After the bell rang for the fourth period, the classroom was already buzzing with excitement before the chemistry teacher even finished class. Mr. Zhou, the chemistry teacher, was a kind-looking middle-aged man with a rather comical-looking belly from his fondness for drinking. He had a good personality and didn't seem angry even at the sight; he simply chuckled and left with his textbook.
"Su Xun, want to go eat?" Pu Xiaochuan turned around and winked at Su Xun.
Su Xun thought for a moment and realized that it had indeed been a long time since he had gone to the cafeteria with the others, so he nodded.
"Okay, why aren't you going to the art studio today?" she asked Pu Xiaochuan while tidying up her textbooks.
"The studio air conditioning is only turned on at night when everyone is together, and I don't want to go there and freeze," he complained somewhat resentfully. Actually, he had been having some doubts lately, and his teacher told him to think about them more and put his initial sketching on hold for now.
Su Xun quickly stuffed the books into his desk, walked to the aisle, and said, "Let's go."
Since deciding to pursue art last semester, Pu Xiaochuan has been frequently visiting the art studio. His school also has a number of art students, established to improve college entrance rates. At that time, his son could get extra points on exams for his special talents, so students whose grades were average could learn these skills. In general, it included art, sports, dance, and musical instruments.
Since he was still only in junior high school, he would only learn special skills from his teachers during evening self-study time. Because Pu Xiaochuan decided to pursue the path of an art student quite late, he had fallen behind in many areas. He often squeezed in time to go to the art studio right after class at noon, and then went to the cafeteria when there were fewer people to save time.
The cafeteria was as crowded as ever, and the specialty dish windows were packed to the brim. Fortunately, Su Xun and Pu Xiaochuan weren't particularly interested in the dishes from those windows, so they only ordered a few common dishes. While everyone was still queuing, they found two seats facing each other against the glass wall.
"I thought you wouldn't come when I invited you to dinner," Pu Xiaochuan said unintentionally.
"Why do you say that?" Su Xun asked, puzzled.
"I heard it during break today, 'Your Pei Ke'~" Pu Xiaochuan winked. Pu Xiaochuan had lost a lot of weight, and his features were more defined. He was actually a handsome and sunny young man, but his eyes just made you want to punch him.
“His family sent it to him, so he wasn’t with me. Also, don’t look at me like that, as if I’ve kidnapped a young virgin.”
"You're absolutely right. You've just snatched away the most difficult guy in our grade to pursue. You're incredibly lucky." He put away his previous expression, but his tone remained teasing.
"Okay, okay, let's not talk about this anymore." She felt a little uncomfortable talking about this and tried to change the subject.
"Xiao Chuan, do you know what Tang Shi has been doing lately? I'll tell you something you'll never believe." Su Xun had been visiting Tang Shi frequently lately, and every time she went, she would see Tang Shi reading a book at her seat. When she tried to chat with her on weekends, Tang Shi would always refuse, citing studying as an excuse, which really surprised Su Xun.
The one who loved to play the most actually got it and started studying hard, even telling others not to bother her. Isn't that quite unusual?
Su Xun couldn't wait to share this with Pu Xiaochuan, "She studies more than anyone else every day now, and she's lost weight. It breaks my heart to see her like this."
"She really is..." The person on the other end of the line looked stunned and then fell silent.
Su Xun thought Pu Xiaochuan also found it unbelievable, and was so surprised that he didn't know what to say. "Of course it's true. She has finally figured it out and wants to get into a good high school."
The other end of the line suddenly fell silent, which Su Xun found a little unusual. "What's wrong with you?" Why are you not talking? And why do you look so preoccupied?
"It's nothing, I was just too surprised. Let's eat." He shoveled a mouthful of food into his mouth and then fell silent.
Su Xun glanced suspiciously at Pu Xiaochuan's unusual behavior, but only for a moment before returning to normal and continuing to eat. However, he didn't continue the previous topic and asked him about his painting studies. The lunch ended in an awkward atmosphere.
Su Xun vaguely guessed that Pu Xiaochuan's unusual behavior was related to Tang poetry, though he wasn't entirely sure. The three of them hadn't been together for a long time. Increased coursework and graduation meant they didn't have time, but it didn't mean they'd never be able to get together again.
In a gathering of three, either Pu Xiaochuan or Tang Shi is always missing. She really doesn't believe there's no problem between the two of them.
Recalling several instances of conversations she had with the two people, she had actually guessed the reason somewhat. Sometimes, when she mentioned Pu Xiaochuan to Tang Shi, Tang Shi would suddenly fall silent, just like the silence she had just experienced when she mentioned Tang Shi.
Moreover, Tang Shi's sudden change of attitude this semester is also very strange.
Su Xun knew that this time, what happened between them was definitely not just a minor squabble like the one in the first year of junior high school; judging from their attitudes, it seemed somewhat like...
She didn't think about it anymore. Since Pu Xiaochuan and Tang Shi didn't want her to know what had happened between them, she would pretend she knew nothing. She wasn't a very curious person, and as long as they didn't say anything, she wouldn't bring it up herself.
This is a secret between Pu Xiaochuan and Tang Shi, and also a secret that belongs only to her.
One day, they will take the initiative to explain it to themselves.
Returning to the classroom through the wind that could crack a person's face, Su Xun wondered for a moment if his face was actually being scratched.
She doesn't like using face cream, and even in winter she goes around with her face completely unprotected. That's why she's now wondering if her skin is cracked.
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