Chapter 37: I Brought Han Hanhan Home!!

Wednesday afternoon, the tree-lined path was covered in golden fallen leaves.

Stepping on them made a rustling sound.

Xiao Yan held my bag in one hand and held my hand with the other.

The bag was stuffed full of snacks and the stargazing night materials Bai Lu had organized, bulging so much the zipper was about to burst.

“How much stuff did you even put in your bag?”

She jiggled it, tilting her head to look at me, her eyes curved into smiles.

“It’s like you’re moving.”

“It’s because you insisted I bring it all…”

I mumbled quietly, a strawberry lollipop in my mouth, my cheeks puffed out.

The candy had stopped being sweet long ago.

Ever since she said “come to my house” yesterday, I haven’t been able to taste sweetness.

The plastic stick poked around in my mouth; I forgot to spit it out.

Yesterday, on the way home, Xiao Yan suddenly pulled me into a corner of the hallway.

Her face was flushed, but her expression was quite serious:

“Come directly to my house after class tomorrow. There are a few unclear annotations on the star map, want to check them together?”

Before I could even speak, she quietly added:

“My parents are working overtime tomorrow, no one’s home.”

And then.

She ran off.

Her ponytail swished around the hallway corner and disappeared without a trace.

I stood there frozen.

Only one thought in my head:

Go to her house.

Her room.

A girl’s room.

Even though I’m a girl now too, wearing skirts, tying my hair, using strawberry-scented shampoo.

But the old me in my head occasionally pops up:

Is it okay to go to a girl’s private room?

So nervous.

Tossed and turned all last night. What to wear?

Hair up or down?

Would it be awkward to go empty-handed?

Bring a star-shaped accessory?

Too deliberate.

In the end, I chose the most ordinary hoodie, hair tied in a low ponytail.

Now, standing at the foot of her building, my legs feel a bit weak.

Xiao Yan looked up at the third-floor window with warm light, her steps becoming a bit lighter.

“We’re here.”

She gestured with her chin,

“That’s the one.”

I looked over, and my face instantly burned.

My mind jumped to that night at the inn: the princess carry, calling her ‘sister,’ her face leaning in with a mischievous smile.

The lollipop in my mouth was just a plastic stick now, poking my tongue.

“Your parents…”

My voice wavered.

“Overtime, said they wouldn’t be home today.”

She squeezed my hand, her thumb drawing circles on the back of my hand, her voice soft, coaxing,

“Don’t worry, it’s just us two. No one will suddenly appear.”

“But you said yesterday we were going to check the star map…”

I was still struggling.

“Yeah, check the star map.”

She leaned in a little closer, her voice lowering,

“And play a bit.”

“Play what?”

Her eyes were bright, looking at me like she was watching prey, the corner of her mouth lifting:

“Mainly check the star map.”

I glared at her.

She laughed and pulled me into the stairwell.

The stairwell was a bit dark, motion-sensor lights flicking on one by one, then off.

My palms were sweaty; I looked down at my shoelaces.

“Why is your face so red?”

She tilted her head to look at me, the corner of her mouth lifted.

“I-it’s not red.”

“Liar.”

She reached out and poked my cheek, her fingertip cool,

“It’s hot. You could fry an egg on it.”

I turned my head away, not looking at her.

She chuckled, not teasing me further.

After climbing a few more steps, she spoke again, her voice a little softer:

“Actually, the star map annotations aren’t that urgent.”

I looked up at her.

She wasn’t looking at me, staring at the stairs ahead, the tips of her ears red.

“I just wanted Hanhan to come to my house.”

Her voice was very small, like she was talking to herself.

My heart skipped a beat.

My palms grew even wetter.

She cleared her throat guiltily, swinging our clasped hands:

“Hurry up, hurry up, if we dawdle any longer it’ll be dark.”

We reached the third floor.

She took a key from her pocket, inserted it into the lock, and turned.

The door opened, a wave of warm air rushing out.

Wooden furniture, laundry detergent, and a hint of floral scent.

I stood at the doorway, not daring to step in.

“Come in.”

She turned to look at me, paused, then laughed,

“What are you nervous about?”

She reached out, grabbed my wrist, and pulled me inside:

“It’s not like you’re an outsider. You’re already at the door, still thinking of running?”

The door closed behind me.

“Welcome to my house.”

Her voice came from behind, smiling, light,

“Little bunny.”

Xiao Yan’s living room wasn’t big.

Warm-toned lights, a soft sofa, bookshelves filled with literature books and various certificates.

“Slippers for you.”

She took a brand-new pair of cotton slippers from the shoe cabinet, crouched down, and placed them by my feet.

I looked down.

Bunnies, with fluffy ears standing up on the slippers.

She didn’t stand up, looking up at me:

“I bought these especially for you.”

I froze.

Her eyes were bright under the warm yellow light, the shadows of her eyelashes falling on her cheekbones.

I stepped into the slippers, even my toes felt hot.

They were truly soft, but I felt like I was stepping on something extraordinary.

“They fit, right?”

She asked.

“…Yeah.”

She smiled, stood up, and naturally reached out to hold my hand.

Her fingers laced through mine, one by one, tightening.

“Let’s go.”

She pulled me towards the bedroom.

It’s coming! A girl’s room.

My fingers trembled slightly.

She felt it, glanced back at me, didn’t say anything, just squeezed my hand tighter.

The bedroom wasn’t big.

A small desk lamp on the desk, a storage shelf against the wall.

She pulled me to sit on the edge of the bed, then crouched in front of the storage shelf, looking back at me.

“Come here.”

She beckoned me.

I leaned over, my shoulder touching hers.

She pointed to the top shelf of the storage unit.

“Look at this.”

Following her finger, the most eye-catching thing was a mug printed with the Orion constellation.

I froze.

That was from when I was still the Astronomy Club President.

I bought it especially for Xiao Yan because she was the first to completely memorize all the constellation names.

“You still have this?”

My throat felt inexplicably tight.

Xiao Yan didn’t speak.

She reached out and picked up the mug, her fingertips slowly rubbing the side of the cup, then she tilted her head to look at me.

There was a faint ring of residue inside the cup; she really used it every day.

“You—”

“Yeah.”

She responded, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly.

Then she handed the mug to me:

“Feel it.”

I took it.

The cup wall was smooth, still carrying a bit of warmth from her palm.

My fingers slowly traced over the Orion pattern.

She watched from beside me, not speaking, just looking at me.

On the lower shelf, two ticket stubs were pressed.

I curiously leaned in to look.

Amusement park ticket stubs, fitting together to form a complete Starry Sky Ferris Wheel picture.

That was the Astronomy Club’s first group outing.

I had just transformed into a girl, wasn’t used to anything, didn’t even dare wear skirts.

Xiao Yan discovered the two stubs could form a complete picture and wheedled my copy away from me.

“You didn’t even throw this away…”

My eyes felt a bit hot.

She reached out and pinched my earlobe.

Her fingertip was cool, brushing past the shell of my ear, then withdrawing.

Her fingers slid down from my shoulder, landing on the back of my hand, resting lightly.

I took a deep breath and turned to look at the nightstand.

She pulled open the drawer.

Inside was a stack of neatly folded scent test cards.

Last week while shopping, she dragged me to the perfume counter to test scents, trying every single one.

She said, “Not buying, just want to smell them.”

Turns out she took all the test cards home.

Each one had the date and “Hanhan’s favorite scent” written in pencil.

“Why are you collecting these?”

My voice was muffled.

“To smell the scents you like.”

She tilted her head to look at me, her fingers slowly drawing circles on the back of my hand,

“Then I can secretly buy them for you.”

Flipping through these little items, I couldn’t help but sigh:

“I didn’t expect you to keep so many…”

Before I could finish, she hugged me from behind.

Her chin rested in the crook of my shoulder, her hair brushing against my neck.

Her arms circled my waist, her fingertips gently tapping my side.

“Everything related to you,”

Her voice was close to my ear, light, her lips almost touching my earlobe,

“I can’t bear to throw away.”

My heart skipped a beat.

No, skipped several beats.

I turned to look at her.

Her face was very close, her nose almost touching mine.

Her eyes were bright, my face reflected in her pupils.

“Your face is so red.”

She said, her voice low.

“N-no, it’s not…”

She didn’t argue, just smiled.

Then she reached out, tucked the stray hair hanging by my face behind my ear.

Her fingertip brushed past my cheekbone, slowly slid to my ear, and paused.

“You said there were other things,”

I asked quietly,

“What are they?”

She deliberately kept it a secret, pinched my cheek, her thumb rubbing my cheek:

“A secret. I’ll show you later.”

“Show me now~”

“No.”

She smiled mischievously, let go of me, stood up, and reached out to me.

“Let’s go eat snacks first.”

I placed my hand in hers.

She gripped it tightly and pulled me up directly from the carpet.

She pulled me to the fridge and dug out a bunch of strawberry-flavored things.

Strawberry daifuku, strawberry yogurt, strawberry chocolate, all pink.

“Why is your fridge full of strawberries?”

I crouched on the carpet, looking at the small mountain of snacks.

“Who told me I have a little bunny who loves strawberries? Bought them specially yesterday.”

She opened a pack of strawberry daifuku and sat down beside me.

Her knee touched mine.

“Open up.”

I obediently opened my mouth and took a bite.

Sweetness spread on my tongue, soft and sticky.

Huh?

Why is there something hard inside?

Feels like it’s moving!

“Silly, that’s my finger!”

She shook her finger; there was a faint tooth mark on it.

My face instantly flushed red.

She wasn’t angry, opened another pack, and started eating herself.

The two of us sat cross-legged on the carpet, eating snacks while flipping through her childhood photo album.

There was one photo.

Xiao Yan with two pigtails, tears on her face, clutching a little bunny doll with a missing arm.

“Pfft—”

I almost spat out the strawberry daifuku.

“This is you?”

“Yeah.”

Her expression was blank, but the tip of her nose was red.

“What were you crying about?”

“The bunny doll broke.”

“And then?”

“My mom sewed it back.”

She paused, her fingers stroking the photo,

“I hugged the doll and cried all night.”

“So cute…”

I covered my mouth, my shoulders shaking slightly.

My eyes curved into crescents, the corners of my mouth lifted, trying hard not to laugh.

“Had enough laughing?”

She looked at me sideways.

I shook my head, then nodded, not sure myself.

She stared at me for two seconds.

“Laughing at me?”

Her voice lowered, the corner of her mouth slowly lifting into a dangerous curve,

“Then I’ll have to punish you.”

She reached out, pinched my chin, and gently lifted it.

Her thumb stroked my jawline, slowly moving up, stopping beside the corner of my mouth.

My smile froze.

She leaned in.

Her nose brushed against mine, her breath warm on my lips.

“Still laughing?”

I didn’t speak.

Her thumb pressed against my lower lip, applying a gentle pressure.

My lips parted slightly, breath escaping between my teeth.

“Your face is this red.”

Her voice was very light, carrying a hint of laughter.

My heart was beating so fast it felt like it would shatter my ribs.

She lowered her head and kissed the corner of my mouth.

Her lips touched, paused for a second, her tongue gently licking.

“Strawberry flavor.”

She pulled back a little, licked her own lips, looking at me with bright eyes.

My mind went completely blank.

She leaned in again, this time kissing my forehead, very lightly, like a feather brushing past.

“The punishment isn’t over yet.”

Her voice was muffled against my forehead.

Then she pulled away, pinched my cheek, smiling mischievously.

“Alright, I’ll stop teasing you.”

I buried my face in her chest, not daring to look up.

“Your face is so hot.”

Her voice came from above my head, filled with laughter.

Her hand rested on the back of my head, her fingertips gently threading through my hair, slowly combing.

“Shut up.”

“Your ears are red too.”

“Shut up, shut up.”

She laughed and tightened her arms, resting her chin on the top of my head, gently rubbing.

Sunlight leaked through the gap in the curtains, drawing a golden line on the carpet.

Her fingers were still in my hair, stroking gently, one stroke at a time.

Buried in her embrace, my heart was still beating fast.

But I didn’t want to move.

Her hand slid from my hair to the nape of my neck, her fingertips gently pressing.

“That tickles…”

I shrank my neck.

“I know.”

She didn’t let go, pressed again.

I looked up and glared at her.

She looked down at me, eyes bright, the corner of her mouth lifted.

“What?”

“…Nothing.”

I buried my face again.

She chuckled, her fingers sliding from the nape of my neck to my shoulder, giving it a gentle pat.

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop teasing you.”

Right as she finished speaking, the sound of a key turning suddenly came from outside the bedroom door.

Xiao Yan froze against me.

We were still in our previous position.

Me buried in her chest, her hand resting on my shoulder.

Both of us held our breath at the same time.