Chapter 2: Xiao Ai, Sorry for the long wait 1
The September fire streaked across the sky like a meteor, and enchanting flowers bloomed in the place where the clouds were bright. Tang Ai stared at Xi Chen standing under the clouds, the warm orange light enveloped Xi Chen's body, and his eyes were filled with beautiful waves.
He stood far away and smiled at Tang Ai: "Xiao Ai, sorry for the wait."
Tang Ai suddenly choked up. She took a step forward, crossed time, and threw herself tightly into Xi Chen's arms.
There is a field of chrysanthemums in front of the school library. There are various colors, which are very beautiful. The person who planted this field of chrysanthemums is the library's security guard. When Tang Ai has nothing to do, she will come to help the grandfather take care of this field of chrysanthemums.
Grandpa always said, "You don't look like a freshman majoring in horticulture."
Tang Ai smiled and said, "I used to grow a lot of flowers."
She watered the chrysanthemums while talking, then looked up and looked ahead. Opposite the library was the south gate of University A, and most students would enter and exit from the south gate. Tang Ai really wanted to see Xi Chen here.
The teacher in the department said that Xichen would not come to school for the time being, but Shen Ruoyun was in school. However, Tang Ai had been wandering around the school for so many days and had not seen Shen Ruoyun. When she was in a low mood, she could not help but wonder if the acquaintance in Tianwu Mountain last year was just a dream.
But even so, Tang Ai did not give up waiting for Xi Chen.
She often stayed alone at school. When she wasn't in class, she would help the library 's security guard take care of the flowers, or stay in the library to read books. She couldn't get along with the three girls in the dormitory, and the three girls couldn't get along with her either.
Therefore, under such circumstances, she was even more eager to reunite with Xi Chen and Shen Ruoyun as soon as possible.
Another weekend, Tang Ai walked back from the park near the school. The green belts on the street were planted with various flowers, and even though it was already autumn, they were still blooming brightly. After two weeks in Ancheng, Tang Ai was somewhat lost in the unfamiliar environment and could only move around the school area and had never been to any place further away.
There were many vendors along the road from the park to the school, selling snacks, fruits, daily necessities, rare items, etc. Tang Ai stopped in front of the vendor who was shouting the loudest, staring at the things on his stall.
The stall was placed on the ground, with only a long brown cloth covering it, on which were placed some cups. These cups were all made of wood of various shapes and colors, as if they were formed naturally.
Seeing Tang Ai's interest, the vendor knew that business was coming to him, so he asked enthusiastically: "Student, collect one. These are all made of high-end Southeast Asian yew, red sandalwood, and the best Vietnamese rosewood."
Tang Ai didn't understand these things, she just thought they were interesting and fun, so she picked up a cup and asked, "How much is this?"
The vendor said, "Oh, classmate, you have a good eye. You actually chose a cup made of the best material. This cup was brought back from Southeast Asia by my teacher. There is only one." He then pretended to be regretful and said, "Classmate, if you really want it, I can only reluctantly give it up. Since you are so cute, I will give it to you for 188 yuan."
"So expensive?" Tang Ai fiddled with the cup in her hand, thinking that the jujube wood teacups in her home were only a few dozen yuan, why were the things here so expensive?
"Because this cup is a limited edition! If you don't believe me, just search online to see how many cups like this there are in the world?" the vendor continued to deceive.
Tang Ai bit her lower lip, not knowing what to decide. She really liked wooden toys like this, but the price was too expensive. Are things in big cities more expensive than those in their Flower City?
"An ordinary sandalwood cup is priced so high." A steady male voice suddenly sounded beside him. Tang Ai subconsciously raised her head and saw a man in dark gray casual clothes. He had a high nose bridge, thick eyebrows, and a faint stubble on his chin. He exuded the charm of a mature man.
"Haha, Teacher Shao." The vendor looked at the person who came and laughed dryly twice.
The person who was speaking was Shao Yu, a teacher at University A, who had once taught Wang Qiuqiu.
"Wang Qiuqiu, you don't do business properly, but come here to cheat schoolmates." Shao Yu squatted down, took the cup from Tang Ai's hand, looked at it, and asked, "How much is it?"
"38! 38 yuan." Seeing this, Wang Qiuqiu hurriedly apologized to Tang Ai and said, "I just saw it wrong. The cup that only costs 38,188 is this one." As he said that, Wang Qiuqiu picked up another cup.
"Then I only want this one for 38." Tang Ai pointed at the cup in Shao Yu's hand.
"Okay, okay." Wang Qiuqiu nodded like pounding rice.
Shao Yu returned the cup to Tang Ai, told Wang Qiuqiu not to cheat his juniors in the future, and left. Tang Ai quickly paid the bill, then trotted to catch up with Shao Yu, shouting, "Um... Teacher Shao?"
Shao Yu turned his head and asked, "What's wrong?"
Tang Ai held the cup in her arms and said, "Nothing, I just haven't thanked you yet."
"You don't have to thank me. Wang Qiuqiu was my former student. As a teacher, I can't just watch him cheat others."
Tang Ai pursed her lips and held the cup tighter. She nodded and asked quietly, "What major does Teacher Shao teach?"
Shao Yu heard this, smiled and said: "You should be able to take my class next semester."
"Hmm..." Tang Ai responded softly. Shao Yu saw that she was fine and walked away. Tang Ai subconsciously followed him for a few more steps. Shao Yu asked in confusion, "Is there anything else?"
Tang Ai shook her head violently, then said, "No, no, no, um..." She bowed to Shao Yu and said, "I'm Tang Ai from Class 2 of the Horticulture Department, I..."
What do I want to say? I've already said thank you, and I want to ask for your care, but he's not my teacher yet. So why do I keep following him? Isn't it better to say goodbye after saying thank you?
Tang Ai was in an awkward situation and didn't know what to do.
"Your name is Tang Ai?" Shao Yu's voice sounded above his head with a strong nasal tone.
Tang Ai raised her head, looked at him doubtfully, and said, "Hmm..."
Shao Yu was stunned for a moment, then smiled with curved eyebrows and eyes: "Okay, I'll remember it."
Tang Ai was stunned for a moment, and when she came to her senses, Shao Yu had already left.
She was a little confused, but she didn't think too much about it and went back to the dormitory. She just thought that she should have someone she could "rely on" in this school, right?
Xi Chen still didn't come.
Tang Ai felt that everything around her was changing, except for the fact that Xi Chen did not come to school.
The dusk of early autumn is like the dead leaves on the branches that will fall when the wind blows, showing the yellow color that belongs only to this autumn. The large area of chrysanthemums outside the library are all in bloom, with bright colors and full petals, looking very healthy.
The library security guard was so happy that he couldn't stop smiling and said, "Xiao Ai is really talented."
Tang Ai looked at her grandfather with a smile, and felt very happy to be praised.
At this time, a young man with a black schoolbag on one shoulder got off a taxi at the south gate opposite the library. He was tall and slender, with thick black hair and agate-like eyes that were dark and clear.
After the taxi drove away, Tang Ai, who was pruning flower branches, happened to meet the back of that person.
The scissors in her hand slipped from her hand and almost hit her toe.
It’s Xi Chen, that’s Xi Chen!
Although there was only a back view, Tang Ai was sure that it was Xi Chen. She waited for nearly a month and finally Xi Chen arrived.
There was nothing else in Tang Ai's mind. She only knew that she had to chase him, call Xi Chen's name, and ask him, "I haven't seen you for a year, are you okay?"
"Xichen--" She called his name, ran towards him in the twilight, and stood behind him.
The young man in front heard the voice, stopped and slowly turned his head.
Tang Ai's eyes gradually lit up. It was really him, his familiar eyebrows and face. Tang Ai looked at this good-looking boy shrouded in the warm sunset, and a bright smile bloomed on her face. She tilted her head slightly, put her hands behind her back, and called him gently: "Xi Chen."
Xi Chen turned around slowly, but his eyes never left Tang Ai.
The plain-looking girl was wearing a pure-colored dress, and the breeze gently blew her long hair. Xi Chen suddenly smiled, and his smile became deeper and deeper. He opened his arms and said as if he hadn't seen her for a long time, "Xiao Ai, I've been waiting for a long time."
At that moment, looking at Xi Chen waiting in front of her, Tang Ai suddenly wanted to cry. She felt that coming to Ancheng was finally worth it, and waiting for him for so long was finally worth it.
Tang Ai's eyes were filled with tears. She ran towards Xi Chen and threw herself into his arms as if she had crossed time.
Xi Chen gently rubbed Tang Ai's head and said, "I'm back. From now on, we can be together every day."
Tang Ai was terribly afraid that all this was just her fantasy, so she held Xi Chen tightly and did not dare to let go.
Xi Chen smiled helplessly and let Tang Ai hug him.
"Hey, Tang Xiaoai, hug me too!" A dissatisfied voice suddenly sounded behind him.
Tang Ai paused, then crawled out of Xi Chen's arms and turned to look at the person who came.
Shen Ruoyun looked unconvinced and glanced at her sideways.
Tang Ai then realized that she had been hugging Xi Chen for so long. She lowered her head and her face turned red. Seeing this, Shen Ruoyun couldn't help but tease her: "I've already hugged you, why are you blushing?"
"Don't talk nonsense!" Tang Ai stared at Shen Ruoyun embarrassedly.
Shen Ruoyun's mouth sank, and he twisted his shoulders like a girl, and said coquettishly: "Then I want a hug too."
Tang Ai couldn't beat the hooligan Shen Ruoyun, so she could only angrily ask Xi Chen for help. Xi Chen walked towards Shen Ruoyun, stretched out his hand to hold Shen Ruoyun's head under his armpit, and laughed: "Okay, stop bullying Xiao Ai."
"Hey, hey, hey, if you don't want to bully me, then don't bully me. Don't treat me like this. There are a lot of seniors and juniors watching here, so give me some face!" Shen Ruoyun couldn't help but beg for mercy, but Xi Chen had no intention of paying attention to him at all.
Tang Ai walked behind and looked at the two teenagers playing in front, as if she was back in Tianwu Mountain.
Now that Xi Chen and Shen Ruoyun are in this strange city, Tang Ai will definitely not be lonely anymore.
Ever since Xi Chen and Shen Ruoyun came back, Tang Ai seemed to have changed completely.
In the past, she rarely interacted with strangers, but now with Xichen and Shen Ruoyun around, she became more proactive in interacting with others. But this was only when Xichen and Shen Ruoyun were by her side. Once they were not around, she felt like she had no one to rely on, and she had no courage to do anything or speak.
In the past, when she bought bread at the bakery outside the school, she would always spend more than ten minutes choosing. Now, when she buys bread at the bakery, she will take a photo and send it to Xichen, who tells her to eat less bread because it is not good for her health.
So Tang Ai stopped buying bread.
But she really wanted to eat it.
Undecided, she could only wander around the store.
The female employee who had been watching her for a long time walked up to her and asked, "Hey, do you want to buy it?"
Tang Ai stared at the fragrant bread. Should she buy it or not? This was a question. Xi Chen told her to eat less because it was bad for her health. In her heart, Xi Chen was the best person and she would listen to whatever he said. But the bread was really fragrant. During the time when Xi Chen was away, she had the bread from this store for breakfast every day.
"I'll buy it." Tang Ai thought, it's okay to eat it for the last time, right?
The female employee looked at her, helped her get a piece of the baked bread she often ate and put it in her bag . She couldn't help but nag: "It's so difficult to choose a piece of bread. May I ask if you have traveled through time from ancient times?"
Tang Ai smiled awkwardly and felt that it was about the same.
The female employee handed the packed bread to Tang Ai and said, "Here you go, but you should eat less in the future. You've gained a lot of weight since I first met you."
"Ah..." Tang Ai covered her face. Has she really gained weight?
She quickly took the bread and thanked him repeatedly: "Thank you, thank you."
