Chapter Fifteen: Come In and Sit Down

The bus made its way toward the museum, and by the time they arrived, Wen Yichen’s earlier displeasure had gradually faded away.

After getting off, everyone began to explore the museum freely.

Naturally, Jiang Muwen toured with Gu Nianxi, and trailing behind them was the persistent Yin Lizhe. He followed them quietly, never causing a stir—almost like their personal bodyguard. With him around, it seemed the other classmates didn’t dare approach too closely.

Suddenly, Jiang Muwen’s gaze settled on a glass display case nearby. The exhibit inside seemed to hold a mysterious allure, drawing her closer almost against her will. She took a few steps toward it, bending down to get a clearer look, tilting her head to the side.

But before she could properly appreciate the artifact, her head bumped squarely into someone else’s with a soft “thud.” Though it didn’t really hurt, Jiang Muwen instinctively straightened up, raising a hand to rub her forehead.

“Ouch—” she murmured, massaging the spot, her brows knitting slightly.

The lighting in the museum was somewhat dim, and the shadow that fell gently before her enveloped her in a hazy gloom. She looked up reflexively and saw that the classmate she had collided with was also rubbing his forehead. His eyes were lowered, quietly observing the girl before him.

It was Wen Yichen.

Their eyes met. In the brief silence that followed, a flush crept unbidden across Jiang Muwen’s cheeks.

The air between them felt charged, yet not quite awkward.

Watching Jiang Muwen rubbing her forehead, Wen Yichen smiled unconsciously. His eyes were clear, catching flecks of light in the golden dimness.

His smile was tinged with resignation, but there was no trace of annoyance; in fact, he seemed more amused than anything by the coincidence.

Seeing him smile, Jiang Muwen couldn’t help but grin foolishly in response.

“What are you laughing at?” Wen Yichen finally asked, withdrawing his smile. He reached out and gently ruffled Jiang Muwen’s hair, then, as if by habit, rested his hand lightly atop her head and effortlessly turned her around. “Come on, let’s go see the other exhibits.”

Throughout the rest of the visit, Wen Yichen stayed by Jiang Muwen’s side, along with the other three. The five of them seemed to form an unspoken alliance, exploring the museum together.

As the time to return to school drew near, Jiang Muwen stopped suddenly just after they left the exhibit hall. She tugged on Gu Nianxi’s hand and looked up at the three boys walking ahead. “Wen Yichen, why don’t you all go save us some seats? Xiao Xi and I are going to the restroom.”

Upon hearing Jiang Muwen’s voice, Wen Yichen instinctively stopped, turned back, nodded, and then headed toward the bus.

To Jiang Muwen, this museum trip had been thoroughly satisfying—so much so that her steps were noticeably lighter. Even though Wen Yichen hadn’t said much beside her, just having him nearby filled her with a sense of security.

After using the restroom, the two girls boarded the bus one after another. From a distance, Jiang Muwen spotted Wen Yichen sitting in the back, though, curiously, Bai Xu wasn’t beside him.

As she looked at Wen Yichen, he happened to look at her too. His gaze fell on her and didn’t waver, his expression unreadable, making Jiang Muwen feel a little uneasy.

After a few seconds, she hurriedly looked away and obediently walked toward the back. She assumed the seat next to Wen Yichen was reserved for Bai Xu, so she hadn’t planned on sitting there herself.

But just as she was making her way down the aisle, her foot seemed to catch on something. Jiang Muwen lost her balance and stumbled forward a couple of steps.

Just as she was about to fall, a strong hand grabbed her arm, steadying her and pulling her safely upright. She glanced down at the hand and saw that it belonged to Wen Yichen.

She was about to thank him when she noticed Wen Yichen’s gaze was fixed intently on a particular spot.

Following his gaze, Jiang Muwen looked back and met Zhou Yao’s eyes, just as Zhou Yao hastily looked away. Zhou Yao was sitting diagonally in front of Wen Yichen, and her guilty, evasive glance made it clear she had deliberately tripped Jiang Muwen.

Wen Yichen still held Jiang Muwen’s arm, showing no sign of letting go. “Just sit here,” he said quietly.

His low voice drifted into Jiang Muwen’s ear, and for a moment she didn’t quite register what he meant. “Huh?”

“Come on, sit by the window,” Wen Yichen repeated patiently, gently guiding her into the seat by the window next to him.

His words naturally drew the attention of Xia Manman and Zhou Yao. Both girls turned to watch as Jiang Muwen slipped easily into the window seat—the very spot Xia Manman had twice been refused, yet Jiang Muwen took it without effort.

The moment Jiang Muwen sat beside Wen Yichen, she felt a rush of delight, almost overwhelmed by the sudden happiness of being next to the boy she liked.

But as soon as she settled in, her mind went blank. She wanted to say something to Wen Yichen, but couldn’t find the right topic. Finally, she whispered, “Tha—”

“You don’t need to thank me,” Wen Yichen interrupted, as if he already knew what she was about to say.

He had seen everything just now—how Zhou Yao had deliberately tripped Jiang Muwen. He guessed Zhou Yao had done it out of jealousy, watching Jiang Muwen happily chatting and laughing with Wen Yichen during the exhibit, and wanting to stick up for Xia Manman.

Perhaps, in Zhou Yao’s eyes, it was as if the ripest cabbage in the field hadn’t been harvested properly, but had been snatched away by a pig—in this case, Wen Yichen being the prized cabbage.

“Where’s Bai Xu?” Jiang Muwen looked around but didn’t see him.

“He went to the restroom,” Wen Yichen replied indifferently.

“So why didn’t he go earlier?” Jiang Muwen muttered under her breath.

In truth, Bai Xu hadn’t planned to go at all—he’d already sat down next to Wen Yichen, but was startled into leaving by Wen Yichen’s suggestion: “You haven’t been to the restroom since we left; the ride back will be long. Are you sure you don’t want to go now?”

“Hmm?” Wen Yichen seemed not to catch what Jiang Muwen said.

His question startled Jiang Muwen back to herself. She looked at him, their eyes meeting, and for a moment she felt shy. “It’s nothing…”