Chapter 22: A Blatant Secret Crush part 2

The handwritten message clearly showed Ye Hui had put thought into this gesture. He had prepared for her first day of school even though she hadn’t mentioned wanting him to come. Lin Yuran felt a pang of guilt. Her words were a subtle explanation for not inviting him, hoping it would ease his mind at least a little.

Ye Hui pursed his lips. “Even if I’m swamped with work when you start school, I’ll still make it.”

Qin Lang clicked his tongue. He was getting anxious just watching his brother navigate this chaotic situation. “We all remember, okay? No need to get sentimental.”

“But I was the one who asked you to come,” Lin Yuran pointed out.

“Even if you hadn’t, we would have,” Chi Ye chimed in.

Lin Yuran paused, then smiled. “Then thank you, my dear friends, for thinking of me.”

After a brief chat, they headed toward the venue together. At the entrance, they ran into a familiar face, Zhang Qin from the Photography Club.

Zhang Qin was busy taking photos of students in front of the opening ceremony banner when he spotted Chi Ye and Lin Yuran. Thrilled, he eagerly offered to take their picture in front of the banner.

Lin Yuran, who had already planned to take photos there, didn’t refuse. Chi Ye remained silent. They positioned themselves, ready for the shot. Just before Zhang Qin pressed the shutter, Chi Ye called out, “Wait!” He quickly stripped off his outer shirt, tossed it to Qin Lang, and shoved the bouquet Lin Yuran was holding into Qin Lang’s arms as well.

Beneath his shirt, Chi Ye wore a purple college uniform, adorned with the Qingbei University emblem. The two stood side-by-side in front of the opening ceremony banner. They wore identical college uniforms emblazoned with the Qingbei University logo and sported matching school badges. Lin Yuran felt a momentary daze. It was as if six years hadn’t passed, only a summer vacation, and now they were starting school as normal.

Zhang Qin raised his camera.

“Smile, you two. Get a little closer.”

The shutter clicked, freezing the moment.

Xu Jianwei said she wanted to take photos too, so Zhang Qin snapped a picture of her and Qin Lang, then a group shot of all five of them.

Afterward, Ye Hui lingered by the banner and pulled Lin Yuran aside. “Yuran, let’s take one of just us.”

“Sure,” Lin Yuran replied.

They stood together, and Zhang Qin raised his camera again.

Qin Lang nudged Xu Jianwei forward. “Weiwei, you three are best friends, right? Why don’t you take a couple of photos together?”

Xu Jianwei, half-resisting, was pushed between Ye Hui and Lin Yuran.

After Zhang Qin finished photographing the trio, Qin Lang called out, “Alright, that’s enough photos. Time to head inside. We’ve hogged this spot long enough. Let’s give other students a chance to take their own commemorative pictures.”

With that, he winked at Chi Ye. Chi Ye patted Zhang Qin on the shoulder.

Zhang Qin wasn’t using the instant-print camera he’d had yesterday. He approached Lin Yuran and said, “Hey, can I add you on WeChat? I’ll send you the edited photos later.”

“Sure,” Lin Yuran replied.

Before Lin Yuran could reach for her phone, Chi Ye thrust his own at Zhang Qin. “Add me instead,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. 

Zhang Qin chuckled awkwardly, scanned Chi Ye’s WeChat QR code, and sent a friend request.

Qin Lang returned Chi Ye’s shirt and whispered, “Not bad, you even came prepared. Looks like you’re living the dream, huh?”

Chi Ye smirked, snatched the bouquet from Qin Lang’s arms, and casually held it.

“Ye Hui,” Lin Yuran said apologetically, “I only have two guest passes…”

Ye Hui was about to say he didn’t need a pass when a clear voice suddenly called out, “Senior Ye Hui—!”

The group turned toward the sound. In the distance, a girl with a ponytail was sprinting toward them. She ran as if afraid Ye Hui might disappear, panting heavily as she reached them. She grabbed his arm tightly. “Senior Ye Hui! It really is you! Why didn’t you tell me you were back in the country?”

Ye Hui’s expression stiffened. He glanced at Lin Yuran, flustered, and tried to pull his arm free, but the girl’s grip was too tight. With so many people watching, he couldn’t force it.

The girl blinked her clear, fox-like eyes, gazing up at Ye Hui with a pout. “Senior, you’re so heartless! You left the country without a word…”

“Let’s go,” Chi Ye said, pulling Lin Yuran by the arm. “We should head inside.”

“Oh, right,” Lin Yuran replied, snapping out of her spectator mode and following Chi Ye.

Qin Lang took Xu Jianwei’s hand, as if afraid others wouldn’t understand the scene. “Stop watching,” he announced loudly. “They’re having a long-awaited reunion. Let’s not stand here like third wheels.”

“And you call yourself my childhood friend,” Xu Jianwei grumbled to Ye Hui as she walked toward the auditorium. “You never tell me anything.”

“That’s not…” Ye Hui began, looking helpless.

Seeing Lin Yuran about to disappear into the crowd, Ye Hui tried to pull away. “Yuran…”

The girl tightened her grip on his arm. “Senior, it’s been so long! Let’s find somewhere quiet to catch up.”

Lin Yuran glanced back. “Perfect timing. I don’t have an extra ticket for you. You can chat with your junior first.”

Qin Lang caught up to Chi Ye, whispering, “Why the rush? This is great drama!”

Chi Ye raised an eyebrow. “It’s obvious she’s the one chasing him. If we stay any longer, everyone will figure it out. Let them keep misunderstanding.”

“Nice move, bro,” Qin Lang said, clapping him on the shoulder. “I’m starting to respect you.”

Qingbei University’s opening ceremony was a solemn and grand affair. During the ceremony, Lin Yuran sat in the middle of her class, her gaze occasionally drifting upward to catch sight of Chi Ye observing from the grandstand directly ahead.

The past six years felt like a nightmare. Now, she was awake, her life back on track. She was once again the confident and carefree young woman she had always been, studying at their promised university alongside Chi Ye.

After the ceremony, Xu Jianwei and Qin Lang went to explore the campus, while Lin Yuran headed to her first class. Chi Ye offered to walk her there, and since she was still unfamiliar with the campus layout, she accepted.

Midway through their walk, they passed a female student carrying a bouquet of flowers. Lin Yuran suddenly remembered the flowers Ye Hui had given her. Turning to Chi Ye, she asked, “Where are my flowers?”

Chi Ye paused slightly. “It was a bit crowded when we left the venue. The flowers accidentally fell to the ground, got stepped on twice, and the petals were crushed. They were dirty, so I just threw them away.”

“Ah?!”

“Oh!”

The flowers had been ruined so carelessly. Lin Yuran felt a pang of regret, her tone tinged with disappointment.

“What’s wrong? Feeling sorry for it?” Chi Ye frowned at her. “My bad. I should have held it better. If you like white roses, I’ll buy you another bouquet.”

His words sounded like an apology, but his tone was casual and perfunctory, cold as ice. Lin Yuran detected no sincerity whatsoever, sensing instead a hint of displeasure in his voice.

“Ah, no need, no need,” Lin Yuran quickly said. “It’s fine. If it’s broken, it’s broken.”

As class neared its end, Xu Jianwei sent a WeChat message:

【Let’s eat together at the Ziqing Garden Cafeteria later.】

Lin Yuran replied: 【Okay.】

After class, Lin Yuran exited the classroom, typing ‘Ziqing Garden Cafeteria’ into her navigation app as she walked. The campus was so vast that she still relied on the app to find her way around. Emerging from the academic building, she looked up and unexpectedly saw Chi Ye and Ye Hui waiting outside.

Both men wore solemn expressions, but Ye Hui lacked Chi Ye’s impenetrable aura of aloofness, appearing considerably more approachable. Otherwise, they might have looked like they had just finished a fight.

Seeing Lin Yuran, Ye Hui stepped forward first. “Yuran, I need to talk to you.”