The howling wind was like a ferocious beast, devouring the courage deep within Ying Qian's heart, bite by bite.
She had many dreams, and when she woke up, her dried tear stains were covered with another layer of tears.
I slept very soundly in the second half of the night.
She dreamt that two hands were holding her, and a blurry face and a familiar voice tirelessly repeated, "I will always be with you."
When Ying Qian opened her eyes, there was still a smell of tobacco mixed with cologne around her, and she immediately guessed that Meng Beiyan must have come back.
It was still dark.
She opened the wardrobe, which was originally empty, and found it now full of things, neatly arranged by color.
She doesn't have any difficulty making choices. Without even thinking, she picked out a dark green thick sweatshirt to wear over her thermal underwear, and then grabbed a pair of versatile wide-leg pants.
Following Meng Beiyan's suggestion, she made dumplings for breakfast.
A key was hanging on the hook by the door. She took it without saying a word, put it in her pocket, picked up the new umbrella that was placed on the shoe cabinet, and walked out of the house.
She has a bad sense of direction, but she's not stupid.
I made the round trip yesterday, and I was able to walk to school based on my memory.
The breakfast shops next to the school were packed with people.
Umbrellas were scattered haphazardly around the entrance.
She hurried past the noisy area and ran into the school.
It was still early, and senior high school students entered the campus in twos and threes.
"Little classmate, we meet again." Chen Chang held up her umbrella, her gentleness unchanged.
Ying Qian paused for a moment, then mechanically tugged at the corner of her lips.
Her reaction really startled Shen Chang, who immediately assured her, "Little classmate, if anyone bullies you, just tell me anytime, and I'll do everything I can to help you."
"No," she shook her head. "I just didn't sleep well last night."
A hint of worry still lingered on Chen Chang's face, and a strange look flashed in his eyes. "There won't be any running exercises during the long break today, so you can take a nap."
Ying Qian nodded and returned to her class dejectedly.
He stared at her retreating figure with a heavy heart and sighed helplessly.
Water stains were brought to the classroom floor, making the floor dirty.
Ying Qian thought she had arrived early, but the lights in the classroom seemed to have been on for a long time.
Chen Wenzhi heard the voice but wasn't planning to look up.
A sudden warmth wafted over the empty seat next to me.
He lifted his eyelids, his gaze shifting from the book to the dark circles under Ying Qian's eyes.
Are you afraid of thunder and lightning?
It took Ying Qian a while to realize that she was being asked a question, and she replied blankly, "Scared."
"Lie down for a while, it'll probably be another twenty minutes before someone comes," Chen Wenzhi said in a nonchalant tone.
Ying Qian didn't speak, but bent her arms and buried her head in them.
Her skin was fair, and Chen Wenzhi could see any changes in her face clearly. He had never seen her look so listless before.
During the twenty minutes she slept, Chen Wenzhi had no interest in reading and skimmed through the book.
I focused all my attention on watching her sleep.
She rested her cheek against her forearm, her moist lips slightly pouting from the pressure. Her long, thick eyelashes, like phoenix tails, lay there peacefully. A fine layer of sweat appeared on her pert nose; she seemed to be having a dream.
Chen Wenzhi pursed his dry lips, his Adam's apple bobbing a few times. He zipped up his black windbreaker and woke Ying Qian up when most of the people had arrived.
She looked like a fluffy kitten with sleepy eyes.
Ren Yi yawned and turned to Chen Wenzhi, asking, "The exam results came out today, right?"
"I don't know," he replied.
"Has Wei Ji been asking you to check the answers lately?" Ren Yi rubbed his eyes and mocked, "That kid Wei Ji said he really liked the biology teacher, but after checking the answers, he only got a 60 on the biology test."
Chen Wenzhi scoffed, "You passed."
“That’s true.” Ren Yi laughed heartily.
"Ying Qian, did you take the joint entrance exam this time? It's quite important." Ren Yi turned the conversation to the girl who was lost in thought.
Ying Qian's body trembled slightly.
Chen Wenzhi answered for her: "Of course I took the test."
"I wonder how the young lady's grades are going?" he said, seemingly implying something.
The boys in Class 3 were talking about the new female student everywhere, and the rumors among the boys in the back building had already spread throughout the dormitory last night.
Most of the rumors said that Ying Qian got in through connections, some said they found out her parents didn't want her, and some even joked about her innocence. Laughter echoed throughout the dormitory.
When Wu Ran was checking the dorms, he overheard them insulting their classmates like that, and immediately issued a large group announcement.
They're probably going to get a severe scolding during the day.
Ying Qian was distracted during the day's classes, and most of the teachers just assumed she was not quite used to it and didn't ask too many questions.
Chen Wenzhi's expression didn't lie; he was worried.
When their arms hang naturally, they almost touch each other.
"Chen Wenzhi, why would a mother abandon her own child?"
Chen Wenzhi remained silent, pursing his lips, unable to answer, his only curiosity being what she had gone through.
Ying Qian smiled foolishly, her eyes indifferent and her expression numb: "I feel like I'm the one who got abandoned."
Chen Wenzhi's heartbeat seemed to stop for a moment, then it started beating like a drum again.
He lowered his eyelashes and said slowly, "You don't need to be afraid at school. At least I won't let you be bullied."
This is a promise.
Ying Qian didn't take it to heart and forced a smile.
After lunch break, Wang Mengyao held a stack of slips of paper in her hand. Everyone knew that these were the results of the joint exam, and they were all so nervous that their teeth were chattering.
Ying Qian and Chen Wenzhi are exceptions.
They showed absolutely no interest in the slip of paper in Wang Mengyao's hand that indicated her grades.
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