Chapter 15: Tough at Home
When Ruan Yu boarded the bus, everyone around her was staring.
She knew exactly how terrible she looked. Though her clothes had stopped dripping exaggeratedly during her walk, the clinging pant legs, disheveled hair, and her damp, swollen eyes all screamed to passersby about what had just happened.
"Are you alright, young lady?" The driver turned to look at her.
"I'm fine, thank you."
She kept her head down and moved to a seat by the window. She hesitated to sit, afraid of soaking the seat and inconveniencing the next passenger, so she simply stood there instead.
The bus window was open, and as the vehicle started moving, a chilly breeze rushed in. The jacket draped over her shoulders fluttered slightly, threatening to slip off, so she discreetly tightened her grip.
The jacket had been warm when it was first draped over her, but now, the water had seeped into its lining, leaving it cold and lifeless.
She shivered involuntarily.
After getting off the bus and walking back to the dorm from the north gate, she attracted even more stares.
Some classmates recognized her and came up one after another to ask if she was okay. She shook her head at each of them and hurried even faster toward the dorm. Surprisingly, the room was unusually full—even Chen Manbai, who had been absent for so long, was there.
Life was just like this, wasn’t it? The more you wanted to hide your shame, the more people seemed to witness it. It was like some cruel joke from the heavens.
The three girls gaped as Ruan Yu walked in, her hair loose and dripping wet. They exchanged glances, none daring to speak for a long moment.
"Ruan Ruan, did you fall into a pond?" Chen Manbai finally broke the silence.
Ruan Yu didn’t answer. She just walked to her bed, tossed the jacket onto it, grabbed a change of clothes, and headed for the bathroom.
"I asked you a question," Chen Manbai stepped in front of her, blocking her path. "Who bullied you? Are you okay or not?"
"I'm fine."
She sidestepped Chen Manbai, entered the bathroom, and shut the door behind her.
To save electricity, the water heater wasn’t turned on during the day, so the shower only ran cold. She stripped off her icy clothes, pressed the switch, and stood there, staring at the faint red light, willing it to turn green faster.
Outside, muffled voices murmured indistinctly, but Ruan Yu knew they were talking about her. She had never cared what others said, but she didn’t want to become the subject of their discussions in this state.
Her eyes stung again. She tested the water and, ignoring that it hadn’t warmed up yet, stepped under the freezing spray.
After the shower, she felt even colder.
When Ruan Yu stepped out of the bathroom, she found Jian Xiangxiang waiting by the door, holding out a hairdryer to her.
"Dry your hair quickly. After that, go drink some ginger tea to warm up. Qiaofeng made some and left it in your cup. Don’t catch a cold."
Ruan Yu glanced at the three girls in the room. They were all watching her, their earlier shock replaced by varying degrees of concern.
Her heart warmed slightly.
"Thank you."
"If something’s wrong, tell me. If someone bullied you, tell me. Don’t keep bottling everything up at your age—you’re already worrying like a little old lady," Chen Manbai scolded.
"How old are you, calling yourself ‘big sister’ all the time?" Jian Xiangxiang defended Ruan Yu.
"Two months older is still older. Don’t argue—in this dorm, I am the big sister."
"Tough at home."
"Hey, I am tough at home, so what? Want to fight?"
"Fight me then!"The two of them clung to each other, scratching and clawing like a pair of bickering cats.
Xia Qiaofeng watched from the side, thoroughly amused.
Ruan Yu took the hairdryer and walked to the mirror. When she looked up, she realized she was smiling too.
OpenNovel