Chapter 16: An Obvious Secret Crush part 2

“Dude went nuts first semester of sophomore year. Dropped out of international school and worked like crazy to transfer to your school. At first we thought he was out of his mind, but then, during his farewell drinks, he got drunk and spilled the beans. Said he had a thing for a girl at your school. Said her eyes were full of sunshine, confident and dazzling. I don’t remember it all, but he made her sound like some kind of fairy. He even got recorded. The whole class passed it around. We laughed our asses off.”

Qin Lang asked, “Wait, there was a recording? How come I didn’t know?”

Ye Shaowen laughed. “You were drunk and sick that day, remember? Didn’t want him to transfer. You missed two days of school. By the time you came back, Chi Ye had already destroyed the recording.”

Gu Jiaze glanced at Lin Yuran. “I don’t know who he chased, but we always thought it was you, Lin Yuran.”

Zhang Kun clapped his hands. “Going by that drunk speech? No doubt it was her.”

“…Don’t drag me into this,” Lin Yuran said flatly. “I didn’t even see him that semester. We were just desk mates, never dated.”

Xu Jianwei saw Lin Yuran looked uncomfortable and jumped in to help. “Yuran really never dated anyone. But at our school, practically every girl except me was crazy about Chi Ye. Who knows who he really liked.”

Qin Lang caught the keyword. “‘Except you’? With a face like his, and you weren’t into him? Your standards must be sky high.”

“Uh… not really,” Xu Jianwei floundered. “I just have a… unique taste.”

Lin Yuran couldn’t help but laugh softly.

Gu Jiaze nudged Dong Qian. “Weiwei says the whole school was into Chi Ye. What about you?”

Dong Qian blushed. “Me? I didn’t dare! Chi Ye always said he’d only date the top student. With my grades, I couldn’t even dream of it.”

Zhang Kun seized on that. “So who was top student at your school?”

Gu Jiaze laughed. “Lin Yuran, of course. Three years straight, never lost her spot.”

Zhang Kun and Ye Shaowen exchanged another look, each with a knowing smile.

Just then, the drinks arrived.

Everyone raised their glasses in a toast. Ye Shaowen realized Ye Hui had been left out of the conversation the whole time. As host, he couldn’t let that slide. He clinked glasses with him. “So, where are you now?”

Ye Hui smiled warmly. “Nowhere fancy. Still studying.”

“What are you studying?”

“Fine arts.”

Ye Shaowen said, “No wonder. You’re an art major? That explains it. I was just wondering why your vibe felt so… refined.”

Gu Jiaze chimed in, “Exactly, same aura as our Goddess Lin.” He spoke with a hint of pride. “Our school really breeds talent. There were only two fine arts majors, him and Lin, and both of them were insanely good. They even got into the top art schools like Tsinghua University Academy of Arts and Design.”

Ye Hui smiled, took a sip of wine, and glanced at Lin Yuran. “Speaking of which, I have to thank Yuran. I got into Tsinghua University thanks to her inspiration. Back then, we were locked in a studio for over half a year doing intensive prep. Honestly, the pressure before the exams was insane. Every time I messed up a sketch and felt like giving up, Yuran would be right beside me, cheering me on. Small as she was, she radiated this crazy energy. It kept me going through those tough months. We even made a pact to get into the Academy together, then go study abroad in Paris. Truth is, I didn’t have much direction at first. But after we made that promise, I suddenly had something to strive for. That’s what pushed me to where I am now.”

“Tch.” Gu Jiaze curled his lip. “Listen to how humble you’re being. Even with all that encouragement, it still had to come from you in the end.”

Ye Hui pressed his lips together. “Without Yuran’s support, I probably would’ve quit a long time ago.”

Gu Jiaze was about to respond when a sudden bang startled everyone into silence.

Chi Ye downed a glass of whiskey in one go, then slammed the empty glass onto the table with a loud thud, casually picking up a full one to toy with.

Qin Lang blinked and asked, “Chi Ye, what’s with you? Can’t you put a glass down like a normal person?”

Ye Shaowen laughed. “No worries, this one’s an old custom piece anyway. If it breaks, perfect excuse for Young Master Chi to order me a new set. Heh.”

Chi Ye took another swig and ignored them completely.

Lin Yuran could sense the subtle shift in his mood, his whole presence seemed heavier. She turned her head to look at him.

The bar had an outer-space theme, with dim lighting and laser-like blue streaks sweeping through the room. They sliced across Chi Ye’s sharp features, flickering light and shadow across his face, making it hard to read his expression.

The ceiling was a deep, starry dome, with faint, silvery starlight trickling down into the amber liquid in his glass. As Chi Ye toyed with the drink, the ice cubes inside floated up and down like tiny celestial bodies.

Lin Yuran looked away and took a small sip of her fruit wine.

“Even fruit wine has alcohol, you know. Don’t drink too much,” Chi Ye said in a low voice.

…Wasn’t he mad just now?

Lin Yuran looked slightly surprised. “Oh.”

Xu Jianwei seemed to catch on to something. She leaned forward, peering past Ye Hui to Lin Yuran. “Yuran, how come I’ve never heard about you planning to go to Paris with Ye Hui?”

Lin Yuran glanced at Ye Hui, then turned to Xu Jianwei and smiled. “It wasn’t really a ‘plan,’ just that we had the same goal at the time.”

Lin Yuran paused, swirled her wine, and laughed softly. “That whole ‘study at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris’ thing… It was just a young and reckless dream.”

“A young and reckless dream?” Gu Jiaze echoed. “Come on, that doesn’t sound like something the Goddess Lin would say. With your grades, you could’ve gotten into any art school you wanted.”

Lin Yuran stayed quiet for a few seconds. “I only just started at the Academy of Fine Arts now. Isn’t that basically a dream deferred?”

“Huh?” Dong Qian looked shocked. “Yuran, didn’t you get in back then? Why are you only starting now?”

Very few people knew she hadn’t enrolled after getting accepted. After high school, she’d pretty much cut ties with everyone. If she hadn’t run into Xu Jianwei in Beicheng, she probably still wouldn’t know.

Lin Yuran kept her smile. “Something came up. But it’s fine. I’m still young. There’s plenty of time.”

Gu Jiaze caught on and gave her a big thumbs up. “A real scholar, through and through. Took a break for years and still got into a top school. Respect. You’re the only one I truly admire in this life.”

Xu Jianwei added, “Exactly. Our RanRan has always been the perfect combo of brains and beauty.”

Ye Hui lightly clinked his glass against hers and smiled. “That makes you my junior now.”

Lin Yuran rolled her eyes. “As if. I’m older than you.”

“Then I’ll call you Senior.” Ye Hui grinned.

Gu Jiaze made a face. “Ugh, knock it off with the senior-junior stuff. Ye Hui, are you trying to rub it in that we didn’t get into Tsinghua?”

Ye Hui held up his hands. “No, no, not at all.”

“By the way, are you heading out again soon?” Gu Jiaze asked casually.

Ye Hui adjusted his glasses, tone a bit smug. “Not for now. I’m holding my first solo exhibition this fall in Beicheng, so I’ll be staying in the country for a while to prep.”

“Whoa!” Gu Jiaze exclaimed. “That’s impressive, putting on your own show already!”

“D**n, we’ve got ourselves a real artist!” Zhang Kun raised his glass. “Come on, bro, cheers. I’ve never had an artist friend before. Just knowing you boosts my social tier by like, five levels.”

Ye Shaowen leaned in. “Come on, let’s all toast to Ye Hui. Here’s to a successful exhibition and big sales!”

Everyone joined in, clinking glasses with Ye Hui one by one.

Lin Yuran smiled. “Ye Hui, I had no idea you were doing an exhibit. That’s amazing. Congratulations!”

Ye Hui beamed. “Keep working hard. You’ll get there too.”

Lin Yuran bit her lip, lifted her glass, and took a sip.

Qin Lang clinked glasses with Ye Hui and said admiringly, “Not many young artists get their own shows. You’ve got a bright future ahead, man!”

Ye Hui smiled. “It’s nothing. As long as you stay focused and use your time wisely, anyone can succeed. Six years may seem long, but you can accomplish a lot.”

Lin Yuran listened quietly, nursing her drink. She lowered her head and took a hard gulp.

Chi Ye had been lounging lazily on the sofa, saying little, but now he straightened up slightly and watched her down her drink. He reached over and gently patted her back. Lin Yuran turned to look at him.

Chi Ye lifted his chin toward her glass. “Ease up a bit.”

Ye Hui was still riding high on everyone’s praise, especially after Lin Yuran’s compliment, so he added, “Life tip: Don’t waste your time.”

Chi Ye, who hadn’t once toasted with Ye Hui all evening, gave a low snort. “What, one exhibition and now you’re doling out life advice like a guru?”

Ye Hui’s smile froze.