Unable to sit still, middle school classmate and high school mate, Hao Jingyi, seemed energized since starting high school. While others ate lunch, she studied; while others napped, she studied. During physical education, she pulled out vocabulary lists from her pocket. Even in the evening when the dorm lights were off, she used a flashlight under her blanket to solve math problems. She even brought a book into the restroom.
Even with her heel, Wang Yi could sense that Jingyi was probably doing all this for that little sweetheart of hers. With Wang Yi leading, the three in the dorm reached the top fifty in the grade, earning them the title of "involution dorm."
In the three years of high school without Zhou Shiyu, there was still studying for Jingyi. Occasionally, she received calls from that person, who sometimes blushed and said he missed her. He would also lament about adults deceiving children, claiming that college life was not easy.
"Well, I'll be there to suffer with you."
"Are you lying to me too?" Zhou Shiyu stared at the screen.
"Children don't lie to children." Wang Yi smiled.
When it was time to choose college majors, without hesitation, she chose the same university as Zhou Shiyu. Jingyi and Yuan Yiqi also applied to the same university for the sake of their triangular relationship. Besides, that university was prestigious, ranking in the top five in the country.
Upon arriving at the university, Zhou Shiyu didn't give Wang Yi the expected hug. Knowing her well, Wang Yi sensed that something was being kept from her.
The teacher, understanding their request, assigned them to the same dormitory. After unpacking, Wang Yi went to find Zhou Shiyu.
"Spill it, what are you hiding from me?"
"I... I'm in a relationship." Zhou Shiyu pursed her lips, then added, "With a girl."
Experiencing this once made the second time easier, though it still hurt. Standing conspicuously below the dormitory building, with good looks and excellence, Wang Yi dominated the campus forums, overshadowing even Zhou Shiyu. Signs of surpassing Zhou Shiyu in popularity began to emerge. Exceptional in looks and talents, scoring over 680 in the entrance exam, playing basketball, playing the guzheng, and painting, she was an all-around talent, a goddess among mortals.
After three days, an anonymous account claimed that Wang Yi came to the university for someone special, sparking a new wave of excitement. Everyone was curious about the identity of the person for whom this goddess descended to earth. Despite inquiries, the person behind the post didn't reply for a week, leaving everyone puzzled.
This secret remained known only to each other and their close friends—Jingyi, Yiqi, and Shen Mengyao.
After a month, people lost interest, and the storm subsided.
After Zhou Shiyu started dating, Wang Yi rarely interacted with her. Sometimes when Zhou Shiyu invited her to eat, she would decline, citing concerns about her girlfriend getting jealous.
Jingyi and Yiqi, being in different majors from Wang Yi, occasionally ran into Zhou Shiyu. Zhou Shiyu seemed familiar with them, exchanging greetings before passing by. One day, they couldn't hold back any longer.
Wang Yi was a bit peculiar. If you didn't find her, she'd be unhappy; if you found her, she wouldn't accept. However, although she didn't accept, she felt satisfied because Zhou Shiyu, at least, wouldn't ignore her while in a relationship. Zhou Shiyu hadn't contacted Wang Yi for three weeks. When they met again, they exchanged glances before Wang Yi pulled Zhou Shiyu to a café near the school.
"That... sis." The two sat opposite each other, determined to assist their good friend.
Yiqi, straightforward, broke the silence, asking, "Do you know that Wang Yi likes you?"
Much calmer now, Zhou Shiyu nodded, sipping her coffee to hide her nervousness.
"We came today to tell you this."
They exchanged words, weaving the story of their childhood friend's crush on a sweetheart. Sometimes they even acted along, making Zhou Shiyu laugh. However, hearing certain things made her feel uneasy.
What they didn't know was that she knew everything about Wang Yi's feelings toward her but couldn't face it.
Why she couldn't face it, she wasn't sure.
"Thank you both today. I'll pick up the tab."
The day before winter break, Zhou Shiyu invited Wang Yi to go home together, and Wang Yi agreed.
She asked Wang Yi to meet two hours earlier. Wang Yi casually grabbed Zhou Shiyu's suitcase, one in each hand, and carried them downstairs.
"I broke up." Zhou Shiyu's tone was flat.
"Did that person bully you again?" Wang Yi said, glancing at the time, calculating if she could spare an hour to go upstairs and have a showdown with that girl.
About to go upstairs, Zhou Shiyu held her back.
"You want to fight again," she said in a gentle voice.
Hearing this, Wang Yi pursed her lips, silent. Although this time, it was a girl, but that girl... was skilled in free combat.
"Do you think I can't beat her? Let me tell you, although I'm thin, but..."
Her words were suddenly muffled by Zhou Shiyu's small hand.
"She didn't bully me." Zhou Shiyu's voice was faint, somewhat serious. "Before, I thought, now that boys and boys can get married, girls and girls can too. It's better to try when you meet someone you like."
Wang Yi held her breath, her mood turning sad again. Her voice was somewhat low. "So, you can be with guys or girls or anyone, but I can't."
Wang Yi, on the verge of tears, turned her face red with cold. Zhou Shiyu used the other end of her scarf to wrap around her, narrowing the distance between them.
She wanted to avoid it but chose to let Zhou Shiyu manipulate her. Looking closely, she realized her sister had become beautiful again.
"It seems like there has always been someone I liked in my heart. It seems like she also likes me, but I have been avoiding and haven't chosen to face this."
She didn't know when it started snowing. She brushed away the snowflakes on Wang Yi's head, putting a hat on her.
"On the night of the third year of high school, to be contrary to my mother, I lied. I might have fallen for you earlier than you did, but I've been avoiding it."
Wang Yi's heart tightened, hugging Zhou Shiyu's waist and lowering her head to hug her.
"The scarf really hinders me; I can't rub against you."
YOU ARE READING
When Everyone is Trying to Matchmake Us
عاطفيةThis story is a translation of an AU I found on weibo titled "全世界都希望她喜欢我" the characters here are SQHY. Also known individually as Wang Yi and Zhou Shi Yu of SNH48, credits goes to its rightful owner.
