Chapter 63
Perhaps they're so busy getting to know all sorts of people that they're really incredibly busy.
Xu Qingzhou thought.
Actually, at first, Chi Jun simply forgot to make a call, or perhaps he didn't have time to make one, but he would still occasionally send a message or two, such as whether he had eaten or what he was doing.
However, Xu Qingzhou was busy with his studies, and most of the time, by the time he discovered the news, a long time had already passed.
When she finally replied, Chi Jun was probably busy, or perhaps he felt that too much time had passed and there was no need to reply, so the message was never heard from again.
This constant stream of WeChat messages, which never received a timely response, lasted for about three days.
After that, even those few WeChat messages disappeared.
Xu Qingzhou thought that Chi Jun had probably witnessed the prosperity of the big city and the interesting people, and gradually, without realizing it, he began to forget about this dilapidated town, the cramped little rental room, and her boredom.
This was a situation she had considered long ago.
But once it actually happens, I still feel a heavy weight in my heart, a tightness in my chest.
During this time, Xu Qingzhou gradually began to accept the fact that Chi Jun had left and to accept that she would have to move forward on her own.
The second semester of senior year started early, amidst the sound of firecrackers still echoing from the Spring Festival.
Logically, with time running out and Chi Jun having left, Xu Qingzhou's savings should have been enough to cover her expenses for the entire semester. However, after hesitating for a while at the beginning of the semester, she still didn't quit her part-time job delivering food.
Xu Qingzhou knew that she still didn't want to go back to that empty little rented room early after school.
Because it turns out that learning really can't fill the void in her heart.
She needs something else necessary to distract herself.
You also need to ride an electric bike and feel the cool breeze to calm your chaotic thoughts.
However, the thoughts that have finally calmed down are always stirred up by a sentence heard unintentionally or an object seen unintentionally.
For example, I overheard some girls talking about boys in the restroom, and they clearly mentioned the name "Xu Jun".
For example, when Xu Qingzhou went to the cafeteria for a simple dinner after school, he would see a stainless steel plate piled high with scrambled eggs with lettuce in the window, and he would recall the scene of Chi Jun squatting in front of the rabbit cage, holding a lettuce leaf in his hand, deliberately teasing the rabbit.
One evening, Xu Qingzhou was delivering food on his electric scooter when he saw a boy at the far end of the street, his hands in his pockets and his head down as he turned a corner.
Height, build, even his profile—they all look very familiar.
Xu Qingzhou froze on the spot.
She knew she shouldn't have chased after him, but the truth was, by the time she came to her senses, she had already caught up with him on her electric scooter, blocking his way completely.
The streetlights shone dimly under the night sky. The boy stood under one of the streetlights, looking at her with a mixture of fear and confusion.
It was a strange face that bore a slight resemblance to Chi Jun, but upon closer inspection, they were quite different.
Xu Qingzhou stared blankly at the boy.
I felt embarrassed by my abruptness and deeply disappointed that I had come up empty-handed.
She stood there helplessly gripping the handlebars of the car, until the boy frowned, looked at her with some concern, hesitated, and pulled two tissues from his pocket, asking:
"Beautiful lady, are you alright?"
Xu Qingzhou suddenly came to her senses and realized that her cheeks were unexpectedly wet.
The cold wind howled past, and where the tears rolled down, there was a stinging sensation like ice blades scraping against my face.
She quickly wiped away her tears and shook her head.
When she bent down to reverse the electric scooter, she belatedly realized that while chasing the boy, the wheel had rudely gone straight up the ten-centimeter-high curb.
The vehicle was tilted, and a takeout order fell off the electric scooter, spilling soup all over the bag.
*
The sky never truly cleared up after the New Year.
Thin, dark clouds swirled in the sky, as if snowflakes were about to fall at any moment.
With the college entrance examination fast approaching, the entire senior high school building seemed to be shrouded in gloom all day long, and even the air in the classrooms was lifeless and devoid of any vitality.
After finishing his homework at noon, Xu Qingzhou lay down and took a nap.
After a short twenty-minute break, I looked up and saw that snowflakes were falling again, spreading like goose feathers all over the world.
Xu Qingzhou rubbed his eyes and quietly opened the window a crack, letting a little fresh air in.
The first class in the afternoon was math. Xu Qingzhou rummaged through his bag for a previous test paper.
After searching for a long time without finding the exam paper, I touched something soft and furry.
Xu Qingzhou paused for a moment, then took the item out.
It was a red, plush tiger-head hat.
Chi Jun bought them before the New Year, one for each person.
He said that wearing this hat when playing ball would make him look powerful and imposing.
But... in just ten days, everything had changed.
Xu Qingzhou couldn't help but sigh softly, and was about to stuff the hat back in when a voice suddenly came from the side:
"It's so cute, this is your new hat."
Xu Qingzhou turned his head.
It was her deskmate, Zheng Yangshu, talking to her.
"I didn't expect you to like this style of hat."
Xu Qingzhou smiled.
Actually, my brother insisted on buying it.
“Really?” Zheng Yangshu said as he took a pen out of his pencil case. “I didn’t expect you to have such a childlike heart.”
Xu Qingzhou tugged at the corners of her mouth slightly but didn't say anything.
There are two math classes and two Chinese classes in the afternoon.
After four long classes, school was finally over. The students were so tired that they lay on their desks, too exhausted to talk.
Xu Qingzhou brought two steamed buns for lunch in the morning, and there was still one left uneaten. So after packing his schoolbag, he didn't go to the cafeteria, but went directly to the bike shed to get his electric bike.
Electric bikes are not allowed on campus. As Xu Qingzhou pushed the bike toward the school gate, Zheng Yangshu suddenly chased after him from afar.
"Qingzhou!"
Xu Qingzhou paused slightly to wait for him.
Zheng Yangshu caught up with her, taking something out of his bag as he walked alongside her, saying:
"There's something I almost forgot. My mom's friend gave her a few theater tickets. I remember my brother likes watching plays, so I gave him two. It's the very popular 'Teahouse'."
But as soon as he finished speaking, Zheng Yangshu noticed that Xu Qingzhou was staring at the ticket, and his expression seemed a little off.
He paused, then asked, "What's wrong?"
Xu Qingzhou leaned the electric scooter against him and took out paper and pen from his pocket.
Thank you, but my brother isn't here anymore.
Zheng Yangshu was stunned for a moment.
"Huh? What do you mean he's not here anymore? Where did he go?"
Xu Qingzhou pursed her lips: [Haicheng]
"Are you going to work there?"
Zheng Yangshu and Xu Qingzhou were quite familiar with each other. While collecting the tickets, he casually joked, "What kind of job is it? With your good looks, wouldn't it be a waste of your talent not to become a star?"
Xu Qingzhou looked at him without saying a word.
Upon seeing this, Zheng Yangshu's face gradually showed shock:
"He's not really going to become a star, is he?"
Being an artist doesn't need to be kept secret beforehand, Xu Qingzhou blinked and said:
An agent named Rolly wants to sign him.
"Wow, that's amazing... So you can proudly tell others that your brother is a big star, and with his looks, he'll be a top star sooner or later."
Xu Qingzhou forced a smile.
The two continued walking towards the school gate while talking.
Zheng Yangshu seemed very excited about Chi Jun becoming a star, saying all the while that Xu Jun was the first public figure he knew, and that from now on, not only would Xu Qingzhou be proud, but he himself could proudly brag to others:
"That big star, Xu Jun, is my friend's older brother."
"He even watched a movie with me."
"Oh, he also ate my popcorn."
However, the more excited Zheng Yangshu spoke, the more silent Xu Qingzhou became.
Before they knew it, they had arrived at the school gate. Zheng Yangshu waved goodbye to her and went to the private car that was waiting for him across the street.
Xu Qingzhou, pushing the cart, stood still, looking somewhat dazed.
My friend's older brother.
elder brother.
She forced a smile, but a pang of sadness welled up inside her.
He took out his phone.
Xu Qingzhou opened her chat history with Chi Jun.
A few words are displayed against a simple green background.
The last message was from many days ago.
Her brother is probably already lost in the glitz and glamour of the city and has completely forgotten about her.
This was actually an outcome that Xu Qingzhou had already anticipated.
But when that day actually came, the fox and Chi Jun, who had transformed into human form, were gradually and forcefully separated from her life. Looking back on the joys and sorrows of the past six months, the stark contrast still made Xu Qingzhou feel very uncomfortable.
It's very uncomfortable.
Snowflakes were whipped onto my face by the fierce wind, feeling icy and painful.
Xu Qingzhou took a deep breath. Amidst the students leaving in twos and threes around her, she suddenly felt an overwhelming loneliness wash over her, as if she were the only person left in the world.
I really want to cry.
A moment later, Xu Qingzhou put his phone back in his pocket and blinked hard.
But Chi Jun is very happy now.
He will get better and better.
As long as he's okay.
Everything will pass.
My eyes were still sore and filled with moisture, and my vision was blurry.
Xu Qingzhou kept reassuring himself that "time will heal all wounds," and pushed his electric bike forward with his head down.
Around me, pairs of different shoes hurried by, appearing and disappearing.
Xu Qingzhou had no interest in paying attention; he was simply trying to convince himself otherwise.
After an unknown amount of time, a pair of white sneakers suddenly appeared in front of me.
He stood right in front of her.
With tears in her eyes, Xu Qingzhou didn't look up, but silently moved her electric scooter to the side.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she moved away, the sneakers moved as well, blocking her way once again.
After three times in a row—
Xu Qingzhou: "..."
She raised her hand to wipe away her tears, and looked up at him with a hint of resentment.
The next second, through blurry, tear-filled eyes, I was suddenly stunned.
The snowflakes were still falling. Among the countless students in blue and white school uniforms at the school gate, a young man wearing a silver down jacket, black pants, and a single-shoulder backpack stood loosely in front of her, with a red furry tiger hat on his head.
Their eyes met, and the young man's lips curled up slightly, revealing a calm, sharp, and dashing handsomeness.
He raised his hand and ruffled Xu Qingzhou's hair, his voice as always, carrying a hint of lazy laughter.
"Did you miss me, Little Zhouzhou?"
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