The True Record of a Flirty Omega's Failed Balancing Act - Chapter 16

Chapter 16

◎So glad you still remember◎

Cheng Yuxin suddenly looked up. She was a little stunned and stared at Ning Chanyue for two seconds, but she accepted it quickly. After a while, her eyebrows relaxed, and she smiled and said, “Oh… that makes sense. After all, I’ve never seen Xu Guiyi let anyone stay at her place before.”

Ning Chanyue raised an eyebrow, as if jokingly saying, “You don’t live with her, so how do you know she hasn’t brought anyone home?”

“You know her personality. She has a strong sense of boundaries. I’ve known her for a few years, and one time I wanted to stay at her place for one night, but she immediately rejected me,” Cheng Yuxin said, slapping her thigh and leaning closer to Ning Chanyue. “She not only lives with you but also marked you. She must really like you.”

Is that so?

Cheng Yuxin’s words were like a hydrogen balloon, making Ning Chanyue’s mood float upward.

But perhaps because Cheng Yuxin mentioned bringing people home, or perhaps because of the small dining table in front of her sister, the next second, Ning Chanyue vaguely remembered the conversation Xu Guiyi and she had at the dining table that day.

She instantly pulled back the corners of her lips that were about to lift.

Xu Guiyi had said that… after they broke up, she had dated many people, and each one was more satisfying than her.

Just briefly recalling these words, Ning Chanyue’s heart felt a dense pain again, as if the hydrogen balloon had been instantly punctured, and her heart was heavily thrown back to the ground.

That’s right. If what Cheng Yuxin said was true, then why did Xu Guiyi lie to her like that?

But perhaps it was a telepathic connection, or perhaps it was a coincidence. Just as Ning Chanyue was thinking about this, she heard Cheng Yuxin’s phone vibrate a few times, as if someone had called her. Then, Cheng Yuxin shook her phone in front of Ning Chanyue, letting her see who the caller was.

It was Xu Guiyi.

Cheng Yuxin didn’t avoid Ning Chanyue and directly put the phone on speaker, greeting Xu Guiyi.

She heard Xu Guiyi’s familiar voice from the phone. She said to Cheng Yuxin, “Are you still at the hospital? Are you going back to school later?”

Although Xu Guiyi couldn’t see her, Cheng Yuxin still shook her head. “No, I’m not going back. I have an interview near the Second Hospital at three. I’ll go straight there. What’s wrong?”

Xu Guiyi was silent for a while, not saying anything. It was during this time that a faint voice of an older person came from the background, asking Xu Guiyi if she still hadn’t found it.

Xu Guiyi talked with that voice from a distance. Ning Chanyue couldn’t hear it clearly. After almost a minute, Xu Guiyi finally put the phone closer and said clearly, “I left my USB drive at the hospital. There’s some important data in it. If you’re not going back to school, I’ll think of another way.”

“Oh, if you had told me ten minutes earlier, I would have taken a taxi to send it to you. Unfortunately, it’s not easy to get a taxi near the Second Hospital. Otherwise, for this short distance, I could have just brought it to you myself.”

But Cheng Yuxin’s words seemed to remind Ning Chanyue. She leaned over and said to the phone, “I’ll go get it for you, Guiyi. I went to the hotel I used to stay at this morning and drove my car here. It’s not even 2:30. If I drive fast, half an hour round trip should be enough. It won’t delay Yuxin’s interview, and I can come back to look after your sister for her.”

“But I’m already asking you to take care of my sister today. It would be too much trouble to ask you to deliver something too.”

Ning Chanyue pouted. “Just say yes or no.”

Xu Guiyi was silent for a few seconds, as if she was hesitating. In the end, she said, “Okay, thank you.”

After saying that, Xu Guiyi told Ning Chanyue where her USB drive was and which academic building she was in. Then she hung up the phone.

But when Ning Chanyue looked up again, she saw Cheng Yuxin looking at her strangely with her head tilted. She said, “You two are so polite.”

She knew what Cheng Yuxin wanted to say. They were too polite, not like a normal A/O couple.

But Ning Chanyue could only pretend that she didn’t care. She shrugged and said, “That’s just how she is. Like you just said, she has a strong sense of boundaries, so she might seem a little distant to everyone.”

Ning Chanyue herself didn’t seem to believe this excuse, after all, she had experienced what Xu Guiyi was like during their honeymoon phase. But her words seemed to have convinced Cheng Yuxin, who let out a sound of sudden realization. Then, Ning Chanyue got up and said goodbye to her.

But Cheng Yuxin seemed to have suddenly remembered something. She called out to Ning Chanyue, who had already reached the door.

She heard her ask from behind, “Do you know how to get to the building Xu Guiyi mentioned?”

“I do.” Ning Chanyue nodded.

That’s right. Not to mention the academic buildings of Nancheng Medical University, Ning Chanyue had long been familiar with the unnamed flowers, plants, bridges, and lakes there.

Ning Chanyue got in the car. She didn’t even turn on the navigation and just started the car. Fortunately, the traffic wasn’t congested along the way. After three traffic lights, she arrived at the entrance of the Medical University. After parking the car, Ning Chanyue walked quickly to the bottom of the academic building Xu Guiyi had mentioned.

“Is this it?”

When Ning Chanyue jogged up to the third floor, she saw Xu Guiyi walking down the stairs. She quickly took a few steps forward and asked breathlessly.

“Yes, I just saw the message you sent. I was just about to go downstairs to look for you,” Xu Guiyi took the USB drive from Ning Chanyue and said, “Thank you.”

Thank you again.

Just as Cheng Yuxin said, polite and distant.

A few years ago, after she became familiar with Xu Guiyi, Ning Chanyue discovered that Xu Guiyi had this habit. She was always unwilling to trouble Ning Chanyue. If she did, she would always have “thank you” or “sorry” on her lips, to the point that it was almost her catchphrase.

So, when Xu Guiyi said “thank you” for the nth time, she would pretend to be angry, push Xu Guiyi, and say, “That way I can’t feel your gratitude. If you really want to thank me, then give me a kiss.”

After that, every time Xu Guiyi was polite to her, she would say this to Xu Guiyi. Over time, Xu Guiyi finally changed this habit in front of her.

How come after not seeing each other for a few years, it was like this again?

Hmph.

Ning Chanyue also hmphed out loud. Then, Xu Guiyi asked her, “What’s wrong?”

Ning Chanyue pushed Xu Guiyi as usual, pouting, “You know what’s wrong.”

Xu Guiyi squinted and pondered for a while. Then, she lowered her head again and looked at Ning Chanyue.

She didn’t say anything. Instead, she pulled down Ning Chanyue’s mask and gave her a light kiss in Ning Chanyue’s expectant eyes.

Just like before.

Only then did Ning Chanyue finally break into a smile. Her almond-shaped eyes instantly curved into crescents. A ray of sunlight leaked from the window and happened to shine on Ning Chanyue’s eyes. Her eyes squinted from the glare, and her pupils moved from side to side, which made the bright eyes look like they really had a wave of affection rippling within them.

“I’ll walk you out.” Xu Guiyi said this as she looked at Ning Chanyue’s smiling face, not knowing if she wanted to spend more time with Ning Chanyue or if it was out of politeness.

Hearing this, Ning Chanyue’s eyes instantly lit up even more. She blinked at Xu Guiyi.

But she still asked, “Are you not in a hurry to go back?”

“Not very. This USB drive is for my advisor, but she was temporarily called to a meeting, and I don’t think she’ll be back anytime soon. There’s nothing for me to do sitting in that room,” Xu Guiyi said, but then she seemed to hesitate, slowing down her speech. She paused and then said, “If we appear in public, will the media take pictures? Will it affect you?”

But with Xu Guiyi taking the initiative for once, how could Ning Chanyue say no? She grabbed Xu Guiyi’s wrist and said to her, “It’s fine. Let’s go. We were photographed at the hospital that day because You Zhuoqing was making too much of a scene. Besides, we can walk slowly to the gate now. If we delay any longer, we’ll delay Cheng Yuxin’s schedule.”

Xu Guiyi nodded at Ning Chanyue’s impatient actions. She also held Ning Chanyue’s hand and said, “Then let’s go.”

Ning Chanyue and Xu Guiyi went downstairs. Right around the corner of the academic building was a small garden. The two of them were walking in that direction.

A few years ago in the spring, every time Ning Chanyue and Xu Guiyi came out of the academic building, they would smell the fragrance of flowers floating from here. But it was already late spring. Spring was gradually getting old, and the flowers were also gradually getting old. Ning Chanyue walked to the corner and looked at it with anticipation, but she only saw a few sparse flowers left in the garden, softly lying on the branches. The petals on them were stacked on top of each other, like an old person frowning while lamenting the shortness of time.

That’s right, time is short.

Ning Chanyue vaguely remembered the first time she and Xu Guiyi walked in this campus. It had been seven or eight years in a flash.

Thinking of this, Ning Chanyue held Xu Guiyi’s hand a little tighter.

“Hmm?”

Feeling Ning Chanyue’s action, Xu Guiyi turned her head to look at her.

Ning Chanyue bent her eyebrows and eyes and said, “It’s been a long time since I walked around campus with you. I’m happy.”

After hearing that, Xu Guiyi didn’t say much. She just slowed down her pace. She turned her head and used her eyes to trace Ning Chanyue inch by inch in the garden. Ning Chanyue was standing against the light, which should have been very glaring, but Xu Guiyi’s eyes were tightly fixed on Ning Chanyue’s body, not leaving for a single inch.

“What’s wrong?” Ning Chanyue asked.

“You look good.”

Ning Chanyue raised an eyebrow. “Better than you looked in the auditorium a few days ago?”

“You look good in both, but you seem more real like this.” Xu Guiyi said sincerely.

Ning Chanyue smiled, and Xu Guiyi smiled with her.

After that, the two of them didn’t talk. They just held hands and walked on the road like an old couple. Ning Chanyue and Xu Guiyi had walked this road thousands of times, from Xu Guiyi’s first year of college to her second year of graduate school. But as long as she was with Xu Guiyi, Ning Chanyue never seemed to get tired of walking it.

Well… there was one time she did. Once in her senior year, she had joked to Xu Guiyi that she was a little tired of looking at this road. If she got into Central Medical University for her graduate degree next year, she might be able to show her a new view and a bigger world.

Thinking of this, Ning Chanyue’s footsteps suddenly paused.

“What are you thinking about?” Xu Guiyi looked at Ning Chanyue’s slightly vacant face, shook her hand, and asked.

“I’m thinking… you could have gone to Central Medical University.”

That’s right, Xu Guiyi had wanted to study at Central Medical University since high school. Ning Chanyue knew that.

So after the college entrance exam, when she was already accepted into Nancheng Academy of Art, she looked at Xu Guiyi’s score, which was much higher than hers. While congratulating her, she couldn’t help but feel a little sad at the thought of being forced to separate.

Unexpectedly, Xu Guiyi changed her choice. Although Xu Guiyi didn’t say it, was it for her?

When this matter was suddenly brought up, Xu Guiyi’s tone was quite relaxed. She smiled, “You still remember that? I don’t even think it’s a big deal anymore.”

How could she not remember? When she first found out about it, she was happy, but then came the guilt. She said to Xu Guiyi with worry, “Don’t delay your future for me.”

But Xu Guiyi comforted her in turn, saying that she could major in the best program at this university, and it would be the same if she went to Central Medical University for graduate school.

But although Xu Guiyi said she was going to get her graduate degree there, they were still walking on this familiar campus.

Ning Chanyue had never asked Xu Guiyi why she gave up on going to Central Medical University again, but she seemed to know who Xu Guiyi did it for this time as well.

She just opened her mouth and asked, “Do you still want to go to that school now?”

Xu Guiyi shook her head. “That’s in the past. There are more important things now.”

Ning Chanyue bit her lip but didn’t say anything else.

“We’re at the school gate.” Xu Guiyi shook her hand again to remind her.

Ning Chanyue looked at the school gate that was within reach. “That was fast.”

“See you tonight.”

“…See you tonight.”

Ning Chanyue held Xu Guiyi’s hand tightly for a moment before reluctantly letting go and getting into the car that Xu Guiyi was not familiar with.

Xu Guiyi stood at the school gate, watching the car start, then move further and further away, until it disappeared at the turn ahead. Only then did she turn around.

On the way back, Xu Guiyi walked very slowly, even slower than she did when she was walking towards the school gate.

But even walking so slowly, Xu Guiyi always felt that her heart was still beating very fast, just like it did every time she touched and kissed Ning Chanyue.

That’s right. Since she saw Ning Chanyue just now, her gaze had been drawn to her… but it was more than just her gaze.

But why?

Xu Guiyi seemed to know the reason. But she lowered her eyes, and her expression suddenly darkened.

“Senior sister, can you help me take a look at this paper I wrote?”

As soon as she went upstairs and opened the door, her junior sister, Yan Chunxi, came up to her, handed her a laptop, and said this.

“Sanatorium?”

Xu Guiyi sat on a chair with Yan Chunxi’s laptop. Yan Chunxi quickly followed behind. Xu Guiyi looked at the paper she wrote for a while and said, “I personally think your idea of sending patients to a sanatorium at Heshan is still up for consideration. Heshan is remote, and the scenery is not good. It’s better to go to Weijinshan. It hasn’t been developed into a tourist attraction, and it’s quiet, with a vast and spectacular view, suitable for patients to recuperate. Of course, you can also ask your advisor for their opinion.”

Yan Chunxi asked Xu Guiyi a few more questions about Weijinshan and her paper. In the end, she seemed to be convinced by Xu Guiyi, nodded, and said, “Senior sister, you know so much about these things. I’ve never even heard of Weijinshan before.”

Xu Guiyi’s hand on the mouse paused. She said in a casual tone, “I’ve read some information about this mountain before.”

Xu Guiyi gave her junior sister some more suggestions, but just as she finished talking to her, Xu Guiyi’s phone screen lit up. She picked up her phone and saw a message from Cheng Yuxin.

She saw Cheng Yuxin asking: Did you and Ning Chanyue just walk around campus?

But how did she know?