Chapter Thirteen: Dawns and Dusks of Fate

"But you still brought me over there," Yu Chen said, not wanting to argue further.

"But after that, I never brought you along again. They even used it against me," Shen Henyun blinked his puppy eyes.

"How does your being caught out concern me? All I know is I got beaten up badly," Yu Chen replied, refusing to fall for his act.

"How about this, you beat me up too, then we’re even, okay?" Shen Henyun pressed.

Yu Chen was about to refuse, but then he thought for a moment and agreed. "Fine, any way I want to hit you?"

"Yes, yes, anything!" Shen Henyun nodded eagerly.

"Then stand right here, don’t move, and close your eyes."

"Alright, alright." Shen Henyun obediently stood still and closed his eyes.

Seeing him so compliant, Yu Chen smirked mischievously. He walked over to where they had been playing beach volleyball, picked up the ball, and, using half his strength, hurled it at Shen Henyun.

Buzz—

Shen Henyun suddenly felt something trickling from under his nose.

"Hey! Yu Chen! Are you crazy?" Yu Sheng shouted, shocked at seeing Yu Chen throw the volleyball at someone.

Yu Chen hadn’t meant to hit his face, just his shoulder or something. He ran over, and seeing Shen Henyun’s nose bleeding, felt a pang of guilt—until he saw Shen Henyun’s face, which instantly reignited his annoyance.

"So? Feel any better after getting even?" Shen Henyun wiped at his bloody nose carelessly.

"It’s alright. Last time those guys split my lip, so we’re even now."

Yu Sheng and the others hurried over, worried.

"Are you alright? I apologize on behalf of my brother," Yu Sheng said.

"It’s fine, really. Yu Chen and I are friends, we were just playing!"

Playing? Are you sure? Yu Sheng eyed his blood-smeared face skeptically.

"Let’s get you cleaned up," Lin Ning suggested.

Seeing Yu Chen still rooted to the spot, Yu Sheng dragged him along. "Come on, this is your mess."

Yu Chen let himself be hauled over, expressionless.

Once they’d finished cleaning up Shen Henyun, he no longer looked quite so frightening. In fact, with his face clean, he was rather handsome, Lin Ning thought.

"You all go play. I need to talk to him," Yu Chen said, sending the others away. Yu Sheng warned him with mouthed words and gestures not to make any more trouble, or he’d be in for it.

"So, where are your buddies hiding this time? Why are you coming near me again?" Yu Chen asked.

"I came alone this time, really. We just ran into each other," Shen Henyun replied.

Yu Chen turned his face away, clearly unconvinced.

"I mean it. I saw you while I was swimming and just wanted to come over and make friends."

When Yu Chen still said nothing, Shen Henyun added, "After I brought you last time, I really regretted it. I’ve wanted to apologize ever since."

He’d said so much that if Yu Chen kept holding a grudge, he’d just be petty.

"Alright, let’s put it behind us. I did just hit you, after all," Yu Chen said, getting ready to leave.

"So you forgive me? Does that mean we…"

"You’re my senior now," Yu Chen interrupted.

"That’s fine, friendship can grow," Shen Henyun said with a smile.

Who wants to be friends with you! Yu Chen thought.

"Oh, by the way, your butt is really perky," Shen Henyun whispered as he passed.

Wait… what?

Thinking back, Yu Chen realized his butt had bumped into something earlier—not something, someone. "Damn! You pervert!"

Before he could react, Shen Henyun darted away.

"You’ll never be my friend!" Yu Chen shouted after him.

On the way home, Yu Chen couldn’t help but feel aggrieved every time he thought about his butt. What kind of person was that? What kind of freaky hobby?

In contrast, Gu Yan was in high spirits on the way home, being supported by Yu Sheng because of his sprained ankle.

"Wait here, don’t move around," Yu Sheng said after helping Gu Yan inside.

"Alright." Watching her bustle about for him, Gu Yan felt inexplicably happy.

Yu Sheng went upstairs to fetch an ice pack and some herbal spray. As soon as she opened the door again, she saw Gu Yan hopping around. She hurried over to support him, worried he’d hurt himself further—she hadn’t locked his door when she went up.

"I told you not to move!"

"I just wanted to get you a glass of water," Gu Yan replied, sounding aggrieved.

Yu Sheng sighed, took the cup from him, and helped him to the sofa.

"I can do it myself," Gu Yan protested.

"It’s fine, just don’t move," she said, gently propping his foot up.

"Alright," Gu Yan agreed, letting her fuss over him.

His ankle was badly swollen after an afternoon’s strain, which made Yu Sheng feel a little sorry for him.

"If it hurts, let me know," Yu Sheng said as she applied the ice pack.

"It’s fine, it doesn’t hurt," Gu Yan replied cheerfully.

She glanced up at his smiling face. He really doesn’t seem to be in pain, Yu Sheng thought.

"Look, it’s all swollen here."

"Where?" Gu Yan leaned forward.

"Here," Yu Sheng said, looking up. Their eyes met.

For a moment, the air stilled.

Gu Yan opened his mouth to say something, but Yu Sheng quickly turned her face away. In that instant, she felt her heart pounding wildly. She lowered her head before her face could betray her.

What’s wrong with me today? Twice in one day?

Sensing the awkwardness, Yu Sheng quickly finished spraying the medicine and stood up.

"I’ll leave the medicine here. If you feel any pain, spray it. If you need anything, just message me on WeChat."

"Alright."

"Well, I’ll get going then." She hesitated a moment, then turned to leave.

"Okay, goodbye!" Gu Yan called after her.

Does she not like me yet? Why did she turn away so quickly just now? Has my charm faded since my rebirth? Gu Yan wondered.

That night, lying in bed, Gu Yan thought for a long time about his feelings for Yu Sheng. Was it more guilt and responsibility than love? Had he made her falling for him into a goal? If the feelings weren’t pure, that didn’t seem right.

But why had he fallen for her in the first place? Back then, he hadn’t rented a place from her—she was just a classmate. So why had he been drawn to her? Gu Yan couldn’t remember; that memory had faded long ago. All he knew was that ever since, a hollow ache had lingered in his heart, and he’d never dated anyone in college. Only after regaining his memory did he realize that his heart had already belonged to someone, and even without remembering, he’d felt it all along.

So, maybe he should just let things happen naturally.

Yu Sheng, on the other hand, felt she’d been acting very strange lately—strange beyond words. She’d never felt like this before. Whatever she did, Gu Yan’s face was the first thing to pop into her mind. Even her dreams were about him—never used to be like this!

I must be sick, Yu Sheng thought, lying in bed.

Every time she saw Gu Yan’s name on WeChat, she had the urge to message him.

He’s probably asleep. Don’t bother him!

Should she ask if he needed her to pick him up tomorrow?

But it’s just a sprained ankle; he probably doesn’t…

But walking must be hard!

As Yu Sheng wrestled with herself, her phone pinged—it was Gu Yan.

Gu Yan: Good night!

He’d planned to send that and go right to sleep, thinking Yu Sheng was already in bed, but she replied instantly.

Yu Sheng: Do you want me to pick you up tomorrow?

Seeing the message, Gu Yan smiled.

See, that’s how feelings work—you get nothing when you force it, but as soon as you let go, it happens.

Stifling a laugh, Gu Yan sent back a cute "mm-hmm" sticker.

"I’ll leave earlier tomorrow, then."

Gu Yan: Come later, sleep a bit more.

Yu Sheng admitted to herself that his message made her heart soften. Only Gu Yan would indulge her bad habit of sleeping in.

Yu Sheng: I can’t let us both be late! [crying laughing]

Gu Yan: It’s fine, we’ll sneak in through the back door.

Yu Sheng: Hahaha, what if we get caught?

Gu Yan: If we get caught, I’ll just say I forced you to be late with me.

Yu Sheng burst out laughing. Who would believe that?

"Yu Sheng! Go to sleep! Otherwise you’ll never get up in the morning," Wei Yabo called out.

"I’m going, I just sneezed!" Yu Sheng replied.

Yu Sheng: Alright, it’s settled. Good night!

Gu Yan: Mm-hmm! Good night!

Seeing that Yu Sheng had gone to bed, Gu Yan put down his phone and drifted off to sleep.

But soon after, his phone lit up with a couple more WeChat notifications—but Gu Yan didn’t see them.

The next morning, Yu Sheng, surprisingly, got up without lazing in bed. As Yu Chen was brushing his teeth, he saw her come out rubbing her eyes and was so astonished he dropped his toothbrush.

"What are you doing?" Yu Chen asked.

"Getting up early, why?"

"It’s only six!"

"Isn’t six a normal time to get up?"

"It is for me, not for you!"

Yu Sheng yawned and pushed him out of the bathroom. "Get out, I need to use the bathroom."

After being pushed out, Yu Chen wondered if he’d just imagined it all.

"What’s going on with you? You’re making me nervous—did I forget something important?" he asked as Yu Sheng came out.

He had a reason for asking; in his memory, Yu Sheng had only ever gotten up early once, after hearing the story of Santa Claus as a child. She’d put a stocking by her pillow and gotten up at dawn to see if there was a gift inside. Of course, their father was working late as usual, and their mother was out on a business trip—no one to play Santa. Yu Chen had been woken by Yu Sheng’s crying.

"Isn’t Gu Yan’s ankle sprained? Of course I’m picking him up," Yu Sheng replied.

Once he heard it was because of Gu Yan, Yu Chen wasn’t surprised.

"That explains it."

"What do you mean, that explains it? He hurt his ankle playing with me; taking care of him is only right," Yu Sheng insisted.

"Yeah, yeah, of course," Yu Chen said perfunctorily.

"It’s true! None of you are helping—yesterday I was the only one looking after him."

"Fine, just tell him I’m sorry I can’t help, so you’ll do it for me," Yu Chen said, giving her an out.

"You had him look after me last time, now you want me to look after him—why don’t you do it yourself?"

"I told him to look after you?"