Before the second half of the casual remark left his mouth, the person next to him had already strode away.
Yun Mi had kept a good record of not asking Chen Yiyang any questions for ten days.
She absolutely didn't want to affect a certain jerk's competition results, but she was torn about whether to send him a message asking when he'd be back.
The girl leaned in a corner of the tea room, lowering her eyes. The fluorescent green screen illuminated her face.
There was a struggle in her eyes.
The last chat record was Chen Yiyang asking if she'd arrived home.
She had just gotten home that day, was carsick, and went to sleep as soon as she arrived. She forgot to reply, so she just never did.
With time passing, she didn't know how to start a conversation with Chen Yiyang.
Just as Yun Mi was agonizing, someone nearby reminded her.
"It's about to overflow."
"!!!"
The cold, youthful voice carried a slightly hoarse metallic quality. Yun Mi's heart seemed to stir a thousand waves.
She suddenly saw Chen Yiyang's face and froze for a moment, not knowing when he had come back.
She remained motionless. Chen Yiyang raised his hand and tightened the lid of her hot water.
"Chen... Chen Yiyang..." Yun Mi belatedly realized the exam was over.
She stammered, wanting to say "What a coincidence, you're at school too," or "You're back," but in the end, all that came out was a simple "Thank you."
Without warmth, just a "thanks."
Chen Yiyang placed the thermos on top of the silver dispenser and asked, "Why haven't you messaged me lately?"
"Huh?"
Yun Mi was shocked. Indeed, she lived in his house; she should have messaged him.
But recently there was nothing at Aunt Qin's place, and nothing at Aunt Wen's.
And he was in exams.
After thinking, she came up with her best trick—playing innocent. Tentatively, she said, "I asked others the questions... Didn't you choose liberal arts?" Her soft tone still carried a hint of provocation. She lowered her eyes, remembering how she had almost cried last time over the arts/science split. Embarrassed, she complained, "Can't discuss it with you liberal arts students."
"..."
Chen Yiyang squinted slightly.
He thought of that Ji-whatever senior again. "You asked a senior?"
"!!!"
Yun Mi looked up, surprised. "How did you know?"
Then she realized, "Did Ding Yuan tell you? Or Xie Yue?"
Was that the point?
Chen Yiyang said, "Last time Ding Yuan posted a dynamic image on her Moments. July 6. Were you there?"
Yun Mi couldn't remember.
Probably.
She said, "Was it about a math problem... Something about functions..."
The specific value-finding question didn't get out before Yun Mi unconsciously stepped back.
Chen Yiyang stepped forward, cornering her against the cold white tile wall.
Yun Mi's heart tightened. She heard Chen Yiyang say, "You said, the se-nior is so hand-some."
His flat tone made Yun Mi afraid to breathe.
He was taller than her. Chen Yiyang seemed to have grown again.
Clear collarbones, his Adam's apple bobbing.
Yun Mi's face flushed bright red. Her heart seemed to stop. Her eyes widened.
So close.
Her nose almost touched his body.
In the dim corner of the tea room, summer was so hot.
Yun Mi explained, "He taught me... I had to compliment him a bit..."
The second half didn't come out. Yun Mi looked up.
On the boy's sharp jawline, thin lips pressed tightly together, forming a cold, almost interrogating smile.
Chen Yiyang's obsidian-clear eyes were detached. He asked coldly, "Who's more handsome—your brother, or the senior?"
Author's note: No additional note.