Chapter Thirty: An Ambiguous Relationship

Perhaps it was the mounting pressure as the college entrance exams approached that made Lele seem unusually quiet these days. Today, Liu Han had to deal with something at home, so our usual training session at the internet café after school was canceled. As soon as the final bell rang, I hurried off to find Lele in the neighboring class. Thinking back, it seemed like ages since we’d last walked home together. But when I reached her classroom, I found only a few students on cleaning duty—Lele had long since left.

I hadn’t planned to go online, but seeing that it was still early and there was nothing else to do at home, I ended up at the usual internet café near the school.

“Hey, come play!” No sooner had I found a seat than someone called out to me. I turned to see Meizi.

“Boss, you’re here too?” I asked, bending down to start the computer.

“Mm-hmm,” Meizi muttered distractedly, focused on playing Crazy Arcade.

“So you’ve been waiting here for me all along? I’m touched!” For some reason, whenever I saw Meizi, I couldn’t resist teasing her.

“Get lost! Idiot, you think too much!” she snapped, full of disdain, jabbing a foot at me. I reacted quickly and lifted my leg, so her kick landed squarely on my computer case instead, producing a loud thud.

The attendant glanced over at the noise. Meizi quickly half-rose and waved at him, sticking out her tongue apologetically to show nothing was wrong.

“Yeah, I overthink things every day. What can I do?” I said, barely suppressing a grin at her embarrassment.

“It’s not good to overthink! Stop daydreaming, it’s not realistic,” she snarled, glaring at me as if she wanted to wring my neck.

“Now that actually sounds like something sensible,” I replied nonchalantly, clicking my mouse.

“Nonsense! Everything I say makes sense!” Meizi snapped, turning her attention back to her screen.

“So what other sensible things have you said?” I leaned on the desk, propping my chin on my hand, and yawned.

She fell silent, unable to answer for a moment. “Then… what if I said I liked you? Would that count as making sense? Haha, just kidding, don’t take it seriously.”

She laughed awkwardly at her own words.

I assumed she was joking, smiled at her, then put on my headphones and launched CS. Yet I couldn’t focus on the game. Lately, Lele seemed strange, distant somehow. What was going on with her? A hundred questions swirled in my mind...

Leaving the internet café, I walked alone down the darkening street. Night had fully fallen, and the starless sky seemed to echo my solitude. Maybe by now Lele had eaten dinner and was deep into her studies. Instinctively, I reached into my pocket and felt my phone, but after a moment’s hesitation, I let it be. If she was studying, why disturb her?

“Hey!” As I was lost in thought, Meizi caught up from behind, calling after me. “Wait for me!”

I slowed down and managed a smile. “Boss, missing me already?”

“Yeah, right! Missed you so much I could die!” she said, breathless from running.

“Is that so? I missed you, too.” I struggled to hide my gloom.

Meizi puffed out her cheeks. “You brat! I ought to smack you! You just left without a word, so when I suddenly realized you were gone, I got all worried. Hmph!”

I was speechless. When I left, I’d accidentally knocked over a chair; the whole café must have heard. How could she have missed it? Oh well. No use arguing with her—I’ll just take the blame.

“My bad, boss,” I said with a helpless shrug.

“Ha, that’s better!” Only then did she flash a satisfied smile.

Shortly after putting Meizi on her bus, a sudden downpour drenched me to the bone...

The next morning, I woke with a stuffy nose, a cough, and a pounding head. Weak and dizzy. Unlucky—I'd caught a cold.

I tried calling Lele, but only got the busy signal. With no other choice, I dragged myself, lightheaded, to school, barely managing to stay upright on my bike.

During class, my cough wouldn’t stop. As soon as the bell rang, Meizi came over, concern in her voice. “Are you sick?”

I nodded politely, my throat too sore to speak.

“Did you take any medicine?” she asked.

“No...” I muttered, too miserable to lift my head from the desk.

“Honestly! You don’t even know to take medicine when you’re sick? Silly! Well... I'll bring you some tomorrow.” She nudged the table leg, then turned and walked away.

I didn’t pay much attention to her words. Suddenly, I missed Lele terribly, so I slowly stood and wandered out of the classroom. At the door to her class, I spotted her by the window, immersed in her exercises. I drifted to the window, gazing at the familiar girl I suddenly found strangely distant. Her deskmate noticed me and nudged Lele. She put down her pen at once and came outside.

Leaning on the railing, a cool breeze cleared my foggy head.

“What’s wrong, Xiaobei?” Lele seemed to sense something was off.

“It’s nothing—just a cold, I’ll be fine soon. Sorry if I interrupted your studying. I only meant to have a look and leave, but you caught me.” Her face looked a bit pale, but I didn’t think much of it.

“No, not at all.” She lowered her head, gently placing her hand over mine on the railing. Her hand was icy cold. “Sorry, Xiaobei, I’ve been so busy lately, I haven’t had time for you...”

“Why are your hands so cold?” I turned to gently press my hand against her cheek; her skin was freezing, too. I suddenly felt a pang of concern.

“Maybe I’m just tired... Uh, I should get back now.” She withdrew her hand quickly, shot me a glance, and hurried into the classroom...

That night, I couldn’t sleep—partly from the discomfort of my cold, partly because of Lele.

The next morning, as soon as I reached the classroom, Meizi called me over.

“Here,” she said, dumping a big bag of cold medicine into my hand.

“Meizi...” Warmth welled up in my heart, leaving me at a loss for words.

“Heh, don’t get too sentimental. You’re my employee, after all!” In a swirl of white, she breezed past me...