Are you planning to feed me like Lizi?
"You're the one who got into trouble!"
Ji Shuhe frowned, instinctively looking around to confirm there were no acquaintances nearby. She turned and threatened, "Warning you, don't talk nonsense!"
That's right, that's more like it.
Having successfully annoyed Ji Shuhe and earned her flailing warning, Wen Shaoyu's eyes dropped slightly, and the corner of his mouth strangely lifted slowly, looking in a good mood.
Wen Shaoyu admitted that he might really be sick.
Especially when it came to Ji Shuhe. When she treated him nicely, he felt uncomfortable. It had to be this kind of veiled sarcasm and not speaking properly to feel right.
But regardless of his tone, Ji Shuhe had her worries written all over her face. This was an emotion she couldn't hide, and Wen Shaoyu could see it.
"Oh, really?" He dragged out his tone, rising and falling. "I saw you looking troubled, and you specially went to wait for your brother. I thought you were in some kind of trouble."
As Wen Shaoyu spoke, he studied Ji Shuhe. The girl lowered her head again, not daring to look at him. The false momentum she had used to threaten him earlier dissipated, and now she clutched the straps of her backpack even more guiltily.
For no reason, Wen Shaoyu guessed that Ji Shuhe's mood had something to do with him. Otherwise, she would definitely have dropped a line like "None of your business" and run home without looking back.
"Since you say no..." Wen Shaoyu paused. "Then go home early. I'm hungry."
After saying this, Wen Shaoyu didn't intend to wait for Ji Shuhe. Breaking from his usual style, he lifted his leg and walked straight into the alley.
Ji Shuhe could only watch as that slender shadow walked away and disappeared. She felt that Wen Shaoyu was retreating in order to advance, harboring ill intentions. She furrowed her brows even tighter.
But she still needed something from him.
Without hesitation, Ji Shuhe ran after him. "Wen Shaoyu! Wait for me!"
The night wind picked up, and the darkness grew longer. The alley gate seemed like a dividing line. Outside the gate, the streetlights were bright; inside, the dim yellow lights only barely illuminated a small patch of stone path underfoot.
"Wen Shaoyu..."
"What is it now?"
Wen Shaoyu didn't think he was walking fast, but when Ji Shuhe caught up, she was panting heavily beside him, just like Lizi after running around happily.
His heart softened again. He sighed, then shortened his stride.
Ji Shuhe finally caught her breath. She stole a few glances at Wen Shaoyu from the corner of her eye and pretended to ask casually, "You, you have a computer at home, right?"
Wen Shaoyu waited a long time for such a useless question. He was almost amused by her. "Do I have a computer at home? Don't you know?"
...She did know.
Every Friday after school, Ji Shulang would be "rooted" in Wen Shaoyu's room playing games. His desktop was custom-built, with top-notch monitor and keyboard. Ji Shulang had always coveted it.
Besides, now chat apps were on phones, not related to computers. Ji Shuhe inwardly regretted that this awkward attempt at paving the way was worse than saying nothing.
Wen Shaoyu wasn't one for beating around the bush. He didn't give Ji Shuhe a chance to make another excuse and said directly, "Just say it straight. What do you really want?"
At this point, Ji Shuhe steeled herself. "I want your QQ number!"
As soon as she said it, silence fell.
They were in a corner of darkness, surrounded by a full red wall with no windows, borrowing no light from anywhere. Wen Shaoyu turned his head to look at her in the night. Ji Shuhe's outline was blurry, but her look of burning one's boats was all too clear.
Wen Shaoyu's originally good mood was squeezed by an invisible hand and sank. He stopped smiling, his voice deep. "You want it, or are you asking for someone else?"
Ji Shuhe was speechless. "I..."
"Ji Shuhe, you've really improved." Wen Shaoyu took two steps back, leaning against the other wall. "You're even using me to curry favor?"
"..."
Ji Shuhe couldn't open her mouth even more now.
"Who are you asking for? A classmate? From your class?" Wen Shaoyu asked again.
Ji Shuhe shook her head. "I promised her. I can't say."
"Then you're quite loyal."
Indeed, after all, the one asking for help was her only friend.
Ji Shuhe grumbled inwardly, couldn't help sneaking a glance, and saw Wen Shaoyu staring at her with a half-smile. She immediately looked down guiltily.
Wen Shaoyu didn't let her off. He said slowly, "But you don't show me any consideration. You kept me in the dark and didn't even ask if I was willing to give it."
Ji Shuhe's round eyes widened. It seemed she only realized after hearing this that she had indeed focused solely on helping An Qing, assuming Wen Shaoyu wouldn't mind, and hadn't considered him at all.
Maybe it was because of Wen Shaoyu's occasional teasing, or maybe it was because she held a grudge for all the weird nicknames he had given her.
When dealing with Wen Shaoyu, Ji Shuhe mostly let impulse override reason. She abandoned her carefully cultivated thoughtfulness, and even her behavior became much simpler and more direct.
But he... was actually not bad.
He had a quick temper, but he was still patient with her. His mouth was sharp, but she had also given as good as she got.
Ji Shuhe began to waver. On one side was her good friend, on the other was someone she seemed to owe... How had a simple thing turned into this?
"Ji Shuhe, you're in a dilemma now, feeling wronged, right?"
Ji Shuhe suddenly looked up, her thoughts guessed.
"You were entrusted to help, but now you seem to be caught between a rock and a hard place."