Chapter 70: Promise with Lan
"ID number 1001, Chen Xiao'er."
Xiao'er took out her ID card, swiped it in front of the security guard, and walked out of the campus briskly.
It's 4:30 p.m. I've finished reciting the common passages from Classical Chinese and bought a cake from the cafeteria. I need to hurry to meet Sister Lan at the school gate, or I'll miss my appointment with Ling.
"Hehehe~Hehehe~"
She hummed happily, her toes moving in increments on the cement road, almost spinning.
"Hey." The girl across the street took off her sunglasses and waved lazily.
"Sister Lan——"
Chen Xiao'er paused with her right foot and danced like a butterfly on the empty street. She turned around twice before stopping abruptly and playfully lifted her skirt in front of Sister Lan.
Pa pa pa pa.
Lan clapped her hands sparsely and took the plastic bag from Xiao'er. She tore open the wrapping paper and stuffed the cake directly into her mouth, hesitating as she bit it. "You're in such a good mood, what happened?"
Under normal circumstances, her little girl would definitely stand on tiptoe, turn her head and say "Guess~".
But not today. Chen Xiao'er pursed her lips and smiled. After a few seconds, she slowly shook her head and said, "It's okay. My roommate is willing to tutor me."
"Oh." Lan touched his trouser leg but didn't take out a cigarette.
They walked side by side on the road, strolling forward with the same pace and frequency.
When they reached a corner, Lan asked calmly, "Are you used to school life? Tutoring...they force you to learn a lot of useless things?"
"It's not completely useless. My foundation wasn't very strong back in No. 12 Middle School, but some cramming before the placement test was somewhat helpful."
After Chen Xiao'er finished speaking pertinently, she shook her head and asked, "How have you been lately? Is your job and rent going smoothly? Have you encountered any annoying colleagues or clients?"
"No."
"Really not~?"
Chen Xiao'er's eyes were so lingering that Lan yawned helplessly and explained in a little more detail, "Really? No one else would dare to give me a cold shoulder except you. They're all very well-behaved. They don't owe me a penny every day, and their rooms are kept very clean..."
The girl put two fingers together and waved them in the air.
Her eyes were lazy, but her tone was frighteningly cold: "If I catch you doing anything wrong, you'll be in big trouble."
"…puff."
Xiao Ai was silent for a moment, then smiled helplessly. Seriously, Sister Lan still spoke in this way. Even as a security guard, she described herself as a bitch, even though she was such a gentle person.
As they walked, they gradually entered a small garden in an upscale residential area.
The man dressed as a security guard glanced at them and nodded naturally, not approaching to question them. It seemed that Sister Lan's "identity" was somewhat useful here; at least they wouldn't chase her away when she was clearly dressed as a student.
Chen Xiao'er studied the vines around her and couldn't help but reach out to touch a purple pistil. "The greenery on campus isn't that great. It's all the same big-leafed trees and similar shrubs. It's not even as good as the sea of flowers on the outskirts of Changhe City. A few days ago, I saw someone secretly growing potted plants in the dorm, and the student union found them and threw them away."
The seniors in the student union were usually aloof, but when they found a small pot of chrysanthemums in that classmate's room, the whole building knew about it, and it was said that he almost dropped out of school.
Out of some subtle emotion, Xiao'er lightly skipped over this topic.
She looked at the rows of beautiful villas in the villa area and stretched lazily: "Ha~ I wish I could live in a villa like this after I graduate."
There are flowers and grass, the air is fresh, and there is also closed security management to keep annoying relatives out.
I hope my mother’s body can hold up until then, because Xiaotong will definitely like it here.
"Then move in." Sister Lan said lightly, "Move in now, so that your roommates won't bother you anymore."
"I can't afford it~" Xiao Ai shook her finger and stood on tiptoe to poke Sister Lan's forehead. "My roommates are very nice, it's not a big deal!"
She had planned her dormitory life before she was admitted to university. She was mentally prepared to help reserve a seat, bring meals, and do more cleaning.
I didn’t expect to meet such good roommates like Lin Lang and Zheng Lu.
Lin Lang is always the first one to rush to the cafeteria to get food, and he often helps buy things and bring meals.
Zheng Lu might want to repay the favor. Even if she was reminded that everyone should take turns cleaning, she would quietly clean the trash can every night and sweep the floor before going out.
The senior student has a low presence and often goes out to participate in student union activities, but whenever she comes back, she sits quietly on the upper bunk to study and never disturbs others.
Chen Xiao'er recalled it carefully, and her heart skipped a beat: If we follow the saying that "there is an average of one top-notch person in every dormitory, and the top-notch people always don't know that they are the top-notch", then the dormitory member with the lowest quality seems to be me?
She was still struggling when she saw Sister Lan climb over the fence and walk to the door of the villa next door. Then she pulled something out of her pocket and poked the keyhole with it.
"Hey, sister, what are you doing?!" Xiao Ai was so scared that she almost fainted. She quickly rushed over and covered Sister Lan's hand: "You can't do this, you can't do this!"
"Why not?"
Sister Lan had a stern face at first, but when she saw that she was about to cry, she slowly loosened her hand, letting out the key from between her fingers.
"Pfft, this one's mine!"
She shook the key ring at Xiao'er, then pressed the key into the keyhole and turned it gently in front of her.
Click, the door opened.
Sister Lan stood in front of the door and spread her hands, saying everything.
Chen Xiao'er was stunned, and after several seconds she opened her eyes wide and exclaimed "Ah!"
She jumped onto the steps and stuck her head inside: the living room had been basically renovated, but the room leading to the back had only the walls painted and not even any cabinets. It was obviously a new house that had been purchased not long ago.
"Sister, did you really buy this?"
"What else?"
Sister Lan scoffed and dragged her hand inside. Even the floor was newly laid, still covered with a light layer of dust, and footprints were left wherever the soles of her shoes stepped.
They walked straight to the center of the living room, and Chen Xiao'er looked up at the crystal chandelier on the ceiling.
Sister Lan leaned back onto the snow-white sofa, lying casually between the pillows, with her long boots resting directly on the armrest.
The living room was empty. Chen Xiao'er turned around and saw only Sister Lan and her sofa.
The girl's nails scratched the ends of her wine-red hair, and her purple eyes reflected the girl's blank gaze. "Would you like to move in with me?"
"...No need~ The school dormitory is fine."
Xiao Ai paused, her fingers rubbing the hem of her skirt awkwardly. "Sister Lan, how did you earn the money for the down payment? Is the interest rate okay? Will it be difficult to pay it back?"
“No loans.”
Lan sat on the sofa.
Although her body was leaning on the cushions with her back tilted back, she gave people a sense of oppression as if her eyes were approaching.
"I can protect you—no matter what the world becomes, I can protect you."
"Oh,"
Chen Xiao'er smiled awkwardly.
Why are you saying this, Sister Lan? I'm doing fine now, why are you acting like I've been bullied to the point of dropping out?
"I'm serious, are you willing to drop out of school?"
“…”
This time I really can't play dumb anymore.
Chen Xiao'er took a deep breath and walked to the sofa. She bent down and looked directly into Sister Lan's eyes. "Sister Lan, I'm not a child anymore. I'm serious too. My classmates, teachers, and roommates are all very good. Although the school curriculum is a bit difficult, I will do my best to keep up."
There was nothing in the girl's purple eyes, only a glittering glow.
She rested her forehead against Sister Lan's shoulder and whispered, "Please trust me, Sister."
Maybe the little girl who needs your protection all the time and cries in the dark forest is cute.
But I also want to grow into a big tree that can protect others - especially you and your sister.
Xiao'e didn't know how Sister Lan earned enough money to buy a villa, but she believed that the older child who would use his life to protect the children must be as righteous and brave as he was in the past.
"like."
They leaned their heads against each other, and Sister Lan's voice seemed to sound from the deepest part of her heart.
"This world is a dangerous place. Others will use you and hurt you for all sorts of reasons, but I'm different."
"I will never betray you and will definitely protect you."
"If life over there makes you unhappy and tired, then come to me."
Her voice is as addictive as a magnet.
"Whatever you want to do, I can stay with you in the room forever, or I can accompany you to every corner of the world."
"I won't allow anyone to stand in the way of your happiness."
Boom, boom, boom, boom.
The heart roars in the ear canal.
Sister Lan, what you said is too heavy.
Xiao'ai wanted to smile and get away with it, but suddenly a strong intuition arose in her heart.
If life is a game, the [options] here may even declare a certain [ending].
Zero's face flashed through his mind for a moment, and more of it were fragments of memories from the past decade or so.
The director and fellow orphanage children, the teachers and classmates at school, the kitten rubbing against my leg on the street, and even the waiter who gave me an extra scoop of ice cream...
Everyone's smiles, tears, fatigue and cheers come together to turn memories into a flowing picture.
This is a real world, Sister Lan.
You are real too.
Xiao'e held Sister Lan's hand and stood up suddenly.
Lan was stronger than her, but he had no choice but to stand up under the girl's stubborn drag.
Chen Xiao'er stood on tiptoe, trying to look her in the eye, and said in a steady voice, "Sister, you can't talk like that."
"Can't I talk to you like this?" Sister Lan narrowed her eyes, her smile like a tiger licking its beard in the wind.
"Don't say that to anyone, because—"
The girl's forehead slammed against her chin. "Take more care of yourself, idiot! What do you mean by living in a room with you, traveling with you—"
"If you want to stay home, stay home by yourself. If you want to travel, go by yourself. If you want to go to school, take the exam by yourself—"
Xiao Ai sniffed and said with tears in her eyes, "Of course I will accompany you."
Sister Lan, I also want to protect your happiness.
"……ha."
After a long pause, the tall girl chuckled and rubbed her head. "We are different, love. From the first day I saw you, I knew that I placed everything in you - and I will be happy for it."
If someone else said this, Chen Xiao'er would definitely turn around and leave.
But this was Sister Lan, so she wasn't upset at all. Instead, she declared in a much more serious tone than when she faced the "drop out" advice: "I disagree. We are equals. Friends should always be equal."
"Isn't this an order?" Sister Lan looked down at her jokingly.
Chen Xiao'er tugged hard, clinging to her shoulders like a little monkey. "If you insist we're unequal, then I command you to be equal to me. Do you hear me? Do you hear me?"
The girl's voice became louder and louder, as if she was shouting from her ears to her heart.
Sister Lan's frivolous smile finally disappeared, replaced by a complex expression that was unclear whether it was irritation, anger, helplessness or determination.
She held Chen Xiao'er's wrist with her right hand and pulled her out.
"Sister Lan, wait, you haven't locked the door yet!"
They walked in the community, then started running and rushed towards the campus at an extremely fast speed.
Chen Xiao'er was a bit sullen at first, but as she ran, her mood brightened. The wind felt so good against my body, and Sister Lan was beside me—she probably wasn't angry, was she?
They ran faster and faster, and by the time Chen Xiao'er burst into laughter, the two of them had already run to the school gate.
“Haha~ Haha~”
She was just about to turn around and say something to Sister Lan when she was gently pushed on the back.
Sister Lan's voice sounded from behind, still as lazy as ever. "Alright, go ahead if you want to. But—if you ever want to leave, just tell me and I'll take you away."
"good!"
Chen Xiao'er responded in her most energetic voice, then ran into the school gate without looking back.
This is my attitude, Sister Lan.
I will definitely become an excellent adult!
…
"snort."
Lan snorted softly, and when she turned around, she brought a gust of wind with her. She gathered her strength into her fingertips and said, "You're late again."
Rustle, rustle.
Arcs of light flashed across the sky, creating cracks in the air.
Xinaya appeared in the purple light mist, her eyes were so scary that she looked like she wanted to eat someone, even though she had just eaten.
The devil raised his finger at his enemy: "I see. I couldn't kill you before because I didn't kill both of you at the same time!"
"..." Lan didn't comment and scratched his ear with his other finger.
"I got it right, scum."
Xinnaya grinned and said, "This time I'll kill you first, then hunt her down! What last words do you have, you inferior product created by Chen Xiao'e?"
Sister Lan moved her neck, raised a finger towards the devil, then turned her fingertip and pointed it down hard.
"You talk too much—idiot."
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