Chapter 22: Actually, It Does Help

During the class break, Cao Aiqing rested her chin on her hand, her face slightly tilted as she watched He Tianran, who was fast asleep.

"He actually has a faint tear mole under his right eye..."

The ballpoint pen in the girl's hand wandered aimlessly across the blank notebook. The boy’s lips twitched, as if he were whispering something in his sleep. Cao Aiqing’s hand paused, and she subconsciously leaned in closer. But a moment later, as if she had overheard something she shouldn't have, she jolted back into an upright position.

Footsteps sounded from behind, followed by a girl’s voice.

"He Tianran."

Wen Liang walked over to He Tianran with her hands in her pockets. She glanced curiously at Cao Aiqing’s closed notebook, then cast an inquisitive look her way.

"He was already asleep when he got here," Cao Aiqing said calmly.

"Sleeping while sitting in the aisle? Doesn't that make it hard for you to get out?" Wen Liang smiled. Because Cao Aiqing’s seat was by the window and against the wall, she would have to ask He Tianran to move to get out, which prompted her remark.

Cao Aiqing shook her head to signal she didn't mind.

"Next time you run into this, just wake him up like this..."

As she spoke, Wen Liang raised her right hand and slapped He Tianran on the back with a sharp "thwack." The boy, who had been in a deep slumber, bolted upright instantly. In half a second, his sleepiness vanished, and he sat there with a calm expression.

"What's wrong?"

Even though he tried his best to keep his voice low, a trace of fatigue still lingered in his tone.

"..."

Both girls were witnessing for the first time how He Tianran woke up without any emotional display, appearing instead even more composed, as if he had been awake the whole time. They were both momentarily intrigued.

"Were you awake?" Cao Aiqing asked.

"No. I’m always like this when someone wakes me up. It’s just a habit..." He Tianran explained. Some people are grumpy when woken, while others are impossible to rouse; his own reaction, he figured, was probably normal... mostly.

"Come on, go buy a drink with me. I have something to tell you."

Wen Liang said this casually. He Tianran cracked his stiff neck, stood up, and the two walked out of the classroom.

...

In a secluded corner of the campus, He Tianran popped the tab on his soda can and took a refreshing gulp.

"You finally got to sit next to your goddess, and you spend the time sleeping?"

Wen Liang was sipping banana milk from a carton through a straw.

"I was just so tired. I don't know how I ended up dead to the world. When you woke me up, I didn't drool, did I?"

"You did. The whole desk was covered in it."

Wen Liang said this tartly. Seeing the look of genuine nervousness on He Tianran’s face, she felt bad about continuing the lie and asked instead: "So... what were you doing last night? You seem very calm today..."

"Hmm? Is something wrong?" He Tianran asked, sounding puzzled, before answering truthfully: "I just spent the whole night practicing the guitar after I got home. I promised Boss Pu I’d put out a new video in the next two weeks, so I’ve been busy picking a song."

Hearing this, Wen Liang’s expression softened.

"Did you settle on a track?"

"'Lovin' You'."

"Me too."

Good heavens. He Tianran didn't react at first, but when it finally clicked, his face flushed red. That reply was more refreshing than an ice-cold soda. In the narrow passage between the buildings, Wen Liang bit down on her straw, watching the flustered He Tianran with a look of amusement.

"Cough... nice comeback... I’ve learned something new... really learned something today."

He Tianran tried to play it off unnaturally, not daring to meet her eyes. Because he had been so excited last night, he had played this Kotaro Oshio version of "Lovin' You" at least thirty times.

"Nah, I'm just kidding. You chose a great song. Is the guitar working out well?" Wen Liang laughed, deciding not to tease him further.

"It works better than great. I suppose you get what you pay for."

"That's good. Oh, by the way, let’s perform together at the school’s orientation gala. I’ll sing, and you accompany me."

Wen Liang proposed suddenly. Seeing He Tianran’s confused expression, she repeated what Chen Mei had said earlier that day. To her surprise, the boy waved his hands frantically.

"I can't! I don't even dare show my face in my videos. If you make me get on stage, I’ll definitely mess it up. I’ll die!"

The girl frowned. "Are you going to listen to me or not?"

Remembering his ten-thousand-yuan debt, He Tianran sighed helplessly. "...I'll listen."

"Good."

Wen Liang released the straw and said earnestly, "Then from now on, replace thoughts or phrases like 'I'll die' or 'I can't' with 'I can'! Tianran, I know you'll be nervous to get on stage now, but that’s the focus of our transformation this month. Learning to act, speak, and express yourself freely in front of a crowd—isn't this orientation gala a perfect opportunity?"

She finished her sentence in one breath. He Tianran instinctively wanted to retreat, but he still managed to say: "I... I can't..."

"Hmm?"

With just a hum, Wen Liang scared off the "t" in his "can't."

"I... can... I guess..."

"Get rid of the 'I guess'!"

"I... can..."

He Tianran managed to squeeze out a definitive sentence. Though his voice lacked conviction, it made Wen Liang smile with satisfaction.

"That’s it. If you were still the same old you, I’d start doubting whether my efforts to change you were having any effect at all."

"Actually, it has been helping a little..." He Tianran scratched his burning cheek.

"Oh, don't try to comfort me. It's only been a few days; we have a long way to go. If you can overcome your shyness in front of crowds this time, it’ll be a real breakthrough."

Wen Liang thought he was just trying to be sweet; realizing he had at least learned to be considerate, she felt a warmth in her heart.

"I'm not lying to you!"

He Tianran felt a bit defiant, the competitive spirit he usually reserved for video games flaring up.

Wen Liang looked at his childish, petulant expression and asked with a smile, "Then tell me, what progress have you made?"

"I got Cao Aiqing’s WeChat yesterday! And she gave it to me voluntarily!"

He looked quite pleased with himself.

"...How did she give it to you?"

"Well, you weren't at study hall last night, and the power went out at eight-thirty..."

He Tianran recounted his script from the night before, carefully omitting Xue Yong’s help to make it seem more like a coincidence.

"Anyway, if it weren't for your help over the last few days, I never would have dared to take that step."

He concluded his story with this summary.

"..."

Just then, the class bell rang. Wen Liang remained silent, offering no response or critique. She turned, tossed her empty milk carton, and hurried away. He Tianran picked up the crushed carton and the mangled straw she had left behind, feeling at a loss.

He tossed the carton and his soda can into the trash bin and hurried to follow her. Not a word was spoken on the way back, and Wen Liang kept her head down as she walked into the classroom first.