Lemon Soda Candy - 33

Zhou Anran returned to the dorm carrying four cups of milk tea, her mind still in a daze.

She left the KTV early, and it was not yet nine o'clock. Bai Lingyun and Yu Xinyue hadn't returned, Xie Jingyi was the only one in the dorm.

Zhou Anran walked to Xie Jingyi and placed the milk tea in her hand on the table, "I got you some milk tea."

"Thanks, Ranran baby." Xie Jingyi set down her phone, opening the bag,"This cup of green milk tea is mine, right?”

Zhou Anran nodded absentmindedly.

Xie Jingyi pulled the milk tea from the bag and inserted a straw.

Zhou Anran also took out another cup, inserted a straw and took a sip; she didn't notice the taste at first.

Xie Jingyi was the one who noticed something was off. Glancing at the small sticker on Zhou Anran's cup, she exclaimed ‘Huh’ with a puzzled look on her face, "Ranran, you actually went for full sugar today? Don’t you usually find it too sweet even with less sugar?”

It took a moment for Zhou Anran to notice the overly sweet taste in her mouth. She looked down and realized that what she took was the cup of oolong milk tea meant for Bai Lingyun.

Seeing her expression, Xie Jingyi guessed, "Did you drink the wrong cup?”

Zhou Anran: “…”

She nodded.

"What's happening to you? You seem really distracted," Xie Jingyi remarked, "And you are smiling so wide. Did anything good happen? Why are you suddenly treating us to milk tea?"

Zhou Anran chewed on her straw, "Oh, it's nothing, just my friend—”

She paused.

Xie Jingyi's face lit up with enlightenment, "Your friend, sure, I get it. Something’s definitely up, isn't it?”

Zhou Anran wanted to ask her opinion about what just happened, but she didn't expect Xie Jingyi to be so perceptive, now she was too embarrassed to ask.

"No." She shook her head and made up an excuse, "My friend told me a joke."

Xie Jingyi: "What joke?"

Zhou Anran shared a joke that left a deep impression on her, "Why is Doraemon's world so dark?" 

"Because he doesn't have fingers." Xie Jingyi was clearly unimpressed, as if to say, ‘That's it?’, and added, "Why are you smiling so happily at such an outdated joke? Don't tell me—"

She paused, her tone turning gossipy again, "Did some boy tell you this joke?”

Zhou Anran quickly denied, "No, it was my best friend."

Xie Jingyi seemed skeptical, "Really?”

Zhou Anran: “…”

If Xie Jingyi asked her why she was so happy, she might have revealed a little, but it was indeed Yan Xingxi who first shared this cold joke to her.

"Really."

"Alright." Xie Jingyi scrutinized her for a couple of seconds. "For the sake of the milk tea, I’ll let you off the hook today. Anyway, if there’s really something going on, sooner or later you won't be able to hide it from us.”

Zhou Anran: “…there's really nothing.”

"By the way." Xie Jingyi remembered something, "Did you ask that new member? Does he know how to play any musical instruments?"

Zhou Anran's mind has been in a mess since she met Chen Luobai, how could she still remember this?

"I'm sorry, I forgot to ask."

"It's fine." Xie Jingyi waved her hand nonchalantly, "It's not urgent, I was just curious. You can ask next time.”

Zhou Anran drank the milk tea slowly.

Since she had added him on WeChat, there will probably be a next time, right? 

Zhou Anran finished her overly sweet milk tea. It was still not too late in the evening, and her two roommates had yet to come back.

Knowing that she wouldn't be in any mood to study tonight, Zhou Anran decided to gather her things and take a shower.

After showering and settling into bed, she slowly opened WeChat.

 

There was a new chat box added in the main interface.

With a gentle tap of her fingertips, she opened it.

In fact, she had already looked at it several times when she bought the milk tea.

The profile picture was a caricature of an NBA player’s back, he used a capital letter C as his WeChat name and a simple dot as his bio, his Moments was empty.

Zhou Anran stared at the automatic message in the chat box, ‘You have added C, you can start chatting now’, still feeling like she was dreaming. 

Chen Luobai remembered her name?

How could he be willing to talk to her again if he remembered her name?

Why would he take the initiative to add her on WeChat?

Zhou Anran lay on the bed, puzzled.

She felt as if what she just drank was not a cup of overly sweet milk tea, but rather a large bottle of soda. The tangy sweetness filled her heart, and countless tiny bubbles kept bubbling up and bursting.

It can't seem to calm down.

Zhou Anran exited his chat box and clicked into the small groupchat of four people with Yan Xingxi and the others.

When she clicked on the keyboard, her fingertips stopped again.

How should she explain this to them?

Should she say that she accidentally ran into Chen Luobai today and he took the initiative to add her WeChat, then asked them what he could possibly mean by this? 

But what if he didn't mean anything at all? 

Maybe it was just as he said, he felt it was rare to meet an old classmate in university, so he added her on WeChat.

Telling this would only cause them to worry about her again.

It would also lead her to overthink the situation.

Forget it.

Zhou Anran clicked exit once more.

Tiny bubbles continued to explode in her heart, refusing to stop.

After some thought, Zhou Anran decided to post WeChat Moments.

Just think of it as a commemoration

She selected a photo of random flowers she had casually snapped while out earlier that afternoon, along with a picture of milk tea for Bai Lingyun and Yu Xinyue that she just took.

She hesitated for a long time, and finally wrote a simple phrase: “Today's little luck.”

However, her luck today wasn't the flowers she saw on the road or the milk tea, but the fact that he still remembered her and added her on WeChat.

Just when she thought she would only be a stranger to him from now on, a ray of hope suddenly fell from the sky, she could still be friends with him.

After the WeChat moments were posted, a notification popped up immediately.

Yan Xingxi liked her post and commented: [Oh, I want to drink milk tea too.]

Zhou Anran replied while lying on the bed: [I’ll buy some for you when we meet next weekend.]

Just as she replied to Yan Xingxi, Zhou Anran noticed that Sheng Xiaowen had also liked her post and commented: [I saw that! I already took a screenshot!]

Zhou Anran chuckled and replied: [Alright, you too.]

Before long, Zhang Shuxian also joined in the fun.

She didn't know why the three of them were all on their phones at the same time today.

Zhang Shuxian: [Oh, I get it! You guys have a gathering next weekend, can't you please show consideration for me, the left-behind child? Just chat privately! !]

Sheng Xiaowen: [Who told you not to come? We already said we'd help you cover the flight ticket. Besides, you're also in our gathering group chat, you'll see our private chats either way.]

Zhang Shuxian: [Do you think I don’t want to? I don’t have the time! Medical dogs don’t deserve weekends [bitter][bitter][bitter]]

Yan Xingxi also replied to her: [No worries, I’ll ask Ranran to buy an extra drink and help you drink your share [doge]]

They started chatting under her WeChat moments.

Zhou Anran received constant notifications, including likes from other classmates.

When another notification pop up, Zhou Anran saw the profile picture shown was Yan Xingxi's idol, thinking that the three were still chatting, she clicked on it.

The next second, Zhou Anran's heart skipped a beat.

Among the comments from Yan Xingxi and others, there was also a notification featuring the new profile picture she just added tonight——

Chen Luobai liked the post.

Zhou Anran widened her eyes and double-checked several times before she dared to believe that she wasn't mistaken.

The more she stared at his profile picture in the likes list, the more erratic her heartbeat became.

Didn’t he always maintain a distance from girls? Why would he like her post?

Was it because he has forgotten what happened back then? Or did he think that since two years have passed, her feelings in high school were just a thing of the past now?

Zhou Anran couldn't help but to click on his profile picture again. The moment she opened it, she saw ‘The other party is typing’ displayed at the top of the screen.

She subconsciously held her breath.

He was about to send her a message?

Zhou Anran felt that her dream tonight seemed to be never ending.

A few seconds later.

Though it felt longer than that. 

The phone buzzed.

C: [Do you have time tomorrow night?]

Although she knew that he probably needed her for something and he couldn't possibly asking her out, Zhou Anran's already chaotic heartbeat quickened even faster, as if it might leaping out of her chest.

Zhou Anran took a deep breath and replied: [I'm free, why?]

Would ‘why’ be too direct?

Zhou Anran deleted the last sentence and typed again: [I’m free, what’s the matter?]

C: [I left some stuff at my cousin's place. She will be away from school tomorrow night because of something, but I'm only available then. Would it be alright if I asked her to drop it off at your place? I'll pick it up from you tomorrow night.]

Zhou Anran guessed that he was talking about Yu Bingqin, but just to be sure, she asked confirmed again: [Is your cousin Senior Yu? ]

C: [Yes.]

C: [Is that alright?]

Zhou Anran's heart was beating so fast, she replied without thinking: [Sure, I'm free tomorrow night.]

C: [I should be stopping by your dorm around 9 PM tomorrow. I'll text you when I arrive.]

Zhou Anran: [OK.]

The phone went silent.

It seemed like the topic ended just like that.

Zhou Anran stared at the chat box, feeling a little regretful for not adding a few more words to her last message.

Otherwise, should she take the initiative to find a topic to talk with him?

Perhaps she could ask if his leg injury had completely healed?

Zhou Anran's fingers hovered over the screen before pulling away.

She let out a frustrated sigh.

No.

What if he really thinks that she no longer had feelings him, and that was why he was willing to be friends with her?

The current situation was already much better than anything she could ever hoped for, she didn't dare to take any more risks.

Never mind. 

Just then, the phone buzzed again.

Zhou Anran felt her heart leap in response.

C: [Can you send me a copy of your class schedule?]

Zhou Anran was taken aback.

Why was he suddenly asking for her class schedule?

Before she could ponder it further, he sent another message.

C: [My friend wants to attend a class in your faculty.]

Zhou Anran exhaled.

So that was the reason.

She wasn't disappointed at all.

It was already an unexpected surprise that she could be friends with him. 

Zhou Anran responded quickly: [Of course. Give me a moment to find it.]

After sending her reply, she searched the class schedule and forwarded it to him.

One second later.

The phone buzzed again.

C: [Thanks.]

Zhou Anran glanced at the last word in the chat box, a smile slowly spread across her face.

Throughout her year at No. 2 High School, she had no regrets about giving him that candy, handing him medicine, or taking the blame in the office that day.

The only thing she regretted back then was not having the courage to step forward herself during the basketball game. In the end, she could only lie on the desk and listen to him thanking others

That regret seemed to have somewhat alleviated today.

***

The following morning, Zhou Anran received the stuff from Yu Bingqin. It was in a small paper bag and was quite light. She didn't open to look, she took it to the dorm and put it carefully in her cabinet.

Afterwards, Zhou Anran and Yu Xinyue went to the library together.

After dinner that evening, it was still around six o'clock. Zhou Anran found herself torn between ‘going back to the dorm to wait for him’ and 'going back to the library", and eventually chose the latter.

If she returned to the dormitory this early, she would definitely keep speculating on his thoughts like she did last night, and wouldn't be able to study at all. While it would still be difficult for her to concentrate if she went back to the library now, she could at least read a few more pages.

Zhou Anran stayed in the library until 8:10 before heading back to the dorm.

At first, she thought that there wouldn't be anyone in the dorm at this time, but upon entering, she spotted Xie Jingyi working on her assignment at her desk.

Zhou Anran originally planned to put on some makeup discreetly.

However, with Xie Jingyi in the dorm, she felt a little self-conscious.

It was normal for her to wear makeup for the club gathering like the previous night. But today she made an appointment with him, wouldn’t it be a bit deliberate if she put on makeup just to meet him?

Zhou Anran hesitated for a moment, and ultimately gave up the idea of ​​putting on makeup.

She glanced at her reflection in the mirror.

Her skin looked fine, but her hair appeared a bit frizzy? 

It should be okay to wash her hair before meeting him.

As she was washing her hair, Xie Jingyi entered the bathroom to wash hand. Seeing her, she asked curiously, "Didn't you just wash it yesterday?"

Zhou Anran kneaded the bubbles on her head, unsure how to explain to her, she quickly made up another excuse, "I accidentally brushed it against the wall, I’m worried there might be dust.”

"Okay, take your time then."

Zhou Anran didn't dare to take her time. 

She did washed her hair yesterday, and only gave it a quick rinse today, but it took a while to blow dry it.

Once she finished drying her hair, she calculated that it shouldn't be nine o'clock yet. She checked her phone to make sure.

Eight fifty.

It was indeed not yet nine o’clock.

However, there was already a message from him on her phone.

Zhou Anran's heart raced, she hurriedly unlocked the screen.

C: [I'm in your dormitory downstairs.]

Just a minute ago.

Why did he come early?

Zhou Anran quickly replied: [Sorry, I just finished washing my hair, wait for me, I'll be down soon.]

He replied promptly.

C: [No hurry.]

C: [I got here early.]

Zhou Anran curled the corners of her mouth, set her phone down, and took out the paper bag that Yu Bingqin had given her from the cabinet.

Before leaving, Zhou Anran stopped again to check her hair in the mirror. Suddenly, Xie Jingyi, who was sitting nearby, jumped up and grabbed her wrist tightly.

"Damn! Chen Luobai is waiting for someone downstairs!" Xie Jingyi exclaimed excitedly.

Zhou Anran: “…”

"I was wondering why all the beauties in our school and even those from other schools who pursued him always failed." Xie Jingyi looked like she had discovered some juicy gossip. "Could it be that our school hunk Chen is already taken, and his girlfriend lives in our building?"

He had only been standing downstairs for a few minute, Zhou Anran didn't expect the news would spread to their dorm so quickly.

She responded weakly, "He's probably here to meet an ordinary friend."

Though she wasn't sure if they could be classified ordinary friends now, this seemed to be the most appropriate explanation.

"How do you know that?" Xie Jingyi looked at her strangely. 

"Maybe it's because..." Zhou Anran paused. She didn't want to hide it from Xie Jingyi, it probably won't stay hidden for much longer anyway. "He came to see me."

Xie Jingyi was stunned for a second, then burst into laughter.

She raised her hand and pinched Zhou Anran's cheek, "Ranran, I don't know you can also make such a joke."

Zhou Anran: “…”

Well, if she didn't believe her, there was nothing she could do.

Afraid that he would wait for too long, Zhou Anran didn't say anything else to Xie Jingyi, "I'm going downstairs to give something to my classmates."

Xie Jingyi let go of her hand, "Go ahead."

As Zhou Anran picked up the bag on the table and prepared to leave, she heard Xie Jingyi add, "I'll go to the balcony to take a look."

Zhou Anran paused and asked, “What for?"

Xie Jingyi winked at her, "To see which pretty little devil has seduced our school hunk Chen away."

Zhou Anran: “…”

---

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