The Savior’s Intervention

After finishing dessert, the club members who needed to take the metro home said goodbye to us first. Then those who lived in different directions left as well. In the end, only Ling Yan, Xiao Lu, Ai Xi, and I remained.

I felt restless the whole way, afraid that Ling Yan might make another request I dreaded. Just like when she suddenly sat next to me earlier—if not for Ai Xi and Xiao Lu being there, I would have definitely run away.

“Alright, this is where I have to leave you all. Chenzi, make sure to take good care of Xiao Yan and Xiao Xi.”

Xiao Lu stopped at the intersection leading to her home and waved at us. But before leaving, she shot me a glare, as if warning me to behave.

I nodded ingratiatingly. What I did to Ai Xi earlier was indeed a bit too much.

After all, intimate acts like wiping a girl’s mouth are something only couples should do.

But I did it subconsciously at the time. Sigh, to be honest, I would rather have wiped Ling Yan’s mouth.

I secretly glanced at Ling Yan’s lips—thin and delicate like cicada wings, a soft pink, and naturally glossy.

(Don’t look at what shouldn’t be seen!) I quickly averted my eyes and stared straight ahead, afraid I’d get lost in gazing again.

Now that Xiao Lu, who always livened up the atmosphere, was gone, we fell into silence.

(Ai Xi, say something to Ling Yan! Why aren’t you talking either?)

I looked at Ai Xi beside me and frantically signaled her with my eyes, but she seemed not to notice. She just stared blankly ahead, walking mechanically.

(Oh no, could wiping her mouth have traumatized her that much?)

“Xiao Xi, where is your home?”

After we had been silent for a while, Ling Yan spoke first.

But her words made me uneasy. I hoped I was overthinking it. But what if Ling Yan wanted to send Ai Xi away? I really didn’t want to be alone with Ling Yan.

I used to cherish time alone with Ling Yan. It made us feel like a real couple.

I silently prayed for a miracle—that Ai Xi’s home would be right next to Ling Yan’s.

But of course, miracles don’t happen.

“Xiao Xi’s home is over there, Senior Ling Yan. Do you want to come over?”

Ai Xi stretched out her small, fair hand and pointed in the direction completely opposite to Ling Yan’s home.

Come to think of it, the day I met Ai Xi was on the other side of the school.

I felt like I was already on death row. No, I had to think of something. I absolutely could not be alone with Ling Yan.

Then I saw Ling Yan nod slightly. Was she agreeing? Great! That way I could use the excuse that it’s inconvenient for a guy to go to a girl’s home and escape.

I was overjoyed. Suddenly, Ai Xi seemed adorable—I really loved her.

But as the saying goes, the greater the hope, the greater the despair.

“I understand. But today isn’t convenient. Let’s do it another time.”

Ling Yan finished speaking and glanced at me. Ai Xi also nodded without saying anything.

(No, Ai Xi! You should be trying to persuade Ling Yan to come! This is a campus idol visiting your home!)

(So thinking Ai Xi was cute just now was just an illusion.)

And Ling Yan saying it wasn’t convenient must mean she wanted to talk to me. Otherwise, why would she turn down visiting a cute junior’s home? It couldn’t be that she just wanted to walk home with me, could it?

I gritted my teeth, my mind racing. I had never thought this hard, not even during exams.

But all the countless ideas I came up with felt unrealistic. No matter what, once Ai Xi left, Ling Yan could talk to me.

Just as I felt my heart turning to ash and prepared to accept the cruel reality, we passed the spot where I had met Ai Xi before.

An idea flashed in my mind. I remembered the two blonde punks I had driven away.

(Sorry, I feel a bit bad for you guys, but I have to use you. Consider it punishment for your misdeeds.)

“By the way, Junior Ai Xi…”

“What is it? Does Senior want to come to my home too? No guy has ever been to my place.”

Before I could finish, Ai Xi eagerly cut in, looking at me with her bright, big eyes.

(A girl’s home? If it were Ling Yan, I’d be happy. But even if Ling Yan agreed, I wouldn’t dare go now.)

“No, it’s just that you were harassed by those two blonde punks yesterday, right? I was wondering if we might run into them again today.”

I mentioned it casually, trying not to sound deliberate.

“Blonde punks? Is it okay for Senior to call people that? But I guess you’re right. It would be bad if we met them again.”

Ai Xi covered her mouth and giggled adorably, then looked at me with a troubled expression.

(That’s it, that expression is perfect. Now all I need to do is offer to walk her home, and I can perfectly separate from Ling Yan.)

“In that case, Zhou Chen and I will walk Xiao Xi home first.”

Before I could speak, Ling Yan beat me to it. I felt like I had a fishbone stuck in my throat—very uncomfortable.

“Um, Ling Yan, Junior Ai Xi’s home is completely opposite from yours. If we send her back, it’ll be very late by the time you get home. Isn’t that unsafe?”

I scratched my head awkwardly and said to the calm Ling Yan.

“It’s fine. Zhou Chen walks me home every day, doesn’t he?”

Ling Yan tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and spoke softly, looking at me.

I had no mood to appreciate Ling Yan’s charming demeanor now. In the past, I would have been delighted, but now I was only panicked.

How could I refuse Ling Yan? Could I, a grown man, say I was afraid of going home late too? Ling Yan would probably break up with me on the spot.

Wasn’t this exactly why I didn’t want to be alone with her?

What should I do? What should I do?

I felt cold sweat on my back. My whole body seemed to go limp, barely able to stand.

And when Ling Yan saw that I didn’t answer, she tilted her head and looked at me with slight confusion.

Normally, I would think Ling Yan was cute at times like this, but now I only found her terrifying.

“Um, Senior Ling Yan, let Senior walk me home alone.”

Ai Xi’s sweet, soft voice reached my ears like an angelic hymn. I stared blankly at Ai Xi, who winked at me playfully. My nose tingled, and I almost cried.

(Ai Xi must be an angel sent by heaven to save me!)

“No… why?”

Ling Yan turned her gaze to Ai Xi, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

“Because it’s not too late for Senior Ling Yan to go home now. But if you send me home and then go back, it’ll be very late. That would make it even later for Senior to get home. You wouldn’t want your family to worry, right?”

(Amazing! Ai Xi’s excuse is perfect. This way, Ling Yan won’t be upset, and I can walk Ai Xi home alone.)

Sure enough, Ling Yan thought for a moment and nodded.

“Okay. Then Zhou Chen will walk Xiao Xi home alone. Be careful on the road.”