"Jingjing, this is for you!" I handed the Sprite in my hand to the girl who was sitting by the flower bed at the school gate and was sweating all over, and said.
Xiao Jingjing turned around, took the Sprite from my hand, unscrewed the cap impatiently, took a big sip, burped loudly, and then frowned and complained to me: "Didn't I tell you I want Fanta? You know I like orange-flavored soda the most."
I took out a pack of tissues from my pocket and handed it to her, comforting her: "There are only Coke, Sprite and other things there, no Fanta. I will buy it for you next time I see it. I have already reported in. You can take a rest and then help me move the luggage to the dormitory!"
The fastest thing in the world is time. The two-month summer vacation passed by quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it is a new semester again.
The summer in Shanghai is very hot. F Middle School started school before September. It was the height of summer, and the scorching sun was scorching us. I wiped the sweat off my face, secretly thanking myself that I didn't ask my parents to send me here, so they wouldn't have to suffer like this.
I just feel a little sorry for Xiao Jingjing.
She was originally busy with her waste collection business, but when she heard that I was coming to school alone to register, she volunteered to take me there on her electric tricycle.
There were all kinds of cars parked in front of the school, and Xiao Jingjing's small electric tricycle stood out among them.
On the way, students and parents who came to register cast contemptuous glances at us from time to time, but I pretended not to see them, and Xiao Jingjing didn't care either.
Although my family didn't have much money, in my opinion, I was equal to these people and I didn't care about their contempt.
After sitting in the shade of the tree for a while, Xiao Jingjing asked me to pull her up.
She was covered in sweat, and so was I.
While other students were sitting in high-end cars enjoying the air conditioning and not having to be burned by the scorching sun on their way to the dormitory, I had already climbed onto Xiao Jingjing's second-hand electric tricycle and was heading in the same direction.
This is where I will be staying for the next three years. It is far away from the shantytown where I grew up. If I come here by myself, I have to take a long bus ride and then transfer to the subway to get here.
The school is surrounded by tall buildings, and everything around it is so strange to me.
This is not a shantytown, but a place I have always wanted to see.
Jian Lening, look! You have finally walked out of that tiny place and looked at the world outside. How big and prosperous it is!
It’s okay if you can’t go abroad. China is such a big country, there is always a place for you to stay.
You don’t have to envy, be jealous, or feel lost, your world will become bigger and bigger.
I sat in Xiao Jingjing's car, looking around me with greed and curiosity at the unfamiliar and somewhat blurry scenery. My eyes were already wet, and I couldn't tell whether it was sweat or my tears of excitement.
Xiao Jingjing and I worked in the dormitory for several hours and finally tidied my bed and luggage.
I slept on the upper bunk. When I was boarding before, I always slept on the lower bunk, so I felt a little nervous when I slept on the upper bunk for the first time.
Xiao Jingjing said, although you are not as fat as me, you are a big man, it is not so easy for you to fall down.
I smiled at her with relief and thought to myself: My sleeping posture is not that bad, so I shouldn't fall down.
After finishing the work, Xiao Jingjing and I were both a little hungry. I offered to treat her to a meal, and she agreed without hesitation.
The restaurant Xiao Jingjing chose was not expensive. It was just a Lanzhou ramen restaurant near the school. Although the food there was a bit more expensive than the restaurant near my home, the prices were still acceptable.
I ordered a large bowl of beef noodles for Xiao Jingjing and a small bowl for myself, and bought two bottles of drinks, and then we both started to eat voraciously.
Lunch time had already passed a long time ago, and Xiao Jingjing and I hadn't eaten anything since we left home, so even though this bowl of noodles tasted average, we enjoyed it very much.
"Little eyes, call me when you're on holiday and I'll pick you up. Your parents have to go to work, so they may not be available. I'm running around to collect things, so it won't be a problem for me to pick you up. Besides, school has just started, and you're unfamiliar with the place. You probably won't even know the route, so be sure to call me!"
Halfway through the noodles, Xiao Jingjing suddenly raised her head, rolled up her sleeves, and spoke to me seriously.
I smiled at her gratefully and said nothing.
No matter how unfamiliar this place is to me, since I have chosen to come here, I will learn to adapt and get familiar with it no matter how unfamiliar it is.
Now I am in high school and will go to college in the future. I may go to a place farther away from home, and Xiao Jingjing cannot pick me up every time.
She also has her own life, and I should learn to be independent.
When I returned after eating and drinking, I found a group of people gathered together and talking.
The sharp-eyed Xiao Jingjing saw what happened at a glance, and immediately screamed, rushing towards the crowd with her fists waved.
"Who did it? Who did it? Who hit my car? Whose car is this? Get out of here! Is it a big deal to drive a car? Can you just hit someone's car and run away with it?"
Xiao Jingjing was shouting angrily at the crowd surrounding the two cars. Seeing that the situation was not good, I rushed forward and squeezed into the crowd.
This should be a very expensive car. Although I don’t know much about cars, I have seen some introductions about cars on TV. I recognize the brand in front of this car. It is a very expensive Mercedes-Benz convertible.
At this moment, for some reason, the car hit Xiao Jingjing's tricycle, causing a large dent in the back seat of the tricycle, and a headlight on the front of the convertible was also broken.
"Jingjing, don't get excited. Let's wait for the owner of the car to come out and ask him what's going on. It's not too late to argue with him then, right? It's such a hot day, save your energy first." I held the furious Xiao Jingjing and said awkwardly.
People around us were looking at us and whispering to each other. At this time, someone was kind enough to remind us that the driver had left for something, but the owner of the car was drinking tea in the cafe across the street.
Xiao Jingjing is an impatient person. When she heard that the perpetrator was leisurely drinking tea, she immediately grabbed my hand and rushed across the street.
A few curious students and parents followed over out of curiosity.
There was an endless stream of vehicles on the road, and dust was rolling. Without any sun protection measures, we looked disheveled and in a mess.
Wearing a loose T-shirt, I followed Xiao Jingjing and walked towards the high-end-looking coffee shop.
I never thought that what I was walking into at this moment was actually a nightmare that I tried so hard to get rid of.
After returning from that dark alley that day, I had the same nightmare every night, a nightmare that I didn't even want to think about.
Standing at the door of the cafe, under the guidance of the witness, we finally saw the car owner who was leisurely drinking tea.
I felt like I was struck by lightning and froze in place.
I never thought that I would see Xu Yan again, and I never thought that he and I would study in the same school.
The nightmare that I tried so hard to get rid of appeared beside me so easily and kept haunting me.
"It was your driver who crashed my car? You have a rich family and drive a luxury car. Is that a big deal? Why did you crash my car and just walk away without saying a word? You..."
Before Xiao Jingjing could finish her scolding, I grabbed her arm and dragged her out the door.
"Jingjing, I'll give you the money to repair the car, can we go?"
Leave here, leave this boy's mocking gaze, leave the contemptuous look he casts at me, leave the nightmare that is driving me crazy, please leave?
"Why do you want to leave? It's not your fault! It was that guy who hit my car, why do you want to take the responsibility on yourself? Little eyes, what's wrong with you? You were not like this just now." Xiao Jingjing questioned me in confusion.
I didn't say anything, didn't argue, just continued to pull her away.
Because I didn’t see Xu Yan just now, I didn’t see the boy who ruined me.
Jingjing, you understand me as well as you do, but you don’t know the pain in my heart.
I didn't dare tell anyone, and didn't want to mention it . I was even more afraid that Xu Yan would talk about that incident in front of so many people.
I had worked so hard to get into this school, and I don't want to hear all kinds of unbearable words on the first day of school.
Xu Yan has always been cruel. If I make him angry, he will not care about my reputation.
I didn't dare look back, I didn't dare to look at the cold and playful smile on the boy's handsome face.
"Jian Lening, you are totally unreasonable. You disappoint me so much. Who is that guy? Why are you protecting him so much? Is he your boyfriend? The person you like, or someone else?"
Xiao Jingjing started her electric tricycle with the damaged back seat while scolding me angrily.
I didn't say anything, I just took out some money from my pocket and stuffed it into Xiao Jingjing's hand: "Jingjing, don't ask, use this money to repair the car first! I don't have much money on me, so I can only give you this first. If it's not enough, please pay for it first, and I'll pay you back later."
Xiao Jingjing frowned and snorted, stuffing the money back into my hand, looking at me with squinted eyes, and said, "Do you think I really care about your money? You should keep it for yourself! Boarding costs money, and your parents don't give you much money. It's my bad luck. If you don't want to tell me who the boy is, forget it. I'll go fix the car myself. I still have money for repairing the car. After all, I've been running this small business for so long."
"Jingjing, I..."
I still couldn't open my mouth, my eyes were sore and I didn't know what to say.
Xiao Jingjing looked at me, sighed helplessly, patted my shoulder with her hand, and said with an understanding look: "Okay, if you don't want to talk, I won't force you. Go back to the dormitory quickly. You've been tired for most of the day. Look at your lips, they are all white. If you stay in the sun, you will probably get heatstroke. I'll go back first too. I haven't picked up the old newspapers from Dong Bo's house at the entrance of the alley today!"
After seeing Xiao Jingjing off, I squatted alone under the shade of a tree and did not return to the dormitory.
The people who were watching the show just now have already dispersed.
When the yellow-bottomed, black-surfaced sneakers appeared in front of me, I was still in a trance.
Someone squatted down in front of me, pinched my chin with cold fingers, and forced my head up. A figure that I didn't want to see appeared in my blurry vision.
"You didn't cry that night, why are you crying now? What, are you too excited to see me?"
A cold and sarcastic voice rang in my ears. I gritted my teeth and reflexively raised my fist at the man.
There are only Xu Yan and I here, so I don't have to worry about anyone knowing our secret.
My hand didn't hit Xu Yan in the end. It was still some distance away before it was stopped by his always cold hands.
"You want to hit me? What gives you the right to hit me?"
"Why did you let someone hit Jingjing's car? That car didn't bother you at all, why did you hit it? Did you do it on purpose? Why?" I struggled and yelled at Xu Yan angrily.
Xu Yan looked at me indifferently and said, "No reason, because it looks disgusting. It's obviously a pile of rotten iron, but it's mixed in with a bunch of private cars. She doesn't feel ashamed, and I feel ashamed for her. Didn't you see the expressions of the people around you when they looked at your car?"
I finally broke free from Xu Yan's hand, gathered all my strength, stretched out my hand and slapped him hard.
This is something I have wanted to do with this person for a long time, but I never had the chance.
He owes me!
You owe me!
"You hit me? You actually dared to hit me!" There was a moment of shock on Xu Yan's face , and then he roared with a ferocious expression. Then, he raised his hand and slapped me hard.
His force was as strong as ever, and the slap made a crisp sound when it hit my face. He never showed mercy when he hit me.
"Why can't I hit you? Because of you, I lost my friends and no longer trust others. Jingjing is my only friend, but because of you, we quarreled. Xu Yan, you are the devil. I don't owe you anything, why do you treat me like this?" I grabbed him and yelled at him unwillingly.
I can finally speak out to someone about the grievances that I have been suppressing for months.
I didn't dare say it at home, outside, or in front of other people, but in front of this boy who ruined me, I finally said it.
Why are you doing this to me? Why?
"Because you killed my sister!"
"I didn't kill your sister at all. She had terminal cancer and she wouldn't live long, so she did that just to leave some money for your mother before she died. She went to the bar and died in an accident just to make money. Your sister's death is not my fault at all. If you want to find out who is to blame, you, as her brother, are more at fault than me. Aren't you very rich? If you have the money to drive a luxury car like that, why don't you give some money to your biological mother? It doesn't need to be too much, even if it's only one-tenth of the price of your sports car, your sister wouldn't have gotten into trouble for the sake of making money! Xu Yan, you are wrong, you who are so self-righteous. I am not wrong, I don't owe you anything, I don't owe you anything! It's you who owes me, it's you!"
"Snapped!"
I got slapped in the face again . Xu Yan looked at me with a cold and arrogant expression, his fists clenched tightly, and his body trembled unconsciously.
It turns out that he is also a coward, a coward who dares not face the truth.
"You won't let me say it, but I'm going to say it anyway. It was you who killed Tong Xingyu , not me! You are the one who owes me, and I owe you nothing!"
"Shut up! You shut up!"
He roared at me hysterically and I sneered at him. It was the first time I saw him who could only use roaring to hide his inner thoughts.
The devil also has a fragile side and can get hurt.
The pain that Lin Jiarui brought to Xu Yan did not really hurt him, but the truth that I told him, which he didn't know, hurt him deeply.
"Jian Lening, I warn you, don't appear in front of me again, or I won't forgive you!"
Looking at Xu Yan's dejected figure leaving, I stood under the shade of the tree, hugging myself tightly.
I raised my head and looked at the blue sky. The sun was scorching and the dazzling light burned my eyes. The tears in my eyes finally burst out.
If possible, I hope never to see Xu Yan again.
However, this was impossible because my high school life had just begun.
Xu Yan is the only person I know in this strange place, and also the person I least want to know.
It's just that the world is too small, that's why we are so bound...
I didn't relax until Xu Yan's figure disappeared from my sight. The sudden relaxation made me stagger a few times and almost fall.
After standing firmly, I looked at the scorching sunlight, sighed softly, and decided to go back to the dormitory.
It was my first time here and everything seemed so strange. I didn’t know where else I could go except the dormitory.
"Mom, where did you put the sunscreen you bought for me? I can't find it in the box. How can I go to military training tomorrow when the temperature is 36 degrees Celsius without sunscreen? And where is my toner? I clearly put it together with the towel, where did you take it?"
"He Yiran, can we bring drinks to the military training tomorrow?"
"It should be possible, but I think it's better to bring water. Drinks don't quench thirst."
"Dad, I arrived early and was busy packing my luggage, so I didn't have time to call you. Well, my aunt sent me here, but she had to go back to do business, so she didn't help me pack, but I have packed it."
…
In the evening, the dormitory was noisy. Some people were packing their things, those who had finished were preparing things for tomorrow's military training, and some were talking on the phone.
When Xiao Jingjing sent me here, she had already helped me pack my things, so now I was sitting on the bed alone, pulling the mosquito net and the blackout curtains, listening to everyone's noise, and reading the novel I bought from Xiao Jingjing's flea market stall in the light of the bedside lamp.
There are six people in the dormitory. The accommodation environment is quite good and worth the boarding fee of 1,200 yuan a year.
Including me, there were five people in the dormitory at this time. The only girl sleeping on the bed opposite me had not arrived yet. Through the gap in the blackout curtain, I could still see the school-issued luggage bag on her bed that had never been moved.
I wonder if she will come tonight.
Because the bed was surrounded by blackout curtains, no one else could see what I was doing in there.
I was in a daze for a while, then I closed the book in my hand, put it next to the pillow, smelled my sweaty clothes, and felt like taking a shower.
But if I go down now, I will have to meet everyone and I don’t know how to greet them.
I found that I had been hiding at home for a while, and my temperament had become much quieter. I even felt uncomfortable in the most basic way of getting along with others.
It really doesn't look like the Jian Lening of the past at all.
"Jian Lening, you haven't had dinner yet, right? Let's go out to eat together later! I'll treat you to celebrate us becoming roommates."
The blackout curtain was suddenly opened a crack, and a pair of beautiful big eyes flickered in front of my eyes. I was in a trance for a moment, and after a while, I could see the pretty face in front of me clearly.
I tried hard to match this face with the name of the freshman on the bed. Fortunately, my memory has not deteriorated and I can still remember clearly things I have seen once.
"You are Tang Yu."
"Ah! So you know my name! I was just about to introduce myself. Come on down, everyone has agreed, let's go eat together!"
Tang Yu is a typical pampered young lady, outgoing and not arrogant - this is my first impression of this girl. Later I realized that people can never understand another person, because the heart is always hidden in the deepest part, just like they can't understand me, Jian Lening.
In addition to Tang Yu, the other three girls were Sun Yu, who slept in the bunk below me, and He Yiran and Wang Hong, who slept in the bunk next to us.
Including Qin Qin who has not yet reported in, there are six of us living in this room.
In fact, ever since I met Xu Yan, I have been feeling depressed and have no appetite to eat at the moment. But since I have entered a new environment, I have to make new friends.
I never thought being a loner was an advantage.
Seeing that everyone was standing downstairs waiting for me, I pursed my lips sheepishly, opened the blackout curtains, quickly made my bed, and climbed down.
"I think it's a good idea to go out for dinner and get to know each other, but we can't let Tang Yu treat us all by himself, so let's go Dutch!"
I was sitting on Sun Yu's bed putting on my shoes, and He Yiran, who had short hair and was standing nearby, spoke.
I think her suggestion is very good. After all, we just met each other. Even if Tang Yu seems to have a good family background, he can't just spend her money casually.
I secretly calculated the money I had. Although my parents didn't give me much, I still had some pocket money, which should be enough. If I went out with them , I wouldn't choose cheap food, so I would naturally spend a little more. Even though I knew in my heart that luxury was not for me, I still didn't refuse.
I just desperately want to go out for a walk and change my mood.
When I stay alone all the time, I can't help but have wild thoughts, thinking about my shameful past and unknown future.
But most of life is not satisfactory.
A strange girl suddenly walked into our dormitory and asked tentatively : "Is Jian Lening from this dormitory?"
I was surprised to hear my name from a stranger's mouth, so I put on my shoes and walked towards the girl.
"I'm Jian Lening. What do you want to talk to me about?"
"Oh, it's you! There's a boy downstairs looking for you."
In an instant, I went from being confused to a little panic.
I subconsciously thought of Xu Yan. In this school, he was the only person I knew. Could he be the one looking for me?
But what did he come to me for?
I couldn't think of any reason, but my instinct told me that I had to go down.
Xu Yan is a man who can do anything. If it is really him who is looking for me, I must go.
I have finally started a new life and don't want anyone to disturb me.