26. What do you want from me?
The rain outside the ping-pong table was getting heavier and heavier, and all the rain seemed to be falling directly from the sky.
It was windy and rainy outside. Xu Wenqiang and Xiao Cheng were huddled under the ping-pong table, as if they were the only two left in the world.
Neither of them spoke for a moment.
Xu Wenqiang recalled the first time she and Xiao Cheng met at the farmers' market. He disliked her covered in mud and blood, even refusing to help her. He even took off her soiled clothes and threw them in the trash. Furthermore, he must have heard about her "smell" a long time ago, and probably "smelled" it, but he squatted with her under the ping-pong table to avoid the rain. She wondered what he must have felt like.
Thinking of this, Xu Wenqiang glanced at Xiao Cheng beside her. Xiao Cheng was no smaller than she was, with a tall stature and long legs. Huddled under the ping-pong table, he looked like a gentleman in distress. The term "gentleman" was a fitting description of Xiao Cheng. He had a clear face and a gentlemanly demeanor, but in reality, he was vicious and hard-hearted.
The more she thought about it, the more appropriate it seemed. Xu Wenqiang lowered her head and smiled.
Since Xiao Cheng squatted under the ping-pong table, he had been motionless, watching the wind and rain outside. Xu Wenqiang was too close to him, her arm almost touching him. If he moved even slightly, the two of them would bump into each other. But Xu Wenqiang was still restless. She would draw circles on the ground with a small stone, and her arm would occasionally touch him. She would tilt her head to look at him, then lower her head and smirk, which made him feel inexplicably irritated.
"Hey, Xiao Cheng, don't move!" Xu Wenqiang suddenly stared at him seriously.
"What's wrong?" Xiao Cheng froze.
"Don't move." Xu Wenqiang said, moving closer to him.
"What are you going to do?" Xiao Cheng looked at Xu Wenqiang warily.
"Don't move." Xu Wenqiang slowly stretched out her hand.
Xu Wenqiang's face was already close at hand, and Xiao Cheng tried to be patient and let her get closer. But when he smelled the rose fragrance on Xu Wenqiang's body, he couldn't hold back anymore and grabbed Xu Wenqiang's outstretched wrist.
"Ah, it flew away." Xu Wenqiang said with regret.
Xiao Cheng followed her gaze and saw a black butterfly flapping its golden wings. Regardless of the strong wind and heavy rain, it resolutely flew into the rain and flew away.
"It just landed on your shoulder. If you hadn't moved, I would have caught it." Xu Wenqiang gave Xiao Cheng a reproachful look.
"It's just a butterfly, why make such a fuss?" Xiao Cheng let go of Xu Wenqiang, quickly sorted out his chaotic and complicated emotions, and then said, "Besides, it's in your hands, so you might as well let it go."
"It flew into the rain and its wings got wet. How can it fly?" Xu Wenqiang was not convinced.
"There are layers of scales on the butterfly's wings, like tiles on a roof, which can prevent water from entering. That's why it is not afraid of this little rain." Xiao Cheng said slowly.
"Is that so?" Xu Wenqiang said reluctantly, "You really know a lot."
Xiao Cheng glanced at her and said, "Your tone of praise could be more sincere."
Xu Wenqiang picked up a small stone and threw it out: "We are not familiar with each other, so just listen."
Xiao Cheng said nothing more. The Xu Wenqiang before him, like the butterfly that flew into the rain, was also covered in scales. But would she still wear these scales in front of Su Xiaoshan? If she were to peel them off, would her skin be torn apart?
"This rain is really inexplicable." Xu Wenqiang made small talk. She felt uncomfortable staying with Xiao Cheng under the ping-pong table, especially since he kept looking at her with such a sinister look.
"Xiao Cheng——"
"Xu Wenqiang——"
The two looked at each other, then looked away.
"you say."
"you say."
After the two of them spoke in unison, Xiao Cheng didn't hesitate any longer and said directly, "Xu Wenqiang, things have been a bit turbulent in the class lately. You've heard about it, right?"
Xu Wenqiang laughed when she heard this: "I was originally going to ask why you came here to play this embarrassing table tennis, but it turns out you came here to get some information."
"My table tennis skills are nothing to be ashamed of. I was just careless." Xiao Cheng first defended himself, then said with a hint of regret, "Judging from your reaction, it seems like you already know everything. It seems someone was one step ahead of me."
"That's right, you're a step late." Xu Wenqiang said, "Don't worry, I still have connections in the class."
"It's just Su Xiaoshan." Xiao Cheng looked unconcerned. He glanced at Xu Wenqiang nonchalantly and asked, "So what did you say?"
"Nothing much to say," Xu Wenqiang picked up a small stone and played with it. "Just study hard. Knowledge changes your destiny."
"Haven't you discussed what to do?" Xiao Cheng asked.
Xu Wenqiang was stunned for a moment, then said, "He just reminded me to study hard, and then he was called to play football."
"Is that so?" Xiao Cheng lowered his head, hiding the smile in his eyes. Although he was a step late, it was better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early.
"In that case, I suggest you consider whether you still want to be the math class representative," Xiao Cheng said.
Xu Wenqiang sighed when she heard this, "I shouldn't have taken this job earlier."
"This job can't be considered as snatching. At most, it's something that Wang Rui and I forced upon you," said Xiao Cheng.
Xu Wenqiang shook her head: "If I don't want it, none of you can put it in my hands."
"Do you still want it now?" Xiao Cheng threw the question back.
Xu Wenqiang remained silent for a long time, watching the wind and rain. Then, she said, "If I say no now, it would be like I'm giving in immediately, and I'll have to swallow my anger and live in fear from now on. It's embarrassing, and I can't do it. Furthermore, I have to give an explanation to Wang Rui and Fu Dongqing. No matter how I come up with this explanation, Wang Rui will definitely be disappointed. Fu Dongqing would be happy to see it, but he'd definitely think I looked down on me for going back on my word. It's even more embarrassing, so I can't do it."
"To sum up," Xu Wenqiang took a deep breath, "I will have to occupy this position of class representative for a while longer."
After hearing what Xu Wenqiang said, Xiao Cheng looked at her and smiled.
Xu Wenqiang had long known that Xiao Cheng was good-looking, but her perception of him as "good-looking" had always been limited to the facial features she saw with her eyes, and she had never taken it to heart. Unexpectedly, in this storm, Xiao Cheng's understanding and comforting smile would reach the depths of her heart without hindrance.
"What are you laughing at?" Xu Wenqiang turned away.
"I guessed you would say that." Xiao Cheng was still laughing.
"Then why are you asking?" Looking at Xiao Cheng's smiling face, Xu Wenqiang's momentum unconsciously weakened.
"It's said that people's hearts are complicated. What if you just give in?"
"If we have to obey, we have to wait until this matter has died down. They are having a great time now, and I won't give in to their wishes."
"But what if they keep making trouble until the midterm exam?" Xiao Cheng asked again.
Dai Ze wanted to wait for the class committee reelection in a month, using that opportunity to get Xu Wenqiang to give up. But if Xu Wenqiang had to serve as class representative until the midterm exam in two months, Dai Ze probably wouldn't give up easily. After all, gossiping behind someone's back was just a matter of talking, not much effort.
If Xu Wenqiang didn't rank in the top 20 during the midterm exam, as agreed with Fu Dongqing, she would no longer be the class representative. But to Dai Ze and the others, who were unaware of the situation, this was still considered Xu Wenqiang admitting defeat.
In the end, Xu Wenqiang's heartfelt words of "I can't do it" became a joke.
Neither of them spoke anymore, just watching the rain silently.
After a while, Xiao Cheng said, "Actually, there is another way."
"What method?"
"Get into the top 20 in the midterm exam," Xiao Cheng said.
"As long as you get this ranking, the choice is yours. If you want to be the class representative, you can do it openly. If you don't want to be, you can also do it openly. School is a place where grades are everything. As long as your grades are good enough, no one will say anything and everything will be solved."
Xu Wenqiang took a deep breath and sighed, "Your idea is as good as nothing. I don't deserve to be in the top 20."
"I can help you." Xiao Cheng said.
"What did you say?" Xu Wenqiang was frightened. "Xiao Cheng, what do you want from me?"
Seeing Xu Wenqiang's ghostly look, Xiao Cheng felt very unhappy. In her mind, what kind of shabby image did he have?
Maybe he should try to redeem himself.
"We are classmates, we should always help each other," said Xiao Cheng.
"This excuse is worn out. Let's try another one."
"Because I'm the squad leader, I have the responsibility to help you."
"You're the monitor, but you don't have the sense of responsibility. This excuse is even worse. Try another one."
Xiao Cheng's face turned cold: "Because I pity you."
Xu Wenqiang disagreed: "That's the worst explanation. Don't you know that what you lack most is compassion?"
Xiao Cheng immediately decided to give up his tattered image.
"Okay, I admit that helping you is not my intention," he said.
Xu Wenqiang looked at him and said, "That's pretty good."
"Actually, it was Wang Rui who came to me and asked me to help you. I couldn't refuse, so I had to agree." Xiao Cheng continued.
Wang Rui...Xu Wenqiang was stunned.
"Do you believe it this time?" Xiao Cheng asked.
Xu Wenqiang remained silent. Wang Rui, it looks like you're serious!
Before I knew it, the rain outside seemed to have stopped.
"Let's go out." Xiao Cheng said as he moved out. But as soon as he moved, his face was filled with pain.
"What's wrong?" Xu Wenqiang moved, her face also full of pain.
The two people's legs and feet were completely numb because they squatted for too long.
"You seem to be a little too nosy today!" Xu Wenqiang said with a grin.
"As the squad leader, I naturally have to be more lenient." Xiao Cheng said with a grin.
Xu Wenqiang rolled her eyes and said, "Squad leader" is a lame excuse.
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