I rejected your confession, but you took my best friend home?

Chapter 10 What could be less valuable than returned love letters and gifts?

Finally, with Yin Mengran's patient guidance, Zhou Heng learned how to solve the problem.

The moment he wrote down the correct answer, he slumped helplessly in his chair, a look of utter despair on his face.

He felt like his head was a clogged toilet, completely full, and he just couldn't concentrate on anything else today.

He just felt that mathematics was a really scary thing, at least a top-tier boss in the game. It was the kind of thing where it was normal not to be able to beat it, but if you beat it, you would feel really awesome.

"Cuckoo-"

Seeing Zhou Heng's exhausted appearance, Yin Mengran covered her mouth with one hand and couldn't help but laugh.

Zhou Heng glanced at her but said nothing. He felt his hopes were slim; his biggest problem was how to improve his ranking in this exam.

Just then, besides Yin Mengran's laughter, a gurgling sound suddenly came from inside...

"..."

Yin Mengran's laughter stopped abruptly, her face frozen. The rumbling sound she'd just heard was from her stomach...

"Ok?"

Zhou Heng looked at Yin Mengran with a puzzled expression and asked, "Have you had dinner tonight?"

A faint blush rose on Yin Mengran's cheeks as she stammered, "..."

"Uh... this... no..."

In fact, she hadn't eaten anything all day except for the breakfast Zhou Heng made in the morning.

I went out to buy various things and then took a shower, which exhausted me.

Realizing it was almost time to eat, and worried that eating out would make her late, she decided not to eat...

It's past midnight now, and I'm starting to get hungry...

"Um--"

Zhou Heng exhaled a heavy breath through his nose, then stood up, walked towards the kitchen, and said:

"Wait."

When Yin Mengran saw Zhou Heng about to cook for her, she quickly waved her hand and advised him against it:

"Oh no! No need for that, I don't need to eat, it's too late, forget it..."

"We can't let you go hungry here."

Zhou Heng only replied with this sentence before stepping into the kitchen and closing the door.

She had already experienced Zhou Heng's stubbornness firsthand yesterday, so she knew that no amount of persuasion would work.

She remained seated, head slightly bowed, staring at the table, lips pursed, lost in thought.

But no matter what you're thinking, the feeling of hunger in your stomach is impossible to ignore.

A little while later, the sizzling sound of food being put into a pan came from the kitchen, followed by a delicious aroma.

She ate a bowl of noodles that Zhou Heng made yesterday, and had breakfast that Zhou Heng made this morning. Although neither tasted particularly special, she could tell they were delicious.

You can tell that Zhou Heng is a very good cook.

Ten minutes later, the kitchen light went out, and Zhou Heng came out carrying a steaming plate of fried rice.

"Okay, eat up."

Zhou Heng pushed the fried rice in front of Yin Mengran and said softly.

Yin Mengran didn't refuse too much. Having not eaten all day, she couldn't resist the aroma of the fried rice in front of her.

"Thanks..."

After thanking her quietly, Yin Mengran began to eat. She ate in small bites, never wolfing down her food, no matter how hungry she was.

But they kept eating, one bite after another, until the plate was empty.

They quickly finished the entire plate of fried rice.

After finishing her meal, Yin Mengran quickly stood up and went to the kitchen to wash the dishes.

She realized that Zhou Heng's cooking was really delicious. It would be wonderful to be able to eat his cooking every day, or even bring his meals to school...

Yin Mengran realized what was happening and quickly shared the idea.

I'm only staying here temporarily. Once things settle down, I'll definitely leave. I can't stay here indefinitely.

Before leaving, she planned to pay Zhou Heng a sum of rent. She couldn't just stay there for free and eat and drink for free; that wasn't her style.

After leaving the kitchen, Yin Mengran looked ahead and froze for a second.

She saw Zhou Heng standing next to the cabinet, staring intently at the cardboard box beside him.

Those were the love letters he had given Tong Yining and the gifts he had bought for her; he had seen them this morning...

Although I didn't peek at everything, I didn't put it back exactly as it was; it seems like I just left it there after I finished looking at it...

Sure enough, after seeing Yin Mengran, Zhou Heng asked, "Did you see her?"

Yin Mengran trembled, feeling as if she knew too much and was about to be silenced.

"Ah...no...well, okay, I saw it, but I didn't open them one by one! I just saw...one..."

Zhou Heng picked up a letter, glanced at it, and tossed it back, muttering:

"It's fine to look at them, they're ridiculous anyway, just treat them as a joke. I plan to throw them away tomorrow morning."

"Huh? You...you really want to throw it away...?"

"Hmm, what could be less valuable than returned love letters and gifts? Just a pile of trash."

Zhou Heng stared at the box of love letters in front of him, his gaze darkening, a hint of disappointment creeping into his eyes.

Yin Mengran witnessed this scene clearly, and her heart felt even more sympathy for Zhou Heng.

She knew that Zhou Heng had also fantasized about what it would be like to be with Tong Yining, but those were ultimately unfulfilled fantasies.

Zhou Heng took a piece of tape, sealed the cardboard box, and carried it to the door, placing it with the trash he was going to throw away the next morning.

Then she turned around, her expression changed, and the disappointment she had just shown vanished completely. She then went to the bathroom to wash up.

Even Yin Mengran was somewhat surprised, not expecting Zhou Heng's mood to change so quickly.

But then she thought, perhaps it was precisely because she had endured so much that she could let go so easily now.

Over the past two years, Zhou Heng had probably struggled with this decision countless times, so he no longer struggles with it now.

Soon, it was 12:30 AM, and the part Yin Mengran was most worried about was about to begin: going to sleep...

"The lights are off."

"Um..."

"Snapped--"

With the lights off, the bedroom was pitch black. The two lay on the bed, separated by a blanket.

"It's still the same as before..."

Yin Mengran was wrapped tightly in the blanket, with only her head peeking out, like a baby in swaddling clothes.

They didn't discuss who slept in the bedroom or on the sofa today; they just slept in the bed as they did yesterday!

This is the second time I've slept in the same bed with a boy from my class!

If other people or classmates find out, how am I supposed to explain this?

I doubt even ten mouths could explain it...

Just then, a different voice appeared in Yin Mengran's mind.

but...

Do I really still care about being misunderstood?

My family went through a major crisis, and I felt like I wanted to die. I was wandering around in my school uniform, crying as I went, completely oblivious to the stares and whispers of others.

I have to admit, if it weren't for Zhou Heng, I don't know where I would be right now, and I wouldn't be able to concentrate on going to school tomorrow.

It could be said that Zhou Heng saved him.

Compared to that, what's the big deal about this little thing?

"Zhou Heng..."

"Ok?"

When Zhou Heng heard Yin Mengran call his name, he responded softly.

The next second, what was heard was Yin Mengran's soft and weak voice:

"Good night..."