Chapter 16 Not happy today?

The grueling final exam week is finally over.

My roommates are all from the local city of G, and they went back home after the exam that day.

Wen Ling is the only resident of J City, and the high-speed train journey takes five or six hours. She needs to stay overnight alone, but before going back, she has something very important to do.

Wen Ling: [Kitten peeking out.jpg]

Wen Ling: [Have you finished your exams? Do you want to go out for dinner tonight? I'm going home tomorrow, so if I don't have time, I'll have to wait until after school starts to treat you.]

Shang Chen: [What would you like to eat if you have time?]

Given that Shang Chen paid for everything on the last trip, Wen Ling felt that she should take the initiative this time, so she threw the same question back at him.

Wen Ling: [What would you like to eat?]

Shang Chen smiled: [Anything is fine.]

Wen Ling: [Any dietary restrictions? Mild, medium, or extra spicy?]

She almost vomited out all the food she loved to eat.

Shang Chen: [Do you want to eat hot pot?]

Wen Ling widened her eyes and scrolled up the messages. Did she mention in any of her messages that she liked hot pot? How did he guess?

Wen Ling felt guilty: [That's not true...]

Wen Ling: [Then it's decided. We're going out for dinner tonight. I'm going to pack my things now!]

Shang Chen: [Okay, I'll have it mildly spicy.]

…

Wen Ling packed her suitcase, sat down to rest, and glanced at the time. It was almost 4 PM. Their school was only half an hour away from the city center, and considering the long queues at the hot pot restaurant, it was almost time to leave.

But Wen Ling was afraid that Shang Chen still had things to deal with, and asking now would feel like she was urging him to leave, so she decided to wait half an hour before asking.

On the table was a gift bag that hadn't been put away yet. It was a scarf she had knitted for Shang Chen, made of versatile black yarn, and packed in a sweet gift bag.

After returning from watching the sunrise in the neighboring county that day, Wen Ling pondered what gift to give him. Shang Chen was not short of money and could buy anything, so Wen Ling thought of making one by hand for him.

She asked her roommates what gifts would be appropriate to give to a friend, and they naturally assumed it was a girl and said that lipsticks and skincare products would definitely be a safe bet.

Wen Ling looked embarrassed: "It's a boy."

The group immediately sensed some gossip, exchanged glances, but restrained themselves from screaming and pretended to be calm: "It's a boy, so how about a razor or perfume?"

"but…"

If Wen Ling hasn't said that she's not short of money, what gift would be the most surprising and effective?

Yang Lan quickly interjected, "You can't spoil boys. Lingling, it's common knowledge at school that you come from a wealthy family, and you're so good-looking. Who knows if the other person is after something? So before he reveals his true colors, you can't be too nice to him. Don't give him such expensive gifts yet. Just give him a token gift and see how he reacts."

Wen Ling scratched her head, feeling a little dizzy from all the talking and not quite understanding: "Then... what should I give?"

She explained, "I wanted to make him a handmade gift."

“Oh, I see.” Zhong Yuting added, “Then you should give him a scarf. You can’t go wrong with a bag, and it can also tell whether he likes you or not… This is a good gift.”

Wen Ling's eyes lit up. She was surprised; she asked earnestly, "How do you see it?"

"If he really liked it, he wouldn't wear it in front of you. Instead, he would wear it every day to show off to others without your knowledge. On the contrary, if he only wears it in front of you but not in front of others, it's hypocritical. He doesn't like it and doesn't want others to know that it was a gift from you. It also shows that he's just being coy."

Zhong Yuting's face turned red, and the words "raising fish" were cut off by Yang Lan's slap. She glared at her and said, "What are you doing? I haven't finished speaking yet."

Yang Lan gave a fake smile, concealing her teeth, and whispered in her mind, "Lingling clearly has no feelings for anyone. If you don't understand, don't give her bad advice. If you end up putting Lingling in a bad situation, you're finished."

Seeing Wen Ling's bewildered expression, Zhong Yuting realized that what she said made sense, and wisely shut her mouth.

Wen Ling also felt that Zhong Yuting's words made a lot of sense, so the first scarf she knitted by hand was born. When she gave it to Shang Chen that night, she tried very hard to discern his reaction, but he hid it too well, and Wen Ling couldn't tell at all.

So much so that throughout the entire meal, she kept thinking about whether Shang Chen actually liked the gift, why he didn't seem as happy as she had imagined, and whether she should give him a gift of equal value.

My mood was a little affected, and I couldn't even eat much hot pot, which I usually enjoy. By the time I got back to school, it was almost nine o'clock. It takes half an hour to walk from the school gate to the girls' dormitory.

After getting off the bus, Wen Ling said she would walk back to her dormitory by herself.

The male and female dormitories are located at opposite ends of the school, and it takes more than an hour to walk back and forth between them. There are also not necessarily any shared bicycles available for scanning downstairs in the dormitory buildings.

"It's alright, I'll see you off."

Shang Chen insisted, but Wen Ling was actually a little scared to walk alone, so he didn't try to persuade her to stop.

The wind was howling on the road, and there were very few people. On the empty avenue, the howling of the wind was even more terrifying.

Wen Ling silently crossed her arms in front of her chest and hugged herself tightly. When the wind blew, her small body couldn't withstand it and swayed precariously. For every three steps she took forward, she would be blown back two steps by the wind.

Even though it was so difficult, she didn't say a word.

Following suit, Shang Chen waited for her to speak, but after a long time, she still didn't speak. So he grabbed her wrist and blocked her way.

Wen Ling lowered her head and did not refuse.

Are you unhappy today?

Wen Ling heard it but didn't respond. As soon as she opened her mouth, the wind rushed into her mouth. It wasn't until they passed the windy slope that the howling wind in her ears weakened a lot, and they arrived at their dormitory building.

Wen Lingcai smiled and said, "Thank you for bringing me back."

As she was about to leave, Shang Chen frowned, grabbed her wrist, and led her to a quiet corner: "You still haven't answered me. Are you unhappy today?"

Wen Ling thought for a moment, then asked, pointing to the scarf she had given him: "You, don't you, like this gift I gave you?"

Before he could say anything, Wen Ling offered her solution: "It's okay. If you don't like it, I can prepare a new one for you. But, can I have this one back?"

Shang Chen subconsciously gripped the bag tighter.

Wen Ling continued, "This is the first time I've ever knitted one by hand. It might not be very well made, but I also can't knit another one exactly the same."

Upon hearing this, Shang Chen breathed a sigh of relief.

It wasn't because she disliked eating with him. He said, "How can you take back a gift that's already been given? Wen Ling, that doesn't make sense."

She knew that this was very unreasonable.

But she was a bit domineering in this regard, not wanting her hard work to be wasted. Wen Ling raised her head, her eyes reddened by the wind, looking as if she was about to cry: "If you don't like it, I will take it back."

Her punctuation inexplicably took on another layer of meaning.

Shang Chen teased her innocently, "Who do I not like? Who said I don't like anyone? I like you."

Wen Ling: "..."

Her mind was a complete mess. She realized Shang Chen was being deliberately obtuse. Holding her breath, she didn't want to talk to him anymore. Wasn't this joking attitude just proof that he didn't like her? That's why he wasn't responding directly.

I took out my phone, about to forcefully type out two words: Give it back to me!

Shang Chen immediately covered her hand and explained seriously, "It's not that I don't like it, I just want to keep it safe and treasure it."

"Wen Ling, whatever gift you give me, I'll like it." He explained to her earnestly, "I wasn't joking, and I wasn't just trying to flatter you..."

As he spoke, Shang Chen sighed softly for no apparent reason: "I was just afraid of scaring you."

If he didn't slow down his pursuit, Wen Ling could block him on the same day and refuse to see him the next day, but this progress was still too slow.

Wen Ling only answered the questions she could understand: "You really like it? Then, can you try it on?"

Shang Chen carefully opened the gift bag.

When he received it, he only glanced at it and didn't know what it looked like in full. Now that he has unfolded it, he finds that the scarf is quite long and thick. He wrapped it around twice and put it on, and there was still a long section hanging down. He looked down at it.

Wen Ling finally smiled: "It suits you, it looks good."

"It must have taken you a long time to knit it, right?"

Wen Ling was still immersed in her artwork when she suddenly heard these words. She paused for a moment, then nodded: "There is a little bit, but it's okay. As long as you are satisfied with the finished product."

Shang Chen patted her head: "You've worked hard."

Wen Ling smiled shyly: "Then, I'll go in."

"Wen Ling..." Shang Chen called out to her, his Adam's apple bobbing, "Can I hug you?"

Wen Ling was stunned: "Huh?" Shang Chen felt he had been abrupt again and tried to make amends: "It's okay, no pressure, see you when school starts."

The person who said they were leaving didn't leave, their eyes fixed on her with an almost burning gaze.

Wen Ling bit her lip, thinking that it shouldn't be a problem for a friend to hug. Although he was a man, friendship transcends gender, and she shouldn't overthink it. She said, "It's okay."

The sound quickly dissipated in the wind.

Even Wen Ling wasn't sure if she had said it or not, but Shang Chen hugged her first.

His embrace was warm and reassuring, and it had a familiar, comforting scent.

She couldn't tell if it was perfume he was wearing or his natural scent, but in any case, she felt a connection with him. Even though this behavior would have seemed offensive in the past, she didn't care about the details anymore since it was him.

From an angle that Wenling cannot see.

Shang Chen gently kissed the hair on the top of her head, his voice still hoarse: "Wen Ling, will you miss me during your winter break?"

"..."

Wen Ling's mind was going to go blank again.

Before Shang Chen could figure out what he meant by asking that question, he continued, "I will miss you."

Wen Ling bit her lip, feeling that things were getting a little beyond her comprehension. Should she let go now?

But this person is holding me so tightly, I can hardly breathe...

"Remember to reply to my messages when you get home."

Wen Ling replied with a bewildered "okay".

"Even if you're angry, you have to reply. You're not allowed to disappear."

"...Okay." When did he become so long-winded?

Wen Ling used a little force to push him away.

I didn't dare to look up, feeling that the atmosphere between them seemed a bit strange.

My heart was pounding. After quickly saying goodbye, I ran upstairs.

Only after she was completely out of sight did Shang Chen slowly walk into the night.