Chen Qianqian's Apology

The bell for morning self-study had not rung yet, but the classroom was already buzzing.

Yang Chen lay sprawled over his desk, half his face buried in the crook of his arm. Only his eyes, ringed with heavy dark circles, were exposed, staring blankly at the corner of the desk.

Sleepy.

So sleepy.

Last night, he had transformed and gotten into a fight, escorted Uncle and Auntie home, and then stood around in the corridor for ages. After he finally got home and lay down, he had tossed and turned until well into the night before falling asleep.

Now, half of his soul was probably still on his pillow.

"Ah Chen."

A voice came from beside his desk.

He lazily lifted one eyelid.

Chen Qianqian stood beside his desk, both hands properly clasped behind her back, her toes rubbing against the floor every now and then.

This posture was highly unusual.

They had known each other for so many years. Whenever Chen Qianqian came looking for him, she either slapped his desk with great gusto or ordered him around as if it were only natural. When had she ever been this... well-behaved?

"What?" Yang Chen warily propped up half his body. "Let me say this first: I haven't finished my math homework either, so I can't lend it to you."

"It's not about the homework."

"Speaking of which, is your math homework really worth copying?"

After using a small joke to ease her mood, Chen Qianqian took a deep breath.

Then she bent at the waist and gave him a solemn bow.

"I'm sorry!"

Heaven knew how guilty she had felt when she saw Yang Chen lying all alone at his desk upon entering the classroom that morning.

At this time of day, he was usually chatting and fooling around with his friends. Why was he acting so strangely today?

The words she had left unsaid yesterday must have hurt Yang Chen... After all, how could Yang Chen not have known what she was about to say?

Her voice was not quiet, and several students in the rows ahead turned around in unison.

Yang Chen was so startled that he nearly slid off his chair. "Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing? Bowing so deeply first thing in the morning—people are going to think I did something to you—"

"About what happened last night." Chen Qianqian straightened up and looked him in the eye without flinching. "I said some really awful things."

Yang Chen froze.

Last night.

"Last night?!"

The students widened their eyes.

The corner of Yang Chen's mouth twitched.

"You people with nothing but dirty thoughts in your heads, don't get the wrong idea! Or I'll fall out with all of you!"

Still, this girl had actually remembered yesterday's incident all night?

He had almost forgotten about it himself.

After sending the classmates who were there to watch the fun away, Yang Chen turned back around.

"All right, all right... You were anxious at the time. I didn't blame you. Besides, I got used to it a long time ago."

"I knew you could tell what I was about to say... But whether you cared or not, I couldn't just not apologize... That wouldn't have been right..."

She twisted her fingers together.

"I'm sorry, Yang Chen. I'm really sorry."

Yang Chen's parents had died in a Fallen Beast attack seven years ago.

No one in the class knew about it, and only a few people throughout the school did.

Chen Qianqian knew.

That was because Yang Chen's father and Chen Zhou had been very close friends. Their two families had once been extremely close.

Until that year, when she was eleven. After receiving a phone call, Chen Zhou hurriedly left home and did not bring Yang Chen back until evening.

At the time, Chen Qianqian had originally wanted to snatch the TV remote before Yang Chen could monopolize the television again. But after running a few steps and looking back, she found Yang Chen standing there blankly like a puppet.

She had wanted to ask what was wrong.

But Su Wan stopped her and led her back to her room.

That night, she secretly peeked through the crack in the door at the living room.

Chen Zhou sat alone, drinking in silence.

Su Wan held Yang Chen in her arms, her eyes filled with heartache.

It was only later that she learned that on that very night, Yang Chen's parents had both died in an accident, and Yang Chen had remained in that state for a long time afterward.

It was probably only about a year ago that Yang Chen finally returned to normal... Though saying "normal" did not seem quite right either.

Was it as if he were using immense joy to conceal immense grief?

That was precisely why Chen Qianqian was so anxious now.

After all, jokes were one thing, but treating something serious as a joke would spell disaster.

"All right, I mean it too. Really, it's fine."

After saying that, Yang Chen sat quietly, a smile in his eyes.

The morning sunlight streamed in through the window, falling across his excessively delicate profile.

For several seconds, his gaze drifted far away, back to that rainy night seven years ago—the shrill alarms, the chaotic crowds, and the arms that had held him tightly against their chest before slowly growing cold.

"We love you."

Those were the last words he had heard from his parents.

Being cut by a dull knife... It hurt so much... So that meant he had to...

"Milk tea."

"...Huh?" Chen Qianqian did not react.

"I said, milk tea." Yang Chen stretched and then slumped back over his desk, his voice returning to its usual carefree tone. "The shop by the school gate. Half tapioca pearls, half coconut jelly. Large size, extra sugar. You treat me for a week, and we'll call it even."

"You..." Chen Qianqian glared at him. "You're not angry?"

"I am." Yang Chen buried his face back in the crook of his arm and spoke in a muffled voice. "Angry enough to ruthlessly bleed you dry for a week."

"That's ridiculously sweet. Are you sure you won't die?"

"Whatever doesn't kill me only makes me stronger."

Hearing Yang Chen say that in such a strange tone, Chen Qianqian finally let go of the unease in her heart.

"Fine... Then I'll see whether your body gets stronger or you start peeing yellow first."

Yang Chen raised his head, his face full of shock.

"You're a girl. How can you talk so vulgarly?"

"When it comes to elegance, who could beat you, Miss Yang~"

For some reason, Yang Chen's appearance had been growing more and more delicate. On top of that, certain "unfilial descendants" had maliciously spread rumors about him, earning him the nickname "Miss Yang." It had spread throughout the entire school at lightning speed, much to Yang Chen's annoyance.

"Well, damn, going straight for the face, are you? Just watch me—"

The bell for morning self-study rang.

Chen Qianqian giggled as she ran back to her seat. Yang Chen shook his fist at her retreating back before slumping over his desk again.

Once the laughter and banter died down, the smile on his face faded bit by bit.

From within the crook of his arm, he quietly glanced at his own hand.

Fair, slender, and delicately jointed.

Compared to ordinary girls, it was almost absurdly beautiful.

And now that his hair had been growing longer and longer, many people would mistake him for a girl if he did not speak—or if the person facing him was not someone familiar.

How much longer could he keep it hidden?