Chapter 14 If you don't speak, I'll take it as a yes.
During his senior year of high school, Xu Qingmin was a popular figure on campus, mainly because his family was wealthy, he had good grades, and he was handsome, making many girls swoon. However, his aloof demeanor prevented any woman from talking to him. His social circle consisted only of studying and playing basketball with his friends; everything else was irrelevant to him.
Not only were the girls hesitant to talk to him, but Xu Qingmin, a boy, also barely paid any attention to them. Xu Qingmin only hung out with people from his circle of rich kids. Although they were in the same class and school, Xu Qingmin gave the impression that he was from a different social class.
Song Yilin paid little attention to the school's prominent figures. Her first impression of Xu Qingmin came from a time when they drew lots to change seats, and he sat behind her. His tall stature made Song Yilin feel very intimidated.
Although Xu Qingmin sat behind her and was tall, he was usually very quiet, and she gradually forgot about his presence. However, after the envelope incident, she always felt that there was a gaze watching her from behind, but Song Yilin didn't dare to turn around to see if Xu Qingmin was really looking at her.
The day after rehearsing "The Peacock Flies Southeast," Song Yilin went back to class, scratching her head as she faced math problems. Xu Qingmin nudged her in the back.
She turned to look at Xu Qingmin in confusion, this time checking to see if he had any love letters in his hand: "Xu Qingmin, what is it?"
Song Yilin felt that she was still immersed in the story of "The Peacock Flies Southeast," and her speech to Xu Qingmin unconsciously carried a classical tone. However, during their recent rehearsals, Song Yilin felt that she had become much closer to Xu Qingmin. At least he didn't seem as cold as he appeared on the surface. However, Xu Qingmin's perpetually disdainful expression remained.
Xu Qingmin took her worksheets directly and pointed to the math problem she had been staring at: "Don't you understand this problem?"
Song Yilin didn't understand what Xu Qingmin was going to do, and nodded blankly.
Xu Qingmin gestured to Song Yilin to give him the book. Song Yilin knew that Xu Qingmin disliked everyone, so she wiped the book with a wet wipe before handing it to him.
"Listen carefully, I will only say it once."
Xu Qingmin slowly explained the problem to her. Even Yi Tiantian thought she had a fever. When did Xu Qingmin ever waste his time explaining problems to others? In the past, some classmates would ask him questions, but he would either be playing ball or say he was busy. After a while, no one asked him for help anymore.
In his two years of high school, this was the first time Xu Qingmin had explained a problem to someone, and he did so voluntarily without being asked.
Everyone is speculating whether Xu Qingmin's iron tree has finally blossomed or if it's the power of love.
Song Yilin felt that it was probably because of the rehearsals for "The Peacock Flies Southeast" that Xu Qingmin was too immersed in the role and still thought of her as his wife.
Enveloped by Xu Qingmin's presence, Song Yilin's mind was completely focused on what he was saying; all she could hear was his magnetic voice.
Xu Qingmin could tell from her reaction that she hadn't listened.
Xu Qingmin frowned and said, "Wait for me after class, I'll explain it to you properly."
Song Yilin nodded obediently.
She couldn't remember why she was so obedient back then; she just felt that Xu Qingmin's words had a magical power, and she would listen to them unconsciously.
After class, the people who should have scattered didn't leave, seemingly wanting to see the gossip.
The class monitor's gaze, however, was quite intriguing; it was as if she had done something to wrong him.
Xu Qingmin seemed to sense the gossip in the minds of his classmates and said somewhat awkwardly to Song Yilin, "Um, let's go rehearse."
Instead of taking her to the dance studio for rehearsal, Xu Qingmin took her to the rooftop.
"Let's rehearse here from now on. You can ask me any questions you don't understand after the rehearsal is over."
Song Yilin really wanted to ask why, but then she thought that the top student taking the initiative to teach her was a great thing for her. What if Xu Qingmin didn't want to teach her anymore if she asked?
So he chose to keep quiet, come to rehearse at a fixed time every day, and ask Xu Qingmin questions he didn't understand.
Her grades soared, and gossip about their relationship spread like wildfire throughout the class.
Yi Tiantian pulled her aside and asked, "Hey, are you dating Xu Qingmin?"
"You think so too?"
"Otherwise what? Why would Xu Qingmin, who's so arrogant, tutor you? Your rehearsals for 'The Peacock Flies Southeast' are over, yet you two still go to the rooftop every day. What else could it be but dating?"
Their performance was excellent, but it was cut because it was the school anniversary celebration and required a more festive and grand program.
Xu Qingmin would also ask her to go up to the roof every day, and she got used to it over time and didn't feel there was anything wrong with it.
Only after Yi Tiantian reminded her did she realize that their relationship was indeed a bit ambiguous.
She wanted to know if Xu Qingmin was interested in her, but she didn't dare to ask directly. Just thinking about the possibility that Xu Qingmin might like her made her heart race uncontrollably.
That day, Song Yilin did not go to the rooftop as usual, and Xu Qingmin waited on the rooftop for a long time but Song Yilin did not come.
When I got back to the classroom, I saw Song Yilin studying alone.
Xu Qingmin waited for Song Yilin on the rooftop for two hours. Frustrated by the wait, Xu Qingmin spoke to Song Yilin with a hint of annoyance, "Why didn't you come up?"
Song Yilin didn't directly answer Xu Qingmin's question, but instead asked a question she had been thinking about all afternoon: "Why are you teaching me? Didn't you used to hate it when people wasted your time?"
"Why can't you see it when I teach you?"
Song Yilin feared she was just being presumptuous. An answer was already on the tip of her tongue, but she dared not say it aloud, nor could she express it. Just thinking about that possibility made her heart pound.
Song Yilin didn't dare to look Xu Qingmin in the eye and shook her head, saying, "I don't know."
Xu Qingmin forced Song Yilin to look at him, a smile playing on his lips: "Because I'm pursuing you."
It felt like a million fireworks were exploding in Song Yilin's head. She didn't know how to react, and sluggishly said, "I don't date in high school."
Her body moved in slow motion, like in a movie, as she slowly picked up her schoolbag and walked out of the classroom.
Lying in bed, Song Yilin was still in a state of shock.
Since puberty, boys around her have often confessed their feelings to her, but she has never been as nervous or reacted this way as she is now.
A moment later, Xu Qingmin sent a message on QQ: "Then I'll reserve your first boyfriend after you graduate high school."
Song Yilin was even more distraught; she didn't know how to answer.
A moment later, Xu Qingmin sent another message: "Your QQ mobile is online, which means you saw it. If you don't say anything, I'll take it as you agreeing."
Song Yilin simply turned off her old, broken flip phone.
He buried his head in the blanket.
The next day in class, the teacher called her to the office.
Teachers like students with good grades, while students with bad grades just give up. Her grades are neither good nor bad, placing her in the class that fears teachers the most.
The teacher's words left her mind blank.
"Song Yilin, Xu Qingmin, are you two dating?"
She quickly waved her hand: "Teacher, we really didn't."
Xu Qingmin also told the teacher, "Teacher, we are not dating. I just tutor her. You can see by comparing our grades. Both my grades and Song Yilin's grades are improving. We have always been very careful, so you don't need to worry about us dating too early."
Song Yilin secretly breathed a sigh of relief; she was really afraid that Xu Qingmin would talk nonsense.
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