Chapter 61: Guilty Conscience

Early in the morning, An Ling put on an apron and busied herself in the kitchen, skillfully preparing today’s lunch bento.

When she got up this morning, the restless heat in her lower abdomen had faded a lot. 

An Ling felt she was fine again and shouldn’t make a fool of herself at school.

Today she still made curry chicken rice. 

Li Yang’s portion was super large, with extra meat and rice, and fried meatballs placed on top of the rice.

An Ling hadn’t made curry in a long time. She tasted a bit. 

It was pretty good.

She packed the bento. 

There was a divider in the middle of the lunch box to keep the rice from soaking in the curry the whole time.

After tidying up the kitchen, An Ling went upstairs, changed into her school uniform, shouldered her backpack, and pushed open the front door.

Outside, Li Yang was already standing there, holding two bags of breakfast in his hands.

“Morning!” 

He saw An Ling come out and immediately broke into a grin.

“Morning.” 

An Ling walked over and took her share of breakfast.

“What did you make today?” 

Li Yang leaned in and twitched his nose.

“Curry chicken and fried meatballs.” 

An Ling said as she walked forward. 

“Let’s go. If we don’t leave now we’ll be late.”

“This good again.” 

Li Yang caught up with her pace. 

“How do you feel today? Is your body better?”

“Mm. Much better.” 

An Ling nodded. 

“What about you? Did you finish the remaining homework last night?”

“Of course. It just took a bit long, and I also scrolled through some videos for a while.” Li Yang yawned. 

“Went to bed a little late.”

“Can’t you just go to sleep directly? Why do you have to play for a bit?”

“I can’t fall asleep if I don’t play on my phone for a while.”

“You can fall asleep in class. Anyway, you can’t sleep during the main classes today. Self-study period and psychology class are fine.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll listen to you.”

An Ling tilted her head and looked at him with an untrusting gaze.

“Don’t look at me with that expression.” 

Li Yang felt guilty under her gaze. 

“Do I look like the kind of person who doesn’t keep his word?”

“Fine. I’ll believe you once.” 

An Ling turned her head back, sped up her steps proudly, and her ears stood up energetically.

Li Yang also returned to a normal walking speed and caught up with An Ling. 

The two walked side by side on the early morning street. 

The air was a little cool, but the sunlight was already beginning to carry warmth.

An Ling took a bite of the bun. 

As expected, it was meat-filled and still hot. 

The juices spread in her mouth.

“An Ling.” 

Li Yang suddenly spoke.

“Mm?”

“Do you still remember that question I asked you last night?”

“What about it?” 

An Ling turned her head. 

“I’m telling you, I won’t say it again. If you make me say it one more time, you’ll have to trade it for a bite from me.”

“No. I’m not free enough to ask again either.” 

Li Yang looked at her. 

“I just thought about it a bit and wanted to ask you one more question.”

An Ling’s heart skipped a beat. “What question?”

“Do you think…” Li Yang paused. “In all these years we’ve known each other, have I changed at all?”

“Why is it this kind of question again?” 

An Ling complained, and also felt relieved that Li Yang hadn’t asked anything about herself.

“Just answer it. For the sake of me taking care of you these past few days. If you don’t say anything I’ll be sad and hide under the covers crying alone tonight when I get back.”

“Ew~ So cheesy.”

“Fine… If I have to say what changed, it’s that… you’ve gotten a lot taller than before, and stronger than before, and a little more stupid than before.”

“That’s it? And can you not quietly roast me a couple of times every single time?”

“That’s it. And I wasn’t roasting you. I was telling the truth.”

“I mean in terms of personality.” 

Li Yang said. “Have you felt that I’ve changed?”

An Ling thought about it seriously.

In terms of personality…

“No.” 

She shook her head. 

“You’re still the same as when we were little. Heartless. And you’re still the same toward me as before.”

“That’s it?”

“What else do you want?”

“For example…” 

Li Yang carefully chose his words. 

“Do you think I’ve become a bit more reliable?”

An Ling froze for a moment, then laughed. “You? Reliable?”

“What are you laughing at?” Li Yang was a little unconvinced. “I’m very reliable, okay?”

“Yes, yes, yes. You’re very reliable.” An Ling said perfunctorily. 

“Reliable enough that you need someone else to explain the homework for you.”

“That’s different!” 

Li Yang got anxious. 

“That’s about studying. I’m talking about other aspects.”

“Other aspects?” An Ling tilted her head and thought. 

“For example?”

“For example…” 

Li Yang scratched his head. 

“For example, if you run into any trouble, I’ll definitely help you.”

An Ling’s steps paused for a moment.

She raised her head and looked at Li Yang. Their eyes met.

“I know you would definitely help me.” An Ling said quietly.

“But I feel like you wouldn’t let me help you.” Li Yang continued.

“If… if something happens… I’ll definitely come to you.” 

An Ling lowered her head and said with a guilty conscience.

“Really?”

“Aiya!” 

An Ling suddenly sped up her steps and started jogging. 

“Time’s almost up. Stop dawdling. The buns are going to get cold.”

An Ling fled in disarray. 

Li Yang froze for a moment, looking at An Ling who was quickly running away. 

It seemed she was still unwilling to tell him.

He felt very disappointed inside. From his understanding of An Ling, she definitely had many big things she was hiding from him.

“Sigh…” 

Li Yang still sped up his steps and caught up with the fleeing An Ling.

“There’s still plenty of time. No need to run.” Li Yang grabbed her in one motion.

“Is that so?” 

An Ling pretended to take out her phone and check the time. 

“I misread the time just now.”

Li Yang looked at her. 

What a fake excuse. She clearly hadn’t taken out her phone just now.

“Alright. Don’t rush. Let’s walk to school normally. I don’t have anything else to ask either.”

“Aiya, it has nothing to do with what you asked. I really did misread the time.”

“Let’s go. First to school, first to school.” An Ling urged with a guilty conscience.