Chapter Seventy-Eight: I Have Someone I Like

“Yes, I’ve eaten.”
“Did you go to bed early last night?”
The mention of last night made Luo Yixia feel even guiltier. She hadn’t slept until after two in the morning...
“Yes, very early.”
After that, Song Chengyi didn’t send any more messages.
Luo Yixia simply sat quietly.
The two on this side were chatting happily.
Gan Yanyan nudged Luo Yixia with her elbow. “Yixia, I’m hungry. Did you bring any snacks?”
“Oh, I left them in my suitcase,” Luo Yixia said, touching her backpack and suddenly remembering.
Gan Yanyan sniffled pitifully.
“We’ll be at our destination soon. Let’s eat after we get off.” Actually, Luo Yixia was hungry too. She’d gotten used to having breakfast every morning during summer with Song Chengyi, and now suddenly skipping it felt uncomfortable.
“Did you girls not have breakfast?” Suddenly, Yu Bin poked his head forward.
Startled, Luo Yixia bumped into the window.
“Ah, sorry, did I scare you?” Yu Bin scratched the back of his head apologetically.
Luo Yixia shook her head.
Song Chengyi, who had been listening to music with his eyes closed, opened his eyes and kicked the person next to him who wasn’t sitting properly. “Sit up straight.”
Yu Bin pursed his lips and glanced at Song Chengyi, not really wanting to engage, but obediently sat up, still not forgetting to chat with the two girls in front.
“Hungry, aren’t you? I brought snacks.” He opened the backpack that had been resting by his legs.
“Wow.” Gan Yanyan’s eyes lit up—snacks!
“Here, what do you want?” He generously handed them forward.
Luo Yixia felt uneasy, hoping Yu Bin hadn’t heard her earlier claim that she’d eaten.
Girls eating snacks on the bus was normal, Luo Yixia quietly reassured herself.
But Gan Yanyan, sitting beside her, blurted out everything without a filter.
“Thank you, senior! You don’t know, we were playing games in the dorm until past two last night, got woken up early this morning, barely packed, and were the last to join the group. We didn’t even get breakfast.” She said this while grabbing a few packs of snacks.
Luo Yixia wanted to crawl into a hole, feeling two burning gazes on her back, and tried to shrink herself as much as possible.
“Yixia, what do you want to eat?” Gan Yanyan pushed the snacks toward Luo Yixia.
“I... I’m not hungry... I’ve already eaten... haha...” This was her last bit of pride.
“Did you eat in your dreams? We’ve been together since this morning—you’ve only eaten air!” Gan Yanyan blurted out bluntly.
Yu Bin couldn’t help but laugh.
“Senior, my friend is just shy. It’s fine, I’ll take two for her, thank you, I’ll treat you next time.” Gan Yanyan took two packs for Luo Yixia and handed the backpack back to Yu Bin.
“Don’t thank me, he bought them. Rare occasion he went shopping last night, was cherishing them too.” Yu Bin nodded toward Song Chengyi.
“I see, well, thank you, senior.” Gan Yanyan insisted Luo Yixia thank him again.
Luo Yixia was beside herself—she wished she hadn’t sat with Gan Yanyan.
Now Song Chengyi would think she was a liar, exposed immediately.
Head lowered, clutching the two packs of snacks.
Yu Bin had said they were Song Chengyi’s, and it seemed they were the ones she’d brought for Gan Yanyan last night... sigh...
In the end, Luo Yixia couldn’t resist temptation and swiftly finished the two packs.
Gan Yanyan and Yu Bin chatted and laughed, while Luo Yixia was occasionally forced to join in, and took the chance to sneak a glance at Song Chengyi.

He still had his earphones in, head resting against the seat, eyes closed, as if asleep.
“Have you got a boyfriend, junior?” Yu Bin suddenly asked, interested.
Gan Yanyan waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t mention it, all four of us in the dorm are single. If you have suitable candidates, you can introduce them to us.”
“No way, not even Luo Yixia has any admirers?” Yu Bin looked at Luo Yixia in disbelief.
“That’s what puzzles us! Such a pretty face wasted. Someone pursued her in freshman year, but gave up after a few days. My poor Yixia.” She hugged Luo Yixia.
“Don’t suddenly pounce on me!” Luo Yixia pushed Gan Yanyan away.
Gan Yanyan pouted. “See? Such an unapproachable personality. I’m worried our Yixia will be single for life.”
She looked so regretful.
Yu Bin teased, “I think you should worry about yourself more than others—”
He didn’t finish, swallowed by Gan Yanyan’s glare.
“Actually, if junior Yixia is single, can I pursue her?” Yu Bin said, shocking everyone.
The air seemed to freeze instantly.
Song Chengyi, who had had his eyes closed, now opened them.
Luo Yixia instinctively looked at Song Chengyi instead of Yu Bin, and their eyes met directly.
“Hmm? Junior, you’re not saying anything—does that mean you agree?” Yu Bin pressed further.
Gan Yanyan blinked, looking between Yu Bin and Luo Yixia.
Luo Yixia quickly withdrew her gaze from Song Chengyi.
“Sorry, I already like someone,” she said honestly.
“I see.” Yu Bin sighed, disappointed.
“What? Since when? How come I didn’t know?” Gan Yanyan was excited.
“It’s... it’s always been...” Luo Yixia pulled her hand from Gan Yanyan’s grasp.
“Who is it? There’s never any guys around you! At school, you either sleep during class or play games and watch dramas after—when do you have time to like someone?” She grabbed Luo Yixia’s hand again.
“...”
Luo Yixia wanted to throttle her. Why couldn’t she just say something about herself for once? He’s behind me, right behind me, but she dared not say it aloud.
“Hold on, let me recall... You finished your summer homework and said it was with the big brother next door. Is it him?!” Gan Yanyan was so excited, as if she’d discovered a new continent.
Luo Yixia wanted to cover her mouth. Why had she mentioned it before? How could she connect it all now?
“Ah... that...” Luo Yixia stammered, unwilling to admit.
“Is it?” Gan Yanyan pressed.
Looking into Gan Yanyan’s direct gaze, and Yu Bin’s curious expression, then glimpsing Song Chengyi watching her, Luo Yixia bit her lip and nodded, admitting it.
Gan Yanyan was overjoyed. “Ahhh, my little Yixia is finally in love!”
Song Chengyi was quite satisfied with this tacit admission—it was much better than her previous denials.
He cast a leisurely glance at Yu Bin beside him.
It seemed his precious cabbage would always attract others...
“Are you two together?” Gan Yanyan continued to probe.
Luo Yixia felt she shouldn’t say more. If she did, Gan Yanyan would eventually bring Song Chengyi into it.
She shook her head. “No, he doesn’t know.”
“Why not confess?” Gan Yanyan said regretfully.

“He doesn’t like me.” Luo Yixia wasn’t sure if she was saying it to Gan Yanyan or to herself, but after those words, she felt a pang in her heart.
Behind her, Song Chengyi didn’t feel good hearing that either.
“It’s okay, there are plenty of fish in the sea. You’ll meet someone better.” As a best friend, Gan Yanyan comforted her.
Unexpectedly, Luo Yixia shook her head firmly. “No, I only like him.”
Song Chengyi couldn’t help but let the corners of his mouth curve up—so she was so transparent after all.
“You stubborn thing.” Gan Yanyan scolded, but seeing her expression, couldn’t say anything harsher.
She still felt heartache for her.
After that, things quieted down for a long time. Gan Yanyan didn’t dare speak, afraid of making Luo Yixia sad again.
But Luo Yixia wasn’t really sad. Although she knew Song Chengyi didn’t like her, they were already married. If she kept working at it, maybe one day he would come to like her.
Even if it never happened, even if they divorced, Luo Yixia wouldn’t feel like she’d lost out. Her secret love had borne some fruit, and she occasionally got to take advantage of it—she was quite content.
As they were about to get off, Luo Yixia pulled Gan Yanyan aside, asking her not to tell anyone about this.
Gan Yanyan promised earnestly, mainly afraid that if Lin Ya and the others found out, they’d press her, and she’d have no choice but to reveal Song Chengyi.
She wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble.
After getting off, the two carried their suitcases and went to regroup.
This place was the military training site—a few simple bungalows.
They’d thought the training would be here, but when the instructors handed out military backpacks, they realized they’d have to hike to the real destination.
Now it was time to reduce unnecessary luggage.
Everyone was sorting their belongings on the ground.
“Ah, Yixia, my backpack won’t fit everything. I have so much stuff,” Gan Yanyan whimpered.
“Me too.” Luo Yixia saw that half her things couldn’t fit.
She hadn’t brought much, just essentials—no unnecessary clothes. Yet the military backpack was far too small.
She gritted her teeth and ended up not taking any snacks, only necessities: her water bottle and toiletries. Luo Yixia didn’t have the complicated cosmetics others did, only what was needed for her face, plus sunscreen—absolutely essential.
She also tucked in some medical supplies Song Chengyi had prepared for her, since they’d be outdoors with more insects and a greater chance of injury.
Finally, she closed her suitcase and left it at the training base.
Rows of students, backpacks on their shoulders, began to head out into the wild.
The road was mountainous, uneven, hard to walk, with heavy backpacks and the blazing sun.
It was almost unbearable.
Luo Yixia had struggled with standing at attention yesterday—her legs were still sore, and now she had to hike mountain roads. Her legs felt like they would break.
Song Zeming, as an instructor, stayed close by, worried the students wouldn’t hold out—students these days lacked physical fitness.
When he reached Luo Yixia, he could see she was struggling.
He knew her constitution well—spoiled since childhood.
“Can you keep going?” he asked softly.
“I’m fine.” Luo Yixia shook her head.
“If you can’t, call me. I’ll check on the other students.” Song Zeming looked at her with concern.
“Okay.” She nodded.