"Why can't I ask?" You clearly care.
This somewhat assertive remark momentarily left Beng Heng puzzled. He glanced at Lin Shicha, and it seemed that she truly found it somewhat strange, causing him to pause.
"What are you pretending for?" Beng Heng's tone suddenly became colder. He took two steps away from Lin Shicha and stood with his back to her. An indescribable feeling filled his heart. Beng Heng couldn't help but grip the handrail tightly. He wondered, could the girl who had the ability to befuddle four boys be so simple as to not understand anything?
Why did he find Lin Shicha to be naive, or was her pull on the handrail that caused her skirt to rise a deliberate act?
Was he deceiving himself all along, or did the girl he liked turn out to be a figment of his imagination, woven entirely by her?
Lin Shicha turned to look at Beng Heng's back, and since he didn't look back at her, she had to turn back and focus her eyes on the bus window.
It was meaningless.
The television at the front of the bus was playing a fire safety commercial, followed by pop music, Jay Chou's "Ye Qu." Lin Shicha listened carefully, even though the lyrics were too fast for her to understand.
The girl with the backpack glanced at Lin Shicha several times, sighing internally about how truly beautiful she was, yet it seemed as if she had quarreled with Beng Heng.
Weren't they in a sweet relationship for half a year?
After two minutes, the girl noticed that Lin Shicha's complexion wasn't healthy-looking. Instead, it looked pale and unhealthy. After hesitating for two seconds, she stood up and said, "You sit down."
The other person replied with an "Huh?" seemingly puzzled, and didn't quite respond, only to look at her with doe eyes.
The girl blushed suddenly, her voice so low it was barely audible, "Your complexion doesn't seem good, sit down and rest."
Lin Shicha didn't refuse and happily took a seat. Her eyes then expressed a different feeling, seeming surprised yet with a subtle hint of joy. "Thank you. What's your name? Are you also from Shuilu No.1 High School?"
"Uh? Y-yes, I am!" The girl was naturally shy, and at this moment, listening to Lin Shicha speak so warmly, she stuttered a bit, her cheeks turning as red as an apple. "I'm in Grade 10, Class 5, my name is Chen Mei."
After hearing this, Lin Shicha nodded, "We're on the same route, so can we go to and from school together in the future?" She then made a further request, "No girl has ever taken the initiative to talk to me, and I'm very happy. Can we be friends?"
Not only had no one ever taken the initiative to talk to her, but she also made the girls dislike her, as there were always many boys around her.
Chen Mei's head was nearly steaming, resembling a cute steam engine, and she nodded vigorously, "Okay!!"
Beng Heng pursed his lips and thought to himself, she was indeed very good at winning over people's favor. Moreover, she was straightforward and frank, so she could win both boys and girls.
Surprisingly, within ten minutes, the two girls were already walking hand in hand and chatting as they parted ways. Beng Heng was dumbfounded, unable to understand, but he managed to keep a straight face, maintaining his usual aloof appearance.
Walking in front of these two, he finally let out a breath and rubbed his nose.
Lin Shicha's distinctive voice came from behind, soft and sweet, with a hint of a teenage girl's innocence. "Let's add each other on Ball Chat, okay?"
"Okay, hahaha."
Two people snuggled together, looking at the same phone, "I was the first one, I waited for you at the stairwell at noon." They had arranged to go to the cafeteria together for lunch.
"Yeah."
Bian Heng turned around and, as he reached the end of the steps, he saw Lin Shicha engrossed in conversation with Chen Mei, her cheeks tinged with a hint of blush, her eyes sparkling with moisture, and her face radiant with a brilliant smile. "Goodbye."
This was exactly like the sweetest time when she was in a relationship with him for three months, she had never been like this before.
Bian Heng was frustrated, feeling very dissatisfied, and cursing in his heart as he went to the classroom.
The strange atmosphere between Lin Shicha and Bian Heng on the bus didn't take long to spread to the school, after all, there were quite a few students from the First High School on the bus, and Bian Heng was a prominent figure in the school. Although Lin Shicha was not very close to the girls, she was pretty, so although no one mentioned it, she was known to many people in the school.
So, the rumor of their breakup spread throughout the school in just one morning.
At lunch in the cafeteria, Lin Shicha and Chen Mei were sitting together for a meal, when two classmates from the same class came over and sat down with their lunch trays. On seeing Chen Mei, they greeted her naturally, but Chen Mei was shy, and only said "hello, senior sister" without saying anything more.
The leader was Tu Yue, followed by the arts committee member Li Ya Yin, Tu Yue smiled and asked, "Lin Shicha, have you broken up with Senior Bian Heng?" Li Ya Yin added, "Several people said so this morning, and one person was so annoying, kept secretly asking Yueyue."
Lin Shicha: "Yeah, we broke up." She bit her chopsticks and asked, "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing, you two were getting along so well, why did you break up?" Tu Yue seemed to have thought of something, and his expression visibly relaxed.
Li Ya Yin tugged at Tu Yue, as if to say, why ask something so awkward, Tu Yue reacted and laughed, "We'll go eat over there, you have your meal. Hey, junior sister, you're really cute."
The two of them walked to the left, and their voices could be heard from time to time. Chen Mei chewed on a piece of mushroom, pondered for a moment and said, "People in this school are so idle." She couldn't think of anything else to say, so she complained, "Why did someone come over specifically to ask, it's too much."
"She didn't come to ask for herself," Lin Shicha said, "Let's eat."
Chen Mei still thought that Tu Yue was asking her if she was being bothered by someone else, and seeing Lin Shicha being so considerate, she thought she was too kind and easy to talk to. But Lin Shicha wasn't thinking about that; she remembered that Tu Yue knew a senior sister named Su Ya in the third year. And that Su Ya... She had run into her once when she was dating Bian Heng before.
Su Ya liked Bian Heng, and Lin Shicha didn't find it strange at all. She didn't reveal it in the past because Bian Heng was with her, and she knew better than to disturb them. Now that she heard that the two had broken up, she couldn't wait to find out the truth, but of course, she wouldn't go to Bian Heng to ask, as it would make her intentions too obvious, and she could only get the answer from Lin Shicha, right?
It was already eight o'clock when the evening self-study was over.
Chen Mei gathered her books in the classroom and came out with a backpack on her back, "Let's go."
Lin Shicha shook her head, "Wait a moment."
"Okay." Ten minutes later, Bian Heng came leisurely down the stairs, Chen Mei's eyes widened instantly, then she covered her mouth and didn't say anything, her eyes filled with gossip, and she shrank to the side without speaking.
Bian Heng saw Lin Shicha, and there was a moment when he didn't react, so his steps slowed down for half a beat. The evening self-study for the senior year wasn't over at eight o'clock, he was a day student, but he had to stay in until nine ten before he could go home, so he was going downstairs to the restroom.
Bian Heng took a few steps, feeling something was wrong, and frowned slightly, "Waiting for me?"
"Yeah." She nodded and followed Bian Heng down the stairs step by step.
"What's the matter." Bian Heng pretended to be impatient and glanced at Chen Mei on the side. She made a great effort to play the part of a silent strawberry, looking up at the sky and then down at the ground.
"Are you trying to keep me?" Lin Shicha asked, walking in front of Bian Heng and looking at him, her eyes clear and transparent, the light at the stairwell not so bright, shrouding her, making her look even more delicate.
Bian Heng looked her up and down, and asked back, "Lin Shicha, are you trying to keep me?"
She nodded seriously, "Yeah." Her attitude was quite serious.
"Then let me ask you, besides that incident, have you ever lied to me? Were you like this when we met and started dating, or were you pretending?" This incident was like a fishbone stuck deep in Bian Heng's heart, and it would ache from time to time.
What was that incident, both of them knew.
Lin Shicha blinked, and looked at him with a puzzled expression, "No, I never pretended." As if she didn't understand why he would ask that.
The huge stone in Bian Heng's heart finally fell to the ground, he rubbed his head, and then looked at Chen Mei. She understood and said 'I'm waiting for you in the flower bed' before quickly running away.
Bian Heng sighed, "Come here." Lin Shicha obediently went over, and before she could move, he directly held her in his arms and said, "Hug me."
Bian Heng held her waist with one hand, and habitually stroked her soft, silky hair with the other, then thought of Chen Mei and the others, and began to feel uncertain. "Do you like me?"
The girl in his arms didn't answer right away, but thought for a moment, "Yes."
"What about Chen Mei and the others?" Bian Heng asked again.
"They like me too." Lin Shicha answered quickly this time.
Bian Heng's face darkened, "Let go of me." Hug? Are you [beep] kidding me and pretending to be affectionate?
But Lin Shicha lifted her head and didn't want to let go of his waist, her eyes teary as she looked at him, "Why." Pretending to be pitiful.
"What do you mean, you [beep]'s don't like any of them, do you understand what it's like to like someone?" Bian Heng was furious and turned his head to leave. He had been infatuated just now and had even thought about getting back together with her!
Then he heard her stand there for a while and say, "Then don't date anyone else for six months." Because her life probably only had six months left.
"You mind your own business!! And you're adding a deadline, that's toxic!" Bian Heng exploded, his head turned and he scolded her.
It seemed like she really was worried about this point. Bian Heng thought of a word he had heard some girls in his class gossip about a few days ago, 'unaware slut', and it really did seem to describe Lin Shicha perfectly, but what could he do? When Bian Heng saw her standing there looking like she was about to cry, his head almost exploded, "Alright, alright, I promise you!"
The author has something to say: Give out red envelopes, give out red envelopes, quickly leave a comment.
The willow tree seemed like a giant, glowing green ball. It was round and fluffy, like it had been exploded. Chen Mei took several photos of it with her phone, and then she and Lin Shicha huddled together to choose how to edit the pictures and which filter to use. "So beautiful," Chen said.
"This filter looks good," Lin Shicha pointed, "Increase the saturation a bit, the colors are very vibrant."
After adjusting the photos, Chen Mei asked quietly, "Cha Cha, have you made up with Bian Heng?"
Lin Shicha didn't look up, "No."
Chen Mei exclaimed, "I thought you did, you talked for so long. It's still a little cold in April, Chen Mei was feeling chilly standing by the flowerbed in her school uniform just now.
"No," Lin Shicha replied, "I just asked him not to date anyone else." She explained bluntly.
Chen Mei responded, "He might not listen, boys are all the same. Although I'm not clear about the reason for your breakup, Bian Heng is so popular, all the girls in the school are swooning over him."
Lin Shicha listened thoughtfully.
Chen Mei arrived at her stop, and Lin Shicha saw the dimly lit alley. She waved to Lin Shicha, "See you at 10 a.m. tomorrow."
"Okay." Tomorrow was the weekend, and the two had planned to go shopping.
As they got off, they heard the excited barking of a dog at the end of the alley. Lin Shicha turned to look and saw a large, somewhat intimidating Alaskan adult dog sitting at the entrance of the alley, with a man holding the dog leash.
Chen Mei's voice came with surprise, "Pipi! You came to pick me up! Oh, I love you, but please don't jump on me, I can't hold your body weight!"
"Such an enthusiastic dog," eager to express all the love to its owner with every movement.
Lin Shicha muttered to herself, looking back only when she couldn't see them, and then she sat for a while looking at the night scene outside the car window.
When she got home, the first thing Lin Shicha said was, "Grandma, I want to have a dog."
Lin Chunhua was serving the food, "Huh?"
Lin Chunhua was very easy-going, without any intention of stopping her. Her granddaughter has always been solitary, with no friends, not even close classmates. Didn't they say that dogs are man's best friend? She naturally supported it.
At half-past ten at night, Lin Shicha had finished showering and her hair was already dry. She leaned against the window and sent a message to Chi Xing, "I know there's a large dog market near your school. Can you accompany me to visit it tomorrow afternoon?"
Chi Xing replied soon, with a tone of angry frustration, "Take a good look at yourself first, you've left me hanging for days. Do you have no shame, huh?"
"Sorry, will you accompany me then?"
Chi Xing was biting the cigarette butt, and almost choked when he exhaled. He wanted to scold her, but apologized was she running a wholesale business that she can apologize so easily on everything?
After calming down for a while.
"Okay."
"You're despicable!" Chi Xing pinched himself.
"You're really something," Chi Xing said, "I won't fall for your act." He put the phone away forcefully, not flattered by a casual compliment.
A guy with dyed yellow hair poked his head out from the front, "Xing, have you made the call? The people from No. 13 Middle School have arrived." Just now, Chi Xing's phone rang, and he immediately left, so he thought Chi Xing had answered a call, otherwise why the hurry.
"I didn't make the call," Chi Xing chewed on the cigarette butt, and then threw it out skillfully. As he passed, he stepped on it, extinguishing the spark. "Let's go." His clear voice carried a hint of laziness and coldness.
At eleven at night, a primary school student, who was late home because of an accident, had her hair tied in a ponytail. She heard a noise at the intersection of the road and the alley in front. Her heart skipped a beat, and she dared not walk on, but this was the only way through.
Suddenly, a muffled groan sounded, a boy was forced back by another boy holding his collar and slammed into the iron gate. The girl held back her scream and didn't dare to make a sound.
The boy being held had a swollen mouth and was bleeding from the nose, breathing heavily. The exposed eye showed fear and terror. The boy holding his collar tsked, released his hold and lightly straightened the boy's collar, saying something to him.
As he turned his head, the leading boy appeared in the girl's sight. He was tall and slim, leaning against the wall. His eyes emitted a chilling light, and the curve of his lips had an imperceptible fierceness.
The kind of bad guy one sees in the movies!
Chi Xing stood at the front of the group, and someone whistled from behind. He squatted down to look at the beaten boy, "Look at you, your good brothers have all run away. What's the point of being loyal." He adjusted the boy's hair, "Study well and make progress every day." After he said this, everyone burst into laughter.
The girl subconsciously wanted to escape, but they had already seen her. "That kid!"
As he walked towards her, his shadow completely enveloped her, resembling a devil. The little girl was almost in tears, trembling and not daring to move.
At the next moment he suddenly squatted down, took out a lollipop from his pocket, "Have it, don't be afraid, big brother won't bully you."
After hesitating for a moment, the girl's fear gradually dissipated. She took the lollipop and ran away.
Chi Xing stared at the girl's back for a while, and then took out a lollipop from his pocket and tore the wrapper with his mouth, put the candy in his mouth, clapped his hands and stood up, "Go back, I've got other things to do tomorrow, no more trouble."
Someone complained, "What a retreat. Since he's with that girl from No. 1 High School, he's turned into a good boy."
"Instead of smoking, he has started eating candy."
"Coming home early and going to evening self-study occasionally!"
"Hey, the teachers are pleasantly surprised, and they don't even mention you."
"What are you doing tomorrow, a date, Xing?"
"What do you know," Chi Xing was impatient, and pulled at the corner of his mouth, "Get lost."
"Okay, brothers, let's go."
Chi Xing swaggered his way back home with his hands in his pockets. Just as he got halfway, he saw a tall man holding a stick waiting on the side of the road near his home. After a brief eye contact, Chi Xing turned around and ran away.
"Chi Xing! You've become bold! You've got your mom worried again, stand at attention for me!"
Late awakening, with milk residue around his mouth, ran forward vigorously. He arrogantly gestured a middle finger back, saying, "Stand at attention? I'm just a fool! Do you think this is your police station? Who listens to you?"
The conclusion was that Chixing was chased, electrically stunned with a police baton, and taken home to put an end to it.
Chixing: "......" accustomed to being stunned.
Having a son going through a more severe rebellious phase than usual, Chixing's father sighed. Sometimes he reflected, wondering if it was because he was a policeman, he held too high expectations for his son from a young age, leading him to develop a rebellious mentality, becoming more unruly. If he had not gone against him, maybe they would not have reached this point today.
"For the past six months, haven't you been good? You were always home before ten. Why are you so late today? Do you know how long your mother waited for you? If you continue like this, I will tie you to a chair and have your mother bring the interns from the hospital to practice needle pricks on you."
Chixing shivered and admitted his mistake. "I'm sorry, Dad." But upon hearing him mention the past six months, Chixing fell silent.
Chixing's father really believed Chixing was scared; he was just bluffing. He couldn't really let him get pricked, it was just a threat to make him behave better.
Under one halo after another, the two people's shadows grew longer and longer, and Chixing's father's voice gradually faded away: "Are you in love?"
"Why so curious," Chixing retorted.
Until the sound disappeared, the two also disappeared into the night.
Lindokchai woke up at nine in the morning. Finally, on the weekend, she could sleep in, not needing to get up at six. She lazed in bed for a while. Lin Chunhua called her three times before she finally got dressed and got out of bed.
Lin Chunhua remembered what Lindokchai said, "I'll invite your friend over for dinner tomorrow. I'll make something delicious." Lindokchai didn't look up and mumbled, "Why so formal."
Lin Chunhua smiled awkwardly, "Aren't you happy to finally make a friend? I'm just mentioning it. You don't have to come."
After the meal, under Lin Chunhua's gaze, Lindokchai swallowed two pills with water. "I'm going out now."
"Be careful on the way."
At exactly ten o'clock, Lindokchai took the bus to the stop near Chen Mei's house. She was already waiting for her by the roadside and smiled when she saw Lindokchai.
Neither of them was wearing school uniforms today. Chen Mei was wearing a long-sleeved dress in red, making her look even more vibrant.
The two went shopping first, had lunch near the cinema at noon, watched the latest movie, and then walked around the cinema after the movie, spending a long time at the jewelry store.
After the call, it was already half past four.
Chen Mei wanted to have dinner with Lindokchai, but she said she had other plans and had to decline.
Chixing arrived early. He played two games at the bubble tea shop outside Erzhong before going to the station to wait for Lindokchai. Seven minutes later, the No. 108 bus arrived, and Chixing put away his phone. He saw Lindokchai struggling to carry four paper bags as she got off.
Chixing frowned and looked at her. "Where have you been?"
She looked very cute today. She wore a pink and white waisted dress with delicate lace embellishments on the hem. She had a fair neck above the round collar, with bubble sleeves, and her black waist-length hair was loosely tied into two low ponytails behind her.
"Shopping with Chen Mei," Lindokchai explained concisely, raising her hand.
Chixing paused before taking her bags and carrying them himself. "Who is Chen Mei? A girl?"
"Yeah, a friend I just met, a girl from our school," Lindokchai nodded, walking beside Chixing.
Chixing walked in silence and said, "A girl...you take a girl out and dress up so nicely. You even put on makeup. I didn't see you take it seriously when we went out before."
Lindokchai glanced back slowly, "Are you jealous?"
"Ha, me, jealous?" Chixing looked disdainful. "If I were jealous, money would fall from the sky." How could money possibly fall from the sky, right?
However, at that moment, a young man riding a bicycle passed by them. There was a 'clatter' sound, as the bike stumbled and fell on the ground, and the man's wallet flew out, scattering coins all over the ground with a clear clinking noise.
"Look," Lindokchai pointed cutely. "Money."
Chixing: "..."
The young man looked terrified as he hurriedly picked up the wallet, afraid that these two kids might not understand and might run off with the money.