Chapter 40: Hair Tie

Wednesday morning’s sunlight filtered through the dusty glass windows, casting mottled spots of light on the desks.
Xiahou Ming lay on the table, but she had no desire to sleep.
This morning, she had thought about taking off the blue hair tie that belonged to Wen Xuelan.
But when she thought of what Yu Yuhui said last night, her hand stopped in mid-air.
What’s more… she had no idea how to get this mess of hair back.
In the end, she could only come to school with this look that made her feel both unfamiliar and somewhat novel.
Along the way, she could feel the gazes of passers-by, more than usual.
She subconsciously lowered her head, trying to cover her face with her bangs.
The moment when she smiled quietly at herself in the mirror last night came to her mind uncontrollably again, which made her feel hot on her face.
She was not used to being stared at like this, and even less used to herself looking… okay.
As usual, Ling Yicai walked to Xiahou Ming’s seat carrying a steaming breakfast.
“Good morning, Xiao Ming.”
This was her routine concern.
Even after the farce that happened over the weekend, this “care” had never stopped for a single day.
It was at this moment that her eyes fell on the ponytail behind Xiahou Ming’s head, which was completely different from before.
At this time, Lin Xiaomei also walked into the classroom.
The first thing she saw was the figure sitting by the window.
The ponytail that was tied up high fell down obediently to the side as she lay down, revealing the white and slender neck underneath.
Her footsteps paused imperceptibly.
Who is this?
When Xiahou Ming felt the movement and raised her head uncomfortably, Lin Xiaomei saw the face clearly.
The momentary surprise hit her like an electric current.
With her hair tied up, Xiahou Ming lost her usual gloom and dishevelment, and looked… different.
But this sense of surprise was soon replaced by a stronger sense of disappointment and irritation.
This is not what she wants.
This was not the look of the “Queen” that she could follow with peace of mind.
This is just… a more presentable and beautiful “woman.”
“Tsk, just pretending.”
Xiahou Ming could feel everyone’s gazes, and her palms were sweating with nervousness.
“Um…” She didn’t dare look into Ling Yicai’s eyes. “Will it look… weird?”
This was the first time since Xiahou Ming’s transformation that she took the initiative to ask her for her opinion on “appearance.”
In an instant, a huge surprise surged into Ling Yicai’s heart.
She reached out and helped Xiahou Ming straighten her braid, which was a little messy because she slept on her stomach.
That action was so intimate and natural.
“It’s not strange,” she said softly, “it looks very nice.”
“However,” Ling Yicai’s fingers lightly brushed across the blue hair tie, “Xiao Ming, you have to remember that you can’t just wear something just because it’s given to you by someone.”
She leaned close to Xiahou Ming’s ear:
“Next time… I’ll buy you something nicer, okay?”
During the morning break, Xiahou Ming went to the end of the corridor to get some fresh air in order to avoid the curious or unfriendly gazes in the classroom.
She leaned against the guardrail, watching the students playing in the playground downstairs, feeling annoyed.
Just then, she felt a gaze.
She turned her head and saw Wen Xuelan clinging to the door frame at the door of Class 7’s classroom, looking at her cautiously.
When Wen Xuelan realized that she was being noticed, she was startled and immediately wanted to retract her head.
“Hey.” Xiahou Ming took the initiative to call her.
Wen Xuelan’s body froze, and she could only slowly stick her head out again, her face full of tension and anxiety.
Xiahou Ming waved at her, motioning her to come over.
Wen Xuelan hesitated for a long time, and finally moved step by step to Xiahou Ming’s front.
“You… you want to talk to me about something…” She lowered her head, not daring to look into Xiahou Ming’s eyes.
“I’m fine,” Xiahou Ming looked at her like this, feeling somewhat helpless. “You’ve been looking at me, haven’t you?”
“Ah! I… I didn’t mean to peek at you!” Wen Xuelan panicked instantly and waved her hands to explain, “I just… I just noticed… your braid… seemed a little messy…”
As she spoke, she pointed at the back of Xiahou Ming’s head with her fingertips.
Xiahou Ming was stunned for a moment and subconsciously reached out to touch it.
Because she slept on her stomach for the whole morning, the ponytail was indeed a little loose and messy.
“…This,” Xiahou Ming pointed at her hair awkwardly, “Can you… teach me?”
“Huh? Of course!” Wen Xuelan’s eyes lit up instantly.

Lunch break.
Xiahou Ming asked Wen Xuelan to meet her in the secluded stairwell at the back of the teaching building.
“First, gather all your hair together… yes, like this…”
“The hair tie should be like this… wrap it around twice… it might be a little tight…”
Wen Xuelan stood behind Xiahou Ming, explaining softly while using her soft fingertips to clumsily but carefully re-comb her hair.
Xiahou Ming had her back to her and could clearly feel the slight, almost addictive pulling sensation every time the other’s fingers passed through her hair.
When Wen Xuelan finally helped her tie her neat ponytail again, Xiahou Ming took out another thing from the cloth bag that had been prepared long ago.
“By the way, Wen Xuelan, this… is for you.”
“What is this?” Wen Xuelan took it in confusion.
“Your skirt.” Xiahou Ming didn’t dare to look her in the eye. “I… I accidentally saw it in the corner of the equipment room behind the old gymnasium.”
Wen Xuelan opened the cloth bag with surprise.
When she saw the dark blue dress that she had lost and found, an incredible smile appeared on her face.
“Thank you! Xia Houya! Thank you so much… so much! I…”
She raised her head and looked at the “friend” in front of her who had helped her so much.
An irresistible impulse made her take a step forward, open her arms, and hug Xiahou Ming.
The hug was short, almost breaking apart.
Wen Xuelan immediately jumped back as if she had been electrocuted, her cheeks flushed red, she lowered her head, and didn’t even dare to look at Xiahou Ming again.
“Um… I… I should go back to eat! Bye!”
After she said that, she hugged her skirt and ran away like a happy little bird.
Xiahou Ming stood there alone, still feeling the warmth of the other person’s hug on her shoulders.
But there was no warmth in her heart, only an ominous premonition.
She knew that the snowball of lies had been made bigger and bigger by herself.
And she had no idea where this snowball would eventually lead them.
She turned around and was about to leave this suffocating place.
At this moment, out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a piece of clothing flashing by at the corner of the stairs.
Her heart suddenly sank.
She walked over quickly and looked downstairs.
The corridor was empty, there was nothing.
Is it an illusion?
A fear more specific than before, like a poisonous snake, quietly wrapped around her heart.