Ning Chu felt a mix of emotions.
She followed behind Wen Yang, aimlessly wandering through the mall, her gaze always lowered, fixed on the heels of his shoes.
This inexplicable relationship—she had no idea how to handle it.
Wen Yang was probably going to feel hurt for a long time because of her rejection.
She had merely wanted to avoid becoming a supporting character in a hentai doujin, yet things had spiraled out of control.
Quickening her pace, she walked up to Wen Yang's side, sneaking a glance at his face out of the corner of her eye.
The once vibrant male protagonist now seemed completely drained of his usual energy. His expression was blank, his thoughts unclear, and even his posture seemed defeated.
Sensing her gaze, Wen Yang immediately forced a smile.
It was a poor cover-up... and it made her heart ache.
"Shall we go back?"
The atmosphere between them grew awkward, distant yet close. She had lost interest in strolling through the mall.
The movie was only halfway through, and it wasn't even 5:30 in the afternoon when Ning Chu left the mall and stood by the street to hail a ride-share car.
Sitting on a stone block by the roadside, she rested her chin in her hands and gazed at the flow of traffic ahead.
This wasn't how it was supposed to be...
The protagonist in the story was supposed to be confident, unfazed by rejection from women. Despite most of the story being focused on those R+18 scenes, every description of the protagonist was positive.
But Wen Yang now...
Ning Chu found herself glancing at Wen Yang again, taking in his attempts to hide his disappointment, his dim, lifeless eyes.
Self-doubting, introverted, sensitive, and fragile.
He evoked feelings of frustration and annoyance—completely unlike the character she had written, and even less like the Wen Yang she had come to know over this period.
The car arrived, pulling up in front of Wen Yang.
He opened the car door but stood to the side like a doorman, looking at Ning Chu.
"I really don't like seeing you like this..." Ning Chu muttered softly as she bent down to get into the car. "Pull yourself together."
Wen Yang froze for a moment, then nodded with a bitter smile.
The ride was silent. When Ning Chu arrived back at the dormitory building, she glanced at Wen Yang, who stood a short distance away waiting. Then, she dashed into the building.
"Ning Chu! How did the date go?"
The moment she opened the dorm room door, her roommate Yan Xinya excitedly pounced on her. Her tail wagged enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling.
"Did he confess to you? Did you say yes?"
So it was you who egged him on...
No wonder Wen Yang had the guts to confess.
Ning Chu helplessly pushed the wolf girl's face away and walked straight to the bathroom. "I'm going to change. Can you stop meddling in things between me and Wen Yang?"
"Doesn't sound great~ What happened?"
"I rejected him. He seemed pretty down about it."
"You rejected him?!"
"I don't like him. I've said it a hundred times."
Realizing her mistake, Yan Xinya's tail straightened, and her ears perked up. "I thought you were just being stubborn! And your attitude toward him..."
Ning Chu quickly changed back into her male disguise, removed the hairpins one by one, and walked out of the bathroom, ready to leave. "So stop interfering. I'm going. Wen Yang's still waiting for me."
Watching her storm out, Yan Xinya sulked and turned to Lily on the bed.
"Put the game down; we might have messed up big time."
Lily poked her flushed face out from the covers and protested, "You messed up."
"But don't you think Ning Chu is still being stubborn about rejecting Wen Yang? Look at her—she can't even stay away from him for a moment."
"Don't meddle."
"Fine~"
<+>
"Whoa! You two went on a date this afternoon, didn't you? No one could find you anywhere on campus!"
As soon as Ning Chu returned to the dorm, she was greeted by Zhang Shaoqing's loud voice.
Yawning, Ning Chu collapsed onto her desk, not bothering to respond.
"Hey! Wen Yang!" Zhang Shaoqing turned to Wen Yang but froze at his expression. "What's up? You don't look too happy."
He moved closer, grinning, and nudged Wen Yang's shoulder. "You look like me when I got dumped. Failed confession? Or did you see your crush going into a hotel with some old guy?"
"You two were nowhere to be found this afternoon. Don't tell me you're into Ning Chu... Or maybe the wolf girl? Or the succubus? Ning Chu's not doing a great job as your wingman."
Wen Yang clenched his fists at Zhang Shaoqing's obnoxious tone and expression.
Ning Chu turned and glared at Zhang Shaoqing. "You can tell he's upset, and you're still being a jerk! Are you asking for a beating?"
"I'm just cracking jokes to lighten the mood! Ever heard of that?"
Zhang Shaoqing threw an arm around Wen Yang's shoulder. "How about a drink tonight?"
"No."
"Come on! My treat!"
Wen Yang lowered his head, transferring money on his phone. "I'm still short over a hundred. I'll work this weekend and pay you back on Monday."
"Bro, between us, there's no rush."
Wang Jie finished a game and turned to see Wen Yang's dazed expression. Then, he glanced at Ning Chu, who usually liked to meddle but was now lying quietly on her desk. Scratching his head, he felt like something had happened between them.
A guess popped into his mind.
"Hey, don't tell me you two had a fight and broke off your friendship?"
Wen Yang wasn't sure if confessing meant they couldn't even be friends anymore.
But Ning Chu immediately refuted, "No way! Wen Yang barely ever gets mad, let alone at me."
"Then why does it feel so weird between you two?"
"I'm frustrated too~" Ning Chu groaned, slumping her upper body onto the desk and pressing her cheek against the surface.
She couldn't let Wen Yang stay like this.
Seeing him so dejected made her restless. This wasn't her male lead at all.
And it hurt to see him like this~
"Wen Yang, I've got the drinks ready. Have a few, and tell us what's going on?" Zhang Shaoqing pulled Wen Yang by the neck and teased Ning Chu. "When I was heartbroken, you were so eager to help. Now you're just moping there. Why don't you come be the caring big sister again?"
Rolling her eyes, Ning Chu climbed onto her bed. "I'm going to sleep."
"You two usually seem so close," Zhang Shaoqing muttered, confused, glancing at Wen Yang. "Did you really have a fight?"
"No."
Now Zhang Shaoqing finally understood the frustration Ning Chu must have felt when comforting him. "Then what's wrong?! Come on! Say something! Or am I not your bro anymore?"
Wen Yang shook his head helplessly. "I don't know how to explain it."
"Start from the beginning?" Wang Jie dragged over a chair, ready for storytime.
"Um..." Wen Yang sneaked a glance at Ning Chu on the bed before stepping out onto the balcony.
The three of them huddled together outside, closing the door behind them.
Meanwhile, Ning Chu perked up her ears from her bed, trying to eavesdrop.
She also wanted to know why Wen Yang had become so dejected after one rejection. How could his heart be so fragile?
It didn't fit his character at all!
"I confessed and got rejected."
She could vaguely hear Wen Yang's voice.
"Then just confess again later! Go for it! Even if she's already in a relationship, work hard to steal her heart!"
"Stealing someone's girlfriend isn't right, is it? Weren't you against that before?"
"Hey, we're talking about Wen Yang, not me!"
"But I—"
The voices grew fainter, leaving Ning Chu straining to hear. She leaned out of the bed frame as far as she could, trying to get closer to the balcony.
Still unclear!
Guess she'd have to ask Zhang Shaoqing later.
Hopefully, Wen Yang wouldn't get too carried away and spill the beans about her.