Chapter 72: The Milky Way

The last class in the afternoon.

Xu Jiqing returned to the classroom to pack his things.

Class 4 was having physical education class, so there were not many people there.

He walked to the back door of the classroom with his bag on his back and saw two girls sitting shoulder to shoulder in the back row against the wall. Xu Jiqing stopped at the door, not knowing what was going on in his mind, and he didn't move again.

The two men had their backs to him.

Su Xia sat in his seat, and He Miao was beside her, marveling at her drawer full of exaggerated little pieces of paper.

"These guys are incredible. I'm guessing someone must have taken some sneak shots and leaked them. I've never heard of them before. I ran into them during break and lunch, and they were so inspired to write poetry at noon. I'm tired of complaining about them."

"Today is just the beginning. Just wait and see tomorrow, the hole in the table will be full."

Her tone was exaggerated, but Su Xia never raised her eyes and was concentrating on taking notes.

He Miao held up her face and said, "Xia Xia, aren't you really curious about who wrote you a card?"

Su Xia shook her head. "Please keep the girls' for me, and throw the boys' away."

She thought they were so superficial.

Among the boys who showed interest in her today, there were actually a group of athletes who had mocked her the most before. Even if Su Xia was slow-witted, she could tell the difference between love at first sight and lust at first sight, and she didn't want to take away their attention at all.

"Let me take a look at this..."

"Oh, someone's holding a vote in the Little Tree Hole. They've named it the Battle of the Red and White Roses. It's getting really heated now. He said he's got the whole dormitory to vote for you. You have to beat Huang Weiwei. The red team is a sure win."

"Stop comparing, please."

Su Xia didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "What's there to compare with? I think Huang Weiwei is very beautiful."

In the corridor outside the door, the floor tiles reflected the orange-red sunset, like a dazzling lake.

Su Xia, whom I hadn't seen since our chance encounter during the winter vacation, was sitting there, her long, soft hair falling obediently on the side of her neck, and the ballpoint pen in her hand never stopping.

Xu Jiqing has very good eyesight.

He could see clearly that what was pressed under the girl's palm was the math homework he had been doing recently.

The old, rusty binder clips were pressed against her pink fingertips, being fiddled with unconsciously, making a clicking sound.

He looked too long.

Su Xia also vaguely noticed something. She turned around hesitantly. When she looked up and saw him, she was stunned for a moment and waved her hand stupidly, "...Xu Jiqing?"

Xu Jiqing stood still.

He wanted to leave, but his feet seemed to be rooted to the ground, and he subconsciously murmured, "Hmm."

Su Xia smiled and said, "You're back."

The baby fat on her face is gone.

The original cuteness and innocence was now only left, with a pair of curved almond-shaped eyes, bright and soft, and two small dimples on the corners of her lips flickering like dewdrops on flower petals.

Xu Jiqing seemed to be in a daze.

His body was as tight as a rock, his Adam's apple rolled involuntarily, his light eyes stared straight at her, his expression was very cold, but the tips of his ears were orange-red in the sunset.

After a long moment, he looked away, pursed his lips and turned around.

Su Xia was afraid that he was going to leave, so she put down the pen in her hand and chased after him.

In the corridor, Xu Jiqing opened the metal cabinet at the door and was putting things into his schoolbag bit by bit.

He doesn't eat snacks or play ball. It seems that he has no other hobbies besides studying. There are very few things left here.

Two boxes of imported chocolates she had given me, the boxes were covered in black ink that had been worn out, and a shiny plastic water cup.

It sold for less than six dollars that year, and it looked very old. The sailboat pattern on the surface had long been scratched, and it was not as decent as the mineral water bottle he usually used.

Then there is paper.

There are piles of blank study plans, covering all subjects, neatly placed and never thrown away.

Su Xia walked over, tiptoed to take down a pile, carefully aligned it and handed it to him, "Are you moving out?"

She asked tentatively, "We have a competition this year. Are you busy?"

Xu Jiqing said "hmm".

His expression was very cold and he didn't even look at her.

What a familiar expression.

After not seeing each other for two months, the meat she had managed to feed Xu Jiqing last semester had disappeared again.

The young man in front of her had a sharp and cold profile, which was more like the appearance of Xu Jiqing in her memory ten years later.

In her previous life, every dress she wore at her wedding was chosen for her by Xu Jiqing.

It’s not entirely true to say that I’m picky.

Because Xu Jiqing's aesthetic is very simple, just one word: expensive.

The gown that a bride wears when she gets married must be embroidered by the most expensive embroiderer and covered with layers of gold thread.

The wedding dress had to be made by the most expensive designer from halfway around the world, the tiara had to be decorated with ridiculously large diamonds, and the hem of the skirt had to be embellished with hand-inlaid crystals, sparkling like the Milky Way.

It was so extravagant that Mrs. Xu's name was mentioned in all the famous Jiangcheng tabloids for several days that year. It was definitely a grand wedding.

But despite this, Su Xia still remembers it.

Xu Jiqing was standing in front of her when she tried on her wedding dress for the first time.

The heavy curtains were pulled open, and everyone around him exclaimed in surprise, but he remained silent, his face as cold as ice.

So, even in this life.

Does he still... hate her face after she lost weight?

But Su Xia herself likes it very much.

This is the beautiful face her mother gave her. Even if Xu Jiqing thinks she is tacky and likes the face of students from prestigious universities with high intelligence, she will not get plastic surgery.

Su Xialai thought about it for a long time.

I felt a little annoyed, thinking that he didn't appreciate me at all, but I hadn't seen him for such a long time that I was reluctant to leave.

The study paper is too thin.

She simply squatted down, placed a stack of papers on her knees and aligned them bit by bit.

The window in the corridor was open, and the sunset was as gentle as water.

She didn't bother to tie her hair up, and her long hair draped over her shoulders was blown by the spring breeze, occasionally brushing against Xu Jiqing's calves.

Su Xia saw it very clearly.

It was just a slight touch through the layer of school uniform trousers, but Xu Jiqing seemed to be provoked by her, and his expressionless face became even colder.

She got a little angry.

She put the study case aside and raised her watery eyes to glare at him, "Why are you ignoring me? Am I ugly?"

"I don't want that pile anymore."

Xu Jiqing didn't look at her. He closed the empty cupboard and held the lock and key with a picture of a little white cat in his palm.

He didn't even answer her question directly.

Su Xia was so angry.

She felt spineless, but when she saw him leaving, the little flame that had just risen up died down again. She tried her best to talk to him, "I, I saw the homework you wrote for me. It's such a thick stack."

Xu Jiqing responded.

"You've moved away now, so later..."

"I'm very busy this year, please find someone else."