Chapter 206 If-Two Little Guess 7
Late at night, in the quiet room, Tong Zhongyuan turned over, turned on the light, and sat up.
Why do you mind so much? Why do you mind so much? This sentence kept appearing in his mind again and again.
Why do I have to be so involved? He held up his head. He had never thought about this question. Qin Yizhang, who was born with a simple mind, was it not normal for him to say a few words to her and take care of her? Is it okay to remind her that her clothes are too small? Why did she react so strongly? When they were little, she listened to everything he said. Is it not the case now? He thought that this unique power could be passed on forever, not restricted by age and time. So, she meant that he could no longer be involved? This time, or in the future?
He was no longer sleepy, sat down at the desk, took out the seal, and pressed it on the paper again.
Serenity leads to far-reaching goals
As promised, the next seal would be given to him. Will she...keep her promise?
He recalled over and over again her angry expression and her rejection. Did he say something wrong? Or did she have other difficulties?
Hardship. He quickly caught hold of these two words, like a nimble spider, wrapping up its prey and chewing it.
Her grandfather was ill, and her father had been in the hospital. And when he looked down at the ground today, he saw her sneakers were worn. Could it be that she wasn't complaining about his meddling, but rather that she was broke? So when he asked her to buy a new uniform, she hesitantly said she'd buy it next year. If that was the case, it wouldn't be that difficult. His mood brightened like the morning sun shining into the valley.
Yesterday's uniform had already been washed, and Qin Yizhang had changed into her spare summer uniform. She tried to straighten her trouser legs and sighed. They were indeed a little small; even Tong Zhongyuan, a guy from the next class, had noticed. Dad would be home tomorrow, so why not ask him for some money and buy a size up? Even if she grew taller, she should be able to wear them until graduation.
Nearing the school gate, she saw Tong Zhongyuan leaning against a tree in the corner. He had chosen a low-key position, but he was tall, and most of the students entering the school that morning knew him. They either saluted him or greeted him.
Tong Zhongyuan regretted not wearing a hat. He also thought Qin Yizhang was so slow. Was he trying to get in on time for school? He had been waiting since early morning. Furthermore, this guy rarely went online, as if he were living in ancient times. If he wanted to contact her, he had to find her in person. They didn't have cell phones. He Wu said he would buy him one after he went to college, but he wasn't in a hurry. Even if he had a cell phone, Qin Yizhang didn't have one, so he still couldn't contact him.
"Why don't you go in?" Qin Yizhan's voice sounded from behind him.
He turned around and asked: "Why are you coming here?"
"There's a delicious scallion pancake place over there. I took a detour."
Fortunately, he didn't wait for her halfway, otherwise he would have been disappointed.
"Anything else?" He glanced at the bag in her hand.
"You didn't have breakfast?" Qin Yizhang took out a scallion pancake from his bag and gave it to him. "I bought two."
"I ate it," he took it without hesitation, "but you said it was delicious, I want to eat it again."
"Would you like some soy milk?" Qin Yizhang took out another cup of soy milk like a magic trick.
"You even bought two cups of soy milk?" He paused and asked, "Are you bringing this for someone?"
"No, just one cup. I'll give it to you if you like."
"That's not necessary, just drink it yourself." His tone became lighter again.
"oh."
After walking for a while, she felt a little thirsty. She opened the drinking hole on the lid and took a sip, then slowly walked into the campus with him.
Tong Zhongyuan bit into the scallion pancake she bought. It was indeed delicious. He even had an egg in it.
"Is your grandfather's illness better?"
"I don't know either. My dad didn't say much."
"Qin Yizhang," he looked at the tip of his shoe, "I can help."
"How can you help?" She smiled.
"Anything is fine." He stuffed the last bite of scallion pancake into his mouth. "You don't have to be polite to me."
"Yeah," she nodded, "I'll find you if I need anything."
They had reached a fork in the road. Just as she was about to say goodbye to him, her hands were empty. He had taken her soy milk away.
He shook it and said confidently, "There's not much left. Give it to me."
"But..." She was stunned, "But I drank it."
"I don't dislike you."
He held her soy milk and waved to her: "Come in, remember what I just said, don't be polite to me."
He turned around, leaving her with his back, and walked briskly into the teaching building.
She was stunned for a while, always feeling that he was weird today, but she didn't know why.
As soon as she entered the classroom, before she could focus, a figure rushed in front of her and asked excitedly in a low voice: "How is it?! Tell me quickly! How did he confess yesterday!"
Only then did Qin Yizhang see clearly that it was Zhang Li, and he pulled his arm out of her arms.
"What confession? Are you talking about Tong Zhongyuan? How could he confess to me? He just comes here to complain about me."
Zhang Li instantly lost his temper. "Complaining about you? What did he complain about you about?"
Qin Yizhang told her that Tong Zhongyuan said she should change into a new school uniform. Zhang Li collapsed on the table, extremely disappointed. If she had known this, she would have gone to eat pork tenderloin with Qin Yizhang yesterday.
After school, she dragged Qin Yizhang to eat some tenderloin. From ten steps away, she could smell the aroma of meat simmering in the frying pan.
Qin Yizhang put his schoolbag in front of him, opened the side pocket and took out his wallet.
"Let me treat you. I broke the promise yesterday."
Before her fingers touched her wallet, they felt a stack of paper. The touch of the paper was so familiar that she pulled one out with doubt—a pink hundred-dollar bill.
She was stunned for a second, then opened the zipper of the side pocket as wide as possible, and inside was a whole stack of neatly arranged pink RMB.
Zhang Li was already ordering meat skewers. "And some rice cakes. Qin Yizhang, how many would you like?"
She didn't answer, she flipped her fingers and counted.
"Qin Yizhang!" Zhang Li called her again.
"Sorry, I have something to do and need to go back to school. I won't eat anymore. I'll treat you another day."
She put away the money, picked up her schoolbag again, and ran towards the school.
Three thousand yuan! It couldn't have been anyone else, it had to be him. This morning, when he walked behind her, she felt her bag move a few times. She'd thought he'd accidentally bumped into it. Was this what he meant by "help"?! So yesterday, he'd said her clothes were too small, and today he was giving her money. Why? He was trying to remind her that he was an honor student who could travel to England this summer, while she was a poor soul who couldn't even afford a new school uniform and needed sympathy and care.
She ran back to school. The campus was empty. Most of the students had already left, and those who remained were walking towards the gate in groups of two or three. People were still jumping and shooting on the court.
She ran into the teaching building in two steps, went up to the third floor in one breath, and pushed open the door of Class 7.
There is no one in the classroom.
Tong Zhongyuan slept soundly. The things that had troubled him the night before had been solved. Qin Yizhang must have found the money yesterday. Although it didn't help much, it was enough to buy a new school uniform. When he asked her to borrow money to buy a Coke when he was a child, she took his father's commemorative coins without saying a word. They ran to the store, and the cashier looked at it for a long time and accepted it without saying a word. She had been a loyal person since she was a child, so he was also loyal to her. Anyway, he had a lot of New Year's money and could never spend it all.
He ate his breakfast leisurely. Yesterday, when he got home, he said the scallion pancakes with egg were delicious, so his dad went out early this morning to buy them, along with some matching soy milk. The soy milk she bought was sweeter than any he'd ever had, so he kept it at home. Tong Yinxu read it and said he understood, tossing the cup into the trash. Tong Zhongyuan glanced at the cup in the trash and returned to his room. Two minutes later, his bedroom door opened again, and he went to the kitchen to pick up the cup from the trash.
"Yuanyuan, what are you doing?"
"It's a shame to throw away this nice cup. I'll wash it and use it as a pen holder."
"Pen holder? Don't you have a pencil case? You don't have many pens. This is a disposable plastic cup..."
With a "bang", Tong Zhongyuan's room door closed again.
Tong Yinxu looked at the closed door, shook his head helplessly, turned around and continued to peel shrimps.
But for some reason, the soy milk his father bought today always tasted wrong. Was it because the pot was not cooked well today?
On the way to school, he wondered if Qin Yizhang had noticed the stack of money and might come to see him today. Given her temper, even if she was grateful, she wouldn't show it on her face. She might even ask to return the money. Then... he'd just smile at her, saying, "I never take back what I give away," and then leave her with a blank stare.
He arrived a little late, and just as he sat down, the bell for his first class rang. His deskmate glanced at him. He had originally been in Class 2, but this time he was assigned to Class 7, Science. He leaned over and whispered, "Qin Yizhang came to see you."
He put down his pen: "When?"
"About 15 minutes ago. She must have been looking for you. She stood at the door but didn't come in."
The New Class 7 was mostly male, so she probably only knew him. Who else could she be looking for if not him? As he expected, she came over, but she seemed to be a little overreacting, actually running into the classroom to look for him. She had never been here before.
He was so distracted during the class that he barely made it to the bell. He stood up and walked into the hallway. The classroom was crowded, and there might even be some people making trouble. Qin Yizhang was very shy.
He stood against the wall, his eyes fixed on the road that led from Class 2 to Class 7. After a while, she really came.
Qin Yizhang turned the corner and saw Tong Zhongyuan. The moment he saw her, his eyes visibly lit up. An inexplicable warmth surged through her heart, as if the frustration she had been holding back all night had been washed away by his expectant gaze. But this feeling lasted only a moment. With a cold face, she walked up to him and handed him an envelope.
"What is this?" He vaguely guessed it, because the expression on her face was obviously not what he imagined, so he didn't want to reach out to take it.
She didn't answer, but held out her hand persistently. Seeing that he was reluctant to take it, she threw the envelope at him, and he caught it reflexively.
She saw him take the envelope and turned to leave without saying a word. Before she took a step, he grabbed her wrist.
"Qin Yizhang, what are you doing? Are you angry?"
"No," she said coldly, "Thank you for your kindness, but I don't need it."
Tong Zhongyuan's heart sank completely. He understood that her thanks were more serious than accusing him. Moreover, after she said this, she tried to break free from his grip.
"Did I do something wrong?"
"No, I've already said thank you for your kindness. It's me who doesn't know how to appreciate it."
Her undisguised sarcasm made his temples throb. He had never suffered such an injustice before, and suppressed his anger, saying, "Qin Yizhang, you don't have to talk like that. If I did something wrong, just tell me clearly. Is it because of the money you gave me yesterday?"
Qin Yizhang was a straightforward person, and she didn't want to beat around the bush since he had made it clear.
"Tong Zhongyuan, put away your sympathy! I can afford the school uniform myself!"
He was speechless for a moment, feeling unreal, as if his body was immersed in ice water and his heart was burning.
She shook off his hand and turned to walk away. Suddenly, her vision went dark. Tong Zhongyuan was blocking her path. His face wore an expression she had never seen before: a mixture of extreme disappointment, anxiety, and anger. Even when they had argued as children, she had never seen him look like this.
"I don't sympathize with you." He used all his restraint and didn't yell at her. He just stated, "I just want to help you. You're being overly sensitive."
"Yes, I'm sensitive," she looked at him directly without yelling, "so don't come to help me."
The wind blew from the corridor, and her hair fluttered, smooth but cold, brushing against his lowered neck and passing by him.
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