Old friends return
His parents disappeared from sight before the car slowly started moving.
It was an ordinary thing, but Qi Xu felt a strange, inexplicable feeling lingering in his heart.
The two fell silent again.
Hao Nan discovered a pattern: as long as he didn't speak first, Qi Xu seemed to never have anything to say.
But how could such a small problem possibly stump him? It's absolutely impossible for him to be defeated by this setback.
Hao Nan broke the silence first: "Contemplating life again?"
"Half and half," Qi Xu snapped out of her reverie, racking her brains for gifts she could give a boy. After thinking for a long time without coming up with anything, she decisively asked, "I've never given a boy a birthday present before. What do you like?"
"I'm not picky, you can give me anything." Hao Nan said casually, but his heart was full of anticipation.
Thinking of the dazzling skins in the games he often played, she had an idea: "How about I give you a skin set?"
"I don't like skin," Hao Nan immediately rejected.
Qi Xu didn't believe it at all: "You're lying. I clearly saw you had a lot of game skins at the post station last time."
“Those are neither practical nor meaningful,” he argued.
"Then what would be meaningful as a memento?" she pressed.
"Of course you made it yourself." He lowered his voice, sounding a little embarrassed.
Qi Xu suddenly realized, and the corners of his lips curved slightly: "If you want me to make it by hand, just say so. Why beat around the bush?"
"It's because you're slow to react and insist on letting people spell things out for you."
How am I supposed to know if you don't tell me clearly?
The car came to a smooth stop in front of the Qi Xu family's house. "We're here, get out," Hao Nan said, turning his head.
Qi got off the bike and said goodbye, taking her books from the basket. Just as she was about to open the door, she turned back to him and said, "Don't worry, I'll give you a big surprise."
Hao Nan's lips curled up: "Then I'll be waiting."
As soon as Qi Xu entered the house, she was tightly hugged by a figure that pounced on her.
"Xu Xu! I missed you so much!" Ting Yuehuan exclaimed, pinching Qi Xu's cheek without any hesitation. "Hmm, still so soft."
"Yueyue, I miss you too." Qi Xu was equally excited.
The two sat down on the sofa, and Qi Xu's mother, Ci Yan, brought over some washed fruit: "Ting Yue, have some fruit."
"Thank you, Aunt Ci," Tingyue replied sweetly, then casually used a fruit skewer to stick a piece into Qixu's mouth.
"Yueyue, why did you suddenly come back this time?" Qi Xu asked, swallowing a piece of fruit.
Tingyue slowly ate another piece: "My parents are so busy that they're nowhere to be seen. I was so bored at home that I went back to my hometown with my brother. There are acquaintances here, and it's more lively."
Which school did you transfer to?
“Mingde Middle School, the same school as you, so we can go to and from school together, just like we used to be.”
Just then, the door opened and Han Xue walked in.
Tingyue looked at Qi Xu, then at Han Xue, her eyes widening in disbelief: "My God! You actually know the principal's daughter? Xu Xu, you're amazing!"
Qi Xu was also taken aback: "The principal's daughter? Who?"
“Her!” Tingyue pointed at Han Xue, “You don’t know her?”
"Yes, I know her, she's me..."
"Hello," Han Xue interrupted Qi Xu with a smile, her gaze falling on Ting Yue. "I am Qi Xu's older sister, Han Xue. We met this morning."
Tingyue nodded in realization. Once Han Xue returned to her room, she excitedly grabbed Qi Xu's arm: "Wow! The principal's daughter is your sister! So you're the principal's daughter too? Haha, I can walk around school like a headless chicken now!"
Qi Xu then belatedly realized: Han Xue is the principal's daughter? Then Han Cheng is the principal? No wonder he's always at home with free time. No wonder the teachers are so polite to Han Xue; it's not just because of her good grades, but also because of this relationship. However, this news has been kept very well hidden; not a single word has leaked out.
"Come on," Qi Xu shattered her illusions. "Even without this relationship, do you think you're the kind of person who can behave yourself?"
"That's true..." Tingyue took another bite of fruit and mumbled, "Qixu, shall we go out and play? Let's invite your sister along?"
"I'm not very familiar with her," Qi Xu said hesitantly.
Through the crack in the door, Han Xue's gaze darkened. She really wanted to participate, but Qi Xu's aloofness made her hesitate.
In the end, Tingyue prioritized Qixu, greeted Ciyan, and pulled Qixu along as they ran out.
By the window, Han Xue watched the two figures running happily away downstairs, a hint of envy flashing in her eyes.
Tingyue pulled Qixu along and jogged to a street corner where they met up with Tingxubai, who was waiting there.
"Brother! Look who I brought to you!" Tingyue smiled slyly, pushed Qi Xu forward, and stepped back a few paces, leaving them space to catch up.
Qi Xu was caught off guard and pushed in front of Ting Xubai.
His previously calm eyes instantly rippled, and he subconsciously took a step forward: "Long time no see, Qi Xu."
"Long time no see, Brother Xu Bai." Qi Xu's tone was calm, with just the right amount of politeness, as if the little girl who used to chatter around him was long gone.
Hearing this, Bai paused slightly, then understood: Yes, so many years have passed, everyone has grown up.
Qi Xu looked at him quietly, seemingly waiting for him to continue. Hearing the story, Bai clearly sensed her change; she spoke much less, even becoming somewhat distant.
These twins, a boy and a girl, were little devils who "ruled the streets" with their seven-year-old brother and sister when they were young, causing countless troubles. Later, their parents brought them to the city to discipline them strictly. Although they have toned it down now, their inherent arrogance remains.
Hearing this, Bai cleared his throat: "Since we're both at Mingde, shall we go to school together tomorrow?"
"Of course." Qi Xu nodded.
After a brief exchange, silence fell again. Su Bai was at a loss for words.
"Oh right, Xu Xu!" Tingyue jumped back to save the day, "I remember you're playing that game 'Peace Elite,' right?"
"I can never play well, my sense of direction is terrible." Qi Xu said with a hint of helplessness.
“We all play,” Ting Xubai interjected. “Can we add each other as friends? We can team up later.”
The three quickly added each other as game friends and started a game right there by the roadside.
The siblings were amused by Qi Xu's antics—her fingers were stiff, she would often get stuck in the wall or spin in place, and unsurprisingly, she was eliminated early on.
Putting away his phone, Qi Xu watched the brother and sister's smooth and coordinated gameplay as if watching a performance. They ultimately succeeded in winning the game.
Hearing Xu Bai's suggestion, "Why don't you try playing PC games at an internet cafe? Maybe a keyboard and mouse will suit you better."
"Great idea!" Tingyue immediately responded, "Let's go, Xuxu, let's give it a try!"
"Okay." Qi Xu also became interested.
In the internet cafe, the three found seats together. Qi Xu studied the key settings on the keyboard and quickly got the hang of it. The high-quality graphics and precise controls on the computer made her feel like a fish in water, eliminating the clumsiness of the mobile version. Her skills improved by leaps and bounds, and she won continuously.
"Amazing!" Tingyue couldn't help but exclaim. "Your learning ability hasn't changed at all."
Just then, Qi Xu noticed that the ID in her game friends list that often played with her had lit up. She clicked on the invitation.
Hao Nan's desk was a mess, piled high with exam papers and drawing materials. He was racking his brains over a difficult problem and had just made a breakthrough.
Bang! The door was suddenly pushed open.
"Dad! I'm studying! Can I knock?" Hao Nan was startled and turned around irritably.
“Someone’s trying to get you to play games.” His dad waved his phone.
Hao Nan closed his eyes and turned his head: "Here's the account, go play by yourself, don't disturb my studies!"
His father tactfully put his phone away, not forgetting to make a sarcastic remark before leaving: "That girl named Qi Xu is quite something, isn't she?"
His attention was interrupted, and his train of thought vanished. Hao Nan rubbed his buzz cut in frustration, almost driven mad by these problems. His gaze swept over the delicate butterfly earrings on the table, which he hadn't yet given away, and the image of Qi Xu appeared before him.
A familiar sense of inferiority, mixed with timidity, quietly welled up inside me.
He slapped his face hard, took a deep breath, gripped his pen tightly again, and forced himself to focus on the test paper in front of him.
After playing another game with the brother and sister, Qi Xu said goodbye and went home.
When she arrived home, she found the door locked. Just as she was sighing in frustration, the door opened from the inside, and it was Han Xue.
"Aren't you coming in yet? Planning to sleep outside?" Han Xue asked calmly.
"Thank you," Qi Xu said softly, slipping into his room and collapsing onto the bed.
Early in the morning, Hao Nan rode his bicycle to the gate of the Qi Xu family's house to wait, but no one showed up for a long time.
Ting Xubai's car stopped by the roadside, and Ting Yue got out with him to wait.
The group glanced at each other but didn't pay much attention.
The door creaked open.
"Seven!" The group exclaimed almost in unison.
It was Han Xue who came out. She glanced indifferently at the slightly crowded group of people at the entrance, said nothing, and rode away on her bicycle.
Tingyue immediately noticed Hao Nan, who had also called out Qi Xu's name earlier. She walked up to Hao Nan, crossed her arms, and asked scrutinizingly, "You? What's your relationship with Qi Xu?"
Hearing Xu Bai's sharp gaze also turned towards them.
“Friend,” Hao Nan said calmly.
"Friends?" Tingyue raised an eyebrow. "Friends who are blocking someone's door so early in the morning? I don't think so."
Aren't you the same?
“We’re not like you…” Tingyue’s words were barbed.
Just then, Wan Xiaoyi, who was riding a bicycle and turned into the alley, was stunned by the scene at the door: "Hao Nan? What... what are you doing?"
"Wait about seven days," Hao Nan replied.
Tingyue scoffed, "What makes you think you can wait until Qixu? Don't you even know your own worth?"
Xu Sheng, who was following behind Wan Xiaoyi, also arrived and immediately retorted, "And who are you? Who gives you the right to tell me what to do?"
“I’m telling you,” Tingyue said, raising her chin slightly with a hint of arrogance, “Qixu has us siblings, that’s enough. You are not worthy!”
"What gives you the right to make decisions for her?" Hao Nan's voice turned cold.
The atmosphere instantly tensed. Ting Xubai stood silently behind Tingyue, like a silent mountain providing support.
Wan Xiaoyi and Xu Sheng immediately got out of the car and stood next to Hao Nan, forming a silent standoff.
A tense atmosphere permeated the morning air.
Meanwhile, Qi Xu, the protagonist who triggered this small confrontation, was still fast asleep, having just turned over in bed.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
