Chapter 45: Love Letter

  Xia Xi finished her homework and, as usual, wrote the day's language arts assignment on one side of the blackboard. Her chalk handwriting was bold and powerful, not like the delicate writing typical of most girls. Xing Miao had even teased her about it before, "Your writing is great, but dear, next time can you be a bit gentler with the blackboard?"

  A person's attitude towards writing is actually a reflection of her personality, Xi Xi is quite serious, every stroke is written with full force, inevitably getting a handful of chalk dust, she takes the opportunity to rush to the bathroom to wash before class starts.

  During meal times and the free time before evening study, people flowed in and out of the corridors, the dim yellow lights casting a warm glow on the crowd. Amidst the sea of faces, he spotted Gu Xiang with just one glance. He wore the same loose-fitting school uniform as everyone else, but somehow managed to exude an aura that rivaled the grandeur of the Galactic Center. His eyes shone too brightly, and in the midst of the bustling crowd, they unwittingly drew the attention of everyone around him.

  Guo Xiao is the kind of person who will never be drowned in the crowd.

  "Hey, Gu Xiao", Xi Xi waved at him and suddenly remembered the talent show competition that Shu Hua mentioned a few days ago. She took a few steps forward to stand in front of him, "Isn't there a talent show competition being held in the city recently? Why don't you participate?"

  "Did Chen Yan tell you?" Gu Xiao's expression changed slightly when he heard Xi Xi's words, thinking that she knew about Chen Yan's condition. This matter, he really didn't want Xi Xi to interfere with.

  "No, I heard it from Shu Hua's sister."

  It wasn't until Xi Xi said that did Gu Xiao finally breathe a sigh of relief. If the qualification for this competition had to be exchanged for Xi Xi's self-esteem, then he would rather give up.

  "You go and attend, an opportunity should not be missed." Xia Xixi, who was unaware of the inside story, continued to urge Gu Xiao.

  "Next time, I still need more stage experience." Gu Xiao casually found an excuse.

  Xi Xi still wouldn't let up, "Participating in competitions is a way to gain experience, why don't you go participate? It's a rare opportunity."

  "To me, you are more important than this opportunity." Gu Xiao said in a barely audible voice. Xi Xi didn't hear clearly and asked him what he said. He smiled slightly and said: "The preparatory bell is about to ring, if you don't go back now, you'll be late."

  Xi Xi reluctantly walked in the direction of the classroom, looking back and shouting at him: "You have to go!"

  He watched her walk away, his emotions soft and complex in his heart, until the preparatory bell rang, he came to himself, only then remembering to remind her to return to class, but he had forgotten. He smiled and shook his head, slowly returning to the classroom.

  Chen Yan saw the pink envelope inserted in the language homework book, and subconsciously looked up at Xia Xixi. Through the heavy shadows, he couldn't see clearly, and slightly turned his head, barely able to make out a figure studying with their head down. A ripple rose in Chen Yan's eyes: Xia Xixi, so Gu Xiao is that important to you, important enough for you to put aside your stubborn pride.

  It was the result he wanted to see, but a wave of discontent surged in his heart. He casually stuffed the envelope into the desk drawer and only took it out when it was almost time for school to let out. When he did, the contents shocked Chen Yan.

  This is not a letter of apology, but an unsigned love letter.

  The whole article was full of beautiful words, and I don't know where they were copied from. Chen Yan patiently read through it, and when he reached the last sentence, his heart skipped a beat. On the pink letterhead, the final sentence read: I like you, please be friends with me.

  Chen Yan had some doubts in her mind, the writing style and wording of this love letter were not like Xia Xi's at all, but it was inserted in the language homework book without a signature, who else could it be besides her?

  Although he wasn't quite sure if it was her, Chen Yan's mood suddenly cleared up like a gentle breeze had blown by.

  But when he stopped Xia Xi after school, he didn't expect her smiling expression.

  Xia Xi coldly said to him: "Excuse me, you're blocking my way."

  "Oh?" Chen Yan was taken aback and couldn't figure out what she meant by repeating herself, so he asked: "What do you want to do?"

  "What's wrong with you? I'm asking you to stay away from me!" Xi Xi replied irritably, thinking that Chen Yan was up to his old tricks again, never imagining that it was Zeng Yu's unsigned love letter that had caused the misunderstanding.

  "You're the one who says you like me, and also the one who tells me to keep a distance from you. Can I take this as a case of 'refusing while welcoming'? Chen Yan's face suddenly broke out into a smile, gazing deeply at Xi Xi's eyes, his gaze piercing straight into her pupils that she couldn't avoid."

  "What's wrong with you, who said I liked you?" Xi Xi heard him say this and was even more at a loss, this devil, she couldn't avoid him quickly enough, how could she take the initiative to send herself to his door.

  "How do you explain this letter? You wrote it casually to help Gu Xuan pursue his love, and now you don't acknowledge it?" Chen Yan pulled out the pink letter from his pocket, waved it in his hand, and sneered with a hint of imperceptible loss.

  Xia Xi suddenly understood when she saw what was in his hand. It turned out that Chen Yan had mistakenly thought that the love letter was written by her, but from the tone of his words, how did this matter involve Gu Xuan again? What unspeakable secret did Gu Xuan have? Too many questions flooded Xia Xi's mind at once, she feared making things worse and didn't dare to ask rashly, only asking: "What's going on with Gu Xuan?"

  "If he hadn't made you come ask me for it, would you have written this on your own initiative to get the qualification to participate in the competition?"

  "This thing wasn't written by me, and Gu Xiao never mentioned it to me either. I think you've misunderstood." Xixi roughly figured out the situation, and found that the crux of Gu Xiao's refusal to participate in the competition lay here - Chen Yan wanted her to apologize as a condition for reconciliation, such arrogance and bullying, looking down on others, she saw through Chen Yan once again.

  It's just that Gu Xiao shouldn't be implicated because of her own reasons, this opportunity is too important for him. Thinking of this, Xi Xi made a decision in her heart. Since Gu Xiao can give up such an important opportunity for himself in order not to make things difficult for her, then she can also put aside her self-respect temporarily for Gu Xiao.

  "Take care of Gu Xiao's matter, I'm begging you, be lenient." Xi Xi said with her head down, word by word.

  Chen Yan laughed out loud, his laughter more and more open-hearted, but the expression on his face grew colder. He had never seen her so humble and submissive before. The flames of anger in his heart burned even hotter. She could lower herself for others, but she didn't want to say another word to him.

  Xia Xi Xi, this is unfair.

  The two people stopped talking, and the eerie atmosphere spread in the still chilly air of March until Jiang Yan's sudden appearance broke the silence.

  "Brother Chen Yan!" The delicate girl suddenly threw herself into Chen Yan's arms, her cat-like eyes warily watching Xia Xi, with a hint of spoiled tone: "I've been waiting for you for so long, and you didn't even come out."

  Chen Yan wrapped his arm around Jiang Yan's waist, but his eyes were fixed on Xia Xi, and he tossed the envelope in her direction. "No matter who wrote this, please tell her to give up." After speaking, he planted a kiss on Jiang Yan's forehead and led her into the night.

  Xia Xi picked up the letter that he had thrown on the ground, carefully smoothed it out, and held it in his hand. His heart was filled with mixed emotions, unable to make sense of things.