As Chen Hang tidied up the three or four times more books on the table than usual, he said, "Hey Lao Song, just leave him alone, let's go."
Song Wenmiao recalled how the two of them had suddenly become so diligent in their studies today, and suddenly laughed. He propped his hands on the table, raised his eyebrows, and asked, "I'm not saying this to be mean, but you two are determined to push down the two top students in our class!"
Su Jinning froze, the pen tip suddenly tearing a hole in the paper. He stared at the broken mark, gritted his teeth, and suddenly looked up: "Double?"
Song Wenmiao didn't understand his suddenly fierce gaze and was somewhat surprised: "What...is wrong?"
The atmosphere was somewhat heavy. Su Jinning thought of Gu Junxiao, who had suddenly disappeared from school, as if he were avoiding the matter.
He suddenly gripped the pen tighter.
Song Wenmiao had no idea what she had said that offended him. She blinked innocently, trying to ask Chen Hang for help: "President Hang, what's wrong?"
But Chen Hang just shrugged, indicating that he didn't really understand either. He looked at Su Jinning's worried face and suddenly felt that if the two of them stayed any longer, their lives might be in danger. He quickly stood up from the stool, pulled Song Wenmiao, and prepared to leave.
But the next second, Su Jinning spoke up: "Why didn't Gu Junxiao come today?"
The two men were taken aback, exchanging puzzled glances. Chen Hang said with slight surprise, "I thought you knew why Lao Gu didn't come today. He didn't tell you either?"
Su Jinning raised her eyelids and quickly glanced at Gu Junxiao's seat: "He didn't say, I don't know."
Su Jinning's words were too cold and irritating. Chen Hang suspected that Gu Junxiao and Chen Hang had quarreled, but he didn't want to ask directly, so he could only stand there anxiously.
Chen Hang knew part of the reason why Su Jinning was in a bad mood, and thought he would ask her on WeChat when he got home, so he didn't want to add to her distress.
But Song Wenmiao was different; he was quick to run and quick to speak: "What happened? Did you quarrel with Lao Gu?"
Chen Hang choked instantly. It's not the god-like opponents I fear, it's the pig-like teammates.
But Su Jinning didn't tell them to get lost as she usually did. Instead, she stood up and replied naturally, "I don't know, I guess so."
Chen Hang and Song Wenmiao were speechless once again. This response was worse than hearing Su Jinning tell them to get lost.
Su Jinning didn't speak for a moment. Chen Hang also tactfully greeted her, "Alright then, Ning-ge, we can talk about it later, don't worry too much. We'll be going now."
Before Su Jinning could even look up and agree, the two stumbled and disappeared through the back door.
He remained silent. Listening to the chaotic laughter and footsteps of the students in the corridor, he suddenly remembered the autumn more than a year ago when he met Gu Junxiao.
Gu Junxiao was surrounded by the crowd, and the shouts and laughter that kept coming could be heard all the way to the tree-lined road in front of the No. 8 Middle School.
He was a freshman in high school at the time. He failed his midterm exams and was scolded by Su Yi. He was so angry that he ran away and happened to be near No. 8 Middle School. Although he often got into fights, he usually just taught those who bothered him a lesson. He couldn't stand bullying the weak and he was also fuming. In a moment of anger, he grabbed a stick and charged forward.
In the end, those people were beaten so badly they cried for their fathers and slunk away. He didn't even bother to help Gu Junxiao, who was hiding in the corner. He just glanced at him and was about to leave when Gu Junxiao, covered in injuries, grabbed him.
He was covered in dirt from the beating, with tear stains and bloodstains mixed together, making him look particularly unsightly. Su Jinning, being a germaphobe, retreated without a word.
But Gu Junxiao just kept thanking him and kept saying that she would treat him to a meal in the future to repay this kindness.
But Su Jinning didn't believe it either. How could she possibly have another chance to see someone she didn't know?
However, six months after that separation, Gu Junxiao actually appeared in his class.
He asked Gu Junxiao why those people hit him, whether it was because they transferred schools, but Gu Junxiao was tight-lipped and refused to say. Thinking that he probably didn't want to talk about it, Su Jinning didn't ask any further questions afterward.
Gu Junxiao is handsome and kind. He helped him out of trouble several times, and even fought alongside him, despite being a top student himself.
Over the course of a year, Su Jinning, Gu Junxiao, Chen Hang, and Song Wenmiao became known as best friends. Even the teachers mentioned all four of them together.
In fact, Su Jinning did not intend to cut ties with him completely and never have any contact with him again. After all, it was a matter between him and Shen Moyu. Even if she liked Shen Moyu and was disappointed in Gu Junxiao, she should not interfere.
He didn't want Gu Junxiao to appear in front of Shen Moyu again, but he still hoped that Gu Junxiao could face this matter seriously instead of suddenly stopping to go to school and making a pointless escape.
Gu Junxiao's abandonment was unforgivable, and the scar in Shen Moyu's heart could never be erased. But this was not a right he could simply ignore.
And all of this made him somewhat unable to believe that his brothers, with whom he used to laugh and joke, would one day disappoint him so much.
He stood up only after all the students on duty in the classroom had left. His phone vibrated twice in his pocket, but he answered it without even looking at it.
"Hello? Are you out of school?" Shen Moyu's slightly hoarse voice came from the other end of the phone, as she had just woken up.
Su Jinning's pupils dilated slightly, and her mood suddenly improved a lot: "Yeah, I've let it go. I was just about to go back to see Aunt Xia and buy some dog food for Gunqiu."
Shen Moyu on the other end of the phone was silent for two seconds, then his voice sounded somewhat deflated: "Oh, is that so? How much longer?"
If she wasn't mistaken, Su Jinning felt that there was a hint of coquetry in those two sentences.
He chuckled softly, then suddenly decided to tease him: "Hmm? If it's too late, we won't go to the hospital today."
"Beep beep beep—"
The phone call was suddenly disconnected.
Su Jinning was taken aback, then gently took the phone down and couldn't help but laugh as she put it in her pocket.
For some reason, he felt that Shen Moyu's appearance just now was exactly like a young wife who was sulking because she knew her husband wasn't coming home tonight.
He really wanted to say it, but he knew it wasn't appropriate.
——
When Su Jinning left, the rush hour had passed. He quickly arrived at Shen Moyu's door, carrying two portions of fruit he had bought at the supermarket. One portion was for Xia Wei, and the other was for Shen Moyu to take back as an apology for his earlier joke.
Xia Wei opened the door, probably cooking. A strong aroma of food suddenly wafted into Su Jinning's nostrils, accompanied by the sizzling sound of oil in a pan.
"Hello, Auntie!" he quickly greeted her with a smile, nodding politely as he carried the fruit.
Xia Wei was taken aback at first, then quickly wiped the oil stains on her hands onto her apron and said with some joy, "Oh, Xiao Ning, Auntie hasn't seen you in so long, come in and tell me."
Su Jinning quickly agreed, "Ah, okay." He hurried into the house, turning around and closing the door behind him.
Xia Wei wheeled herself towards the kitchen: "Did Mo Yu send you? He's worried about me at the training course; he called me several times today."
Su Jinning was stunned for a moment, then quickly realized, "Ah, yes, he asked me to come and visit you often."
Xia Wei suddenly laughed: "This child, I already said I was fine, why did you have to come over?"
"No trouble at all!" Su Jinning waved her hand and said politely, "He's just worried about you, so he feels at ease knowing I come to see you often."
Xia Wei nodded with satisfaction, quickly ladled out the dishes and placed them on the table, then, while picking up bowls and chopsticks, called out to Su Jinning, "Xiao Ning, come and eat some."
Su Jinning put down the fruit and quickly waved her hand, politely smiling, "No need, Auntie, I'll go home to eat."
Xia Wei smiled and said, "Are you still being so polite with your aunt? Sit down and have something to eat. You must be hungry after school."