Chi Shuo’s hand touched He Lindi’s neck. Before she could even register the sensation, she pulled her hand back.
Chi Shuo’s lips trembled slightly as she tried to speak normally, “My hand is very hot.”
She was telling the truth. After taking photos at the event for so long, her hands were slightly sweaty. It would be strange if they weren’t hot.
He Lindi tilted her head, resting it against the window beside her. She couldn’t clearly see Chi Shuo’s expression but could sense her nervousness.
He Lindi let out a low chuckle. She spoke, “Chi Shuo.”
Chi Shuo was fastening her seatbelt. “What is it?”
“Are you afraid of me?”
“Afraid of what?”
“Afraid that…” He Lindi lazily fastened her own seatbelt, her tone slow and unhurried, “Afraid that I like you.”
Chi Shuo was momentarily speechless, her nervousness doubling. How should she respond naturally at this moment? She couldn’t find the answer. Finally, she could only shake her head. “No.” She said, “Love doesn’t distinguish between genders.”
He Lindi didn’t say anything. Chi Shuo pondered for a few seconds, then asked, “Was it real when you liked Ding Miaoran before?”
“Mm,” He Lindi hummed in agreement. “Let’s go.”
After leaving the parking garage, the outside light streamed in. He Lindi rested her face in her palm, elbow propped on the car window, her gaze fixed on the scenery outside.
While waiting at a red light, Chi Shuo glanced at her several times but couldn’t decipher the emotion in He Lindi’s eyes.
But she could hazard a guess—perhaps mentioning Ding Miaoran had stirred up her memories.
Following the old routine, Chi Shuo drove her to Yunshang Garden, then took the bus home herself.
It was exactly six o’clock. Chi Shuo rubbed her temples, then ordered takeout on her phone.
It was Christmas today. Many people took it seriously, and the streets outside were bustling. Chi Shuo didn’t want to join the festivities, preferring to curl up on the sofa and watch TV dramas.
Besides that, she was chatting with Han Yu, but Han Yu hadn’t replied in a long time. She had taken the bar girl to the decorated KTV room; they were likely lost in sweet nothings, with no time to reply to her messages.
Shen Qu, however, sent Chi Shuo a message—a red envelope with the note “A gift from Santa Claus.” Chi Shuo looked at the red envelope, hesitated for a long while, but still opened it.
As expected, Shen Qu, that shameless and stingy person, hadn’t changed. She had sent her ten cents, just like before.
Chi Shuo transferred twenty cents back to her with the note: 【You’re welcome】.
The incident of Shen Qu being harassed hadn’t died down; it was still a hot topic on major forums. Chi Shuo’s resident Shen Qu ‘mama fan,’ Zeng Guai, kept broadcasting updates in their group chat. Even now, she was tirelessly sharing posts.
【The person who harassed Shen Qu has been exposed! Has a criminal record!】
【Reflections on Shen Qu’s harassment incident: How can female celebrities effectively protect their rights?】
【Shen Qu is so pitiful. Even after all this, she’s still accused of creating hype.】
Chi Shuo didn’t click on every post. The content was mostly the same. She usually only clicked on posts with the latest updates, like Shen Qu appearing on set.
It wasn’t that Chi Shuo was particularly concerned about Shen Qu; she just glanced at the main points and wouldn’t message Shen Qu.
Zeng Guai knew Chi Shuo had Shen Qu’s WeChat. These past two days, whenever she saw Chi Shuo, her concern was blatant, constantly asking if Shen Qu had posted anything on her Moments. Chi Shuo’s answer was: No.
If Shen Qu was the type to leave her vulnerable side open for public discussion, she wouldn’t be Shen Qu.
Chi Shuo’s Christmas was no different from any other day. Around ten o’clock, while she was drawing, her phone rang beside her. Chi Shuo glanced at the caller ID and answered with a smile.
“Xiao Yu, finally have time to reply to my messages?”
Han Yu was clearly in high spirits, her voice filled with laughter. “Yeah, just recovered now. I originally prepared a lot, but she ended up saying even more than me.”
Chi Shuo lowered her head slightly, offering heartfelt blessings for her friend’s new relationship. “Congratulations.”
“Shuo Shuo,” Han Yu called her name. “I think I’ve really touched happiness this time.”
Chi Shuo mentally reviewed the love lives of her friends around her and found they were all doing quite well.
Xia Zhou and Yue Ke could be considered a flash romance, but nearly half a year had passed, and they were still sweet as honey, which was rather rare. Chi Shuo remembered that before they got together, Xia Zhou had just said she wanted to find a younger guy.
Although Han Yu had been badly hurt and deceived in her last relationship, Chi Shuo had always admired her resilience. Being able to quickly throw herself wholeheartedly into another relationship and still give it 100% effort wasn’t easy.
In short, Xia Zhou and Han Yu’s relationships were developing acceptably, at least with no major issues for now.
“You need to step it up too,” Han Yu added.
Chi Shuo’s hand gripped her blanket. The fabric was soft and delicate, like pinching cotton candy, except not sticky. She squeezed it twice more, didn’t immediately agree, but asked Han Yu something else: “If you once really liked someone, is it harder to forget them? The kind where you were together and then broke up.”
“Not necessarily.”
“Like me, I can guarantee that when I was dating, I really liked every single one of my ex-girlfriends. But later, I really could stop liking them. Over time, the feelings fade. Relationships need maintenance even when you’re together, let alone after breaking up.”
“Why are you asking such a silly question? Just use yourself as an example. Ask your heart, do you still like the ex-girlfriend who cheated on you?”
Chi Shuo paused, then answered, “Don’t like her.” Her voice lacked conviction. “What if?”
“Then snatch her heart back.”
“Make her like you.”
After speaking, Han Yu lowered her voice and asked, “You’re talking about He Lindi, right?”
Chi Shuo hummed an “Mm,” then heard Han Yu say, “It’s been so long since she broke up with that ex-girlfriend. Don’t worry about it. I’m going for a late-night snack with my girlfriend.”
After the call ended, Chi Shuo still hadn’t fully recovered. Her mind instantly flashed back to He Lindi’s words from the afternoon—afraid I like you.
What did that sentence mean? Chi Shuo couldn’t quite figure it out, but upon careful consideration, there seemed to be two or three possible answers.
First, He Lindi thought she was straight and was testing her attitude towards homosexuality.
Second, He Lindi might have just made a casual excuse. Because during their close contact then, Chi Shuo was indeed a bit nervous. Seeing her like that, He Lindi asked the question.
Third, He Lindi actually… liked her.
Chi Shuo was startled by her final thought, almost jumping up in bed. But she still shivered, and the iPad resting before her slid to the side due to her movement.
After two or three minutes, Chi Shuo recovered. She felt she might be going crazy now, her brain not functioning normally, daring to make such a guess.
Who was He Lindi? She was the perpetual object of attention, the person she hadn’t even dared to proactively contact during her teenage years, the… many, many things, the person forever separated from her by a vast distance.
Thinking of this, Chi Shuo felt deflated. She leaned more towards her first guess. Now that she thought about it, her answer seemed alright.
After a while, Chi Shuo exhaled, her eyes tightening slightly. She got out of bed, opened the covers, and walked to the bookshelf.
She took out the notebook titled How to Make He Lindi My Girlfriend. She didn’t open it immediately but first carried it to the bedside, staring at her own name on the cover in a daze.
After a while, she finally mustered the courage, wanting to open the notebook and face her past self.
But coincidentally, her phone rang again. The caller ID showed the protagonist of this notebook, He Lindi. Chi Shuo jumped again, her hand trembling slightly. After calming her emotions, she slid to answer.
The sky outside had already darkened; night had long since fallen, enveloping Yuncheng.
Chi Shuo spoke normally, “Is something wrong?”
He Lindi didn’t respond. Chi Shuo asked again, “What’s wrong?”
“Got assigned a business trip.”
“When?”
“Leaving tomorrow morning.”
Chi Shuo lowered her head slightly, humming an “Oh.” “Then be safe.”
“Chi Shuo,” He Lindi called her softly. “I feel like having a drink. Do you have any alcohol?”
Chi Shuo quickly got out of bed. “Let me check my fridge first.” She hadn’t drunk in a long time and wasn’t sure if she had any stock left. After a moment, she replied, “I’m out.”
“Then I’ll buy some outside. Come down to the entrance to meet me.”
Chi Shuo paused. “Are you at my complex entrance now?”
“Yes.”
Chi Shuo immediately grabbed clothes from the side. “Wait for me then. I’ll go with you. There’s a Carrefour nearby, still open.”
He Lindi chuckled. “Alright.”
Fifteen minutes later, the two appeared at the Carrefour entrance. Chi Shuo pushed a shopping cart, walking slowly beside He Lindi.
He Lindi looked at the rows of items and said, “I just wanted to come for a drink.”
Chi Shuo glanced at her. “You don’t really drink anyway.”
He Lindi blinked. “How do you know?”
“…Sister.” Chi Shuo couldn’t help sighing. “Last time at the bar, you told me yourself, okay?”
He Lindi noted Chi Shuo’s form of address. “You’re about twenty days older than me.”
Chi Shuo raised an eyebrow. “Then… little sister?”
He Lindi: “……”
He Lindi grabbed a bag of chips. “Buying this.”
Chi Shuo was amused by her flustered look and didn’t plan on letting her off easily. Pushing the cart, she continued, “Am I not telling the truth? What are you avoiding? I call you Teacher He too often. Why don’t you try calling me Shuo Shuo Jie Jie? Or I can call you Didi Mei Mei? Either works.”
As she droned on like Tang Sanzang chanting scriptures, He Lindi’s ears burned. She grabbed another box of chocolates, then finally couldn’t take it anymore. “Stop for a moment. Why weren’t you this talkative during lessons?”
Chi Shuo shrugged. “Precisely because it’s not lesson time now.”
He Lindi ignored her, pulling the cart herself towards the alcohol section. Chi Shuo asked leisurely from behind, “Really drinking? What can you drink? Why do you want to drink? Aren’t you going on a business trip tomorrow morning?”
He Lindi stopped walking. She didn’t answer a single question. Her lips parted, hesitated for two seconds, then she conceded defeat. “Shuo Shuo Jie Jie.” She said, “Just spare me.”
Hearing this address, Chi Shuo immediately brightened, her expression unable to contain her delight. “Alright, what kind of alcohol do you want to buy?”
Leaving Carrefour, both carried a bag. Fortunately, it was close to home, and the items weren’t heavy, so it wasn’t much of a burden.
The night grew deeper. Chi Shuo swiped her access card, and He Lindi followed her into the complex.
Under the streetlights, Chi Shuo saw their breath misting in the cold air. She thought for a moment and asked, “Who are you going to photograph tomorrow?”
“Song Qin.”
“Him again.”
“Year-end events are more numerous. This time flying to Beijing again.”
“Then who will teach me?”
“No one.”
Chi Shuo paused. “Then won’t my photography homework fall behind?”
“Back in school, when teachers let students self-study, did homework fall behind?”
Chi Shuo recalled and shook her head. “No.”
“There you go.”
Chi Shuo was completely convinced. “Okay then. If I don’t understand something, can I ask you on WeChat?”
“Mm.”
Soon, they entered Chi Shuo’s apartment. She hadn’t turned off the air conditioning when she left, so warmth enveloped them upon entering.
They placed their items on the coffee table, then went to wash their hands.
Chi Shuo went to the coffee table, picked up the two glasses there, and went to the kitchen to wash them.
Returning to the living room, He Lindi was already sitting comfortably on the soft carpet. Chi Shuo placed the glasses down and asked, “Watch any dramas?”
“Let’s watch a horror movie.”
“…Aren’t you scared?”
“Can’t watch if I’m scared?” He Lindi picked up the chips from the coffee table and tore open the bag. “If you don’t dare watch, then forget I said it.”
Coincidentally, Chi Shuo was most susceptible to goading. Hearing this, she quickly selected a highly-rated horror movie, then went to turn off the lights.
The living room lights all came from the TV screen several meters away. They had to double-check before grabbing anything to avoid mistakes.
Beer, iced beer, had already been poured into the glasses. Chi Shuo took a sip and found it unbearable, choosing to leave it aside.
He Lindi hadn’t touched her glass. Chi Shuo’s eyelid twitched; she felt she had poured it for nothing.
The movie slowly began. Chi Shuo was initially somewhat absentminded, guessing He Lindi’s reason for coming over, but later her attention was completely drawn to the movie. It was just that some scenes appeared very suddenly. Chi Shuo and He Lindi would simultaneously scream, then focus back on the movie.
After perhaps an hour, Chi Shuo finally picked up her glass again and took a sip of beer. She said, “I have work tomorrow, won’t drink much.”
He Lindi hummed an “Mm.” “I know.”
Chi Shuo glanced sideways at her, asking again, “Then you still came over for a drink?”
“No.” He Lindi shook her head. “I just came over to wish you a Merry Christmas.”
In the darkness, Chi Shuo’s lips curved slightly. “Mm, alright then.”
The movie plot grew increasingly confusing. What was supposed to be a horror movie turned into a brain-burner. Chi Shuo started paying attention to the plot.
He Lindi also watched seriously. Neither spoke until the movie ended.
Only then did Chi Shuo blink. She looked at He Lindi beside her, somewhat unsatisfied. “This movie’s high rating wasn’t fake.”
He Lindi echoed, “Pretty good.”
Chi Shuo pointed towards the light switch. “Then I’ll turn on the lights?”
They had been sitting on the carpet for nearly two hours. Standing up suddenly was a bit difficult.
Chi Shuo moved her body. After two seconds, she first straightened her legs and said, “Let me recover for a bit.”
He Lindi chuckled. “Legs sore?”
“A little.”
He Lindi was very casual. “I’ll go turn them off.”
She said so, but when she stood up, she wobbled, even falling back onto the sofa.
Chi Shuo heard her slightly pained cry and quickly moved over, asking caringly, “Twisted your ankle?”
He Lindi shook her head. She propped herself up, shifted position, and sat down on the sofa. “No, just legs a bit sore too.”
Chi Shuo relaxed. Coincidentally, she had rested enough too. She pushed off the sofa and stood up. “I’ll go then.”
When the lights came on, both felt somewhat unaccustomed, squinting their eyes. Only then did they notice the coffee table was a mess.
Chi Shuo scratched her hair and said, “I’ll get a bag to pack the trash.”
“Okay.”
Soon, the table was mostly tidy, only the beer, glasses, and tissues remained.
Chi Shuo exhaled, looked out the window, and asked, “Are you going back tonight?”
“Yes.”
The words Chi Shuo had prepared about letting her stay in the guest room were all swallowed back. She replied naturally, “Okay, I’ll walk you out later.”
Just as she finished speaking, Chi Shuo’s phone rang on the sofa. He Lindi handed it to her and said, “Accidentally saw it, it’s Xiao Tong calling.”
Chi Shuo nodded, took the phone, pointed towards her bedroom, indicating she was going inside to answer.
“Shuo Shuo Jie, Merry Christmas.”
Chi Shuo stood by the window. She even felt a bit hot and opened the window slightly to let the cold air in.
Chi Shuo replied, “Merry Christmas.”
“I’m not coming back for New Year’s Day,” Xiao Tong said. “But our winter break isn’t far off.”
“Okay, study hard for exams.”
The other end didn’t reply immediately. After five or six seconds, Tong Jinjin finally hummed an “Mm, I will.” Chi Shuo heard his voice was slightly choked with drunkenness. “Shuo Shuo Jie, you just treat me like a younger brother, right?”
The wind instantly felt colder, cutting Chi Shuo painfully. She immediately closed the window, then calmly replied, “You were originally my younger brother. Didn’t I always call you Xiao Tong Di Di before? Only later did I call you Xiao Tong.”
Tong Jinjin sighed, his nasal tone heavy. “I held back from contacting you for so long, but I still really like…”
Chi Shuo didn’t listen further. She hung up. He Lindi’s voice came from outside the door: “Chi Shuo, I’m leaving.”
“Wait.” Chi Shuo glanced at something in the corner, immediately picked it up, and walked into the living room.
“What’s wrong?”
Chi Shuo handed the large box to her and explained, “Your birthday gift. It’s been at my place for three months. Just take it today as a Christmas gift.”
He Lindi’s eyes curved. “I came to disturb you, and I still get a gift?” She didn’t refuse. “But this box is too big. Do you have a bag?”
Chi Shuo nodded. “Yes.”
She returned to the bedroom and brought out the large bag that originally held the box.
He Lindi put the roller skates inside while saying, “This is the first birthday gift I received this year.”
Chi Shuo paused, then heard her say, “I was sent to the hospital. The doctors and nurses didn’t give me anything either.”
Chi Shuo’s brow furrowed. “Why did you go to the hospital?”
He Lindi shook her head. “Nothing.”
Chi Shuo pressed her lips together and asked, “Aren’t you going on a business trip for a week?”
“Mm.”
“Then… can’t celebrate New Year’s Eve together.”
“Make it up with a hug?”
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