Chapter 102: Caught in the trend (10/20)

“What’s wrong?” Ye Qingchang was the first to speak.

Her eyes looked no different from usual, but paired with that exhausted expression, it was a little unsettling.

“Third brother, are you okay?” Zhu Niao glanced over Ye Qingchang’s entire appearance.

Ye Qingchang was still dressed in her usual all-black outfit, only she’d swapped yesterday’s pleated skirt for a dress.

It had to be said, subtly but surely, the roommates—including Zhu Niao—had become less resistant to her wearing women’s clothes.

But today, Ye Qingchang seemed a bit off.

Her clothes were neat, unlike Liu Xie’s messiness, yet there was an ever-present hint of disorder about her.

“Me?” Ye Qingchang raised an eyebrow. “I’m fine.”

Although Ye Qingchang knew her current state probably didn’t look good, she hadn’t expected Zhu Niao to notice at a glance.

After her confession last night, she had trouble falling asleep.

She still hadn’t replied to the message Xiao Yi’an sent her on his main account, and since her confession, he hadn’t sent any new messages either.

Logically, Xiao Yi’an should have messaged her main account by now—at least to lay everything out about what happened last night.

But he hadn’t done anything.

As if nothing had happened yesterday.

Even though she knew the confession was intentional on her part—a calculated move in the game of fate with Xiao Yi’an, regaining the advantage—she couldn’t shake this strange unrest.

The confession was her plan; the one who should be unsettled was Xiao Yi’an, not her, the one who had taken this step.

She’d completed her move, and the impact should be weighing on Xiao Yi’an’s mind, so why did it linger in her own thoughts?

In the end, everything that happened that night stemmed from not wanting to watch Xiao Yi’an wander on the beach like a fool.

Maybe her theoretical knowledge and the skills she’d developed wouldn’t work as well in practice as she imagined, but she didn’t think such a small margin of error would make her lose to Xiao Yi’an.

She had gotten him to fall for her, to be utterly devoted to her, once—she could do it again.

She could, no matter what steep price she had to pay.

“Looks like you’re on the verge of losing your mind, kind of like those lovesick characters in literary fiction who suffer from unrequited love.” Zhu Niao critically observed Liu Xie’s expression.

“Compared to your inaccurate description, I’m more curious about how you even read books that revolve around unrequited love.” Ye Qingchang looked at Zhu Niao with some surprise. “Do you really understand them?”

“Don’t underestimate me! Sometimes I come across book recommendations with backgrounds like trimming horseshoes.” Zhu Niao retorted earnestly.

Ye Qingchang’s doubt only deepened.

Seeing Ye Qingchang’s mood lighten a bit, Zhu Niao tentatively asked, “Is this about what happened yesterday? You can tell your bros anything. We might not help with the big stuff, and too lazy for the small stuff, but whatever it is, you can talk to us.”

Though crude, Zhu Niao’s care as a good brother was genuine.

“Well, kind of… not really…” Ye Qingchang didn’t know how to describe it and waved her hand. “It’s still under my control. Anyway, I have my own pace.”

“That’s good.” Zhu Niao finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Since Ye Qingchang returned to the hotel last night, a low pressure hung over her.

Originally, Zhu Niao planned to grab Ye Qingchang’s mysterious little accessory from that room to make water balloons; after all, a single box didn’t have enough ammo.

But with Ye Qingchang’s state last night, not even carefree Yang Shuli dared approach.

It was like Ye Qingchang crying while eating fried chicken in front of them—normally, everyone would have rushed up for a bite, but now she was untouchable.

Zhu Niao scratched her head. “So, what’s your plan today?”

“Nothing special. I’ve done what I needed to do. Now it’s just a waiting game for things to unfold. In the meantime, I’m free to do whatever I want.” Ye Qingchang shrugged. “So I’m still going to travel. I won’t lose my composure just because of some electronic pet.”

Zhu Niao looked at Ye Qingchang deeply, sensing that she was already a bit out of sorts.

But in the end, it was just her feeling. She still wanted to believe that emotional expert Ye Qingchang had her own rhythm.

“Oi, what are you two chatting about?” Liu Xie popped out from behind Zhu Niao, putting her hand on Zhu Niao’s shoulder.

Xiao Niao turned around in shock to see the steaming Liu Xie fresh out of the shower. “You showered so fast? You just rinsed? I cook dumplings slower than you.”

“Then you’re just a bit girly. I usually finish a fight within three minutes.” Liu Xie gave Zhu Niao an inverted thumbs-up.

Compared to yesterday’s shorts, she’d changed into brighter beach shorts, still blue and white. Her top was a loose white T-shirt, with a matching blue and white beach shirt over it.

The style was somewhat similar to what Yang Shuli wore.

Notably, her hair was still wet and draped behind her.

Originally shining golden hair had turned into a wet, dark gold blend, less dazzling—like the sun replaced by a ceiling light bulb.

“You don’t even dry your hair?” Zhu Niao looked at Liu Xie’s dripping long hair. “Be careful, or you’ll get rheumatism when you’re old.”

“That’s fine. I’ll still be a trendsetter when I’m old.” Liu Xie gave Zhu Niao a thumbs-up.

Zhu Niao rolled her eyes and noticed Yang Shuli behind Liu Xie quietly adding water to the wet golden hair with a water gun.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you all to the beach to sunbathe. Play whatever you want—I’m going to catch up on some sleep.” Liu Xie’s head was still throbbing.

Zhu Niao also noticed the beach mat in Liu Xie’s hand.

Led by Liu Xie, blindly followed by Yang Shuli, with Zhu Niao and the zombie-like Ye Qingchang in tow, they finally started their day’s outing.

Just stepping out of the hotel, Zhu Niao squinted slightly at the sunlight.

Beside her, the gloomier Ye Qingchang looked even worse, almost like she was about to be exorcised.

It felt like Ye Qingchang was a vampire—calm when faced with filth and blood, but turning to ashes in the face of beauty and sunlight.

Suddenly, Ye Qingchang’s moaning stopped, making Zhu Niao turn sharply.

Following Ye Qingchang’s gaze, she saw Xiao Yi’an staring blankly.

What a coincidence.