Chapter 94: Annoyed That I’m in the Way

On the way back, Bian Yang offered to call a car for her, but Tang Yu insisted on taking the bus.

Bian Yang stood with his hands in his pockets beneath the bus window, the sunlight streaming down as he looked up at her. "Are you sure you can manage on your own?"

Ever since she started high school in the county, she had been riding this bus route for three years, and Tang Yu had never even considered the question. "Of course I can. I'm used to it."

He gazed at her, and after a moment, the corners of his lips moved slightly. "Then… when are you coming back tomorrow?"

Tang Yu thought for a second. "I'll be back tomorrow evening." She had classes the day after.

"Alright, then." He smiled, the curve of his lips pronounced. "I'll be waiting for you at home."

He deliberately called his apartment "home," just to tease her.

Tang Yu pressed her lips together and replied with a calm "Mm," then waved at him. "The bus is about to leave. You should go."

With that, she drew the curtain over the window, blocking his view.

Bian Yang clicked his tongue mischievously and knocked lazily on her window with his knuckles. "Open it."

The passengers in the front row couldn't help but look at her.

Tang Yu immediately lowered her head, pulled out her phone, and sent him a message: "You should go back."

His phone vibrated in his pocket. He took it out, glanced at the message without replying, and said to her through the window, his voice unhurried, "I'm just on the other side of the window—why are you sending me messages?"

A few passengers in the front row chuckled.

Tang Yu puffed up her cheeks, her face burning with embarrassment. Thankfully, just then, the driver announced the bus was departing, and all was quiet outside.

As the bus started moving, she opened the curtain and looked out the window. Bian Yang was no longer in sight; though she was the one who urged him to leave, it was she who now felt a twinge of disappointment.

She pushed the curtain aside completely and slid the window open. The warm breeze drifted in, caressing her face comfortably.

She put on her headphones, a cheerful English song playing. Now she could follow along perfectly and understood every lyric.

Her phone vibrated. She looked down.

It was a message from Bian Yang: "Don't let the wind in too much; close the window."

Tang Yu paused, a hint of confusion in her eyes, wondering how he could possibly know she had opened the window all the way.

But since he couldn't actually see, she simply replied: "Okay."

Her fingertips hovered over the screen, then quickly changed to: "Okay, okay."

She replied to his message, but still let the gentle wind in.

This window seat was the best; she could even bask in the sun. Her hair was tousled by the breeze, but she didn't care. It felt wonderful.

But that feeling of freedom barely lasted five seconds before a fair, well-shaped hand suddenly pressed against the window frame behind her. She froze, not yet processing what was happening, when that hand reached forward and closed the window. The wind disappeared in an instant.

Tang Yu instinctively turned around and met the boy's gaze.

Those eyes seemed almost bewitching, slightly lowered yet unable to conceal their wild charm.

"Bian Yang…"

He rose lazily from the row behind, gathered the snacks and flowers from the seat next to her, and put them on an empty seat in the back, then sat down beside her.

He had intended to see how long it would take the little girl to notice, but she was so absorbed in the wind and her replies were so perfunctory—so heartless.

"Well, Tang Xiaoyu, you’ve learned to say one thing and do another," he remarked, tilting his head to look at her. His tone was flat, giving away nothing. "The doctor's instructions might as well have been thrown to the dogs."

As soon as he spoke, for some reason, he felt as if he were scolding himself.

Bian Yang suddenly let out a mocking laugh, his irritation mounting.

Tang Yu blinked, thinking she must be hallucinating, and took off her headphones, inexplicably feeling a little guilty.

"Why are you here? I thought you’d already gone back…"

He said nothing, his face expressionless.

It wasn’t until Tang Yu gently tugged his sleeve, smiling up at him with that soft, apologetic voice, that he relented.

"I’ll close it right now."

She reached to pretend to close the already tightly shut window, making sure not even a crack remained, then turned back to see his reaction.

Bian Yang folded his arms, giving her a sidelong glance, as though her acting was just too poor to even bother with. He snorted, his face still unreadable.

Tang Yu awkwardly dropped her hands into her lap, her pale little fingers pinching the fabric of her jeans. "Why did you get on the bus? I’ll call for a stop—you can get off and still make it back in time."

The county-to-town bus could stop anywhere; just a shout, and the driver would pull over. Passengers could board the same way, signaling to the driver.

But every time she had to call for a stop, Tang Yu had to do a bit of mental preparation—otherwise the driver might not hear.

"I just got on, and you already want to kick me off," Bian Yang said, his lips pressed in a thin line, eyes fixed on her until she grew uncomfortable. "I’m worried about your safety, but you think I’m just getting in your way. That’s perfect."

"I don’t! I never thought that!" she hurried to explain. "I’m just afraid I’ll make you late getting back."

It was nearly six now; by the time they reached their destination it would be seven. If he turned back, adding the wait for another bus, he wouldn’t get home until nearly nine.

Bian Yang arched his brow, his tone cool. "I don’t believe you."

Tang Yu fell silent.

If he didn’t believe her, then so be it.

Her lashes trembled, and she simply looked out the window, deciding that when they arrived, she’d call a cab to take him home—saving him the wait for the bus so it wouldn’t be so late.

Bian Yang waited a while but got no reaction from her. The corner of his mouth twitched; he reached over and, with his long fingers, turned her head toward him. She still looked lost, and the sight made his heart ache even more.

"Tang Xiaoyu, can’t you tell I need to be coaxed?"

She blinked, seemingly never having realized it.

He clenched his jaw, his eyelids lowering as he softened his tone. "Coax me."

She licked her dry lips, at a loss—she had never coaxed anyone before.

After a moment’s thought, she lifted her clear eyes and timidly asked, "What should I do to make you happy?"

Looking down at her, so petite, her eyes so bright and clear, Bian Yang felt his whole heart melt.

"Didn’t I teach you hand-in-hand last night? Already forgotten?" he said in a low voice.

At the memory of last night’s kiss, Tang Yu’s breath caught. She barely met his gaze before looking away, her heart skipping several beats.

It was almost summer, and with the window closed, the air was growing warm.

"No," she blurted, not even thinking.

"Then how about this?" She felt his fingers gently pry open her clenched hand and place it in his palm.

His warm touch wrapped around her hand.

Tang Yu’s cheeks flushed. If she tried to move, he just gently tightened his grip.

"I’m easy to please," he whispered, leaning close so that his breath tickled her ear, making it itch. "This will do for now, but in the future, who knows."