Bai Zilu chomped on grilled meat with zero image to maintain, oil glistening at the corners of Bai Zilu's mouth. Ji Tang stood by the grill doing the responsible work of turning the skewers, while silently holding a moment of silence for a revolutionary friendship that seemed on the verge of ending.
Gu Qianran added food to Bai Ziyuan's bowl, glanced at the strange tension across the table, and decided to poke at it a little.
Gu Qianran asked casually, "Bai Zilu, what kind of person is the one you like. Tell us and we can help you strategize." Saying it out loud hurt too, since Gu Qianran had not confessed yet and was still here gossiping. Too hard.
Bai Zilu looked at Ji Tang, stars sparkling in Bai Zilu's eyes. Secretly recalling the sense of safety when Ji Tang held Bai Zilu to sleep, Bai Zilu said with longing, "She is a wonderful person, very pretty, very rich, very gentle, great at taking care of people, and she makes you feel very safe. She feels like a born leader, and she has an exceptional business mind, as if everything is effortless for her. She is younger than me, but that does not stop me from liking her."
As Bai Zilu spoke, Bai Zilu noticed Ji Tang's expression turn a bit off. Hmph, jealous of yourself, are you. Serves you right. Bai Zilu was secretly pleased. Bai Zilu had exaggerated on purpose to get exactly this outcome.
Who would not enjoy watching a serious faced crush eat vinegar over oneself.
Ji Tang's look was hard to describe. "Bold question. Is the person you are crushing on male or female."
Bai Zilu grew even more pleased. "Of course female. Why. Little Tang."
Ji Tang shivered in distaste. Only then did Bai Zilu realize something was wrong. All three faces across the table looked bad, especially Bai Ziyuan's. Bai Ziyuan's gaze looked ready to swallow Bai Zilu whole. Not knowing how Bai Zilu had angered this silly little sister again, Bai Zilu quietly poked Ji Tang. "What happened. Why do you all look like that."
Ji Tang rubbed Ji Tang's forehead helplessly. "Elder sister, do you not realize you are competing with your own sister for a wife. Did you not notice that everything you just said fits Gu Qianran to a T. You had better explain yourself, or people will think you are secretly in love with Gu Qianran."
Bai Zilu gaped. Thinking it through, it really did sound that way. Why. Damn. Bai Zilu had forgotten that Ji Tang was Gu Qianran's chief disciple. Same school of thought, of course there are similarities.
Bai Zilu hurried to repair it. "Emmm, well, the person I like has a two character name." Heaven and earth can witness, Bai Zilu only wanted to watch Ji Tang get jealous, not to make Bai Ziyuan plot crimes.
The moment Bai Zilu said that, everyone's expressions returned to normal. Bai Zilu snuck a look at Ji Tang's face and saw an expression very much like Bai Zilu's mother's warm relief.
Bai Zilu: do you younger ones have some odd obsession with acting like moms.
They had just gotten ready to leave when someone stormed up to their table. The newcomer slapped both hands on the tabletop and glared viciously. "Did Yao gege come find you today. With flowers."
The four looked at the girl, baffled. Seeing that they did not deny it, the girl's eyes turned red and she pointed at Bai Ziyuan and cursed, "You dirty biao. Daring to seduce my Yao gege."
Gu Qianran could see it at a glance. Another rotten peach blossom drawn in by the male lead glow, no doubt.
Li Junyao was so hard to get rid of, like a ghost that refused to scatter. And now Li Junyao's admirer dared point fingers at Gu Qianran's person. Gu Qianran's fingertips tapped the table as the aura sharpened, enough to startle Shen Yao.
Gu Qianran spoke without expression. "So the standard for Li Junyao's admirers has fallen to anyone who can fog a mirror."
"Or even lower."
Shen Yao snapped, "You. What are you saying. What do you think you are. My Yao gege…"
"You shut up." Gu Qianran cut Shen Yao off impatiently. That constipated face looked like an ultimate skill was charging. Someone had better interrupt the cast bar.
Gu Qianran pinned Shen Yao with a cold stare until Shen Yao's scalp prickled, then continued, "Your little mess with Li Big Hammer is not my concern. Why Li Big Hammer. Because he has nothing at all. In other words, all he has is a hammer."
"I do not care what you want to do. First, barging in here yelling and pointing at people proves you have no manners. Do you have no upbringing or is it that no one raised you. An orphan."
"If you do not mind, call me dad and I will teach you how to be a person."
Shen Yao was so angry no words came out. Gu Qianran spoke fast and clean, with tight logic, leaving no room to respond, leaping from Li Junyao to Shen Yao's parents in an instant.
Shen Yao jabbed a trembling finger toward Bai Ziyuan's nose. "You…" filthy dog woman.
Bai Ziyuan thought Shen Yao was going to hit, and instinctively shrank into Gu Qianran's arms. Gu Qianran's eyes went cold. Gu Qianran seized Shen Yao's wrist, twisted, and Shen Yao bent over the table with a cry.
"Or maybe you are not human at all. Do you not understand human speech. Who gave you the courage to point your finger at my person. Get out."
By the time Shen Yao understood, Shen Yao had already been tossed out of the barbecue shop. Shen Yao had planned to confess to Li Junyao, but Li Junyao had gone to Bai Ziyuan instead, and even got reported by them. Eyes bloodshot, Shen Yao stormed home.
Inside, the place was noisy, so the blowup at Gu Qianran's table did not draw much attention. Bai Zilu and Ji Tang huddled in a corner shaking, trading looks. This was definitely Gu Qianran angry, right. When the boss rages nothing grows. That pressure was too strong.
After dumping the noisy trash outside, Gu Qianran returned to calm. Gu Qianran looked across the table in amusement. "Am I that scary. Hm."
The two in the corner nodded frantically, perfectly in sync.
Gu Qianran stroked Bai Ziyuan's head gently in comfort. Bai Ziyuan tucked into Gu Qianran's neck, heart buzzing with sweetness.
Ah ah ah ah, Gu Qianran was so cool just now. And Gu Qianran said I am Gu Qianran's person. That was way too flirty, wuwuwu.
The little one did not dare say it out loud and could only hum in Bai Ziyuan's heart.
Full and watered, they strolled back. Using being scared by Gu Qianran as an excuse, Bai Zilu successfully laced fingers with Ji Tang again. Bai Ziyuan could only be speechless at this silly elder sister. Was Gu Qianran here only to create flirting chances for Bai Zilu.
Bai Zilu did not care. Today counted as almost a confession to Ji Tang. That was historic progress. One day soon, Bai Zilu would confess properly.
Three days later came the midterms. When the last exam ended, clouds covered the sun, and the air felt cool. Bai Ziyuan and Gu Qianran walked out hand in hand. Ahead, five or six upperclassmen blocked the path.
Li Junyao stood in the center, face dark. Yesterday Li Junyao had received Shen Yao's video and photos, and today Li Junyao came to verify.
No way two little women who needed men to rely on could do anything.
This time Li Junyao wore a school uniform and a proper smile. Li Junyao moved close to Bai Ziyuan and kept a careful distance. "Classmate Bai, about what you pointed out last time, I sincerely apologize. But on one matter I have some objections."
Love overflowed on Li Junyao's face. "Ziyuan, I like you. Be my girlfriend."
Bai Ziyuan was almost speechless. What was this mess. Bai Ziyuan stepped back, very impatient.
"I will not. If you have time for this, go study. We are leaving."
"Wait. Why is it that when it is the same feeling of liking, you refuse me." Rejected, Li Junyao still smiled. The upperclassmen behind Li Junyao blocked their way with ill intent.
"As far as I know, you like women." Li Junyao used a statement, not a question.
Bai Ziyuan felt flustered. Bai Ziyuan sensed something was off with Li Junyao. Although Gu Qianran had said liking whoever is one's own freedom, why was Bai Ziyuan still panicking.
Bai Ziyuan forced calm. One look at Gu Qianran showed Gu Qianran looking back with encouragement, and a sense of safety rose.
Bai Ziyuan looked straight at Li Junyao. "So what. That has nothing to do with you. I will not like you. So let us go."
The curve at Li Junyao's mouth deepened. Look at that expression on Gu Qianran, so Gu Qianran knows some inside story. Li Junyao suddenly looked forward to what would happen once Bai Ziyuan's secret was exposed.
"And, as far as I know, the person you like is…" Li Junyao wore a mysterious look. Alarm bells screamed in Bai Ziyuan's heart. Bai Ziyuan tried to stop Li Junyao, but the five upperclassmen blocked the way.
"As far as I know, the person you like is Gu Qianran." Li Junyao shook a phone with a smirk, studying the stunned Gu Qianran and the crimson faced Bai Ziyuan.
"Do not rush to deny it. I have video." The tone begged for a beating.
With Bai Ziyuan's biggest secret torn open, Bai Ziyuan did not dare look at Gu Qianran's face. Bai Ziyuan could only sink to the ground.
Bai Ziyuan wanted Gu Qianran to realize the truth, but if Gu Qianran did not, would they not fail even at being friends.
"Ranran, do not…" Bai Ziyuan's voice broke into a sob.
Gu Qianran stepped forward, took the phone, and watched it with unreadable calm. Bai Ziyuan heard the footsteps draw close and stop in front of Bai Ziyuan.
The same warm tone as always. "Be good. Do not sit on the ground. The ground is cold."
Bai Ziyuan broke at once, throwing herself into Gu Qianran's arms and crying. "Wuwuwu, Ranran, please do not hate me."
Uncharacteristically, Gu Qianran took Bai Ziyuan by the chin and made Bai Ziyuan meet Gu Qianran's eyes. "Is what Li Junyao said true."
Bai Ziyuan trembled. "What."
Gu Qianran repeated the question.
Bai Ziyuan resignedly nodded.
At this point it seemed over. If only Bai Ziyuan had hidden better. But liking cannot be hidden.
Gu Qianran held Bai Ziyuan for a long time, so long that when Bai Ziyuan had had enough and tried to push away, Gu Qianran smiled and pulled Bai Ziyuan closer.
So that was it. This little one had liked Gu Qianran all along. All that time Gu Qianran had been eating vinegar over Gu Qianran's own self. Looked like this one had fallen early.
Nothing is happier than the person you like liking you back.
Gu Qianran helped Bai Ziyuan up, looked at Li Junyao, and spoke as calmly as still water. "Of course I know. My girlfriend likes me."
Everyone froze. The smile on Li Junyao's face turned stiff. After a long beat Li Junyao said, "That is impossible. I do not believe it."
Gu Qianran frowned, tipped up Bai Ziyuan's chin, and pressed a kiss to those soft lips.
A very light kiss. Cradling Bai Ziyuan, Gu Qianran pushed the crowd aside. "I do not need you to think. I need me to think."
With that, Gu Qianran strode away.
Under the dorm building, when Gu Qianran pinned Bai Ziyuan against the shadowed wall, Bai Ziyuan finally processed it. "Ran… Ranran." It seemed Ranran had kissed her. And said she was her girlfriend.
Bai Ziyuan stared at Gu Qianran in disbelief, then lowered her head. "Ranran, you did it for show in front of them. I understand."
Gu Qianran could only laugh and, at a loss for how to coax, leaned in again.
When they parted, Bai Ziyuan was unsteady on her feet, clutching Gu Qianran and breathing hard. Gu Qianran was perfectly fine, eyes smiling as Gu Qianran asked, "Do you believe it now."
"Girlfriend."
At some point the thick clouds had scattered, and sunlight poured down again, softening Gu Qianran's face. Bai Ziyuan's cheeks were rosy as Bai Ziyuan stared in a daze.
From now on, she would be Gu Qianran's girlfriend.
Bai Ziyuan threw herself into Gu Qianran's arms and kissed Gu Qianran. Gu Qianran answered with gentle warmth.
That night when they returned to the dorm, both mouths were still a little swollen.
Gu Qianran held Bai Ziyuan's hand and announced to the room, "We are together."
At once, the whole dorm exploded with joy.