Won’t

Ruan Mian, holding her phone, nearly tumbled off the bed. She looked again, and the reply box at the bottom of the screen still held those two characters: 不會 (Bù huì).

Not even a punctuation mark.

He finally replied!

But… Won’t what? It wasn’t “won’t sell,” nor was it “not allowed.” So what did he mean?

Ruan Mian, completely confused, opened the first message she had sent him and scrolled down. Most of them were about hoping he would sell the number to her

I absolutely won’t use it for any illegal activities. If you don’t trust me, I can sign an agreement with you…

The most recent message:

“My mock exam score was really bad this time, second to last in the entire class. Mom must be very disappointed in me. I don’t want it to be like this, but I always lose focus when the teacher is lecturing… I’ve bothered you during this time. I hope I haven’t caused you any trouble. I’m truly sorry.”

Won’t… feel troubled?

Ruan Mian had sent this message that morning after learning her score. She was feeling down at the time and wrote a long, messy message.

It was easier to talk about such things to a stranger. Besides, this number was too important to her. Even though she knew the person who received the messages would never comfort or encourage her with gentle words like before…

This string of digits once held such a connection to her mother. Perhaps for her, it was the only warmth left in the world.

But it seemed… the hope of getting it back was not high.

Ruan Mian sniffled and clicked on the reply box. “Thank you. Can I still send you messages in the future?”

She waited for a long time. No reply.

However, the WeChat notification sound kept going off.

She clicked in and immediately saw “Golden Bottom Triangle” at the top, unable to stop herself from a wry smile.

Ting Ye: Zeng Yushu, I’m telling you, your skin is not just thick, it’s cement!

Handsome Tree: What, got a problem?

*Ting Ye: *

Ting Ye: Soft Cotton, hurry out and witness the idiot!

Handsome Tree: Heh heh

Ting Ye: Paging Soft Cotton. I found out the reason the little tyrant shredded your textbook!

Handsome Tree: What happened? I only took one day off

Handsome Tree: Holy crap! Where are you guys?

Pan Tingting and Ruan Mian had already started a private chat.

Ting Ye: Did you meet with Campus Heartthrob Liang again this morning?

Soft Cotton: Yeah, he gave my English notes back, and we talked for a little while.

Ting Ye: No wonder, no wonder.

Soft Cotton: Don’t tell me…

Ting Ye: Yes! The little tyrant has been chasing Campus Heartthrob Liang recently… so you understand.

Soft Cotton: But there’s really nothing going on between him and me.

Ting Ye: But the little tyrant thinks there is!

Soft Cotton: …

Ting Ye: This is going to be tough. I feel like she’s already listed you as one of her love rivals. Plus, there was the whole Campus Beauty incident last time. You were clearly better than her back then, so she probably held a grudge ever since.

Ruan Mian lay on the bed, not knowing what to reply. She only felt her mood, which had just slightly improved, sinking again. Suddenly, her phone chimed

A new message.

She quickly clicked it open, her eyes darkening. It was just a system message from China Mobile. But upon closer look, she immediately sat up on the bed.

Someone had topped up her phone bill with a hundred yuan!

Her first thought was: They made a mistake.

Maybe someone would call soon and ask her to recharge it back.

The twenty thousand yuan she had taken from Director Zhou, she had deposited entirely into a new bank card, preparing to use it for future living expenses and tuition.

Fewer entanglements, less involvement perhaps it would be easier to get away later.

This house without her mother was no longer her home.

Ruan Mian tightly closed her eyes, forcing herself not to dwell on it.

After waiting for a long time, there was still no activity on her phone. A heavy sleepiness washed over her, and she quickly fell asleep.

The first thing Ruan Mian did when she opened her eyes the next morning was reach for her phone. There were no new messages or missed calls. She was somewhat disappointed, and her confusion grew.

Had the person still not realized they had topped up the wrong number?

The alarm clock rang, rang, rang. She pressed the button and jumped out of bed to wash up.

The sky was somewhat overcast. The sun was wrapped in clouds, its faint red light appearing weak and pale.

Ruan Mian fed the last worm from the matchbox into the little creature’s mouth. It was already full, but still tilted its head and chirped at her. Having no choice, she offered it a grain of rice. It swallowed one, realized it had been tricked, and refused to eat any more.

She scratched its feathers. It finally turned its head, its tiny mouth opening and closing. She laughed. “I’ll go find Grandpa Wang for some more of your favorite food after school this afternoon, okay?”

The little creature fluttered its wings and hopped onto an art book, lowering its head to peck at the pictures.

Ruan Mian chuckled again, closed the window, and prepared for school.

Arriving at school, she walked up to the third floor and down the hallway in front of her classroom. Suddenly, she heard someone behind her say, “Did you see? That’s Ruan Mian from Class 17. Apparently, she offended the little tyrant. Yesterday, all her books were shredded. Tsk, tsk. I heard that was just a mild warning…”

“How pitiful. Why did she have to provoke the little tyrant?”

Ruan Mian quickened her pace and walked into the classroom. The people who had been gathered in a cluster immediately scattered when they saw her.

She pulled out her chair and sat down, shoved her school bag into the desk, and sat in a daze for a few minutes before taking out a Chinese language book and starting to quietly recite ancient poetry.

“Vast is the clear breeze over the river, and the bright moon among the mountains; ears hear it as sound, eyes meet it as color…”

She mumbled the lines, but not a single word registered in her mind. She looked up at the Chinese teacher on the podium, her vision sometimes clear, sometimes blurry.

The morning reading session finally dragged past in agonizing, slow moments.

“Ruan Mian, someone is looking for you outside.”

Ruan Mian numbly followed her out and instantly backed away when she clearly saw the person who was looking for her.

Why him?

She nervously glanced around.

“Ruan Mian, I heard about what happened yesterday. I didn’t realize Wang Linlin… I mean, she and I… it’s not like that…” Liang Yibo, the straight-A liberal arts student who wrote excellent essays, was suddenly incoherent. His handsome, youthful face was filled with guilt. “I’m truly sorry.”

Ruan Mian stared at her toes. “You don’t need to apologize to me.”

Liang Yibo clenched his fists behind his back, paused, and then said, “Actually, I don’t like her. I like…”

Ruan Mian seemed to anticipate his next words, her face paling slightly. She quickly interrupted. “Excuse me, I…I’m going back inside.”

Without hesitation, she turned around and quickly walked into the classroom.

She completely missed the way his gaze dimmed behind her.

“Hey, what did Campus Heartthrob Liang want to talk to you about just now?” Pan Tingting turned her head and leaned in.

Ruan Mian rested her head on the desk, shook her head, and didn’t speak.

“Even though I feel a little bad saying this, I still have to tell you,” Pan Tingting sighed, which was rare for her. “Try to keep your distance from him in the future. What if that little tyrant throws a tantrum again someday…”

Zeng Yushu: “Heh heh, she’s really taking things too far. That girl is only arrogant because her dad is a major shareholder…”

“If you’re so capable, why don’t you get your dad to be a shareholder too!” Pan Tingting snapped at him.

Zeng Yushu’s family owned a leather shoe factory. Their business had expanded in recent years, and thanks to good management, orders were pouring in like snowflakes. They could be considered to have a foothold, albeit a minor one, among Z City’s elite. But compared to Wang Linlin’s family industry, they were still leagues behind.

“My time hasn’t come yet,” Zeng Yushu rolled his eyes at her and then looked at Ruan Mian.

From his angle, he could see the girl’s delicate profile, her long, subtly trembling eyelashes, and her rosy lips. What impressed him most was her gentle, clean aura.

“Deskmate, why do you like that Liang Yibo?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he instantly regretted asking what was on his mind.

Ruan Mian stared at him, looking completely bewildered.

In contrast, Pan Tingting spat a sunflower seed shell onto his desk and laughed. “Heh heh, he’s a campus heartthrob and a top student. If she doesn’t like him, is she supposed to like you?”

“That’s not necessarily true! What part of me is worse than that bookworm who only knows how to study?”

He looked at Ruan Mian, his lips tightly sealed, but several phrases were churning in his heart

You’re the Campus Beauty, I’m the Class Tree.

Your family is nouveau riche, and so is mine.

You’re second to last, I’m last.

We are the perfectly matched pair, from head to toe!

“No, no, that’s hilarious,” Pan Tingting laughed so hard the entire desk shook. “Zeng Yushu, I swear I’ve never met anyone as thick-skinned as you, really, I swear…”

Amidst the lively laughter, Ruan Mian lowered her head and slowly typed on her phone

Yesterday, the new reference book I bought was shredded by a girl from the next class nicknamed ‘the little tyrant,’ apparently because I spoke to the boy she likes twice…

I just found a note in my drawer. She wrote it… I’m a little scared…

Send successful.

Qi Yan was on a phone call. Two consecutive messages interrupted the conversation slightly, and the person on the other end raised their voice, saying, “You need to take your medicine on time. If you have time, you should come in for a checkup…”

He covered his faintly aching stomach, his tone a little irritable. “I know my own body.”

“Fine,” Chang Ning sighed longly. “I won’t talk to you about it anymore. I have rounds to check shortly.”

“Mm.” Qi Yan exited the call screen, opened the new messages, and searched for stomach medicine in the box while reading. He popped a few pills and tossed them directly into half a glass of red wine, then drank it down.

The taste was bitter and astringent, and his stomach started to burn.

He used to cling to the taste of this pain.

Ruan Mian’s message was sent, but by the time school was over that afternoon, she still hadn’t received a reply. However, she also hadn’t been harassed again by the little tyrant.

She pushed her bike and stood outside the old house. The green climbing plant had endured several storms, yet it was greener and more vibrant than before. Looking closely, she could see clusters of small purple flowers at the ends, and the scent was faint and pleasant.

She pushed the gate open and walked in.

The old man was standing on a wooden ladder, repairing the window of the main house. Although he only had one arm, his movements were skilled, and he drove the iron nail in with a couple of precise taps.

Ruan Mian approached. He noticed her shadow, turned his head, and smiled at her. “You’ll have to wait for me a bit.”

The weather forecast said a major typhoon was going to make landfall in Z City tonight. He had found this window loose while checking the doors and windows and needed to fix it quickly before the storm hit.

Ruan Mian stood below, talking to him and handing him tools, occasionally glancing at the second-floor staircase out of the corner of her eye.

“Grandpa Wang, have you always lived here?”

“I can’t recall how many years it’s been,” the old man chuckled. “Must be forty years, right?”

So long.

Then what is your relationship with that man?

She hesitated whether to ask. “Then…”

Just then, the phone on the table rang.

The old man glanced at it, then looked back at his work.

Ruan Mian, however, kept staring at it.

The phone stopped and then rang again, persistent.

The old man muttered, “It must be something urgent.”

Looking at the time, he should be done by now.

The old man called out to Ruan Mian. “I can’t get down right now. Could you take the phone to him? He’s near the lake.”

“…Okay.”

The distance was only about two hundred meters, but the phone rang twice more. Ruan Mian decided to run against the wind, but when she reached the lakeside, there was no one there.

She walked forward, holding the phone.

A section of black sleeve hung over a waist-high stone near the lake. She walked over and saw not just a shirt and trousers, but also a black leather belt…

Could it be…

Before she could look further, the calm surface of the lake suddenly rippled. Soon, a person emerged from the water…

Ruan Mian let out a soft “Ah,” shocked into sitting back on the ground, still clutching the phone tightly.

Qi Yan hadn’t expected her to appear at this moment either. After a slight pause, he quickly reacted.

Ruan Mian covered her eyes, her mind a flurry of panic. Fragmented images flashed by: the soaking wet black hair, the shimmering shoulders, collarbone, and chest, the tightly muscled…

Messy, messy! She couldn’t control her thoughts.

“Turn around.” The man’s steady voice came again.

“O-oh! Oh!”

The sun hung on the horizon, like an appetizing salted duck egg yolk.

The wind picked up, swirling dead branches and leaves, dumping them into the lake, causing the water to lightly ripple.

Ruan Mian saw a tall shadow bend down, then heard the rustle of clothes being put on, followed by the distinct sound of a zipper… Her heart hammered, and her ears quickly flushed red.

The phone started ringing again in her slightly moist palm. She instinctively turned around, just in time to see him fastening the last button on his shirt. Their eyes met.

“Someone is looking for you.” She handed the phone to him like a hot potato.

“Hello,” he listened for a moment and frowned. “How much liquid capital is left?”

Ruan Mian stood where she was, listening intently, but she couldn’t understand most of the content.

“Invest it all… I have only one requirement…”

A few minutes later, Qi Yan put his phone away and walked toward her.

The wind blew a small piece of paper to his feet. He picked it up and unfolded it

Ruan Mian looked at him with wide, clear eyes, confused.

Huh, why did the thing in his hand look so familiar?

She checked her pants pocket. Empty.

Oh no.

That looked like her mock exam results slip.

Did it accidentally fall out just now?

NOTE

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