Wish
Chen Yiyang had never really liked any girl before.
He couldn't quite describe what it felt like to like Yun Mi. Probably it was wanting to tease her, but at the same time genuinely hoping she was happy.
Yun Mi was too brilliant, fiercer than the scorching sun. And much more vivid.
When Wen Liangyu heard Chen Yiyang's words, her usually proud composure momentarily crumbled. She found it ridiculous and asked, "What did you say to me?"
Chen Yiyang countered, "Didn't you say Yun Mi was your fiancé's daughter?"
Wen Liangyu remembered that point and fell silent. After a while, she suppressed her anger and asked, "Chen Yiyang, what do you mean? If Yun Mi is about to become my daughter, and it affects you, do you want me not to get married? What did you say to me before? You promised you wouldn't become like Chen Jici!"
Before she could finish her next words, Chen Yiyang interrupted calmly, "What do you mean 'if she becomes your daughter'?"
As if thinking of something, Chen Yiyang proposed a hypothesis clearly: "Yun Mi is not your fiancé's daughter."
A statement.
He had guessed it, and was sure.
"No—" Wen Liangyu thought about whether she should transfer Yun Mi's household registration to Beijing and keep her under her watch. She began to suspect that there was something wrong with the Chen genes. She wanted to reason with Chen Yiyang to stay away from Yun Mi, but the call was hung up.
-
Ding Yuan brought Yun Mi some lychee sparkling water. Yun Mi sipped the sweet drink she was used to, sitting side by side with Ding Yuan on the bench in the school hospital.
Ding Yuan was pretty speechless: "You saved Jiang Miyan, and she didn't even say thank you."
Ding Yuan stared eagerly at Yun Mi's arm that was painted with iodine. Yun Mi glanced at her wound and discreetly hid it behind her.
Ding Yuan said, "Don't hide it."
Yun Mi said, "It's ugly."
Ding Yuan corrected, "Who said it's ugly? It's especially beautiful." She had heard the whole story from Yun Mi before. Ding Yuan leaned in, touching shoulders with Yun Mi, and said softly, "Yun Mi, that's your medal of honor. There's no need to feel inferior because of it."
Upon hearing Ding Yuan's words, Yun Mi involuntarily lowered her eyes, her eyelashes casting shadows.
She hummed in acknowledgment, then bit the straw with disgust, mumbling, "Da Yuan Zi."
"Huh?"
"The lychee sparkling water is too sweet. I still prefer strawberry."
Ding Yuan was just about to launch into a long speech expressing her admiration for Yun Mi, but she closed her eyes and lost half her words. She said, "Miss, you weren't this picky before! Who spoiled you?"
"..."
Yun Mi looked up and saw Chen Yiyang walking through the green corridor with his phone in hand. The boy's black t-shirt was of a loose-fitting material, paired with light gray cargo pants. Behind him was a summer as thick and green as ink.
The young man's slightly lowered gaze held a hint of cynicism and arrogance.
As if suddenly waking up, Yun Mi heard Ding Yuan's question, "Are you still studying at school tonight?"
Then came the overwhelming, hot and restless chirping of cicadas, thick like an unbreakable heatwave.
Someone interrupted, "She's coming home with me for dinner tonight. Aunt Qin made dishes."
Yun Mi was studying her white Converse shoes placed together. Hearing this, she looked up in confusion.
Chen Yiyang's dark, distinct eyes held a faint, cool smile.
Yun Mi's heart suddenly leaped.
She felt a wave of heat.
Ding Yuan heard the refusal and let out a frustrated "Oh."
It wasn't until they left school at five o'clock that Yun Mi asked Chen Yiyang, "When did Aunt Qin say she would cook for dinner?"
Normally, they didn't go home. If Aunt Qin made food for three, she would let them know in advance.
Chen Yiyang had already spoken with Aunt Qin in the afternoon. He said, "Oh, she forgot to tell you."
"???"
The long road home from school wound to the end of the horizon, rising and falling, like a long ribbon casually crumpled and then smoothed out, endless to the eye.
Yun Mi withdrew her gaze from the farthest point, turned sideways to stare at Chen Yiyang, tilted her head suspiciously, "Really?"
Chen Yiyang's expression was indifferent as he looked at her and said, "Mm, getting older, memory isn't what it used to be."
"Is that so?" Yun Mi frowned.
She didn't quite believe it.
Chen Yiyang raised his hand and pressed it against the back of her head. His warm, dry palm. Yun Mi raised her eyes slightly and met Chen Yiyang's gaze. The boy raised an eyebrow and said, "Stop asking nonsense. Let's go home."
After dinner, Yun Mi went back to her room to study. Jiang Miyan sent a WeChat message asking if she was okay, and even sent her a red envelope of 520 yuan.
Yun Mi didn't accept it.
Jiang Miyan said: Please accept it, otherwise I'll feel guilty.
Yun Mi replied: No need.
Jiang Miyan: Really no need?