Drifting on a String - Chapter 20

Chapter 20

The sofa dipped as Le Chu sat down next to Chen Piaopiao, one leg crossed over the other. Strangely, the closer she got, the fainter the perfume became.

She fluttered her thick eyelashes, scanning Chen Piaopiao up and down. "Such a disappointed expression?"

"I'm not bad-looking, you know." She smiled, small parentheses appearing at the corners of her mouth, and leaned back on the sofa to look at Gaogao, who was one person away.

Gaogao handed her a glass of orange juice with ice.

Le Chu took it, first wrapping her chewing gum in a napkin and tossing it in the trash, then drinking the orange juice with the posture of someone drinking alcohol.

The bar owner, dressed so cool, but drinking orange juice.

Quite unique.

Le Chu didn't chat much with this group of kids. After a few words with Gaogao, she buried her head in her phone.

Gaogao checked the time. It was ten o'clock. She gestured to the group. "Should we head out?"

"Let's finish our drinks and go."

"Alright, alright." Everyone agreed and finished off their remaining drinks.

"Tally it up for me, I'll transfer you the money later." Gaogao reached over Chen Piaopiao and patted Le Chu.

Le Chu didn't even look up, just grunted an "mhm" while replying to a WeChat message.

Gaogao stood up with her bag. A younger student did a headcount and asked, "How are we getting back? Let's call some cars first, it's pretty hot outside."

Chen Piaopiao glanced around. A few more people had joined them, so the group was different from when they arrived.

"Two… four… six…" Gaogao counted heads. "Two cars would leave one person out. Let's get three."

Chen Piaopiao stared at the dark staircase, thinking, If only Tao Jin would show up. I'd be the extra person, and I'd get a car alone with Tao Jin. Then I could pretend to be drunk, and then… Just then, Le Chu looked up and asked Gaogao, "Are you guys heading back to An University?"

"Yeah, why?"

"It's on my way. I can take one."

Perfect, that would save money. Gaogao was pleased. This kid was a real one. She raised her voice and asked, "Who can ride a motorcycle? You can go with Le Chu."

Chen Piaopiao heard the seated Le Chu let out a small laugh. She tapped Gaogao's calf with her ankle. "You're not going to ask me who I'm taking?"

As if she's the one who owns the bike.

"Oh, who do you want to take then?" Gaogao was puzzled; the two of them were the only ones who knew each other here. "Not me. You speed, and my legs turn to jelly."

Le Chu put down her phone and pointed at Chen Piaopiao. "Her."

"Huh?" Chen Piaopiao blinked, not quite processing it.

"We're both wearing black," Le Chu said with a nod. "It matches my bike today."

It was happily decided. Chen Piaopiao happened to be able to ride on a motorcycle. When she was little, she'd go with her Grandma to the countryside to pay respects to their ancestors, and there was a small path that only motorcycles could pass through. She'd been bounced around on one for years.

The group dispersed, exiting through the bar's main entrance. Only then did Chen Piaopiao realize this motorcycle was different from what she'd imagined. It was more like a life-sized version of a model she'd seen on Taobao—gleaming and glossy, clearly very large and heavy, parked on its side next to the projection of the bar's logo.

It was so cool it looked like it was from a commercial.

Gaogao saw everyone off into their ride-share cars. Before getting into one herself, she reminded Chen Piaopiao and Le Chu to be safe and to send a message in the group chat when they arrived.

Chen Piaopiao agreed, got on behind Le Chu, fastened her helmet, and wrapped her arms around her waist. With a roar, they shot out of the small alley.

It really was different from a regular motorcycle. A good suspension system supported her, making her feel like she was bouncing on clouds. There was nothing in her ears but the rapidly receding bungalows, streetlights, tree shadows, and the no-longer-gentle wind. The helmet had a strange effect; it reflected the multicolored surroundings while protecting her head so well that it felt like she was traveling through interstellar space.

After leaving the alley, they hit a stretch where a few streetlights were broken. Le Chu slowed down. Chen Piaopiao said from behind her, "This road is in the opposite direction of our university."

Le Chu explained lazily, "Motorcycles are restricted on that section. I'm taking a detour."

Chen Piaopiao didn't say anything. Then she heard Le Chu drawl, "Relax. If I had any ideas, I'd just ask you to get a room."

Her directness would usually startle most people, but Chen Piaopiao calmly shook her head and said softly, "I won't get a room. I already have someone I like."

As she said this, she thought of Tao Jin again, naturally applying the words "get a room" to her.

Le Chu's words didn't faze her at all, but if they were applied to Tao Jin, it was very stimulating.

She was experiencing a sensation more thrilling than speeding on a motorcycle, one that came from her heart.

Le Chu laughed. The little girl was quite frank. "So if you didn't have someone you liked, you would?"

"But I already do," Chen Piaopiao said, hugging her waist and resting her head sideways against her back. "You have the same hairstyle as her, so I got on your bike. I wanted to use you as a substitute for a little while."

Because Tao Jin hadn't come. She knew she was at the bar, but she still hadn't come.

She had even promised Grandma she would take care of her.

A belated sadness washed over Chen Piaopiao, but its only expression was leaning against a stranger's back for a moment.

Le Chu had met a little girl even more direct than herself, which she found quite interesting.

So the disappointment when she first saw her wasn't because she was ugly, but because she wasn't that person.

Stopping at a red light, Le Chu propped herself up with a long leg and offered her aggrieved passenger an idea. "Since you're already on the bike, you should make the most of it."

"Maybe you could take a picture of me and post it to your Moments."

"I look really cool when I'm riding."

The small parentheses appeared at the corners of her mouth again, hidden inside her helmet where no one could see.

Chen Piaopiao was amused. She took out her phone and snapped a picture of Le Chu's profile. It was dashing, unrestrained, and very worthy of a Moments post.

A few more turns and they arrived at the university. Le Chu's style was a stark contrast to the students buying grilled squid and kimbap at the school gate. Passersby couldn't help but cast curious glances.

Chen Piaopiao got off the bike, straightened her curly hair and her dress, and thanked her politely.

Le Chu didn't even take off her helmet. She said to Chen Piaopiao, "Bye-bye. Let's get a room next time we have a chance."

Chen Piaopiao couldn't help but smile. Just what kind of person is she?

She still replied, "I won't."

Then she waved goodbye.

Walking down the familiar tree-lined path, the simple campus breeze blew unhurriedly. Chen Piaopiao stopped in her tracks. She had received a message.

It was from Tao Jin.

"Want to shower?"

Three simple words, and Chen Piaopiao was once again plunged into the deep sea.

Tao Jin knew she was gay, and she knew she was out at a bar, but she still pretended not to know, still asked her to go shower.

But why, in the first place, would she rather go to Gaogao's dorm than look for Chen Piaopiao?

Chen Piaopiao bit her lower lip and replied, "I'm out right now. It's probably too late today, so I'll skip it."

"Okay, be safe," Tao Jin said.

There was nothing else. Chen Piaopiao let out a breath, locked her phone, and walked toward the dormitory building, stepping on the shadows of the trees.

The elevator was crowded at this hour. She waited for a while before finally hearing a "ding." Just as she was about to step in, Xiao Ma, who was getting out, grabbed her. "Piaopiao, you're back?"

"Ah? Yeah." Chen Piaopiao replied softly, instinctively looking behind her. No Tao Jin.

"Are you going out, Senior?"

"Going to buy a watermelon. Baby Jin and Tizi said they wanted some."

Chen Piaopiao picked at her fingers. Oh, so she didn't come looking for me, and now she wants watermelon. She seems really relaxed.

Xiao Ma sized up her outfit and caught the scent of alcohol on her. "Where'd you go? Out for a joyride?"

Huh? How did Xiao Ma know?

Then she heard Xiao Ma ask gossipily, "Who's that in your Moments post? They look so cool. Are they from our university?"

Chen Piaopiao blinked, her voice soft. "Senior, how did you see my Moments?"

The two of them weren't friends on WeChat.

Her heart felt like it had been lightly hooked by a fingernail. Could it be what I'm thinking?

"Oh, Baby Jin was looking at it. I was sitting behind her, so I saw it. I even zoomed in to look. Seriously cool. I've always had a thing for girls who ride motorcycles," Xiao Ma said, clicking her tongue in admiration.

"Mmm…" Chen Piaopiao really wanted to ask, Xiao Ma said she's cool, but what did Tao Jin say? But she felt that asking specifically would be too obvious, too improper.

Unable to fight the eager little person in her heart, she pursed her lips into a smile and asked Xiao Ma gently, "Senior Tao Jin saw it too? Did she also think she was cool?"

Xiao Ma was simple-minded. She frowned honestly, trying to recall. "I said she was cool. She didn't say anything. I think she might have smiled a little."

Then she said she wanted to eat watermelon.

Chen Piaopiao didn't have any watermelon to eat, but she felt that today's watermelon must be very sweet.

After parting with Xiao Ma, she waited for the elevator again for a while, then sauntered back to her dorm, her steps a little lighter.

After changing out of her alcohol-scented dress, Chen Piaopiao sat and combed her hair, then picked up her phone to check the group chat. Everyone had arrived back one by one and they were already splitting the bill. Chen Piaopiao transferred her share to Gaogao, adding a sweet message: "Thanks for organizing, Senior, it must have been a lot of work."

Then she put down her phone, scratching the tabletop with her index finger, lost in thought.

Le Chu's uninhibited behavior had influenced her. Or perhaps, Tao Jin's act of looking at Le Chu's photo had emboldened her.

Or maybe, it was Tao Jin's WeChat message, asking her to shower despite knowing she was gay, that had encouraged her.

The little fox was ready to cast her net.

The dorm's lights-out bell rang. An Ran turned off the main light first, leaving only their individual desk lamps. The halos of light met faintly on the floor tiles, like secrets girls only share at night.

Chen Piaopiao moved her chair to the middle and, as if having made a decision, looked up at Qi Mian. "Mianmian."

"Huh?"

A direct path. She didn't go to the ever-worried An Ran, nor the academically absorbed Luo Yue. She went to Qi Mian, the biggest gossip with the biggest mouth.

"There's something I'm struggling with, and I don't know who to talk to. Can I chat with you about it?" Chen Piaopiao asked in a soft, quiet voice.

"Huh?" Qi Mian had rarely seen her with this expression and was momentarily stunned. She dragged her chair over and sat next to her. "What's wrong, baby? Tell me."

Even the motion of squeezing her package of pickled chicken feet slowed down.

Chen Piaopiao sighed, thought for a moment, and finally spoke. "Actually, I'm gay."

"I like Tao Jin."

Qi Mian's mouth fell open, and the pickled chicken feet dropped to the floor.

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