The Wind Heard Her Confession - Chapter 20: A Blindingly Obvious Secret Crush part 1

On Monday, when Lin Yuran arrived at RanYe, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something about the office had changed, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on what.

Around lunchtime, Xu Jianwei came to find her and grumbled, “Why is smoking banned everywhere now? It wasn’t like this the last time I came.”

Only then did Lin Yuran notice that ‘No Smoking’ signs had been newly posted all over the place.

“I think it’s great. Maybe you’ll finally smoke a little less,” Lin Yuran replied, eyeing Xu Jianwei’s glamorous outfit. “So, what brings you here?”

“I had nothing better to do today, thought I’d drop by to see you and sample the food at the RanYe cafeteria,” Xu Jianwei said with a half-smile.

“You really think I’m going to buy that?” Lin Yuran rolled her eyes lightly.

Xu Jianwei chuckled and dropped the pretense. “Fine, I’m here to chase a man. So what?”

“You actually came for that?” Lin Yuran warned her kindly, “He’s too close to us. If this goes south, it could get messy.”

“What do you mean, ‘too close’?”

“Close how?”

Lin Yuran faltered. “Just… ugh, forget it. Do what you want. Just remember we’re working with them. Don’t make things awkward later.”

Xu Jianwei looked smug, as if everything was under control. “Relax, I know what I’m doing.”

She opened WeChat and sent Qin Lang a message.

【Had lunch yet? I came to see Yuran and it happens to be lunchtime. Let’s eat together?】

He clearly agreed. Xu Jianwei smiled at her phone and turned to Lin Yuran. “Let’s go, lunch time.”

Then she asked, “Where’s Chi Ye?”

“He must’ve gone out for something. He hasn’t been in the office,” Lin Yuran replied. “Why? Want to make it a group date?”

Xu Jianwei smirked. “We’re not at third-wheeling stage yet.” She glanced toward Chi Ye’s office. “You know, I meant to ask last time. Are you and Chi Ye the only ones working on this floor?”

“Yeah,” Lin Yuran nodded.

Xu Jianwei’s face lit up with gossip-fueled delight. “Yuran, I seriously think Chi Ye’s trying to win you over. It’s written all over his actions. Remember at that gathering last Friday? He was so protective of you.”

Lin Yuran was unimpressed. “I don’t think so. Everything’s strictly professional here. Aside from work, Chi Ye and I barely talk. As for him looking out for me, isn’t that just normal? He’s always been a gentleman. He sat next to me and even drank on my behalf. That’s just how he is. If he hadn’t helped me, that would’ve been odd.”

“He’s a gentleman? Funny, I didn’t get that vibe.”

“…You’re not that familiar with him.”

“Well, whatever. I still think there’s something different in the way he treats you,” Xu Jianwei said, giving Lin Yuran a look. “And the way you respond to him, too.”

“Me?” Lin Yuran blinked. “What do you mean, different?”

“When someone else is nice to you, like Ye Hui, you’re always politely distant,” Xu Jianwei said. “But when Chi Ye’s nice to you, you just accept it without a second thought.”

“Nonsense!” Lin Yuran was convinced she was talking out of thin air. “Come on, let’s just eat.”

“Oh, right, speaking of Ye Hui,” Xu Jianwei suddenly remembered, “on the way back from the gathering Friday night, he told me that he and Chi Ye once got into a fight back in school. A real one, off-campus.”

“What?!” Lin Yuran was stunned. “Why?”

Xu Jianwei shrugged. “No idea. Ye Hui refused to say.”

Lin Yuran frowned and bit her thumbnail thoughtfully.

Seeing her spacing out, Xu Jianwei looped her arm through hers and pulled her toward the elevator. “Stop overthinking. Guys fighting? Totally normal. That’s just classic teenage testosterone.”

They took the elevator down to B1. When the doors opened, Qin Lang was already waiting at the entrance.

“You two came down pretty fast,” he greeted with a relaxed smile, turning to Xu Jianwei. “Any preference for food? Our cafeteria has pretty much every cuisine.”

“Sichuan, of course. Yuran loves spicy food. I’ll eat with her,” Xu Jianwei replied with a smile. “Can you handle spice?”

Qin Lang said, “Yeah, I’m good with it.”

He glanced at Lin Yuran and added thoughtfully, “That explains it. I’ve been wondering why the Sichuan options in the cafeteria have suddenly exploded in variety these past two weeks. Now I get it.”

Xu Jianwei pinched Lin Yuran’s arm playfully. “No wonder you’ve gained weight since you got here. You’re basically on a gourmet meal plan!”

Lin Yuran understood the subtext in their teasing. She was speechless.

“Come on, I just like spicy food. Why are you two reading so much into it? Everyone eats at the cafeteria. Why would it be just for me? Plenty of people like spicy food. Why not say it’s for them?”

Qin Lang laughed and mentally gave Chi Ye three seconds of sympathy. When direct affection fails, and subtle hints go unnoticed, even Qin Lang couldn’t help but feel bad for his friend.

After lunch, Qin Lang invited them to swing by the base for a bit. Xu Jianwei happily accepted, but Lin Yuran had work to catch up on and declined.

Around 3 p.m., Aunt Chen suddenly called, saying that Yao A-ping had a rapid heart rate all day, vomited during feeding, choked, and now her oxygen saturation wasn’t looking good. Lin Yuran hung up, quickly packed up her things, and got ready to head to the hospital.

Since Xu Jianwei had been hanging out at the base all afternoon, Lin Yuran figured she’d be about done and called to ask for a ride.

“No problem,” Xu Jianwei said. “Meet me at the parking lot.”

On the way there, Lin Yuran spotted Qin Lang and Xu Jianwei chatting and laughing together.

When she reached them, Qin Lang said, “Lin Yuran, I’ll go with you. I want to stop by your friend’s clinic and get another acupuncture session.”

“Oh,” Lin Yuran glanced at Xu Jianwei.

So that’s what was going on. She was genuinely impressed with her friend’s man-charming skills.

At the hospital, Qin Lang offered, “Want me to go with you to see your mom?”

“No, no need,” Lin Yuran replied quickly.

She was proud to a fault. It wasn’t that she feared judgment. It was that she didn’t want anyone’s pity. Even Xu Jianwei hadn’t visited the hospital many times.

“She’s not doing well today, and the room needs to stay quiet,” she gave a solid excuse.

Qin Lang nodded, “Alright. I’ll visit another time then.”

Xu Jianwei, catching on, said, “Then I’ll hang out with Qin Lang.”

Lin Yuran nodded. “Once treatment is done, you two can head back. I’m not sure how long I’ll be here.”

Xu Jianwei gave her an OK sign with a smile.

In the ward, Aunt Chen reported that the nurse had already suctioned phlegm and stabilized Yao A-ping’s condition. Oxygen levels were back up to 95%, though her heart rate was still elevated.

Lin Yuran also went to consult the attending doctor. Dr. Tang reassured her that it was likely just indigestion from overfeeding.

Her anxiety eased.

On her way back to the ward, she unexpectedly ran into a familiar yet distant figure in white – Wang Xue. She had no idea why Wang Xue was on the 8th floor. 

Familiar, because they’d crossed paths often in Lin Yiqun’s office over the past couple of years. They never talked much, but still, she was a known face.

Distant, because Wang Xue’s hair was now completely white. Her complexion was waxy, probably from too many night shifts, and paired with that white hair, she looked utterly drained. Truthfully, Lin Yuran didn’t think much of her. Lin Yiqun had made it clear he liked someone else, yet Wang Xue still clung on, completely tactless.

But she also envied her. Wang Xue had the courage to chase love with everything she had, something Lin Yuran lacked. Staring at that stark, mismatched white hair, Lin Yuran suddenly felt… sorry for her.

When Wang Xue threw her a glare and was about to walk past, Lin Yuran called out, “Wang Xue.”

Wang Xue paused, glaring back, eyes cold.

Lin Yuran smiled gently. “Just so you know, Lin Yiqun doesn’t have a thing for girls with silver hair.” She hesitated, then added, “No matter how much you like someone, don’t lose yourself. Be your own person first then love someone. Every girl is one of a kind. No man is worth giving that up.”

Wang Xue blinked rapidly, clearly stunned by the unexpected words. After a long pause, she snapped back with a sneer, “I just wanted a change of mood!”

“Oh, okay. That’s good then,” Lin Yuran said with a soft smile.

Wang Xue shot her one last glance and walked past.

Back in the ward, Lin Yuran told Aunt Chen to reduce portion sizes during feeding and break meals into more sessions. After that, she gave her a three-hour break. Then, just like always, she sat beside Yao A-ping, held her hand, and chatted about everything that had happened recently.

Maybe she could hear. After a while of Lin Yuran’s gentle rambling, the heart rate monitor showed signs of calming. 

That’s why Lin Yuran never gave up. She still felt like her mother was just asleep. Still here. Her phone rang. It was her cousin, Yao Wenshan.

Of everyone on her mother’s side, Yao Wenshan was the only one she still kept in touch with. She’d had it rough, growing up in a family that favored sons to an extreme, unloved by both parents, treated like an afterthought. Never got the good food, yet had to do all the housework.

Lin Yuran answered. Yao Wenshan burst into tears before even speaking.

After crying it out, she finally said, “Sis, today my mom told me girls don’t need to study and said she won’t pay for college. She wants me to start working after high school to help with the family expenses.” She choked up again. “But I want to go to college. Sis, what should I do?”

It was what Lin Yuran had expected.

She sighed. “You’re just starting senior year. Focus on getting your grades up. If they won’t support you, you can apply for scholarships. Work during breaks and save up. You can support yourself through college if you try hard enough.”

“Okay, okay! I’ll do what you say.” Yao Wenshan’s voice was filled with determination.

She’d always admired Lin Yuran who had carried both her mother and grandmother’s burdens since she was young, and she trusted every word she said.