Chapter 42 Is she really a good girl?

After playing around, they went to a Thai restaurant for dinner.

After ordering, Xu Wu pulled out a Polaroid camera from her bag and said, "Let's take two pictures to commemorate our first outing as a group of five!"

Xu Wu beckoned over a waiter, handed him the Polaroid camera, and said with a smile, "Please take two photos for us."

The waiter blushed immediately, "Okay."

Lin Zixia and Xu Wu gathered together, with three boys behind them. He Yan had a gentle look, Wu You was grinning, and Lu Xiangye had a blank expression.

After Xu Wu thanked him, she waited for the photos to appear bit by bit. Satisfied, she walked over until she saw Lu Xiangye. "Lu Xiangye, why aren't you smiling? Are you just not a smiley person?"

Lin Zixia couldn't help laughing, "Maybe he was a horse trainer in his previous life."

Xu Wu nodded in agreement, "The tempers are indeed similar."

Lu Xiangye didn't know the joke, nor did he understand the two girls' teasing. He just glanced at them indifferently.

Xu Wu took a few more selfies with Lin Zixia and also took a few photos of her alone.

During the meal, Xu Wu always took good care of Lin Zixia.

Wu You watched Xu Wu serve Lin Zixia a bowl of Tom Yum Goong soup and exclaimed in amazement, "Xu Dawu, why haven't I seen you treat us so well?"

Xu Wu snorted coldly, "You guys still want this kind of treatment? Are you more obedient than Xia Xia or cuter than her?"

Lin Zixia, who was praised as "well-behaved" and "cute", paused with his hand holding the bowl, feeling a little guilty, and kept his eyes down without saying a word.

Lu Xiangye's gaze fell on Lin Zixia, who was sipping soup across from him. The girl's face was soft, her eyelashes half-closed, casting a faint shadow on her eyelids.

Now she looks quiet and well-behaved, but is she really a good girl?

He chuckled, and was quite good at disguising himself. Even the usually arrogant Xu Wu liked her and was quite protective of her.

Wu You nodded in agreement, "Sister Xiaoxia is very well behaved."

She looks cute and has a good personality.

He Yan looked up at the two girls opposite him and said nothing.

Halfway through the meal, Wu You suddenly said, "Aren't we going to have midterm exams at the end of the month?"

Xu Wu didn't even raise his head. "Isn't there still a month left?"

Wu You: "According to convention, there will be a parents' meeting after the midterm exam..."

Xu Wu paused, "...Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Wu You: "Didn't I say this almost a month ago?"

Xu Wu looked at them with a lack of interest, "How about we study together for the next two days?"

Wu You was shocked. "Xu Dawu, why did you suddenly change your personality? I'm scared of you like this."

Xu Wu propped up her chin with her hand, her brows drooping. "I made a promise to my mom: if I fall out of the top 200 in the midterm exam, I won't be able to continue dancing."

He Yan glanced at her and said, "There's still a month left. There's still time."

Wu You was also thinking about the parents' meeting. "How about we go to Brother Lu's house during the last two days of National Day to do homework together? With three top students here, what do we have to be afraid of?"

Xu Wu nodded, "Okay."

Lin Zixia didn't react to how quickly the topic jumped to studying.

Because of the mention of this topic, Xu Wu lost interest and the atmosphere suddenly became low.

After dinner, everyone prepared to go back.

Lu Xiangye was walking at the end, his hands in his pockets, he glanced down casually, and his eyes paused.

He bent down to pick up a photo, his eyes fell on it, his eyebrows raised slightly, and the corners of his lips rose involuntarily.

…

After Lin Zixia returned home, he found a missed call on his phone.

She clicked it and her eyes paused. She hesitated for a few seconds before calling back.

The phone rang several times before it was connected. Ye Yinghua's voice came from the other end, "Xiao Xia, why didn't you answer the phone just now?"

Lin Zixia stood by the window, feeling the night breeze, and replied obediently, "I just went to take a shower, so I didn't hear it."

Ye Yinghua said "hmm", "How have you been these past few days?"

Lin Zixia lowered her eyes, the expression on her face not quite matching her soft voice. "I've been doing homework at home these past few days. No. 1 Middle School assigned a lot of homework. There are more than a dozen papers alone."

"No. 1 Middle School is not like a county town. Although you did well on the placement test, the provincial capital is full of hidden talents, so you can't let your guard down. After finishing your homework, take advantage of the National Day holiday to prepare for or review, and make the most of your time."

Lin Zixia: "Okay."

"What is your aunt doing during the holidays? Don't bother her too much. Try to handle your own affairs. If you can't handle them, call us. Don't bother her all the time. Although she is your aunt, it will be difficult to repay her debts of gratitude if you owe her too much."

Lin Zixia felt depressed. She whispered, "I know. I won't trouble my aunt. Don't worry."

Ye Yinghua nodded, "That's good, go talk to your dad."

Lin Anhong picked up the phone, "Xiao Xia..."

Lin Zixia pursed his lips and said, "Yes, Dad."

"Are you used to everything in Rongcheng?"

"I'm used to it."

Lin Anhong smiled. "That's good. Everyone has praised you for being sensible since you were little. Your mother and I are relieved. Aren't you planning to go out for a walk during the seven-day National Day holiday?"

Lin Zixia tightened her fingertips slightly, "No, my study schedule is tight, I'll just study at home."

"That's right. Once you get into university, you can go wherever you want. Right now, your priority is studying. Having fun and such can easily wear down one's fighting spirit and breed laziness. It's better for you to just stay at home and study."

Lin Zixia: "I know."

"Is this Lin Zixia calling? I want to talk to her."

A boy's voice came from the other end, and then Lin Zixia heard Lin Anhong scolding, "Lin Zixia, you have to call me sister, don't be impolite!"

"I see."

The voice in her ears gradually became clearer, and Lin Zixia heard Lin Zirui's voice, "Hey, Sister Lin... Is it fun in the provincial capital? I'll come to play with you during the holiday."

Lin Zixia paused and said, "I don't know either. I've never been out to play."

Lin Zirui was a little disappointed, his tone puzzled, "You went to the provincial capital and didn't go out to play? Don't become a nerd!"

"How can you talk like that, kid?"

Lin Zixia looked out the window, the voice in her ears became increasingly blurred. She responded absentmindedly. Until the call was hung up, she couldn't remember what Lin Zirui said or how the call ended.

The weather in October has gradually become cooler, and the chirping of cicadas outside the window has become less common, and occasionally you can hear the chirping of crickets.

The evening breeze blows, bringing a cool feeling.

This was her second call since coming to Chengdu, and the second call after a month and a half.

They didn’t ask themselves whether they had gotten used to life in Rongcheng, whether they could keep up with the pace of school, or whether they would miss home?

Apart from those high-sounding principles and concern for her studies, there was nothing else.

It doesn't seem like a conversation between a mother and daughter or a father and daughter, but more like a conversation between a leader and his subordinates.

It's cold and has no warmth at all.

It feels like a routine, like completing a task.

Lin Zixia felt depressed. All the joy he had had playing this afternoon seemed to have disappeared at this moment, like bubbles that vanished in an instant.

Lin Zixia stared into the darkness in a daze until his phone vibrated and a message popped up.

Lu Xiangye: [I've hung your ugly doll on the door handle]

Lin Zixia lowered his head and laughed, muttering softly, "What ugly doll? It's obviously very cute!"

She tiptoed across the living room, opened the door and brought the doll in.

Lin Zixia looked at the two cute little ducks, put one on the bedside and the other on the desk.

She stared at the little yellow doll on the table for a long time, rubbed it with her hand, said "thank you" to Lu Xiangye, then took out the exercise book and started doing exercises.