Black Rose
"Hello, please sign for me. I wish Yuanyuan safety and success, and that all her wishes come true."
Zhou Xi handed the book into the small compartment through the box board, and took it out again after a while. The book was placed next to her and her hand was held.
"You, wait for me."
"good."
Zhou Xi took the signed book and a bag of peripheral gifts and found a corner to sit down. The hall was full of young girls, all focused on the topic, and it was very lively.
This was a large autograph session. The entrance had a photo-taking area meticulously decorated with balloons and novel-related items. People were constantly surrounding it, trying to find the best angles to take the best photos. The book she signed was just one from a minor author among many others.
Zhou Xi lowered his head. The book cover, dominated by a black rose pattern, was split open from the top by gouache and gilded white, like a sharp blade. Droplets of blood clung to the flowing font. Further down, a group of girls in long skirts stood on a raised platform, their smiling faces sketched out with a few simple strokes.
Turning to the first page, the horizontal stroke of the word "To" is written lightly, but it pauses and blurs at the vertical stroke.
When Zhou Xi looked up after reading two-thirds of the book, she was still surrounded by book fans. She received the message, relaxed her numb neck, and went around to the back of the venue.
"Woof!"
"Woof woof!"
The braised pork came forward with its tail wagging.
"Woof!"
"Hello, Auntie."
"Hello, Zhou Xi. It seems that Hong Shao Rou likes you very much." Mother Gao wore a mask and her hair was tied up with a hairpin. She looked gentle and generous.
The braised pork scratched the paper bag, as if trying to attract attention. Zhou Xi smiled and agreed. The braised pork was indeed clingy. She had seen it twice before, and the puppy was not afraid of strangers at all.
"Woof!"
Zhou Xi squatted down, and Braised Pork ran around her twice and looked back.
"Are you planning something bad?" Zhou Xi touched the dog's head and patted it gently. "He's not here yet, so don't bother with him."
"Woof!"
“Woo woo!”
Mother Gao touched her arm and glanced at Zhou Xi: "I really didn't expect you to come here. When Yuanyuan told me, I was surprised. She didn't tell me that you two were friends."
The first time Gao's mother heard the name Zhou Xi was one night when she went to see if Gao Yuanyuan was covered with the quilt. She accidentally heard her daughter talking in her sleep. It was a nightmare. From just a few words, she guessed that it was related to her daughter being bullied in junior high school.
But no one ever mentioned it at the time, neither the teacher nor the girls who bullied her, let alone Gao Yuanyuan.
Later she asked Gao Yuanyuan, but she was such a stubborn daughter that she refused to say anything, saying it was all in the past and she didn't want to talk about it anymore.
"I also knew a little about it by chance. I happened to come over to take a look today. It seems that my guess was right." Zhou Xi raised the book in his hand.
Mother Gao sighed. "I, I didn't approve of her writing this book. That was when she was at her worst. She was so skinny that there was no flesh on her face. But I didn't let her write because she said she couldn't sleep."
Gao Yuanyuan's mother didn't know that she was being bullied at first until Gao Yuanyuan started to behave abnormally and she discovered the scar on her arm.
But even when she later went to find out what happened, the girls who bullied her daughter just said they disliked Gao Yuanyuan.
For the first time in more than ten years, Gao Yuanyuan begged her not to investigate further. It was the first time that Gao's mother saw such a devastated expression on her daughter's face. At that moment, she felt guilty and self-blamed.
If she had discovered it earlier, the result might have been different. She went to see a psychologist, who suggested that she should not open Gao Yuanyuan's scars and leave her with some self-esteem.
Later, Gao Yuanyuan became autistic for a long time, refusing to speak or eat until she wrote down these things.
Things were going in a good direction, but not long after, she discovered that Gao Yuanyuan was not in the right situation again. She was so worried that she had to secretly check Gao Yuanyuan's computer. Although she knew it was a very immoral act, she was terrified and could not abide by any moral principles. Then she found out that Gao Yuanyuan had been scolded for something she had written.
She looked at those abusive words that were simply unbearable to read, and opened a reader account of her own. She cursed those people all night and cried all night.
The next day, someone was hired to remove the unpleasant words and at the same time, Gao Yuanyuan was politely asked to stop writing. This time, Gao Yuanyuan agreed without hesitation and began psychological treatment, after which her condition gradually improved.
But when she entered high school, she suddenly started writing again. In the middle of the night, Gao's mother was silent for a long time after she saw where Gao Yuanyuan had resumed writing.
Those black words typed one by one showed that Gao Yuanyuan began to let go and put a crooked end to the matter.
Later, the book unexpectedly became a little popular, and Gao Yuanyuan wanted to publish it, so she agreed. As long as Gao Yuanyuan was happy, it was fine.
Gao Yuanyuan's mother came all the way to Beibin to attend this book signing event. She knew that she had prepared for a long time. Before leaving, her hands were still shaking, her speech was stuttering, and her face was red.
"Auntie, I owe you an apology and thank you."
Mother Gao sighed and took off her mask in frustration. "As a mother, my daughter was bullied like this. I will never forgive anyone who bullied her, including me who was completely unaware."
"However, as an independent individual, Gao Yuanyuan's behavior was not wrong. Her upbringing allowed her to make the right choice. Her conscience will not be condemned by helping you, so she will not hate you just because you are the one who bullied her. If she were in anyone else's shoes, she would make the right choice."
"So, I won't blame you. I accept this thank you." Mother Gao wiped the corners of her moist eyes. "You see, it's really fate that you two finally became friends after all these twists and turns. So I hope everything goes well for you too."
"Thanks."
"Woof woof!" Hong Shao Rou seemed to sense that the atmosphere was wrong and nudged the two of them.
"Be good, sit for a while." Mother Gao comforted Hong Shao Rou.
"She's almost done. You can catch up later."
"Okay, thank you, Auntie."
The ice cream was just taken out of the freezer, steaming cold. I opened the plastic lid and took a bite of the chocolate on top. It was so greasy.
The braised pork was lying on the ground with most of its body blocking the air outlet of the air conditioner. Chiha Chiha was so comfortable that he stuck out his tongue.
"Zhou Xi, how did you find out? It's mine." Gao Yuanyuan held the torn paper in her hand and quickly licked the cream that was about to drip down.
"I heard it from your fans."
Coincidentally, the two girls in front of Zhou Xi's seat read novels every day, and the first thing they did when they arrived at school every day was to share the details of the novel chapters with each other.
The vivid descriptions, dancing, and applause aroused everyone's curiosity and even gained a group of listeners. At a certain time every day, they would form a circle around their seats, bringing various snacks and drinks to keep them entertained, and live a leisurely life.
Although Zhou Xi was not very interested in novels, he would occasionally listen to some when he was bored while doing his homework. He always felt that some of the novels were a bit strange, and finally he found several words that were the same as those in reality.
I did some research online and that led to our meeting today.
"I'm not hiding this from you on purpose."
"I know, and congratulations on this achievement."
Zhou Xi thought of the novel Xiao Xiaoyu had read before. Probably at that time, Gao Yuanyuan was at a loss, and keeping a tight vest was the best choice.
This novel is indeed very well written. In the early part, the heroine Bai Ren was bullied at school. In desperation, she decided to take revenge and played a game of chess, even sacrificing herself, and finally got her revenge.
Although the plot is very different from reality, some parts are too real, making people feel as if they are there and feel the suffocation of the bullies.
If anyone knew that Gao Yuanyuan had written this, there would be an uproar. Judgment and questioning would come like a storm, disrupting normal life.
"Although many parts of the book are heartwarming, your inner struggle is real. I underestimated their malice. I'm sorry."
"What's there to be sorry about? Everything is fine now, isn't it?"
After finishing the ice cream, Gao Yuanyuan threw the paper wrappers stained with chocolate liquid into the trash can and wiped the sticky ice cream off her hands.
"I really hate them, but it's all in the past."
"Woof."
"What's wrong? Are you tired?"
The braised pork rubbed Gao Yuanyuan's calf and closed his eyes.
Gao Yuanyuan glanced at Zhou Xi and said, "We came from Xining, and braised pork makes people carsick."
"Thank you for your hard work. Go home and ask mom to make you braised pork."
“Woo woo!”
"When are you planning to leave?"
"tomorrow."
"Sister Zhou, can you tell Xiaoyu about my book?" Gao Yuanyuan opened her schoolbag and showed it to Zhou Xi. "This is what she wanted. Please send it to her."
Xiao Xiaoyu knew that the book would be signed offline and she wanted to fly back, but some things abroad held her back.
Gao Yuanyuan told her that she happened to have something to do in Beibin and could help her send it over.
"Then you'd better keep your little vest well and don't let her find out." Zhou Xi saw the handwriting of the signature. Gao Yuanyuan should have changed her style on purpose, so it won't be exposed.
"Um!"
"Do you want to make this your career in the future?"
Gao Yuanyuan shook her head and zipped up her pants: "No, this, just be a XXX, I want to do something else."
“It’s good to have a goal.”
"I think so too."
Zhou Xi leaned against the transparent glass and could clearly see the smile on Gao Yuanyuan's face, which was good.
"So, what do you want to do in the future?"
Zhou Xi's eyelids drooped, hiding his emotions: "I don't know, let's talk about it later."
"Bang!"
Zhou Xi tilted his head and saw that a black hat was thrown over and hit the glass, then slid down.
At the corner outside the window, two little boys threw their schoolbags aside and rolled up their sleeves to prepare for the battle.
Three, two, one, the two people twisted their bodies like flexible snakes, testing each other, competing with each other, neither willing to give in.
Even the little brats are so capable.
Zhou Xi smiled, suddenly feeling lucky that He Min hadn't gone off to learn street dancing. Otherwise, if she suddenly performed a piece on the street, she would have immediately run away. She was so lost in her own thoughts that she didn't notice Gao Yuanyuan's expression.
When Zhou Xi said this, Gao Yuanyuan almost jumped up. She thought that someone like Zhou Xi should have a life plan clearer than his jawline and a future more exciting than cheating.
In the past, people thought Gao Yuanyuan was stupid, so she rarely approached those with good grades, treating them as people from a different world.
However, Zhou Xi was not at all what she had expected. She gave the impression that the aloof goddess was actually a Buddhist Capybara.
"It's okay. Anyway, with your grades, you can choose any university you want!"
"Hmm? Ah, thank you for your kind words." Zhou Xi stroked the forehead of the braised pork, and the braised pork raised its head in comfort.
"By the way, Xiaoyu, what do you think about what I said?" Gao Yuanyuan finished looking at her phone and scratched her hair. Maybe Miss Xiao would be expelled.
"I really did!"
"No, aren't we all scattered all over the place? How can you guys get together?"
"What kind of magic does Beibin have? I don't care, I'm going there too!"
"I'll buy the ticket right now, right now!"
Lu Zisheng has talked too much and is tired. Okay, let’s take a breath and drink some water.
In the Liuliu Dashun group, six cameras were turned on and there was silence for six seconds.
Gao Yuanyuan decided to break the record: "I'm leaving tomorrow, but..."
Then, a link to the Beibin Hotel lightning protection website was thrown in the group. However, Xiao Xiaoyu quickly clicked on various curious emojis to brush it off, and she couldn't get to the top at all.
Gao Yuanyuan understood.
Lu Zisheng came out after finishing his drink: "No, why are you in such a hurry? Just hang out for a few more days. You won't go back to study, will you? Besides, we haven't seen each other for a long time, right? Shouldn't we meet up? Just to show our respect."
"Get out, get out, Lu Zi, stop talking nonsense. You, are not allowed to come. Our Yuanyuan doesn't want to reminisce with you!" Xiao Xiaoyu pressed her face against the screen, wishing she could jump out and punch Lu Zi. What was he doing? Even rabbits don't eat grass near their burrows. Why was this dog trying to get close to her Yuan'er?
"I……"
Lu Zisheng's screen is frozen.
"Holy shit! Take a screenshot!"
"There's even an afterimage. The street dog asked you to bark. Wait, your emoticon package will be ready soon." Xiao Xiaoyu lowered her head and added a few big pink words, saved it, and then clicked send.
"Mom, I'm really fed up with you. You can't be like this." Lu Zisheng had no choice but to use his identity as the group owner to frantically withdraw the message.
Damn it, sooner or later he would delete all the ugly photos of him from Xiao Xiaoyu’s phone, not leaving a single one.
Zhou Xi stared at the screen and listened to the two people arguing. He didn't know when they would stop, so he had to sit on the bed first.
“Bang, bang!”
"Enter."
"Sister!" He Min was wearing a nightgown, with her hair messy and scattered behind her ears.
"What's wrong?"
He Min produced a small crocodile doll with big eyes from behind her back: "Sister, this is for you. It accompanied me to sleep yesterday, and it will accompany you to sleep today."
"Can I come up?"
Damn politeness, Zhou Xi still cooperated with the little guy and waved: "Come up."
He Min put the little crocodile next to Zhou Xi and comforted it: "Xiaoyu, be good, I will pick you up tomorrow."
"Sister, what are you doing?"
"Ha ha ha ha!"
"Haha, Emma, this is your sister, Sister Zhou!"
"I saw it! Such a fat face!"
A piercing laugh flew out of the receiver, and Zhou Xi quickly turned down the volume: "That's enough, don't scare me."
"I'm video chatting with my friends. Why don't you go back to bed? Your dad will come over and spank you soon."
"Sister Zhou, please don't scare your sister."
"Sister, don't believe what your sister says. You are so cute, how could your father bear to beat you."
"Hehe, sister, dad hasn't come back today!"
"Sister, I want to see it!"
"Hey, Sister Zhou, can you let us chat with your sister?"
"OK."
Zhou Xi handed the tablet to He Min: "Take a look."
"Hey, hello little sister, I'm your brother Lu Zisheng!"
"Hello, brother!"
He Min clung to Zhou Xi's arm, the child's unique voice exploding in her ears, almost sending her away. It was the middle of the night, and it was quiet outside, but He Min loved to make a lot of noise.
"Hey, hello, sister. I'm your sister Xiaoyu!"
"Hello, my name is He Min, you can call me Min Min. I'm six years old and I'm in Yali..."
"That's all right."
Zhou Xi covered He Min's mouth. She knew He Min was so cute. She introduced herself to everyone she met, especially since she was a first-year student. She had to make a special announcement. She was worthy of having grown up eating in the offices of various teachers. Her professional skills were very strong.
"I told them you can proceed with the next procedure."
"Okay." He Min grinned, held the phone in both hands, and started chatting with the five brothers and sisters on the screen.
"Who just said I was fat? Minmin, I'm not fat. Look, I'm so cute..."
"Him! Xiao Minmin, let me tell you, this brother is the worst. Don't believe what he says..."
"Hahaha……"
He Min was so engrossed in the conversation that she completely forgot about everything else and almost lay down on Zhou Xi's legs. Zhou Xi moved her a little so that she could lie more comfortably.
He touched something and took a closer look. Oh, it was the little crocodile from Baobao Beibei just now. Now it was almost crushed to death by He Min. Its face had turned into a big pancake and it was no longer as majestic as before. Even its big eyes seemed to say that it would die with its eyes open.
"This sister's face is so round!" He Min suddenly shouted.
Gao Yuanyuan: “…”
Thank you, my face is quite round.
Gao Yuanyuan was originally observing human cubs, but after being cueed like this, she instantly felt that they were not cute anymore.
"But this sister is the cutest, just like Minmin."
Gao Yuanyuan smiled and said, "Haha, you're cute."
Okay, it's still kind of cute.
Zhou Xi pulled out the little crocodile and stuffed it into He Min's mouth. He Min didn't even look at it and stuffed it into her stomach.
"This brother is so handsome!"
"You have good taste, Xiao Minmin, let me tell you, this brother Chen Yu is the one from our school!" Xiao Xiaoyu gave a thumbs up.
"Don't flatter me." Chen Yu finally said a word, and the next second, his screen was still again.
Xiao Xiaoyu: "Fish Immortal!"
Lu Zisheng: "Fish Immortal!"
"Okay, it's over now." Lu Zisheng failed to call and secretly cursed Chen Yu, his little brother, for always failing to break the net at the critical moment.
There's even a traffic limit. How come he didn't know that Chen Yu, who loves studying so much, also loves playing with his phone? He even limited the traffic of his phone. Something's wrong, something's wrong, there's definitely something fishy going on.
“Ding Dong!”
Zhou Xi bent down, unplugged the bedside charger, and grabbed his phone.
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