Chapter 24
Answer sheets for all subjects except Chinese have been returned to the students.
In Chinese class, the teacher came to the podium with a stack of answer sheets. She said she had carefully looked at each student's answer sheet and that some students' handwriting was terrible and they needed to practice their handwriting.
Several students were specifically criticized, including Cheng Xun. The teacher commented that his content was good, but his handwriting was so messy and illegible that it was harder to read than scribbles.
A burst of laughter erupted in the classroom.
After class, Song Qiuxuan's chair was tugged at, and she turned around.
Cheng Xun unfolded the Chinese answer sheet, pointed to the essay with great incomprehension, and said, "Is it really that hard to understand? Song Qiuxuan, don't you think it has a very personal writing style?"
Song Qiuxuan leaned on the table and chuckled without trying to hide her laughter. Before she got to know Cheng Xun, she might have nodded politely, but now that they were past the stage of having to consider each other's feelings, Song Qiuxuan said bluntly, "Your personal style is quite obvious, but I didn't see any particular calligraphic style."
"You're being so tactful, but what you really mean is that it's obviously ugly?" Cheng Xun folded up the answer sheet and stuffed it into the desk drawer.
Song Qiuxuan assumed he was bothered by his ugly handwriting, so she stopped laughing, patted his desk, and earnestly comforted him, "You still have time to practice, don't be discouraged, and it's not that ugly."
Cheng Xun rested her elbow on the tall stack of books, her chin on it, as if she was truly comforted. Her eyes curved slightly. "The teacher praised your neat and beautiful handwriting in class. I'd like to take a look."
"Didn't you see it?" Song Qiuxuan said, but still casually placed the answer sheet on his desk.
"Was your handwriting always so good?" Cheng Xun traced her handwriting with his fingertips.
"No, I practiced calligraphy using a copybook when I was in junior high school. My mom bought the copybook for me and supervised my practice. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have been able to stick with it." Song Qiuxuan recalled the past with a warm smile.
Cheng Xun looked up at Song Qiuxuan. The wind outside the window lifted her hair and brushed against her fair face. She raised her hand to tuck the stray hairs behind her ears, revealing her fair ears.
Cheng Xun lowered his head, his Adam's apple bobbing. He coughed lightly and said, "I like your handwriting."
"Really? I remember my mom bought several calligraphy practice books back then, and there are one or two that I haven't used. I'll go home today and look for them. If I can find them, I'll bring them to school for you to practice with."
A flicker of emotion crossed Cheng Xun's dark eyes. He slowly handed the answer sheet back to Song Qiuxuan, his lips moving slightly, his tone unchanged: "Thank you."
Cheng Xun pursed his lips and lowered his eyes. Sunlight fell on his eyelashes, casting a shadow, giving him a thoughtful and melancholy look.
He wondered why she was so kind to him in such small ways. Perhaps Cheng Xun hadn't felt enough love, and he was always at a loss when faced with kindness, his reactions were always slow. Once his mind cleared, he was like a machine that had stopped working and was plugged in to start working again. He became excited and happy.
A burning soul lies on the shore, battered by the surging waves, trying to hold onto the cool sea—to ease the burning pain.
Cheng Xun raised his eyes, his deep gaze fixed on Song Qiuxuan, and said with genuine emotion, "Song Qiuxuan, you are the best person I have ever met."
His voice was clear and pleasant, a low tone. He spoke deliberately in a low voice, just enough for Song Qiuxuan to hear.
Song Qiuxuan put the answer sheet into the folder. When she heard Cheng Xun say that, she also noticed his intense gaze. Her heart skipped a beat. She had put the Chinese answer sheet in the wrong section. Her ears were burning, but she still pretended to be nonchalant and waved her hand: "Don't mention it. Didn't you give me a magic pill? Friends help each other out, right?"
The "miracle cure" refers to the acne cream. Song Qiuxuan used it and saw rapid results. Today, she only has a few acne marks left, which will completely disappear in about two or three days.
A teasing smile appeared in Cheng Xun's eyes, and he nodded: "Mm."
*
After the monthly exam, the school arranged a parent-teacher meeting, which was scheduled for Friday afternoon. After the meeting, students could leave school.
At times like these, schools always organize some elaborate ceremonies, such as writing two letters: one to oneself after graduating from the college entrance examination, and the other to one's parents.
During lunch break, most people, unusually, didn't sleep but instead racked their brains writing letters.
Song Qiuxuan finished writing the letter in twenty minutes and put it under her book. She quietly turned her head to look behind her and found that Cheng Xun was not writing a letter. He had a calligraphy copybook spread out on his desk and was practicing calligraphy with a pen in hand. He looked very focused.
The students around him were all writing letters, and Song Qiuxuan asked him, "Have you finished writing your letter?"
Cheng Xun nodded, then shook his head, "I think it's finished."
Song Qiuxuan looked puzzled: "What do you mean?"
Cheng Xun paused for a moment, then said casually, "My parents are at work and don't have time to attend the parent-teacher conference, so I only wrote a letter to myself."
Cheng Xun didn't tell the truth. Cheng Rongken was indeed busy with work, but Zhang Yuyun stayed at home in the afternoon. A couple of days ago, when he mentioned the parent-teacher meeting, Zhang Yuyun's expression stiffened slightly. Between the two simple options of going or not going, she thought for two minutes and finally asked if this parent-teacher meeting was important.
Cheng Xun said it wasn't important and there was no need to go. After understanding some of these principles, he became less insistent. In the past, he would probably have asked a couple of questions, making the situation awkward. Now he felt that he was too foolish in the past.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuyun instantly relaxed, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders.
Cheng Xun really wanted to laugh, but she held it back, because if she laughed, she wouldn't know who she was laughing at: her parents who hadn't missed Cheng Ting's parent-teacher meeting and were biased to the extreme, or her own foolish attempt to rebel against them.
Cheng Xun has come to terms with it, but that doesn't mean he can say it easily; it's as difficult as reopening a wound.
In any case, it was something he couldn't understand at all, and he wouldn't confide in anyone; he didn't need anyone's sympathetic or pitying gaze.
He could accept those looks, not because he was vulnerable.
Cheng Xun took out the letter he had written to himself after the college entrance examination from under the table and placed it in front of Song Qiuxuan. "If you want to see it, you can."
Song Qiuxuan was still in a daze when she learned that no one from Cheng Xun had come to the parent-teacher conference. She was stunned and hadn't intended to watch it, but she just took it over in a daze.
Song Qiuxuan turned back, rested her hand on the table, and opened the letter. It was more of a wish list than a letter to herself.
Cheng Xun's handwriting was still wild and unrestrained. Two wishes were written on the paper: to enter the honors class next semester and to get into a good university.
*
After the parents' meeting, Song Qiuxuan and Xu Yanzhen went home together. Their home wasn't far from the school, so they walked back.
Walking on the sidewalk, Xu Yanzhen, carrying a bag, looked puzzled and asked, "Xuanxuan, last time you said the seats were chosen according to the ranking of grades, why did you choose the second to last row?"
Xu Yanzhen was dissatisfied with that seat. She felt that the seats in the last few rows were not good because they made it difficult to concentrate in class and the teacher sometimes had difficulty paying attention to her. She had no problem with single desks, as they could avoid being disturbed by classmates.
Song Qiuxuan gripped her backpack strap, her dark eyelashes fluttering. The reason she chose that seat was largely related to Cheng Xun. She knew very well that she absolutely could not tell Xu Yanzhen this. Before high school, Xu Yanzhen had warned her, both openly and secretly, that early romance would affect her studies and future, that early romance was absolutely unacceptable and not allowed.
It was probably during her rebellious teenage years. Song Qiuxuan was actually very sensible and obedient, but in this matter, she went with the flow and did whatever she wanted, without restraining herself according to any requirements.
Panicked, Song Qiuxuan lowered her head, trying her best to appear relaxed and casual, and said with a slight smile, "This is the seat I've been in since the beginning of the semester, I'm used to it."
Xu Yanzhen's gentle demeanor vanished instantly, replaced by a resolute tone: "But sitting in the back row isn't good."
The sky was leaden gray, the wind blew, and the clouds moved slowly. The streets were bustling with pedestrians, those leaving get off work, those going home from school, and those taking a stroll. It should have been lively, but for some reason, a desolate atmosphere permeated the air. This must be autumn.
Song Qiuxuan's sneakers crunched over the leaves, and sometimes she found it hard to adapt to Xu Yanzhen's sudden assertiveness. Without any buffer, she couldn't make any preparations and was forced to accept it all.
Song Qiuxuan fell silent.
“You like single desks, so next time you can choose a seat in one of the front rows.” Xu Yanzhen raised her hand and gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind Song Qiuxuan’s ear. “At the parent-teacher meeting just now, the homeroom teacher also mentioned that the students in the back rows are not as disciplined as those in the front rows. Mom is doing this for your own good.”
"I know." Song Qiuxuan felt the air thinning for no reason. Sometimes a smile can mask a lot of emotions, so she smiled again.
Xu Yanzhen nodded, then said seemingly casually, "Xuanxuan, you and the boy behind you seem to have a good relationship. I saw you chatting for a while in the hallway. I've never seen you make male friends before."
Song Qiuxuan was very perceptive at this moment. She understood that this was a test. She should have been flustered, but instead she was unusually calm and said in a calm tone: "We sit close to each other, so we talk a lot."
Xu Yanzhen laughed as if she had heard something amusing during a casual conversation, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes deepening. "Is his academic performance good?"
The honking on the road was so loud it was making her ears ring. She really didn't want to answer the question. After Xu Yanzhen didn't get a response, she finally looked up and said "Hmm?" Her mood changed, her eyes sparkling. She was back to her gentle and cheerful self. She said, as if she was being a brat, "Mom, why are you so concerned about my classmate?"
"Let's go to the dessert shop on Donglin Street, didn't you say it was delicious last time?"
Looking into Song Qiuxuan's innocent eyes, Xu Yanzhen realized that she might be worrying too much, and she nodded.
*
Inside the KTV room, the lights were all sorts of colors, and the sounds of singing and people were mixed together, making it a bit chaotic. Zhao Tonghong, as the protagonist of this birthday party, told everyone that the cake he ordered would not arrive for a while, and then he warmly invited everyone to have fun.
Liang Shizhe came in and looked for Cheng Xun. He saw Cheng Xun sitting on the sofa in the corner, holding two cans of beer, and walked through the crowd to get closer. "What gift did you pick out?"
"Earphones." Cheng Xun pulled the tab and tilted his head back to take a swig.
Liang Shizhe raised an eyebrow in surprise: "You've really put your heart into this. Last week, Zhao Tonghong smashed his headphones because he was angry while playing games."
Cheng Xun said casually, "He specifically told me that the gift had to be headphones."
Liang Shizhe chuckled and complained, "That kid's cunning." Then he nodded, his tone becoming understanding, and turned to accuse Cheng Xun, "It's not your fault. He's studying so hard for the high school entrance exam that he's practically brainwashed. He hates words, and yet you gave him a science fiction book for his birthday last time."
Cheng Xun frowned. "Wasn't this your suggestion?"
"Bullshit, I said I'd send books, shoes, or even middle school entrance exam papers, anything. Who knew you'd send that? If you're going to send books, at least pick a comic book." Liang Shizhe shook his head speechlessly. "To be honest, you just didn't put any thought into it. I really don't understand you. I don't know where you're putting your mind."
Cheng Xun remained noncommittal. Wasn't he always like this, indifferent to everything around him, even his friends' hobbies?
Liang Shizhe knew this well. It was not an unforgivable flaw, but rather a trait or attribute, a part of a person. Apart from this, he felt that Cheng Xun was essentially a reliable and sincere person.
Then the birthday cake arrived, and everyone gathered around the big table, singing "Happy Birthday," exchanging birthday gifts, and creating a joyful atmosphere.
Cheng Xun last drank alcohol on the day he graduated from junior high school, which was quite a long time ago. This time, he drank too much and his head started to feel dizzy. He touched Liang Shizhe's shoulder, signaling Liang Shizhe to let him leave.
Cheng Xun pushed open the heavy door of the private room. Before he could even take a step out, a figure slipped out through the door. It was a bright-looking girl whose ponytail swayed lightly with her movements.
She stood there waiting for Cheng Xun to come out. Cheng Xun glanced at her, but didn't recognize her. He then looked away and walked towards the bathroom.
"Cheng Xun." The girl jogged up to him and asked, "You should still remember me, right?"
Cheng Xun rubbed his temples and said casually, "Are you Zhao Tonghong's classmate?"
Chu Qianmo said, "Yes." She realized from this sentence that Cheng Xun didn't remember her, and she looked very disappointed. "You really don't remember me. I was in the class next to yours in junior high school. I sent you a few letters, but you never replied. I thought you would recognize me, but you still don't remember me."
"On the second day of school, I sent you another love letter, but you still didn't reply. I was so angry that I decided not to look for you for the rest of the semester. I never expected to meet you here today. This is what you call fate."
Cheng Xun frowned slightly and turned his head to look at her. He rarely saw a girl who could say such things so easily.
Chu Qianmo excitedly met Cheng Xun's gaze, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons with a smile. "You'd better remember me this time. My name is Chu Qianmo."
“We’re not classmates, so there’s no need for me to remember you.” The restroom was still a dozen meters away, just around the corner. Cheng Xun stopped, glancing at her with a questioning look. “Are you going to follow me the whole time?”
Chu Qianmo didn't seem hurt by his previous words and explained very patiently, "I can wait for you here."
Chu Qianmo's intentions were quite clear, and given her earlier blunt mention of a love letter, Cheng Xun felt he had to make things clear.
Cheng Xun looked down at her and said in a somewhat serious tone, "I have never actually opened or read those love letters you mentioned. Don't place your vague feelings on me in the future."
Chu Qianmo looked up and saw Cheng Xun's well-defined jawline in the dim light. She sighed and corrected him, "I really like you, it's not just a vague feeling."
Cheng Xun didn't believe it. She didn't even understand his personality, yet she talked about liking him. Perhaps she was just looking at his decent appearance and fantasizing about him as a flawless man. Such liking was like a glass hanging on the edge of a table, which would fall over and shatter at the slightest touch.
Cheng Xun snorted softly, then gave a faint smile. Not wanting to argue about whether his feelings were real or fake, he suppressed his emotions and said, "No matter what you think, I can't give you a response because I have someone I like."
Chu Qianmo took a step back, staring at Cheng Xun in disbelief, her voice unsteady: "Don't make up such lame excuses to reject me. How could that be? Didn't you never accept anyone's advances in junior high?"
A man in his thirties came out of the private room, his face flushed from drinking and he was walking unsteadily. Cheng Xun heard the noise and glanced at him. The man was on the phone, and a string of profanities burst out from his mouth.
"If there's nothing else, go back to the private room. People who are drunk are usually not thinking clearly." After saying that, Cheng Xun disappeared around the corner.
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