☆、55、At the Time of Parting (2182 words)
Having missed classes for a while, Li Yaxi wouldn't even know where the classroom was if it weren't for Yu Le.
The sun was shining brightly, and the warm breeze seemed to carry a lingering fragrance of wildflowers.
The old professor's Mandarin, tinged with a local accent, echoed in the large classroom. The classroom, not too crowded, was sparsely populated with youthful faces.
Li Yaxi chewed on her pen, gazing out the window, her thoughts drifting far away. Perhaps it was the temperature, perhaps the sound of the wind, perhaps the season; this moment evoked a feeling of being in love.
Li Yaxi suddenly missed Feng Zihao terribly. She took out her phone, placed it on the book, and smiled.
What are you doing? What are you having for lunch?
After a few dozen seconds, the phone on the book vibrated.
How about Thai King Porridge Restaurant? Or you could go for pasta!
She pouted as she looked at her phone.
I want to eat at Kim Han Palace. Let's invite them along, it'll be so lively!
The reply came just five seconds after I sent it: "No!"
Li Yaxi frowned in annoyance, and just as she was about to reply, another message arrived.
I'll cook lunch for you when I get home!
Her brows relaxed, and she bit her lip, a smile playing on her lips.
Yu Le leaned closer to Li Yaxi and asked, "What are you doing? Who are you thinking about with that lovey-dovey smile on your face?"
Li Yaxi locked the screen, her smile fading as she turned to look at him. "What's up?"
Yu Le pouted unhappily, "Your face changes faster than flipping through a book! Insider information, do you want to hear it or not?"
Li Yaxi twirled her pen, looking at the blackboard, and said, "Say it or don't."
Yu Le scoffed, "The list of participants for the debate competition has been released, and you're on it! This time, you're going to compete in the main venue in France!"
Li Yaxi suddenly turned around and looked at Yu Le.
"How did you know about this? Did the professor tell you? Are you going to France? But I didn't sign up for any debate competition!"
Yu Lejian saw that Li Yaxi was not surprised as expected, but rather frightened.
"What's wrong with you! This is an opportunity that so many people would kill for! Going abroad! And the people are all chosen by the professors, and the debate competition wasn't even held publicly. Ya-Xi, why aren't you happy at all? Don't worry about the rankings, just treat it as a trip!"
Li Yaxi propped his head up with a bit of a slump; he wished he could go with Feng Zihao instead.
As soon as get out of class ended, the department head came to the class and called on a few people to announce the competition in France. Li Yaxi only recognized Han Jiahao among them, and he would rather not have known him at all!
After submitting her ID card, Li Yaxi skipped a class to go find Feng Zihao and processed her passport.
Their class was still in session when Li Yaxi sneaked in through the back door and almost startled Feng Zihao when she sat down next to him.
"Ya-Xi, what brings you here! Isn't this your grammar class?"
Li Yaxi slumped onto the table, feeling dejected. "The department head just spoke to me. He said I'm going to France for a debate competition, and I'll leave once my passport is ready."
Feng Zihao frowned. "How come I didn't hear anything about this beforehand? Well... once the time is confirmed, I'll take leave and go with you!"
Li Yaxi leaned her head on her arm and looked at Feng Zihao. "Forget it, you're not familiar with France, and with so much work at the company every day, how can you possibly leave? It's not like I'm alone; five classmates from school are with me, six people in total. Don't worry, I study French, so you don't need to worry about the language. You won't get lost with the teachers from school! Just think of it as a trip. France, the fashion capital! Can Asian cards be used in Europe? Do I need to get a new card?"
"I'll leave the money in the Swiss bank as untouched as possible. Anyway, I don't have class this afternoon, so I'll go to the bank and ask. Zihao, while I'm gone, you'll be relying on Little Tail for everything, so please don't bully it!"
Feng Zihao gently pinched his cheek. "Aren't you worried about me being bullied by your little tail! You heartless little thing, all you remember is your little tail!"
Li Yaxi smiled and pulled away from Feng Zihao's clutches. "Who says I'm heartless? I'll bring you a gift!"
Feng Zihao rubbed his head, which was slumped over the table. "I don't want any gifts, just that you go well and come back safely!"
"Got it! I promise we'll bring back every single part!"
After saying that, he turned his head and took out his phone to play Tetris.
The passport was processed quickly. Under Feng Zihao's constant nagging and warnings, Li Yaxi finally realized that she would be separated from Feng Zihao for at least half a month.
He started thinking about Feng Zihao even before he boarded the plane.
While dragging his suitcase, Feng Zihao was thinking about whether he had forgotten anything, and he kept telling Li Yaxi what to pay attention to.
Before boarding the plane, Feng Zihao had specifically asked the professor traveling with him to take good care of Li Yaxi. The thought of his beloved daughter going to such a faraway place alone made Feng Zihao wish he could just buy a plane ticket and go with her.
Seeing that it was time to go through customs, he handed the luggage to Li Yaxi.
"Call me when you get to France. Don't wander off alone, and don't eat anything while I'm not around to supervise you! I keep all my medications in a small bag, so don't leave them lying around and then lose them when you need them! Be careful when you're alone, and don't be careless in anything you do! Call me immediately if anything happens!"
Li Yaxi hugged Feng Zihao, her voice slightly nasal, "I know, I'll be fine. I'll come back after the competition. You take good care of yourself and wait for me at home!"
Feng Zihao took a deep breath. "Alright, go ahead, they're all waiting."
Li Yaxi nodded and followed the professors, turning back every few steps, until she could no longer see Feng Zihao before she stopped looking back.
After putting away her luggage, Li Yaxi stared blankly out the window.
Han Jiahao happened to be sitting next to Li Yaxi. "You and Zihao have such a good relationship. Anyone who didn't know better would think he was your brother!"
Li Yaxi initially didn't want to talk to him, but since they were going to be together for four years anyway, making things too awkward wouldn't do her any good.
"We've been together since high school, so we're naturally very close. I'm tired, I'll take a nap first. Don't wake me up for dinner later."
After saying that, he leaned against the side, closed his eyes, and went to sleep.
Han Jiahao stared at Li Yaxi's profile for a long time. Such a beautiful person, even a normal person would be tempted. No wonder his cousin was so interested in her.
Li Yaxi only truly relaxed after Han Jiahao's gaze shifted away from her.
Looking at the clouds outside the window, and thinking that someone was waiting for her to come back somewhere, Li Yaxi felt so happy and warm.
Perhaps it is precisely because of the deep hurt and pain experienced in the past that the happiness gained again is all the more precious.
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