Shura, weren't you waiting for me?
The story of Zhou Lin being afraid of cockroaches and jumping onto his deskmate's chair was actually witnessed by very few people, but it spread like wildfire and became quite detailed.
The discussion on the campus forum was even more heated than the news of his admission to Q University.
Some people believe everything they hear: "I never expected that the top student would be so timid. His classmates said that he was so scared that he turned pale and looked like a ghost who had never seen the sun in three lifetimes."
Some people still didn't believe it: "Impossible! Last year during our study tour, I went hiking with him. There were so many bugs on the mountain, and I didn't see him being afraid at all."
Someone answered the question: "Are cockroaches and insects in the same quantity (e.g., 'trillions')? And it's said that his deskmate, Lin Shih-jen, stepped on the cockroach. I know Lin Shih-jen; I remember him as being rather frail. Are you sure it was her who stepped on the cockroach and killed it?"
Someone else sifted through the overwhelming information to grasp the key point: "Am I the only one wondering why there are cockroaches in the classroom? I heard that when you can see one cockroach with the naked eye, there are at least a hundred more hidden behind it!!!"
The gossip-loving comment straightened out: "Hey classmate, is this the important point? The important point is that Zhou Lin is actually afraid of cockroaches, and his deskmate even came to his rescue."
Someone concluded by saying, "Friendly reminder: This kind of thing is fine if you're cool, but don't try it if you're ugly."
In the passenger seat, Song Ci interrupted his live updates on the forum comments because Zhou Lin had taken his phone. His eyelids drooped lazily, and he seemed to be in a bad mood, but that didn't stop Song Ci from mocking him: "Little Zhou Zhou, didn't you say you had no weaknesses? Today you're a complete pushover, hahaha!"
Tang Shi was driving while laughing so hard she was shaking. She had a strong urge to see people make fools of themselves, especially Zhou Lin, who remained unfazed even when Mount Tai collapsed in front of him. It was too difficult to see him make a fool of himself, so after receiving Song Ci's message during evening self-study, she drove over as fast as she could.
"Where's Lin Shiren? Didn't you take her with you when you left?"
She peered into the rearview mirror to check on Zhou Lin's movements, her face revealing an undisguised mischievous expression: "I also want to interview the brave and fearless heroine."
The first thing the heroine did after arriving home was to throw her shoes into the trash can. Xin Xiaomei, who was in the living room, heard the noise and glanced at her, asking, "Why don't you want your shoes anymore?"
Lin Shiren went to the bathroom to wash his hands, picked up an apple from the table and took a bite: "I stepped in something dirty."
She used to love wearing those white sneakers that she threw away, but they were a hassle to clean, and Xin Xiaomei always said she liked to make things difficult for herself. But some troubles just come knocking on your door, even if you don't ask for them. The ginkgo nuts were kind of like her delivering them to her door, but the big cockroach was a real unexpected disaster.
The image of Zhou Lin jumping onto her chair involuntarily flashed through her mind. He stood straight, his head almost touching the ceiling, his expression as solemn as if aliens had invaded Earth.
Thinking of this, Lin Shiren smiled and realized that he wasn't omnipotent after all.
Xin Xiaomei turned off the TV and asked, puzzled, "What kind of dirty thing could make you throw away your shoes?"
"cockroach."
"What?"
Xin Xiaomei jumped up from the sofa, angrily rushing to the trash can and pulling out the trash bag along with it: "How many times have I told you, don't step on cockroaches, don't step on them! Their bellies are full of egg cases, which will hatch into countless baby cockroaches! And you still dare to put your shoes back on?"
Lin Shiren didn't say a word no matter how much she read aloud. He hadn't done it on purpose; how could a person control their instinctive reactions?
Xin Xiaomei went downstairs to throw out the trash when her phone received a message. She glanced at the screen, and her eating of the apple slowed down.
Shen Xuqing: "I found some lab reports; I'll bring them to school tomorrow."
Shen Xuqing: "I'll treat you to lunch tomorrow."
The following sentence carried a hint of gratitude, which she sensed. However, since she could help him and spend time alone with him, she didn't want to delve any deeper. So, she lightly typed a few words.
"Okay (*▽*)"
To Lin Shiren's surprise, during the break the next day, Zhou Lin gave her a new pair of shoes.
Previously, the only interactions between the two of them were that he treated her to hot pot and she brought him breakfast. Moreover, in Lin Shiren's mind, giving shoes was a very intimate act. She stared at the logo on the shoe box, her surprise written all over her face.
Zhou Lin spoke very naturally: "Tang Shi chose these shoes. Do you think they fit? If you don't like the style or color, you can exchange them at the mall."
Is this the question now?
Lin Shiren couldn't understand why this person always had this strange aura of taking everything for granted. She slowly blinked and asked, "Why did you give me shoes?"
Zhou Lin avoided the topic of cockroaches. Apart from the awkwardness of their first meeting today, he had already reverted to his aloof persona: "Here's the compensation for you. You can't wear those shoes from yesterday anymore, right?"
It's no longer wearable, but...
Lin Shiren recognized the brand of white sneakers; a pair of them could easily cost several thousand dollars. She frowned and said, "No need to pay for them. I've been wearing those shoes for a long time, and I accidentally stepped on a ginkgo fruit yesterday, so I was planning to throw them away anyway."
In other words, although the shoes have reached the end of their lifespan, he really doesn't need to take responsibility for them.
Zhou Lin rested his arm on the desk, his sleeve rolled up to his forearm, revealing a section of his pale wrist bone: "We've already bought it, so we can't return it."
Lin Shiren stared at him with a troubled expression: "But..."
Dong Rui arrived at some point, and upon seeing the shoebox, blurted out, "Alexander McQueen?"
The classroom wasn't too noisy, but her movements attracted the attention of many people. Lin Shiren hurriedly stuffed the shoebox under his seat and whispered, "Keep your voice down."
Dong Rui's gaze lingered between the two of them, and she winked ambiguously: "Are you two having an affair?"
"No," Lin Shiren denied hastily.
Xu Yiqiao entered through the back door, keenly sensing the strange atmosphere in their area. He looked over with a probing gaze, at which point Dong Rui changed her mind: "You'll pay Renren for a pair of shoes?"
Zhou Lin had already focused his attention on the workbook, and replied half-heartedly, "Mm."
"I think it's reasonable to compensate with a new pair of shoes, but this brand is way too expensive..."
Lin Shiren winked at her, meaning she should say more if she could, but Dong Rui's attitude suddenly changed completely: "But the mental damage that Renren suffered cannot be measured in money, so a pair of Alexander McQueen shoes is nothing. Zhou Lin, I didn't expect you to have such good taste, knowing that this is the brand of white sneakers that girls like the most."
When she first arrived, she had a shocked "O"-shaped mouth expression, but after a brief period of self-suggestion, she had already begun to persuade Lin Shiren with a strong sense of worthyness.
Zhou Lin neither confirmed nor denied her statement. Then the class bell rang, and Dong Rui returned to her seat. Lin Shiren secretly glanced at Xu Yiqiao out of the corner of her eye; she looked over several times.
Suddenly, he remembered how many times he had taken the initiative to show goodwill to Zhou Lin on Weibo. The shoebox under the table suddenly felt like a red-hot iron, burning his feet at the slightest touch, and a sense of guilt suddenly welled up inside him.
Finally, school was over. The sound of students reciting their lessons drifted over from the classroom. Lin Shiren had just turned on her phone when she received a WeChat message from Shen Xuqing: "Teacher Chen asked me to go to the office. Wait for me at the convenience store near the school gate."
She didn't reply to the message and locked her phone. Just then, she saw Zhou Lin tilting his head and looking at her. His bangs were cut above his eyebrows, and he looked sharper than before. Lin Shiren felt guilty and swallowed hard: "What's wrong?"
His direct gaze fell on her face: "Don't forget your shoes?"
Her little scheme was exposed in a second, and she argued, "I'm going out to eat later, and it's inconvenient to carry my shoes."
It's kind of her to remember to treat him to a big meal. Zhou Lin's thin lips curved into a faint smile: "It's okay, I'll get it for you."
Sure enough, the oblivious boy had no idea what avoiding suspicion meant. Lin Shiren quickly put on his backpack and stood up, saying, "No need, I can carry it myself."
Because she was eager to sever ties with him, she left the classroom without looking back.
After a mechanical electronic voice says "Welcome," the convenience store's automatic door slowly closes behind you.
A group of girls were choosing bread in front of the shelves, while the clerk was packing oden for someone. After paying for her yogurt, Lin Shiren sat on a wooden chair in the rest area and replied to Shen Xuqing's WeChat message: "I've arrived at the convenience store."
Shen Xuqing: "He's leaving. Wait for me for three minutes."
It was the peak time for students leaving school, and there were many students coming and going. At that time, he was staring at the pedestrians through the glass window when someone suddenly tapped his shoulder lightly. Lin Shiren turned around.
Zhou Lin bent down and helped her pick up the shoebox from the ground, his clear black and white eyes looking at her: "Have you decided what to eat?"
She didn't react immediately: "Huh?"
He raised an eyebrow, amused: "Weren't you going to treat me to dinner?"
Invite him to dinner? Oh no!
She completely forgot about it.
Lin Shiren held his breath slightly, paused for two seconds, and said, "I have something to do today, can we reschedule?"
What's there to not understand?
Zhou Lin straightened up, put the shoebox back in the distance, and a faint self-mockery appeared on his sharply defined, deep face: "You weren't waiting for me."
The ending note is downward, indicating an affirmative sentence, carrying the displeasure of being slighted.
He probably felt he had stood him up on purpose, and Lin Shiren was filled with remorse, his voice trembling with apology: "I'm sorry, I really had something to do today, I'll definitely treat you next week..."
Zhou Lin interrupted her, saying, "You don't have to force yourself."
A quiet and subtle atmosphere settled in. The automatic doors of the convenience store opened and closed again, and distinct footsteps approached them.
Shen Xuqing's voice rang out: "Lin Shiren?"
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Author's note: 50 red envelopes~
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