Chapter 65 – Getting Closer
1020 Words
They walked side‑by‑side toward the school. Jiang University was only about two kilometers away—not a great distance, but a walk was still a walk.
Night had fallen, traffic buzzed, and the city’s nightlife was just starting to stir.
They ambled at a relaxed, casual pace. Their spacing had shrunk from a full body‑length at first to a fist‑width, and the sway of their steps occasionally made them brush against each other.
They resembled a couple—except there were no hands linked, no embraces.
Su Baizhou still wore the cute bunny‑ear hat. From any angle other than her face, she looked adorably cartoonish. From her face, Luo Ye thought she was even cuter.
He turned his head to catch her profile.
“Senior, you’re really beautiful.”
The moonlight was bright that night, and the fairy senior, like a true fairy, shone.
Su Baizhou stayed silent, giving him a fleeting glance.
Being praised felt different when it came from a crush, not just any bystander.
A small thrill stirred within her, though she kept a neutral expression. She knew she was beautiful, but hearing Luo Ye’s sweet words made her think, “This junior has such a smooth mouth.”
She tugged the little strings on the hat, making the ears wiggle—her mood reflected in the playful movement.
It was her first plush win, one she’d gotten together with Luo Ye.
Soon they reached the university gates.
Su Baizhou paused briefly. Though a two‑kilometer walk wasn’t short, time seemed to fly walking with this junior.
The staff‑apartment back door opened onto the campus, so they were essentially on the same route.
Inside the school, their steps unconsciously slowed.
A small copse of trees lined a path—a spot Luo Ye had never entered, though he’d heard rumors about it.
Those rumors came from Wang Dachi, who seemed to know every campus gossip.
They passed the edge of the grove, its beauty unnoticed as they simply walked by.
Reaching the back entrance of the staff apartments, Luo Ye realized today would be his last time seeing the senior.
Even though they’d met yesterday, a lingering reluctance to part lingered.
He waved at her back, “See you tomorrow, Senior!”
She turned, expression flat, “Goodbye.”
She turned to leave, but after a few steps she glanced back, “I might consider the fun‑sports carnival.”
Luo Ye froze, then his face broke into a bright grin.
He stood there, like a statue, watching her retreat until she vanished from view.
A voice called out from behind, “You?”
Luo Ye turned to see Gao Yuming, the devoted admirer of Tang Enqi, standing there alone.
“What are you doing here?” Gao asked.
“What about you? What are you up to?” Luo replied.
Gao had just escorted Tang Enqi back to her dorm and was about to head out. Though he was a wealthy “rich kid,” he didn’t live on campus, and his personality didn’t suit dorm life.
Luo Ye, remembering Gao’s crush on Tang Enqi, felt a pang of déjà vu—he saw himself in Gao.
“How do you feel right now?” Luo asked.
He knew well the feeling of liking Tang Enqi. She’d been the perfect high‑school crush—beautiful, kind, the “first love” for many. Even though Tang Enqi rejected Gao, Liu Bing Xin kept pushing them together as friends, so their current relationship remained platonic.
Gao grinned, “I feel great.”
He went on, “I heard you from Tang Enqi. You’re high‑school classmates, you like her.”
“I don’t like her anymore.” Luo answered.
“Even if you don’t like her, I can tell she’s not over you—she still has a hint of reluctance.”
“Is that so?”
Luo shook his head, “She doesn’t like anyone, she only likes herself.”
Gao sighed, “I get it, but you’re the only one who hasn’t tried to buy her affection with money. Compared to Liu Bing Xin, the gap is huge.”
Luo stared, surprised. Everyone called Gao a clueless rich‑kid, but maybe there was more depth.
He thought, perhaps love starts out the same for everyone; they’re just pursuing it in their own ways.
Gao hesitated, then asked, “If she tried to chase you, what would you do?”
“She only likes herself, she won’t drop her pride for anyone.”
“Who knows what the future holds… if she realized she liked you…” Gao trailed off, his gaze fixed on Luo.
Luo imagined Tang Enqi suddenly confessing—he couldn’t picture it; his mind was stuck on the fairy senior.
He shook his head, “That’ll never happen. If it did, someone else would get jealous.”
He remembered how Su Baizhou had stayed motionless when he held her hand, and how Tang Enqi’s sudden harsh glance when she took the milk tea from him.
He realized the moment to confess was drawing nearer.
Gao, after a pause, said, “Alright, I’ll handle the rest.”
“Do you really like her?” Luo asked.
“Maybe… she’s the only special person I met. If she’s single, I’ll stick around. Call me a ‘pushover’ all you want, it’s part of growing up.”
Gao looked at Luo, they shared a smile. Though they weren’t close, Gao seemed different from the rumors.
He left.
Luo returned to his dorm. His roommates were waiting, ready for a gaming session—no one could be missing.
“Yo, why so late? The next dorm challenged us; you’re our hope.”
“What? Someone’s daring us?”
Luo pretended to be angry.
His phone buzzed:
Su Baizhou: Get some rest.
Seeing the message, Luo’s expression vanished, replaced by a grin as sweet as honey.
Wang Dachi exclaimed, “What the heck, Luo? You’re smiling like a daisy!”
- Writer
