soda, something refreshing.”

Wu Lele’s heart was all about the drinks.

She wrote down everyone’s preferences on paper, shaking a cocktail shaker by a small table.

More people gathered around, and someone said, “Witch, how are regular people like us supposed to compete with you?”

Wu Lele didn’t understand.

“Look at you. You don’t worry about studies, and you’ll probably have no trouble finding a job later. Plus, with these skills, you could set up a stall and survive. Unlike me, I don’t even know how my grades are, and thinking about graduating unemployed in four years…”

“Hey, stop it! The mood was great.”

“Yeah, aren’t we here to relax before the results come out?”

“No talking about that tonight, no talking about that.”

“Live in the moment, bro.”

Wu Lele looked at them, thought for a moment, and pulled out colored markers from a small bag. She drew an amulet pattern on a square card, wrote “wealth” in the center, clipped it to a plastic cup, and handed it over. “Your special drink. Everything you want will come true, no problem, hehe.”

In the distance, the bonfire crackled as wood snapped.

The classmate took the drink and sniffed hard. “Yeah, it’ll all come true!”

“Witch, I want one too!”

“I want a big blessing, a huge one!!!”

Wu Lele said, “Sure, but you’ll have to wait.”

“I’ll wait! I’ll wait no matter what!!”

Wu Lele said, “Then the barbecue…”

“I’ll take care of it!”

“Me too!!!”

“I’ll get more vegetables and seafood from the hotel!!!”

“Wow, your Lele is way too popular, huh?”

Hu Xin sipped her No. 2 special drink, lounging in a beach chair with her legs crossed.

“…Too popular, indeed.”

Xue Ran looked down at the ice and mint leaves in her cup, not wanting to say more.

“What are you worrying about? Lele gave you the first drink. What more do you want? You can’t lock her in a room and keep her to yourself, can you?”

Well… it’s not like she hadn’t thought about it.

Xue Ran took a sip of her mint lemon soda and asked Hu Xin, “Is there something you and Lele are hiding from me?”

Hu Xin’s hand paused mid-drink. “Why would you ask that? What could we be hiding from you?”

Xue Ran didn’t answer, just looked at her quietly.

Hu Xin gritted her teeth and suddenly said, “It’s not like we meant to hide it from you. We just wanted to surprise you.”

“What surprise?”

“If I tell you, it won’t be a surprise. Anyway… you’ll find out later tonight.”

The barbecue was freshly grilled, the drinks were mixed, and Wu Lele, having completed her mission, was pulled back by Hu Xin and pressed into a beach chair. “Witch, you should rest too.”

Wu Lele held a pile of barbecue—meat, seafood, vegetables. “Hehe, Aran, try some?”

Xue Ran picked up a skewer and nibbled small bites. “It’s good.”

“Right? I have a secret recipe.”

“Where’d you get the recipe?”

“The manager taught me.”

Xue Ran’s hand froze mid-bite, and she struggled to swallow the meat.

Suddenly, even the freshest meat didn’t taste as good.

But she’d been sweating all day climbing hills and wading through water, so she was starving. Seeing Wu Lele’s earnest enthusiasm, she reluctantly devoured it.

“I’ll get you some more.”

“Don’t move, I’ll get it.”

Xue Ran carried a plate and walked straight to Hu Lei.

Hu Lei got the hint. “Do you want Lele’s or mine? Mine might not be as good…”

“I want yours.”

The noisy crowd suddenly fell silent.

Hu Lei scratched the back of his head awkwardly. “Class leader, I’m sorry, I have someone I like…”

“I meant the meat!! Give me the meat!!! I’m getting some for Wu Lele too!!!!”

Hu Lei’s eyes lit up. “Right away, right away, it’s almost ready.”

Tch, really…

Xue Ran glanced at Hu Lei’s muscular frame, grinding her teeth. Why was everyone eyeing her person?

Those jerks!!!

Wu Lele held her cool drink, squinting comfortably. “Aran gets along so well with everyone.”

Pfft—

A fountain exploded beside her. Hu Xin coughed a few times, awkwardly wiping her mouth.

“…Wu Lele.”

“Hm?”

“The book I gave you… did you really read it?”

“Why bring that up?” Wu Lele touched her earlobe, embarrassed. “I read it all…”

“Then you…”

“The stuff in it is too wild. I can’t learn it…”

“…Besides the action scenes, didn’t you pick up anything else? Like, feelings between people… things like that.”

“Yeah, I learned that love can’t be forced.”

“…Huh?”

“It has to be mutual. You can’t force it, or it’ll end badly.”

“…Hahaha?”

“So I’ll wait patiently.”

Hu Xin covered her face. “I have more at home. Want to read them?”

Wu Lele was eager. “Really? Can I?”

“I think you need to study more, keep improving yourself to win.”

As they spoke, a phone ring interrupted them.

Hu Xin glanced at it. “Let’s go. The manager says the fireworks are ready.”

“Where?”

Hu Xin pointed to the other side of the beach. “To keep it discreet, it’s a bit far. Once we’re ready, they’ll start.”

“Okay, I’ll go get it now.”

“Watch your step.”

Xue Ran took the “feast” from Hu Lei, biting the meat fiercely to vent.

Made specially for Wu Lele?

Hmph, watch me eat it all!

I won’t leave a single bite for Wu Lele!

Suddenly, a sharp whistle pierced the sky.

A streak of light shot up, bursting into golden fireworks, scattering across the earth.

More whistles followed, strings of light rising, turning the dark sky into a sea of flowers, blending heaven and earth.

Xue Ran instinctively looked toward Wu Lele, but the beach chair was empty.

She searched around and suddenly saw Wu Lele coming from the hotel, holding a cake.

Hu Xin helped shield the candlelight from the wind, each step careful.

Everyone gathered, singing the birthday song, blending with the fireworks’ booms.

Wu Lele walked up to her, smiling. “Happy birthday, Aran.”

The candlelight warmed her face, her radiant smile blooming just for her.

Xue Ran suddenly felt she was too petty, always fixating on odd details and forgetting to look at Wu Lele more.

She leaned forward, made a wish, and blew out the candles.

“Class leader, happy birthday!”

“Class leader, what did you wish for?”

Xue Ran didn’t speak, just quietly took the cake, handed it to Hu Xin, and hugged Wu Lele tightly, swaying.

“Aran?”

Wu Lele’s hands froze mid-air, unsure where to go, like a round little penguin.

Xue Ran squinted and laughed.

“Thanks, Lele!”

Wu Lele’s eyes trembled, her unsure hands finally finding their place, quietly resting on Xue Ran’s back.

Sigh, friends…

How much longer can you two stay just friends?

Hu Xin held the forgotten cake, turned to cut it, and saw Hu Lei standing there stunned.

Everyone thought Wu Lele and Xue Ran were just close friends, even the two of them were blind to it.

Only those watching closely could see what this intimacy truly meant.

The sister saw it, and so did the brother.

Hu Xin patted Hu Lei’s shoulder. “Come on, help me cut the cake?”

Hu Lei looked down, staring at the skewers in his hand, then set them aside. “Yeah… where’s the knife?”

“Oh, it’s still at the hotel.”

“…”

“I forgot to bring it.”

“…Are you sure you’re not messing with me?”

“Too busy being heartbroken to bother.”

The party roared on, someone sneaked in a few beers, and the scene went wild.

Xue Ran pulled Wu Lele to a reef, sitting together.

The crowd’s noise faded, leaving only the sound of waves washing the beach.

Wu Lele quietly watched Xue Ran’s hair, messed by the wind, a surge of perfect timing urging her to reach into her skirt pocket.

“Aran,” she took out a velvet box, presenting it with both hands. “This is my gift for you… happy, happy birthday.”

Wu Lele tried hard but still stuttered.

She sneaked a glance at Xue Ran, whose eyes squinted against the wind. “What’s that?”

“Take a look?”

Xue Ran opened the box. A silver bracelet lay on velvet.

The bracelet was delicate, set with a few stones glimmering faintly in the moonlight.

“What stones are these? They’re pretty.”

“Moonstone and labradorite. They come in lots of colors. I was greedy and picked one of each. Like it?”

“…It’s pretty… Did you work just for this?”

“No, no, no, I just wanted to experience life.”

Wu Lele didn’t want Aran to feel burdened, so she downplayed it. “It’s simple, just a few snaps to put together, and the stones aren’t expensive…”

Before she could finish, Xue Ran handed back the open box. “Put it on for me.”

“…Huh?”

“I want you to put it on me.”

Wu Lele understood.

Birthdays needed a certain ceremony. She took the bracelet, gently placed it on Xue Ran’s left wrist, fastened it, and adjusted it slightly. The faintly glowing stones were like stars fallen to earth.

Wu Lele giggled. “The size is perfect, huh.”

“Yeah, just right… When did you measure?”

“I didn’t. I just felt it should be like this, hehe.”

“…So silly.”

“…Shouldn’t you say I’m smart?”

Xue Ran chuckled. “Yes, you’re the smartest.”

“Aran…”

“Hm?”

Wu Lele’s hand slipped back into her pocket, clutching the small card tightly, damp with sweat.