My Crush Also Has a Crush on Me!
Chapter 51: Words That Must Not See the Light of Day

Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Words That Must Not See the Light of Day

In the morning, just as Fu Ying arrived at the school gate, she saw her new desk mate.

"Fu Ying." Lin Lishan waved at her, "we have duty today, so we need to go to the classroom earlier."

The mention of duty made Fu Ying feel uneasy. This time, she would not take the initiative to throw away the trash.

Fu Ying and Lin Lishan arrived early, and the classroom was still empty. They cleaned the blackboard and lectern, and soon after, other students began to trickle in.

"Do you guys remember that handsome firefighter who did the fire safety drill for us before?"

Zhou Wei sat down next to her seat while chatting with a few girls.

The girls were excited, "Yes, we remember! He was so good-looking, he could totally be in showbiz, right?"

"He’s handsome, and he has such a masculine vibe, like his male hormones are off the charts. He looks quite young too, but he probably has a girlfriend, right?"

"His name is Shen Liguang, 25 years old, and still single," Zhou Wei said with superiority, craning her neck, "I have his WeChat now."

Hearing his name, Fu Ying couldn’t help but look over at Zhou Wei.

Her deskmate asked, "Didn’t you fail to get it last time? How do you have his WeChat now?"

Zhou Wei smiled, "Turns out he had a blind date with my sister before. I only heard about it from my mom."

"So he’s your brother-in-law?"

Zhou Wei’s answer was noncommittal: "Who knows? Anyway, he’s still in contact with my sister."

"So there’s a chance for them?"

Zhou Wei, "Probably, my sister really likes him."

Fu Ying’s head drooped, and she tightened her grip on the pen; a sense of stuffiness built up in her chest.

"What’s wrong?" Lin Lishan asked softly.

Fu Ying shook her head, "Nothing."

Fu Ying thought of the previous night when Shen Liguang suddenly asked her if she was Miss Zhou. Turned out Miss Zhou was Zhou Wei’s sister.

The girls continued their discussion about Shen Liguang.

In this era fixated on appearances, Shen Liguang’s looks really did appeal to the girls.

They talked about how handsome he was, his manly charm, and bet that he must have a six-pack.

Fu Ying never expected that despite being quite familiar with him, she would learn about his news from others.

To say it wasn’t bitter would be a lie.

She recalled the song she and Xia Jinyun heard last time, with one line particularly fitting: You’re clearly a dream I’ve never owned, yet it feels like I’ve lost you countless times.

Before evening self-study, Fu Ying had lost all interest in taking out the trash.

Lin Lishan came over to ask her, "Are you really not going?"

Fu Ying was sprawled on the desk, listless, her eyes red, "Not going."

"Then should I go?"

Fu Ying nodded.

Lin Lishan left the classroom, taking the trash bag with her.

Behind her, the laughter of Li Hanyi and Du Yong sounded somewhat grating.

Fu Ying felt sullen, buried her head in her arms, and began to feel a throbbing pain in her breath.

This low mood persisted all the way home. Fu Ying took a cucumber from the kitchen and went upstairs.

Then she focused all her attention on doing her homework.

Soon after, her brother’s voice could be heard outside the door: "Li Guang, your phone is with me, it keeps vibrating non-stop, is it some fangirl?"

Fu Ying stopped writing and held her breath.

She heard a man’s light laugh.

"Where’d a fangirl come from."

"I’ve heard from Auntie that the girl introduced to you on the blind date was quite satisfied with you."

Shen Liguang walked to the window, took out a pack of cigarettes, pinched one, put it in his mouth, and lit it with his hands cupped before responding lazily, "She’s not my type."

Fu Yi teased, "Like ’em with big chests and big butts?"

Shen Liguang cursed jokingly, "Like your sister."

"Just marry someone suitable, buddy, I’m waiting to attend your wedding."

Shen Liguang glared at him, "Attend your sister’s wedding."

Fu Yi laughed, "Attending my sister’s wedding, I’m afraid you’d be halfway into the grave by then."

"Am I that fragile?"

Fu Ying couldn’t help it and cautiously pushed open the door, poking her head out to look.

Big brother was standing at the end of the corridor, talking with Shen Liguang by the window.

A faint smile hung on his face, radiating a casual ease.

This was quite different from his demeanor at work.

She had seen how serious he was, his gaze focused, which exuded a unique charm.

Fu Ying withdrew her gaze and was about to close the door when Fu Yi suddenly called out to her: "Yingying."

She hesitated for a moment, then walked over.

With her head lowered, without looking at him she said, "Big brother, what’s up?"

Fu Yi took out a hundred yuan and handed it to her: "Buy me a pack of cigarettes, the rest is yours."

"...."

"I’ll take her. I’m heading back anyway, it’s on the way."

Shen Liguang extinguished the cigarette in his mouth, walked up to Fu Ying and gently patted her head, signaling her to follow him.

Fu Yi asked, "Not staying over tonight?"

"No," Shen Liguang waved his hand, not looking back.

Silent, Fu Ying followed behind him, got into his car, and didn’t say a word the entire ride.

Alone with him, she was still nervous.

So nervous that she felt uneasy all over.

Shen Liguang found the girl unusually quiet.

He looked up at the little girl in the rearview mirror; she was turning her head looking out the window, her small hand tightly clutching her clothes, a bit nervous.

Shen Liguang asked with a smile, "What are you nervous about?"

Fu Ying silently let go of her grip on the clothes, her face suddenly flushed: "I’m not nervous."

"Afraid your brother will sell you?"

"No, it’s not that," Fu Ying turned her gaze away, "Big brother, focus on driving, it’s unsafe to be distracted."

"Right, it is unsafe."

Shen Liguang lifted the corners of his mouth, no longer teasing her.

After Fu Ying bought the cigarettes for Fu Yi, Shen Liguang drove her back.

The way back was, again, without conversation.

Gradually, Fu Ying realized that she really had nothing to say.

What she had to say could not see the light of day.

Fu Ying clutched the cigarette box in her hand, sighing quietly.

It wasn’t until she got home and out of the car that the girl calmly said, "Brother, goodbye, good night."

She spoke quickly, as if in a hurry to leave.

Shen Liguang nodded, "Yeah, goodbye, good night."

Fu Ying went upstairs but couldn’t help stealthily watching him until his car disappeared from view.

"What are you looking at?"

Fu Ying had just turned around to find her big brother standing behind her, noticing her standing by the window looking out, he approached with a puzzled look.

Shen Liguang’s car was already out of sight, and Fu Yi saw nothing.

"The cigarettes?"

Fu Ying extended her hand and passed them over.

"Why do you look so down?"

Fu Ying yawned, "I’m tired."

"If you’re tired, go back to your room to sleep. It’s late and you have school in the morning."

"Yeah, good night, big brother."

After returning to her room, Fu Ying held Qibao and zoned out for a while.

It wasn’t until the uncomfortable Qibao started meowing and struggling that she came to her senses.

"Qibao, it’s so hard to secretly like someone; he’s right in front of you, yet so far away. He’s elusive, uncatchable."

It wasn’t clear whether Qibao understood human feelings or the worries of its little owner, but it rubbed against her with its fluffy fur.

Fu Ying was tickled by its soft fluff.