Top-Tier Ex-Girlfriend - Chapter 30
Chapter 30: Friend
"What?" Huo Yichi thought she’d misheard.
Seeing her bewildered expression, Pei You pulled up a chair, sat down, and looked at Huo Yichi, her gaze sincere. "Don’t you… have a crush on someone?”
"I…," Huo Yichi swallowed, her throat suddenly dry.
Pei You blinked, her gaze unwavering.
Huo Yichi's hands tightened slightly in her lap before she admitted, feigning nonchalance, "Yes, I do.”
"See? You shouldn’t have kept it from me. I told you about mine, but you didn't tell me about yours. That’s not fair.”
Huo Yichi lowered her gaze, humming in agreement.
If only Pei You knew how fast her heart was beating right now.
She’d thought her feelings would never be reciprocated.
But Pei You didn’t know anything.
She was simply asking because she felt Huo Yichi wasn't being completely honest.
Huo Yichi didn't know what to feel.
"Lower your head," Pei You said as Huo Yichi sat, lost in thought.
Huo Yichi’s thoughts snapped back. "What?"
She did as she was told, lowering her head slightly.
Would Pei You ruffle her hair again, like last time?
Huo Yichi even closed her eyes in anticipation.
The answer was no.
She felt something being placed around her neck.
She quickly opened her eyes and saw a scarf draped around her.
Pei You had already withdrawn her hand, smiling at her. "You gave me gloves; I’m giving you a scarf. Don't you think we match?" she asked, then quickly corrected herself, "I mean, the gifts match. Not us…"
"We match," Huo Yichi finished her sentence.
It would have been nice if Pei You hadn't felt the need to explain herself.
But Huo Yichi secretly agreed; they did match.
Pei You paused, surprised by Huo Yichi's words, then chuckled. "Now we’re even.”
The scarf was new; Pei You had plenty of scarves already. She’d seen it in a shop window and thought it would suit Huo Yichi, so she'd bought it, intending to give it to her someday.
She hadn’t expected “someday” to arrive so soon, especially since they were in the middle of a silent feud.
Huo Yichi stayed the night. She messaged Lin Fang, asking her to feed Xiao Xing.
Lin Fang: 【Jie, where are you?】
【At her place.】
Lin Fang: 【...Okay then.】
Pei You gave Huo Yichi a new set of pajamas.
There was a spare bedroom, her parents’ room, but it hadn't been used in a while. Pei You didn’t want to sleep there, and she didn't want Huo Yichi to sleep there either.
After some thought, she decided to let Huo Yichi sleep in her room.
Huo Yichi was always quiet once she was in bed, anyway.
Thinking this, Pei You retrieved an extra blanket for Huo Yichi.
She still didn't like sharing blankets.
Huo Yichi had already showered, but Grandma Pei, unusually, hadn’t gone to bed yet, still chatting with Huo Yichi in the living room.
Like they were family.
As it neared midnight, Pei You couldn’t help but say, “Grandma, you haven't stayed up past midnight in a long time.”
"I know, I know," Grandma Pei sighed. "You’re such a worrier.”
Pei You, standing at her bedroom door, didn't deny it.
Her grandmother's sleep schedule was more important than hers.
"Xiao Huo, time for bed," Grandma Pei patted Huo Yichi's shoulder, then looked at Pei You. "You, too. Get some sleep.”
Pei You immediately yawned theatrically. "I’m so sleepy. Goodnight, Grandma.”
She went into her room, leaving the door slightly ajar.
Grandma Pei went to her own room.
A bedside lamp illuminated the living room. Huo Yichi stared at it, her breathing unconsciously shallowing.
She was nervous again.
When was the last time she and Pei You had shared a bed?
Huo Yichi couldn’t remember.
Perhaps it was because the memory was so distant that it amplified the strangeness of the situation, making her feel awkward and unsure.
Should she just lie down as soon as she got into bed? Should she say something? Should she face Pei You or turn away?
Questions swirled in Huo Yichi's mind until the soft click of the closing door brought her back to reality.
She was inside Pei You's bedroom.
After knowing Pei You for so long, pretending to be her girlfriend for so long, this was the first time she'd been in Pei You’s room, the room where Pei You had grown up.
Anime posters adorned the walls, stickers decorated the wardrobe, and stars dotted the curtains.
And so on.
A quick glance revealed much about Pei You.
This was Pei You's space, filled with traces of her life.
And Pei You herself was sitting on the bed, watching something on her iPad with her headphones on.
Seemingly oblivious to Huo Yichi's presence.
Huo Yichi breathed a sigh of relief, walking over to the bed and pulling back the covers.
They were about the same height and build, so Pei You's pajamas fit her perfectly.
The room wasn't completely dark.
Once Huo Yichi was under the covers, Pei You asked, "Is it too hot?"
"What's too hot?" Huo Yichi asked.
"The electric blanket.”
"No, it's fine. Why would it be too hot?”
"Just checking."
Pei You turned back to her iPad, watching a video on Bilibili.
Huo Yichi pursed her lips, lying down on her pillow instead of leaning against the headboard.
From this angle, she saw Pei You's chin first, then her lips, then the tip of her nose.
The bed was warm, so warm that Huo Yichi’s ears felt hot.
They had separate blankets.
But they were sharing the same bed.
Huo Yichi felt a ridiculous sense of giddiness.
After a while, Pei You took off her headphones, put the iPad aside, and turned to look at Huo Yichi, who had closed her eyes, not at all surprised.
This person…
Had passed out again!
Pei You turned off the bedside lamp and lay down.
The room was plunged into darkness.
Huo Yichi's hand gripped the bedsheet.
She wanted to say something, but her throat felt tight, the words caught.
Finally, she managed to whisper, "Happy New Year.”
Her voice was soft, but in the quiet room, Pei You heard her.
"Oh," Pei You paused. "It's 2020 already. Happy New Year.”
Huo Yichi turned over without saying anything else.
Her hands, hidden under the covers, were clasped together.
Pei You was still awake, staring into the darkness.
The silence stretched between them.
"Do you have any New Year’s resolutions?" Pei You asked after a while.
She wasn’t sleepy yet and wanted to chat.
But if Huo Yichi was tired, she wouldn't bother her.
Huo Yichi replied quickly, "No. Do you?”
"I do. I hope everyone will be healthy and happy in the new year.”
Huo Yichi commented, "That's not really a New Year’s resolution; it’s a wish you can have any time.”
"Then… I hope I’ll meet someone I like.”
Huo Yichi's breath hitched.
"Do you want to be in a relationship?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Yes," Pei You said, "and no. I don’t know."
Huo Yichi turned, facing Pei You.
She could hear Pei You’s voice but couldn't see her face.
"What about… the person you said you liked before?”
Pei You’s voice held a hint of surprise. “Didn’t I tell you?”
"Tell me what?”
"She's gone."
"You said that before. So, she's not coming back?"
Pei You exhaled. "She’s in heaven. How is she supposed to come back?”
Huo Yichi froze.
When Pei You had told her about this before, she hadn’t seemed particularly sad. Huo Yichi had assumed the person had moved to another city, not that she had passed away.
"I’m sorry. I thought…”
Pei You sat up, hugging her knees.
"We promised each other that we’d be together if we got into the same college. But she didn’t even make it to the last exam," Pei You’s voice was calm.
But Huo Yichi felt a pang of sadness.
They rarely had heart-to-heart conversations like this.
But tonight felt… right.
Because they were finally on the same page, as friends.
It was more than just a superficial label now.
People needed to confide in someone sometimes; Huo Yichi understood this. She wasn't surprised that Pei You was sharing something personal with her.
Huo Yichi sat up, too, her hands supporting her on either side.
Even though she couldn’t see Pei You in the darkness, she could almost picture her lowered gaze and the downturned corners of her lips.
"It was the first time I liked someone, and she liked me, too. I never imagined… that would be it," Pei You said, trying to keep her voice light.
Huo Yichi didn't know how to comfort her, but she said, “It’s been many years.”
Four years of college, two years since graduation.
Six years in total.
"Yes, it has. I’ve finally moved on. I used to think about her all the time, but not anymore. But I dreamt of her a few days ago. She told me to let her go. I woke up crying.”
“I thought about it for a few days, and I think she was right. I shouldn’t close myself off anymore.”
"Mm-hmm," Huo Yichi said sincerely, "then your wish will definitely come true this year.”
If only the person Pei You liked was her, Huo Yichi thought wistfully.
She’d always known Pei You had someone in her heart, which was why she’d never made a move.
And now, Pei You had expressed her desire to find someone new, right here, right now, less than a meter away from her.
Huo Yichi touched her forehead.
She felt her unrequited love, as vast as the ocean, reduced to a single drop, lost in the immensity of it all.
Pei You, still feeling curious, called out to Huo Yichi. "Xiao Huo.”
"Do I know the person you like?"
Huo Yichi opened her mouth, wanting to say yes, but she was afraid Pei You would guess.
So she asked, “Why do you ask?”
"Just… friend-to-friend curiosity," Pei You said casually.
Huo Yichi lay back down, closing her eyes, thinking about how to describe this person without giving herself away.
Pei You, thinking she’d fallen asleep, also lay down.
After a long silence, Huo Yichi finally replied, “She’s a friend.”
Friend.
Pei You.
Same initial.
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