HomeFalling In LoveZhui Luo - Chapter 31

Zhui Luo – Chapter 31

Zhou Wan didn’t know if Lu Xixiao was getting the short end of the deal or not, but either way, she saw him at school on Monday.

He was wearing his school uniform.

Zhou Wan rarely saw him in uniform.

During Monday’s flag-raising ceremony, over thirty class formations were arranged on the field.

Lu Xixiao stood at the back of Class 7, looking like he hadn’t fully woken up, his expression weary and exhausted, eyelids drooping. The school uniform hung loosely on his frame, the zipper not properly pulled up, revealing his sharp, beautiful collarbones and outlining his straight, clean shoulder lines.

Zhou Wan heard girls discussing how Lu Xixiao had come to school that day and was wearing his uniform.

They said it proved clothes look good on the right person—even such an ugly uniform looked youthfully vibrant on Lu Xixiao.

Zhou Wan lowered her head, pressing her lips together to control her smile.

The principal was giving a speech at the podium.

No one’s mind was really on it though—today was Christmas Eve, and tomorrow was Christmas.

These holidays were especially popular at school. Everyone had already bought various pretty greeting cards over the weekend, and now they were whispering about the cards and gifts they’d received.

Zhou Wan had received quite a few cards too.

She had a good personality and was well-liked by her classmates.

However, this year’s cards were mostly from girls, with no boys giving her any—probably because of Lu Xixiao, they all kept their distance.

After the flag-raising ceremony, classes returned to their rooms in order.

Gu Meng linked arms with Zhou Wan, saying: “It would be nice if it snowed tomorrow, that would give it a Christmas atmosphere.”

“Did the weather forecast say it would snow?” Zhou Wan asked.

“Of course not!” Gu Meng said, “Qiaoxi hasn’t had snow these past two years. If it snows, it’s usually around New Year’s, not this early.”

Zhou Wan remembered what Lu Xixiao had said before: “Seems like it’s a warm winter this year.”

Gu Meng sighed and said: “I have to get into a northern university!”

Zhou Wan laughed: “Just to see snow?”

“And for the central heating!”

Walking upstairs back to the classroom, Zhou Wan suddenly paused, frowning slightly as she asked Gu Meng in a low voice: “Meng-meng, do you have any sanitary pads?”

“Oh, you got your period?” Gu Meng immediately felt her pocket, “I have some in my backpack.”

Zhou Wan got a pad from the classroom and quickly went to the bathroom.

Her periods were often irregular, sometimes more than a month apart, less than a month, but every time it came she felt very uncomfortable—stomach cramps, backache, and feeling especially cold.

Zhou Wan changed her pad and sighed.

She hated getting her period in winter the most.

The school bathrooms had no hot water. Zhou Wan rinsed her hands with cold water, shivering, and quickly dried them and stuffed them in her pockets. Her lower abdomen felt swollen and painful as if something was trying to pull her internal organs down.

Walking out of the bathroom, she ran into Lu Xixiao.

Lu Xixiao looked at her and frowned: “Why do you look so pale?”

Zhou Wan shook her head: “It’s nothing.”

Lu Xixiao, ignoring the passing students around them, raised his hand and placed the back of it against Zhou Wan’s forehead—not hot, very cold.

“Got a cold?”

Zhou Wan shook her head: “Really, it’s nothing.”

He deepened his voice: “Zhou Wan.”

Zhou Wan didn’t know how to explain to him, feeling embarrassed.

Lu Xixiao grabbed her wrist: “Let’s go to the infirmary.”

“No need, Lu Xixiao…” Zhou Wan pulled her hand back, “Really, I’m fine.”

She couldn’t pull free from him. With no choice, she looked around, and seeing that all the other students had gone, finally said quietly: “I just… got my period.”

Lu Xixiao paused, looked at her for a moment, released her hand, and asked softly: “Does it hurt?”

“It’s okay, just a bit uncomfortable.”

The class bell rang just then, and Zhou Wan quickly waved goodbye to Lu Xixiao, enduring her stomach discomfort as she ran back to class.

Chinese class.

Zhou Wan took out the greeting cards from her drawer. Modern Christmas cards were becoming increasingly elaborate, mostly three-dimensional with bright colors.

Zhou Wan carefully read through them one by one, then wrote reply cards.

At the last one, she held her pen and paused for a while.

For Lu Xixiao’s card, what should she write?

After thinking for a moment, she lowered her head and wrote carefully—

Lu Xixiao, Happy Christmas Eve and Merry Christmas.

Wishing you happiness every day, smooth sailing, and success in everything.

Zhou Wan tucked the card into her textbook and put it on her desk, planning to give it to him after school.

*

The third period was PE class. Because of her period, Zhou Wan didn’t have to run, but after being blown by the cold wind for dozens of minutes, she felt increasingly unwell, her hands and feet ice-cold.

When the class bell rang, Zhou Wan returned to the classroom and found a bag stuffed in her desk when she went to get her next textbook.

She was startled and pulled it out.

Inside the bag was a steaming cup of red date and brown sugar tea, along with a hot water bottle.

Gu Meng happened to see it as she walked over and exclaimed softly: “Wan-wan, who gave you this?”

“I don’t know either.”

“Must be Lu Xixiao!” Gu Meng said, “Besides Lu Xixiao, who else would dare try to curry favor with you now?”

“…”

Zhou Wan lowered her eyes, still feeling this wasn’t like something Lu Xixiao would do, and said softly, “I’ll ask him later.”

[Zhou Wan: Did you put those things in my drawer?]

[6: Mm.]

Zhou Wan pressed her lips together, feeling something unusual spread through her heart.

[Zhou Wan: Thank you.]

[6: Still have competition training after school today?]

[Zhou Wan: Yes, until the competition in March next year, there’s training every day.]

[6: I’ll wait in the classroom, come find me after class.]

[Zhou Wan: Okay.]

At six in the afternoon, training ended.

Zhou Wan took out the greeting card for Lu Xixiao from her desk and put it in her pocket.

When she reached Class 7’s door, the empty classroom had only Lu Xixiao, sleeping with his head on the desk. Outside the window, it had already grown dark, and with no lights on, the classroom felt especially desolate.

Zhou Wan walked in and gently pushed his arm.

“Lu Xixiao.”

After a while, he straightened up, frowning, looking very irritated.

Zhou Wan fell silent.

After another two minutes, Lu Xixiao ran a hand through his hair and looked at Zhou Wan. The irritation in his eyes lessened somewhat, his voice still hoarse: “Finished?”

“Mm.”

He sat up straight, and Zhou Wan saw his textbook spread on the desk, completely blank, without any notes.

Zhou Wan: “Did you study today?”

He raised an eyebrow: “Couldn’t understand it.”

“…” Zhou Wan lowered her eyes, “Then next time I’ll give you my notes.”

Lu Xixiao curved his lips: “Alright.”

He stood up, picking up Zhou Wan’s backpack from her shoulder—it was heavy, weighing down his hand.

As he stood, Zhou Wan glimpsed his drawer stuffed full of greeting cards and Christmas apples.

She was startled.

Lu Xixiao noticed her gaze and said carelessly: “Don’t know who put them there.”

Must be from girls who liked him.

Every year during these holidays, Lu Xixiao’s drawer would mysteriously fill up with all sorts of gifts.

Zhou Wan blinked, saying softly: “Oh.”

She clutched the greeting card for him in her pocket—a simple Christmas card with a Christmas tree on the cover, completely unable to compare with those elaborate, thoughtful cards in his drawer.

“Let’s go,” Lu Xixiao said.

Zhou Wan made a sound of agreement, the card in her pocket ultimately remaining there.

She felt something strange in her heart, uncomfortable.

Firstly, she felt her prepared card was too simple, and not presentable, and secondly, Lu Xixiao had already received so many cards—she didn’t want hers to be lost among them.

If that was the case, she’d rather not give it at all.

Walking out of the school gate, Lu Xixiao asked: “Still feeling unwell?”

“Hm?”

He didn’t explain, just looked at her.

Zhou Wan realized what he meant and lowered her head, biting her lip: “Much better.”

Walking alongside Lu Xixiao, she asked, “Are we going to get dinner?”

“Mm.”

“Where?”

“My place.”

Zhou Wan was startled.

Lu Xixiao lowered his head, carelessly playing with his phone as he casually explained: “Remember the takeout from the barbecue restaurant last time? It’ll go bad if we don’t eat it soon.”

*

Zhou Wan was more familiar with the layout of Lu Xixiao’s kitchen than he was. She took out the induction cooker and tableware, then got the packaged refrigerated food from the fridge, checking that everything was still fresh.

“Do you have rice?” Zhou Wan asked, “There’s no rice yet.”

“Probably not.” Lu Xixiao sat down at the dining table. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d sat here with someone else. “I’ll order takeout.”

The delivery arrived quickly, and the hot pot lamb and meatballs on the induction cooker were also ready.

Zhou Wan picked up one to eat—it still tasted good.

Lu Xixiao ate faster than her, and after finishing, he lit a cigarette.

Zhou Wan glanced at him, wanting to tell him to smoke less, but ultimately didn’t say anything.

She scooped up her last spoonful of rice and asked: “Lu Xixiao, are you still eating?”

“No more.”

She took the initiative to clear the dishes, bringing them to the kitchen to wash.

After washing for a while, Lu Xixiao came in, walking straight to her side and reaching to turn the faucet in the opposite direction: “Don’t know how to adjust the hot water?”

“…I thought there wasn’t any hot water.”

Lu Xixiao leaned against the counter beside her, watching her wash dishes.

After a while, he suddenly made an irritated “tch” sound, grabbed Zhou Wan’s arm to pull her aside, then rolled up his sleeves, his dry, pale hands reaching into the murky dishwater.

His hands weren’t used to housework. Zhou Wan tugged at his sleeve: “Let me do it.”

His school uniform was rolled up to his elbows, hair falling over his forehead, and his profile clean and flowing. He had a cigarette between his lips, the ash getting a bit long—as he spoke, it fell onto his sleeve before being brushed away.

“Go study.”

The young man moved efficiently, wiping the bowls clean.

The soft light in the narrow kitchen fell around him, creating an illusion of warmth in everything.

Zhou Wan hesitated but still turned to leave the kitchen.

She wiped the dining table clean, then went to the sofa to take out her test papers.

The coffee table was low, the perfect height for doing problems while sitting on the carpet.

As she picked up her pen, Zhou Wan noticed small, faint red spots appearing on the back of her hand from touching the cold water, but they were already fading.

When Lu Xixiao finished washing dishes and came out, he saw the little girl curled up, sitting on the floor doing homework.

So small.

“There’s a table,” he said.

Zhou Wan looked up at him, smiling: “It’s fine, I like it this way.”

Lu Xixiao let her be, not bothering her further.

He played with his phone by himself.

Zhou Wan finished one test paper, turned to look at Lu Xixiao, and asked: “Don’t you have homework?”

Only after asking did she realize he hadn’t even brought his schoolbag home.

Zhou Wan thought for a moment: “Lu Xixiao, let me teach you math first.”

He raised an eyebrow, staring at Zhou Wan without speaking, lounging lazily on the sofa with one long leg bent. After a while, he laughed lightly: “Studying is fine, but no credit.”

Zhou Wan paused, then immediately blushed.

Lu Xixiao knew she understood.

After hesitating for half a minute, Zhou Wan awkwardly and reluctantly got up, walked in front of Lu Xixiao, bent down, and hugged him very lightly.

“Is that okay?” Zhou Wan asked.

He smiled and sat up straight, looking very generous: “Okay.”

Zhou Wan felt that suggesting to teach him was like lifting a rock only to drop it on her foot.

She took out her math textbook from her bag: “Final exams are coming up soon, this book covers the exam content for the math final. I’ll start teaching you from the first unit.”

Lu Xixiao watched her profile.

He knew Zhou Wan had good grades, but only now did he realize that when she was doing something she was good at, her demeanor was completely different from usual.

Very confident and determined.

It was as if peeling away her gentle, mild exterior revealed those inner qualities—resilience, strength, and persistence.

She taught very thoroughly, breaking down even the simplest points into tiny pieces to explain. After finishing a lesson’s concepts, she found corresponding problems from the exercise book for Lu Xixiao to solve.

Lu Xixiao twirled his pen, looked at the problems for a while, and then wrote several formulas on the paper.

The formulas were correct.

Zhou Wan pressed her lips together, corners of her mouth turning up, a faint smile spreading in her eyes: “Now plug in the numbers.”

Lu Xixiao was indeed clever, and quick to understand.

He soon calculated the answer to that problem.

Zhou Wan picked two more problems that weren’t so basic, and he quickly solved those too.

“Lu Xixiao,” her eyes curved, smile making her pupils shine brightly, “you’re smart.”

He stared at her for a while, slightly dazed, and laughed: “Trying to coax me into studying more, huh?”

Zhou Wan shook her head: “You are very smart. If you study seriously, it won’t take long to see your grades improve.”

Zhou Wan used the opportunity to teach Lu Xixiao to review for finals herself. By the time they finished the first three lessons of the first unit, it was getting late.

“It’s late, I should go.”

“Mm.” Lu Xixiao stood up.

Zhou Wan stopped him: “Don’t walk me back, it’s too cold outside. I’ll run home, I’ll be there right away.”

“It’s too late.”

After their time together, Zhou Wan’s impression of Lu Xixiao had changed again—she wasn’t as afraid of him as before.

Hearing this, she smiled again, praising: “Lu Xixiao, you’re really good.”

His movement of putting on shoes paused as he looked at her: “Don’t friend-zone me.”

“…”

Zhou Wan wrapped her scarf tightly, walking with Lu Xixiao in the winter wind.

The wind made her stomach feel heavy and uncomfortable again.

Approaching the residential complex entrance, they were struck by flashing blue and red lights. Zhou Wan looked up to find an ambulance parked at the entrance.

The usually quiet entrance was unusually noisy at this hour.

She frowned slightly, somehow feeling anxious at the sound of the ambulance.

She unconsciously quickened her pace. A neighbor auntie spotted her and immediately waved, calling out: “Wan-wan! Your grandmother fainted, quick, come here!”

Zhou Wan’s mind went blank with a “whoosh.”

She rushed over to see her grandmother already on a stretcher, being loaded into the ambulance.

The neighbor’s auntie explained: “Property management said there’d be a power outage tomorrow, I wanted to bring your grandmother some candles, but then I found her collapsed in the living room. Scared me to death.”

Life is unpredictable.

This might be the only constant rule in this world.

Zhou Wan’s hands and feet went cold as she looked at her grandmother’s pale face, her heart crawling with dread.

All sorts of bad thoughts invaded her mind, unable to make any sound, only tears falling continuously.

“Zhou Wan.” A voice penetrated all barriers, entering her ears.

Her ice-cold hand was covered by a warm temperature.

Lu Xixiao gripped her hand tightly, staring into her eyes, his voice deep: “Zhou Wan, stay calm.”

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