Chapter 28: Chapter 28

Ch.28

Yi Ran was lying on the table, using her arm to cover her face, but Song Yu Meng grabbed her arm and pulled her up from the table.

Hurriedly covering the right side of her face with a hand and turning her face away, Yi Ran said in annoyance: “What are you doing? Can’t you see I’m sleeping?”

“Move your hand away, I want to see your face.” Song Yu Meng said seriously, almost sounding like it was an order.

Yi Ran didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Are you crazy? Don’t you usually hate seeing my face the most?”

Song Yu Meng forcefully pulled Yi Ran’s hand away and saw a fist-sized bruise on the right of her face, purplish and green.

Immediately, she was overcome with a mix of feelings. Moved, but worried. Sour, but sweet.

“Seen enough?” Yi Ran turned away and used her hand to cover her face again.

“Come with me.” Song Yu Meng was a little angry, pulling on her hand and walking towards the medical bay.

The bell rang, and all the students filtered back into the classrooms, leaving Yi Ran and Song Yu Meng alone in the long corridor.

Yi Ran glanced down at her left hand, being held by Song Yu Meng’s pale and soft hand.

She had held onto Song Yu Meng plenty of times, her hand, her wrist, her arm, but this was Song Yu Meng’s first time taking the initiative to hold her hand.

Yi Ran’s lips curved up in a warm smile. Looking at Song Yu Meng’s flustered face as she walked ahead of her, Yi Ran’s smile became even wider.

– Medical Bay –

Song Yu Meng wanted to find that same school doctor to help Yi Ran treat her injury, but he wasn’t around, so she decided to do it herself.

“Sit down.”

Yi Ran obediently sat on the wooden bench and Song Yu Meng took out disinfecting alcohol and cotton pads from the cabinet. She used tweezers to hold onto the damp cotton pads and disinfect Yi Ran’s wound.

“Why did you fight because of me?” Song Yu Meng asked as she gently dabbed.

Yi Ran immediately retorted: “Who fought because of you? You’re thinking too much. I just didn’t like that guy sprouting rubbish. It had nothing to do with you.”

Song Yu Meng “oh”-ed blandly, then dabbed a bit more forcefully.

Yi Ran’s face scrunched up in pain as she cried out: “Tsss—— Can’t you be a bit gentler, it hurts! You’re doing this on purpose aren’t you?” Her face was pained but she sat still.

“Who asked you to get into a fight? You deserve it!” Song Yu Meng replied imperiously, both angry and worried, but she still softened her touch.

“Didn’t I fight because of you.”

“Didn’t you just say it had nothing to do with me?”

“I……” Yi Ran choked, lowering her head.

Song Yu Meng felt warmth envelope her heart as its beating sped up.

After cleaning the wound, Song Yu Meng threw away the cotton pads and looked at Yi Ran seriously: “Thank you.”

Yi Ran smirked. “Like I said before, you need to be sincere when you thank someone.”

“Then what do you want?”

“Emmm, let me think……” Yi Ran’s brows knitted together as she rubbed her chin and considered. “How about this? Bring me breakfast for a week, the type that you made yourself. And from today onwards, you’re no longer allowed to bring breakfast for Liu Luo Yang.”

“You’re too much!” Song Yu Meng whined.

“Eh, seems like I took this punch for nothing.” Yi Ran lowered her head and acted all depressed, sighing. “I shouldn’t have fought with them, I should have scolded you with them instead!”

Song Yu Meng knew Yi Ran was doing this on purpose, but she couldn’t do anything.

“Alright alright, stop acting. I’ll do it.”

Yi Ran smiled immediately with her clear eyes, warm dimples and that refreshing fragrance of jasmine tinged with a hint of rubbing alcohol.

Song Yu Meng froze for a second, feeling her heart squeeze tightly.

……

The next morning, Song Yu Meng got up before the sky had even brightened. She knew Yi Ran loved the flavour of oranges, so she swapped out the butter inside the bread for orange jam.

She was holding the bread while entering the classroom, and Liu Luo Yang saw her. He smiled and asked: “Is that for me? Thanks, how did you know that I really like this?”

He thought that Song Yu Meng was giving him the bread, so he confidently reached out to take it.

Yi Ran was already seated there, and she looked on unhappily, but she didn’t move. She wanted to see what Song Yu Meng would do.

She hesitated, then took the bread back from Liu Luo Yang’s hand. He stared at her in surprise.

She awkwardly said: “This isn’t for you. If you want some, then tomorrow……”

Suddenly remembering that Crazy Yi had made her promise that she would never bring breakfast for Liu Luo Yang again, she was a bit embarrassed to say it out, so she said perfunctorily: “Um, I’ll bring it for you if I have time?”

“Pfffttt.” Yi Ran laughed, she never expected Song Yu Meng would take the bread back.

Seems like she still remembers what she promised.

Liu Luo Yang walked away and Song Yu Meng threw the bread onto Yi Ran’s desk. Seeing her happy smile, she got annoyed.

“Are you happy now?”

Yi Ran smiled even wider. “Isn’t it obvious I’m happy? My face feels like it’s gonna split open with how wide I’m smiling.”

“I hope it splits open! Hope it hurts!”

Yi Ran smiled and picked up her breakfast. Copying Liu Luo Yang, she said: “Thanks, how did you know that I really like this? Bring this for me whenever you have time in the future?”

“Dream on!”

Song Yu Meng stormed away angrily, but halfway through, she remembered something, and turned back again.

“Why are you back? Not angry anymore?” Yi Ran raised her head and smiled softly.

From Song Yu Meng’s angle, she had a good look of Yi Ran’s face. That bruise had already gone down significantly from yesterday, it didn’t look as scary anymore.

She took out a small box and tossed it to Yi Ran. “Here, remember to use it.”

“What’s this?” Yi Ran looked at the packaging. “Oh, it’s a spray. I have a bottle at home, you didn’t have to waste the money.”

Song Yu Meng stretched out her hand, angrily saying: “Oh. If you don’t want it then give it back.”

Yi Ran immediately hid the spray behind her back and looked at Song Yu Meng. “No no, you already gave it to me, so it’s mine. How could you want to take back something you already gave away?”

Song Yu Meng smiled, and left satisfied.

……

After the mid-term exam, Tang Xiang Ping reorganised the seating arrangements.

Liu Luo Yang and Song Yu Meng sat in the first row of the fourth group while Xu Yuan and Yi Ran sat in the second row of the fourth group. When this seating chart came up on the screen, the four of them didn’t look particularly happy.

Yi Ran could accept sitting with Xu Yuan, but she didn’t want Song Yu Meng to sit with Liu Luo Yang. Song Yu Meng had the same train of thought. She was pretty happy to sit next to Liu Luo Yang, but when she thought about Yi Ran sitting with Xu Yuan, she immediately felt upset.

Liu Luo Yang didn’t want to sit with Song Yu Meng at all, and Xu Yuan didn’t want them to sit together either, but at least it wasn’t too bad sitting next to Yi Ran.

Although the four of them all didn’t like it, they still sat down according to the chart.

“Hi, new tablemate, please take care of me.” Xu Yuan took the initiative to greet Yi Ran after changing their seats.

Yi Ran looked at her outstretched hand, considered for a moment then politely shook it. “Hello.”

Song Yu Meng was sitting in front of Yi Ran and overheard their conversation clearly. She scoffed and scolded in her heart: What’s so good, green tea!

Liu Luo Yang wanted to at least pretend to greet Song Yu Meng nicely like Xu Yuan did, but seeing the expression of hatred on her face, he lost all desire to be nice.

Once the bell rang, Song Yu Meng grabbed her bag and left the classroom, but not before angrily staring at Xu Yuan and Yi Ran.

Yi Ran was befuddled. She could understand glaring at Xu Yuan, but what did Song Yu Meng glare at Yi Ran for? Could it be that she had accidentally offended her again?

The lamps were usually lit up at night, but today, the lamps were all turned off and the road was black. It was a little scary.

Yi Ran walked to the place where she parked her scooter, but when she neared it, she saw Xu Yuan standing beside it.

“Xu Yuan?” Yi Ran asked. “What are you doing here?”

Xu Yuan went over to pull on Yi Ran’s arm. “It’s dark outside, I’m a bit scared. Could you send me home?”

Yi Ran had no idea how she managed to find Yi Ran’s scooter, but she agreed since she was a classmate.

“Alright, come on then.”

Xu Yuan sat on the passenger seat and hugged Yi Ran’s waist tightly. She even plastered the top half of her body on Yi Ran’s back.

Yi Ran was a bit startled at this sudden close contact. She had never been so intimate with anybody ever since she was born, and she didn’t like anybody being in such close proximity either.

“That… Could you let go a bit? You’re hugging on too tightly, I won’t be able to drive properly.”

“Sorry.” Xu Yuan loosened her arms. She was hugging on tightly at the start, now, it was just her arms loosely wrapped around Yi Ran’s waist, and she wasn’t leaning on Yi Ran’s back either.

Yi Ran felt much better, and started her scooter.

Xu Yuan didn’t say anything on the way back, aside from the occasional directions, and Yi Ran also enjoyed riding in silence.

Yi Ran stopped her scooter at the junction while waiting for the lights to change, and Xu Yuan was still holding on to her in the same posture. But they didn’t notice that a few metres behind them, there was a black Bentley.

It was Song Yu Meng’s car.

She sat inside, arms folded and legs crossed, looking at the two of them. The corner of her lips twisted upwards slightly, almost like a smile, but not like one at the same time.

With a gentle “heh”, Uncle Wang who was driving asked carefully: “Miss, are you upset?”

“It’s nothing, Uncle Wang. Don’t turn left later, just follow that scooter.” Song Yu Meng’s eyes stayed on them, an unpleasant expression on her face.

Although Uncle Wang couldn’t understand why, he was just a chauffer. Whatever the miss says, he just had to do it.

Yi Ran sent Xu Yuan to the road beside the housing block.

After getting off, Xu Yuan said: “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome”.

Yi Ran was just about to ride off when a Bentley stopped in front of her and blocked the road.

She had just thought that the car looked quite familiar when Song Yu Meng stepped off and waved at the driver. The car drove off and Song Yu Meng and Yi Ran were left alone on the sidewalk.

Song Yu Meng strode over, and Yi Ran watched, confused, as she sat on the rear passenger seat. Finally, her curiosity got the better of her. “What are you doing?”

Song Yu Meng asked with an odd tone: “What? That green tea can sit on your scooter, but this lady can’t?”

Yi Ran smiled and turned around to look at her. Song Yu Meng’s temper flared. “What are you smiling at, hurry up and send me home!”

“Weren’t you scared of sitting on my scooter? You’re not scared anymore?”

Song Yu Meng looked away. If Yi Ran hadn’t mentioned it, she would have forgotten about it. Seems like her jealousy got to her head.

“Get down.”

“Why should I get down?”

“Won’t you know once you get down?”

Song Yu Meng was a bit worried Yi Ran would leave her behind and ride off, but she still got off the scooter.

Yi Ran got off as well, then unclasped the helmet from below her chin. She took it off, then slid it onto Song Yu Meng’s head and clasped it under her chin.

Song Yu Meng touched the helmet, then asked with a ghost of a smile: “Why didn’t you let Xu Yuan wear the helmet?”

“I only have one, why would I give it to her?”

Song Yu Meng’s smile grew bigger and she pressed on: “Oh, then why did you give it to me?”

“Oh, if you don’t want it, then return it to me.” Yi Ran stuck out her hand like Song Yu Meng did previously.

“No!” Song Yu Meng took a few steps back, both hands holding the helmet to her head. She looked at Yi Ran warily and said: “I’ve already worn it, how could you ask for it back!”

“I bluffed you.” Yi Ran smiled and got on the scooter. “Hurry up and get on, I’ll send you back.”

Song Yu Meng got onto the passenger seat when Yi Ran suddenly said: “Hug me tightly.”

YAS HUG HER