Chapter 39: Don't Take It Seriously

“No.” Qi Yu turned away—distracted on phone.
Tang Xuejun choked on that.
Weird—this blockhead Qi Yu never got it.
At their age peers had dated two or three times—at least better than forever single.
Tang would not give up—asked again. “I mean… all these years—nobody chased you?”
“You didn’t like any of them?”
Qi Yu brow knit—message came—did not read first—gave Tang an unreadable look.
Tang paused—got it. “Of course not guys—I mean girls.”
“You… never had a crush on any girl?”
“…Besides Jiang Ya.”
Qi Yu opened message—Jiang Ya—slightly surprised—adjusted posture so Tang could not see screen.
Jiang Ya: *Forgot to ask you just now*
Jiang Ya: *May Day holiday—are you free?*
Qi Yu: *Free—what’s up?*
Tang: “So is there or not?”
Qi Yu looked up—light inhale—exhale—told her seriously. “No.”
“……Then no girl ever showed interest? Impossible.” Tang looked Qi Yu up and down.
Should not be.
Qi Yu not bad-looking—actually pretty. Honestly the face Tang wished she had.
Tang’s face—bare too plain, makeup too gaudy—flirty type men liked—attracted plenty of confident guys—tired of saying “I like girls.”
Qi Yu different—not eye-catching pretty—might not notice first in a crowd—but bone structure good, deep and three-dimensional, features heroic and generous—even bare face holds up.
……
Maybe personality—Qi Yu’s bones scattered faint coldness, melancholy aura. Few men liked untouchable type—might attract women more.
Yet Qi Yu still on phone—cut Tang off firm. “No. Stop asking.”
“What?” Tang did not believe her eye wrong—Qi Yu’s type hot in the lesbian circle.
But thinking—suddenly understood.
Looking at her—cold face silent—as if bad mood—who pissed her off.
Fierce—even if someone was there, scared off.
Second… stone with zero romance cells—probably barely met anyone.
“Forget—not important.” Tang persisted—persuaded. “Your circle’s too small—meet more people.”
Qi Yu did not lift eyelids. “No pointless socializing.”
Tang: “I mean meet more lesbians—take first step—rest follows.”
“Nanliu’s small county—but app shows plenty same city.”
“Not necessarily for dating—same-frequency friends good—everyone likes girls—more to talk about.”
“Of course fate hits—maybe you meet someone you like?”
Tang chattered at Qi Yu’s ear—few lines entered.
She watched Jiang Ya’s messages—somewhat absent.
Jiang Ya: *How about we watch a movie together?*
Jiang Ya: *A suspense film opening soon—synopsis looks good*
Jiang Ya: *Or anything you want to see?*
Just the two of them?
Qi Yu lowered lashes—eyes dim—face calm—inner war.
Symbolic hesitation a moment—agreed in the end.
Just sent—Tang suddenly leaned close—voice exploded at ear. “Who’re you chatting with—so serious.”
Qi Yu dodged almost instantly—frowned. “What?”
“Said I don’t want dating or meeting people… you go online date—I support you.”
Tang saw dodge—sat back—suspicious squint. “Who’re you watching a movie with?”
Qi Yu: “Friend.”
Tang: “Which one—I know them?”
“…Why ask?” Qi Yu looked away—did not want to continue.
Tang serious. “If I know them we could all go—haven’t watched a movie together in ages.”
Qi Yu: “……”
Stared at Tang—innocent eyes—felt like deliberate fishing.
Fine—fish away—nothing unspeakable.
Could not beat her—put phone down. “Jiang Ya.”
“She asked if I want to see a movie over May Day—you can come too if you want.”
Tang surprised—not very shocked.
Raised brow—back to social app. “Then forget it—I’m not close with her.”
“But…” After a while looked at Qi Yu again—staring at phone zoning—said. “I’ll tell you—shouldn’t bring it up but…”
Qi Yu looked up—puzzled glance. “But what—just say it.”
“But…” Met her eyes—hesitated—tongue click. “Ah—I don’t know how to say.”
“Anyway I know you’re friends now—nothing else… but don’t think she’s different just because she’s being proactive sometimes.”
“Before when I said she might like you—that was random guessing.”
“I liked a straight girl too. Many straight girls are like this.”
“They value friends heavily—even possessive with friends… easy to misread—but for them it means nothing special.”
“They might think women are great—better than men—but in the end even the best woman is only ever a friend.”
Tang recalled her experience—indignant.
Finished—no response.
Air froze—side glance at Qi Yu staring silent—blank—blinked—flustered explaining. “I… no other meaning—not trying to sow discord…”
“Forget forget—won’t say—gets complicated.” Probably words too many—Tang shut up. Saw Liyun still busy—called her rest—few customers anyway.
Qi Yu silently watched her talk to Liyun—silently looked away.
Reopened phone—chat with Jiang Ya lit again.
Eyes stopped on Jiang Ya’s last message—heavy gaze.
A while—pressed lips—deep breath—switched the screen away.
……
Before holiday—traffic and delivery up—Qi Yu and Tang agreed hire two more—four full-time rotating shifts. May Day they barely needed to help—occasional check-ins.
Day one holiday—Tang’s net date failed—asked her and Qi Xuan to movie—Qi Yu refused—planned home writing.
Recently got signing notice—signed e-contract—after signing could not write freely—busy stocking chapters—better safe.
Day two—Qi Yu rode e-bike to old complex. Qi Wenping and Qi Li cooked full table for her and Xuan—Xuan ate head down—both aunts asked how she was—cared—Qi Yu unaccustomed.
Before sleep Jiang Ya messaged—movie-related shares—Qi Yu read—brief reply—good night.
Next day.
Movie ~2 PM—meet 1:30 at mall.
Qi Yu up early—no nap—waiting at cinema—yawning nonstop.
About to message Jiang Ya whereabouts—casual look up—familiar figure from crowd ahead.
Qi Yu watched from distance.
Suddenly awake—not sleepy at all.
Stared—could not look away—until Jiang Ya before her—fine features blur to clear—still not blinking.
Jiang Ya laughed. “What? Staring like that?”
Dressed up specially today. Makeup—skin white nearly reflective—red lips stark contrast—plain face gained cold glamour—French cinched long dress—noble elegant.
“Nothing.” Qi Yu knew she lost composure—hurriedly looked away.
“How long waited? Holiday crowds—parking took extra time.” Jiang Ya apologetic.
“Not long—got here ~1:30—only forty-some minutes.” Side by side into cinema—tickets from pocket. “Picked tickets—here.”
“Right—milk tea order ready—check yours—send order number—I’ll grab after restroom.”
“Sure—I’ll wait here.”
“Okay.”
Watching Qi Yu leave—Jiang Ya sat casually in waiting area.
Phone not long—shoulder tapped—Jiang Ya flinched aside—brow knit alert—looked up.
“Teacher Jiang!”
Intern teacher just confirmed—Jiang Ya relaxed—gentle. “Teacher Li—coincidence—you’re seeing a movie too?”
Last semester new interns—Jiang Ya did not know them well—but Li taught politics for Class 4 this term—some exchange—Li outgoing, chatty—impression left.
“Yeah.” Li smiling sat beside empty seat. “Which film?”
“This one.” Jiang Ya showed ticket.
Li looked—shocked. “Me too! Same showing! So lucky!”
Excited—Jiang Ya cooperated raised brow—smiled. “Really lucky.”
“Just released yesterday—high ratings—good word of mouth.”
“Yeah yeah—I saw so many posts about this film…”
Li and Jiang Ya talked reviews—Jiang Ya smiled listening—occasional nod.
“Li Wen—”
Shout interrupted chat.
Li Wen was Teacher Li’s name.
Both looked—Li Wen calling toward snack area at a man. “What!”
Man looked at them—gaze lingered on Jiang Ya—back to Li Wen. “Fries or shrimp sticks?”
Li Wen: “Combo.”
While they shouted Jiang Ya looked back and forth—when Li Wen done smiled teasing. “Boyfriend?”
Li Wen exploded. “Not boyfriend—that’s my brother—real brother.”
……
Jiang Ya slight pause—laughed. “Sorry—my mistake.”
“Fine…” Li Wen smiled—eyes turned—back to Jiang Ya face—“revenge” teasing. “Teacher Jiang… boyfriend today?”
Jiang Ya stiff a beat—recovered. “No—with a friend.”
“Oh…”
“…You look disappointed?” Jiang Ya looked at Li Wen—light laugh.
Li Wen: “Not disappointed…”
Leaned closer. “Honestly—not just me—several teachers talked—we’re curious—someone as excellent as Teacher Jiang—what’s your boyfriend like.”
Jiang Ya blank—question felt familiar.
Looked at Li Wen a while—avoided topic—smiled. “Like my students—gossiping in private.”
Li Wen: “Not really—just came up.”
“But I’m really curious.”
“Direct.” Jiang Ya faint smile—paused. “But no need—never dated—don’t know what I’d want—no plan for now.”
Surprise in Li Wen’s eyes—blank a moment. “Teacher Jiang never dated?”
“School too busy? Sigh… me too—busy—no time for else.”
“Sort of…” Jiang Ya thought—curved lips. “And never met one I liked—don’t want to date.”
Recalling—from middle school boys showed interest. Middle through high they knew she only studied—did not dare disturb loudly.
College—approaches, invites, public gifts—many men—some names forgotten.
Ugly, handsome, mostly average—whatever looks—no urge to know them—no love hormones.
Especially flowers in self-moved performance—slight disgust.
First thought: wasted pretty flowers—pity.
Nothing else.
College roommates with partners said love might not drag you down—good romance could motivate.
Jiang Ya did not disbelieve—just never liked any man.
Curious too—what was heart flutter—instinct or uncontrollable desire?
Never for any man who pursued her.
Heart flutter seemed too vague—even lifetime without love—slightly pity—but acceptable.