Unbearable - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Yu Wei Silently Recited The Name In Her Heart, And When She Got To “Yu Wei,”  The Tip Of Her Tongue Curled Inside Her Mouth

The new batch of first-year students was about to report in. The school’s anniversary celebration was combined with the welcome party, making it a grand event. It had only been announced yesterday, but by the time they arrived this morning, the school was already decorated. Banners and floral displays were everywhere, and the club recruitment booths had sunshades up and were already staking out spots with promotional signs.

The atmosphere changed the moment you stepped through the school gates.

Yu Wei looked up at the back of Yu Wei.

She hadn’t replied to the message she sent yesterday. Right after sending it, Yu Wei regretted it. She had wanted to recall it, but Yu Wei had already read it in the car.

It would’ve been pointless—just more awkward.

Not replying was probably for the best. She didn’t want to perform anyway—being stared at and talked about by so many people was exhausting.

“They’re asking for one more program, people. Our class is still short one act,” Zhong Ling stood on a chair, rallying the class. “Can your band split up? One act becomes four.”

“Our drummer’s the first to say no. No way we can split.”

“How about a choir? The whole class joins!”

“A choir? That’s a death wish.”

Zhong Ling was about to lose it. After being elected as arts committee rep, this was the only big event she was responsible for—and it was off to such a disastrous start.

She had already pulled her dormmates into signing up for a dance, cross-dressed as Fa Hai in another skit, and still, it wasn’t enough.

“Chen Cheng does fencing, Xu Qing has a level-two gymnastics certificate, I ride horses,” Cheng Yuan spread his hands. “We can’t really perform any of those.”

All the singers and dancers were taken. They already had a skit and two stage plays. Almost everyone was involved. They just needed one more act.

Zhong Ling sighed, “If we really can’t—”

“I’ll do it.”

Yu Wei’s voice wasn’t loud, slightly cool, cutting through the classroom’s gloomy air from the back row.

Zhong Ling jumped down from the chair in excitement. “Oh my god! Our savior!”

“Me and Yu Wei,” she added, tilting her face slightly to the right, eyes falling on Yu Wei who had just sat down.

Yu Wei: “…”

Zhong Ling, notebook and pen in hand, rushed over and stood in the aisle between them, looking back and forth with excitement. “What are you signing up for?”

“Pairs skating,” Yu Wei replied, looking at Yu Wei.

Yu Wei panicked. The book she had just taken out fell to the floor. She scrambled to explain, “No, I didn’t mean that—I said I’d play accompaniment, just the music.”

When did this become about pair skating?!

Yu Wei gave an “oh,” like she just remembered, her brow arching as she glanced over, “Then what program are you performing?”

Yu Wei’s mind was in chaos. She hadn’t touched the piano in years and couldn’t think of anything suitable.

She threw the question back, “You pick the program, I’ll arrange the music.”

They stood across Zhong Ling, discussing like no one else was around.

Zhong Ling looked back and forth, her notebook nearly crumpling in her grip.

“Romeo and Juliet,” Yu Wei finally decided. A classic piece and a common performance.

Yu Wei nodded too.

“Great!” Cheng Miao clapped like she’d won five million, wildly cheering, “A match made in heaven! This is definitely going to be the best act!”

The classroom burst into applause and teasing cheers.

Before Zhong Ling could even write down their names, Yu Wei already regretted everything. Why had she impulsively messaged Yu Wei last night?

“I can play off-stage,” Yu Wei offered nervously, her body tense.

“That’s so underwhelming!”

“Yeah, yeah! People will think it’s background music—no way, not classy enough!”

“Trust me, we’ll put a small platform in the middle of the rink. You stand there and play, Yu Wei skates around you—ultimate audio-visual experience! Our class is winning for sure!”

“Say what you want, but that sounds amazing! That spot by the blackboard’s perfect—bring a hook and mark the place now!”

She should’ve objected, denied it.

But Yu Wei saw the class president pulling a sticky hook out of the drawer, arms raised to measure height while the front-row students directed “a bit higher,” “a little lower.”

She couldn’t bring herself to speak up. She pressed her lips together.

It was a little irrational. Ever since Yu Wei showed up, her life had been spiraling out of control.

Yu Wei lowered her head.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. Just as she reached for it, someone coughed lightly behind her.

“What’s the good news? I could hear your howling from the classroom across the hall.” Ms. Xiang walked by, glancing at Yu Wei’s oddly-shaped bulging pocket with a half-smile.

Yu Wei squeezed her phone further down into the pocket.

“Big news!”

“Yu Wei’s skating, Yu Wei’s playing—this year’s best performance award is ours! We’re getting the prize and the banner!”

The two names, sounding so similar when spoken aloud, had an odd dissonance to them—like one person split into two.

Yu Wei quietly recited it again in her heart. When she got to “Yu Wei,” the tip of her tongue curled.

“Wow! That’s amazing!” Ms. Xiang applauded cheerfully, triggering another round of thunderous applause in the class. It was as if the prize had already been won.

Still smiling, Ms. Xiang walked up to the podium and started class.

After the excitement faded and all the attention moved on, Yu Wei let out a breath and took out her phone.

Her palm was damp, and the phone was warm.

Yu Wei: “Good luck”
Yu Wei: “I’m looking forward to your brilliant performance”

…And I’m looking forward to yours.

Yu Wei’s cheeks flushed as she shoved her phone back into the deepest corner of her pocket.

During break, Ms. Wen came to the back door and said to Yu Wei, “The school rink is available during the last two self-study periods this afternoon. As long as it doesn’t affect classes, the time’s up to you.”

The classroom immediately echoed with drawn-out groans of envy.

“Anyone in a skating program can go,” she turned and smiled. “Everyone else is welcome to join, but if you go during class time, we’ll be checking names—don’t try to sneak in.”

Another round of wails followed.

Cheng Miao shook her desk in frustration and dramatically cried out, “I’ve never regretted not learning to skate this much in my life! Let me go back ten years!”

“And then you’d give up again because it’s too tiring, no chance to pose with abs,” Liang Pang bluntly exposed her, only to hurriedly add, “You could join a team routine.”

Cheng Miao grinned slyly.

“No way! I’m already in two acts!” Liang Pang protested, “And I haven’t even written the script for White Snake and Xu Xian. Spare me!”

A crowd of noisy students laughed and joked, buzzing with excitement for the rehearsals and upcoming celebration.

Yu Wei was a little anxious. She didn’t look back once all morning. As soon as class ended, she went to the front to get water, fidgeting with a little box full of pen caps.

When the afternoon self-study arrived, Yu Wei sent her a message:
“Want to go to the rink?”

Yu Wei didn’t check it. She had taken off her glasses and bent over her desk, head down, almost nose-to-paper.

“You—”

Yu Wei instantly covered the paper, looking up at Yu Wei with dry, confused eyes, tinged with panic.

Yu Wei’s eyes flicked toward the visible sheet music beneath her fingers.

“Want to go to the rink?” she asked again.

Yu Wei shook her head. “No.”

“Really?” Yu Wei pressed again.

Yu Wei paused, then said, “I don’t have skates.”

Why would she go?

Yu Wei looked down at her. “You don’t need skates. Just get a feel for the ice first.”

What does that even mean?

Yu Wei pressed her lips together.

In the less-than-a-minute they were speaking, a bunch of classmates were already turning around to watch.

Yu Wei covered the sheet music with one hand, closed her book with the other, tucked it between the pages, packed her homework, grabbed her bag, and left the classroom.

Behind her, Yu Wei lowered her eyes, hiding a smile at the corner of her lips, and followed.

Just as they reached the stairs, her phone vibrated in her pocket. Yu Wei took it out and peeked.

It was a chaotic message from Cheng Miao full of garbled characters and one clear point—”What’s going on with you and Little Fish?! Girl, you’ve got secrets now? I’m not your only bestie anymore??”

Footsteps came from behind. Yu Wei put her phone away and glanced sideways.

Yu Wei stepped ahead naturally and turned around to ask, “Where’s the rink?”

The sunlight was still blindingly hot.

Yu Wei had to squint. Looking at her slightly turned profile, her voice sounded like it had been dipped in cold water—cool, but warmed faintly by sunlight.

It was like that day they first met.

Outside the admin building, Yu Wei had asked her where the office was.

The campus was quiet and still—no voices.

Yu Wei pressed her lips together and pulled up her collar. “I’ll take you.”

She lowered her head, just about to step forward when Yu Wei said behind her in a low voice, “Sorry. I had a bad attitude back then.”

Yu Wei pressed her lips together, tugging the zipper at her collar. “It’s okay.”

She hadn’t really minded.

Yu Wei had never been to the school rink before either. It was in the basement level of the gym. The main gate was locked—only a small side door was open.

The moment they walked in, cold air hit them.

Yu Wei sat nearby and opened her bulging backpack.

Yu Wei suddenly realized it had been holding her skates all along. No wonder it was always so full. Did she really carry skates to school every day? But she only went to the rink at night…

Yu Wei laced up and stood.

Yu Wei immediately turned away, looking around and muttering, “You skate—I’ll just watch from here…”

Before she could even finish the last syllable, Yu Wei had grabbed her by the waist and lifted her onto the ice.

Her oversized school uniform bunched at the waist, revealing a slim figure, and was nearly engulfed by Yu Wei’s hands.

Yu Wei gasped and instinctively grabbed her hands. Her vision was all white, with a blurry ring of barriers.

“Don’t move.”

Yu Wei’s voice came through the wind.

The blades scraped loudly against the ice in a continuous hiss.

Yu Wei didn’t dare move. Her feet glided across the ice, being pushed by Yu Wei. The chilly wind blew her bangs up, brushing against her face.

It felt like flying!

After a couple laps, Yu Wei let go. Yu Wei clung tightly to the side rail. Even though she’d stopped, it still felt like she was sliding.

“So smooth.”

“What?”

Yu Wei leaned nearby, glancing down at her.

Yu Wei looked up, eyes gleaming like rubies—wet and crystal clear.

“Skating!” Yu Wei was tense, heart pounding, bl00d rushing from the thrill. Her words spilled out. “There’s a man-made lake across from my apartment. In winter, when it freezes, parents push their kids on the ice like this.”

Yu Wei gave a soft “oh.” “I can push you there too.”

She pulled out a tissue and handed it over.

Yu Wei took it, covered her face, and suddenly paused. She looked at Yu Wei in disbelief.

Was she taking advantage of her?

Yu Wei turned to retrieve gloves and a plastic bag from her backpack.

Yu Wei stood still, then tossed the tissue in the bag, awkwardly turning away.

“That name was right!”

“It’s so cool in here—better than air-con.”

Voices echoed ahead before their owners even arrived.

Cheng Miao’s booming voice stood out. “People inside, listen up! You’ve already been surrounded!”

They entered through the side door.

“You guys skipped class?”

“This ancestor changed our program again,” Liang Pang wiped his face. “From ‘Flooding Jinshan Temple’ to ‘A Chinese Ghost Story: Ice Edition.’”

Cheng Miao puffed up proudly, “It’s all good! Ice performances are rare—less competition. Our show blends tradition with modern flair, horror with comedy. Peak artistic value, my friend!”

The word choices made Zhong Ling rub her forehead.

Coincidentally, all four of them could skate decently. Cheng Miao skated best and played the female lead, Xiao Qian. Liang Pang played the Granny, Zhong Ling switched from Fa Hai to a beautiful senior sister, and Tang Yuanjia turned from Xiao Qing to Ning Caichen.

“Wait, you carry your skates everywhere?” Liang Pang was shocked. “They’re taller than me—at least 183 cm.”

Yu Wei: “Platform boots.”

“Can you teach us?”

Yu Wei nodded and put on her gloves. But she didn’t hold their hands—just followed beside them on the ice.

Aside from Yu Wei, they all had skating basics. Without skates, they just slid around randomly.

After a while, they were exhausted and rested on benches.

“Want to hit the convenience store?” Liang Pang came around. “The vending machines are empty.”

The two boys left. Zhong Ling didn’t want to move. Cheng Miao was still gliding around, having a blast.

She was halfway around the rink when she got blocked. She grabbed the rail and slowed down, staring at Yu Wei, who had stopped suddenly on the ice.

Yu Wei glanced sideways, her eyes flicking toward Yu Wei stepping off the rink. Once Yu Wei was on solid ground, she turned back and asked, “How long have you known Yu Wei?”