Chapter 2 May's Fresh Flowers (Sixth Junior Middle School)

  From a purely musical perspective, Peng Weiwei and Zhang Songling's rendition of "May's Fresh Flowers" fell far short. Not only did it fail to convey the song's original sense of desolation and indignation, but it also carried a hint of "forced melancholy". However, Tian Qingyu and others who had rushed out of the house couldn't bear to interrupt the singing of the young couple inside. Even Peng Xuewen, Peng Weiwei's older brother, who had never gotten along with Zhang Songling, slowed down his pace, placing his fingers on the doorframe, hesitating whether to knock or let this warm moment linger a little longer.

  "That kid, although a bit silly, has a good heart. His appearance and family background are barely passable." Suddenly realizing that his sister had become a big girl, Peng Xuewen thought with some sourness. Immediately, he smiled lightly at Fang Guoqiang who had just caught up, and firmly knocked on the door panel with his fingers, "Bang, bang, bang..."

  "Who's so annoying!" The singing in the house stopped abruptly, Peng Weiwei frowned and muttered a sentence under her breath, then quickly flicked her hair behind her ear and walked quickly towards the door.

  "I guess it's time for us to go down and have dinner!" Zhang Songling followed from behind with a smile, holding a stack of review materials in his arms. "I'll take them back and copy them. After I finish copying, I'll send them over to you right away. I write fast, so I should be able to finish copying before 10 pm tonight!"

  "No rush, take your time copying. I'll come down to find you when I need to!" Peng Weiwei replied casually while opening the door, as if they were old friends. "Bro, how did you end up here? And why are Han Jie, Liu Jie and Shi Tou all running to my place too?"

  "We were worried that you hadn't come down to eat, and were afraid you'd get caught in the rain, so we came up to take a look!" Against his own sister's clear gaze, Peng Xuewen suddenly felt a little flustered. He quickly turned his head away, smiling as he told a small lie.

  "Look what you're saying, it's like I'm made of mud! Peng Weiwei's mind was still stuck in the memory from just now, and she didn't notice the awkwardness on everyone's faces. She smiled and responded with a sentence, then stepped aside to make way for the door. "Everyone come in, don't stand outside! I'll clean up the table, and we can head down right away! There's hot water on the table, whoever wants some can pour it themselves!"

  As she spoke, she was about to get up and go to the inner room of the suite to tidy up her clothes. Peng Xuewen chased after her for half a step, stopped, with a hint of hesitation on his face. But soon, this hesitation turned into determination, "Weiwei, don't be in a hurry, I have something important to ask you?!"

  "What's the matter?" Peng Weiwei quickly turned her head, and was immediately startled by the solemn faces of everyone. "What's the matter that can't be said in a minute or two?"

  "It's not a big deal! I just want to confirm with you!" Peng Xuewen tried not to look into his sister's eyes, with a hint of guilt in his smile. "Songling, don't rush off either. After we're done asking Weiwei, we'll ask for your opinion on this matter!"

  "Ah!" Zhang Songling responded with a hint of surprise on his face. In his memory, Peng Xuewen, the top student from Beiping, had never been so polite to him before. Had he encountered some trouble again and needed his help to solve it? That should have been discussed with Big Brother Zhou first, weren't they relatives and close friends?

  Before he could figure out the reason, Peng Xuewen had already changed his expression and smiled at his sister, "We're preparing to leave tomorrow, I'd like to ask you, do you want to go to Nanjing or Beijing?"

  "Weren't we just escaping from Beiping?!" Peng Weiwei looked at her own brother in surprise, "How can you turn back now?! What about San Gu's side, how are you going to explain it to him?!"

  "I'm just asking for your opinion!" Peng Xuewen quickly interrupted, then hastily added, "Firstly, you're also a big girl now, you should have the right to make your own choices. I can't make every decision for you. Secondly, we were just discussing and preparing to vote on whether to go south or north, and at your age, you also have the qualification to cast a vote!"

  "What are you messing around for? Of course, I'm with you!" Peng Weiwei raised her head and gave her own brother a light glance, with a few hints of impatience in her tone.

  Fang Guoqiang had long expected this outcome, and with a disdainful shrug of his shoulders, he turned to face Zhang Songling before Peng Xuewen could react. "Zhang, my fellow student, did you understand what he just said? If you did, I'm asking you seriously: are you going to go to Beiping or desert halfway?"

  "What's with the deserter talk, can't you put it nicely?!" Liu Jing quickly interjected, blocking Fang Guoqiang's piercing gaze, and softly explained to Zhang Songling, "Don't listen to him! We all agreed to leave together, but we have to vote on which direction to go. Now it's just your one vote that's missing, whichever way you choose, it's a responsibility to yourself and everyone else. No one has the right to interfere!"

  She had a dispute with Lu Qing because of her sudden change of mind to turn south, and at this time she was very painful in her heart. Naturally, she put the "hatred" of losing love on Fang Guoqiang who insisted on continuing to go north. Just hope that Fang Guoqiang will become one of the parties who lose votes, so that boyfriend Lu Qing can understand that Miss's original choice was not wrong. It is because Vice Captain Fang Guoqiang did things that are not popular with people, which made everyone change their minds!

  "Liu Jing, don't try to influence him!" Fang Guoqiang immediately saw through Liu Jing's scheme, furrowed his brow and ruthlessly exposed it.

  "You're trying to influence him! Before he's even made a decision, you're already putting pressure on him!" Liu Jing turned around and confronted Fang Guoqiang.

  "Alright, everyone stop arguing. Let Songling make his own choice!" Peng Xuewen plucked up the courage and quickly gave a pleading look to his sister before walking forward and using his body to separate Fang Guoqiang and Liu Jing. "Songling, are you willing to go with Weiwei to Nanjing to take the entrance exam for Central University? I have some connections there too, and can help you get your hands on previous years' exam questions!"

  He spoke very bluntly, and a red glow suddenly appeared on Peng Weiwei's face. However, after all, it was her own brother's request, and as his sister, she had no reason not to help. Moreover, Zhang Songling was also a good playmate, and going to Nanjing to study together would allow them to take care of each other.

  At this point, Peng Weiwei reluctantly put down the girl's family reserve, slowly lowering her eyelids and then slowly opening them. As if it was very difficult, she smiled at Zhang Songling and said: "Songling, don't listen to my brother's nonsense. This guy has never had a serious word. How to choose, you decide for yourself. Don't consider, don't consider..."

  She had already become so flustered that she couldn't bear it. Turning around, covering her face, she quickly fled into the inner room of the suite.