Bai Zilu slept soundly in Ji Tang's arms and woke a bit late. Ji Tang, who rose early, did not have the heart to disturb Bai Zilu, so she sat up, kept one arm around Bai Zilu, and read on the bed.
When Gu Qianran woke, this was exactly the beautiful scene she saw. She rubbed her eyes, still not quite awake. Why were these two sharing a bed and pillow? Was there really something between them?
Ji Tang caught Gu Qianran's expression and felt a little helpless. That was exactly the look Ji Tang herself had given Gu Qianran when Ji Tang first learned about Bai Ziyuan.
Ji Tang explained, "It thundered last night. Bai Zilu was scared and insisted I sleep with her." She had explained it clearly enough, so why was Gu Qianran giving her that moral-saint-under-the-willow gaze?
Gu Qianran did not tease Ji Tang further. Gu Qianran knew Bai Zilu feared thunder because of an unpleasant episode from childhood.
Gu Qianran shook Bai Ziyuan awake, then watched as Bai Ziyuan repeated Gu Qianran's every move, down to the same puzzled little look. Only, Bai Ziyuan's confusion looked adorably dazed, while Gu Qianran's was pure subway, old man, cellphone.
Ji Tang thought, you two really do have tacit understanding.
She had to explain everything a second time. Bai Ziyuan nodded solemnly. Bai Ziyuan also knew her silly older sister feared thunder and would always find someone to sleep beside during stormy nights.
"I understand." With Bai Ziyuan's pure mind, she did not look at Ji Tang with any saintly suspicion.
Ji Tang exhaled in relief. Understanding was good. Then again, what was there to be afraid of being misunderstood for? Strange.
Truth be told, sleeping while being hugged by Bai Zilu was surprisingly comfortable.
Just then, the person who was comfortable to hug finally woke up. As Bai Zilu's consciousness returned, so did the memory of last night's embarrassing declaration. Worse still, she was currently being held in an ambiguously intimate way by her crush.
Bai Zilu thought, so awkward, "I do not want to get up, what do I do."
Sensing that Bai Zilu was awake, Ji Tang did not hesitate and lifted Bai Zilu right off the bed. Bai Zilu fought with all her might, but in the end she was dragged out of her cozy nest.
She bit her little blanket, eyes misty, as wronged as a bunny bullied by a heartless scoundrel. "Wah. Ji Tang, you are heartless. We shared a bed last night, and now morning comes and you deny me. Ha. Woman."
Heartless scoundrel Ji Tang kept dragging her toward the bathroom. "Go wash up. You will be late for morning reading. Getting out of bed does not require this much drama."
Ji Tang smoothly took out Bai Zilu's toothbrush, squeezed toothpaste, and popped it into Bai Zilu's mouth. "Brush."
Bai Zilu obeyed and brushed while muttering around the foam. The two of them stood before the mirror brushing in sync, oddly harmonious.
Bai Ziyuan thought, "how are you two so practiced at this."
Not to be outdone, Bai Ziyuan looked toward Gu Qianran. Gu Qianran chuckled softly, patted Bai Ziyuan's head with indulgence, and squeezed toothpaste for Bai Ziyuan as well.
The four dressed neatly and headed to the classroom building. Staring at Ji Tang's back, Bai Zilu suddenly wondered why she had fallen for someone like this. But feelings stand opposite reason. Sometimes the flutter in one's chest is born in a second, and that heartbeat marks the start of a story.
Bai Zilu was also curious about Ji Tang's orientation but could not ask directly, so she used a very practical skill. She created a friend out of thin air.
Her fingers flew over the keyboard, and when the screen showed that the move had been launched successfully, Gu Qianran behind them naturally took Bai Ziyuan's hand. Seeing Gu Qianran's profile, Bai Ziyuan firmed up her resolve to switch strategy targets.
Such a beautiful, gentle, and formidable Gu Qianran could only be hers. No one else could have her.
Ji Tang stared at her phone, baffled by three very similar messages from three different people.
The domineering silly one: "I have a friend who has a crush on a girl. That girl is cool and reserved, but her temperament is gentle. How should my friend chase her? Also, what do you think about it?"
The little group favorite: "I have been hinting to Ran Ran for two months, so why is she still completely clueless? Class monitor, I am dumping my sister and coming to you for a strategy guide."
The all-powerful big boss Gu: "Ji Tang, lately I keep feeling something strange toward a certain girl. I want to spoil her, and I have the impulse to take out all her enemies. What is going on with me?"
Ji Tang thought, "you are all not right."
She was nothing but a reliable single dog, not some love master. Why did each of them come to her for romance advice? Bai Zilu, Ji Tang suspected you of inventing a friend and sneaking your troops through a secret passage. As for Bai Ziyuan and Gu Qianran, were those questions not just blatant dog food?
Unlucky Ji Tang ranted internally, but her hands still obediently replied to all three.
Bai Zilu was thrilled when she read the replies. Ji Tang could accept same-sex love. Then did Bai Zilu have a chance?
Thinking of last night's closeness, Bai Zilu's heart surged like a tidal wave and her face flushed crimson. She immediately pulled out her phone to tell her younger sister the news, announcing that they were both people with secret crushes now and proposing a ceasefire.
Bai Ziyuan received Ji Tang's earnest advice. Do not bother with strategy guides, just A forward. Seduce with beauty and conquer with character.
Bai Ziyuan rejected this on the grounds that minors should not walk the edge of illegality.
Then she saw the message from her older sister saying she liked Ji Tang and, based on that, requesting a truce.
Bai Ziyuan's eyes went wide. "So you and Ji Tang sharing a bed was premeditated. I have not even slept with Gu Qianran, yet you two are already that intimate. Too sly."
Bai Ziyuan began to ponder what excuse could persuade Gu Qianran to sleep with her.
Gu Qianran frowned slightly at Ji Tang's replies. Having favorable feelings was obvious, but where was the boundary of those feelings. What exactly did she feel toward the little one. Had it really reached the height called like.
"It felt like an old cow eating tender grass." Gu Qianran grumbled inwardly. Perhaps it was only protective instinct toward a cute child. That was how Gu Qianran tried to convince herself.
At last, Bai Ziyuan thought of a good idea. She tugged secretly at Gu Qianran's sleeve and pleaded in a small voice, "Ran Ran…"
Gu Qianran felt that rush of protective instinct again and asked at once, "What is the matter?"
"That… I am afraid of lightning. If it is all right, could we sleep together tonight…" Before she could finish, her ears had already turned red.
Gu Qianran studied those flushed ears with interest and mischievously breathed a warm puff against them. "All right. We will sleep together tonight."
"Wah." Bai Ziyuan startled like a little fawn, buried her red ears in the hollow of Gu Qianran's neck, and would not lift her head. Gu Qianran patted her back slowly, smoothing down her ruffled fur, and managed to coax her calm again.
Looking at Bai Ziyuan's still rosy face, Gu Qianran suddenly felt her throat go dry. She swallowed and quickly turned her face away.
A quiet answer had begun to form in her heart, but she refused to touch it lightly. Was this not good enough for now. She still had a plot to run. She lectured herself again and again, though only she knew the effect.
At noon, since the cafeteria was under investigation, students could go out to eat for once. Rumor had it the cafeteria was being investigated because someone found calcium oxide in a skewer of grilled gluten. The student immediately read its name out loud. "Grass."
That day, the cafeteria that prided itself on value for money fed students genuine lime.
A fine rain drifted from the sky, drumming little ripples across puddles. After lunch, Bai Zilu and Ji Tang headed back first. Gu Qianran and Bai Ziyuan went to buy milk tea hand in hand. Carrying their drinks, they strolled through the light rain. Looking at the small silhouette of Bai Ziyuan, Gu Qianran suddenly thought that spending a lifetime like this might be very happy.
The rain that began at noon continued all the way to bedtime.
It rained through the evening as well, with thunder but no lightning. Bai Ziyuan was quite disappointed. She had no pretext to make Gu Qianran sleep with her.
Bai Zilu, crafty as ever, told Ji Tang, "This season has a lot of thunder, so I will have to trouble you these next few days." Her languid tail note carried a hint of flirtation.
Ji Tang was, for once, a little flustered. "It is fine. You are comfortable to hold." Bai Zilu saw her faint blush, smiled, and turned off the lamp.
Bai Ziyuan looked at Gu Qianran with obvious displeasure shining in her eyes. Amused, Gu Qianran went to Bai Ziyuan's bed and lay down, very naturally wrapping her arms around Bai Ziyuan.
Just as Bai Ziyuan was secretly rejoicing, Gu Qianran leaned to her ear and whispered, "Be good, little cutie. Next time, if you want me to stay, you do not need an excuse."
Bai Ziyuan's face flared bright red and she curled herself into the tiniest ball.
Gu Qianran's eyes shone in the dark. She no longer wanted to lecture herself. Since in this life she was living freely, then to spare a bit of heart to like Bai Ziyuan should be allowed.