Writing a Love Letter

"Let's go, Yuyou, we should shower and change clothes." After P.E. class, Tang Keke affectionately looped her arm through Bai Yuyou's, grinning as she spoke. Such gestures were perfectly normal between girls—even holding hands while shopping wouldn’t raise eyebrows. But if two guys did the same, the reaction would be entirely different.

Though there was no real difference in essence, people clung to biases and herd mentality, as if blending into the "majority" granted them a sense of security.

"Are you really that fit? You don’t even seem sweaty." Tang Keke touched Bai Yuyou’s arm, finding it cool and dry, which piqued her curiosity. She’d heard some people had underdeveloped sweat glands, though.

Bai Yuyou glanced at her arm, then lifted her shirt slightly to reveal her stomach. "Here… sweat."

"N-no! Don’t do that!" Tang Keke immediately stopped her.

Bai Yuyou seemed to remember something and nodded faintly. "Right… only Ye Shuang can see."

Tang Keke blinked. "Did he say that?"

Bai Yuyou tilted her head, as if pondering, then nodded again. "Mhm."

Tang Keke scratched her head. Well, that didn’t seem impossible.

"Come on, let’s shower and change before heading home." Tang Keke’s gaze drifted to the boys in their class. "Look at them—they’re just going straight home or to club activities like this. Aren’t they worried about stinking up the place?"

"Stink."

"Yeah, sweat smells. It’d bother people."

Bai Yuyou looked enlightened.

Their "shower" was more of a quick rinse—the girls’ locker room had hot water, but the stall doors only covered the middle section. As steam swirled, Tang Keke peeked over the partition, grinning.

"Yuyou, does Ye Shuang know we had P.E. today?"

Bai Yuyou, covered in soap suds, squinted. "Phone… message…"

"Oh, but Yuyou—I’m over here." Tang Keke sighed as Bai Yuyou kept talking to the opposite stall.

After showering, a large dryer stood in the corner of the locker room. Stepping under it blasted hot air, though most students only dried their hair halfway—after all, it was barely past 4 p.m.

"Let’s go."

"Okay."

Back in the classroom, Bai Yuyou found two letters tucked in her desk—clearly, more love letters.

"Ugh, these again." Tang Keke side-eyed them, recalling the incident from before. Her gaze flicked to Bai Yuyou’s forehead, now hidden under her bangs. The wound had healed, but the memory lingered. The school had cracked down, so such things shouldn’t happen again—but Tang Keke worried these letters might reopen old wounds.

Yet Bai Yuyou seemed unfazed, even indifferent. To her, being beaten was trivial compared to everything else she’d endured.

Her earliest memories were of Bai Laoqi’s drunken fists. She’d grown numb to it.

Adaptability and habit were terrifying things. Even the most twisted experiences could feel normal once you got used to them.

"These… handle?" Bai Yuyou held up the envelopes.

"Your call. But… are you okay?" Tang Keke asked carefully.

Bai Yuyou shook her head.

"Expelling them was too lenient." Tang Keke clenched her fists, indignant. Neither knew those girls had since been thrown into a manure pit by Li Fugui.

"I want to write one… for Ye Shuang," Bai Yuyou murmured.

Tang Keke’s eyes sparkled. "Leave it to me! I’ll teach you!"

"You… can?"

"Don’t underestimate me—I’m a love expert! A measly love letter? I’ll have him swooning in no time." Tang Keke was fired up.

They completely forgot Ye Shuang was waiting outside.

"They’re running late—it’s already 4:30." Chen Qin checked her gem-studded limited-edition watch, then glanced at Ye Shuang. "Should we go buy groceries first?"

Ye Shuang stretched lazily. "Girls shower after P.E. It’s normal for them to take time."

"You’re awfully well-informed," Chen Qin said, a hint of jealousy in her voice.

"Uh." Ye Shuang chuckled awkwardly. "It’s common sense. Besides, if we’re talking about knowing someone, I know you better, don’t I?"

Chen Qin leaned forward slightly, eyes bright. "Prove it."

"Like what?"

"Hmm… something no one else knows."

Something no one else knew?

Ye Shuang’s expression turned odd. "You sure?"

"Just say it!" Chen Qin smacked his shoulder. "Quit stalling!"

"Alright." He paused. "You have a mole… on your chest."

Dead silence.

Chen Qin’s face burned. She glanced down at her outfit. "H-how do you know that?!"

"We bathed together as kids. I remembered."

"We were five or six back then!"

"Guess I have a good memory," he deflected.

Chen Qin’s face reddened further until she finally swatted at him. "Forget it!"

"You’re hitting me?!"

"Forget it, you jerk!"

Her slaps were light, more flustered than forceful. Ye Shuang played along, feigning protest before letting it go.

"You’re wrong. I don’t have one," Chen Qin muttered, lying through her teeth.

"If I’m wrong, why hit me?"

Chen Qin turned away, her face as red as a baboon’s rear. Just then, Ye Shuang spotted Bai Yuyou and Tang Keke exiting the school gates and called them.

"Behind you—hazards are on."

The girls approached, double-checked, and climbed in.

"Hey, bro! Here we are!" Tang Keke grinned, though guilt gnawed at her—they’d spent so long on the love letter, they’d forgotten Ye Shuang was waiting.

Bai Yuyou’s eyes darted around.

Ye Shuang didn’t notice. He nudged Chen Qin. "Your highness, let’s go."

"Alright, alright, I got it," Chen Qin replied with a hint of annoyance.

"Where should we go to buy it?"

"The wet market."

"Let’s just go to Sam’s Club instead. I want to get a durian cake," Chen Qin said.

"Fine, whatever you decide."