Chapter Eighteen Dinner 1

  School's out, Ming Xin stands at the classroom door waiting for Xia Wenjing.

  "Ming Xin! So early today."

  "I want you to go with me to a place." Before Xia Qing could respond, Ming Xin pulled her towards the rehearsal hall.

  Under Ming Xin's lead, the two of them quietly pushed open the side door of the practice room, and the beautiful piano sound entered their ears. Xia Qian Jing stopped in her tracks and looked over, in the corner to the left front, a boy was intently playing. Ming Xin raised his index finger to his lips, indicating for Xia Qian Jing to crouch down and head to the other side.

  The two finally arrived at a corner that was not easily noticeable, and sat down on the ground. Ming Xin rarely quieted down, intently watching the boy playing the instrument.

  She seems to be here to watch rather than listen. Since she's here, let her be. She watches hers, I listen to mine.

  Ling Shuiyue received a call from the coach, asking him to go to the office to pick up the new training schedule. As he passed by the practice hall, the side door was open, and he heard the faint sound of piano music coming from inside. He inadvertently glanced in and saw Li Ling, but at the same time, he also saw Xia Xianning who was fully focused on listening to the piano.

  Ming Xin whispered beside Xia Qian's ear: "Is he good-looking?"

  Xia Xian Ning smiled knowingly.

  "Don't laugh at me!"

  "Which one?" Xia Xian Ning adjusted her glasses, she had to take a closer look at the other person: "Seems like... it's a super idol type."

  When Xia Wen Ning said this, Ming Xin was delighted: "You really think so?"

  Xia Qian nodded: "Yes, be practical."

  "Do you think he will like me?"

  Ming Xin asked Xia Qian Ning such a difficult question, and Xia Qian Ning really couldn't answer: "I can't answer such a profound question."

  Ming Xin's face was puzzled.

  "That's right, you don't know him or understand him. How would you know? Ah! Xian Rong, how was his piano playing?"

  Xia Qian's face was calm and smiling: "It's all right."

  "What about you?"

  "Me?" Xia Xian's eyes widened in surprise.

  "Don't pretend you don't know, I've heard it from Wei Auntie before," Ming Xin explained.

  Ming Xin was so frank with herself, Xia Xian thought she should express her true thoughts and opinions, no need for those boring pleasantries: "On the same level as me."

  "How about you try it?"

  Xia Qian Ning started to back away: "Forget it."

  "Alright, let me confirm his level for you, see if he's as good as you say."

  "Great! Promise me. I've had a crush on him for so long, I have to confirm if it's worth it or not?"

  "Is it worth having a secret crush on someone? Does liking someone require conditions or reasons?"

  "Isn't it too hard? It's just a small thing that I can do for you."

  The voices of the two people grew louder and louder, and the people next to them were already staring at them.

  "Sorry, Ming Xin! I... and I want to be friends with you... really sorry." What Ming Xin said was right, she just wanted to do some small things that were within her power for her, but she didn't want to disturb anyone, didn't want to leave any unnecessary marks in this school, this city.

  Xia Qian Jing hastily picked up her school bag and ran towards the door. She had to leave quickly and never come back to this place of trouble again.

  Ming Xin stared blankly at Xia Qian's flustered back, opening her mouth but unable to call out.

  ——————&&&——————&&&——————

  Xia Qian Ning kept running until she reached the corner of the school gate, turned around and looked back, but there was no one. She leaned against the wall, panting heavily, and patted her own face: nothing to be sorry about! You're here to live a quiet life, you don't want to make new friends, you don't want to leave any marks here, you came here just to accompany your mom, to atone for your sins.

  "Stolen something? Hiding here?" Ling Shuiyue stood beside her at some point, also leaning against the wall.

  Xia Qian Ning's hand was tightly pressed against her chest, how could he be so scary, her heart almost jumped out.

  "You haven't lied enough."

  The lie was exposed, Xia Qian Ning's small face blushed: "You......" He, also a familiar person to her: "Goodbye!"

  "Where is your phone?"

  Xia Qian Ning went to touch her pocket, nothing was there, and prepared to open her school bag to look inside. But she was stopped by Ling Shui Yao: "It's here with me, it fell out when we were running just now. Xue Gu Gu called, I'm afraid she'll worry, so I answered, saying you're playing a musical piece and will return it to her later."

  "I was on my way to the office to get the rehearsal schedule and saw you inside when I passed by the music hall."

  After listening to Ling Shuiyue's words, Xia Qianqian felt much more at ease. She took her phone and dialed Guan Xue's number. It turned out that Guan Xue was working overtime, leaving Xia Qianqian to solve dinner on her own.

  Hang up the phone, Xia Qian Ning rushed out of the water and waved goodbye: "Thank you! Goodbye!"

  "Wait!"

  Ling Shui hesitated and said: "Some people always use words to thank others, and the last game competition was like this, isn't it not very good?"

  "Treat me to dinner."

  He's a rascal, but what he said makes sense. He has helped himself a lot, yesterday and today. But having dinner with him... Xia Xianying murmured: "Okay! What do you like?"

  "How can you agree to have dinner with a stranger so quickly? Don't you have any sense of caution? You're too casual: 'How can you agree to have dinner with a guy so quickly? Are you an easygoing girl?'"

  Xia Qian's face had just faded from its previous flush, but was again reddened by Ling Shuiyue's unreasonable provocation. She shot him a white glance and turned to walk away with large strides.

  "Hey!" Ling Shuiyue caught up: "How can you do this? You said you'd invite someone to dinner, how could you turn around and run away?"

  He really knows how to be unreasonable, Xia Qian stopped and said: "I'm such a casual girl, I'm a stranger to you, aren't you afraid of falling if you eat with me?"

  "Is this your trump card for evading responsibility?"

  "You..." Xia Xianying was speechless and continued walking in the direction of home.

  Ryo's heart was filled with regret, he always wanted to hide his true feelings in front of her, but every time he ended up making a fool of himself. He longed to have dinner together with her, and she had thanked him so sincerely, yet his expressions in front of her always failed, she must have been very hurt just now.

  The summer breeze still lingered, and she remained silent as before.

  "Ugly eight freaks! ...... " Seeing Xia Qianjin quickening her pace, Ling Shuiyue suddenly blocked her way: "Please treat me to a meal."

  "Is there such a domineering way to get someone to invite you out for dinner?"

  "I didn't apologize." This was his first apology in life.

  "When was it? How come I didn't hear about it?"

  "I... you want to see," Ling Shuiyue suddenly stopped, she wanted a voice, how could that be: "I invite you to dinner."

  Xia Qian Ning retorted with a hint of annoyance: "I can't just casually have dinner with some strange guy."

  "You're still holding onto that one sentence I said, am I just a stranger to you?"

  Seeing Ling Shuiyue's serious expression, Xia Qianjing stopped and looked at him with a curious gaze. His serious face was quite strange, as if it didn't match his usual cool demeanor. The contrast between his calm face and the two words "serious" was hard to bear. She held back her laughter: "You say..." Seeing Ling Shuiyue listening even more seriously, she couldn't help but burst out laughing: "Haha... haha..."

  A weight was lifted off her shoulders as she agreed.

  Two people made up again.

  "What do you like to eat?" Ling Shuiyue's face was filled with a smile without realizing it.

  "I haven't been here for long, I don't know what's good to eat and what I like. You choose instead."

  "Really? We can't eat dumplings every time. How about Western food?"

  "It's okay."

  "Then let's go to Beidou."