Chapter 31

Under Wu Bingxia's expectant gaze, Lin Mian came back. She did not come back alone, she came back with a boy.

"Hello, my name is Shi Luyi, and I'm Lin Mian's classmate."

Wu Bingxia stole a glance at Lin Mian and briefly shook Shi Luyi's outstretched hand. "Hello, my name is Wu Bingxia."

When Lin Mian came over and called him, wanting Shi Luyi to help her, Shi Luyi actually wanted to show off a little, and it would be best if Lin Mian could beg him for help.

But seeing the anxious expression on Lin Mian's face, Shi Luyi suspected that the next second after he expressed his inner thoughts, Lin Mian would skip over him and ask other people for help.

This was the first time he had been her first choice.

Shi Luyi wanted to break the deadlock between them. After being rejected by Lin Mian, he had been holding her back. He wanted to score higher than Lin Mian and then act big in front of her.

For this reason, he restrained himself at school, pretending that learning was easy and that he could get high scores without attending lectures or doing exercises.

In fact, he would secretly glance at Lin Mian out of the corner of his eye.

She seemed to be facing the teacher and seemed to be listening attentively to the class, but when one looked at the pair of eyes behind the frame, anyone could tell that she was not paying attention to the class at all and was just staring out the window.

Following Lin Mian's gaze, Shi Luyi saw what Lin Mian was looking at.

She's looking at that damn bird outside the window!

This bird just sits there motionless incubating eggs day after day. What's so interesting about it!

Shi Luyi's defense was broken.

He just pretended not to study, but he was actually listening to the lectures.

As for Lin Mian, she pretended to study hard, but actually she didn't pay attention in class.

This kind of person scored higher than him, and Shi Luyi was so confused that he felt like a tangled mess in his heart.

After returning home, Shi Luyi asked his family to buy a lot of test papers. He wanted to practice them one by one. He didn't believe that Lin Mian could score higher than him in his current condition.

God helps those who work hard. After the midterm exam, Chen Xin met Shi Luyi and told him that he had made progress this time.

This made fireworks bloom in Shi Luyi's heart, and he walked into the classroom with almost the happiest steps of his life.

Lin Mian hadn't arrived in the classroom yet, so Shi Luyi had to wait even if he wanted to show off.

Thinking that Lin Mian might go to see the list of grades, Shi Luyi had an idea. He planned to wait for her there and see her lost expression.

Shi Luyi, who thought so, failed at the first step.

He stared at the names on the list.

First place——Lin Mian.

How come this is different from what he thought?

Looking closer, I realized that the progress Chen Xin was talking about was actually an improvement in grades. What kind of consolation was that?

Shi Luyi picked his fingers and felt extremely grateful at this moment.

Fortunately, Lin Mian always arrives at school on time, otherwise he would have been embarrassed today.

It seemed like he was always embarrassed about Lin Mian's affairs.

After realizing this, Shi Luyi stopped pretending and stopped pretending at school that he could get high scores without studying. No one would notice him anyway.

With a true genius in front of him, everything he does seems like an imitation of someone else.

Lin Mian raised his hand lightly, and the wind was enough to blow him away. How could he still fight?

Shi Luyi also became obedient. After observing that Lin Mian really didn't have any special learning methods, he wanted to be friends with Lin Mian even more.

So Shi Luyi couldn't say those words that were used against Qiao.

When he saw the girl in front of him, Shi Luyi finally understood why Lin Mian called him over.

Shi Luyi didn't find it troublesome to carry Wu Bingxia on his back, but he said, "Why did you only ask me to come? What if I can't carry her? Or if I don't have enough strength and she falls, won't that cause a bigger problem?"

"You've been practicing tennis, haven't you?"

It was clearly a question, but she said it in an affirmative tone.

Shi Luyi was stunned. How did she know? He clearly didn't tell anyone in the class.

"Have you ever seen me play tennis?"

"No. You changed your clothes during exercise class, and your shoulders, arms, and wrists are quite visible. Sometimes you can't keep a secret just by not saying anything, Shi Luyi."

Shi Luyi was stunned. He was walking in front and couldn't see Lin Mian's expression, but he could imagine that her expression when she said this must be no different from usual, with some weariness, and ordinary boredom and indifference towards worldly affairs.

He stopped talking, and they walked to the school infirmary in silence.

When the school doctor was applying medicine to Wu Bingxia, Shi Luyi lowered his head, like a helpless little animal.

He wondered, what was it about him that could attract Lin Mian?

There must be a side of you that can attract her in order to become friends with her.

Can he really be friends with her when he is like this?

Shi Luyi was not sure.

"It's nothing serious. She just needs some cold compresses on the red marks on her ankles and face. You can wet a towel and apply it to her."

When Lin Mian took the towel and was about to go out to get water, Shi Luyi took it from him.

"I'll go, you stay with her."

Even when immersed in his own world, Wu Bingxia's strong gaze could not be ignored.

Shi Luyi understood what Wu Bingxia meant, so he went out to give them some space to spend time together.

Lin Mian helped Wu Bingxia lie down on the bed in the next room.

No one spoke, and everything around them became quiet.

When Lin Mian saw that Shi Luyi had not returned yet and was about to go out to take a look, Wu Bingxia grabbed her.

"Don't you want to ask me?"

"What do you want to tell me?"

Wu Bingxia pursed her lips. Her mother once asked her to swear not to tell anyone about this. If anyone knew about it, they would dislike her. And maybe that person would tell everyone, and then everyone would know about it. And this matter was shameful.

She would be completely embarrassed and would also bring shame upon her parents.

But Lin Mian is not someone else.

Wu Bingxia believed Lin Mian and she would not hurt her.

Lin Mian has the sense of security that Wu Bingxia has always longed for, which no one can replace.

This often made her forget Lin Mian's age.

Maybe Lin Mian's precocity made her forget, but at this moment her young face reminded Wu Bingxia of Lin Mian's real age.

Wu Bingxia couldn't bring herself to say those dirty things, as she was afraid of polluting Lin Mian's ears.

Seeing that Wu Bingxia couldn't explain why, Lin Mian sighed and pulled away Wu Bingxia's hand. Wu Bingxia didn't struggle and let go.

"I'm going to see why Shi Luyi hasn't come back yet. I'll also get you a glass of water. Your lips are dry."

Touching her lips, Wu Bingxia suddenly felt strong again.

When he walked to the sink, Lin Mian saw that Shi Luyi had not wet the towel at all, and the towel was still dry.

He just squatted beside him, staring blankly in the distance.

Lin Mian walked over and patted his shoulder.

"What's wrong with you? Give me the towel, I'll wet it first, Bingxia is still waiting."

Shi Luyi stood up and handed the towel to Lin Mian. He seemed to be still in shock and asked in a daze, "Lin Mian, are you so nice to everyone? Why can't you be nicer to me?"

ah?

Lin Mian was stunned by his question, "What's wrong with you?"

Without the obstruction of glasses, Shi Luyi could clearly see that Lin Mian's eyes truly showed concern for him.

She really cares about me.

This realization made Shi Luyi finally realize what he had done.

He adjusted his glasses sheepishly.

But he didn't want to miss this opportunity.

"I want to be your friend, Lin Mian. I admit that my attitude was wrong before and I had many misunderstandings about you, but you made me realize how narrow-minded I was. I find that being friends with you is a very happy thing. Can you forgive my rudeness and let me be your friend?"

"squeak"

Lin Mian turned on the faucet and let the water wet the towel.

She lowered her eyes. "I thought you knew. I called you not only because I knew you were strong from tennis practice, but I also thought you were quite interesting. I don't think you're boring."

Shi Luyi, who had been frowning, suddenly relaxed his expression after realizing what Lin Mian said.

"Really? Is this true? Oh my God, can I call you Xiao Mian like Zhong Yuqi?"

"You can call me whatever you want. Go back quickly. And tell the teacher for me. I'll be back a little late."

Shi Luyi made an OK gesture, his back looked very happy, and he jumped up after a while, his joy beyond words.

Wring out the towel, but not completely, so it feels damp to the touch.

After getting the water and returning to the room, Wu Bingxia was eating a red apple. When she saw Lin Mian come in, she waved her hand.

"The school doctor just gave it to me. I thought one would be enough, so I asked her for another one. Eat it quickly."

Lin Mian put down the water cup and took the apple. Wu Bingxia looked quite cheerful, which made her feel relieved.

"Click"

The crisp sound of biting into an apple echoed in the room.

“Isn’t it delicious?”

"Um."

While eating an apple, Lin Mian took a towel and gently applied it to the red marks on Wu Bingxia caused by Wang Xun's pinching.

"hiss"

"Does it hurt?"

"No, I just wanted to see if you would feel sorry for me."

Lin Mian was speechless, but she was a little worried that Wu Bingxia was deliberately pretending to be cheerful so that she wouldn't worry.

"After school, take my car home. I'm afraid that person is still waiting for you outside."

When Wang Xun was mentioned, those bright eyes dimmed.

Seeing that Wu Bingxia remained silent, Lin Mian stuffed the towel into Wu Bingxia's hand, then grabbed her hand and placed it on the wound.

"Hold on tight, Bingxia. Are you afraid of that person?"

Wu Bingxia nodded slowly, but forgot that her hand was holding the towel tightly, and there was another "hiss" sound.

"So, do you still want to be caught by this person and unable to break free like today?"

Wu Bingxia shook her head, very determined this time.

"Then let's learn boxing together and defeat him with our own strength, so that you won't be afraid of him."

"Can I beat him?"

She is not as strong or tall as him, and she is so afraid of him. Can she really do what Lin Mian said?

"Of course, Bingxia, you have to believe in yourself and be more confident, okay? You really can do it."

Lin Mian could see that there was something unpleasant between Wu Bingxia and that man. If she wanted to get out of it, she had to get out of it on her own.

Lin Mian could not guarantee that she would be by Wu Bingxia's side at all times, nor could she guarantee that she would be able to save her like she did today.

Only Wu Bingxia can save herself.

"Besides, you have me by your side. I will learn boxing with you and we will become stronger together. Those who trap you will be able to break free with your own strength. Isn't that interesting?"

Just as Lin Mian said, Wu Bingxia knew that her escape would only make the other party worse. She didn't want to be entangled by this person in the future. She had her own path to follow in life.

Besides, Lin Mian was still waiting for her, and Wu Bingxia didn't want to escape again this time.

Lin Mian glanced at his watch and said, "Well, I'm going to class first. I'll pick you up after school. I'll take you home today."

"Okay," Wu Bingxia answered obediently, but she remembered what she had planned to ask Lin Mian that morning. She hesitated for a moment, and when Lin Mian stepped out of the door, she still asked aloud: "What you said the other day about starting a band, is that true? Do you really want to form a band?"

She swallowed the words "Can I join?"

"Of course, do you want to come, Bingxia?"

Wu Bingxia nodded vigorously: "I want to come, Lin Mian."

But this is not something that can be accomplished just by the two of them talking.

"It's not possible for just the two of us, right? And I only know how to play the guzheng..."

She can only read the simplified musical notation. Is that really okay?

"Don't worry, we still have time and we can learn. Leave everything to me, see you later."

Haven’t we already gathered all the people?

She, Zhong Yuqi, Wu Bingxia, Jin Zixuan and Shi Luyi.

Lin Mian thought of this when Shi Luyi was talking to her just now.

It didn't matter that there were five people who had never had any experience, and some of them didn't even understand music.

What does it mean to play in a band?

That's what makes it interesting.