"It's not a difficult thing to do!" Gu Qingqiu said sincerely, "It's just to thank you for teaching me calligraphy after school these past few days!"
Ji Xingqiao said calmly, "No need."
"Yes, I will!" Gu Qingqiu could only tell the truth. "My mom said she wants to treat you to a meal. She went to buy groceries this morning. If you don't agree, and my mom cooks a whole table of food that goes to waste, she'll scold me! Maybe, maybe she'll even hit me!"
I'm sorry, Mom! To coax Ji Xingqiao home, I'll have to sacrifice your image a little! Gu Qingqiu silently apologized to her mother in her heart.
Ji Xingqiao looked at Gu Qingqiu's stiff smile and frowned, asking, "Where do you live?"
"Does this mean you've agreed?" Gu Qingqiu was overjoyed and quickly replied, "It's very close! It's only a ten-minute walk."
Ji Xingqiao then asked, "Who lives in your family?"
"It's just my mom and me at home, so don't be nervous." Gu Qingqiu said contradictorily, "My mom is very gentle and cooks very well. My classmates who used to come to my house all liked her very much."
Ji Xingqiao's brows furrowed more and more, as if he was weighing whether Gu Qingqiu's breakfast was worth it.
After a long pause, Ji Xingqiao slumped back onto the table. "I'm not going."
Although she was mentally prepared, Gu Qingqiu still felt a pang of sadness at being rejected to her face.
She didn't actually confiscate Ji Xingqiao's breakfast; she quietly stuffed it into his drawer, but in her heart, she was thinking about how to explain it to her mother when she got back.
What if Mom worries that I haven't actually made any good friends at the new school? Or what if Mom misunderstands and thinks I made up the excuse of having a classmate teach me to write to avoid making her worry?
Most importantly... if Mom prepares a lot of delicious food, how can she possibly finish it all by herself? That would be such a waste!
Gu Qingqiu was in a low mood all day. She didn't even chat with other classmates during breaks. Instead, like Ji Xingqiao, she buried her face in her arms and pretended to be taking a nap, but she didn't actually close her eyes at all.
Strangely, as soon as Gu Qingqiu lay down, she vaguely felt as if there were prying eyes on her, or rather... eyes projected from beside her?
How could it be Ji Xingqiao? Gu Qingqiu pouted, feeling a little wronged. Ji Xingqiao wouldn't even come home for dinner with her, so why would he look at her?
Gu Qingqiu didn't speak to Ji Xingqiao all day, and she didn't even ask Ji Xingqiao to teach her to write in the evening. As soon as the school bell rang, she started packing her schoolbag.
Ji Xingqiao raised his head at some point, his gaze fixed directly on Gu Qingqiu.
Gu Qingqiu pretended not to see it, packed her schoolbag, and prepared to leave.
Ji Xingqiao suddenly asked, "Is your mother a beta?"
Gu Qingqiu paused, then reluctantly mumbled a reply: "Um..."
Ji Xingqiao suddenly stood up, took out a thick-looking black mask from his pocket and put it on, then pulled up the hood of the hoodie he was wearing under his school uniform. With an arrogant look, he said coldly, "Let's go."
"So you've agreed?" Gu Qingqiu turned around in surprise.
"Hmm, hurry up, before I change my mind, you...!" Gu Qingqiu pulled Ji Xingqiao's hand out of his pocket and naturally took his hand, running downstairs like a young couple trying to avoid their teacher.
Heaven knows that Ji Xingqiao had never had such close contact with anyone else in his life. The heat from their hands touching spread throughout his body, making him very uncomfortable, but this feeling seemed... not unpleasant.
Perhaps because he was focused on holding hands with Gu Qingqiu, Ji Xingqiao didn't notice any strange smells along the way.
After running all the way, when Gu Qingqiu finally stopped, her forehead was covered in sweat and her cheeks were flushed. The exercise had produced a lot of dopamine, which made her feel happy and she showed a bright smile. She looked very youthful and energetic.
In contrast, Ji Xingqiao ran all the way wearing a mask without changing his expression or even blushing, as if he were just taking a leisurely stroll downstairs from the teaching building.
Gu Qingqiu panted for a while, thinking to herself that Alphas truly lived up to their name, possessing an innate physical advantage that she could only envy!
I took out my key and opened the door; the aroma of food was already wafting from inside.
Gu Qingqiu took a happy breath, "Mommy—we're back!"
"Coming, coming!" Zhang Xin'ai quickly stirred the ingredients in the pan, turned off the heat, washed her hands, and crawled out of the kitchen. She glanced at Ji Xingqiao standing at the door and couldn't help but shrink back. "Ah...you must be Nannan's new deskmate, right? Come in and sit down, Auntie will have two more dishes ready soon."
"Thank you, Auntie." Ji Xingqiao was surprisingly polite. He took off his mask and hat, nodded to Zhang Xin'ai, and put on the slippers Gu Qingqiu had given him. "I apologize for bothering you. I didn't prepare any gifts. There are only a few people at home, and I can't eat this much. It's enough for me. You don't need to bother me anymore."
"Okay, I'll go ladle out the soup from the pot. You sit for a while." Zhang Xin'ai turned and went into the kitchen. "Nannan, go cut fruit for the guests."
Ji Xingqiao stopped Gu Qingqiu and whispered, "It's okay, I won't eat."
"Oh..." Gu Qingqiu suddenly didn't know what to do and felt a little embarrassed. She could only pull Ji Xingqiao to sit on the sofa, turn on the TV, and then sit up straight and stare at the TV screen.
Ji Xingqiao crossed his hands on his knees, his relaxed posture making him seem more like the master of the house than Gu Qingqiu. Gu Qingqiu couldn't help but steal glances at Ji Xingqiao out of the corner of her eye, but didn't know what to say.
After a moment of silence, Ji Xingqiao spoke up first, "You like watching this?"
"...Huh?" Gu Qingqiu stared blankly at the TV screen, which was playing "In the Night Garden."
Gu Qingqiu:......
She quickly grabbed the remote control from the coffee table and shoved it into Ji Xingqiao's hand, saying, "You...you can change the channel yourself if you want to watch something!"
Ji Xingqiao gave a barely perceptible smile and casually switched the TV to a variety show.
However, the two had only been watching for a few minutes when Zhang Xin'ai called them to eat.
During the meal, Zhang Xin'ai was exceptionally enthusiastic, pulling Ji Xingqiao aside to ask him many questions, many of which concerned Ji Xingqiao's family situation.
Gu Qingqiu tried to stop him several times, but Ji Xingqiao's expression was normal, and he didn't seem offended at all. He chatted very well with Zhang Xin'ai and even made Zhang Xin'ai laugh several times. Only then did Gu Qingqiu slowly breathe a sigh of relief.
After dinner, Zhang Xin'ai reluctantly asked Gu Qingqiu to escort Ji Xingqiao downstairs.
The two walked side by side down the somewhat dark stairwell, and Gu Qingqiu whispered, "Thank you."
Ji Xingqiao was somewhat surprised, "What are you thanking me for?"
"Thank you for gracing my home."
Ji Xingqiao actually laughed, "You treated me to dinner and you're thanking me? How can you be so cute?"
The dim streetlights gently illuminated Ji Xingqiao's face, making his smile appear even more tender.
Gu Qingqiu was stunned—it was the first time she had ever seen Ji Xingqiao smile like that!
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