walk

They chatted and laughed as they walked to the dormitory gate. It was getting dark, and there were only a few students walking on the road.

Summer evenings are cool, with a gentle breeze carrying away the daytime's stuffiness. The noisy chirping of insects in the morning has quieted down, replaced by the glowing fireflies.

As night fell, pedestrians slowed their pace, deliberately lowering their voices in the quiet atmosphere, whispering amongst themselves, creating a peaceful and serene scene before Xu Feifei's eyes.

Zhang Jiayi looked at the dormitory area he was about to reach, the scene of saying goodbye. He was a little conflicted as he said goodbye to Xu Feifei and the others. He stepped forward and said, "Feifei, there's something I want to talk to you about alone."

Nangong Ye snorted coldly, "Is there anything that can't be said to my face?"

Lin Yuan's expression changed upon hearing Zhang Jiayi's words, her face showing displeasure. She clenched her hands tightly and stepped forward, deliberately creating distance between herself and Xu Feifei.

"Huh? Me?" Xu Feifei asked uncertainly.

"Yes, is that okay?" Zhang Jiayi looked at Xu Feifei with deep eyes, his eyes seemingly sparkling.

Xu Feifei looked at his serious eyes and nodded hesitantly.

"Could you please leave first?" Zhang Jiayi pleaded with Lin Yuan and Nangong Ye.

Lin Yuan did not move her feet, remaining standing there with her gaze fixed on him.

"Lin Yuan, please," Zhang Jiayi pleaded again.

Xu Feifei was a little confused by all this. Why couldn't they say it to each other's faces? She looked at Zhang Jiayi with a puzzled expression, only to find him looking at her pitifully.

"Lin Yuan, could you step away for a moment?"

Lin Yuan stared at her silently for a while, then walked away without a word. Nangong Ye quickly followed Lin Yuan, "Hey! Lin Yuan, wait for me!"

Zhang Jiayi led Xu Feifei to a chair next to the flowerbed and asked, "Feifei, would you like to sit down?"

Xu Feifei shook her head and looked at the flowerbed next to her. It was well-maintained, with no broken branches, and all the flowers were clustered together. The only slight drawback was that the wilted flowers from the morning had not yet recovered their vitality.

"Okay, I'll talk standing up."

Zhang Jia had prepared a lot of ideas in her mind, but she still didn't know how to say it.

The shadows cast by the streetlights were long, and a gentle breeze, carrying the unique floral scent of summer, ruffled her hair.

Xu Feifei brushed the wind-blown hair from her face, tucked it behind her ear, and looked down at her own shadow.

"Feifei," Zhang Jiayi suddenly called out.

Xu Feifei looked up and replied, "Hmm?"

Zhang Jiayi looked up at Xu Feifei's smile, her bright eyes sparkling. Her heart suddenly raced, and she completely forgot the prepared script.

Xu Feifei noticed Zhang Jiayi's sudden daze, waved her hand in front of his eyes, and asked, "What's wrong?"

Zhang Jiayi snapped out of her reverie and asked expectantly, "How was dinner tonight?"

"That's great!"

Are you telling the truth?

“Yes.” Xu Feifei looked at Zhang Jiayi with a puzzled expression, wondering why he asked that.

"That's great! I noticed you didn't eat much for dinner tonight, and I even helped you with the food. Thank you so much," Zhang Jiayi said happily.

"What's the big deal? It's all about balancing work and rest!"

"Okay, that's good!"

After that, the two fell silent again. Zhang Jiayi then asked, "Um, I actually wanted to ask you, why was it like that day at the basketball game..."

At this point, Zhang Jiayi didn't know how to ask the question. He scratched the back of his head with his right hand, and the words stuck in his throat, causing him to pause.

Xu Feifei made a puzzled "Hmm?" sound, then, as if she had thought of something, realized that this was what was troubling her. She breathed a sigh of relief and said, "You think I shouldn't go, right?"

“Yes.” Zhang Jiayi looked at her in surprise.

"There were too many of you last time, I'm sorry." Xu Feifei smiled awkwardly.

Zhang Jiayi suddenly realized, "So that's how it is!"

Xu Feifei nodded.

Zhang Jiayi felt she had so much to say, but couldn't utter a single word. After a long pause, she finally managed to say only, "See you tomorrow!"

"Okay, see you tomorrow!"

The moment Xu Feifei turned around, Zhang Jiayi said to her, "Feifei, the moonlight is so beautiful tonight!"

When Zhang Jiayi said those words, the surrounding environment seemed to pause for him. The previous clamor instantly fell silent. Xu Feifei glanced at him intently, then looked up at the starry night sky, where the bright moon shone high, its light pouring down like water.

Xu Feifei closed her eyes and felt the evening breeze blowing from time to time, and heard the sounds of her classmates playing in the distance.

The moonlight is truly beautiful tonight!

When she opened her eyes, she smiled and said, "Indeed! Be careful on your way! See you tomorrow!"

When Zhang Jiayi heard her reply, his stiff body relaxed almost imperceptibly. Although he didn't get the answer he wanted, he smiled with relief and said, "Don't worry! Goodbye!"

Xu Feifei watched Zhang Jiayi's figure gradually disappear, feeling a little troubled, and turned her head to go back.

She looked down at her clear shadow and gently kicked the ground. She wasn't unaware that the phrase "the moonlight is beautiful" had another meaning, but she felt that Zhang Jiayi wasn't referring to that meaning, but simply saying that the moonlight was beautiful that night.

"Feifei".

Xu Feifei looked up and saw Lin Yuan waiting for her not far away. At that moment, the evening breeze carrying the fragrance of flowers blew by again, dispelling her troubled thoughts.

Because the moonlight tonight is truly beautiful.

She walked quickly to her side and said happily, "Lin Yuan, why haven't you returned to the dormitory yet?"

"Wait for you!"

"Haha, let's go back together!" Xu Feifei took Lin Yuan's hand and they walked back to the dormitory together.

Looking at her left hand being held, Lin Yuan's gloomy mood dissipated considerably, and she slowly asked, "Feifei, what did Zhang Jiayi say to you alone?"

He simply asked if I liked tonight's dinner.

You don't like it, do you?

"No!" Xu Feifei quickly denied.

Lin Yuan stopped, and when Xu Feifei saw her stop, she also stopped and asked, "What's wrong?"

Lin Yuan stared intently into Xu Feifei's eyes. "Feifei, I don't want you to hide anything from me. I want you to be able to speak freely with me. We're good friends, aren't we?"

Xu Feifei looked into her earnest eyes and listened to her heartfelt words. Feeling a little guilty, she lowered her eyes and murmured, "Mmm!"

"Actually, I liked that meal."

"Um?"

Xu Feifei waved her hand hastily, "I'm telling the truth, I really like it."

"Then why didn't you finish your main course? I know your appetite."

"The steak was delicious, but I don't like eating raw food. Otherwise, I wouldn't have eaten half of it. And I also ate a lot of dessert!"

After hearing Xu Feifei's explanation, Lin Yuan sighed and said with some guilt, "I should have learned about your diet first."

Xu Feifei quickly said, "I'm already very happy that you remembered what I said last time! Besides, didn't Nangong Ye say that rare filet mignon is the best doneness?"

"How well-done is doesn't matter, what matters is that you like it."

When Xu Feifei heard Lin Yuan say that, she didn't know how to respond. She hesitated for a moment, and finally gave a somewhat flustered "Mmm".

I was thinking to myself, Mary Sue novels aren't as Mary Sue-ish as I thought!

"Do you have any other dietary restrictions?" Lin Yuan turned to ask her.

Xu Feifei looked at Lin Yuan with some confusion, and said thoughtfully, "Hmm..." "It seems that I'm not picky about anything except undercooked food."

“I’m very easy to take care of!” Xu Feifei added with a smile.

Lin Yuan looked at Xu Feifei's thin face, raised the small hand she was holding, and squeezed it, saying, "I can tell it wasn't easy for you!"

“This is natural; she has a small frame and doesn’t easily gain weight. But she’s easy to raise,” Xu Feifei corrected her.

"But you, how come you're so thin? Thinner than me." Xu Feifei walked in front of Lin Yuan, stood on tiptoe, and reached out to pinch Lin Yuan's cheek.

Lin Yuan stood in front of her, not annoyed that Xu Feifei pinched her cheek, but instead smiled.

With that smile, the little bit of meat that Xu Feifei had been holding disappeared.

“Look, there’s so much meat we can’t even hold onto it. You’re the one who needs to eat more!” Xu Feifei quickly said.

Lin Yuan's lips curled up, her eyes crinkling, "I also have a small frame, so I don't gain weight easily."

Xu Feifei took her hand and played with it for a moment. Lin Yuan did not object.

She played with it for a while, then seemed to notice something and compared it to her own hand. She exclaimed in surprise, "Lin Yuan, I just realized how big your hands are! Your fingers are long and slender, and so white!"

Xu Feifei raised her hand, gesturing for Lin Yuan to see.

Lin Yuan glanced at it, then grabbed Xu Feifei's hand and said, "Perfect!"

The two chatted as they returned to their dorm, said goodnight, and then closed the door.

Xu Feifei happily went to the bathroom to shower, brush her teeth, and wash her face. After finishing, she returned to her small table to comb her hair, only to be horrified to discover that she hadn't even touched her homework for tonight!

I had so much fun after school that I completely forgot about my homework. It would be fine if it were Friday, but it's Wednesday. And I have an exam on Friday!

Xu Feifei quickly checked the time: 9:45! Oh no, time is running out, I have to hurry!

She hurriedly picked up her notebook and pen, staring at the exercises on the page. She stared at them for a long time, but couldn't figure them out.

Quickly switch to the next book. Hmm, great, time to get started. But after only a few questions, I stare at it again. Okay, next book.

Very good, next one!

After looking through all the assignments, Xu Feifei glared at the pile with a resentful look. She then decisively picked up her phone and called Lin Yuan.

After receiving Lin Yuan's reply, Xu Feifei carried the pile of homework and happily went to the opposite door.

As soon as he stepped out the door, he saw Lin Yuan waiting for him there.

Xu Feifei quickly stepped aside and went inside. She placed the homework on the small table in the living room, patted the empty seat next to her, and said, "Lin Yuan, sit down quickly!"

But Lin Yuan pulled him up, saying, "Don't sit on the floor, it's not clean. Go write on the table."

Xu Feifei nodded and moved the homework onto the table. She said, "Done!"

Lin Yuan smiled and walked over to sit next to her. "Is there anything you don't understand?"

Xu Feifei opened her homework, lowered her head, and whispered, "I can't even finish this."

Lin Yuan looked at Xu Feifei's dejected head and raised an eyebrow. She marked several similar questions with a pen, then chose a more comprehensive one to begin explaining.

Xu Feifei listened and nodded. She felt that Lin Yuan's explanation was clear and logical, and she could understand it.

After listening, she started working on the questions Lin Yuan had selected, while Lin Yuan did her homework next to her.

Before she knew it, she had been working on her homework until after 1 a.m. Xu Feifei's eyelids were drooping, her upper eyelids were sticking to her lower eyelids, and she was constantly dozing off.

Lin Yuan looked at Xu Feifei, who was slumped in her seat, shaking her head sleepily. She felt a pang of heartache and patted Xu Feifei's shoulder, saying, "Feifei, go back to sleep."

Xu Feifei struggled to open her eyes a crack, glanced at her, hummed in agreement, and went back to sleep.

"Feifei, go back to bed! Don't catch a cold!" Lin Yuan pulled Xu Feifei's hand and stood up.

Xu Feifei swayed, "I understand!"

After she finished speaking, she staggered toward the door.

However, that door was the door to Lin Yuan's room!