lie

Song Chengrui took the tissue and casually wiped the water stains on his cuffs.

He looked up and smiled at Xu Zhiyi, his eyes slightly curved. "It's just a joke. Why are you so nervous?"

Xu Zhiyi clenched the pen in her hand, her knuckles turning white. "I'm not nervous."

She lowered her head and pretended to organize her books, but ended up wrinkling the corners of her notebook.

The library's air conditioner whirred, blowing away the late summer heat.

"This question," Song Chengrui suddenly tapped the exercise book with the tip of his pen, "I tried the method you told me yesterday, but I still can't solve it."

He pushed over a piece of draft paper, which was densely covered with calculation steps.

Xu Zhiyi forced herself to focus. She leaned in to look at the formulas and smelled the faint scent of lemon on Song Chengrui. "Here," she pointed to one of the lines, "you missed a condition."

Song Chengrui said "Oh" as if he suddenly realized something and moved closer.

Their hair was almost touching, and Xu Zhiyi could feel the slight airflow caused by his breathing.

He scratched the back of his head in frustration, "I actually missed such an obvious condition."

Xu Zhiyi smiled and her heartbeat gradually calmed down.

She liked to see Song Chengrui's focused look when he was solving problems, with his brows slightly furrowed and his lips unconsciously pressed into a line, completely different from the flamboyant boy on the court.

The sycamore tree outside the window rustled, and a fallen leaf floated in and landed on the exercise book between the two of them.

The librarian's footsteps came closer and the two quickly separated.

Song Chengrui made a gesture to keep quiet, lowered his head and continued to solve the problem, but he couldn't hide the smile on the corner of his mouth.

Xu Zhiyi secretly looked at his serious profile and thought of what Zhang Ningxia said.

Perhaps, Song Chengrui is not the same to everyone as rumored.

This thought made her feel sweet, like a piece of candy slowly melting in her mouth.

"Solved!"

Ten minutes later, Song Chengrui cheered in a low voice, raised his arms as if he had won the game, and almost knocked over Xu Zhiyi's water cup.

He fumbled to hold the cup, earning another warning look from the administrator.

Xu Zhiyi couldn't help but chuckle.

This school team's main player who is so powerful on the basketball court is now as excited as a primary school student because of a math problem.

"Teacher Xu is a good teacher." Song Chengrui pretended to bow, with a cunning glint in his eyes.

"Don't give me that." Xu Zhiyi's ears were burning, and he lowered his head to sort out the books on the table. "You already know how to do it, but you're just careless."

"That also requires guidance from a good teacher." Song Chengrui looked at her with his chin in his hand. "Honestly, your approach to solving the problem is much clearer than Old Xu's."

Xu Zhiyi didn't respond, but just tucked the fallen hair behind her ears.

"Still at this time tomorrow?" Song Chengrui asked casually while packing his schoolbag.

"Didn't you say you would do it today?"

"I still have questions about the last few chapters." He opened the textbook and pointed to a few marks. "These, and these."

Xu Zhiyi took a quick look and found that these were all topics that would be taught next week.

She looked up at Song Chengrui's expectant eyes and was a little surprised. "Shouldn't you go to discuss this with Teacher Xu now?"

Song Chengrui seemed stunned for a moment, then said, "Old Xu is not as reliable as you."

"Nonsense."

As they walked out of the library, the setting sun stretched their shadows very long.

Song Chengrui suddenly turned around and walked backwards. "By the way, do you play 'The Jungle Book'?"

Xu Zhiyi paused.

That was the game she had been secretly addicted to recently, the kind her parents absolutely wouldn't allow. "No... I don't want to play..."

Song Chengrui looked doubtful, "Really?"

Xu Zhiyi nodded quickly, grabbed her schoolbag and left.

"It's too late. I'm going home today. Goodbye."

Ever since she told a lie, Xu Zhiyi felt a burden in her heart. She felt uncomfortable no matter what and even tried to avoid Song Chengrui during class.

When collecting homework, she would rather wait in the last row than sit in her seat.

During physics class, when Song Chengrui turned around to borrow an eraser, she pushed the whole box over to him.

Although the other party was a little confused, he didn't ask anything in the end.

I originally thought that Song Chengrui would have some reaction, but he still went to play ball after class and after school. After the teacher disbanded the team in physical education class, he even invited the teacher to play a few games.

But in high school, the physical education teacher has always been in poor health and gets sick easily.

Xu Zhiyi remembers clearly that during the second semester of his senior year last year, he only had one physical education class in two months, and that class was held indoors.

At that time, classmates joked that after graduation, they could choose to become physical education teachers in school and make money while lying down.

This year is different. The school has produced the provincial top student, and the city leaders have paid attention to it. After the exchange meeting, many TV station crews came to the school to collect materials, under the pretext of exploring the glorious development history of the top student's alma mater.

In order to look good, the school held all physical education classes without missing a single one, and even the once-in-a-century musical fountain in the square at the school gate had to be opened once a day.

Many classmates rushed over to check in and take photos, saying they didn’t know when they would meet again.

In the evening, the heat wave gradually dissipated, and a few people came to the square to check in and take photos, all of which were done quietly.

Xu Zhiyi was pushed by Zhang Ningxia and ran over to join in the fun.

"Ningxia, this place is too conspicuous, the teacher will see us."

It was the last class, but they came here on purpose.

Zhang Ningxia waved her hand, completely ignoring these words, and pointed to the center of the fountain.

"Zhiyi, stand in the middle. Come on, I'll take a picture of you."

"Forget it, I don't want it."

Xu Zhiyi refused to move forward and looked around nervously, fearing that Xu Dongxing's face would appear in some corner in the next second.

"Zhiyi, just take one picture!" Zhang Ningxia grabbed Xu Zhiyi's wrist and dragged her towards the center of the fountain. "Look at how beautiful the light is. It would be a shame to miss it!"

Xu Zhiyi bit her lower lip and kept glancing towards the teaching building.

The setting sun dyed the entire square orange, and the water columns of the fountain reflected a rainbow-like halo in the sunlight.

This should have been a refreshing and beautiful sight, but she only felt her heart beating faster.

"What if Teacher Xu sees..."

"What are you afraid of? It's not class time now."

Zhang Ningxia waved her hand nonchalantly. "He must be grading homework in the office right now. Besides, we're not the only ones taking pictures... Look over there..."

Following the direction of Zhang Ningxia's finger, Xu Zhiyi saw several figures in school uniforms on the other side of the fountain.

Her gaze suddenly froze. That tall figure, that tuft of hair sticking up from the back of his head, and that casual way he stood with his hands in his pockets...

"Isn't that Song Chengrui?" Zhang Ningxia also recognized him and raised her voice suddenly, "Hey! Song——"

Xu Zhiyi hurriedly covered her mouth, "Shh! Don't shout!" But it was too late. The boy in the distance turned his head and looked over here with his deep eyes.

"You two have been acting weird lately." Zhang Ningxia suddenly leaned close to Xu Zhiyi's ear, "Could it be..." She blinked mischievously, deliberately dragging out the last syllable.

"You think too much." Xu Zhiyi pretended nothing happened.

Song Chengrui narrowed his eyes, and after seeing that it was them, a familiar arc appeared on the corner of his mouth.

He said something to his companions and strode towards them.

Xu Zhiyi felt like his heart was about to jump out of his chest.

Ever since she lied in the library last time, she has been deliberately avoiding Song Chengrui for two or three days.

Now he was getting closer and closer, and she could even see the traces of sweat on his T-shirt.

"What a coincidence." Song Chengrui stopped two steps away from them, his gaze lingering on Xu Zhiyi's face for a second before turning to Zhang Ningxia, "Are you guys here to check in at the fountain too?"

"Yeah, I wanted to take a picture of Zhiyi, but she refused." Zhang Ningxia pouted, "It's a good thing you're here, can you take a picture for us?"

Xu Zhiyi suddenly looked up and sent a strong protest to his friend with his eyes, but Zhang Ningxia pretended not to see it and quickly took out a mobile phone from her bag and handed it to Song Chengrui.

"Don't..." Xu Zhiyi was about to refuse, but Song Chengrui had already taken the phone, took a few steps back and found a suitable angle.

"Stand closer," he instructed. "Yes, Xu Zhiyi, move a little further to the left...Okay, that's it."

Xu Zhiyi stood stiffly on the edge of the fountain, water droplets occasionally splashing on her ankles, feeling cool.

She could feel Song Chengrui's gaze on her through the phone screen, which made her unconsciously clutch the hem of her school uniform.

"Three, two, one." Song Chengrui pressed the shutter. "One more picture, Xu Zhiyi, please smile."

Xu Zhiyi forced a smile.

At this moment, the main water column of the fountain suddenly rose, splashing water everywhere. She subconsciously dodged to the side, but accidentally stepped on the slippery ground.

"careful!"

A strong hand grabbed her wrist in time. Xu Zhiyi looked up and saw Song Chengrui's face right in front of her.

There were a few tiny drops of water on his eyelashes, sparkling in the sunlight.

"Thank you, thank you." Xu Zhiyi hurriedly stood up and pulled her hand back. The remaining warmth on her wrist made her ears burn.

"You're welcome." Song Chengrui returned the phone to Zhang Ningxia. "The photo is pretty good, but someone's expression is too stiff."

Zhang Ningxia looked through the photos and suddenly exclaimed, "Wow, this is a really great snapshot!"

She excitedly turned her phone screen towards Xu Zhiyi.

In the picture, the water curtain of the fountain forms a rainbow behind her, and her eyes slightly widened due to fright and her natural expression have an unexpected vivid beauty.

"I sent it to you, Zhiyi." Zhang Ningxia lowered her head to operate her phone, completely unaware of the subtle atmosphere between the two of them.

Song Chengrui cleared his throat, "Um...you recently..."

"Ningxia! We should go back!" Xu Zhiyi suddenly interrupted him and grabbed his friend's arm. "If we don't leave now, someone will tell on us."

"Ah? Oh..." Zhang Ningxia was pulled forward with a bewildered look on her face, but she didn't forget to turn around and praise Song Chengrui, "Great shot!"

Xu Zhiyi almost ran away. She could feel Song Chengrui's eyes following her.

As she turned the corner of the fountain, she couldn't help but look back.

Song Chengrui was still standing there, watching them leave.

Water droplets slid down the ends of her hair into her collar, and Xu Zhiyi suddenly realized that this was the first time they had spoken alone since the library.

The lie about the game felt like a stone pressing on her stomach, making it hard for her to breathe.

Xu Zhiyi didn't know why he was running, and he ran in a very embarrassed manner. They were clearly in the same class and would see each other every day.

On the way back to the classroom, Zhang Ningxia finally couldn't help but hold her back.

"What happened to you two?"