Xia Xuan led Xiao Qiqi northward along the shaded area by the lake. "Shall we go around this side and turn to the opposite mountain to play?" Xia Xuan asked Xiao Qiqi, her gentle eyes overwhelming Xiao Qiqi's emotions. Xiao Qiqi nodded like an idiot.
They walked and walked, hand in hand. Xia Xuan didn't say a word, and Xiao Qiqi was as obedient as a quiet cat, letting him lead her into that unknown world. For a moment, Xiao Qiqi was in a daze, as if this hand-holding could last forever.
Xiao Qiqi sat behind Xia Xuan, quietly watching the figure that had been frozen in place for so long. The lake, the mountain breeze, the shade of the trees, the occasional birdsong—Xiao Qiqi felt that the world here was so beautiful and wondrous. But the warm, moist air, like the person who had been sitting there for so long, was oppressive, sad, and lonely.
Xiao Qiqi watched as only a golden sunset remained on the horizon. The setting sun, like a veiled fairy, gently swept across the earth, leaving behind only desolation and sorrow, devoid of beauty and perfection. She slowly walked over and sat down beside Xia Xuan. "...Are you very sad?"
Xia Xuan slowly turned her head to look at Xiao Qiqi, her bright eyes filled with worry and inquiry—just like her mother's beautiful eyes! "Can I kiss your eyes?"
Xiao Qiqi blinked, puzzled. Xia Xuan chuckled and shook her head. "Don't be embarrassed. I just think your eyes are very beautiful, just like my mother's."
Looking at his bitter smile, Xiao Qiqi felt a strange warmth flow through her heart. She slowly closed her eyes and raised her head. Xia Xuan looked at her long eyelashes, which trembled like butterfly wings, shaking as delicately as dewdrops. A shadow swept across her fair and delicate skin. She was so beautiful, so breathtaking. He couldn't help but lower his head and gently kissed her beautiful eyes as if afraid of shattering his most beloved porcelain.
Xiao Qiqi felt his warm breath gently brush against her face, carrying his unique clean scent, like a dragonfly skimming the water, leaving ripples in the water.
“My mother has passed away.” Xia Xuan gazed at the lake, while Xiao Qiqi slowly opened her eyes. “She was beautiful and kind, but her heart was broken for the rest of her life and could never be healed. No matter how much I pleaded or prayed, she still left me.”
“I know!” Xiao Qiqi couldn’t help but reach out and squeeze his trembling fingers. “People say that our loved ones don’t leave us, but become stars in the sky. They still watch over you every day, just in a different place. So don’t be sad, don’t cry, or they will see it and be sad.”
Xia Xuan took Xiao Qiqi's hand in return, "My mother said the same thing, so I'm not sad." There was a burning flame in Xia Xuan's eyes, making Xiao Qiqi's heart beat faster.
He blurted out, "Let's go back, Xu Chun is waiting for you." After saying that, he wanted to slap himself. What a beautiful place, what an inappropriate moment, and he had to bring up that big grudge of Xu Chun.
Xia Xuan was indeed taken aback. He shook his head, stood up, and as Xiao Qiqi fled in a disheveled state, he said lightly, "Silly girl, do you know what you're doing?" There was something in his tone that Xiao Qiqi dared not guess... doting.
Once that tenderness disappeared, Xiao Qiqi reverted to the wickedness of the Big Bad Wolf. The way back became increasingly difficult; night had fallen, leaving only faint lights, and the annoying mosquitoes by the lake made Xiao Qiqi jump around in frustration. Xia Xuan just smiled at her, remaining silent.
Xiao Qiqi, seized by a sudden surge of malice, cried out, "Ah, Xia Xuan, you scoundrel! I've been bitten to death by mosquitoes, I don't want to live anymore!"
"Xia Xuan, I'm exhausted, how much further is it?"
"Xia Xuan, my feet are blistered, I'm not going any further."
"Xia Xuan, my feet hurt so much."
“Xia Xuan…”
"I'll carry you!" Xia Xuan suddenly blurted out, squatting down in front of Xiao Qiqi and sighing, "If you keep going this slow, you'll really be torn to pieces by mosquitoes."
Xiao Qiqi looked at the not-so-broad and somewhat slender shoulders squatting in front of her, and considered for three seconds. Jiang Yilan had said that it was foolish not to climb a pole when there was one available, and Xiao Qiqi didn't want to be a fool.
So Xiao Qiqi smugly nestled on Xia Xuan's back and fell asleep. Xia Xuan touched the dampness on her neck and smiled wryly again. How could she fall asleep like that?
Swaying! Xiao Qiqi felt her mind adrift like a small boat on the sea, tossed and turned in frustration. She swung her hand angrily, only to have it gripped tightly by a pair of slightly cool hands. "Xiao Qiqi, if you don't wake up soon, I'm throwing you into the lake to feed the fish!"
Xiao Qiqi was afraid of feeding the fish, so she woke up quickly, wiped the unidentified substance from the corner of her mouth, and scratched her head, "Where am I?"
Xia Xuan smiled and put her down, struggling to place the book she was carrying on her arm onto the ground. She squatted down and shook her aching arm. "Xiao Qiqi, you should lose weight."
Looking at the myriad lights of the city, Xiao Qiqi suddenly remembered that she had been lying on someone's back, smelling a warm and refreshing scent, as cozy and comforting as basking in the sun on the grass behind her grandmother's house. She had fallen asleep without realizing it. Xiao Qiqi chuckled awkwardly, grabbed her book, and said, "Um, thank you." She turned and ran, disappearing like the wind, then stopped abruptly, turning back with difficulty, taking several steps backward. "Um…Xu Chun…"
Xia Xuan rubbed her forehead. "Just say you couldn't find me. Tomorrow, um, I'll wait for you here tomorrow." They were currently on a maple-lined path about a hundred meters from the school gate.
Xiao Qiqi was taken aback, "...Why did you wait for me?"
Xia Xuan raised the book in her hand, "I'll take you to a good place to review your lessons. Are you going to have to retake the course again? Look at all your books, they're all brand new. You don't never go to class, do you?"
Xiao Qiqi wrinkled her nose. "Nonsense, I have class." Her voice trailed off, lacking confidence. "I... if we're together, and someone sees us... that's not good. I'm not going!"
"Just two weeks, really." Xia Xuan walked over, and Xiao Qiqi looked down at the trembling white line on his foot. "We're just going to review. I haven't been to class for almost three months, and I need to study too. With you guys watching me like that every day, am I supposed to retake all the courses?"
Xiao Qiqi felt the little earthworm crawling all over her body. She nodded involuntarily and pouted, saying, "I don't want to walk!"
"Don't worry!" Xia Xuan patted her head, like he would a child.
Xiao Qiqi dodged away, "Don't touch my head, I'm not a child anymore."
Xia Xuan smiled, waved, and disappeared behind the shadows of the trees. Xiao Qiqi clutched her chest, gasping for breath. She had promised him a date tomorrow…? Pshaw, what date? It was for studying! Studying! Studying hard and making progress every day, okay?
10. Secret
Back in the dorm that night, Xiao Qiqi lay on Lin Wen's lower bunk, huffing and puffing as Lin Wen applied floral water to her, making a lot of noise.
After wiping her down, Lin Wen pinched her back hard and suddenly lowered her voice, saying, "Xiao Qiqi, do you know that when someone shouts really loudly, it's a sign that they're feeling guilty?"
Xiao Qiqi felt a chill run down her spine, but stubbornly replied, "I don't know!"
"Oh, you didn't know! Now you know, right?" Lin Wen grinned mischievously. "Xiao Qiqi, where did you go this afternoon?"
"No... I didn't go anywhere. I fell asleep on the grass by the lake, and when I woke up it was already dark, and that's when I got covered in mosquito bites."
"Oh! I see, all alone?"
"Of course...it's just one person." Xiao Qiqi planned to deny it to the death. If Xu Chun found out about this, she would definitely cry her eyes out. Huang Yu knew that she would be in deep trouble. She had already sworn a solemn oath that she would never target Xia Xuan.
Lin Wen crossed her legs, looking thoughtful. "That's a real pity! This afternoon, Su Tong and I were wandering around Zihu Lake. Do you know who we saw?"
"Who?" Xiao Qiqi swallowed hard, her heart pounding.
"Xia Xuan!" Lin Wen's big eyes narrowed into slits, looking incredibly cute like crescent moons. "Wow, this is big news! He's holding hands with a girl in a plaid skirt! Xiao Qiqi, do you think anyone would buy this big news if I sold it?"
Xiao Qiqi scrambled to her feet, covered Lin Wen's mouth with her hand, and glared at her fiercely until her crescent-shaped eyes widened in terror, revealing a pleading look on her face. Only then did she let go.
Lin Wen, panting heavily, said, "Xiao Qiqi, you're no good at all! Even rabbits don't eat the grass near their burrows, and you did, so I'm not allowed to say anything!"
"No, that's not it." Xiao Qiqi shook her head nervously, looking aggrieved. "There really isn't anything there!"
Lin Wen laughed again, her big eyes crinkling, and she hugged Xiao Qiqi tightly, giving her a big kiss on her flushed cheek. "Xiao Qiqi, do you know what I like best? I like rabbits that eat the grass near their burrows. Go ahead and try to steal him, go all out, go crazy, but winning over my first love is better than falling for that fake beauty!" As she spoke, Lin Wen's eyes lit up again, and she grabbed Xiao Qiqi's shoulders and shook her repeatedly. "Don't worry, I'll definitely keep it a secret, and I'll definitely give you my dating secrets for free."
Xiao Qiqi forced a wry smile, wondering what all this was all about.
Huang Yu and Xu Chun returned shortly, both looking rather grim. Xiao Qiqi glared at Lin Wen, who remained her adorable, obedient self, smiling as she rummaged through Huang Yu's bag for food, completely carefree. Xiao Qiqi then wiped the sweat from her brow, relieved. Damn it! Why was she so nervous, like she was cheating on her boyfriend? Ugh, what kind of analogy is that?
The next day, Xiao Qiqi lay in bed, wrestling with the decision: to go or not to go! Xu Chun and Huang Yu, of course, had already gathered inside information and were waiting in a classroom for Xia Xuan's arrival—a perfect setting for a scholarly evening with her by his side! Lin Wen, however, was nowhere to be seen. Only Xiao Qiqi remained, lying there like a corpse in the dormitory.
The phone rang, and Xiao Qiqi jumped up, hesitating again and again, wondering whether to answer or not.
"Hello?" Xiao Qiqi answered the phone, lowering her voice as if she were doing something wrong.
Xia Xuan chuckled softly on the other end of the phone, "Sleeping?"
"Hmm, ah!" Xiao Qiqi hummed for a long time but couldn't say anything.
"Little sleepyhead, wake up! You need to study for your exams. Come out now."
Xiao Qiqi felt a chill run down her spine. Why did the voice sound like Su Tong's? Was the phone number wrong?
Xiao Qiqi carried a stack of brand-new books and hurried across the campus, afraid of running into any acquaintances. She patted her chest and sighed inwardly, "Thank goodness! I'll be safe once I'm across the road."
"Whoosh!" A north wind? Xiao Qiqi felt herself spin around, her head spinning, and she plopped down on the ground, rubbing her buttocks and grimacing. Suddenly, a large face appeared in front of her. "Hey, are you alright?" A school badge, "K University," dangling from the t-shirt leaning towards her. Xiao Qiqi snapped angrily, "Hey, you idiot! Didn't you see you bumped into me?" She struggled to her feet, rubbing her buttocks, and glared fiercely at the smiling face opposite her. "Why did you grow your hair so long? Trying to look like Aaron Kwok?" Xiao Qiqi moved her toes and found that she wasn't seriously injured. She hated those self-proclaimed handsome young men who always had flashy hairstyles and raced cars on the street to show off. Normally, Xiao Qiqi might have whistled if she were standing next to them, but now that she was the center of the story, she wasn't in the mood. Ignoring the self-proclaimed handsome face, she turned and limped forward.
Chen Yuanxing watched the girl limp away with exaggerated expressions, shaking his head repeatedly. "The girls at A University are all so arrogant. She crossed the road without looking at the cars. Is it my fault? Oh, no, is it my fault for having long hair?" Chen Yuanxing flicked his long hair that was already covering his eyes, shrugged, and rode away on his bicycle.
Xiao Qiqi walked through the maple forest and, in a less crowded spot, watched Xia Xuan propping her bicycle up with one foot, gazing up at the emerald green maple leaves overhead. The scene was as serene as a silent landscape painting, simple yet possessing a unique charm. Xiao Qiqi's heart skipped a beat; indeed, it was a sight to behold. No wonder so many people were crazy about it.
Xia Xuan didn't turn around, but patted the back seat of the car, "Stop being silly, let's go!"
Xiao Qiqi put the book in the front basket, jumped onto the back seat, and asked, "How did you know I was here?"
Xia Xuan pushed off with her foot, and the bicycle sped away. "Guess it yourself. If you guess it right, I'll give you something delicious."
"Hmph, I'm not a child, I don't eat candy."
"Hehe." Xia Xuan chuckled softly, "Why did it take so long?"
"I bumped into a handsome young man on the way and we chatted for a bit," Xiao Qiqi replied cleverly, then stared intently at Xia Xuan's back, finding nothing amiss, and deflated.
"Shall we go back to where we were yesterday to read?"
"Okay!" Xiao Qiqi replied listlessly, feeling a little dejected. The bicycle slowly cruised along the cement road beside the lake. The warm breeze, carrying the fresh scent of the lake water, filled her lungs, and her heart, carried by the gentle breeze, slowly relaxed with a touch of youthful excitement. Xiao Qiqi felt a slight weariness creeping in, and secretly rested her head on Xia Xuan's back. Mmm, very comfortable. A bumpy ride sent Xiao Qiqi's head lurching, almost causing her to fall, but she instantly snapped back to reality.
"Put your hands on my waist." Xia Xuan's voice was like a gentle breeze, carrying an indescribable allure. Xiao Qiqi was like a bewitched cat, obediently retracting her sharp claws, wrapping her arms around his strong waist, and resting her head on his warm back. It was as if she had grasped something very satisfying and important in her life, and her heart was slowly filled with something, leaving no room for anything else.
Xiao Qiqi leaned against a tree trunk, studying probability and statistics, which seemed like gibberish to him. He sighed repeatedly, watching Xia Xuan flip through his book with incredible speed; Xiao Qiqi's thoughtful expression while reading was far more captivating. Nearly two years of university had passed; the naiveté of youth had faded, his face had become more alluring, imbued with a deeper, more profound quality, and now, a touch of melancholy. A man of enigma, with a charm as swift as the wind.
"Why are you looking at me instead of reading a book?" Xia Xuan didn't even look up and continued flipping through the book quickly.
"Oh!" Xiao Qiqi secretly stuck out her tongue. She was caught peeking again, so she simply put down her book, hugged her knees, and looked at Xia Xuan seriously. "You flip through the book so fast, can you remember it?" She heard that he hadn't been to class for three months.
"Just skimming through it will be enough to pass the exam." Xia Xuan put down her book, looked up at Xiao Qiqi, and asked, "Can't understand? Sigh?"
"Yeah! I didn't attend class, how could I know?" Xiao Qiqi scratched her head, she hated the probability and statistics teacher the most, he had a pointy mouth and monkey face, and he looked so uninteresting.
"You write these things in class too, right?" Xia Xuan pulled a piece of paper that looked like a ghost story from the book.
Xiao Qiqi watched Xia Xuan's magic trick with the same fascination she had for a magician, and peeked out, "What's this good stuff? What's the point of sticking a tattered piece of paper in a book?"
"Hmm!" Xia Xuan gestured for Xiao Qiqi to come over. Xiao Qiqi, carrying the book, scurried over and peeked inside. Oh, the handwriting was so familiar, so free and unrestrained. She scratched her head and exclaimed, "Wow, this person's handwriting is so much like mine!"
Xia Xuan reached out and tapped Xiao Qiqi on the head with her long, slender fingers. "Take a closer look at what's written!"
Xiao Qiqi covered her head and read aloud, "On the depravity of XX." Xiao Qiqi smirked, "I, I... how did I get onto this?"
"Your class's submission for celebrating Labor Day!"
Xiao Qiqi's eyes widened in horror. "Waaah, no way! Who's framing me! Someone must be slandering me! I've always been a good member of the Youth League who loves the Party and the people, and is loyal to the Party. How could someone be so heartless and inhumane as to write such treasonous words?" Xiao Qiqi continued her rambling, but then she saw Xia Xuan leaning lazily against a tree, watching her with a half-smile. She deflated. "I admit it's my handwriting. But it really wasn't me. I... I really forgot." She frowned angrily, thinking and thinking, but couldn't recall writing such explicit remarks.
Xia Xuan tapped her again, annoyed. "What a muddle-headed girl! If I hadn't found this in the editorial, shouldn't you be standing in front of the dean's office as a role model right now?"
Xiao Qiqi nodded gratefully, grabbed Xia Xuan's hand, and leaned her head on his shoulder as usual, "Waaah, Xia Xuan, I love you to death, you're such a good person!"
Xia Xuan's hand trembled, and her expression changed several times in an instant. "Xiao Qiqi, do you know what you're saying?"
Xiao Qiqi gets dizzy when she gets excited, especially when she's alone with Xia Xuan. Sometimes her brain feels oxygen-deprived, like now. She nods like a shrimp, "I know, I know you're the best person in the world."
She grabbed the paper haphazardly and tore it to shreds. Watching it all float into the water and disappear, she patted her chest in relief—her reputation was almost ruined! Xiao Qiqi gritted her teeth. Which scoundrel had harmed her? Who had submitted the evidence of her scribblings to the school's editorial office? Oh, and what had she just done and said? Had she mistaken Xia Xuan for Lin Wen? Grabbed her hand, thrown herself into her arms, and said, "I love you to death"? Ah, Xiao Qiqi was once again plunged into deep self-reproach and regret.
Xiao Qiqi kept pinching the book, and Xia Xuan watched her go from smirking to resentful to regretful. He couldn't help but shake his head, realizing he had been excited for nothing, and she had completely forgotten what he had just said.
"Do you have a grudge against books?"
Xiao Qiqi nodded and said seriously, "I will not hold any grudges against you."
Xia Xuan was surprised; she had calmed down so quickly. "Let me tell you."
"You? Didn't you miss three months of classes? Besides, I remember you were in the same grade as me." Xiao Qiqi looked at Xia Xuan strangely.
"Do you know what a mentally challenged idiot is? Every year, the country trains a few special talents. They just have a problem with one part of their brain, but the other part is genius! If you don't believe me, go ask Xia Xuan from the School of Statistics! He's a genius-level mentally challenged person. He can scan tens of thousands of numbers and create all sorts of statistical reports with just a glance." Xia Xuan said casually while flipping through a book.
"Huh?" Xiao Qiqi covered her face, backing away again and again. "You, you, you?"
"Haha, Xiao Qiqi, I wonder if you blushed when you said those words?" Xia Xuan laughed heartily. Xiao Qiqi peeked out from between her fingers, watching him lying on the ground in a very unladylike manner. The corners of his mouth were turned up wide, and his happiness was not as faint as usual, but rather had a kind of sincere beauty.
"Xu Chun told you?" Xiao Qiqi stammered, waiting for Xia Xuan to stop laughing before asking awkwardly. Xu Chun... Thinking of Xu Chun, Xiao Qiqi's heart clenched. Xu Chun, what would she think if she knew that she and Xia Xuan were alone together like this? What would it be like when she was with Xia Xuan normally? Would he smile like this, so gently?