In the darkness, Jiang Shuyi sighed.
Wen Yao opened her eyes.
Very annoying. This was the fifth sigh from Jiang Shuyi.
Jiang Shuyi turned over in the blanket every ten seconds, and after a while, sighed again.
The sixth time.
Because her antics were so exaggerated, Wen Yao didn't say anything and let her turn over, closing her eyes with her back to Jiang Shuyi.
However, after a long time, Jiang Shuyi still didn't quiet down.
When Jiang Shuyi sighed for the eighth time...
"What exactly do you want to do?"
Wen Yao asked coldly in the darkness with a hint of impatience.
Jiang Shuyi hesitated in the darkness for a while.
Perhaps realizing Jiang Shuyi had so little progress to make, Wen Yao rolled her eyes. "Speak clearly when you talk."
"Oh."
In the darkness, Wen Yao felt Jiang Shuyi lean her shoulder against her.
Jiang Shuyi cleared her throat and got straight to the point. "Can I hug you while I sleep?"
"You can hug me too while you sleep." After all, it was going to be a hug.
Wen Yao seemed to remain silent in the dark.
But not long after, Jiang Shuyi felt Wen Yao's left hand passing under her right armpit, her body softly leaning against Jiang Shuyi's chest. Jiang Shuyi discovered that in this proximity, Wen Yao's whole body carried an even richer scent of roses than before.
"Don't move." Wen Yao ordered in a low voice, cold and ruthless.
"...Oh." Although it was Jiang Shuyi who made the request, she really didn't expect Wen Yao to directly embrace her like this. Her heart was racing, and she immediately reached out and hugged Wen Yao's back.
"You're hugging me..."
Jiang Shuyi giggled and said, resting her forehead against Wen Yao's, like a playful large animal.
Her lowered voice made Wen Yao's ears feel a bit ticklish. Wen Yao didn't respond and didn't mention that it was Jiang Shuyi's own request, she was just following through.
Wen Yao guessed that if she didn't do as Jiang Shuyi said, Jiang Shuyi might roll around on the other side of the bed all night, and then neither of them would get any sleep.
Two minutes passed.
Jiang Shuyi, hugging Wen Yao's shoulder, began to breathe rhythmically rise and fall, ". . ."
Wen Yao knew that Jiang Shuyi's sleep quality was astonishingly good, but she didn't expect this person to fall asleep after hugging her for two minutes.
Although Jiang Shuyi's sleeping posture was surprisingly well-behaved, just as she had described, it was clear that not being able to sleep was merely an excuse.
Wen Yao shifted her shoulder slightly, leaning into Jiang Shuyi's embrace, the fresh scent of lemon balm wafting into her nose.
This actually saved her quite a bit of time.
Wen Yao thought quietly and closed her eyes, unexpectedly falling asleep faster than usual.
---
The next day, with final exams approaching in two weeks, the school had already printed out the winter break assignments for the students and placed them in the library. The collection of winter assignments, along with various exam papers from the subject teachers, meant that each student would have to carry back several kilograms of work.
Just before the PE class, Wen Yao was called to the homeroom teacher's office.
"Wen Yao, go ask a few classmates to help carry everyone's assignments back and distribute them."
"Just hand this to the person in charge when you get there, and then put them in my office when you bring them back. Don't distribute them yet."
The homeroom teacher, Li Roujia, handed her the list of names for the library staff.
Wen Yao nodded and planned to leave the office.
"Oh, wait." Li Roujia called out to her.
"Some universities have already started their registrations. Have you decided which university you want to go to in the future?"
Wen Yao paused for a moment. "I haven't decided yet."
"Oh, I see," Li Roujia was somewhat worried. This wasn't like the usual Wen Yao who was always decisive and goal-oriented. "Is it because of the registration fee? There should be schools sending you invitations, right?"
"Yes," Wen Yao lowered her gaze. "I just want to think it over a bit more."
"The registration for the exams ends in April."
"I understand." Wen Yao nodded respectfully.
"Now universities have preferential policies for students like you, so you don't really need to worry. If necessary, teachers can also help you."
Li Roujia's voice gradually faded away.
Wen Yao quietly looked out the window, seeing her classmates in the PE class.
Today was the last PE class of the semester. The first half was physical fitness testing, and the second half was free activity.
The PE exam seemed to have ended, with hardly anyone left on the track field. The classmates seemed to be gathering towards the basketball court.
Jiang Shuyi sat on the side of the basketball court, chatting with the classmates beside her.
After a while, a few people holding basketballs approached Jiang Shuyi, and after a brief exchange, Jiang Shuyi limped to the center of the basketball court.
Li Roujia seemed to notice Wen Yao watching the situation in the class and thought she wanted to go back to class early, so she said, "Oh, speaking of which, today is the PE exam. Did I delay you?"
Wen Yao shook her head, she had already completed her test ahead of time.
"Then you can go back to class, but make sure to manage your time regarding the school registration. Understand?" Li Roujia earnestly advised.
"I understand. Thank you, Teacher Li."
Wen Yao nodded, thanked her politely, and then left the office.
---
When she returned to the field, her classmates were cheering loudly around the basketball court.
Jiang Shuyi's name was occasionally heard among the shouts.
". . ." Wen Yao silently walked to the edge of the basketball court.
Lin Qing was among the group. Seeing Wen Yao return, she greeted her.
"Class monitor, you're back! They're playing basketball right now."
Wen Yao nodded and looked toward the court.
In the center of the court, Wen Yao immediately saw Jiang Shuyi standing among a few people. She was like a wild horse let loose, limping as she hopped and tossed the ball into the hoop.
The basketball smoothly went through the hoop, bouncing on the ground.
"Yay!"
As the ball went in, their classmates cheered even louder, "Go for it, Miss Yi!"
"You can do it!"
"So many people are cheering for her." Lin Qing remarked.
Wen Yao glanced at Jiang Shuyi, who was happily bouncing around and smiling at their classmates.
She was certain that this Alpha's mind was filled with cheers even louder than the ones around her.
Jiang Shuyi wiped the sweat off her forehead and turned to see Wen Yao standing outside of the basketball court.
Their eyes met.
Jiang Shuyi stood on one foot on the court, the other foot injured, sweat dripping down her back.
Wen Yao's face was expressionless, her black hair falling around her ears, her gaze calm.
Jiang Shuyi subconsciously felt a shiver run down her spine.
". . ."
She cautiously swallowed, hopping off the basketball court, looking as obedient as a kindergarten child.
The others looked at her, "Miss Yi, you're not playing anymore?"
"I'm done, I'm not playing anymore." Did she even dare to keep playing?
"Weren't you having fun just now?"
Jiang Shuyi looked at Wen Yao and quickly waved off her hands, "Don't say that, I wasn't."
Jiang Shuyi sternly distanced herself from the basketball players and walked up to Wen Yao. She meekly placed her hands behind her back, looking as innocent as a child, as if the person who had been wildly running around the basketball court earlier was not her.
Lin Qing looked at Jiang Shuyi and pointed at her nose, "Miss Yi, you have dust on your nose."
"Oh, do I?" Hearing Lin Qing's reminder, Jiang Shuyi felt around her body. Not having any tissue, she lifted her sports shirt to wipe her nose with the collar.
As Jiang Shuyi lifted her shirt, a glimpse of her toned abdomen outlined by lines could be vaguely seen.
Lin Qing glanced at Wen Yao.
"Wipe it with a tissue."
At that moment, a hand tapped Jiang Shuyi's back and handed her a tissue.
Jiang Shuyi looked at Wen Yao, hesitating to say anything as she took it. "Oh... thanks."
Wen Yao glanced at her, responding coldly, "No need to thank me."
"Were you playing basketball just now?" Wen Yao asked as if it had just occurred to her.
For some reason, Jiang Shuyi felt a sense of dread at this question, which was clearly prompted by what she'd just seen.
Jiang Shuyi couldn't bring herself to reply as she looked into Wen Yao's eyes. After a while, Jiang Shuyi lowered her head, looking like a patient with Alzheimer's, "I think I might have played..."
Just at that moment, Zhou Jingtang walked over.
As always, Zhou Jingtang spared no compliments for Jiang Shuyi, "Class monitor, you didn't see it, Miss Yi was amazing just now! Despite her leg injury, she still scored a three-pointer!"
Wen Yao looked at Jiang Shuyi with a calm demeanor and repeated lightly, "I indeed didn't see it."
What else could Jiang Shuyi say? She just felt a chill down her spine.
"Let's go to the infirmary first." Wen Yao said coldly.
"......Okay." Jiang Shuyi nodded obediently and followed her.
Wen Yao walked silently ahead, seemingly slowing down to match Jiang Shuyi's limping pace. After they walked out of the field, Jiang Shuyi didn't know what to say.
The path to the infirmary led through the school's gingko forest.
Since it was winter, almost all the leaves had fallen from the trees, making the scenery quite desolate.
Jiang Shuyi glanced at her, feeling a bit empty-handed, and awkwardly shoved her hands into her pockets.
With her free hand, Jiang Shuyi pointed to a withered tree in the distance. "Wen Yao, look, there's a dove over there."
Wen Yao glanced at the "dove" Jiang Shuyi pointed out and calmly said, "That's not a dove."
The gray bird seemed to mock Jiang Shuyi as it wagged its tail.
"That's a cuckoo bird."
"Ah... a cuckoo bird." Jiang Shuyi's finger recoiled.
"Cuckoo birds are rare in winter." Wen Yao remarked.
"Is that so?" Jiang Shuyi looked at Wen Yao, not quite understanding when cuckoo birds appeared.
"Cuckoo birds have many aliases, such as zigui, dujuan, guogong, and Huogo..."
Wen Yao quietly looked at the sky, "Cuckoo birds are migratory birds. They migrate to warmer places in September and only appear in spring."
"Their calls continue from April to June. They prey on insects, and from their name 'cuckoo,' you can tell that their calls urge people to work."
"I see."
Jiang Shuyi nodded. She actually didn't have a good impression of cuckoo birds, always thinking they were not very good birds.
The gray bird hopped in front of them, agilely turned its head, then in an instant spread its wings and flew away.
Jiang Shuyi reached out and held Wen Yao's hand, which remained cold.
Wen Yao glanced at Jiang Shuyi's hand holding hers and didn't let go.
Jiang Shuyi spoke softly, "They insisted I go. I feel like refusing them isn't a good idea either."
Wen Yao glanced at Jiang Shuyi in silence, imagining how this soft-hearted Alpha would smile and walk away when praised.
"Why apologize to me?"
Wen Yao looked ahead without much change in her tone, "Whether it's exams, grades, or your health, they are your own business, not mine."
"You're lying," Jiang Shuyi peered at her face as if probing, "You're clearly upset."
Wen Yao remained silent.
Jiang Shuyi put Wen Yao's hand into the pocket of her sports shirt, their shoulders touching.
She lightly tapped Wen Yao's head with hers, fingers tightly intertwined, and once they made sure no one was around, Jiang Shuyi quickly kissed Wen Yao's cheek.
Seeing Wen Yao's expression, Jiang Shuyi smiled brightly, feeling a sense of happiness.
"Then I'll pretend you're not upset."
---
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