35
"Xiao Jian, I'm going back too." After watching Wang Ting get into the car, Li Muqing turned her head and smiled at Xiao Jian.
"Why...why are you in such a hurry to leave? Tomorrow is Sunday, you don't need to go back today. Wouldn't it be better if we went back together tomorrow?" Xiao Jian said hurriedly.
"Idiot, our major has its final exam first thing tomorrow morning. Do you want me to fail?"
"Huh? But you... didn't you say you were free this weekend...?" Xiao Jian looked at Li Muqing, not quite understanding. His perfectly good plan had now fallen through.
“You’re really stupid…” Li Muqing glared at Xiao Jian. It was so obvious that no one else in the world could miss it except Xiao Jian.
"But you clearly..."
"Alright, alright, I guess I broke my promise. I can make it up to you next time. Hurry up and take me to the station, or I'll be in big trouble!" Li Muqing was too lazy to explain anything. She handed her backpack to Xiao Jian and hurriedly ran towards the station. Xiao Jian was stunned for a second, then followed her.
Before getting on the bus, Li Muqing turned to look at Xiao Jian and said, "I'm getting on the bus now."
"Yes!" Xiao Jian nodded vigorously.
"Damn it..." Li Muqing thought to herself.
"That's all?" Li Muqing asked.
"Nothing else?" Xiao Jian asked in return.
"You're just letting me go like this? No sign of anything else?" Li Muqing bluntly stated his opinion, knowing that Xiao Jian wasn't exactly a genius.
"Oh! I wish you success in your exam tomorrow!" Xiao Jian suddenly realized.
Li Muqing took a deep breath, lifted her foot, and said, "Thank you, bye-bye!"
"Ouch...you hit me so hard again...it hurts..." Xiao Jian squatted down and rubbed his foot, grimacing as he watched Li Muqing leave. That was really hard!
Sitting on the train, Li Muqing watched Xiao Jian's pained expression, but his heart was sweeter than any candy. This, he thought, must be what love is all about. Looking out the window, Li Muqing traced irregular circles on the glass with his hand. He thought, maybe he was still young and didn't understand love, maybe he and Xiao Jian would face many difficulties in the future, but he had truly fallen hopelessly in love with Xiao Jian. He loved Xiao Jian's honesty, his sincerity, his steadiness, his composure, his simplicity, even his occasional awkwardness and lack of romantic understanding—all of these were so endearing in Li Muqing's eyes and heart, so irrevocably captivating. Li Muqing felt himself becoming strange. He had never held anyone in his heart so deeply, so completely. He had always thought he was selfish enough not to love, but now it seemed he was completely wrong. Li Muqing had no time to worry about how tomorrow's exam would go. His mind was filled with Xiao Jian's words from last night, his words just now, and the silly expression on Xiao Jian's face when he was stepped on and cried out in pain before leaving. Suddenly, a ridiculous thought popped into his head: if all the exam questions tomorrow were related to Xiao Jian, he would definitely get the highest score in the grade—no, the highest score in the whole school.
After returning home, Xiao Jian talked with his mother for a long time. He told her that he didn't like Wang Ting, even though Wang Ting was excellent in every way. He hoped that his mother wouldn't put too much pressure on him about this. He wanted to focus on his studies and didn't want to think about finding a partner and getting married so early. Xiao Jian's mother was easy to talk to and didn't say anything. However, when she mentioned Aunt Zhang, Xiao Jian couldn't help but feel a little guilty.
That night, Xiao Jian lay alone in his bed. He suddenly felt something was missing. He knew he was thinking of Li Muqing. It was a little crowded, but incredibly warm. Even though he couldn't see her, she was right there in his arms, held tightly in his embrace. That sweet, secure feeling, that blissful contentment, was something Xiao Jian could never forget. He began to fantasize about spending every day like this with Li Muqing. But then he thought of his mother and Aunt Zhang, and the silly, happy smile on Xiao Jian's face suddenly stiffened. Maybe they would have a hard time in the future, Xiao Jian thought before falling asleep. No matter what happened in the future, he wouldn't let Li Muqing get hurt, wouldn't let her suffer. He knew Li Muqing was a rich kid and might not be able to adapt to any hardship. So Xiao Jian made up his mind that he would find a high-paying job in the future. He wanted to make Li Muqing happy every day, because Li Muqing's smile was Xiao Jian's greatest motivation and satisfaction.
The next day, Xiao Jian felt he couldn't wait to see Li Muqing, so after lunch, he went next door to tell Aunt Zhang about his recent studies, then took his simple luggage and got on the bus.
After getting off the bus, Xiao Jian immediately ran back to his dormitory, threw his luggage on the bed, and rushed out to Li Muqing's single dormitory.
"Xiao Jian?"
Xiao Jian stopped and turned around: "Brother Shen Hai?"
Shen Hai, dressed casually in a beige shirt, walked over and asked, "Why are you running so fast?"
"I...I need to find..." Xiao Jian paused, then suddenly changed the subject: "Brother Shen Hai, I've run into you several times at school. Did you come here to find me?"
Shen Hai smiled and said, "No, I'm here to process my paperwork for going abroad. The school needs some certificates, so I've come several times."
"Going abroad? To school?"
"Looks like you don't know, I also graduated from this university? Hehe, since we've run into each other, let's go, I'll treat you to a meal."
"But……"
"Stop with the 'buts'! I'm leaving already, and I don't even know if I'll come back. You won't even give me this much face? Let's go!"
After saying that, Shen Hai didn't wait for Xiao Jian to say anything and pulled Xiao Jian into the car.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Xiao Jian only hoped that Shen Hai would take him out for a meal so that he could see Li Muqing sooner. Unintentionally, Xiao Jian noticed a book next to him.
"The Book of Virtues?" Xiao Jian asked curiously.
“Yes, your brother Wang Ning used to really like this book. He said that people nowadays are gradually forgetting the virtues in their hearts because of all kinds of pressure, so he gave the book to me and told me to read it no matter how busy I am.” Shen Hai said while driving.
"May I take a look?" Xiao Jian asked.
“Of course,” Shen Hai said with a smile.
Xiao Jian opened the book, and on the first page was a photo of Shen Hai and Wang Ning, with the lake next to their school gate in the background.
Xiao Jian suddenly realized that Shen Hai and Wang Ning were probably lovers, just like his relationship with Li Muqing.
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