Daydreaming about Me

Chapter 38

This question was unexpected. Lin Yu took a moment to react before saying, “No.”

It sounded a bit weak, and who knows how long Shen Juan had been standing there.

“I didn’t even see what he looked like,” Lin Yu added for a bit more credibility.

Shen Juan had seen her bouncing at the convenience store entrance from the taxi.

The girl was wearing a beige long sweater, her hair down, and a small backpack, with no suitcase in sight.

Every week when she went home, she would bring her small suitcase. This time, empty- handed, she must not have come directly from school.

Shen Juan straightened up, “Driver, you can stop here.”

The driver slowly parked and confirmed, “Right here? I’m stopping by the roadside.”

Shen Juan responded with a simple “hmm,” leaned to the side, took out his wallet to pay, and got out of the car.

He didn’t hurry over but stood across the street, lit a cigarette, and watched Lin Yu walk from one side of the large glass window to the other, peeking inside, bouncing around, sliding left and right, and jumping up and down, all without going in.

She did this for five minutes.

She seemed quite energetic, indicating her leg was probably no longer hurting.

Shen Juan stubbed out his cigarette, threw it in the roadside trash can, and crossed the street.

Lin Yu was so focused she didn’t notice the sound behind her. Shen Juan stood behind her, glanced inside with her.

A man.

His back.

She stared at this man’s back for five minutes.

After Lin Yu finished speaking, Shen Juan nodded, “Do you want to go inside and take a closer look?”

Facing the brightly lit convenience store window, the light cast a thin glow on him, making his skin look especially good. The slightly downturned corners of his tight lips were also very clear.

He seemed to be in a bad mood. Was he still angry with her?

Lin Yu blinked, “No need, I just wanted to see if he would buy my favorite cranberry yogurt.”

Then you watched for five minutes. Are you crazy?

Lin Yu sighed, feeling that ever since she got second place in her grade, her IQ seemed to be dropping.

Before she could say anything more, Shen Juan ignored her and had already turned and walked into the convenience store.

Lin Yu quickly followed. The boy in the black hoodie was still standing in front of the cold cabinet, having moved from the yogurt section to the bento section.

Shen Juan was also wearing a black hoodie today. Lin Yu stood by the shelf, comparing the two backs.

Shen Juan was taller, had broader shoulders, longer legs, and a better body proportion than the other guy.

No need to look at their faces. Shen Juan’s looks could easily beat the other guy’s by a wide margin.

How did she ever think this person’s back looked like Shen Juan’s? It doesn’t look like him at all.

Lin Yu walked up to Shen Juan and saw him holding a bottle of cranberry yogurt and a bottle of freshly squeezed juice. She also took a bottle of cranberry yogurt, not knowing if the one Shen Juan had was for her. If it wasn’t, she didn’t want to seem presumptuous.

After taking the yogurt, she looked at him. Shen Juan acted as if he didn’t see her, taking a thick pork chop bento and then opening the adjacent fridge to pull out a bottle of mineral water.

Lin Yu, like a diligent little follower, asked, “You didn’t have dinner?”

Shen Juan replied with a simple “hmm.”

“……”

Lin Yu tried to ignore his consistently lukewarm attitude; she was here to make peace. She whispered, “I haven’t eaten either.”

Shen Juan had already reached the cashier. Upon hearing this, he turned around and glanced at her with a faint smile, “What, were you so busy looking at handsome guys that you forgot to eat?”

By then, the guy in the black hoodie had already left. Lin Yu still felt a mix of embarrassment and a bit of annoyance. Wasn’t her conciliatory attitude clear enough?

She had gone out of her way to appease him! Rolling her eyes, she placed the cranberry yogurt back into the fridge with a light “thud.” “Yeah, if you hadn’t scared me, I was planning to go in and ask for his phone number.”

Shen Juan looked at her, squinting slightly but said nothing.

He was quite tall, and Lin Yu, being much shorter, had to look up at him, yet her demeanor was not the least bit weak.

They stood in front of the cashier, glaring at each other for half a minute. The cashier girl looked from one to the other nervously, inching backward.

After another half minute, Shen Juan broke eye contact and turned away.

Without a word, Lin Yu turned on her heel to leave.

What was she thinking?

After wandering back and forth for hours hoping to run into him, she finally did, only to be met with cold indifference.

He didn’t even want to speak to her properly.

Fuming, Lin Yu walked towards the store exit, resisting the urge to turn back and argue, or even fight with him. But before she could take two steps, someone grabbed her by the collar and pulled her back.

She stumbled a couple of steps and turned around, her nose brushing against the soft fabric of the boy’s hoodie. There was a faint smell of disinfectant.

She looked up.

Shen Juan had taken another thick pork chop bento, looking down at her, “Where are you going?”

Lin Yu snapped, “None of your business.”

Shen Juan gave her a blank look, “Didn’t you say you hadn’t eaten dinner?” Lin Yu stared at him, “That’s also none of your business.”

Shen Juan was silent for a moment, then in a low, steady voice, he said, “Lin Yu, stop making me angry.”

Lin Yu laughed, slapping his hand away from her clothes and taking two steps back, “Are you threatening me? I’m so scared.”

Shen Juan sighed, “I’m begging you.” Lin Yu was stunned.

Shen Juan walked back to the cashier, placed the newly taken pork chop bento on the counter, and grabbed the cranberry yogurt she had taken earlier. He paid, then carried two bottles of yogurt, two bentos, and two bottles of water to a table by the window, put them down, and turned to look at her, “Come over.”

Lin Yu hesitated for a moment, then slowly walked over and sat down.

The bento had just been heated and was a bit hot. Shen Juan carefully peeled back the plastic cover, opened the lid, and pushed it in front of her. Then he lowered his head to open the other box.

Lin Yu bit her chopsticks, looking at him.

Shen Juan turned his head slightly, “What’s wrong? Is it too hot?”

She blinked, “Earlier, I sent you a message. Did you get it?”

“Yes.” Shen Juan opened the bottle of freshly squeezed juice and pushed it toward her. Lin Yu thanked him and cautiously asked, “So… do you understand what I meant?” Shen Juan looked at her intently, his fingers unconsciously curling.

After a moment, he spoke in a low voice, “What do you mean?”

“I mean, I now consider you a friend. If you have a girlfriend, I should keep my distance,” Lin Yu paused, quickly adding, “Of course, you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. Just pretend I didn’t ask. Don’t be upset.”

“……”

Shen Juan’s jaw moved slightly, as if he ground his teeth, “I don’t.”

“Ah,” Lin Yu sighed in relief, “You don’t have a girlfriend or you’re not upset?”

“……I don’t have a girlfriend,” Shen Juan said through gritted teeth. Lin Yu, relieved by his denial, felt inexplicably happy.

She picked up her chopsticks and started eating. She had never had thick pork chop rice before, always thinking it had to be freshly fried to taste good. To her surprise, it was quite tasty, probably because she was very hungry.

The freshly squeezed juice was bought for her, as Shen Juan seemed to prefer cola and mineral water. Both bottles of cranberry yogurt were also on her side. Lin Yu silently noted the prices, planning to transfer the money to him later.

They ate in silence. Lin Yu chewed on her pork chop and looked up, seeing people passing by outside, occasionally glancing in at them.

She thought people really do change. Now, she had completely gotten used to having bento boxes for dinner in a convenience store.

After finishing their meal, they threw the boxes in the trash and left the convenience store. Lin Yu, feeling full, held onto both bottles of yogurt, followed Shen Juan, and rubbed her stomach. She turned her head and lazily asked, “Are you going back to the studio today?”

She then remembered he lived at the studio.

Shen Juan replied with a simple “hmm,” then lifted his gaze, suddenly stopping in his tracks.

Lin Yu, waiting for his response, took a couple more steps before realizing and turned back, “Hmm?”

Shen Juan stood still for two seconds, then suddenly rushed forward. Lin Yu was stunned.

Shen Juan brushed past her shoulder, moving quickly, his arm bumping into her. She stumbled forward slightly. He didn’t seem to notice, grabbing the collar of a person walking toward them and half-dragged, half-pulled him aside, slamming him against the wall with a loud “thud.”

Lin Yu jumped in shock.

She heard the person groan in pain and looked closely to see his face.

A thin, weak-looking boy with long, narrow eyes, who seemed very young and not very tall.

Being held like this, his feet were almost off the ground. He struggled futilely, barely touching the ground with his toes.

Shen Juan pinned him against the wall with great force, his knuckles turning white. Leaning in close, he stared at the boy’s face, his voice hoarse, “Didn’t I fucking tell you not to let me see you again?”

His voice was low and soft, carrying a suppressed, icy rage. Lin Yu felt all her hair stand on end.

No matter how many times she had seen him fight outside the convenience store or argued with him later, she had never seen this side of Shen Juan.

The boy, grasping Shen Juan’s hand, murmured something in pain, his gaze shifting towards Lin Yu, as if pleading for help.

He looked so weak, quiet, and harmless, with such a low presence that Lin Yu hadn’t even noticed him until Shen Juan rushed over.

The stark difference in strength, the current situation, and Shen Juan’s terrifying demeanor made Lin Yu hesitate for a moment.

Shen Juan almost immediately sensed the boy’s intention. He sneered, stepped back, and dragged the boy by the collar into a nearby alley. The boy whimpered and quickly disappeared into the darkness.

Lin Yu stood there holding a bottle of yogurt, her mouth slightly open.

What should she do?

Should she go and check, or wait here?

Lin Yu remembered the violent incident where Shen Juan nearly beat his deskmate to death.

She had almost forgotten about it.

After two months of getting to know him, she couldn’t associate him with that event. He usually couldn’t even be bothered to argue with people, let alone do something like that.

The dark alley was silent, not a sound. Lin Yu waited for two minutes, then walked to the entrance and looked inside.

Shen Juan hadn’t gone far. From where she stood, she could vaguely see the outlines of two figures. The boy was huddled in a corner, sitting on the ground, while Shen Juan stood in front of him, looking down at him.

The darkness amplified countless negative forces, elongating and blurring his silhouette. Lin Yu saw him move slightly, then turn his head to look at her.

She pursed her lips, watching as he walked out. The streetlights and bright street once again enveloped him, leaving the darkness behind.

Lin Yu involuntarily glanced into the alley. The boy was still sitting there, curled up, motionless.

Shen Juan walked up to her, his voice cold and detached, “Let’s go.”

It was as if the demonic state he had been in a moment ago was just her imagination.

Lin Yu’s throat tightened, and she licked her lips, “Is he… still conscious?”

She actually wanted to ask if the boy was still alive.

Her facial expression must have been quite obvious because Shen Juan glanced down at her, his expression a bit helpless, “I’m not a violent person. I didn’t hit him.”

“……”

Lin Yu thought, can you say that with a clear conscience? You almost embedded him into the wall just now.

“Of course, I know you’re not. I believe you,” she paused, then added, “Do we need to call an ambulance… or something?”

“……”

Shen Juan sighed, “No, I didn’t touch him.” Since he said so, it must be true.

Lin Yu nodded, “Then… let’s go.” They continued walking forward.

Without any clear destination, they walked aimlessly for a few minutes. Lin Yu hadn’t recovered from the recent incident. When she finally did, she glanced sideways at him.

Shen Juan hadn’t spoken a word. The terrifying state he had been in earlier had subsided, but his expression remained tense, his lips downturned, and he seemed extremely downcast.

Lin Yu hesitated, then tugged at his sleeve.

Shen Juan stopped, turned back, his voice hoarse, “What is it?”

Lin Yu licked her lips and tentatively asked, “Do you want to… go out and have some fun?”

He didn’t respond.

“I’ll take you out,” Lin Yu repeated.

Shen Juan looked down at her, his long eyelashes covering his eyes.

After a few seconds, he suddenly laughed softly, “Okay, you take me out.”

Now, Lin Yu was in a bit of a dilemma. She looked at him and tentatively suggested, “I’ll take you… to an amusement park?”

Shen Juan pulled out his phone and checked the time, “Now?”

…It did seem a bit late.

Lin Yu blinked, “Are there any entertainment places open at night?”

Shen Juan took a couple of steps forward, then suddenly leaned in close, his dark eyes slightly narrowing, lips curving into an ambiguous, mischievous smile, “There are many,” he said softly, “Do you want to go?”

Lin Yu swallowed, took a deep breath, and tried to maintain a neutral expression as she looked at him, “Mr. Shen, we are on a well-lit street. Please be mindful of your behavior.”

Shen Juan straightened up with a smile, “Let’s go. I’ll take you to an amusement park that’s open at night.”

Lin Yu eyed him suspiciously, “Can minors enter? I’m a decent person, you know. I won’t stoop to your level.”

When Shen Juan mentioned an amusement park open at night, Lin Yu didn’t believe him. The only one she knew of that was open this late was Disneyland, but it was too far away. She thought Shen Juan was fooling her.

So when they took a taxi for half an hour and arrived at a dark and unfamiliar place, her first reaction was that she might be sold.

Lin Yu got out of the car and followed him for a while. The road was quiet, with lush plants on both sides. She quickly caught up with Shen Juan.

He turned his head slightly, “Scared?”

“A little,” Lin Yu nodded, “Are you going to sell me?”

Shen Juan chuckled, his voice low and deep in the darkness, “You’re scared, but you’re still following me.”

“What else can I do? I chose to come with you. If I get sold, I’ll just accept it,” Lin Yu had just finished speaking when they turned a corner and saw a burst of colorful lights.

Lin Yu’s eyes widened, not noticing that Shen Juan had stopped beside her.

It seemed to be the entrance of a park, with a huge iron gate closed but smaller doors open on either side. In front of the gate were stalls selling various colorful trinkets. Bundles of transparent helium balloons, entwined with twinkling lights, floated in the air.

Lin Yu ran over and saw small plastic toys that could sing and spin on the stalls, along with rows of red devil hairbands and white angel wings.

The place was bustling. Despite the late hour, there were many people, mostly teenagers around sixteen or seventeen, and some parents with young children.

Inside the park gates were small booths for balloon darts and ring toss. Further in, there was a brightly lit carousel, the faint sound of music mingling with laughter, and at the far end, a large Ferris wheel.

Lin Yu turned around, standing at the entrance, and waved at Shen Juan, bouncing a couple of times.

Shen Juan walked over. Lin Yu grabbed his sleeve and pulled him to the stall, pointing at the devil hairbands, “Shen, I’ll buy you one of these.”

Shen Juan refused without hesitation, “No.”

Lin Yu pointed inside, “Look, everyone else is wearing them.”

Shen Juan was firm, “I’m not wearing it.”

Lin Yu glared at him, “You have to wear it.”

Shen Juan, raising an eyebrow, said, “We tough guys don’t wear these things.”

Lin Yu looked at him for a moment, then sighed, “Alright,” she said dejectedly, “I’ll wear it myself then.”

The stall owner, a young man with dyed yellow hair, laughed at their conversation, leaning against the iron gate, “Miss, your boyfriend isn’t cutting it. Look at me, I’ll wear ten if you want.”

Shen Juan gave him a cold look, took out his wallet, paid, and bent down to pick up two devil hairbands. Standing up, he tapped Lin Yu on the head with them, “Let’s go.”

Lin Yu sighed, touched her head, and followed him.

She quickened her pace, walking beside him, and took one of the devil hairbands from Shen Juan’s hand, placing it on her head.

Lin Yu had never thought she could be so childish.

She felt an inexplicable, unprecedented excitement that was beyond her understanding. She couldn’t even comprehend it herself.

She jogged a couple of steps ahead, turned around, and walked backward, looking at him and shaking her head, “Shen, do I look cute?”

Shen Juan looked at her, paused for two seconds, and said, “Cute.”

Lin Yu hadn’t forgotten to trick him, asking, “Do you want to be as cute as me?”

Shen Juan laughed.

He lowered his head, licked his lips, and chuckled softly, nodding, “Yes.”

Lin Yu, afraid he might change his mind, quickly stopped and walked up to him, “Then you—”

Before she could finish, Shen Juan suddenly took her wrist and moved aside. Standing at the edge, he placed the little devil headband in her hand, “I won’t.”

Shen Juan bent down, resting his hands on his knees, leaning close to her. At such a close distance, Lin Yu could see the gentle light reflected in his dark eyes from the colorful background.

“I won’t. You put it on for me,” his voice was low and soft, but still clear despite the noisy background of laughter and chatter, “How are you so cute? Teach me.”