Obsessed with Cleanliness Chapter 10: Fool

Xiao Tong and Yu Qinghan’s relationship began with a kiss. Or rather, Xiao Tong’s imagined relationship with Yu Qinghan began with a kiss.

They got to know each other through two messy, awkward accidents and became friends.

At first, Yu Qinghan wasn’t in the same class as her, but later using some method Xiao Tong never figured out. Yu Qinghan actually transferred to her class in the middle of the semester.

Yu Qinghan was usually pretty low-key, but her background and manner of speaking gave her away. She was too refined and out of place in this run-down high school in the middle of nowhere. Before she even realized it, she had become the most talked-about figure in the whole school. Her mid-semester transfer stirred up quite the commotion.

Half the boys in the class were fighting for the chance to sit next to her.

But in the end, Yu Qinghan chose to sit beside Xiao Tong.

One noble, the other humble. One a graceful swan, the other an ugly duckling. The boys were so furious they were grinding their teeth, wishing they could kick Xiao Tong out of the class altogether.

Xiao Tong endured all the murderous glares from half the class, hunching her shoulders to make herself as invisible as possible. She wished she could shrink her head down into her collar.

But when she remembered that she and Yu Qinghan were now seatmates and would be spending lots of time together, her heart was so full of joy that it showed on her face. She turned to the window, a crescent-moon smile forming in her eyes.

"What are you so happy about?"

Yu Qinghan caught sight of Xiao Tong’s smiling eyes in the reflection of the window and couldn’t help but smile too. She rested her elbow mischievously on Xiao Tong’s shoulder and leaned close to her ear, softly blowing a puff of air behind it.

"Tell me too?"

She deliberately whispered it, her breath brushing the back of Xiao Tong’s neck, making her ears and neck flush bright red. The sound of her voice was like a mountain spring, crashing straight into Xiao Tong’s heart. It felt incredibly refreshing and comforting. Xiao Tong couldn’t stop grinning from ear to ear.

"Why did you transfer to our class?" Xiao Tong’s smile was practically floating. She didn’t even dare look at Yu Qinghan, asking with her back turned and her shoulders trembling.

Yu Qinghan’s arm was still resting on her shoulder. She could feel Xiao Tong’s voice vibrating through her arm. Wanting to tease her, she leaned in even closer and whispered near her ear, "If I didn’t, who would protect you from being bullied again?"

Xiao Tong’s face turned so red it could drip blood. She felt like everyone in class was staring at her. She didn’t dare look back at all. She quietly comforted herself in her heart: It’s fine. It’s Chinese class. The Chinese teacher is notoriously strict—no one would notice them...

And so, the class passed in a daze. Then the whole day passed in a daze.

By the time school let out in the afternoon, the redness in Xiao Tong’s face had finally faded.

While packing up her things with Yu Qinghan, she saw Qinghan slip her forgotten pencil case into her bag. That’s when Xiao Tong finally believed that yes, Yu Qinghan really was her deskmate now.

That realization made her heart race like a startled deer for days.

Xiao Tong had never had a friend before, let alone been in love.

She thought this feeling was just the joy of finally having a good friend. She didn’t even consider that it might be something more.

To be fair, there probably wasn’t a more thoughtful friend in the world than Yu Qinghan.

In just a few days, she’d memorized what Xiao Tong liked to eat and what she didn’t. She knew Xiao Tong had a stomach condition, so when they ate together, she always avoided spicy or irritating foods even though she personally loved spicy dishes.

After class, they would rest their heads on the desk and chat face to face, their elbows touching.

It was late autumn, and the sunlight was just right—not too hot, not too cold, shining on Yu Qinghan’s face. Her eyelashes shimmered in the golden light.

Xiao Tong squinted at her with a smile that spilled from her eyes, full of joy.

It looked like her whole face was smiling, and even the little mole at the corner of her eye seemed to glow with happiness under the sunlight.

Yu Qinghan looked at Xiao Tong in that golden light and couldn’t help but feel itchy in her heart, all because of that tiny beauty mark near her eye.

She had wanted to wait just a little longer not to scare this delicate girl.

But she couldn’t help it.

She reached out and lightly touched the corner of Xiao Tong’s eye with her index finger.

Warm. Soft.

The feeling of satisfaction traveled from her fingertip all the way to her heart.

Yu Qinghan couldn’t help but sigh softly.

Xiao Tong was like a hidden treasure left behind in this small town.

And she—Yu Qinghan was a treasure hunter who had journeyed far and wide.

Now she had found this treasure first, and made it hers.

Though the “real prize” might have been far out of reach, Xiao Tong was right here, within arm’s reach.

So easy to have.

How could that not be exciting?

They went to school together. Chatted at their desks together after class. Left school together.

Even went on weekend trips to hike the mountains together.

Xiao Tong had never known life could be this joyful. Every day felt like she was soaked in honey.

Every night before bed, she couldn’t wait for tomorrow to come sooner.

In winter, after the first snowfall, Yu Qinghan took her to hike a mountain and watch the sunrise.

The sun was bright red and icy cold, casting a shy blush over the white snow.

Xiao Tong’s face was flushed red from the cold too, perfectly matching the sunrise and snow.

Yu Qinghan cupped her hands in hers, gently rubbing them and blowing warm air into them.

They huddled close for warmth. Xiao Tong blushed and looked at her.

The morning glow reflected in her eyes, making her look even more beautiful than the sunrise itself.

On a winter morning, it was so quiet

Yu Qinghan didn’t have the heart to break that silence.

She leaned her head gently against Xiao Tong’s and whispered, "Are you cold?"

"Not at all," Xiao Tong breathed out a puff of white air and smiled shyly.

"Qinghan, the sunrise is beautiful."

Yu Qinghan tapped Xiao Tong’s nose playfully and teased, "Not as beautiful as you."

Xiao Tong knew she was being teased again. She was both embarrassed and annoyed.

She scooped up a handful of snow from the ground and pretended she was going to throw it at her.

But Yu Qinghan beat her to it and launched a sneak attack.

Grabbing Xiao Tong’s hand, she pulled her down into the snow with her, and the two of them rolled together in the snow.

No one knew who looked at whom first, or who leaned in that last inch.

All Xiao Tong knew was. By the time she realized what was happening, her lips were already pressed against Yu Qinghan’s.

Two equally cold pairs of lips, Yet the moment they touched, it felt like a fire had been lit—warm and blazing.

They were still too young to understand how to kiss.

Just the touch of lips was enough to feel wonderful. As if they could stay together for the rest of their lives.

Or rather, Xiao Tong felt like they could stay together forever.

No one knew how long they held each other in the snow.

Eventually, Yu Qinghan reluctantly pulled Xiao Tong to her feet, cupped her face in her hands, and kissed her deeply again.

This time, their lips and teeth tangled together—clumsy and messy. Their teeth bumped, making them frown from the pain, but still, neither wanted to stop.

Only when both of them had completely run out of breath did Yu Qinghan finally let go.

The two girls clung to each other, panting for air.

Yu Qinghan wrapped her arms around Xiao Tong’s neck and whispered into her ear: "Xiao Tong, I like you."

"Not the kind of like between friends. I like you, I want to kiss you, hold you, hold your hand, and never let go again."

Xiao Tong’s eyes felt hot. She rested her chin on Yu Qinghan’s shoulder, nodding again and again, saying over and over, "Me too."

"Me too, me too..."

"I like you too."

"Not the like between friends, or siblings."

"It's the kind of like where I want to marry you and make you my wife."

Xiao Tong had never said anything so bold before.

But when she did, she didn’t feel embarrassed at all.

All she felt was that her chest was so full of happiness, it might burst.

Yu Qinghan laughed at her, gently ruffling the back of her head, and sighed, "Silly girl."

"My Xiao Tong. My little fool."

Back then, Xiao Tong was too young.

She didn’t really understand what it meant to like someone or to love them.

Just one "I like you" from Yu Qinghan had made her feel so happy, she completely lost her bearings.