"Childhood sweethearts IF route: 'Pei Qi, I think I might like you...'"
There is a loquat tree outside the small villa. It was planted by Aunt Luo and Uncle Guan the year the Guan family moved in.
Now it has grown strong and sturdy, and even in the damp and cold winter, it proudly stands tall against the cold wind.
Pei Xi could hear the rustling of leaves and wind outside the window, and the steady ticking of the mechanical watch.
If the second hand hadn't been constantly moving, he would have truly felt that time had stood still.
Guan Yue remained silent for a long time, his eyelids drooping, not daring to look at him.
I wonder how long the loquat tree struggled against the wind.
"You want to transfer schools?" Finally, the boy spoke.
His voice was as cold as if he were holding a block of ice.
"Maybe, I... I haven't thought about it yet." The capybara lowered its eyes and began picking at the dead skin next to its thumb. "That's what my mom said."
Guan Yue: "Do you want to go?"
“I want to stay with them, but… I also can’t bear to leave here.”
He initially hated He City because he was the one who was dumped there.
But he is now.
I've already fallen in love with this small town.
"Guan Yue, if I leave, will you miss me? Will you think of me?" He hadn't originally intended to be so direct, but when he actually asked the question, he forgot about rhetoric.
When she asked those two questions, the capybara raised its almond-shaped eyes and looked directly at Guan Yue beside it.
The boy remained seated, his left hand, adorned with a wristwatch, dangling in front of the desk, his eyelids slightly drooping and closed abruptly.
Three more seconds passed.
The boy slowly raised his handsome, angular face, his eyes dark and turbulent, his fingers unconsciously clenching into fists: "If I say I can't bear to part with you, will you stay?"
Pei Xi felt as if the wind tonight had also stirred her heartstrings.
I inexplicably played a very messy piece of music.
"I……"
The melody he played was so chaotic that he was almost unable to think straight.
"I'll think about it again, Guan Yue." He felt that his thoughts were too chaotic right now, a complete mess.
The boy in front of him was still staring at him with those deep eyes, his emotions a complex mix that he couldn't fathom or decipher.
Guan Yue stared at those burning eyes and said coldly, "Hmm."
Pei Xi didn't even remember how she got home that day, or how strong the wind was on the way.
He remembers lying in bed tossing and turning, unable to sleep, with Guan Yue's ambiguous face constantly appearing in his mind.
Her nose is so straight, and her eyes are so beautiful.
Although her voice was cold, it was actually expressing her reluctance to part with him.
The capybara spent the whole night lost in thought.
The next morning, he groggily reached for his phone on the pillow.
There were several notifications from QQ.
He clicked on it a beat late.
It was a message from Guan Yue.
Guan Yue: [When are you leaving today?]
I'm Xiaoqi: [Afternoon.]
Guan Yue: [Oh.]
I'm Xiaoqi: [Are you coming to see me off?]
Guan Yue: [I don't want to.]
The capybara's ears drooped down immediately.
I'm Xiaoqi: [Why?]
Guan Yue: [What time?]
I'm Xiaoqi: [2 PM.]
The capybara's ears stood up again.
This made me feel a bit more energetic, and I got out of bed.
It was getting late, and he needed to go downstairs for breakfast, otherwise he would be bombarded with criticism from his aunt and mother.
After breakfast and some time packing, it was afternoon before I knew it.
My younger sister is old enough to go to elementary school soon, and she has a very close relationship with Pei Xi.
It seems that knowing Pei Qi was leaving, she gave Pei Qi her favorite dolphin doll.
"Brother, will you come back?" The little sister stared at him with big, round, watery eyes.
Pei Qixi squatted down and hugged the girl: "Okay."
At that moment, Jiang Shulin happened to be nearby.
"Even if your brother doesn't come back, you can still come to Nancheng to visit him."
The younger sister buried her face in Pei Xi's neck, looking somewhat sad: "That's different."
Auntie looked on, her eyes filled with reluctance: "The two children have a good relationship..."
Pei Xi hugged and comforted his little sister for a long time, then loaded the luggage into the car. It was almost two o'clock.
His gaze unconsciously drifted towards the direction of Guan Yue's small Western-style house.
"What are you looking at?" Jiang Shulin came over and put his arm around his shoulder.
"Hmm..." Pei Qi finally came to her senses. "No... nothing."
Jiang Shulin: "Then let's get ready to go."
Pei Qi pursed her lips: "Isn't it...isn't it two o'clock?"
"If you're all packed, let's leave early so we can get there sooner," Jiang Shulin replied. "What's wrong? Is there something you haven't packed yet?"
Pei Qi shook her head: "No..."
But his gaze involuntarily drifted out onto the street.
Jiang Shulin turned and went inside to say goodbye to his third aunt. He was also about to take out his phone to say goodbye to Guan Yue.
The next moment.
A familiar figure came into his view.
I walked towards him step by step, against the light from the street.
The boy was wearing a dark cotton-padded coat and was holding something in his hand, which was a large leather bag.
“Guan Yue!” Pei Qi exclaimed without hesitation, “I thought you weren’t coming.”
The boy approached step by step, finally stopping in front of him.
"My mom told me to give this to you," the boy said calmly.
Pei Xi reached out and took it, and saw a large box of braised beef and custard buns inside.
"Please thank Aunt Luo for me!" The capybara smiled, its dimples shining brightly into Guan Yue's eyes.
The boy's Adam's apple bobbed slightly: "Mmm."
At that moment, Jiang Shulin and her third aunt came out of the house.
Jiang Shulin: "Then let's get ready to go, Xiaoxi."
Guan Yue slightly turned his gaze to the woman and said, "Hello, Auntie."
Third Aunt greeted first, "Guan Yue, are you here to see Xiao Qi off?"
The boy nodded.
Jiang Shulin smiled and said, "Hello, thank you for taking care of Xiaoqi all this time. If you need any help in the future, please remember to tell Auntie."
Guan Yue listened, and forced a smile: "Thank you, Auntie."
"Let's go then, Xiaoqi." The woman said, opening the passenger door and letting Pei Qi get in.
Pei Qi, clutching the brown paper bag, looked somewhat awkwardly at Guan Yue: "Then I'm leaving."
The boy, with a poker face, mechanically hummed in response.
Pei Xi swallowed hard and turned to leave.
Guan Yue: "Don't drop the bag."
The capybara turned back to him, its lips curving into a smile: "It won't fall off."
That day was a rare sunny day in winter.
The smile the capybara gave him was even brighter than a sunny day.
But he had come to hate capybaras.
I can't keep smiling at him like this forever.
Why should he be unable to forget her?
And on what grounds should I leave?
Pei Qi drove back with Jiang Shulin.
Nancheng and Heshi are neither far apart nor very close.
Although he and Jiang Shulin are mother and son, they hadn't spent much time together in a long time, so the atmosphere in the car was quite awkward at first.
"Your aunt said you really enjoyed playing with that boy from earlier," the woman asked, as if deliberately trying to start a conversation.
Pei Qi nodded, with the large leather bag resting on her lap.
Jiang Shulin nodded, probably deliberately trying to find something to talk about: "What's in this bag?"
“It’s braised beef and custard buns made by Guan Yue’s mother. They’re delicious,” Pei Qi replied.
Just talking about it made him want to open it and eat it.
But it's unclear whether Jiang Shulin would mind eating in the car.
So he refrained from opening it.
Jiang Shulin: "Do you like to eat these? Then I'll ask the housekeeper to make some too."
Pei Qi: "Hmm, I like Guan Yue's mom's cooking. It smells so good."
The woman nodded, a strange look flashing across her delicate face: "Then what else do you like to eat, vegetables and fruits, tell me about them."
Pei Qi blinked. Was she trying to learn about his preferences and habits?
My heart suddenly warmed.
"I'm not picky, I like to eat everything. My favorite fruits are probably oranges and tangerines... I also like potatoes and beef..."
He didn't know how much a woman would remember, but he was happy as long as she could remember one or two things.
Then what.
Then he chatted with the woman for a long time.
Before he knew it, he had fallen asleep.
When I woke up again.
The car has already arrived in the southern part of the city.
Jiang Shulin drove the car into the villa area in the south of the city.
We parked in a very beautiful and stylish villa.
Pei Qi was already a little drowsy when the woman led her through the villa gate.
The interior is even more elegant than the exterior.
As soon as they entered, the aunt came up to them and said, "You're back."
"You're back." The woman naturally handed the luggage in her hands to the aunt and introduced her: "Sister Mei, this is my eldest son, Pei Xi."
Sister Mei smiled at him and said, "You've grown so much."
Pei Xi smiled politely as well.
"Let's make some beef and potato stew for dinner, Xiaoqi loves it. And also prepare some fruit, like oranges," the woman instructed, turning around to take the brown paper bag from his hand. "Are you hungry? Why don't I heat it up for you, you can have something to eat first."
Pei Xi was indeed a little hungry after such a long car ride, but he felt a bit embarrassed to trouble Jiang Shulin.
He was about to speak.
Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps were heard.
A little boy, about the same age as the little girl, ran down from upstairs.
"Mom!" The boy's eyebrows and eyes were very similar to Pei Qi's, both with round eyes and thin lips.
"Xixi, my darling, come here quickly." Jiang Shulin said gently as he squatted down.
The little boy then ran into the woman's arms.
Then the little boy suddenly started crying and snuggled into the woman's arms.
Pei Xi felt somewhat embarrassed.
Jiang Shulin patted the boy's back while looking up and said, "You and Sister Mei go check out the room first. I'll comfort your brother for a bit."
Pei Qi nodded and followed Sister Mei upstairs.
My thoughts kept drifting.
My mind is filled with the image of Pei Xi running into Jiang Shulin's arms.
Suddenly, I remembered my childhood like that.
I also really want to run into Jiang Shulin's arms and complain about all the bizarre and wonderful things around me.
He really wanted to hear it too.
He really wanted to hear someone call his name.
Baby Qiqi.
Time actually passed quite quickly in Nancheng. Pei Xi is a very cute kid, but he can be a bit mischievous and not as obedient as his little sister, but he still likes his older brother very much.
Jiang Shulin and he were closer than before, but it always seemed like something was missing.
Pei Xi didn't know what was missing at first.
I realized it belatedly.
Without that period, he could never pursue her again, never be able to throw himself into her arms.
Golden years.
On Chinese New Year's Day, he sent Guan Yue a New Year's greeting message.
They have been in contact during this period.
We often exchange messages on QQ.
On this day, the city was ablaze with lights, and fireworks lit up the night sky.
The sound of "bang bang bang" echoed.
He suddenly longed to hear Guan Yue's voice.
They used to be together at this time.
Sometimes we play with firecrackers together, and sometimes we eat dumplings together.
So, after having dinner with Jiang Shulin and the others, he secretly ran back to his bedroom.
He called Guan Yue.
The phone rang several times.
I was a little uneasy.
Right now, Guan Yue is probably having dinner with his family, or maybe watching fireworks.
Fireworks and firecrackers are so noisy.
You might not be able to hear it.
Pei Xi pursed her lips.
The "beep beep" sound in my ear stopped abruptly.
"Hello."
A cool, icy voice came from the receiver.
The familiar temperature brings a sense of security.
Pei Qi couldn't help but smile: "Guan Yue, it's me."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by a somewhat helpless tone: "I know it's you."
The capybara chuckled twice.
Guan Yue: "What are you doing?"
Pei Xi: "I thought you wouldn't answer."
"Didn't I say I would answer?" The man on the phone paused for two seconds.
No matter when.
"Mmm." Pei Qi smiled contentedly again, while fireworks outside the window were still crackling. "Happy New Year, Guan Yue."
"Happy New Year."
A few more seconds passed.
Guan Yue: "Have you eaten the braised beef and the custard bun?"
This topic came up quite suddenly.
Pei Xi was a little taken aback: "You ate it."
"oh."
Guan Yue responded on the phone.
Fireworks were still blooming in the sky.
It exploded into a huge and dazzling silver flower.
Pei Xi walked to the window.
"Then why..."
Guan Yue's voice on the phone was drowned out by the fireworks.
"Guan Yue, what did you say? I didn't hear you. There was a huge firework going off here." Pei Qi held up the phone. "I wanted to show it to you too."
The boy on the phone remained silent.
Pei Xi: Why are you not talking again?
We watched it together last year.
"Yes, my little sister was startled by our firecrackers... Aunt Luo even made dumplings with coins for us."
All the memories flooded his mind.
Then both of them fell silent.
Another pink firework bloomed before his eyes.
Pei Xi stared at the pink fireworks, and for some reason, blurted out, "I miss you so much, Guan Yue."
I think so.
It seems to be more than just a normal thought.
That kind.
Pink thoughts.
So, the moment the words left his mouth, Pei Xi's ears turned red.
"Then I'll come find you." The person on the phone said almost without hesitation.
Pei Xi: "What?"
Guan Yue: "I've come to find you."
Pei Qi: "What...when?"
Guan Yue: "I'm going to my grandparents' house in my third year of junior high. In my first and second years of junior high, I'm going to my grandparents' house."
"How...did you get here?" Pei Qi was a beat slow to realize that she was having trouble even holding her phone.
I don't know what it's shaking about.
Guan Yue: "It's not far by car."
Pei Xi: "Really...really?"
Guan Yue: "Which district in the southern part of the city are you from?"
Pei Xi: "Lingyue District".
Guan Yue: "Understood."
A few more seconds passed.
Guan Yue: "Pei Qi."
Pei Xi: "Ah..."
Guan Yue: "I think I might like you a little."
In an instant, it seemed as if countless fireworks were blooming.
Pei Xi couldn't quite remember how she hung up the phone; it seemed like Jiang Shulin suddenly came in.
He was so startled that he immediately hung up the phone.
"Why are you alone in your room? Your brother has been looking for you everywhere." The woman was holding two thick red envelopes. "These are New Year's money from your father and me. He can't come back from Singapore this year and asked me to apologize to you."
"No need, I can't possibly spend all the money you gave me," Pei Qi declined, still caught up in the phone call she had just received.
"Take this." The woman stuffed the red envelope into her hand. "Your father and I felt guilty for not being able to be by your side when you were little. We were thinking of bringing you back and sending you abroad to study. You can study whatever you want."
"What?" Pei Qi's eyes widened.
Jiang Shulin: "Would you like to study abroad?"
Pei Qi lowered her eyes, looking at the heavy red envelope in her hand: "I haven't decided yet whether I want to... transfer schools."
"Why? Isn't it nice here?" the woman asked, somewhat surprised. "What don't you like about it?"
Pei Xi quickly shook her head: "Everything is fine here."
Jiang Shulin frowned slightly: "Then why don't you want to transfer schools?"
Looking at Pei Qina's hesitant expression, she suddenly remembered the note she had seen in that brown paper a few days ago.
The note had three strong and fluent characters written on it.
"Don't leave."
The woman opened her mouth: "Is it because of... that Guan Yue?"
Pei Qi felt a sudden, embarrassing realization: "No... no."
Jiang Shulin pressed on: "Were you on the phone with him just now?"
"No..." Pei Xi probably didn't know that she was really bad at lying.
The woman lowered her eyes: "Okay, I understand. Let's not talk about this anymore. Go downstairs and play with your brother."
“Okay.” Pei Qi nodded.
Although his heart was pounding and he felt guilty, he couldn't help but think about Guan Yue.
The words Guan Yue had just said on the receiver kept repeating in my ears.
Guan Yue said she liked him.
It's that kind of liking, isn't it?
It probably isn't something a friend likes.
At least, he wasn't with Guan Yue.
The next day, the two of them seemed a little embarrassed, and they stopped chatting as often as they had.
They both tacitly avoided mentioning "I like you," but it seemed like they had automatically switched to a different mode.
Then, Guan Yue said he was looking at train tickets.
Pei Xi pretended to be calm, but her heart was actually pounding wildly.
but.
Strangely enough, Guan Yue remained silent after that.
To be precise, Guan Yue stopped sending him messages starting from the afternoon of the second day of the Lunar New Year.
He thought Guan Yue was visiting relatives and didn't check his phone much.
That day, Jiang Shulin happened to have his driver take him and Pei Xi to see a movie.
In his haste to leave, he left his phone charging on the bed, and by the time he returned, it was already evening.
Jiang Shulin had just returned from outside.
"Mom, where did you go?"
The woman looked travel-worn: "I didn't go anywhere, just had dinner with some friends."
Pei Xi didn't mind and nodded.
All he wanted to do right now was get back to his bedroom and turn off the extra messages.
That's strange.
Guan Yue didn't send him any messages all day.
He tapped lightly on his phone with some confusion.
I'm Xiaoqi: [Hasn't he/she returned from his/her New Year's visit yet?]
However, when the message was sent, a line of small text popped up.
-You are not yet friends with the other party, so you cannot send a message-
The capybara's fingertips hovered in mid-air.
I can hardly believe it.
The temperature wasn't actually low that day, but he felt his entire hand was stiff and numb.
He checked it many times.
Guan Yue did indeed delete him.
Why did you suddenly delete him?
Didn't you say you liked him?
Although the word "seems" is added before "like".
But it's also possible that I might like it.
Why did you delete him?
Are they playing a trick on him?
Pei Xi didn't know how she made the call; her vision was blurry and her mind was in a daze.
"Sorry, the number you dialed is temporarily unavailable..."
He had lost count of how many calls he had made.
But every time.
They all have the same mechanical prompt tone.
Guan Yue did not answer his calls.
Didn't you say you'd always answer his calls?
How can forever be so short?
He didn't actually cry, but he felt a numbness in his chest and a kind of dazed feeling.
Later, he did go back to look for Guan Yue.
Aunt Luo told him that Guan Yue had gone to winter camp and was preparing to study abroad.
"Xiaoqi, what's wrong? You've lost so much weight. Are you looking for Ayue? I'll call him." Luo Zhaoyun looked at Pei Qi, who was almost as thin as a sheet of paper, with heartache in her eyes.
"It's alright, no need." Pei Qi shook her head, revealing a smile that was more bitter than crying.
So they were going abroad.
I'm going abroad.
A bright future awaits them.
So, does this mean he has to sever all ties with everything in the country, including himself?
He couldn't find any other reason.
After finding it, he no longer wanted to look for it.
That winter, he felt very cold; it was cold everywhere.
He said this to Jiang Shulin as the winter vacation was coming to an end.
He wants to transfer schools.
He also wants to study abroad.
The woman was very happy and quickly arranged the formalities for him.
Then what.
Then, it seemed that He City had never existed in his world.
I've never made custard buns.
I never said "I like you".
They didn't pass the test either.
——
"Xiaoqi, where are you going? Are you off work?" Su Mo rarely saw his top student junior brother leave work early.
"I took the day off. My stomach was a little upset when I woke up today," Pei Qi said as she tidied up her things at her workstation.
Su Mo: "What's wrong? Do you want me to come with you?"
Pei Xi: "It's alright, I'm fine now."
Okay, actually there is something I need to do.
I initially just felt a bit uncomfortable in my stomach, but for some reason the pain gradually spread to my lower right abdomen.
I looked it up online, and everyone said it was appendicitis.
When I arrived at the hospital, I was already sweating profusely from the pain.
Fortunately, during all these years living abroad, whenever I was in pain or sick, I just endured it and got through it.
Therefore, I have relatively strong endurance.
And he arrived at just the right time; it was exactly his turn.
Pushing open the door to the examination room, Pei Qi clutched her stomach and hadn't said a word yet.
The doctor, who was sitting at his desk, stood up and said in a very casual tone, "Stomach ache? Go lie down on the bed; I need to palpate you."
Pei Xi felt a sharp pain in her stomach, but this sound...
That sound...
A sound like ice.
The pale face, glistening with sweat, suddenly lifted up.
The person in front of me was wearing a white coat, with an upright posture, and half of his face was covered by a mask.
The man's eyes, hidden behind his glasses, widened, and he paused in the act of putting on his gloves.
For a moment, their eyes met.
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