It was a hot September afternoon in the south. Every pore on my body was screaming and sweat was oozing out. The Metasequoia trees standing upright outside the window were lush and green. Occasionally, a breeze blew by, bringing bursts of fresh fragrance.
The second day after school started, the school did not arrange classes. Each class arranged their own meetings to prepare for the military training. The teacher gathered everyone together by text message after lunch break. It started with a lengthy self-introduction, followed by an unfair class leader election. To put it nicely, it was a democratic decision, but in fact the head teacher picked a few students with excellent academic performance, arranged them one by one, and asked the whole class to raise their hands in approval. It was nothing new.
The hot summer made the classroom lifeless. I was bored and lying on the table, feeling sleepy. I had taken a nap at noon, but I still felt weak all over. My eyelids were heavy and I didn't know when they closed. In order not to embarrass myself in the first group meeting, every time I was about to fall asleep, I would say to myself, "What if you snore when you fall asleep?" After saying this, I would perk up and stay strong for a few minutes, but soon my head would droop again.
"I heard that every class will have seniors serving as counselors today. I wonder if the one coming to our class will be a beautiful girl. It would be great if it's Hua Siyu." The two boys next to them discussed in a low voice . One of them looked out the window with an infatuated look, his eyes so passionate that they seemed to burn a hole in the glass.
"Hua Siyu? If she becomes our counselor, won't she outshine all the girls in our class? How will they survive?" said another boy.
"Oh, I fell in love with her at first sight when I entered the school yesterday, my senior sister Siyu!" the boy said in a cheesy way.
"Hmph, I really don't believe that anyone can outdo all the girls in our class." Xu Meng'er snorted coldly and rolled her eyes at the two boys with disdain.
The boy tilted his head to glance at Xu Meng'er, then immediately fell silent, not daring to say anything more.
"Here he comes, here he comes." The girls' excited voices drowned out the teacher's voice. "Oh my god, it's Ji Su Ting. I'm so happy that I'm about to die."
That day I heard two names, one was Hua Siyu, who made the boys' hearts beat fast, and the other was Ji Suting, who made the girls scream.
I looked up and saw a boy appear at the door. He walked to the teacher with a smile, bowed to everyone, and introduced himself: "Hello everyone, my name is Ji Suting. From today until you enter your sophomore year, I will be your counselor."
It turned out that he was Ji Suting.
An impressive name, just like the man himself...
At this moment, I could finally focus my eyes on him. When he spoke seriously, his brows were slightly furrowed, as if he was deliberately trying to look majestic. His fingers were white and slender, and I believe it would be a beautiful sight to see him playing the guitar or piano.
He motioned for the girls to sit down, and then said in a magnetic and gentle voice: "I think we will get along very well in the next year."
"Definitely!" The boys' voices were drowned out, and only the joyful female voice was heard.
I raised my head and stretched my neck, and looked at his star-like smile again through the gap between a bunch of girls who had stood up excitedly. Perhaps Ji Suting felt my burning gaze and turned his head to look in my direction. Our eyes met briefly in the air, like a "cherry blossom rain" in spring, the petals sliding across the face, it was itchy, and made people couldn't help but raise the corners of their mouths.
Does he still remember me? Remember that strange girl who was so flustered that she refused to fill in her name in the parent column? When I returned to the dormitory yesterday, I heard his name from the girls. They said that he had a good family background, was good at studying, was handsome, and had a good temper. He was simply a model of a perfect boyfriend. Unfortunately, I didn't know at that time that the legendary Ji Su Ting was him...
Since God has brought us together again, maybe he feels that my past life was too dark? He wants to open a window for me.
The class meeting became cheerful because of Ji Suting's arrival. The teacher saw that all the girls' attention was on the counselor and no one was willing to listen to him seriously, so he simply said a few words about the issues that should be paid attention to in military training and announced the end of the meeting.
The girls rushed up to surround Ji Suting, chattering and asking questions all over the place. He stood in the crowd, smiling and answering all the tricky, cute, and slightly stupid questions.
"Zhiwei, how about we go and join in the fun?" Shi Shuxia suggested.
I shook my head subconsciously and found an excuse to run out of the classroom.
I hate all the hustle and bustle. Crowds of people just make me bored. Only being alone can make me feel at peace.
Although there is a place in this classroom where I want my eyes to stay, there are too many people around him at the moment.
He was charming like that, but it made me a little hesitant.
I like his brilliant radiance, but I also feel blinded by it.
It is indeed a complex and strange emotion...
I lowered my head, trying to sort out my emotions.
"Ah——" I exclaimed softly.
I didn’t expect that I was thinking too hard and didn’t pay attention to the road, and I accidentally bumped into someone. I was about to say sorry, but the other person shouted happily as if he had seen a new world: "Why is it you again! We are really destined to be together!"
The sudden high decibel level hurt my ears. I looked up at the person I bumped into. He looked familiar, but I couldn’t remember where I had seen him before. “Sorry, I…”
"You don't remember me? Yesterday, yesterday afternoon, when I was looking for Su Ting, we met! Remember?" He smiled carelessly and poked his nose a few times, "Me, me, how can you forget me after just one day?"
"Hello, senior." When Ji Suting was mentioned, I had a little impression of him. The smiling boy yesterday seemed to be him...
"You only have Su Ting in your eyes, and you don't even remember me. Alas, this is the sadness of being good friends with a handsome guy!" The boy shook his head and sighed. There was no displeasure on his face, but he was very happy instead.
This is a really strange person, why is he always smiling? It seems that when I saw him yesterday, he was also smiling.
But I had no desire to chat with him and I wanted to leave, but he seemed to have opened up.
"My name is Yan Wenbo, what's your name?"
"Inch knows little."
"Cun Zhiwei, is that the smallness of a smile?" Yan Wenbo asked.
I nodded.
"What a nice name. Can I call you Weiwei from now on? Weiwei, Weiwei, smiling Weiwei. Hahahaha..." As he said that, he burst into laughter again.
I really don't understand this boy. This is only the second time we met, but he has already thought of a nickname for me. That's fine, some people may be naturally outgoing, but is my name that funny?
"Wenbo, are you teasing your junior high school girl again?"
Ji Suting's voice came from behind me, and I felt like I had been injected with a shot of stiffness, unable to move. I hadn't figured out how to smile at him, or how to greet him...
"Hey, it's you?" Before I knew it, Ji Suting had walked up to me. He punched Yan Wenbo on the shoulder, turned around and saw me, a little surprised, "What are you daydreaming about? Don't you remember me again?"
"Hello...senior!" I didn't know how to respond for a moment, so I bent down and bowed to him at a 90-degree angle. When I came to my senses, I realized that my behavior had been too exaggerated. But it was too late to undo what had been done, and there was no point in regretting it, because he had seen it all.
"Hello, senior."
"Good afternoon, Senior."
"Senior——"
Freshmen of all kinds walked past him, calling him "senior" sweetly, and did not forget to leave a smile as bright as a peach blossom when passing by him, showing their crazy attitude.
Suddenly I felt that my behavior was not so exaggerated.
"Still haven't you thought of me?" Ji Suting asked again.
"Remember, thank you for your help yesterday." I regained my composure and smiled at him.
"Hey, hey, hey, I remember Su Ting forgot about me. I'm so sad and upset." Yan Wenbo covered his chest and wailed. His whole body leaned on Ji Su Ting, as if he was powerless. "Su Ting, my little heart is hurt. Please help me... help me go to the hospital."
"Stop it, you really scared my junior schoolmate." Ji Suting pushed Yan Wenbo's head to make him serious.
" Okay, okay, let's stop making trouble and go. The guys on the basketball team are waiting for you. You can't abandon them just because you have a junior high school girl!" Yan Wenbo said jokingly.
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Ji Suting looked at me with sparkling eyes, "We'll leave first, see you another day."
Someone once asked me if I could fall in love with someone at first sight.
I shook my head firmly and said no, but I didn't expect that Ji Suting's appearance would throw my world into chaos.
To him, the help he provided yesterday might have been a spur of the moment, but today’s greeting was his duty. To me, his appearance seemed to illuminate my world which had been dark for many years.
I returned to the classroom with joy in my heart. In the classroom, Xu Meng'er was teaching a few girls how to put on makeup. The girls gathered around her with their faces in their hands, like hungry chicks. Shi Shuxia was chatting with two or three other girls. She always had a faint smile on her face. She was a good listener and a girl who deserved to be treated gently.
Looking around, it seems that I am the only one who has not yet integrated into this class, but this is what I want. The moment I walked into the gate of A University, I told myself that in these four years, I just need to study hard and work hard. On the day I received the admission letter from A University, I drew a gap in front of my eyes. On this side is the new life that is about to begin, and on the other side is the arrogance that is destined to become a thing of the past.
Sitting in my seat, the scorching sun was hanging in the sky, the hot sunlight shone through the Metasequoia trees, and golden dust was dancing in the air, just like my heart beating violently for Ji Suting.
When the wind comes, it brings a hint of coolness and blows the hair by my ears. Everything is so beautiful, and I will try my best to match it all.
On the third day of school, we started a half-month military training. I couldn't accept this sudden training under the scorching sun.
Except for the first day, Xu Meng'er's domineering look remained unchanged, but she was more restrained in other aspects. Sometimes she would give me and Shi Shuxia some small suggestions, such as how important it is to apply sunscreen during military training.
Even though I apply thick sunscreen every day, I still can't stop myself from turning into a shiny "little coal ball". Shi Shuxia is a little better than me, but Xu Meng'er is still fair and tender, which makes people jealous.
Every day, Ji Suting would say something to everyone at the morning meeting before the military training began. Every time I looked at him, I tried my best to suppress my love that was about to overflow.
I began to envy those girls who could freely look at his back and express their love and obsession...
They talked about the awards he won in junior high and high school, the sweat he shed on the basketball court, and the gentle rejections he received when he pursued and confessed his love.
He was destined to be the one standing in the center of the spotlight, always surrounded and talked about by all kinds of people. I stood behind the crowd, feeling the huge difference between him and me.
Apart from the sentence "Do you still remember me?" that day, we never had the opportunity to communicate alone. Instead, I met Yan Wenbo a few times. Every time he saw me looking for Ji Suting's figure from behind him, he would always tease me and choke me to the point of being speechless.
The next time I was alone with Ji Suting was in the infirmary. Maybe because I hadn't exercised for a long time, after a few days of military training under the scorching sun, my body collapsed from heat stroke. I didn't know why I fainted while standing at attention. When I woke up, I saw Ji Suting sitting on a wooden bench beside my bed. The setting sun shone on him through the trees. He seemed to be sitting in the light, like a beautiful painting.
"Am I dreaming?" Maybe I was dizzy, and this scene made me think I was in a dream.
"Are you awake?" Ji Suting looked at me with concern, then stood up and walked to the door, poured a glass of water from the thermos and handed it to me, "Drink some water to moisten your throat!"
"Thank you." When I reached out to take the cup of water, I accidentally touched his fingertips. The temperature of his skin and the tingling sensation made me realize that this was not a dream.
"You just fainted, and the doctor said you should drink more water when you wake up." He sat back and instructed carefully.
"Yeah." I nodded.
There was a brief silence in the air. Such silence made the atmosphere somewhat ambiguous. I lowered my head, not knowing how to face it for a moment.
"By the way, this is the Huoxiang Zhengqi Water prescribed for you by the doctor." Ji Suting broke the silence.
I raised my head and looked at the Huoxiang Zhengqi water in front of me, and couldn't help but frowned slightly.
Since I was a child, what I feared most was taking medicine and getting injections.
"What? Are you afraid of taking medicine?" Ji Suting saw through my thoughts. He took out a plastic bottle from a drawer nearby, cut it open with scissors skillfully, and handed the brown liquid to me. "Drink it obediently. I think I have to watch you drink it. This is what the doctor told me."
Ji Suting's gentle voice is like the softest evening breeze in summer, blowing on my heart, bringing coolness and making me feel full of sweetness.
I took the medicine, closed my eyes, and drank it in one gulp.
"Here." A beautifully wrapped candy appeared in front of me.
"It won't be so bitter after you eat it." said Ji Suting.
I took the candy and carefully peeled off the candy wrapper, waiting for the sweet taste to fill my entire mouth, and then the strong bitterness was gradually dissipated.
"Since you are so obedient, I will treat you to a meal!" Ji Suting stood up, looked at me with an unyielding look, and naturally picked up the schoolbag beside me and put it on his shoulders.
"Ah... OK." I was a little surprised that he would make such a suggestion, but seeing how natural he looked, I could only stand up as well.
As I walked out of the building, the heat accumulated during the day rolled over my face like sweat, and the freshness in the air-conditioned room instantly turned into an annoying sticky feeling.
"Why, are you feeling unwell again?" he turned around and asked me.
"No." I shook my head vigorously.
After making sure that I was okay, Ji Suting took another step forward.
Under the silent night sky, we walked one after the other under the street lamp, and his shadow was stretched out. I moved to the side a little, then a little more, and glanced to make sure he was not looking at me. Only then did I dare to tilt my head slightly in his direction. In the shadow, I leaned on his shoulder, like a close couple.
A secret feeling of sweetness spread from the bottom of my heart, and I wish this second could last forever.
But, good times are always short-lived.
Before I could get out of the sweetness , Yan Wenbo appeared out of nowhere. Without saying hello to Ji Suting, he jumped directly in front of me and scratched my nose with his hand: "Xiao Zhiwei, I heard that you had a heat stroke. Why are you so careless?"
Such an intimate gesture caught me off guard. I couldn't help but take a few steps back, then looked at Yan Wenbo, who was so frivolous in front of me, with an impatient expression.
"Yan Wenbo, we're not very familiar with each other." I was in no mood to hide my disgust at the moment.
Yan Wenbo listened to what I said, and his expression flashed with embarrassment for a moment, but he quickly changed into a scoundrel with a playful smile: "Please, even though you think we are not very familiar with each other, you hold a very high position in my heart."
After saying that, he reached out and wanted to put his hand on my shoulder.
When I subconsciously tried to dodge, Ji Suting saw through his intention and stopped him: "Yan Wenbo, be serious."
"Ji Suting! What qualifications do you have to criticize me? Did you know that the basketball game is about to start? You didn't go to practice, but stayed here with your junior high school sister. I was scolded by the captain for the whole afternoon. How dare you criticize me?" Yan Wenbo stretched out his long arms and grabbed Ji Suting's neck. "Next time I will complain to the captain and make you suffer from his nagging for a whole day."
"Okay, okay, I was wrong. I was wrong."
People often have two faces. For example, Yan Wenbo. I have seen him ignore and be indifferent to the unfamiliar junior high school girl who showed interest in him, and I have also seen him teasing the little girl with a loud laugh. For example, Ji Suting. When he was in class, his smile was gentle and distant, as if he was nice to everyone and no one would enter his heart. Now, when he smiles, he is happy, defenseless, and innocent like an angel.
What about me? What do my two faces look like?
I followed the two of them silently all the way to the cafeteria. I didn't say a word along the way. I just watched Yan Wenbo exaggeratedly recount his day's experiences and listened to Ji Suting's bland complaints. I felt quite comfortable and at ease.
Perhaps such a simple scene can constitute a scene that makes people feel happy and at ease in their youth...
There is no need to speak or to deliberately agree .
When I arrived at the cafeteria and just walked to the window, Yan Wenbo gave me a naughty look.
I immediately felt that this boring guy must be up to mischief again.
Sure enough, when it was my turn, Yan Wenbo kept saying to the auntie who was serving the food: "Auntie, give me more, give me more. Don't be fooled by the thinness of this girl. In fact, even if she eats more, I may not be able to eat as much as she does."
"Really? I thought young girls nowadays all like to lose weight!" Auntie generously put a large spoonful of vegetables on my plate. After one spoonful, she seemed to think it was not enough, so she put another spoonful.
Looking at the full plate of food, I couldn't help but glare at Yan Wenbo , but this guy was laughing so hard because his evil plan had succeeded.
"Auntie, don't listen to his nonsense. This classmate is sick and needs to eat light meals." Ji Suting stopped the loving auntie from serving the meal in time and rolled his eyes at Yan Wenbo, "Don't talk nonsense. Zhiwei is still sick!"
Know the details, know the details...
This was the first time he called my name, and his lips moved with infinite tenderness.
My heart seemed to pause slightly when .
"It's okay. Give it to me if you can't finish it later." Ji Suting bumped my arm.
He smiled at me, and that smile was so soft that it seemed as if my heart was gently brushed by a feather, causing ripples.
"Tsk tsk, so corny." After saying this, Yan Wenbo walked towards the dining table with the tray.
Ji Suting and I followed closely behind, thinking it would just be a simple meal, but as soon as we sat down, girls started passing by us pretending to be casual, and occasionally we could hear a few deliberate "whispers".
Haha, gossip is like annoying flies that can't be shaken off.
The meal became tasteless because of these words. After the meal, Yan Wenbo left for something, and Ji Suting sent me downstairs. We stood face to face, and the street lights not far away shone on my face. I squinted at the person in front of me. The corners of his mouth slightly raised, and his clear eyes were like a cool breeze in summer, blowing away the clouds in my chest. Looking at him standing in front of me, my heart was like a dandelion floating in the air, finding the soil to take root.
"Go back and have a good rest!" Ji Suting instructed.
I nodded slightly.
After getting my response, he turned and left. After my parents divorced, I often looked at the backs of others, my father, mother, grandmother, uncle... Almost every time I was sad, but this time was different. My heart became lively because of a person named Ji Su Ting, and the world became brighter because of a person named Ji Su Ting.
No one is destined to a tragic life, and no one will never learn to love.