Chapter 5 Ebb Tide Three

  Three

  It's not long after the New Year, and the festive atmosphere still lingers in the air, but school has already started. It's said to be a response to the country's great call for nine years of compulsory education, returning to school ahead of schedule to study. Blue stood in front of the mirror, combing his hair, which had unknowingly grown soft and long enough to cover his ears during the holiday. His straight bangs were neatly combed across his forehead. He couldn't tell if it was due to poor appetite during the holidays, but his original little belly was no longer visible, and his chubby face had slimmed down a bit. Thanks to him, Zhang Chongyu's face suddenly appeared in his mind, followed by a vigorous shake of his head, saying to himself in the mirror: "Blue, if you continue like this, I really can't take it anymore."

  My heart still looks forward to seeing Zhang Chongyu, although in my heart I am extremely disgusted with this idea, but I still put on new clothes and turned around beautifully in front of the mirror. The feeling of cowardice is still there, afraid that when he sees me at the beginning of the new semester, he will think I look worse than before, afraid to see him walking hand in hand with Xiao Yi. Although they are together, it's an indisputable fact, but I still yearn for him to take a glance at me, even if it's just a appreciative gaze. That's all that's needed.

  After a holiday, the school seemed to have no changes. The classmates who were separated for a holiday could still chat and laugh as they walked by. Lan had just registered and walked out of the office when she saw Zhang Chongyu and Xiao Yi walking towards her, one after the other, at a distance that was neither far nor near.

  Just felt a bit strange, then saw standing next to Xiao Yi's mother, this arrogant noble lady, carrying a blue bag that was seen in fashion magazines, wearing oversized sunglasses and walking over with her head held high, although I didn't see her eyes, but can imagine how impatient she must be.

  No wonder Zhang Chongyu didn't register with Xiao Yi together, maybe Zhang Chongyu was also tired of dealing with this arrogant "mother-in-law". But at least some courtesy should be shown, Lan walked up to her side and softly called out "Auntie" before hastily leaving, not even daring to glance at Zhang Chongyu again.

  Zhang Chongyu looked back at Lan'er, who was leaving in a hurry, with a puzzled expression. She seemed to feel very nervous when she saw him. At the moment she saw him, she first widened her eyes, then looked away with unstable breathing, pretending to be calm as she walked by. In his heart, he thought that all of her actions were lovely, but sometimes this girl was really hard to figure out.

  Xiao Yi's mother stood beside, waiting to register for Xiao Yi. Zhang Chongyu deliberately gave up his position and let her go first. Xiao's mother took off her sunglasses and looked at Zhang Chongyu with a profound gaze, her mouth curled up into an almost imperceptible smile, before walking in on high heels.

  Xiao Yi followed behind her mother, turned around and made a face at Zhang Chongyu. The boy's cheeks gradually flushed red, then he smiled warmly at her and mouthed "see you in class". Xiao Yi smiled and nodded, making an OK gesture with her hand.

  At the beginning of the new semester, everyone was indeed lacking in spirit during class. It wasn't just the students who were drowsy, even the teachers seemed a bit distracted. The politics and history teacher had just started class when he ordered everyone to preview the new lesson on their own. As they opened up their brand new textbooks, the smell of fresh ink wafted up, but their minds were elsewhere. Sitting next to her, Xiao Yi seemed to have gained a bit of weight since last semester, but her skin was also whiter and smoother, and her cheeks were rosy. Lan C couldn't help but sneak a peek at Xiao Yi, whose long bangs almost covered her eyes. "Xiao Yi, what did you do during the holidays?"

  Xiao Yi seemed to be lost in thought, and was startled by Lan's sudden question, "Huh? Oh, I wasn't doing anything, just visiting relatives and chatting with them. How about you?"

  "I'm nothing special, just like everyone else."

  "Oh." Xiao Yi turned her head to glance at Zhang Chongyu's back, then whispered in Lan'er's right ear: "Lan'er, do you know? I went to the Water City with Chongyu during the holidays, it was so much fun, but when we got back, I almost got scolded to death by my mom."

  "How romantic!" Lan smiled, pulling up the corners of her mouth, "You two really have a sense of romance."

  Xiao Yitian smiled sweetly and lowered her head, pursing her lips, "Hehe, that's right, next time I'll take you together."

  "I give up, what a bright light bulb."

  "It's okay, this time I went to Chong Yu and said you were called together, but thinking of your family being strict didn't call you. Next time, after graduation, let's see who dares to control you."

  Feeling a bit relieved after hearing this, at least he hasn't forgotten himself. Why escape, why be so pretentious? It's just that the person I like doesn't like me back, thinking about it this way, maybe he didn't do anything wrong either. At least we can still be friends, and maybe being friends will last longer too.

  The first day back from the holiday is always very long, after finishing a day of classes, I returned to the dormitory. In half a year, we will be entering junior high school, and studying has started to become tense. To adapt to the gradually accelerating learning pace of the school, all pre-junior three students have to become boarders. This is also why Lan brought the largest suitcase from home, from now on, she can only go back home once a month, so everything needed must be prepared in advance to feel at ease.

  Xiao Yi carefully climbed onto the bed and called out to Lan'er to hand her the luggage by her feet. Lan'er struggled to lift the somewhat heavy pink suitcase, swaying back and forth as she handed it over to Xiao Yi. After thanking her happily, Xiao Yi took a photo from the side pocket of the luggage and handed it to Lan'er with a delighted expression: "This is one I took with Chong Yu in Shuicheng, isn't it beautiful?"

  Lan looked at the photo, the two people in the photo were close together, Zhang Chongyu's smile was still as bright as when they first met, but there was a bit more maturity between his eyebrows and eyes. Lan scratched his wet hair and lifted his head to show Xiao Yi a smile, "The scenery there is quite beautiful."

  "Yes, and the farmhouse dishes there are super delicious and very cheap. The owner is super nice and even gave us a pair of rings made from local jade stone. After finishing speaking, he stretched out his finger with the ring on it to the bottom of Lán Cī's eyes and said 'Look'."

  "It's...it's fine." Looking at Lan Xi's somewhat stiff expression, Xiao Yi's smile gradually faded away. She turned her body to face Lan Xi and looked into her eyes, then continued in a tone devoid of emotion: "Lan Xi, you like Zhang Chong Yu, we've all figured it out."

  Her heart skipped a beat, but the panic in her eyes betrayed her secret. Lan C suddenly shook his head: "How is that possible! I just treated him as a friend!"

  Xiao Yi looked at her, his eyes seeming to want to see right through her, "Is that so?"

  Blue's fingers were tightly intertwined, "Really, I just treated him as an ordinary friend, don't believe...don't believe you go ask him!"

  Xiao Yi stroked the slightly curled ends of her hair, smiled sweetly and said: "Then I can rest assured. Originally, when Zhang Chongyu and I were together, the person we worried about the most was you. We were afraid that if you knew, you would be heartbroken, so we didn't dare to make it too public. Now that this is settled, we can be more casual in the future."

  "You don't have to worry about me." Lan's blue eyes looked down at the ground and he said softly, "As long as you're happy, I'm happy too."

  Xiao Yi stopped talking, but the emotions in her heart were surging like a stormy sea. Looking at Lan's deliberately concealed expression, she felt a sense of revengeful pleasure in her heart - you liked the person I liked the most, and this is something you also knew, didn't you? Did you also feel the pain in your heart? There are many depressing feelings, how can only I bear them, while you continue to live happily among them like nothing's wrong. The girl's strong jealousy gradually overturned the subtle friendship that remained in her heart.