Chapter 15: Liking Who

He Yi suddenly shrank back, a fleeting illusion making her feel as if the candle flame might scorch her.

But on closer look, the flame burned steadily on the wick, swaying gently.

It was a safe distance away—scorching her was impossible.

So she chalked it up to the atmosphere playing tricks.

Eyes brimming with anticipation, she watched the still pen.

Hua Qi’an was a bit surprised by He Yi’s question too.

Though she didn’t particularly like these three roommates, He Yi was the least off-putting of the bunch.

Most times, she tagged along in Zhao Yingying’s clique, never objecting when bossed around…

But at least her attitude toward Hua Qi’an was warmer than the other two’s.

That much was clear by comparison.

It didn’t mean Hua Qi’an liked her, though.

He Yi usually played the bubbly girl-next-door, griping now and then about suitors’ annoyances in the dorm.

Petite and outgoing, her admirers were mostly guys.

Hua Qi’an was simply taken aback that this girl had a crush too.

She’d never heard her mention it.

Zhao Yingying and Li Xiaozhen’s reactions confirmed her hunch.

Zhao Yingying gawked like she’d seen a ghost, eyes wide on the suddenly bashful He Yi.

“Never heard you breathe a word.”

“Not someone on campus, is it?”

He Yi nodded shyly.

Li Xiaozhen tugged a wry smile.

“Come on—with your vibe, one confession and they’d cave.”

“Love troubles? You?”

“And you’re the one chasing?”

He Yi said nothing; Hua Qi’an caught her glancing her way.

Did she want her to chime in?

“Mmm…”

“If you put your heart into it, there’s always a shot.”

Romance talk wasn’t her forte.

She’d never dated, after all.

Sure, plenty had confessed before…

But she’d only ever seen them as friends.

Their sudden declarations had wrecked what could’ve been lasting friendships—Hua Qi’an found that frustrating.

She’d only done what she thought friends should.

At Hua Qi’an’s words, He Yi’s eyes brightened a touch.

Hua Qi’an figured she’d landed some comfort.

At the same time, she eyed the pen curiously.

The “Pen Fairy” had answered the prior three questions quick as a flash.

Why this one, though—dragging on with no movement?

The thought had barely crossed her mind when a vibration hummed under her hand.

“Snap…”

The pencil’s tip broke where it met the paper.

That only happened under heavy downward force.

“Scritch-scratch—”

The pen stirred to life.

He Yi swallowed hard, tense as it veered.

[No]

Unlike the prior three—a mere circle—this time, the near-black ink dug deep into the page.

Hua Qi’an glanced at He Yi; the girl’s face had drained to pallor.

She looked disbelieving, lips trembling, on the verge of tears.

Next instant, she looked up—locking eyes with Hua Qi’an.

Even in the dim light, Hua Qi’an saw He Yi’s reddened rims.

Hua Qi’an blinked; more comforting?

“Mmm… Next one’ll be better?”

She tilted her head, dredging up how classmates got cheered post-breakup.

But He Yi didn’t seem consoled at all.

Hua Qi’an felt the hand under hers tense, like clenching a fist.

He Yi had her head down now, staring daggers at the pencil, utterly dejected.

“I least want to hear that from you, Xiao Qian.”

Hm?

What now.

Hua Qi’an felt unjustly maligned.

She’d been all bubbly and hyped moments ago—now this…

It couldn’t possibly involve her, right.

Zhao Yingying and Li Xiaozhen shot her glares, as if her poor wording had wrecked He Yi’s mood.

Ridiculous.

What else was she supposed to say…

This was exactly why she felt nothing for these three.

Hua Qi’an mustered a wounded look.

If He Yi was this crushed and she played it cool, more pointless drama would brew.

Socializing was such a drag.

But it was just a hiccup.

Compared to others, Zhao Yingying and Li Xiaozhen cared more about their own questions.

“Pen Fairy, Pen Fairy—will I fail any this semester?”

Li Xiaozhen asked.

The Pen Fairy seemed back to normal, circling “no” without fuss.

Li Xiaozhen beamed, pleased.

She wore black-rimmed glasses, the bookish type.

Last semester, though, she’d flunked four courses.

Gossip and online oddities hooked her more than studies.

“Talk about a shocker.”

Zhao Yingying winked at Li Xiaozhen, grinning.

Next, she eyed the pen eagerly.

She hadn’t crammed that paper with words just for yes/no answers.

“Pen Fairy, Pen Fairy—what gift does Chen Zhiyan like?”

If she could learn Chen Zhiyan’s faves this way, confessing would be a slam dunk.

Zhao Yingying’s mind already spun fantasies: dating Chen Zhiyan, her showering gifts, classmates’ envious stares.

The mere thought thrilled her.

Maybe because Zhao Yingying and Li Xiaozhen had gotten their wished-for replies, the mood—though still oddly tense—had lost its edge of fear for the unknown.

For the bold, it was like that; if the Pen Fairy materialized, Zhao Yingying might sling an arm around it.

Hua Qi’an, though, was speechless.

The Pen Fairy knew stuff like this?

The pen ignored her doubt, sliding confidently one way.

“Flowers.”

It circled the character.

Zhao Yingying nodded thoughtfully.

“Got it—flowers for the beauty…”

So, did Pen Fairies really exist?

Hua Qi’an stared at the pencil, mind adrift.

She still couldn’t quite buy it.

“Xiao Qian, you haven’t asked anything—your turn?”

Zhao Yingying, buoyed by her answer, smiled Hua Qi’an’s way.

Hua Qi’an nodded, not refusing.

But she had nothing in mind.

Personal stuff? No way she’d air it via some game.

Thinking of the Chen Zhiyan from Zhao Yingying’s question, Hua Qi’an settled on that.

“Does Chen Zhiyan have a crush?”

She barely remembered the girl’s face anyway.

Zhao Yingying shot her a wary look.

“What’re you up to?”

“Competing with me? Know your place.”

Hua Qi’an gave her an exasperated glance.

“I literally don’t know what to ask.”

“I know you like her—why would I steal your thunder?”

Recalling Hua Qi’an’s usual meekness, Zhao Yingying’s suspicions eased.

Yeah, as if Hua Qi’an would dare cross her.

Zhao Yingying relaxed, now eyeing the pen expectantly too.

She hated Hua Qi’an prying into her crush, but hey—it was something she wondered about.

Hua Qi’an figured the Pen Fairy would circle yes or no, business as usual.

But ages passed—no stir.

“…”

A subtle awkwardness thickened the air; no one spoke up on next steps.

Li Xiaozhen, innermost with the sorest grip, eyed the four hands stacked on hers.

She nearly suggested wrapping up—send the Pen Fairy off.

It clearly didn’t want to answer, stalling out.

It was Hua Qi’an’s question anyway—no reply, no biggie.

She never sweated small slights.

But as she opened her mouth, something hit her—her whole body froze.

Her gaze turned odd, fixed on their pen-holding hands.

Candlelight flickered, orange-red glinting off them.

The scene turned eerie without warning.

The topmost hand had long, slender fingers, nails neatly trimmed.

Under Li Xiaozhen’s stare, it twitched—rubbing the hand below, then fingers easing into its gaps, interlacing.

Intimate, almost flirtatious.

But the lower hand didn’t react.

Li Xiaozhen’s head snapped up, breathing ragged as she met Hua Qi’an’s puzzled eyes.

Cold sweat soaked her back; the sight spiked her pulse, breath short.

No reaction to that touch?

Wait—no…

The top hand… wasn’t it supposed to be Hua Qi’an’s?

No! Wrong!

How could there be… four hands on hers?

With her, that made four people—

Whose was the extra hand?

“Ah—!”

Li Xiaozhen shrieked in terror, face ashen.

Seeing it for real still crashed her brain.

The other three hadn’t expected the outburst; the pencil flew from their grip, slamming into the dorm wall.

It hit the floor and snapped in two.