Chapter 40

Ying Nian’s changes were hard to miss, especially for the friends close to her. As soon as she returned, Zhou Yao noticed that something about her was different, mainly in her emotional state.

No matter what she saw, Ying Nian had a big grin on her face, as if she were in an incredibly good mood. Zhou Yao couldn’t help but ask, “Niannian, what’s up with you? Why are you so happy?”

With a couple of giggles, Ying Nian replied, “Nothing, I’m not that happy.” But her lips couldn’t help but curve upwards.

The café was quiet in the afternoon, with only a few patrons. The soft, soothing music flowed gently like water, making it the perfect place for afternoon tea.

Ying Nian and Zhou Yao were waiting for Zheng Yinyin. They had planned to go shopping and have dinner together, but while the two of them had already arrived, Zheng Yinyin was running late, caught up with something on her way.

“Really? But I feel like after you went to that match, your whole vibe has changed.” Zhou Yao carefully observed Ying Nian, speaking with her usual smile at the corners of her lips. Her fair and delicate cheeks had a faint blush from the heat outside, still lingering even after entering the air-conditioned café. The summer warmth hadn’t fully dissipated yet.

Not only was Zhou Yao beautiful, but her voice was soft and tender, making it especially pleasant to listen to. It was no wonder Ying Nian enjoyed spending time with her. Resting her elbows on the table, Ying Nian propped her cheeks in her hands, listening to her friend with a smile. She reached out to lightly pinch Zhou Yao’s cheek and teased, “Chen Xuze is so lucky! He gets to sleep next to my dear Yaoyao every night!” Then, with a playful tone, she added, “Well, yeah, I guess I’m in a good mood. But that’s nothing new. You know how I’m always causing a ruckus and having fun, of course I’m happy!”

Zhou Yao blushed, “What do you mean ‘every night’… it’s not like that…”

Ying Nian giggled but didn’t push her any further.

Zhou Yao’s family situation was a bit complicated. During this break, the conflict between her and her mother had escalated, becoming an open issue. The usually gentle and quiet Zhou Yao had unexpectedly stood her ground, refusing to back down. She even chose to move out rather than submit, which showed how serious the problem had become.

Chen Xuze’s family wasn’t typical either. Both of his parents were busy and owned multiple properties in the city center, but he didn’t like living in any of them. After his grandparents, who had raised him, passed away, he refused to leave the small alley where he had grown up. He had long since started taking care of himself and living independently.

Usually, when neighbors made something delicious, they would call Chen Xuze over or send him a portion, and the ones who took care of him the most were Zhou Yao’s family.

Not long ago, Ying Nian, Jiang Jiashu, and a group of friends had visited Chen Xuze’s place a few times, gathering for meals and playing games. Now, it seemed that Zhou Yao had resolved her conflict with her family and moved back home, but the two of them had lived together for quite some time, and it was clear that in the future, Zhou Yao and Chen Xuze would likely share even more time together.

Ying Nian still remembered leaving Chen Xuze’s house when a group of rowdy boys remarked, “The two of them really look like a young married couple living together!”

Jiang Jiashu added, “Of course! They’ve lived in the same alley, played together since childhood, and grown up together. Now they’re both heading to the capital for school—who could be a better match than them?”

This year’s college entrance exams produced two top scorers in the city, one male and one female—Chen Xuze and Zhou Yao—both from the same small alley, making it a celebrated story in their area.

The holiday was almost over, and soon everyone would be heading off in different directions to start their new university lives.

Ying Nian made the most of her time by gathering with Zhou Yao and Zheng Yinyin, knowing that it would be harder to meet up once they were no longer in the same place. This was a girls-only meetup, and Ying Nian strictly forbade anyone like Jiang Jiashu or Chen Xuze from joining.

It must be said that people in love are often more sensitive. Just after teasing Zhou Yao, she rubbed her cheeks and suddenly stared at Ying Nian, pointing at her with a playful gesture. “Niannian, be honest… are you in love?”

Ying Nian sputtered, “W-w-what are you talking about?!”

She clumsily wiped her mouth, while Zhou Yao gave her a knowing smile.

As they spoke, Zheng Yinyin hurriedly arrived, peeking around before spotting them. She quickly ran over. “Sorry, sorry! I’m late!”

Zheng Yinyin pulled out a chair and sat down. The waiter came over and handed her a menu, and she quickly ordered a drink and some crackers.

Zhou Yao handed her a napkin. “It’s so hot out, no need to rush! You’re sweating, wipe it off.”

After taking the napkin, Zheng Yinyin wiped her sweat as she asked, “What were you guys talking about?”

“About Niannian’s love life.”

“I am not—”

As a blogger specializing in love quotes, Zheng Yinyin’s eyes immediately lit up with sharp curiosity. Having become good friends with them, and with their help, she had moved past a silly, immature crush she once had. Her personality had brightened considerably. She fixed her gaze on Ying Nian and pressed on, “With who? Who’s the guy? How old is he? Is he in college? Is he from our school? No, wait! There are only a few guys worth noticing at our school—Jiang Jiashu is your brother, and Chen Xuze belongs to Yaoyao. The rest either don’t have the looks or the brains, and none of them are good enough for you! So, who is it? Spill it! Let us meet him!”

Ying Nian rarely blushed, but now her face was flushed red. “Don’t listen to Yaoyao! I’m not in love!”

“Really not?” They both asked in unison.

“Re…ally…”

Zhou Yao, rarely showing such a mischievous smile, said, “Look, she’s stuttering.”

Zheng Yinyin was growing more and more suspicious. “You’ve been in a particularly good mood lately. I saw you updating your Moments so frequently, and wait… didn’t you repost my Weibo last night? That original love quote of mine… and you say you’re not in love!”

Ying Nian refused to admit it, “I thought what you wrote was good, so I shared it!”

“My post was about hoping two people can stay together and have a happy ending.”

“…I didn’t look closely.”

“….”

“I’m illiterate, okay?”

“…”

Zhou Yao smiled without saying a word, while Zheng Yinyin kept her eyes firmly fixed on her, refusing to let it go.

Ying Nian, having no way out, finally surrendered. “Alright, alright, I’ll tell you!” She exhaled, leaned toward the center of the table, and whispered, “But don’t tell anyone, okay? Nothing’s official yet, and his current situation doesn’t really allow for any big announcements, especially since nothing’s been confirmed…”

“Why all the mystery? What’s going on?” Zheng Yinyin was so intrigued that she stopped drinking her beverage.

Suddenly, Zhou Yao said, “Could it be… Yu Linran?”

Both Ying Nian and Zheng Yinyin froze, staring at her in shock.

“No way, Niannian would never…” Zheng Yinyin started to deny it, but as she turned and saw Ying Nian’s speechless expression, her words came to an abrupt halt.

Ying Nian gave Zhou Yao a thumbs-up and silently nodded.

Zheng Yinyin was left speechless. Well, of course, the city’s top scorer had a sharper mind than hers.

Zhou Yao and Zheng Yinyin didn’t know much about esports, and their only connection to Yu Linran was through Ying Nian.

With the conversation reaching this point, Ying Nian stopped hiding and told them everything from start to finish. When she mentioned crying because of Yu Linran, she felt a bit embarrassed. Suddenly, she felt a warmth on the back of her hand. After looking up, she saw it was Zhou Yao, who had gently taken her hand.

Ying Nian’s heart warmed, and she smiled to show she was fine before continuing her story.

Zheng Yinyin, meanwhile, was swept up in the romantic details, her cheeks flushing as she listened. But then she sighed, “Ah, one of you has someone, and the other is about to have someone, leaving just me…” The next second, she slammed her hand on the table, startling both Ying Nian and Zhou Yao. “We’re going to the concert the day after tomorrow, no one’s skipping out!”

Her thoughts had jumped so quickly that Ying Nian and Zhou Yao were left momentarily confused.

“What concert?” Ying Nian asked.

Zheng Yinyin replied, “It’s a graduation gift from my uncle. He bought me four tickets so I could take some friends. So, I’m keeping three for us, and I’ll give the last one to someone else. The day after tomorrow, the three of us will go together! It’s in the neighboring city. I was so upset before because I couldn’t get tickets… but now we can all go together!”

Zhou Yao had no objections, but Ying Nian hesitated slightly. “The day after tomorrow…”

Yu Linran would only have a half-day of training, and if she stayed home, she could call or video chat with him.

“Yaoyao already agreed!” Zheng Yinyin pleaded.

“…” Ying Nian struggled internally for a moment before finally nodding in agreement. “Alright, I’ll go.”

…

Zheng Yinyin’s idol was a singer who had both looks and talent. Though not a massive star, he had a loyal fanbase in the music industry, which made getting tickets quite difficult.

The three of them set out early that morning, and after arriving, they rested briefly. A few hours before the concert, they headed to the venue, grabbed something to eat nearby, and then joined the long queue outside.

Zheng Yinyin kept introducing the singer to them, but Ying Nian was distracted, her attention frequently drawn to her phone lighting up.

Yu Linran was chatting with her.

“Stop playing with your phone already!” Zheng Yinyin complained. “Who is it? Is it… that someone special?” She didn’t directly say the name, but all three of them knew she was talking about Yu Linran.

“Yaoyao isn’t even chatting with Chen Xuze, but ever since we got in the car, you haven’t stopped with your phone! I bet he’s going to be even clingier than Chen Xuze in the future!”

Zhou Yao, half-laughing, half-crying, said, “Don’t exaggerate, Xuze isn’t clingy.”

Ying Nian and Zheng Yinyin exchanged a wordless but meaningful look in response.

Just then, it was time to enter the venue, and Zheng Yinyin hurriedly called out, “Come on! We’re going in!”

Ying Nian quickly messaged Yu Linran, [I’ll stop chatting for now, I’m out with friends.]

She hadn’t mentioned to Yu Linran that she was in the neighboring city for a concert, mostly because the topic hadn’t come up, so she didn’t think to say it.

The concert lasted several hours, and with the high-energy atmosphere, they really didn’t have time to be on their phones. Even Ying Nian and Zhou Yao, who weren’t familiar with the singer’s work, were swept up by the excitement, and overall, they had a great time.

After the concert, they stayed with Zheng Yinyin outside the venue, taking pictures with the many flower displays, life-sized standees, and posters. Though they had already taken photos before entering, Zheng Yinyin insisted that the feeling was different between day and night, so they indulged her.

Ying Nian and Zhou Yao also took some pictures.

They ended the night at a late-night snack stand, and finally, after a lively evening, they returned to the hotel, bringing the eventful night to a close.

Zhou Yao went to wash up first, while Zheng Yinyin, holding her phone, suddenly patted Ying Nian. “I just posted on Weibo!”

“Hmm? Go ahead.”

“You should post too!”

“Why should I? I’m not a fan of your idol…”

“Come on, just for fun!” She glanced at the bathroom. “Yaoyao doesn’t like posting on Weibo… oh well, I’ll just post it myself!”

Zheng Yinyin busied herself editing her Weibo post, and not long after, Ying Nian, while casually scrolling through her feed, saw Zheng Yinyin’s new post pop up.

After casually browsing it, Ying Nian switched back to WeChat. The message she had sent to Yu Linran after the concert still hadn’t been replied to, likely because he was training.

With nothing else to do, Ying Nian decided to open Weibo again. She selected nine photos from the day and posted them.

Zheng Yinyin soon saw the post and laughed, “So you did end up posting!” Then she noticed something important. “Wow! That picture you put in the middle turned out so good! You captured my idol’s face so perfectly! Niannian, you’re amazing!”

“Of course,” Ying Nian replied from under the covers, without an ounce of humility. “Who do you think I am?”

After all, she had taken countless pictures of Yu Linran by now, so she had plenty of experience.

Under the post where she shared her day, there were already plenty of comments, and it even attracted some likes from fans of the singer who hadn’t previously followed her.

Ying Nian scrolled through the comments briefly before returning to the main screen.

Zhou Yao came out of the bathroom, and Ying Nian went in for her turn. After finishing her routine, wearing her own pajamas and with her hair still damp, she picked up her phone again, only to find a flood of notifications waiting at the top of the screen.

All the notifications were from Weibo.

Ying Nian was startled and, somewhat confused, tapped to open them. She noticed that her unread messages had multiplied several times compared to usual.

Her first instinct was to check the comments, and upon doing so, she found that they were all saying things like:

[Strongly observing this caught-in-the-act moment!]

[Wow, Yu Qu DaDa, you got busted, hahaha!]

[God Lin caught you switching sides! Yu Qu, you’re done for!]

[Am I the only one who followed Captain Yu’s like to get here?]

…

Ying Nian was dumbfounded. She quickly clicked into Yu Linran’s Weibo and saw that seven minutes ago, he had liked a post. It was the very one she had posted earlier.

No wonder so many people were flocking over to watch her “caught-in-the-act” moment!

She hadn’t even planned to switch sides, and with all these people watching, how could she even dare to do so now?!

Ying Nian, feeling helpless, posted another Weibo update: [I just went to a concert with friends. The one I like is Yu Linran.]

Not long after, she received a message from Yu Linran on WeChat.

Yu Linran: [?]

Ying Nian looked at it and replied: [??]

Yu Linran: [Why are you suddenly confessing to me out of the blue?]

Ying Nian: [Haven’t I confessed enough already? Scroll through my Weibo, nine out of ten posts are about you!]

Yu Linran: [I thought you changed your screensaver, felt guilty, and that’s why you’re confessing to me.]

Ying Nian: [Who changed it! And even if I did change my screensaver for some reason, why would I feel guilty? If I have to feel guilty just because I don’t use you as my screensaver, then shouldn’t you feel…?]

Yu Linran didn’t reply.

Ying Nian waited for a bit. Just as she was about to send a question mark, suddenly, he sent over a screenshot.

It was a full-screen screenshot of his phone’s home screen, and the wallpaper was a picture of her face.

Ying Nian was stunned. She had only mentioned it casually.

Yu Linran then said, [Is this good enough now?]

She couldn’t help but smile as the corners of her mouth lifted. [Good enough.]

…

Five minutes later, “Yu Linran Marry Me” posted another Weibo update, containing just seven words:

【I like Yu Linran the most.】

And she pinned the post to the top.

Other viewers quickly jumped in with teasing comments:

[Did Yu Qu DaDa get scared?]

[Posting twice to prove loyalty, very impressive.]

[Hahahaha, Captain Yu, look! Yu Qu only likes you! Stop liking posts, you’re scaring her!]

[…]

While most comments were good-natured jokes, amidst the playful banter, some malicious voices inevitably started to emerge—