Chapter 40: All Coming Together
"I knew that, here you go." Hua Zhao moved over from the door and opened it for her, allowing her to pass through.
Chan Lee began her descent down the staircase, the young man following behind her. It made sense that he would also leave right after her—but he didn't need to be so close. She could feel him just behind her, his steps matching her own. She hurried down the steps, clasping the railing tightly to maintain her footing.
Hua Zhao thankfully said nothing about her speeding up.
Instead he simply let her be.
She was thankful for that, and didn't dare wipe her eyes or her nose. She didn't want to give him another sight… why did she even cry over his stupid words. But at least she finished her task for today. What time was it? Could she still meet up with Mei and the others?
Chan Lee reached for her phone inside her bag, ignoring the notification—it was nearly nine am, she had to skip the cafeteria then, it was urgent that she arrived in class on time. Speaking of which, she slipped the phone back in its place. "We're going to be late."
"Oh, not a new thing for me." Hua Zhao answered her.
It was easy to imagine a shrug coming from him. Why did she even bother with it? "Well, not me. Excuse me, I'll be going ahead." She thundered down the steps, faster than she already was going. Only her steel vice-like grip on the railing kept her on her feet.
She was moving away, farther away from him and back into her senses.
"—You might fall if you keep hurrying up like that." A small thud landed in front of her, the young man blocking her path. His dark eyes pored over her, a slightly blank expression on his face. Or was his eye twitching slightly in annoyance? His lips were a thin line. "I know you're avoiding me like usual, but it's no reason to trip yourself over, Chan Lee."
Chan Lee.
He had quit calling her by simply, Lee. It was a little thing that she'd taken note of. She moved past him, shoulders knocking past each other. "Don't get too full of yourself, Hua Zhao. I just don't want to be late."
"Well, if that's truly the case—you wouldn't mind a little help from me right?"
"I don't want to be carried or something—" She frowned and hurried past the steps. Carried? Where did she even get that idea from? The memory of her on his back flitted back to her mind, once upon a time when he had saved her.
He had saved her life, and he didn't seem to be afraid to do it again. She had buried that memory away.
A small laugh erupted from the man. "Huh, you easily guessed what I was about to suggest."
How could he so easily move past their tense moments at the rooftop? "No thanks, I'd prefer to be late." She answered with a frown.
"Heh, that's the spirit, Chan Lee! Loosen up a little." He chuckled and walked beside her, no longer trailing after her. "I...do we have homework? Well, it doesn't matter if we do."
His remarks, his words. They managed to pull at her strings in another way. "You're too relaxed." She grumbled and kept her pace.
She couldn't believe that once upon a time, she wanted to be someone like him. What a childish thought.
. . .
Ning Bi paced back and forth like some silly pendulum. It took all his urge to not laugh at the sight of her face, it wouldn't be no good if she hit him or something. Bo Ling simply sipped his carton of chocolate milk as they waited for Hua Zhao to return.
Their other friends had gone to their respective classes, but the two of them simply waited outside of their classroom.
"What did she want with him?" Ning Bi asked with a frustrated tone.
"What do people not want with Hua Zhao?" Bo Ling remarked with a chuckle. He cleared his throat for a moment. "Oh, he's such a dreamboat~"
She glared at him. "Besides the usual girls flocking around him, I mean. Doesn't he tell you anything?"
"Nobody tells me anything!" He pouted and continued sipping his drink. "I mean, like—how he could do it to his own best friend? Quite unfair right?"
"I'm his best friend, not you."
"Keep telling yourself that, Ning Bi. I'm his favorite—you're just like his adoptive sister or something." Bo Ling corrected the girl with a grin.
"Don't remind me." She grouched at him, leaning back against the wall. She slid over to the floor, hugging her knees together.
The girl was sulked too easily whenever it came to their friend, it was like the two were attached to the hip. And those were big words coming from him. "Hey, don't be so glum. He'd probably think I was fighting you or something. He worries about you too much, you know?"
"If he actually did, he'd stop talking with that girl."
Bo Ling ran his fingers through his hair, man this girl acted like a jealous girlfriend. He would have to pity the person who she actually dated—he had been betting Hua Zhao to do humanity a favor and be the one, but he'd be showing signs of interest over Chan Lee. He'd be a bad friend if he couldn't support his friend's decisions though.
"Come on, Ning Bi, he has your interests at heart too. I mean, didn't he make you quit working because he didn't want you to be burdened or something?" He added helpfully. Same goes with Ning Bi though, she was also a friend of his.
"...well, yes." She responded while she had her head down. "But you see… you just won't get it, Bo Ling."
Girls, they treated men like him as if they were an idiot. They really just needed to be honest. "Okay, okay. I get it… that I won't get it. You should drop by once in a while at the shop though, big sister misses you."
"—Ah, I'm stuffed!" A cheerful voice sounded from the hallway.
"Stuffed like a pig." A snarky reply came right after. A giggle erupted after that while the former voiced their protest.
Bo Ling's attention shifted to the incoming group, he had many names for them… but one was the Environmental Science club. They were a nice group? They had been classmates for over a year so he at least knew them by name and even reputation.
"Where's your friend?" Ning Bi strode over towards the four group of friends to his dismay. The group's mirthful atmosphere turned ice cold after that.
He should have expected that, biting back a grimace he walked after them and waved a hand. "Hey! What's up ladies and gentlemen!" He grinned and saw the eye roll from Suyin's face, her friend Mei stifling a giggle while the two men simply stared at him."Bo Ling has arrived, sorry to keep you guys waiting."
Ning Bi's resolve however was unperturbed as she kept her gaze on the group, from the tallest Xiaobo to the small but cute Mei. Man, he hoped that this didn't ruin their reputation that much—Ning Bi was too uncaring of those things.
"Um, our friend? You mean, Chan Lee?" Mei managed a small smile, still trying to salvage the frosty atmosphere.
Ning Bi for the record simply nodded her head, "Yes, her." The fire in her voice was still there but also she managed to modulate her scary expression.
Suyin shrugged, "We're not sure, Ning. She said she had something to do. Does the news travel fast?" As usual, the lady arched a brow at his friend. Perhaps one of the few people who wouldn't bat an eye at Ning Bi's personality.
But wait… news?
"She had talked to Hua Zhao, and the two of them haven't returned yet." Ning Bi crossed her arms over her chest. "I see that she has been keeping secrets from you guys as well."
Bo Ling tried not to wince, his friend had a knack for adding fuel to the fire. It was up to him to pour water over it now and do fire-control. "Hey, we're just kind of looking for Hua Zhao and was hoping you guys had any idea. I guess she hadn't mentioned that she was meeting up with him." Ah, the things he'd do for friends, he needed some more love.
"We're not the daily source of information, you know?" Gen spoke up with a snicker. "It's not like we keep tabs on everyone. Plus, whatever the two may be doing… shouldn't it be none of our business?"
And now well, things weren't looking so grand for them. He waited for Ning Bi to erupt and try tackling the guy—she had done that before… but she didn't. Which was a good thing since he didn't like how he'd fair against Xiaobo of all people. There was a reason why the guy was one of Liu Guiren's lackeys after all. Same goes with Gen, though he had no idea what the charming points were with that guy.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
RachelRuth
RachelRuth ヾ(＾∇＾) Ladies and Gentleman, I present this chapter. We have almost everyone featured in this chapter so it must have been a ride.
Was it not dizzying? We had a look into one of the person's inner thoughts, Bo Ling this time! Though I think it also showcased Ning Bi's personality as well.
As the title of this chapter has said, it's all coming together! The plot! The characters! Woozah! And maybe the romance!
If you're liking this book, drop a stone or comment~ Or even a review?
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