Zhou Wan understood his implication, and her body stiffened.
As Lu Xixiao leaned closer, Zhou Wan wanted to step back, but he held her chin in his hand. Shocked into immobility, she could only helplessly widen her eyes.
Lu Xixiao leisurely observed her reaction, and just as his lips were about to make contact, Zhou Wan sharply turned her head away.
The sudden movement accidentally knocked the glass off the coffee table.
With a thud, it fell onto the carpet.
Lu Xixiao froze, maintaining his original position and distance.
Zhou Wan leaned back further, lowering her head as her chest heaved from the shock.
This is bad.
He must be angry now…
But unexpectedly, Lu Xixiao started laughing.
He leaned back on the sofa, head tilted as he laughed, his voice heavy with nasal congestion from his cold, emerging from deep in his throat, deep and husky like a bass speaker.
“I thought you could keep playing obedient until the end,” he said. “Guess not.”
“…”
Zhou Wan thought how could someone be so difficult?
He had seen through her all along, knowing she wasn’t as docile and obedient as she appeared. He didn’t ask why, nor did he care which side of herself she showed him – he just wanted to see her flustered and blushing.
Zhou Wan’s face grew even redder.
After enjoying her reaction for a while, Lu Xixiao said with a smile: “Go back.”
Zhou Wan was startled.
He raised an eyebrow: “Don’t you have class?”
*
Zhou Wan made it back to school just in time for competition class.
Only she and Jiang Yan had qualified for the National Physics Competition, so the teacher found a small classroom for just the two of them.
Seeing her, Jiang Yan asked quietly: “Didn’t you say you weren’t coming?”
Zhou Wan: “Something came up earlier.”
Though Jiang Yan found it a bit strange, he didn’t ask further.
After the competition class ended, Zhou Wan packed her bag and headed out.
Gu Meng linked arms with her, chatting as they walked down the stairs.
Gu Meng had recently fallen in love at first sight with a third-year boy but didn’t dare ask for his number or make any moves. She could only keep telling Zhou Wan how handsome he was.
Zhou Wan couldn’t picture the appearance Gu Meng described, so she asked: “Do you have a photo?”
“How would I dare take his picture?” Gu Meng said. “Just know that he’s super super handsome!”
Zhou Wan thought for a moment and asked: “How does he compare to Lu Xixiao?”
“Oh, Lu Xixiao is better looking,” Gu Meng laughed. “He’s the acknowledged school heartthrob, but too many girls like him. Having a crush on him would be too painful – only a fool would like him.”
Zhou Wan stayed silent.
“Zhou Wan!” Jiang Yan ran up from behind.
“What is it?”
“Tomorrow’s Saturday, want to study together at the library?”
“Tomorrow?” Zhou Wan considered. “I’m not sure if I have other plans tomorrow, I’ll text you later.”
Jiang Yan nodded: “Okay.”
As they reached the school gate, Zhou Wan’s steps suddenly faltered.
Lu Xixiao stood beneath the crooked tree at the school gate, leaning lazily against the trunk. The golden sunset shone on him, making everything around him bright.
Many female students were eyeing him.
Suddenly, he looked up and saw Zhou Wan.
Then he noticed Jiang Yan standing beside her and frowned slightly.
He walked over.
Zhou Wan’s heart suddenly tightened.
Gu Meng had also noticed Lu Xixiao but hadn’t paid much attention until he kept walking closer and finally stopped in front of Zhou Wan.
“Hospital or arcade.” His eyes were downcast, voice indifferent.
Gu Meng’s jaw dropped enough to fit an egg.
Zhou Wan clutched her uniform hem tightly: “Arcade.”
“Let’s go then.”
He turned around as he spoke, offering no explanation for his current behavior and showing complete disregard for the many watching eyes around them.
Zhou Wan hesitated for two seconds, quietly told Gu Meng “I’m going first,” and wordlessly followed Lu Xixiao.
“Zhou Wan.” Jiang Yan suddenly called out in a deep voice.
Zhou Wan’s steps faltered as she turned back.
Jiang Yan frowned deeply: “Do you want to hang around with him?”
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Wan heard Lu Xixiao’s scornful sneer.
Worried they might fight like last time, Zhou Wan quickly glanced at his expression. Though she couldn’t detect much anger, there was pure annoyance.
He couldn’t be bothered to waste words with Jiang Yan, nor did he want to make a scene in front of everyone.
He picked up Zhou Wan’s schoolbag, lifting the straps from her shoulders and holding it in his hand.
“One minute to sort this out,” Lu Xixiao said, then walked ahead carrying her bag.
Zhou Wan didn’t use the full minute, because she had no idea how to explain her relationship with Lu Xixiao. She just looked at Jiang Yan once and said softly: “He’s not what you think.”
Regardless of what complications existed between their mothers, regardless of who was truly the victim, Lu Xixiao was innocent.
And now she could be certain that Lu Xixiao wasn’t a bad person.
Perhaps self-centered, perhaps too casual, perhaps fickle, but fundamentally, he wasn’t bad.
Jiang Yan’s gaze was complex: “You’re taking his side.”
“I’m not taking anyone’s side,” Zhou Wan shook her head. “Jiang Yan, you’re my important friend, but you can’t control who I get close to.”
*
Lu Xixiao deliberately took large strides.
When Zhou Wan caught up to him, she was out of breath. While catching her breath, she asked: “Why did you come?”
He said flatly: “Was on the way.”
“Is your cold better?”
“Almost.”
His steps became smaller, and Zhou Wan could finally slow down: “Your voice still sounds a bit hoarse, maybe take medicine again before bed tonight, I left it on the coffee table.”
“Mm.”
His voice remained flat, words sparse, still annoyed.
Zhou Wan walked quietly beside him, not knowing how to console him, only trying to minimize her presence so he wouldn’t have to see her.
To the arcade, Lu Xixiao didn’t say another word to her.
As usual, Zhou Wan went to the counter, watching the store while doing homework. Lu Xixiao found a random game machine to play, tickets continuously spitting out of the dispenser by his feet.
Zhou Wan hadn’t done much homework when her phone started buzzing non-stop.
Close classmates sent her a string of messages.
[????]
[What’s going on! You and Lu Xixiao!!!!!]
[Why was he waiting at the school gate for you!!!!!]
[Oh my god! Could Lu Xixiao be trying to pursue you!?]
“…”
Zhou Wan looked up towards Lu Xixiao’s direction. His lips were pressed tight, eyes downcast, playing games with no expression.
[Zhou Wan: No way, how could Lu Xixiao pursue me.]
He seemed like someone who wouldn’t have the patience to pursue any girl.
All his girlfriends, which one hadn’t actively clung to him?
[Zhou Wan: He often comes to the arcade, so we just gradually became familiar.]
[But! He! Came! To! The! School! Gate! To! Wait! For! You!]
Zhou Wan’s fingers paused.
She also didn’t know why Lu Xixiao had come.
She often couldn’t understand Lu Xixiao’s motivations for doing things.
Lu Xixiao was an extremely casual person who didn’t explain his reasons.
Next, her friend sent her a link.
Zhou Wan clicked it – it was content from the school forum.
Yangming High School’s forum was quite lively, partly because of Lu Xixiao. Girls from other schools often came to ask about him.
But Zhou Wan had barely ever checked the forum.
The title of the post her friend sent was—
《? Was Lu Xixiao waiting for Zhou Wan at the school gate today????》
[Could Zhou Wan be his new girlfriend??]
[Wow, Lu Xixiao’s previous girlfriends weren’t this type at all?]
[I think Zhou Wan is super beautiful, pure, and obedient! Good grades and personality feel like she’s not Lu Xixiao’s type…]
[Already feeling sorry for the beauty, though Lu Xixiao is truly handsome, he’s also truly a player!]
[I thought it was weird when I saw Lu Xixiao’s friend greeting Zhou Wan before.]
[Even if they’re together it probably won’t last long, none of Lu Xixiao’s girlfriends lasted more than a month.]
[Although, even if you get played, getting to see Lu Xixiao’s face every day would be enough.]
[Added Lu Xixiao’s WeChat before, wanted to say there was once a girl’s back view in his Moments, I thought it looked like Zhou Wan then.]
[Actually, I think Zhou Wan is prettier than all of Lu Xixiao’s previous girlfriends, has a fairy sister aura, totally first-love material!]
…
Zhou Wan read through the comments one by one.
People weren’t as shocked as Gu Meng about this, after all, Lu Xixiao had many girls around him. Everyone knew it was just a passing interest, he would tire of her before long.
No different from any of his previous girlfriends.
*
By late night, people had come and gone from the arcade, leaving only Zhou Wan and Lu Xixiao.
He handed Zhou Wan a thick stack of tickets.
Zhou Wan helped enter them all, and when finished saw him lowering his head, one hand blocking the wind as he lit a cigarette.
“Ready to go?” He exhaled smoke and asked.
“Mm.” Zhou Wan glanced at him and said softly, “Your cold isn’t better yet, maybe don’t smoke.”
Lu Xixiao looked down, tugged at the corner of his mouth, and ignored her advice.
Zhou Wan said no more, packed her bag, and left with him.
The moon hid behind dark clouds, dimmer than the streetlights.
The rain had just stopped, leaving puddles along the road that splashed when cars rushed past.
Lu Xixiao pulled Zhou Wan’s wrist to move her to the inner side of the path.
They remained quiet.
After a while, Lu Xixiao asked, voice hoarse: “Want noodles?”
“Do you want some?”
“Whatever, up to you.”
“I’m quite full,” Zhou Wan said. “If you’re hungry I’ll go with you.”
“Never mind then.”
They walked past the noodle shop.
Raindrops fell from the eaves, pattering down.
The sound of a car came from behind.
Without looking back, Lu Xixiao naturally raised his hand to Zhou Wan’s shoulder, half-embracing her as they stepped toward the inner side of the path.
Though separated by clothes, the overly intimate posture still made Zhou Wan stiffen. Lu Xixiao seemed to notice and lowered his hand once they reached the inner side.
Zhou Wan silently let out a breath.
The next second, Lu Xixiao’s meaningful laughter sounded in her ear.
Zhou Wan’s face heated up.
He was teasing her again.
How could someone enjoy teasing people so much?
Suddenly, a car horn sounded beside them.
Beep beep—
Zhou Wan turned her head, dazzled by the headlights.
She saw Guo Xiangling lower the car window, sticking half her head out, calling to Lu Xixiao: “Xiao!”