Chapter Thirty: It Seems He Likes You Too

Although it was merely a matter of arranging team partners, to Jiang Muwen’s ears, it sounded almost like a declaration of sovereignty. As Wen Yichen finished speaking, a faint blush crept up Jiang Muwen’s ears against her will.

“In that case, I’ll tutor Yin Lize,” Gu Nianxi chimed in, following Wen Yichen’s lead. Then she turned to Yin Lize, her gaze gentle. “Is that alright?”

Gu Nianxi always seemed this gentle, her bright eyes shining with a clarity like a spring of water when she looked at Yin Lize. As she watched him, Yin Lize found himself unable to refuse. “Sure! I’ll be counting on you, Boss Gu!”

...

The Friday sun was just right, warm and golden as it spilled across the schoolyard. Jiang Muwen and Gu Nianxi chose a sunny spot to sit on the grass—it had been a long time since they’d had gym class on such a pleasant day.

During the free period in gym class, the boys always flocked to play basketball, while the girls would find a comfortable place to sit together, chatting and soaking up the sun.

As soon as Jiang Muwen sat down, her gaze wandered, almost involuntarily, toward the throng of boys, as if searching for something.

Gu Nianxi glanced at Jiang Muwen, then followed her line of sight—she was used to this by now. Jiang Muwen’s eyes would always, unconsciously, seek Wen Yichen in a crowd, and then linger on him.

Taking advantage of the moment when it was just the two of them, Gu Nianxi scooted a little closer to Jiang Muwen and whispered softly in her ear, “Looking for him, are you?”

The words had barely left her lips when Jiang Muwen’s heart gave a heavy thump, as if she’d been caught hiding a terrible secret. She hurriedly averted her eyes. “No… Of course not…”

Seeing Jiang Muwen deny it so quickly, Gu Nianxi couldn’t help but laugh. “I never even said who you were looking at—why are you denying it so fast?”

Jiang Muwen was momentarily at a loss for words.

“Do you… like Wen Yichen?” Gu Nianxi asked carefully, her breath warm against Jiang Muwen’s ear.

As soon as the question was out, Jiang Muwen’s mind went blank with a loud buzz. The little secret she’d hidden for so long had finally been unveiled by Gu Nianxi today.

---

Whether it was because of Gu Nianxi’s question or the sheer warmth of the sunshine, Jiang Muwen felt her cheeks gradually heating up. She turned her head, meeting Gu Nianxi’s curious gaze. After a moment, Jiang Muwen looked away, then leaned in closer to Gu Nianxi. “You have to keep this a secret for me…”

Hearing this, Gu Nianxi couldn’t help but break into a smile—a truly beautiful smile, with upturned lips and adorable dimples, glowing in the autumn sunlight as if everything in the world was at peace. At that moment, they were like two children whispering secrets, cautious and careful, afraid that a third person might overhear.

“Little Wenwen…” After promising to keep her secret, Gu Nianxi softly called Jiang Muwen’s name again. “Don’t you think… Wen Yichen likes you too?”

The moment Gu Nianxi said those words, Jiang Muwen’s heart seemed to skip a beat. She stared at Gu Nianxi in disbelief—love was not something to be joked about.

For Jiang Muwen, the surprise was soon overtaken by delight. “How could you tell…?”

In response, Gu Nianxi simply offered, “Instinct.”

As she spoke, her gaze drifted over to the group of boys, just in time to catch Wen Yichen snatching the basketball from Yin Lize’s hands. She always felt Wen Yichen harbored a certain hostility toward Yin Lize—a peculiar, slightly sour kind of animosity.

Though Wen Yichen had never voiced such feelings, nor admitted to liking Jiang Muwen, sometimes those at the heart of things were the last to see the truth.

Hearing Gu Nianxi’s words, Jiang Muwen couldn’t help but smile, teasing, “You said it’s just instinct… That’s hardly—”

“My instincts are very accurate,” Gu Nianxi interrupted before Jiang Muwen could finish.

Though Gu Nianxi’s words lacked proof, Jiang Muwen carried that secret joy in her heart for a long time.

Perhaps that’s the most wonderful thing about having a secret crush—the person you like seems to like you back. Such a rare, quiet happiness was truly a blessing for Jiang Muwen.

Liking someone makes it so easy to be content—or at least it was for Jiang Muwen. Just one simple sentence from a friend—“I think he likes you too”—was enough to make her happy for hours.

And so, her good mood lasted all the way until the end of the school day.

---

On the way home, she hummed a tune under her breath, her steps noticeably lighter than before.

Of course, Wen Yichen noticed this small change in her. Watching her bounce along, he couldn’t help but want to reach out and steady this restless girl.

The next moment, the corners of his lips lifted in a faint smile, and he raised his hand to rest it on her head as he always did. “What’s got you so happy?”

As soon as Wen Yichen’s hand touched her head, Jiang Muwen froze, suddenly as docile as a cat caught by the scruff of its neck. “No… It’s nothing, really. I’m just glad it’s finally Friday again.”

She offered a casual excuse, hiding the real reason from Wen Yichen.

Surprisingly, Wen Yichen believed her. He glanced sidelong at Jiang Muwen, his eyes crinkling with a smile he didn’t even notice himself. After a brief pause, his large hand ruffled her hair carelessly. “That’s all it takes to make you happy…”

Jiang Muwen swatted his hand away, a little irritated as she smoothed her hair. “Wen Yichen! How many times have I told you, stop messing up my hair!”

Wen Yichen lowered his head just a little, looking at the nearly ruffled Jiang Muwen, and couldn’t help but laugh. “Alright—when you finally grow taller, I’ll stop.”

Jiang Muwen looked up, but she was simply too short—she couldn’t reach Wen Yichen’s head even if she jumped. To her, the chance to ruffle Wen Yichen’s hair in revenge seemed hopeless—unless she walked up to him on stilts.

Yet, as she pictured herself mussing up Wen Yichen’s hair, Jiang Muwen couldn’t help but laugh.

“What are you laughing at now?” Wen Yichen asked, puzzled.

“Huh?” Jiang Muwen snapped back to herself, a sudden bold idea flashing through her mind. “Oh, it’s nothing. Wen Yichen, I think there’s something in your hair. Could you bend down and let me take a look?”