Chapter 37
During the last class on Friday, Song Qiuxuan received a note. When she unfolded it, she was surprised to find that it was written by Xia Yingjia.
Stay after school, I have something to tell you.
Song Qiuxuan quickly glanced at the note, then frowned. She didn't know what Xia Yingjia wanted to say. Since that incident, Song Qiuxuan didn't have a good impression of her, so she was worried that she might say something that would upset her and affect her mood.
Song Qiuxuan spent the entire class feeling uneasy. The moment the bell rang, her heart skipped a beat.
"Aren't you going to pack up your homework and go home?" The classmate picked up his backpack and was about to leave the classroom when he noticed that Song Qiuxuan was still engrossed in doing her homework.
Song Qiuxuan tucked a stray hair behind her ear and said to her deskmate, "I'll pack up after I finish this problem."
"Oh, then I'll be going now."
"Um."
Song Qiuxuan wrote two challenging math problems. After more than ten minutes, only a few female students remained in the classroom. She grew impatient, closed her pen, put several workbooks into her bag, stood up, and walked out of the classroom.
Seeing this, Xia Yingjia chased after her, saying, "Wait a minute."
Song Qiuxuan stopped in the corridor, a cold wind blowing, and she pulled her scarf tighter.
Xia Yingjia walked up to her with her head down and her hands clutching her sleeves, looking somewhat reluctant and stammering.
It was rare for her to show such an expression; her usual sharp gaze was completely gone.
Song Qiuxuan let out a soft sigh of relief and spoke first: "I really didn't take your bracelet. I don't even know what it looks like. This is the last time I'll explain."
Xia Yingjia had lost her previous aggressive demeanor. She remained silent, her gaze somewhat unfocused.
Just as Song Qiuxuan was about to turn and leave, she heard her whisper, "Song Qiuxuan, I'm sorry."
The volume was too low, and Song Qiuxuan wondered if she had misheard. She said somewhat blankly, "What?"
Xia Yingjia felt she had never been so humble in her life. Embarrassed and frustrated, she spoke quickly: "The bracelet is not lost. I misunderstood you. I am very sorry. I know I shouldn't have spread rumors that you stole my bracelet when I was not sure."
“I have already explained to those who know the situation, and they all know that I misunderstood you, so there is no need to worry about your reputation being damaged in any way.”
After saying this, Xia Yingjia blushed deeply and ran away as if she were utterly ashamed.
After Song Qiuxuan processed the information in Xia Yingjia's words, she looked back and saw that Xia Yingjia had completely disappeared around the corner.
The tension that had been building up finally eased, and Song Qiuxuan felt as if she had been granted a pardon, but her mood didn't improve. She shouldn't have been slandered, shouldn't have endured days of psychological pressure, and shouldn't have felt troubled for so long.
That's it, Song Qiuxuan thought to herself, not wanting to be lost in thought at this moment.
As dusk settled, Song Qiuxuan walked to the corridor railing, rested her hands on it, propped her chin on her arms, and gazed at the distant school gate.
As students walked out of the school gate in twos and threes, Song Qiuxuan suddenly caught a glimpse of a familiar figure. Upon closer inspection, she recognized Cheng Xun.
He was still surrounded by those three familiar boys. Cheng Xun was the tallest of the four and stood the straightest. It was too far away to see his expression clearly, but he must have been in a good mood.
Song Qiuxuan would always glance at him out of the corner of her eye when she passed by, but each time she saw him, she felt heartbroken. Cheng Xun would pass by her as if she were a stranger, not even glancing at her, looking carefree and unconcerned as he moved on.
Perhaps that period of time was nothing more than an insignificant detail in his eyes.
I really wish I could be as carefree as Cheng Xun, letting go of things as soon as I want.
Song Qiuxuan, however, remains trapped in the same spot.
*
As Xia Yingjia said, she explained to everyone who knew the truth that the bracelet was not lost and that she had misunderstood Song Qiuxuan.
After this incident, Song Qiuxuan devoted all her energy to preparing for the final exams.
On the day the exams ended, all first-year high school students had to hold a class meeting before leaving school.
The main topic of the class meeting was the class assignments for the next semester.
The forms indicating students' preferences for arts or sciences were distributed to them a few days before the exam, and now the homeroom teacher asked the class monitor to collect them.
Liu Zhanyan held the stack of forms in his hand, solemnly looked up and said, "I'm sure everyone has decided whether to choose humanities or science based on their strengths and weaknesses in each subject. I believe your choice is the best. This is our last class meeting for Class 20. I'm honored to have accompanied you as your class teacher for a semester."
"I hope everyone gets into their dream university in two and a half years!"
Hearing these words, the students below were somewhat moved, and their excitement about the upcoming holiday was somewhat dampened.
The hushed whispers gradually grew louder—
"Old Liu, we'll miss you."
"Can we not be separated into different classes? I don't want to leave the Class 20 family."
"I used to complain about the poor discipline in Class 20, but now I'm starting to feel reluctant to leave."
"My dear deskmate, I'm begging you to let me be in the same class as you next semester, preferably the honors class!"
"When the time for parting came, I suddenly realized how wonderful Class 20 was!"
Cheng Xun sat silently at a single desk in the far corner of the classroom. He leaned back in his chair, looking out the window, seemingly completely oblivious to the lingering atmosphere of reluctance around him.
It wasn't until he heard someone mention the word "reluctant" that he turned his gaze away from the window and moved to Song Qiuxuan's seat.
The class was buzzing with discussion, and she was whispering to her deskmate. Her profile was fair, and her wispy hair fell down, which she tucked behind her ear. Cheng Xun noticed her upturned eyes and the smile playing on her lips.
Every time Cheng Xun saw Song Qiuxuan in a good mood, he felt comforted and his heart calmed down.
Is it because of guilt? Only when she stops being sad because of herself, or when we see her happy side, will that feeling be alleviated.
After the class meeting ended, the students emptied their books from their desks and then left the classroom one after another.
The moment Song Qiuxuan stepped out of the school gate, she felt a sense of loss. Even though only one semester had passed, she had the illusion that it was completely over.
Song Qiuxuan recalled the last thing she saw when she left the classroom: Cheng Xun's empty desk.
In that instant, many memories of sitting at the same desk as Cheng Xun flooded back to her.
At that time, Cheng Xun always liked to attract her attention by patting the chair, asking her questions, practicing calligraphy by copying the model, and seeking her approval every now and then. After receiving her praise for his progress, he would show a proud and smug expression.
So she still couldn't understand why Cheng Xun had suddenly changed.
*
After a leisurely four-day holiday, the final exam results came out. Song Qiuxuan saw that she ranked 30th in her grade, securing her place in the honors class. She excitedly jumped out of bed.
She told Xu Yanzhen about her grades, and Xu Yanzhen was very happy for her, so she cooked a sumptuous dinner.
When Xu Yanzhen finished eating and sat on the sofa watching TV, she put down the remote control and picked up her phone to study Song Qiuxuan's grades.
Xu Yanzhen knew that Song Qiuxuan had chosen science, and seeing that her physics grades were dragging her down, she decided to enroll her in a tutoring class during the winter break.
Before New Year's Eve, Song Qiuxuan spent most of her time in tutoring classes. To exaggerate a bit, she was so obsessed with studying physics that she would lose her appetite if she looked at physics problems before meals.
On the surface, she seemed to have let go of that relationship and returned to her former optimism. However, at night, she would still uncontrollably think of Cheng Xun and all the little things they had shared, which caused her to suffer from insomnia several times.
Song Qiuxuan thought she wouldn't see Cheng Xun again during the winter break, until two days before New Year's Eve, the class group chat suddenly erupted in excitement.
The class monitor suggested holding a class reunion the day before New Year's Eve. Everyone knew that this would be the last chance for Class 20 to get together, and they all agreed.
With the time and place set, Song Qiuxuan looked at the messages popping up one after another, her feelings a mix of anticipation and resistance.
A strong desire to see Cheng Xun welled up in Song Qiuxuan's heart, but when she thought of his carefree attitude and ruthlessness, she couldn't truly indulge her inner expectations.
On the evening of the day of the gathering, Song Qiuxuan tied on her scarf and prepared to go out.
As she walked through the living room, Xu Yanzhen was busy making dinner in the kitchen. Seeing her daughter, she knew she was going to a class reunion.
"Xuanxuan, don't rush, come over and help me bring this bowl of pork rib soup to the table."
Song Qiuxuan obediently went into the kitchen and placed the pork rib soup on the dining table.
As she walked to the table, her foot slipped, her fingers trembled violently, and the pork rib soup spilled out. Song Qiuxuan hurriedly put the pork rib soup back on the table, her movements too hasty, making a heavy thud.
Hearing the commotion, Xu Yanzhen immediately ran out of the kitchen: "What's wrong?"
"The soup spilled." Song Qiuxuan shook her scalded hand, then looked down to check if her clothes had been splashed with soup.
"It spilled on the scarf, thankfully not the clothes." Song Qiuxuan took the scarf off and placed it on the edge of the sofa, then said to Xu Yanzhen, "I'm going downstairs."
"You'll get cold if you don't wear a scarf in this weather," Xu Yanzhen said with concern.
"It's okay, I won't catch a cold in just one night." Song Qiuxuan hurriedly went out the door.
She hailed a taxi outside the residential area and was about to open the door to get in when her phone rang.
Seeing that the caller ID showed Xu Yanzhen, she asked the driver to wait a moment and then answered the phone.
"Xuanxuan, wait a moment, I'll go downstairs now to bring you a scarf."
"Huh?" Song Qiuxuan was still confused when the call was disconnected, leaving her standing there waiting.
Two minutes later, Xu Yanzhen ran up to her, panting.
Song Qiuxuan looked down at the light blue scarf in her hand, her eyes widening in surprise.
This was a gift from Cheng Xun.
Seeing her dazed expression, Xu Yanzhen raised her hand and helped her put on the scarf while explaining, "When did you buy this scarf? I found it under the bed when I was cleaning your bedroom. It feels quite soft and warm."
"Alright, hurry up and get on the bus, don't be late."
Song Qiuxuan realized what was happening and wanted to take the scarf off so that Xu Yanzhen could take it home.
Xu Yanzhen, completely unaware of Song Qiuxuan's thoughts, opened the taxi door for her and pushed her inside.
"Have fun tonight," Xu Yanzhen said before turning and walking towards the gate of the residential complex.
Song Qiuxuan went to the class reunion wearing the scarf that Cheng Xun had given her, all in a daze.
Anyway, Cheng Xun wouldn't pay attention to her anymore. Besides, the scarves were all pretty similar, only a few colors. Cheng Xun probably had already forgotten what kind of scarves he had given her. Thinking this, Song Qiuxuan's turbulent emotions calmed down.
Song Qiuxuan was clearly overthinking it—Cheng Xun didn't even come to the class reunion.
The party was halfway through, and the liveliness showed no signs of abating. Song Qiuxuan glanced at the door of the private room countless times, only to look away dejectedly.
Song Qiuxuan is really stubborn; even at a time like this, she still wants to see Cheng Xun.
This scene reminded her of the time when Cheng Xun took leave due to a broken hand, a particularly difficult period for her.
Back then, she always looked forward to Cheng Xun returning to school, but every time she saw his empty seat, she felt very disappointed.
Unconsciously, Song Qiuxuan fell into memories, unable to control her emotions, and a sense of grievance slowly welled up within her.
"The heating in the private room is too high, I'm so hot." He Zhimian, who had been sitting next to Song Qiuxuan, took off her coat and muttered to herself.
The private room was filled with the sounds of singing. He Zhimian didn't find it strange that Song Qiuxuan didn't respond, assuming that her voice was drowned out by the singing.
Around 11 p.m., everyone left, still wanting more.
More than forty people walked out of the KTV together, making a grand spectacle. He Zhimian and Song Qiuxuan lagged slightly behind the crowd, slowly walking out through the corridor.
"Is your scarf new? This color suits you very well." He Zhimian looked at the light blue scarf, as if making conversation.
Song Qiuxuan was stunned for a moment, then her expression darkened. She struggled to muster a little energy to reply, "It was a gift from someone else. This is the first time I've ever worn it."
He Zhimian felt that Song Qiuxuan's expression tonight seemed familiar, as if she was shrouded in bad mood, and her eyes looked empty and lifeless.
They walked to the roadside, some classmates greeted them, and then hailed a taxi to go home.
He Zhimian glanced at Song Qiuxuan and asked cautiously, "Are you unhappy because Cheng Xun didn't come?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, He Zhimian regretted it. Why did she ask such a question that might touch on someone else's secrets?
He Zhimian had long noticed that Song Qiuxuan and Cheng Xun's relationship was unusual, but she didn't know what happened between them later that caused them to seem like they were estranged.
He Zhimian recalled how Cheng Xun approached her on the eve of the final exams, asking about the details of Xia Yingjia's bracelet, and then exposing Xia Yingjia's lie to her face. Cheng Xun, who was indifferent to many things, went to such lengths, perhaps just for Song Qiuxuan.
Recalling this incident, He Zhimian couldn't contain her curiosity.
He Zhimian saw an unfathomable emotion flash in Song Qiuxuan's eyes when she heard her words, but He Zhimian was almost certain that Song Qiuxuan was unhappy because Cheng Xun did not come to the gathering.
Song Qiuxuan lowered her head slightly. She originally wanted to deny it, but after struggling for a few seconds, she nodded in compromise: "Perhaps there is some connection."
He Zhimian said, "What happened between you two? Or is there some misunderstanding? Since you still care about him, you can go and talk to him."
Why should I be the one to contact him! Song Qiuxuan roared inwardly, feeling frustrated and aggrieved.
Song Qiuxuan stood under the dim streetlights, her delicate eyebrows furrowed. The cold wind hit her face, and a dull, astringent feeling rose in her nostrils. She fluttered her eyelashes, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes.
After a moment, realizing that He Zhimian was still looking at her, Song Qiuxuan raised her slightly moist eyes and said, "There's no need for that. We won't be in the same class after school starts."
He Zhimian looked hesitant again. After careful consideration, she decided not to interfere in their relationship. She kept the two things she had witnessed Cheng Xun doing for her buried deep in her heart.
He Zhimian and Song Qiuxuan were not going in the same direction home. After she hailed a taxi, she waved goodbye to Song Qiuxuan.
In this cold weather, your hands and feet get unbearably cold after just a short time outdoors. Pedestrians passing by this street are bundled up tightly and hurry along.
Song Qiuxuan buried half her face in her scarf while waiting for a taxi. Amidst the hurried footsteps of pedestrians, several teenagers with their arms around each other suddenly appeared from the street corner. They walked leisurely, and their youthful appearance made them stand out in the neon-lit street.
Song Qiuxuan glanced up unintentionally and spotted a familiar figure among the tall, upright boys.
Song Qiuxuan stared wide-eyed in disbelief. Sometimes fate really does play tricks on people. Just when she had accepted the fact that she would not see Cheng Xun again during the winter vacation, Cheng Xun suddenly appeared on the street corner.
Among the group of boys who were playing around, one of them noticed a girl about ten meters ahead staring straight in their direction.
"Liang Shizhe, look! Isn't there a pretty girl looking at me from ahead?"
"You're so narcissistic, thinking no one could possibly be..." Liang Shizhe looked in the direction the boy was pointing, and when he saw that the girl was Song Qiuxuan, he was speechless. He turned to look at Cheng Xun.
Cheng Xun also looked up. He seemed to show only a hint of surprise, without any other intense emotions, appearing rather indifferent.
“Cheng Xun, isn’t this…” Liang Shizhe’s reaction was stronger than Cheng Xun’s. He almost blurted out, “Isn’t this your ex-girlfriend? What a coincidence!”
He was interrupted halfway through his sentence by Cheng Xun in a calm voice: "Classmates."
Song Qiuxuan heard it from afar. She gave a wry smile and then walked towards Cheng Xun without any fear.
Perhaps she had been suppressing her grievances for too long, or perhaps she was stung by Cheng Xun's nonchalant demeanor. Song Qiuxuan abandoned her so-called pride and walked towards Cheng Xun.
"Can I say a few words to you?" Song Qiuxuan stood in front of Cheng Xun, at a distance. Although she did not name him, her eyes were fixed on Cheng Xun, and her intention was very clear.
Her unashamed and unpretentious manner left the boys around Cheng Xun speechless. They then exchanged glances, their expressions revealing that they were about to witness a good show.
This scene was nothing more than a confession. The boys cheered and whistled, except for Liang Shizhe, who looked thoughtfully at the silent Cheng Xun.
"You guys go first, I'll take a taxi back myself later," Cheng Xun said, turning her head to them.
"Okay, let's talk things out. There's no misunderstanding that can't be resolved." Liang Shizhe tactfully pushed the gossipy boys away.
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