Refusing Her Hand

I hadn’t even finished speaking when I felt Ai Xi’s resentful stare.

“Senior is the worst!”

Ai Xi’s complaint came with a hint of tears, leaving me both amused and helpless.

“I wasn’t finished,” I said. “Junior Ai Xi may not be able to join the swim team, but she can be a club manager, just like me.”

Teacher Xia chimed in, “That’s true. For major clubs, if you write a proper application and the school finds it reasonable, it can be arranged.”

“Huh? How come we didn’t know that?” Xiao Lu and Ling Yan exchanged bewildered looks, while Ai Xi, who had been downcast, now blinked her bright eyes at Teacher Xia.

“Because the application has to be written by the faculty advisor,” Teacher Xia sighed, turning her head away. “It’s a hassle, so I didn’t want to mention it.”

“Teacher Xia, please, let Ai Xi join the swim club!” Ai Xi threw her arms around Teacher Xia, nuzzling into her chest and sweetly begging.

“Alright, since you’re asking so earnestly, I suppose I have no choice.” Teacher Xia gently stroked Ai Xi’s head, her tone full of affection.

“Great! Teacher Xia, Ai Xi loves you the most!”

“Haha, then I’ll call you Ai Xi from now on too.”

“Mm!”

I nodded contentedly at the heartwarming scene, but then Xiao Lu’s icy glare and Ling Yan’s expressionless stare sent a chill down my spine.

“Isn’t it wonderful that Ai Xi is officially a member of the swim team now?” Xiao Lu shot me a cold glance before speaking sweetly to Ai Xi, and Ling Yan nodded beside her.

“Yeah, now I can swim with my Seniors. That’s really great.” Ai Xi pulled away from Teacher Xia, hands clasped behind her back, smiling adorably at Xiao Lu and Ling Yan.

“Alright, since everything’s settled, let’s go. Teacher Xia, here’s the key.” I handed the key from my pocket to Teacher Xia and stepped out of the office first. Xiao Lu and Ling Yan’s gazes still left me uneasy.

But Ai Xi didn’t follow Xiao Lu and the others. Instead, she coyly stuck to my side.

“What’s up? Not going with Xiao Lu and them?”

“Mm. Thanks again for your help this time, Senior. I’m really grateful.” Ai Xi held her bag with both hands, her small steps light, and her bright eyes fixed on me.

“It’s nothing. With you here, things will be easier for me too, right?” I rubbed my head and gently turned her little head forward.

Somehow, having Ai Xi stare at me like that made me feel shy.

“Is Senior embarrassed?” Ai Xi didn’t push my hand away; instead, she glanced at me from the corner of her eye and chuckled behind her hand.

(She really looks like a little sister,) I thought suddenly.

“Not at all.”

“Oh, if Senior is shy, there’s no need to hide it. Ai Xi doesn’t mind.”

“I said I’m not.” I pressed down on her head a little harder to vent my annoyance.

“Ow! That hurts!”

Ai Xi’s exclamation made me quickly let go and look at her with concern, but she seemed fine.

“Ai Xi was just kidding, Senior.” She stuck out her tongue playfully and grinned at me.

“You little…” I shook my head in resignation, not daring to try anything else.

“Hehe.” Seeing my helpless reaction, Ai Xi chuckled and walked quietly beside me.

“Why are you leaving so fast?” Xiao Lu’s voice came from behind. I stopped, turned around, and saw Xiao Lu and Ling Yan hurrying over.

“Nothing. I just thought you might have more to talk about, so I stepped out first.”

“Is that so?” Xiao Lu glanced suspiciously between me and Ai Xi.

“What else could it be?” I found her behavior amusing—she had been acting strange ever since Ai Xi arrived.

“Fine.” Xiao Lu squeezed between us, shielding Ai Xi to one side, while Ling Yan moved to my side, creating a gap of two people between me and Ai Xi.

“Come on, is that really necessary?”

“Of course it is.” Xiao Lu looked at me warily over Ling Yan, and Ling Yan gave me a blank stare.

(Do they really trust me that little? It stings my pride.)

But whatever. At least I have a clear conscience. Later, we walked to the school gate, where the other club members gathered and asked about the situation. When they learned Ai Xi could join, they excitedly lifted her up.

“To celebrate cute little Ai Xi joining the swim team, let’s all go get something to eat today!”

“I’m in.”

“Me too.”

“…”

The members chattered excitedly as they headed toward the dessert shop by the station.

I walked at the back with Ling Yan, quietly watching the lively crowd ahead. Ling Yan didn’t like such commotion, while I enjoyed the peaceful time with her.

“Hey, Zhou Chen… aren’t we going to hold hands?” Ling Yan’s cool, clear voice snapped me out of my reverie.

(Wait, what? Did Ling Yan say that? She would say something like that? Impossible.)

I stared blankly at Ling Yan, who tilted her head slightly in confusion.

“Did… did you say that?” I asked incredulously. (It must have been an auditory hallucination. Yes, definitely.)

“Mm.”

But her soft confirmation made it real. Ling Yan had indeed taken the initiative to ask for my hand.

(Why? She clearly doesn’t like me at all.)

I didn’t dare think about it. So I refused.

“No. No.” My trembling lips let out a hoarse voice that didn’t sound like my own.

“Huh?” Ling Yan’s gaze shifted to me—was it confusion or bewilderment?

I turned away, forcing a stiff smile. “I don’t want to hold hands today, Ling Yan.”

After saying that, ignoring her frozen stare, I pushed a forced smile onto my face and wedged myself into the group surrounding Ai Xi.

“Chenzi, not sticking with your Little Yan?”

“Nah, I want to congratulate Junior Ai Xi too.”

“Alright then. To show your sincerity, you’re treating Ai Xi today.”

“Isn’t that a bit unfair for Senior?”

“Then don’t look so cheerful about it!”

I shouted in mock outrage, unsure whether I was playing along with the laughter or trying to vent the frustration in my heart.