Chapter 18: You're More Important

"Tian Siyi."

As soon as they arrived at the training field that afternoon, someone came looking for Tian Siyi.

"Do you need something?"

She smiled at Bai Hang. But remembering that she wanted to make him give up on her, she quickly put on a serious expression.

"Uh..."

Seeing her face change, Bai Hang rubbed his nose awkwardly.

"Do you have to look so serious every time you see me?"

Seeing how disappointed he looked, Tian Siyi felt a little sorry for him and decided to explain.

"Sorry. It's not that I have anything against you. I just really don't have any plans to date anyone."

Bai Hang nodded.

"I know. Jiang Luyao already told me. But we can at least be friends, right?"

He didn't know Tian Siyi very well, but he knew Jiang Luyao.

After talking with Jiang Luyao about Tian Siyi, he believed the girl really wasn't interested in dating anyone.

Still, if they could become friends first, they would have more chances to spend time together. Maybe one day, being close to her would give him a chance.

Tian Siyi understood exactly what he was thinking, so she had no intention of giving him that chance.

Still, she respected his sincerity enough to chat with him for a little longer.

"I don't know if this sounds too full of myself, but... do you really like me that much?"

Her direct question caught Bai Hang completely off guard.

This girl is really straightforward.

But instead of making him uncomfortable, her honesty made him like her even more.

He hated trying to guess what girls were thinking. Talking openly face to face was much easier.

So he answered honestly.

"You're very beautiful. You're prettier than any girl I've ever met."

"So you only liked me because of my looks?"

That question made Bai Hang laugh. The nervousness he had felt before coming over completely disappeared.

"If you want to put it that way, you're not wrong. Every case of love at first sight starts because of someone's looks. But that's not the reason anymore."

"That's good."

Tian Siyi let out a sigh of relief, thinking Bai Hang had finally decided to give up.

It's actually pretty tiring trying not to become the kind of girl who leads people on.

At least this problem is finally solved.

It wasn't.

Bai Hang knew Tian Siyi had misunderstood him.

But that was fine.

As long as she thought he had given up, she wouldn't have a reason to avoid him.

Just as he was about to keep talking, the assembly whistle sounded from the stage.

As always, the leaders' speeches were boring.

The so-called military training opening ceremony was really just a way to let the students get used to standing under the hot sun before the real training began.

Most students at the music academy came from fairly well-off families. They weren't used to spending hours in the wind and sun, so complaints could be heard everywhere.

Tian Siyi had already been through military training once before, so she didn't mind much.

The only thing she worried about was whether her skin would get darker.

Even though she had put on sunscreen just like Chen Chen had told her to, she still wasn't sure how effective it would be.

With nothing to do, Tian Siyi played with her fingers, not realizing that several pairs of eyes had been watching her.

After the school leaders finally finished, it was the military instructors' turn.

Fortunately, the instructors treated the girls quite well. After a brief introduction, they dismissed everyone.

"Siyi, I can't take it anymore…"

Only a few hours had passed, but to Zhao Xiaoqi, it felt like several days.

The lively, energetic girl already looked exhausted.

And the only thing that could heal her was the embrace of a gentle girl.

Jiang Luyao and Gu Yunyan both seemed too cold and distant, so Tian Siyi became the easiest target.

"Eh? Where did she go?"

The girl who had been nearby just a moment ago had suddenly disappeared.

At that moment, Tian Siyi was already standing in the shade beneath the command platform.

She looked at the familiar figure in front of her and complained, "You actually ignored my messages just now!"

Chen Chen smiled calmly. "I still had to help set up the place. Did you think I was as free as you?"

"When was I free? I have to survive seven whole days of military training..."

"Yeah, yeah. After seven days, you'll probably turn into a little dark-skinned girl."

"I put on sunscreen..."

She still wasn't very confident. More accurately, she wasn't very confident in skincare products.

"That stuff really works, right?"

"It should. Look at my sister. She's always running around everywhere, but her skin is still in great shape."

As he spoke, Chen Chen picked up a pack of tissues from a nearby table and handed it to her.

Hearing that, Tian Siyi finally felt relieved.

She naturally took the tissues and wiped the sweat from her forehead and neck.

Seeing the sweat covering her face, Chen Chen suggested, "Want to come wash your face at my place?"

"So you really came here as a volunteer? Are you staying in the staff dormitory now?"

"It's pretty similar to your dorms, except we each have our own room."

Chen Chen didn't deny the first question, which was basically the same as admitting it.

"A single room... that's so nice..."

Compared to living with roommates she didn't know, Tian Siyi preferred being alone.

Socializing could be exhausting too.

Chen Chen didn't agree.

"What's so great about being alone? What, are your roommates bullying you?"

Tian Siyi waved her hand. "As if! I'm such a lovable and adorable beauty. Who would ever bully me?"

"Then what's the problem?"

"We just met, so things are still a little awkward."

After explaining briefly, she immediately fought back.

"What about you? Saying all that... did you miss me?"

"A little."

"Uh..."

"What kind of reaction is that?"

Chen Chen noticed a hint of disgust in her eyes.

"You're kind of perverted." Chen Chen laughed in disbelief.

"What's wrong with you? So are you coming or not?"

"I'm coming. I've wanted to see the staff dormitory for a while now."

As they walked, Tian Siyi noticed something surprising.

Chen Chen was actually quite popular.

Quite a few younger female students greeted him first as they passed.

It made sense.

Even though Chen Chen wasn't the kind of handsome guy who amazed people at first sight, he had a clean, sunny appearance that made people feel comfortable around him.

On top of that, he was good-looking, tall, and had the bonus of being a hardworking senior student. It wasn't strange that younger girls liked him.

Tian Siyi couldn't help teasing him.

"I couldn't tell before. You're pretty popular. Aren't you going to lose yourself after hearing 'Senior' over and over?"

"Lose myself? Not at all. It's just a way people address me. That's normal."

Tian Siyi opened her eyes wide in surprise.

"Normal? Back at the academy, hardly anyone called me 'Senior.'"

"If you changed out of your military training uniform right now, people would start calling you 'Senior Sister.'"

When Chen Chen put it that way, it actually made sense.

In a place where almost everyone was a first-year student, it was easy to tell who the older students were just by their clothes.

At the academy, though, nobody could tell what year you were in.

"Do you think I care about people calling me 'Senior Sister'?"

"Then what do you want?"