Mixed Chapter 4
byWishing Upon a Star
Chi Nuan hadn’t even fully figured out the situation with Song Shixue before the holiday secretly slipped away.
She was dragging her luggage ahead when someone called out to her from behind: “Hey! Chi Nuan!”
Chi Nuan turned around. A girl with a very pure and sweet appearance walked toward her: “Oh, Zhiyu! You just arrived too. I thought you’d be earlier than me.”
Chen Zhiyu rolled her eyes at Chi Nuan.
“Winter isn’t completely over yet, who would get up that early! Besides, I don’t have that kind of willpower,” she grumbled, pouting.
Chi Nuan adjusted her glasses and smiled without speaking.
Chen Zhiyu shivered, taking three large strides to put some distance between herself and Chi Nuan.
Chi Nuan was puzzled, her eyebrows furrowed into a high-low arch as she followed: “Why are you walking so fast?”
Chen Zhiyu looked back, glanced around, and then looked at Chi Nuan. “Nuan Nuan, don’t you feel like every time school starts, everyone’s eyes are glued to you?”
She hugged herself, rubbing her arms, goosebumps covering her skin.
She felt completely uncomfortable.
Chi Nuan, however, had never noticed this. “Is that so? Why don’t I feel it?”
The fact that Chi Nuan hadn’t noticed only meant that Chen Zhiyu was making a huge sacrifice.
Chen Zhiyu scrutinized Chi Nuan from head to toe. The dark gray puffer jacket looked loose on her. Looking up, she saw the medium-length mullet wolf-tail haircut that fell to her collarbone. Black thick-rimmed half-frame glasses rested lightly on her small, straight nose, and behind the lenses were eyelashes as distinct as raven feathers and a pair of peach blossom eyes that looked deeply affectionate even when looking at a dog.
She gave the impression of someone who was experienced in romance, who never lacked partners, who would embrace girls left and right—a player.
“You’re so good-looking, and I’ve known you for so many years, so why haven’t you dated anyone?” Chen Zhiyu was perplexed.
Appearances can be deceiving, and Chi Nuan was actually a genuine Slacker when it came to relationships.
Chen Zhiyu knew Chi Nuan’s sexual orientation and didn’t find it strange. However, she was still shocked when she previously heard Chi Nuan say her dating experience was zero.
“You know I’m not interested in that right now.”
If she had said this before meeting Song Shixue, it would have sounded normal, but now that she said it, she clearly lacked a bit of conviction.
Chen Zhiyu sensed the atmosphere was slightly off and changed the subject.
“By the way, did you choose any elective courses this semester?”
Chi Nuan shook her head, her tone calm: “No, I’ve already fulfilled the credits for that section.”
Chen Zhiyu wished she could go back a few seconds and seal her mouth. Why ask such a foolish question to “Chi Nuan, the academic master of time management and the top student in the Photography department!”
This was purely asking for trouble. Why torture yourself, Chen Zhiyu!
…
As soon as Chen Zhiyu reached the dorm, she dropped her luggage without a word and rushed to sit in a chair, then slid down limply as if her essence had been sucked dry.
She covered her stomach and wailed in a long drawl: “I’m so hungry, so hungry! Nuan Nuan! Ahhh!”
Chi Nuan hung up her camera and said helplessly, “Alright, alright, stop howling, stop howling.”
She pulled up the feigning Chen Zhiyu, who opened one eye and saw the camera gently swaying on Chi Nuan’s chest.
She gasped.
Although she knew Chi Nuan’s passion for photography had reached an obsessive level, she couldn’t help but complain: “No way, Chi Nuan, our top student, you just started school and you’re immediately back in character. I truly admire you!”
After saying this, Chen Zhiyu made a cupped-fist gesture toward Chi Nuan, which made Chi Nuan burst into laughter: “Pfft, stop being such a chatterbox. Don’t blame me if the cafeteria gets crowded later, okay?”
“Ayaya, I know!” Chen Zhiyu ran over and walked alongside Chi Nuan.
Downstairs at the cafeteria.
Chi Nuan and Chen Zhiyu were still debating what to eat, but the next second, the unique wok aroma of fried rice wafted into their nostrils. They instantly had their answer.
The two said almost in unison: “Let’s go eat fried rice!”
They found the tone and expression of the other person, as if they had made some earth-shattering decision, inexplicably hilarious and burst out laughing.
Chen Zhiyu put her arm around Chi Nuan’s shoulder and teased her.
“You know, we really are telepathic! Aren’t we, Nuan Nuan! If I were a lesbian, I would have been with you ages ago, hahahahaha! What chance would anyone else have? I’d have the advantage of being close to the water!”
After saying this, Chen Zhiyu deliberately raised an eyebrow at Chi Nuan, while her mouth twisted into a lopsided grin.
Chi Nuan gave Chen Zhiyu a side-eye.
“How about you skip the fried rice today and eat an apple to cut the grease?”
“Grease? What grease?” Chen Zhiyu looked confused.
Before Chen Zhiyu could react, Chi Nuan quickly fled.
“I swear… daring to call me greasy, you just wait! Nuan Nuan!”
Chi Nuan arrived first and went to queue for ordering. Chen Zhiyu, exhausted and panting, found the nearest seat and sat down.
“Uncle, two servings of shredded potato and pork fried rice. One of them without green onions.”
Chi Nuan and Chen Zhiyu had similar tastes, but Chi Nuan had been allergic to green onions since childhood. Regardless of whether the chef would add green onions to the dish, she always mentioned it beforehand.
The fried rice grains were distinct and colorful. They weren’t intensely hungry initially, but the aroma emanating from the two bowls of fried rice still made their stomachs rumble.
Halfway through the meal, Chen Zhiyu’s gaze shifted to the camera on Chi Nuan’s chest: “Nuan Nuan, help me take some photos later, okay?”
Chi Nuan’s cheeks bulged like a hamster’s as she chewed. She nodded and gave Chen Zhiyu an OK sign.
After the meal, they went to a cherry blossom tree. Chi Nuan observed the surrounding environment, found a good angle, and raised her camera. Chi Nuan was always especially focused when she entered shooting mode, possessing a unique charm.
“Good, change your pose.”
“Yes! Just like that.”
Chen Zhiyu saw Chi Nuan suddenly stop her movements and remain silent, standing still like a block of wood with the camera.
“What’s wrong, Chi Nuan?”
She was waiting for a breeze, waiting for the cherry blossoms to fall.
“Click.”
Chen Zhiyu eagerly rushed over.
“Let me see!”
In the frame, Chen Zhiyu was full of emotion. Strands of hair gently brushed her cheek, and a few petals landed on her white dress as an accent. The overall atmosphere was rich, as if she were a child of the cherry blossoms.
Chen Zhiyu pressed the page-turn button, and her excited shriek instantly drew the attention of those around them.
“Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god! How are you so good at taking pictures, my Nuan Nuan, this is even better looking than what some top domestic magazines shoot! If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t know I could be this beautiful! Hehehe~”
While Chen Zhiyu was praising her, she didn’t stop flipping through the photos.
A moment later, she saw the picture of “The Deity in the Snow.”
“This person… is so beautiful…”
Chen Zhiyu’s attention was instantly captured by the unfamiliar woman.
Chi Nuan’s face instantly flushed light pink, and she nervously explained: “Ah, this is…”
“Hey, Chi Nuan, the more I look at the person in this photo, the more familiar she seems! I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere,” Chen Zhiyu interrupted her.
She had originally intended to tell Chen Zhiyu the whole story, but hearing this made her perk up.
She excitedly asked: “Really! Chen Zhiyu! Where, where have you seen her?”
Chen Zhiyu was initially confused, but then immediately became interested.
She narrowed her eyes, rubbing her index finger and thumb repeatedly under her chin. Her mouth couldn’t help but curve into a wide smile.
“Hmm~ Something’s not right, Nuan Nuan, nine out of ten things are off. You wouldn’t… like her, would you! Oh my god! You keep surprising me today!”
Chi Nuan’s mouth opened and closed, unable to find a chance to interject, so she had to raise her voice: “Stop, stop, stop! Stop letting your imagination run wild, Chen Zhiyu. You haven’t answered my question yet.”
Chen Zhiyu pondered for a moment, trying her best to search her mind for any information related to this woman, but she couldn’t recall anything.
She looked apologetically at Chi Nuan and gave an awkward laugh: “Hehe, I can’t remember.”
Chi Nuan had gotten excited for nothing. Her tone was helpless. “Forget it, let’s go back to the dorm.”
That night, everyone had washed up and was lying in bed, but Chi Nuan tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Her mind was completely occupied by the woman she had met that day—Song Shixue.
The stranger occupying my mind, will we meet again?
Needless to say, Chi Nuan couldn’t sleep the rest of the night, and she went to class the next morning with dark circles under her eyes.
After Chi Nuan and Chen Zhiyu sat down in the classroom, Chi Nuan yawned again.
“This isn’t like you, Chi Nuan. How is it that in the first class of the semester, you’ve already yawned three times in just ten minutes?” This made Chen Zhiyu very confused.
Chi Nuan turned her head, staring at her with a haggard expression. Chen Zhiyu felt a chill down her spine. “With those dark circles, maybe you should take a nap after class.”
Chi Nuan nodded in response.
Fortunately, today’s class ended at 3:30 PM, allowing Chi Nuan to return to the dorm early and catch up on sleep.
The other three people in the dorm were very considerate when they returned, lowering their phone volumes.
Chen Zhiyu pulled the other two roommates aside and whispered, “Chi Nuan’s birthday is in another week or two. How about the three of us order a cake for her?”
They nodded, indicating they had no objections.
“We can create a group chat later and share the cake designs we like, so we can discuss which one is better,” one of the roommates said softly.
Chen Zhiyu silently gave her a thumbs-up.
Ultimately, the three members of the “Chi Nuan 21st Birthday Squad” considered Chi Nuan’s favorite flavors and other aspects, settling on a chocolate cake decorated with a few stars.
Days passed, and finally, March 23rd arrived—Chi Nuan’s birthday.
Early in the morning, she opened her WeChat chat interface and saw a birthday message from Chi Sangzhi.
“My Star Baby, Mom wishes you a happy 21st birthday. I hope you stay safe, healthy, and happy in the new year. Mom loves you forever!”
Following the message was a 520 yuan transfer.
Chi Nuan replied with a thank you, followed by an “I love you” emoji.
However, she did not accept the 520 yuan transfer.
Chi Nuan understood too well the difficulty Chi Sangzhi had faced raising her alone all these years, so apart from necessary living expenses, she rarely accepted other money. In fact, most of the time, she would transfer the money she earned during her summer and winter breaks to Chi Sangzhi.
She hoped that Ms. Sangzhi wouldn’t have to work so hard.
In the evening, Chi Nuan treated her three roommates to dinner near the school. Chen Zhiyu pretended to take a phone call, claiming the counselor needed her for something, and left early.
In reality, she went downstairs to pick up the cake and decorate the dorm with balloons and string lights.
Half an hour later, Chi Nuan and the other two arrived at the dorm entrance.
Just as Chi Nuan was about to open the door, Shu Yu covered her eyes with her hand. Lu Yuanyuan walked ahead, leading her so she wouldn’t fall.
When everything was ready, Chi Nuan opened her eyes.
The first thing that came into view was the chocolate star cake placed on the chair in the center, illuminated by warm yellow lights and surrounded by colorful balloons of various sizes.
This simple yet heartwarming decoration successfully brought tears to Chi Nuan’s eyes.
Chen Zhiyu said anxiously and a little aggrievedly: “Hurry, hurry, put on the birthday hat! We’ll sing the birthday song for you, you make a wish, and then we’ll cut the cake. I rushed back to set all this up and didn’t even eat much dinner.”
Chi Nuan took off her glasses, tilted her head back, and gave a big smile.
She made a wish in her heart—
“I hope to meet her again.”
“I hope everyone can be happy.”
“I hope Ms. Chi Sangzhi stays healthy.”