novelraw Chapter 66
Chapter 66
Chapter 66 After the school anniversary cultural performance, Qin Qing gained widespread recognition in the school due to her adept piano solo, impressive appearance, and unique fashion sense.
The school’s online forum saw several intense discussions centered around her. Even the usually high-pressure senior year students found themselves unsettled by the commotion.
However, the uproar quickly died down when the first-year admirer, who came to confess his feelings, was dragged out of the classroom by the scowling school bully before he could even speak.
Clearly, despite the fact that the former troublemaker had become an “outstanding senior” in the third year, his previous “notorious achievements” couldn’t be erased.
From being a regular on the black list to staying on the red list, Wen Yufeng’s reputation became a topic of interest among younger students, discussed with various speculations.
For the third-year students preparing for exams, the cultural performance and the events of that time were quickly forgotten, like a fallen leaf in a rushing stream, soon fading into the depths of memory.
In the relatively long but fleeting months leading up to this time, they counted down the days on the school’s sports field and blackboards, sang songs about parting, dreams, and the future, and were reluctantly or willingly pushed towards the end of May by time.
Early summer arrived quietly, and the college entrance exams were approaching.
On Wednesday, May 29th, a regular school day.
From Monday that week, the senior year had canceled all classes, with students studying in their respective classrooms under the supervision of teachers on a rotating schedule.
In this high-pressure environment, even after the bell rang, the classrooms remained as quiet as during lessons.
During the break in the third afternoon period, while Qin Qing was contemplating a problem in her notes, someone approached her.
“Qin Qing, someone is looking for you outside.”
Qin Qing was momentarily stunned and looked up, but the person had already left.
She stood up and walked out of the classroom.
Behind her, Wen Yufeng’s gaze followed.
It was unusual for students from other classes to come with questions at this time…
Wen Yufeng, puzzled, followed her outside.
When he reached outside the classroom, Qin Qing was holding a gift box tied with a ribbon and smiling as she thanked Zhuo Anke.
He paused and stopped outside the classroom, not wanting to interrupt.
After Zhuo Anke left, Qin Qing approached him.
“What’s this?” Wen Yufeng looked at the box in Qin Qing’s hand. “Why did she give this to you?”
“…” Qin Qing hesitated for a moment before telling the truth, “Today is my birthday.”
Wen Yufeng was taken aback.
— He hadn’t celebrated his birthday in many years.
No one remembered, and over time, he forgot as well.
So he never even realized that there was a special day in the year called Qin Qing’s birthday.
Once he confirmed this, his first reaction was to check the time on his wrist.
Before he could focus on his watch, the bell for the last class of the afternoon rang.
Wen Yufeng: “…”
Seeing the rare dazed look on the boy’s face, Qin Qing couldn’t help but smile, “I’m not asking for a gift. Or, if you want to, you can give it to me after the exams.”
Wen Yufeng frowned, “… It’s too rushed. I can’t prepare anything.”
Qin Qing blinked, “I don’t really need anything.”
“…”
Wen Yufeng said nothing and looked at Qin Qing.
After a couple of seconds, a flicker of dark flame seemed to light up in his eyes.
His thin lips also curled into a smile.
“… I understand now.”
He turned and walked towards the stairs.
Qin Qing was stunned.
“Wen Yufeng, where are you going?”
“To prepare a gift for you.”
Without giving her a chance to speak again, Wen Yufeng’s figure had already disappeared down the stairs.
Qin Qing was left a bit dumbfounded. She waited until the end of the last class, after dinner, and then through three evening study periods.
By the time school was over, Qin Qing slowly packed her bag, left the classroom, and eventually left the school. She didn’t see Wen Yufeng’s figure at all.
Qin Hao, who was driving, noticed Qin Qing’s distraction. After they were on the road, he asked casually, “小晴, Did something happen at school today?”
“… No.”
Qin Qing pulled her gaze away from the window.
Qin Hao guessed it was the stress of the upcoming exams and didn’t press further.
He drove her to the entrance of Grandma Qin’s building.
“Second Brother, Grandma made a cake today. Aren’t you coming up to have a piece?”
Qin Qing asked as she got out of the car.
Qin Hao shook his head, smiling, “I had your birthday feast at noon. I have things to do tonight, so I won’t come up.”
“All right, Second Brother, goodbye.”
Qin Qing closed the car door and went into the apartment building.
Standing in front of the elevator, she hesitated, glancing at the dark night outside, feeling a bit worried.
… I wonder where he went to prepare a gift.
Why hasn’t he come back yet?
Could there be some accident…
As Qin Qing thought anxiously, the elevator arrived at her floor.
She hesitated but stepped into the elevator and took out her phone.
When the elevator reached the twelfth floor, Qin Qing dialed the number she had prepared.
But before the call could connect, she saw the tall figure leaning against the side wall.
Qin Qing was stunned.
In the quiet T-shaped corridor, Wen Yufeng’s phone vibrated softly.
Having heard the elevator, Wen Yufeng was staring intently at the girl, a faint smile on his face.
“… You’re back?”
“Mm.” Qin Qing instinctively replied. Then she realized and furrowed her brows, “It’s so late, you—”
“Happy Birthday.”
The boy interrupted her words.
Looking into his deep, dark eyes under the light, which seemed to be filled with starry brilliance, Qin Qing’s previous worries vanished, and she couldn’t help but smile.
Her pretty almond eyes curved into crescent moons.
“It’s so late. You didn’t manage to buy a gift, did you?”
“…”
Wen Yufeng squinted his eyes. The sight of the girl’s joyful smile reflected in his eyes.
He lightly tapped his tongue against the roof of his mouth, and after two seconds, he chuckled softly.
“Didn’t ‘buy’ one.”
The deliberately emphasized word didn’t alert Qin Qing.
Qin Qing walked over with a smile, “I heard the most popular birthday gift this semester is ‘Five Years of College Entrance Exams, Three Years of Simulations’—I thought you’d give me a set.”
Wen Yufeng straightened up slowly, his thin lips curling into a smile as he casually walked towards Qin Qing.
At the same time, he spoke with a lazy tone, as if with a hint of regret, “Ah, I should have thought of that.”
“I was just joking. Even if you give it to me now, I won’t be able to—”
Qin Qing’s words were abruptly cut off.
Wen Yufeng, who had already reached her, pushed open the metal door of the fire escape beside them, pulling the stunned girl inside.
As the metal door closed with a muffled sound, Qin Qing was pressed against the wall corner by the boy’s arm around her waist.
She looked surprised with her eyes wide open.
After a few seconds, Qin Qing found her voice. She looked at the boy with a slightly helpless expression, as if looking at a mischievous child—
“Wen Yufeng, stop messing around. Can’t we talk about this inside… It’s too dark in the stairwell, it’s scary.”
Wen Yufeng’s gaze deepened.
After spending so much time together, Qin Qing was no longer averse to their closeness. However, this kind of apparent indifference was not a good thing.
Wen Yufeng turned his eyes aside and chuckled softly.
“… Can’t talk about it inside.”
“Why?” Qin Qing asked, puzzled.
Wen Yufeng turned back to face her, staring intently into her eyes, and leaned closer to her ear—
“Don’t you know?” He deliberately lowered his voice to a husky and dangerous tone, “There are cameras in the corridor, but not here.”
Qin Qing was taken aback.
Wen Yufeng chuckled again, “In other words, whatever I do here, no one will know.”
“…”
Qin Qing blinked slowly.
Her slightly curled eyelashes seemed to flutter past Wen Yufeng’s heart, tickling.
Before Wen Yufeng could react, the girl softly laughed—
“Wen Yufeng, do you really think I’m frightened by you?”
Without giving him a chance to argue, Qin Qing continued with a smile. “Are you childish, Wen Yufeng?”
“…”
Wen Yufeng sighed.
He stepped back slightly, creating a small distance between their almost touching upper bodies. However, one of his arms remained around her waist, while the other elbow rested against the wall above her head.
“Do you trust others so easily?” His eyes showed a mix of helplessness and some other swirling emotion.
“No,” Qin Qing replied without hesitation, “but I trust you.”
“…” Wen Yufeng looked down at her, his gaze deepening.
Qin Qing said, “You brought me here to give me a gift, right?”
She looked at him with a smile, “Don’t hide it.”
“… I’m not hiding anything.”
Wen Yufeng lowered his hand from the wall and extended it towards her.
Only then did Qin Qing notice that his right sleeve was rolled up and a blue ribbon was tied around his slender forearm.
“The gift is right in front of you.”
He chuckled softly.
The ribbon was even tied into a bow—
“I am your birthday gift.”
“Sweetie, will you accept it?”