It was already dark. The wind gently blew through her fine hair and lifted the corners of her clothes, making her face appear even more profound.
Song Jing felt incredibly happy, overwhelmed by joy. She maintained her silly grin for a long time without changing it. Then, she suddenly took a step forward, closer to Ouyang Xiao: "Hey! Ouyang Xiao!" Her voice wasn't loud, but it was clear, "You said I could sit in the front row on the day of your performance? Even if you don't allow it, I still have to sit in the front row!" Song Jing laughed brightly, for the first time acting like a ten-year-old girl—a little willful, a bit lively, and incredibly innocent.
Ouyang Xiao turned to look at her, his eyes sparkling like stars. He said softly, "Just let me see you!"
Song Jing smiled, her beautiful, always bright eyes narrowing, radiating a vibrant, almost ethereal quality, as if they were about to sprout wings, swirling and swirling, her smile more radiant than the stars in the sky.
In the darkness, I could see nothing, but I could vaguely feel that we were so close to each other. My cheeks flushed red, as if they were about to burn. My heart pounded, and I held my breath involuntarily... Deep, deep, deep, as if I were drunk, completely confused, completely confused.
Zhen Liang was originally very excited and happy. She was going to perform on the same stage with Ouyang Xiao, the person she had always liked, and they would have a lot of time together after class. Although they practiced separately, her excitement could not be stopped. However, that was only "originally".
For example, right now, there was a soft knock at the door. A moment later, Ouyang Xiao went out and brought back a lunchbox to eat. If it were just that, she wouldn't be angry; girls should be magnanimous. But as Ouyang Xiao ate, he wore a strange, warm smile, looking very satisfied—not because Zhen Liang had brought him the lunchbox, but because of it.
"Who brought it for you?" she asked tentatively.
Ouyang Xiao looked up: "A classmate."
"A man?" How can he be so ashamed to show his face?
Ouyang Xiao smiled mysteriously and remained silent.
Zhen Liang's resentment grew stronger and stronger; it was infuriating! Ouyang Xiao, Ouyang Xiao was the person she loved, the person she loved! Roaring, Zhen Liang actually didn't have the courage to confess to Ouyang Xiao. They were still young, but as long as she stayed by his side, he would definitely be hers. Fate was predetermined; she always believed that.
Time flies, and the party is about to begin.
Song Jing had no recollection of the party itself. Her class was seated at the back, and being small, she strained to see Ouyang Xiao, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't see her, not even a glimpse of her clothes. She was incredibly frustrated. Then Song Jing decided to just straighten up, standing perfectly upright, but she still didn't know if Ouyang Xiao had seen her. Before she could even ask, disaster struck.
Song Jing was not a proud or arrogant person. She always knew what she could get and what price she had to pay to get it. She worked hard on the facts she could change, without being pessimistic or complaining, but persevering and adapting herself to society, improving herself and increasing her leverage.
On her first day of elementary school, after class, her teacher said to her, "Song Jing, you are younger than all the other students in our class, and your grades are excellent. You certainly have reason to be proud, but..." The teacher's sharp gaze swept over her from behind thick black-rimmed glasses, making little Song Jing very uncomfortable. She continued slowly, "Your good grades now don't mean you'll always be this good. So let me make this clear to you first: either don't be proud and skip class whenever you want, or you'll obediently listen to the lessons... I'm older than you and know more than you. You need to learn to restrain yourself and be respectful. Besides grades, I have many other ways to deal with you... Just making a note of it in your file is enough to get you into serious trouble."
As a child, Song Jing was a mischievous girl who liked to make surprising remarks in class, occasionally daydream, and enjoy playing with others after class, forgetting all about her studies.
Xiao Songjing didn't quite understand what the teacher was saying, but judging from the teacher's expression, she knew something bad was about to happen. So she obediently nodded and behaved as a good student, gradually developing a calm and taciturn personality. She also began to understand that not everything in this world can be obtained through intelligence. However, reality can change, and it changes frequently.
Zhen Liang slapped Song Jing across the face and shouted angrily, "You untrustworthy bitch! What right do you have to get close to Ouyang Xiao!"
Song Jing just frowned, looking very puzzled.
During the lunch break, there were about thirty people in the classroom, some sitting and reading, some dozing off on their desks, and some playing chess in small groups.
Song Jinggang came down from the rooftop and spread out his test paper to do his practice.
Zhen Liang stormed in from outside, walked straight toward Song Jing, and slapped her across the face, knocking Song Jing almost to the edge of the table. Books on the table clattered to the floor, and the whole room fell silent.
Ouyang Xiao happened to walk in from outside and slapped Zhen Liang across the face as well: "What a disgrace you are!!"
Zhen Liang covered her face, tears streaming down her face, her eyes red: "Ouyang Xiao! I'm your sister, how could you hit me for her sake?!" She pointed at Song Jing.
Ouyang Xiao ignored her and turned to ask, "Are you alright?"
Song Jing shook his head, looking bewildered.
"Ouyang Xiao! Explain yourself! Do you like her more than you like me?!" Zhen Liang rushed over in a fit of rage, grabbing Song Jing's arm and pulling her backward, almost throwing her away.
Ouyang Xiao looked at Zhen Liang quietly for a while, then said softly, "Come out and talk."
"I don't want to! I want you to say it right now in front of the whole class?!" Zhen Liang's eyes reddened, and she spoke without thinking.
Song Jing steadied herself against the wall and slowly stood up. Zhen Liang's sudden movement had caused her to stumble and fall, hitting her knee and causing it considerable pain. She expected a large, bluish bump tomorrow, which might even dent when pressed. As she stood, her lips brushed against something soft, lightly, and then quickly moved away, leaving a cool, icy sensation.
What is that?
Song Jing looked up in confusion, glancing around blankly.
Soon, she was unable to think straight. The classroom was filled with screams, not just from Zhen Liang, but from others, like a sudden outburst after a ritual.
Chapter Three
Updated: 2008-04-07 17:28:14 Words: 0
“I dreamt about you last night…” Song Jing looked up at the sky, her head tilted back.
Ouyang Xiao gave an ambiguous "Oh".
“I dreamt we were in PE class, and then… we played basketball, jumped rope, played ping-pong… and you twisted your ankle. I was so scared, and when I woke up my palms were sweaty… I wanted to talk to someone, to tell you to be careful, but I didn’t have the courage…” A tear rolled down Song Jing’s cheek, and she covered her eyes with the back of her hand. “If I had told you, you definitely wouldn’t have gotten hurt…”
Ouyang Xiao wanted to say that it wasn't your fault, but in the end he just opened his mouth and said nothing.
No matter how much time had passed, Ouyang Xiao always remembered Song Jing's expression at that time, a mixture of regret and heartache clearly written on her face, slightly distorted, mixed with tears. Sunlight scattering through the gaps in the branches onto her face seemed to envelop it in a layer of sacred light.
My heart started pounding wildly, and I couldn't calm it down no matter what I did.
***
Being invited to the office for tea is perfectly natural, expected, and without any suspense.
After the loud commotion, the homeroom teacher appeared at the door with a livid face. Like a whirlwind, Song Jing, Ouyang Xiao, and Zhen Liang were all taken away. Walking in front, followed by the teacher, was Shen Jichu.
Song Jing was a little flustered, obediently following behind Ouyang Xiao, secretly watching his back. Ouyang Xiao's hand was tightly gripping Song Jing's, but his face was expressionless, his lips pursed, very serious. Song Jing wondered inexplicably, why weren't Ouyang Xiao's palms sweaty? Don't most people's palms sweat when they're nervous?
Thinking this, they had already arrived at the office. The teacher turned around and glared fiercely at Ouyang Xiao and Song Jing. Song Jing felt a chill run down her spine and flinched. She then felt Ouyang Xiao release her hand and stand in front of her.
The conversations weren't all together, but rather individual and separate. Perhaps it was done to find the truth. Song Jing sat in her chair, idly making pointless guesses. She knew something was amiss, but she wasn't at fault, and she remained perfectly at peace with herself.
Shen Jichu was the first to be called in, and the conversation didn't last long. When she came out, Shen Jichu quietly made a gesture to Ouyang Xiao. Song Jing could clearly sense that Ouyang Xiao was much more relaxed than before, when she seemed to be facing a formidable enemy. She turned around in confusion.
"Don't speak once you're inside," Ouyang Xiao whispered to her.
Song Jing nodded.
After Zhen Liang came out, Song Jing knocked on the door, opened it, and walked slowly over with her head down to sit opposite the teacher.
The tall sycamore trees had all their leaves gone, leaving only bare branches that bisected the gray sky. The camphor trees, barely past their third growth, had a deep green covering half of the window. The blue curtains were tied in a knot, and several fluorescent lights were on in the room, casting a glaring white light.
For a long time, the teacher kept her head slightly lowered, looking at the notebook in her palm, then sharply scrutinized her from behind her drooping black-rimmed glasses. Song Jing was restless, but remembering Ouyang Xiao's instructions, she calmed down, looking at her toes with an obedient and docile expression. Song Jing was afraid of teachers, not only because her father had been a teacher, nor only because she was often hit on the palm with a ruler and loudly scolded by teachers in elementary school, but simply because she felt that being called to the teacher's office for a private reprimand was a very shameful thing.
"I heard you're dating Ouyang Xiao?" The teacher's voice was unhurried, with a strange upward swell at the end.
Song Jing lowered her head, somewhat puzzled, but remembering Ouyang Xiao's words, she pursed her lips and remained silent.
The teacher glanced at her, gathered the things on the table, and then slowly said, "You probably don't know about Ouyang Xiao's family situation, do you?"
Song Jing immediately raised her head.
“Ouyang Xiao’s father is a well-known businessman here! His mother is a famous beauty…” Song Jing didn’t know why her teacher suddenly brought up Ouyang Xiao’s family, but she finally became serious. As she was about to leave, Song Jing said her first words since entering the room: “Teacher, I will try my best.” The teacher just smiled slightly. Song Jing opened the door and walked out, feeling a rush of cold air outside. She shivered; she still felt very cold.
Ouyang Xiao cast a worried glance at Song Jing, who smiled but appeared somewhat pale.
Ouyang Xiao walked into the office and brushed past Song Jing.
Song Jing's heart was suddenly filled with sorrow.
From a very young age, adults taught her to recognize her own abilities, to assess her own worth, to understand what she could and could not do in this world, and not to try to change things that were perhaps impossible to change. Song Jing had always disagreed. She lived her life diligently and earnestly, only wanting to become stronger so that she could change those uncertain things. But now, Song Jing only felt desolation.
“Ouyang Xiao, I want to ask you something,” Song Jing said, leaning against the rooftop railing and looking down.
After the teacher finished speaking, it was their turn to talk. Some things always need to be resolved.
Ouyang Xiao did not answer.
Silence is taken as tacit consent.
"...Will you keep waiting for me to come after you?" Song Jing lowered her head. People came and went downstairs, one by one, as if all color had faded, leaving only black and white in the world. But what did it matter to her? She always thought, what do other people matter? They're just people. She should just stick to her own path.
Ouyang Xiao said, "Yes." He looked up and stared straight at him.
Song Jing laughed: "Then I'll just keep chasing after you."
Ouyang Xiao said, "Okay."
After they finished speaking, they left the rooftop one after another. In winter, there was no snow, no rain, only a very strong wind blowing incessantly, making hair disheveled and clothes flutter wildly. Sometimes it was so strong you couldn't even open your eyes; if you weren't careful, sand would blow into your eyes, and tears would stream down your face. The occasional sunlight was blinding, a pale, blinding light, yet there was no way to avoid looking at it, thinking about it, or trying your best.
Winter break is coming soon.
In the final exams, Ouyang Xiao firmly held first place in the entire school, while Song Jing ranked fifth overall and second in her class. Ouyang Xiao became increasingly hardworking and capable, while Song Jing also worked hard, but seemed to have stagnated.
After being called in for a lecture by the teacher, Song Jing and Li Yueling had a big fight and entered a period of cold war. A week before the exam, Song Jing grabbed Li Yueling's hand and pulled her aside to talk. Like other classmates, Song Jing and Li Yueling had experienced countless arguments and reconciliations, such as "I'm never playing with you again" and "Hey! I'm telling you, if you don't talk to me, I'm going to get angry!" Song Jing didn't say anything else, just, "Are you still angry? If you're not angry anymore, let's go home together this weekend."
It was a Wednesday. Their argument had happened the Tuesday before last, and they were called to the teacher's office on Monday. Looking back now, Song Jing felt as if a lifetime or a very, very long time had passed, leaving her feeling lost and confused. Song Jing wanted to ask Ouyang Xiao what the teacher had said to him, but in the end, she didn't ask anything. She smiled, turned, and went downstairs. She felt she had done the right thing; they were still young.
Li Yueling said, "Ah Jing, aren't you going to be with Ouyang Xiao anymore?"
Song Jing was silent for a while, then suddenly asked, "Xiao Yue, do you know anything about his family?" Li Yueling was different from Song Jing; she was much more lively and knew a lot more about the family.
Li Yueling didn't answer, but instead asked, "What's going on between you and him?" Girls are naturally more curious than others, and more prone to gossip, so it was truly remarkable that Li Yueling had held back until now. That was only because she hadn't found the opportunity. Last time, she wanted to argue with Song Jing, but what did Song Jing do? He simply shut her down with a cold, indifferent "I'm not in the mood, don't talk to me." Even though Li Yueling knew that Song Jing was just genuinely in a bad mood, the words still sounded incredibly unpleasant. Now that Song Jing had calmed down, she naturally wanted to seize the opportunity and save time to get a clear answer.
Song Jing lowered her head and remained silent for a long time. Then she looked up and stared straight at Li Yueling, and slowly said, "I don't know what's going on between him and me." She paused, her tone becoming more firm, "But I know I like him, I like him a lot, and maybe it's gotten to the point where I don't know what to do."
Li Yueling was taken aback for a moment, then quickly scoffed, "Ah Jing, do you even know what 'like' means? You're just a kid who can't even understand 'The Legend of the White Snake,' so don't talk big!"
This time, Song Jing didn't remain silent. She said seriously, "I know what liking someone is. I looked it up in the dictionary. Liking someone means that you feel happy when you see them."
Li Yueling clicked her tongue in surprise: "When did this happen? How come you've never mentioned it before?"
“After Zhen Liang came to see me, she said a lot of things that day, but I didn’t quite understand them. Talking to you wouldn’t get to the point, so I went and looked them up in the dictionary myself.”
Li Yueling had only asked casually to express her surprise, but she hadn't expected Song Jing to take it so seriously and give her the exact time and reason. Li Yueling leaned against the wall, telling herself, "Don't take Song Jing too seriously; her thinking is beyond your comprehension." After all that, she could only sigh and say, "Song Jing, you take things too seriously."
Song Jing tilted her head in confusion: "What's wrong with being serious? Mom said that only serious people can accomplish great things."
“It’s probably because they can’t do anything big!” Li Yueling was a teenager, knowing some things but not many. After saying that, she changed the subject, her expression becoming serious: “Ouyang Xiao’s mother died young, I heard it was because she couldn’t stand the Ouyang family… You know their family rules, those wealthy families… Heh, now everyone talks about equality, but that’s just talk. The Ouyang family has been officials for generations, and occasionally someone goes into business; their power and wealth make them local tyrants. Their family affairs are very complicated…”
"oh."
"Oh what? What exactly are you planning to do?"
Song Jing first looked around. The fog was thick, and the winter morning was very peaceful. She seemed to have thought of something and smiled gently, "I will try my best to grow up and keep up with Ouyang Xiao's pace."
"that's all?"
"kindness."
"You want to be with him?"
"Yes." Without hesitation, she answered firmly.
"Still want to get married?"
"Yes." Her face flushed slightly, but her tone remained firm.
"You've even thought this through and you still dare to tell me you don't know? What don't you know?" Li Yueling quickly stopped talking, looking Song Jing up and down suspiciously, and said, "Jing, you're only ten years old this year, if I remember correctly?"
"Xiaoyue has a very good memory."