CH 11

Qin Juran was quite famous – as soon as the host saw her, he exclaimed, “Qin Juran! I never would’ve imagined that tonight’s lucky winner would be our campus belle Qin Juran!”

Since the concert area was dark and crowded, no one had noticed Qin Juran’s presence until then. But after the host’s announcement, all eyes turned towards her.

Even in her plain white t-shirt and jeans, her naturally dazzling aura was impossible to miss

The host passed the microphone to her: “I never would’ve thought there was someone in our rock band that even our campus belle would be curious about~ Let’s see who it is…”

His gaze swept over the male students until it landed on Ruan Nan, and he inhaled a sharp gasp in realization. Just at that moment, Qin Juran spoke into the mic: “Ruan Nan.”

“Haha, a question for Ruan Nan. Ruan Nan sure has good relations with her fellow students – out of the three winners tonight, two of them both had questions for Ruan Nan. Now, here’s the mic…”

The host’s hands shook as he handed the microphone over, a smile bordering on tears plastered on his face.

There wasn’t anyone at S University who didn’t know about the feud between Qin Juran and Ruan Nan, and the recent forum post only added fuel to the fire. Thus, the entire crowd was eager to watch the drama unfold the moment Qin Juran had been selected.

The background music was deliberately hushed. As Qin Juran received the microphone, her eyes playfully peeked at Ruan Nan’s ankles.

Ruan Nan subconsciously pulled her legs back.

Amongst all the stares, her eyes lit up by the starlight, Qin Juran curved her lips and asked softly, “Ruan Nan, if I tell you that I have changed, would you believe me?”

A hush fell over the audience.

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No one knew why Qin Juran decided to ask this question – was she asking for Ruan Nan’s forgiveness, showing that she no longer liked Fan Chuan? Or was this a new tactic to throw off the enemy?

Ruan Nan stared straight into Qin Juran’s eyes. Under the faint silver light of the large screen, Ruan Nan couldn’t discern whether the glowing look in her eyes was genuine or not.

As the wind rustled against her hair, Ruan Nan swallowed, and her grasp tightened against the microphone: “I don’t believe it.”

The light seemed to leave her eyes.

Ruan Nan didn’t know when she had become so sensitive.

“Ah, hahaha! What a short and firm reply! Okay, now with that, we conclude our rock concert! Everyone in the audience, please find your way out in an orderly fashion.”

Suddenly, the student called Gu Xiaoxue came running over, not even bothering to put down her bass. “Hello, Qin Juran. My name is Gu Xiaoxue, you probably don’t know me, but our club is hosting an interview – we’ve been hoping for your cooperation, but never got the chance to meet. If you don’t mind, could I have your contact…”

Qin Juran laughed softly, responding feebly, “Sorry, I’m a bit tired right now.  We can work together at a later time.”

Qin Juran followed the crowd outside, walking to her green scooter. Actually, she came looking for Ruan Nan just to ask that question, but she didn’t expect such a sequence of events.

Really…

Did it have to be so public?

But now, having received this answer, the issue of the performance was taken care of at least. Qin Juran unwittingly let loose a breath. As for Ruan Nan…

Suddenly, the image of Ruan Nan on stage, radiating dazzling passion and fervor, flashed in Qin Juran’s mind.

One step at a time.

———–

As National Day approached, many of the students couldn’t contain their excitement, decorating the campus grounds with flowers and flags. The entire school was filled with a restless atmosphere.

For the holiday, Huang Ying and her high school friends were planning a mountain-climbing trip. Since early morning, she had been chattering on the phone, arranging tickets and discussing the details. Every so often, she would find a nice bed-and-breakfast and exclaim in delight, then sigh as she noticed the prices. However, she managed to snag a good deal on her plane ticket; after staying up until 3 a.m., she managed to claim a $200 discount flight.

Watching Huang Ying flaunt while preparing her large suitcase, Qin Juran couldn’t help retorting: “Discount flights don’t include carry-on baggage.”

“What do you mean?”

“There’s no baggage allowance – whatever you bring, the price to check your baggage will end up being the same as a regular flight.”

Huang Ying quickly scrolled through her phone. Apparently, they were only allowed one small bag, then luggage would have to be checked in. After weighing her suitcase and mentally calculating the price, she let out a long sigh of disappointment.

Feng Jing noticed her expression and couldn’t contain her laugh.

Huang Ying grumbled, “Juran, I didn’t know that you knew so much about these regulations, even though you can’t even afford to take the plane.”

“…..”

Meanwhile, at the luxury apartments, Ruan Nan was crouched over on her balcony chair, a glass of water in hand as she solemnly looked over the brightly lit city.

The wind brushed against the wind chimes hanging over, inciting a melodious tinkling sound.

Suddenly, a notification sounded on her phone: “Your 7-day luxury cruise trip to Iceland has been confirmed. Please arrive at the airport by October 1st. Have a wonderful trip!”

The next moment, her phone began ringing. “Hello? Ah-Ruan?” 1

Ruan Nan’s fingers froze in the air. She let out a soft, “Yes.”

There was a sigh from the other end of the receiver. “Ah-Ruan, you finally picked up Daddy’s call.”

There seemed to be a dinner party in the background, with chimes of “Good evening, President Ruan” echoing as the other party noticeably walked outside to take the call.

“What do you want?”

“Ah-Ruan, Daddy knows you always wanted to see the aurora lights – So, I signed you up for a trip to Iceland, two tickets included.”

Ruan Nan’s heart suddenly jumped. “You have time –“

But she was cut off before she could finish: “Why don’t you invite one of your friends to go along? Have some fun, relax a bit. If you need more money, just tell me.”

Ruan Nan gripped her phone tightly and let out a cold laugh: “I don’t want to go to Iceland anymore. I want to go back home for National Day.”

“Go home?! Nannan, you haven’t come back in 3 years, why do you suddenly want to come?”

“It’s my own home – am I not allowed to want to return?”

The other party let out a sigh. “My baby daughter, of course you can come, it’s just that…Nannan, D District has been really hot these days, so your Gu Auntie wanted to bring her little boy here to A District, and they’ve already packed…What do you say, next time you have a holiday, just tell me in advance…”

“Daddy, who’s that on the phone?” a high-pitched child’s voice piped from the phone.

Ruan Nan’s heart clenched, and she abruptly ended the call.

Another cool breeze brushed past, rustling the wind chimes as well as the stems of the baby’s breath flowers lining the balcony.

Ruan Nan raised her head and forcefully chugged from her glass. After she placed the glass down, she looked at the text message and forwarded it to her 4-person group chat, adding, 【Who wants to go?】

Lin Wei: 【Damnnn, a luxury cruise to Iceland – Sister Nan is so fancy】

Zhou Ziqing: 【Your holidays are on a whole other level from ours!】

Wang Yuanyuan: 【What was that song, again? “Iceland mon amour?”】

Lin Wei: 【It’s “Hiroshima mon amour.” So uncultured, Wang Yuanyuan. 】

Ruan Nan: 【…so who’s going?】

Zhou Ziqing: 【I’m afraid I can’t, Sister Nan – our high school Classes 21 and 22 are organizing a reunion, and I can’t miss it. You never wanted to attend any reunions before, so that’s why I didn’t tell you about it – don’t take it personally.】

Wang Yuanyuan: 【I also can’t, Sister Nan. My mom already planned a 7-day tour around Europe for our whole family.】

Lin Wei:【Sister Nan, I’m free. Why don’t we go on our own little romantic getaway to Iceland~】

Three large “GET OUT” emoticons popped on the screen.

Ruan Nan:【Don’t worry about it, I’ll just go by myself.】

Zhou Ziqing:【Right, Sister Nan – why don’t you ask Fan Chuan? Vacations are the best way to strengthen feelings between two people. Never mind how stone-faced he is – by the time the 7 days are up, he’ll be head over heels for you.】

Ruan Nan let out a small laugh of disdain, then shut off her phone and returned inside.

—————

Since the day before the performance was a holiday, many of the performers were taking a bus to go rent their costumes together. Feng Jing and Huang Ying were also eagerly browsing the internet for their own costumes.

Before getting onto the bus, Qin Juran was pulled over by the teacher to ask a few questions. By the time she stepped on, the seats were already full. Huang Ying and Feng Jing were sitting together, and they stretched their necks to look around: “Aiya, Juran. This bus doesn’t seem to have any empty seats left.”

The teacher who had pulled her aside felt a bit ashamed: “How are the seats already full? That student over there is pretty thin, could you squeeze in beside her?”

Some unknown female student sneered loudly, “Hey, there seems to be a pretty large spot by the trash bin.”

The bus erupted in laughter.

Qin Juran’s scowled. “Yea, it’s pretty big, since we all know you couldn’t fit in the bin itself.” Afterward, she asked the teacher for the address and stepped off the bus.

“Ai, Qin Juran…” Before the teacher could finish, a black Lamborghini sharply pulled up to a stop beside the bus. The car windows rolled down to reveal Fan Chuan’s face, dark shades obscuring his eyes. “Get in the car.”

As the girls on the bus realized it was Fan Chuan, they shouted in excitement and all began offering their seats to Qin Juran.

Qin Juran’s eyes flicked from Fan Chuan back to the group of heads sticking out of the bus windows. She nodded and began to walk over, when suddenly a blue convertible promptly pulled up beside the Lamborghini.

They didn’t need to roll the windows to see that it was Ruan Nan, in a pair of dark shades, elbows resting on the window frame. She called out calmly, “Qin Juran, get in my car.”

At the sight of the overly lavish sports cars, parked one behind the other besides the bus, Feng Jing suddenly felt that the seat underneath her was especially uncomfortable.

Standing in front of the bus doors, Qin Juran glanced at Fan Chuan’s frowning face, then curled her lips and stepped towards the convertible.

“Tsk, of course she’d be afraid of Ruan Nan.”

Qin Juran got in the car and buckled her seat belt. Since she didn’t have sunglasses, she felt that the sun was too bright, and instinctively reached a hand to press the button that raises the car roof.

She was so familiar with the movement that she hardly even have to look at the button.

At this, Ruan Nan’s eyebrows raised in surprise.

Qin Juran noticed her expression in the rearview mirror, and coolly lied, “Before, when I was driving for Didi 2, I once drove a convertible.”

“…..”

Ruan Nan was an experienced driver. As she steered the wheel with one hand, the silver bracelet on her wrist glistened in the sunlight. The image of Ruan Nan playing the drums suddenly flashed in Qin Juran’s mind. She jutted her chin towards the mirror and said, “I really liked watching you play the drums.”

Ruan Nan lifted a brow. “Really? You were also pretty cool when you announced you were ‘number 1’ in front of everybody.”

Qin Juran gave a warm laugh in response and leaned back against her seat: “I got the rare chance to ask a question, but unfortunately, I didn’t get the answer I wanted.”

Ruan Nan hesitated, then turned to study her unintelligible expression. “The ‘change’ you were referring to the other day – did you mean how cunning you’ve become?”

“That’s not all.”

As they reached a red light, Rua Nan stepped on the brakes and removed her sunglasses to regard Qin Juran: “What else is there?”

Qin Juran also turned her head. Today, she was dressed in a long dress topped with a crisp white shirt. She stared at Ruan Nan and leaned forward, casually shrugging. A sleeve of her shirt slid off, revealing a thin strap on a delicate, bony shoulder. “Why don’t you find out for yourself?”