Chapter 190 - 158: I Don’t Want to Go Back

Chapter 190: Chapter 158: I Don’t Want to Go Back

Jiang Xueli looked refreshed and vibrant after her haircut.

She turned her head from side to side in front of the salon mirror, her newly shortened twin pigtails swaying gently at her shoulders.

Even the hairstylist sighed in admiration. "You’re so pretty, dear. Honestly, your hair is gorgeous as is, but of course, it’d be even more stunning dyed."

Jiang Xueli’s cheeks reddened slightly, and she stayed silent. Although she thought it looked nice too, it wouldn’t really count unless a certain someone said so. After all, a girl dresses up for the one she wants to impress.

Jiang Xueli turned to look at Lin Zhengran. "Zhengran, what do you think?"

Lin Zhengran looked at Jiang Xueli’s twin pigtails. He reached out and touched one of the smooth braids. She seemed to have grown even more vivacious.

"Beautiful."

’It definitely looks good. Her hair was only shortened; nothing else really changed.’

Hearing his praise, Jiang Xueli was overjoyed.

After paying the bill, the two of them left the salon and headed back to school.

On the taxi ride back, Jiang Xueli took out her phone and searched online for pictures of "blonde twin pigtails."

’There are quite a few, but there aren’t many photos of actual people. Most of them are cartoon drawings. That’s a little strange.’

’Still, I think the hairstylist was right. Black pigtails are cute, but blonde seems so much more vibrant. It fits the style I’m going for.’

As she scrolled, she even found a picture of a boy’s hands holding a girl’s twin pigtails from behind.

Blushing, she quickly swiped past the photo and asked Lin Zhengran, "Zhengran, do you think I’d look good if I dyed my hair blonde? The hairstylist said I’d look good with blonde hair, but I’ve never dyed it before, so I have no idea."

Seeing her tempted expression, Lin Zhengran knew what she was thinking.

"You would," he agreed.

"Really?!" She was delighted.

"Of course. I think you’re a natural for that color."

Jiang Xueli pursed her lips, peeking at Lin Zhengran. She ran a hand through one of her pigtails and asked in a low voice, "Then... should I dye it right after I graduate from high school?"

Lin Zhengran smiled. "Sure. I’ll go with you then."

"It’s a promise."

Jiang Xueli glanced back at the pictures on her phone, imagining what she would look like with blonde hair. ’I’ll definitely be so pretty.’

But then she suddenly saw the time on her phone.

It was past ten.

She called out to the driver, "Sir! We should be able to make it back to school before eleven, right?"

The driver sped through the city, one hand deftly on the gearshift as he pressed the accelerator. "No problem. It’s just a short ways away. It’s only a little after ten now. I’ll have you there in ten-some minutes. It won’t take long at all."

Jiang Xueli wasn’t worried. An eleven o’clock curfew gave them more than enough time.

Unexpectedly, the driver asked, "But what are you heading to campus for at this hour?"

"Huh? To go back and sleep, of course."

The driver glanced at the two of them in the rearview mirror. ’Kids these days are such good actors.’

It took him back to his own high school days. He chuckled and asked,

"Sleep? The dorms lock up at ten. It’s already past ten now, how are you going to get in to sleep?"

Jiang Xueli froze. She gave a dismissive wave and a nervous laugh, but a bead of sweat inexplicably appeared on her forehead.

"Sir, you must have it mixed up. The girls’ dorms at our school lock up at eleven, not ten. We can still get in at this time. I asked just a few days ago... Right, Zhengran?"

Lin Zhengran looked out the window and said truthfully, "The boys’ dorm is at ten. It’s never been eleven. I don’t know about the girls’ dorm, though."

The smile on Jiang Xueli’s face suddenly froze, and her whole body turned to stone.

Her lips parted in fear as she turned to Lin Zhengran. "Huh? Are you serious? The boys’ dorms lock up at ten?"

"Yeah, it’s definitely ten."

The driver laughed.

"You’ve got it wrong, miss. All the dorms at your school lock up at ten. I’ve been driving this cab for years. I drove a whole bunch of students back to their dorms around nine o’clock. It’s past ten now—haven’t you noticed the streets are empty of students?"

Jiang Xueli looked out at the street. Sure enough, it was empty of students. Her brain short-circuited.

Then, panic set in. She looked fearfully between Lin Zhengran and the driver, her voice growing loud and stuttering with anxiety.

"Th-Then what do we do?! If they lock up at ten, doesn’t that mean I can’t get back into my dorm? Where am I going to sleep tonight?!"

The driver had to suppress a laugh.

"There’s always a way."

Jiang Xueli asked Lin Zhengran, "Zhengran, if the boys’ dorm closes at ten, how are you going to get in? You can’t get in either, right?! Are we both going to sleep on the street tonight?"

"I wasn’t planning on going back tonight anyway. I was going to find a place to shower, so I’m getting a room near the school for the night."

"Get a room?"

The panic in her heart seemed to vanish in an instant. Jiang Xueli just blinked, stunned.

After a moment, her pupils dilated, and a blush inexplicably crept onto her fair face.

Her eyes quivered.

Looking at Lin Zhengran’s completely natural expression, she finally understood why the driver’s tone had been so suggestive just now.

Overcome with shyness, she fell silent and sat primly in her seat.

With her head lowered, legs pressed tightly together, and hands clenched into fists on her knees, her face was bright red.

’Getting a room...’

’Is Zhengran hinting at something?’

’Could it be that Zhengran knew all along that the dorms close at ten and did this on purpose?’

’Was his goal... to spend tonight with me...?’

’Does he want to... do that sort of thing with me?’

’Isn’t it too soon for that?’

’I know some of my classmates have already done it, but Zhengran and I have only just started holding hands.’

’Our relationship hasn’t reached that stage yet.’

’But then again...’

Jiang Xueli’s hands, resting on her knees, tightened into fists.

She slowly bit her lip.

’She suddenly remembered how the other girls always said that boys their age have strong desires for... certain things.’

’Zhengran must be the same, right? He just doesn’t usually show it... but deep down, he still wants to do that kind of...’

’...thing that adults do...’

’Tonight...’

After passing two intersections, the driver announced, "We’re here."

"Huh?!" Jiang Xueli hadn’t expected them to arrive so quickly. ’What happened to ten-some minutes?’

It had, in fact, been more than ten minutes. Time had simply flown by because she was so lost in her own whirlwind of thoughts.

Lin Zhengran got out of the taxi.

Shyly, Jiang Xueli got out as well.

After the taxi drove off, Jiang Xueli clenched her fists, her heart starting to race.

"Zhen... Zhengran..."

But Lin Zhengran said, "Don’t worry. I’ll go have a talk with your dorm matron in a bit. She’ll let you in."

"Mm... Huh?" Jiang Xueli looked up at him. "You want me to go back to my dorm?"

Lin Zhengran asked curiously, "What else?"

Jiang Xueli was both shy and confused. She had no idea what Lin Zhengran was up to. ’Is he playing hard to get?’

’Probably not... Would Zhengran really do something like that?’

"But... didn’t you say you were getting a room to shower and stuff?"

"Yeah, I am."

He had actually faintly guessed Jiang Xueli’s thoughts. He bent down, looking closely into her blushing, shy eyes, and asked with a straight face, "What are you thinking about? Don’t tell me you want to come with me? You don’t want to go back to the girls’ dorm anymore?"

She grew flustered under his gaze and instinctively closed her eyes, lightly pounding his chest with her fists. "What are you talking about! How could I possibly be thinking something like that!"

After her flustered assault, she suddenly squatted on the ground and covered her face. "I wasn’t thinking that. I wasn’t thinking about that kind of thing."

"Then that settles it, right? Let me walk you back."

But just as he straightened up, Jiang Xueli suddenly tugged lightly at his pant leg.

"Zhengran, wait... Actually, going back to the dorm this late will probably disturb my roommates. I think... it would be better to stay out with you. I don’t want to go back."

She blushed, staring at the ground, not even sure what she was saying anymore.