If the World Had No Daylight - Chapter 15

After Bai Tian finished brushing her teeth and washing her face, she walked out of the cramped bathroom.

Ye Wan was sitting on the sofa eating breakfast. This place really was too small; there was not even enough room for a dining table.

Bai Tian looked around and did not see Xing Yun. Just as she was about to ask, she suddenly remembered that today was Friday.

“Did Auntie go to work?” Bai Tian asked casually and walked over to sit by the sofa.

She was still somewhat restrained. After all, they were in a completely unfamiliar city, and the environment placed pressure on people.

Ye Wan, on the other hand, looked much more relaxed than she had yesterday. She moved the soy milk and still-warm buns in front of Bai Tian and said, “Eat breakfast first.”

The two of them had traveled hard by train. They had neither slept well nor eaten well.

Bai Tian nodded, picked up the soy milk, and drank while turning on her phone.

Since Ye Wan’s mother was safe and sound, she should also call Third Uncle and explain things.

Ye Wan listened as she finished a noisy phone call with the person on the other end, showing no reaction—until Bai Tian made a second call.

“Hello, Teacher Li. This is Bai Tian.”

Ye Wan raised her head and looked at her.

Bai Tian made a “shh” gesture at her, then continued putting on an obedient, remorseful attitude as she explained the situation to the person on the other end.

“…That’s what happened. We’ll explain the details to you when we come back. In short, we’re safe right now, and we’ll return very soon.”

Ye Wan listened as Bai Tian apologized quietly a few more times and made a series of promises before finally ending the call.

After hanging up, Bai Tian looked at Ye Wan and said, “Your mom already called Teacher Li earlier. Don’t worry. When we go back, just properly admit your mistake and it’ll be fine.”

Ye Wan was silent for a while before answering, “There was no need to do that. I caused this.”

She had long since prepared herself for the worst. Whether it was a disciplinary record or something else, she did not care. So from beginning to end, she had not explained and had not planned to explain.

Bai Tian knew this very well, which was exactly why she had made the call in front of her.

“No. We both did something wrong in this matter. I’m also an accomplice.” Bai Tian chose her words and continued, “I know you’re mentally prepared to bear the consequences, but there is never only one solution to anything. Ye Wan, the most extreme option should absolutely not be the first thing you consider.”

Bai Tian had already experienced Ye Wan’s extremeness many times.

But this time, since both of them had been wrong, Bai Tian could not let Ye Wan continue using her extreme way of handling things to solve the problem.

Because that would not solve the problem at all. It would only create more aftermath.

“Don’t ruin your own future, Ye Wan. You know the nature of this matter is very serious.” Bai Tian had no choice but to say this.

Anyone could make this mistake—Bai Tian, for example. She had long been the bad student in everyone’s eyes. But Ye Wan was different. She was too important to No. 7 Middle School. She had hope of competing for the top scorer spot in the college entrance examination. Everyone placed high hopes on her, especially her father.

Unable to bear thinking about what Ye Wan might face when she returned home, Bai Tian looked at her expression and changed the topic. “But since we’re already here, there’s no rush for this short while. The day after tomorrow is New Year’s Day. Do you want to stay and spend the holiday with your mom?”

What Bai Tian said was exactly what Ye Wan had been planning. Although this trip seemed like a misunderstanding, Ye Wan had not truly calmed down inside. She wanted to stay a few more days and observe the situation.

“What about you?” Ye Wan suddenly asked.

Bai Tian smiled and answered, “I don’t mind. If you want to spend time alone with your mom, I can go back earlier too.”

“That’s not what I’m asking.” Ye Wan paused, then continued looking at her. “Have you thought about the consequences you yourself will have to face?”

Bai Tian was different from Ye Wan. Bai Tian did not have a father who was the principal, nor was she liked by the school. This time, if she truly angered the school leaders, Bai Tian might be expelled directly.

The expression on the girl’s face froze for an instant, then quickly changed into a relaxed look as she answered, “Going back early to inherit the restaurant would be better for me anyway.”

Seeing Ye Wan press her lips together and say nothing, Bai Tian sighed, reached out, patted her shoulder, and comforted her. “Don’t think too much. I followed you here without even discussing it with you. If I really get expelled, then that can only mean I committed too many evils and finally got my retribution. Besides, I really do want to go back and take over the restaurant.”

Ye Wan knew she was telling the truth. But precisely because of that, her heart felt especially unpleasant.

This emotion had come without rhyme or reason, and she could not sort it out for the time being. She could only temporarily press it down and stop thinking about it.

“No matter what, I’ll help you,” Ye Wan finally said. Then the two of them did not continue this unpleasant topic.

After breakfast, Xing Yun called using a public phone. She had left the keys and money on the shoe cabinet and told Ye Wan to take her classmate out for a walk. They should also settle lunch outside, because she would only be able to come home at night.

Neither Ye Wan nor Bai Tian had ever been to C City. After discussing it, they changed clothes and went out together.

Compared to S City, C City was slightly less developed. Especially since the area where Xing Yun lived was not very good, there was nothing nearby worth strolling around for.

Ye Wan was not someone who liked going out to have fun, and Bai Tian also respectfully kept her distance from shopping. The two decided to find a place where they could sit still and pass the time.

After all, Xing Yun’s place did not even have a television. Staying inside would be even more boring.

While the two of them were hesitating between an internet café and an arcade, a cinema by the street suddenly entered their view. The two looked at each other and wordlessly reached an understanding.

On a weekday morning, there naturally were not many people coming to watch movies. Especially since this place was remote, customer traffic was very low.

The cinema was very old. From afar, even the sign outside gave off a sense of age. Once they walked in, the facilities inside were also out of touch with the times. There was only one ticket seller, an old man dozing off.

Ye Wan swept her gaze around with rather obvious distaste and wanted to retreat. But Bai Tian pointed at the man and woman on the poster and said, “I actually wanted to watch this movie before.”

So Ye Wan swallowed the words in her mouth and took out money to buy tickets.

Bai Tian went to buy two cans of soda. When she returned with the drinks in her arms, she found Ye Wan still saying something to the old man. Bai Tian walked over to look and nearly burst out laughing.

The old man could not speak Mandarin, and Ye Wan could not understand his dialect. The two of them had talked past each other for ages without successfully getting onto the same frequency.

Bai Tian walked forward, waved at the old man, then pointed at the poster on the wall. Holding up two fingers, she said, “Hello. We’d like to buy two tickets. For the movie on the wall.”

The old man shook his head and said a few more things. Bai Tian listened in complete confusion and looked at him blankly. Ye Wan let out a snicker from the side, earning herself a glare from Bai Tian.

“Just two tickets. Two.”

Bai Tian gestured again. The old man looked at her as if wanting to say something but stopping himself. In the end, he sighed, tore out two invalid tickets, wrote something on them, and handed them over.

Even the theater number and seat numbers were handwritten. Bai Tian was a little speechless.

“How much is it?” Since they were already here, she could only accept it.

The old man mimicked Bai Tian and held up his hand to gesture a number. This time, Ye Wan understood. She took out the money and gave it to him.

By the time the two of them successfully reached the screening room and found their seats, they both felt as if they were about to break into a sweat.

“This is the most troublesome movie I’ve ever watched,” Bai Tian could not help complaining as she handed the soda to Ye Wan.

Ye Wan accepted it and placed it to the side.

Fortunately, small places did not have that many advertisements. The movie began very quickly, and the two of them withdrew their thoughts and watched seriously.

Ten minutes later, Bai Tian somewhat puzzledly picked up that handwritten invalid ticket and examined it, asking, “Why do I remember the plot not being like this?”

Ye Wan had never watched it, so she could only shake her head.

The two fell silent for a moment, but still decided not to waste the ticket money.

Half an hour later, the images on the screen became increasingly unbearable to look at. Along with them, the sounds in the screening room made people want to leave immediately.

Bai Tian’s face turned green.

Now she finally understood what the old man’s hesitation had meant.

What a scam!

If it was an adult movie, you should have said so earlier! Selling this kind of movie to minors is illegal, okay?!

The person sitting on Bai Tian’s right began trembling all over. Bai Tian came back to herself and was just about to pretend to be brave and comfort the other person with “This is normal, don’t make a fuss,” when she turned her head and saw Ye Wan laughing so hard she could not straighten her waist.

Bai Tian: “…”

She endured and endured. In the end, she still asked, “Should we leave?”

Ye Wan laughed for quite a while, then collapsed lazily into her seat, looking as if she did not want to waste the money.

Bai Tian could only brace herself and continue watching.

Another ten minutes passed, and Bai Tian gradually discovered that this movie was actually quite good. The plot had its merits, and the main actors’ acting and looks were both decent. So she slowly forgot her embarrassment and focused on watching.

Bai Tian did not notice that the person sitting beside her had become somewhat strange.

“…This long take is actually pretty interesting.” Bai Tian took a sip of soda and said this to the person beside her, but received no response.

She turned to look, then found a small face flushed bright red.

Bai Tian instantly laughed. She reached out to touch Ye Wan’s red, burning-hot face and teased, “Is little child Ye Wan shy? You can actually wait outside for me.”

Her words and actions were far too provocative.

But Ye Wan did not fight back. She only looked at Bai Tian with those unreadable eyes, staring until Bai Tian felt somewhat creeped out. Just as Bai Tian was about to say something, the other person spoke first.

“You’d better let go right now.”

Bai Tian choked, her face practically saying, If I let go just because you tell me to, wouldn’t I lose face?

“I won’t.” Not only did she not let go, she even lightly pinched twice, then gradually became attracted by the feel, somewhat addicted to it.

“Little bastard. How is your skin this good?”

Bai Tian murmured this softly. Ye Wan’s patience came to a complete end after those words fell.

Bai Tian, who had unknowingly spoken her inner thoughts aloud, did not notice the other person’s abnormality. Just as she planned to continue touching, the person beside her suddenly reached out and snatched away her soda.

“Wow, you’re so childish. You’re even stealing other people’s things.” Bai Tian laughed in anger and let go to grab her soda back.

That long, slender arm stretched upward, avoiding Bai Tian. But how could Bai Tian be someone willing to admit defeat? She surged forward and pounced, and just as she was about to grab the soda can, one hand suddenly wrapped around her waist and pulled her forward.

Bai Tian lost her balance and fell over.

The armrest of the seat pressed horizontally against her stomach, making her stomach hurt. Bai Tian exerted strength, wanting to struggle and climb up, but Ye Wan pressed her back down again.

In this pitch-dark place, Bai Tian could not see anything clearly. She also had no way of finding a support point that would let her stand steadily. She could only grope around aimlessly.

Before she could find something to support herself and stand, that hand of hers was grabbed tightly.

“What are you doing?” Ye Wan’s voice sounded somewhat low in the darkness.

“Oh, sorry.” Bai Tian finally reacted and wanted to move her hand away.

But the hand holding hers locked around her and did not move at all, making Bai Tian unable to pull away. Everything in the darkness became magnified. The background sounds in the cinema were even harder to ignore at this moment. Bai Tian, who had never feared anyone, suddenly had the urge to retreat.

Before the heat on her face could climb to a new height, she awkwardly cleared her throat and said, “Fine, fine, forget it. I don’t want it anymore. Let me get up first.”

The person beneath her made no sound. Only the hand on Bai Tian’s waist moved, holding her and pulling her up. Bai Tian quickly borrowed the force to rise, then tried to retreat back to her own seat.

But the hand holding her right hand suddenly pulled forward again. Completely unprepared, Bai Tian once again fell forward onto the other person.

Bai Tian was angry now.

She struggled up with effort, directly sat on Ye Wan’s lap, then raised her head to look evenly at the other person. Fiercely pinching this little bastard’s face, she asked, “What exactly are you trying to do?”

The heater was on in the winter cinema, making it extremely dry and hot. The temperature intertwined with the images on the screen, making even the air feel thick and sticky. Bai Tian was wearing very thick clothes, but she could still feel the body heat of the person pressed against her.

Ye Wan let Bai Tian pinch her face. Then she suddenly reached out, pinched Bai Tian’s chin, and gently rubbed it with the pad of her thumb.

Unable to tell for a moment whether this was the other person’s malicious revenge or something else, their positions instantly reversed. The one whose face was flushed bright red became Bai Tian.

She turned her head away to avoid it, but her chin was held and turned back, forcing her to meet Ye Wan’s eyes.

Bai Tian wanted to admit defeat.

Because this situation was truly disadvantageous to her. An ominous premonition spread through the atmosphere, and the long-lost alarm bells in her heart rang wildly once more.

But Ye Wan seemed to see Bai Tian’s retreat. She laughed and asked in a low voice, “Scared?”

The person who was easily provoked glared at her and raised her voice. “What am I scared of?”

“Scared of this.”

Ye Wan straightened up and kissed Bai Tian on the lips.