Su Li sensed that Chi Qingya and her little sisters were casting her strange glances, but she paid them no mind.
She wasn’t bothered by it.
She had never cared much about Chi Qingya’s affairs.
Even when Su Li left the classroom and noticed that Chi Qingya didn’t seem to have shown up for class, she didn’t dwell on it.
She stood up to leave and spotted a burly figure standing at the classroom door, glancing around as if searching for something.
The figure felt somewhat familiar to Su Li, but she still ignored it.
She rose and walked out, heading straight to the Cafe where she had arranged to meet MOKA.
The memory of running into Miss Cat at the Cafe last time surfaced in her mind; she wondered if Miss Cat would be working at the Cafe again today.
As Su Li brushed past her, Xiao Yuyu’s breathing grew hurried once again.
This was different from the last time she encountered Su Li at the Hospital.
Now, her heart thudded wildly, as if a little deer were galloping about in her chest.
Especially in that instant when their eyes met.
Xiao Yuyu felt her nerves had been stretched to the limit.
She leaned by the windowsill, pretending not to care, yet her gaze secretly trailed after Su Li.
She wasn’t sure what she was feeling right now.
She hoped that Su Li would recognize her.
But she was also a little afraid—afraid that Su Li really would recognize her.
She wished Su Li would recognize her, yet at the same time, she liked how she was at this moment.
Even though, deep down, she rather disliked herself in her current state.
But…
Maybe?
Maybe Su Li liked her just as she was now.
If Su Li didn’t like her, why would she play games with her, again and again?
If Su Li didn’t like her, why, when they played games, would she only support her?
If Su Li didn’t like her, why would she carefully read every single message she sent and reply to each one?
Xiao Yuyu knew—Su Li liked her.
And, by coincidence, she liked Su Li too.
The two of them liked each other, running towards one another from both directions.
When she noticed the gazes of passersby falling upon Su Li, she unconsciously straightened her own back.
She was the one Su Li liked.
The glory Su Li basked in—she too deserved her share!
She was Su Li’s knight!
She would protect Su Li from the shadows, quietly and faithfully!
It was only when Su Li walked away from her that Xiao Yuyu felt a sheen of cold sweat covering her forehead.
The scene she imagined in her mind—the two of them recognizing each other—hadn’t happened.
But Xiao Yuyu was in no rush.
She even felt a little relieved, yet also a little disappointed.
Perhaps Su Li hadn’t recognized her, or perhaps Su Li already had.
But they weren’t supposed to meet or recognize each other like this.
They should recognize each other on a warm, sunny afternoon.
With cherry blossoms, like pink sugar dust tossed by the wind, fluttering down on her shoulders.
She clutched her cold bottle of strawberry milk, fingertips absentmindedly stroking the dewy droplets gathered on its surface.
Shadow swaying with flecks of golden light, she would watch as Su Li walked towards her through the shower of flowers.
A white dress billowed gently in the wind, like a dandelion about to float away.
She would hurriedly hide her milk behind her back, only to bump her head against a cherry blossom branch, making the blossoms tremble and shower Su Li with petal-snow.
It should be in such a scene that they met, then held hands.
Not like now, recognizing each other amid the noise and bustle of the crowd.
Xiao Yuyu didn’t feel disheartened; sooner or later, Su Li would come to understand her feelings.
Understand everything she’d done for the two of them.
Watching Su Li get up and leave, Xiao Yuyu followed her, wanting to quietly accompany her, like a true knight.
To protect her!
……
[Little Bear Gummy: Qingya, I’m so sorry! Because Caicai got into a fight with someone, we didn’t reply to your message in time!]
[Are you feeling better? Remember to drink lots of water!!]
[I’m sorry, I’m sorry QAQ!]
Chi Qingya heard her phone vibrate and felt a bit dazed.
After drinking her rice porridge, she’d dozed off again.
Maybe it was because she’d drunk a lot of water, or maybe because her little sisters cared about her, but Chi Qingya felt much better inside.
So, there really were people who cared about her in this world…
It was just that, for other reasons, they hadn’t been able to check on her in time.
[It’s fine, I—I’m almost all better now!]
[Is someone badly hurt? Did they go to the Hospital?]
[Does the teacher know about this? Is there anything I can help with?]
Even though her head was still a bit foggy, Chi Qingya quickly replied to her little sister’s message.
Actually, she hadn’t messaged them privately that much before.
She was afraid of disturbing them, so most of the time, even if she wanted to chat, she did it in the group.
She’d heard people say that in a girls’ Dormitory at college, four people could have five, six, seven, or even eight group chats.
But she didn’t think they would really make so many groups.
After all, whenever she spoke in the group, everyone would always reply.
It was just that everyone was busy sometimes, and couldn’t reply right away.
Had she always misunderstood everyone all this time?
Chi Qingya stared at the messages on her phone screen. Even through the screen, she could feel the warmth of their care.
[Little Bear Gummy: I’m not too sure myself. Xixi and I are busy right now, so if there’s nothing urgent, Qingya, could you ask Caicai?]
[Caicai must be really upset right now. Xixi and I are a bit busy and don’t have time to check on her. Baby, please comfort her for us, thank you, love you, Baby]
Chen Tangguan sent messages to Chi Qingya, but she still didn’t mention the details between the two of them.
She figured that if Chi Qingya had any sense, she wouldn’t say anything unnecessary.
At least, from how she’d gotten along with Chi Qingya before, she thought Chi Qingya was sensible.
[It’s fine, don’t mention it]
Chi Qingya replied quickly.
Even though her head was still spinning, her expression was exceptionally earnest.
She knew how awful and lonely it felt to be sick.
Caixiangxiang must need some comfort right now.
After all, she had misunderstood everyone.
She ought to apologize sincerely as well.
Maybe comforting Caicai would be her chance.
[Yasuyugongshang: Caicai, are you okay?]
[I heard you got hurt?]
She nervously messaged Caixiangxiang. Honestly, she hadn’t chatted much with Dormitory leader Caixiangxiang in private before.
Every time there was a Dormitory event, her little sisters would announce it in the group and she’d sign up, then join them for the activity.
Chi Qingya stared nervously at the chat window, racking her brain over how to comfort Caixiangxiang.
If you’re hurt, it must feel terrible, right?
As a friend, what should she do?