Time flies, and half a month has passed in the blink of an eye.
Zi Xin has basically adapted to the life in the college. Because of her lovely appearance and gentle personality, she has won the love of her classmates. Her relationship with Yang Liu has also become closer, just like a pair of sisters.
only……
I haven't seen Xia Boran again for such a long time since I met him at the opening ceremony.
It was Zi Xin's turn to be on duty this Friday, so she did not go out with Yang Liu after school.
Ding Ling Ling——
The pleasant sound rang out on time at half past five.
The bell sounded like some kind of instruction. The students who had been tired all day suddenly became extremely energetic. Not long after the bell rang, the students in the class left one after another.
Only Yang Liu and Zi Xin were left.
Yang Liu put the textbooks into her schoolbag while calling out to Zi Xin.
"Zi Xin, I have something to do at home today, so I won't wait for you and will leave first!"
"Well! It's okay. I'll go home after I finish my duty." Zi Xin, who was wiping the blackboard, turned around and answered her.
"Then darling, I'll see you next week."
"Okay, see you next week." After a simple farewell, Zi Xin was the only one left in the classroom.
She had to finish her duty quickly and go home, she thought to herself, and so she moved even faster.
But to her surprise, in the middle of her duty, she was suddenly called to the teaching and research office by Teacher Jin Zeming to help. This help wasted a lot of time. When she returned to the classroom to finish her duty, it was already dark.
When she locked the classroom door and walked out of the teaching building, the playground was empty and very quiet. A few stars twinkled in the deep blue night sky, and the evening breeze blew gently.
She had to go home quickly. Facing the dim street in front of her, she couldn't help feeling horrified, so her steps became faster and faster.
She walked to the bus stop and waited for a long time but there was no sign of the bus. She looked around anxiously and kept looking at the watch on her wrist. It was getting later and later, the night was getting darker and darker, the sky was as black as ink, and on the street, only the dark street lamps emitted a faint light.
Half an hour later, the bus still didn't come.
Zi Xin thought about it and decided to walk through the alley in front and wait for the bus at another bus stop.
Thinking of this, he immediately walked towards the alley in front of his left, and his steps became faster and faster.
The alley was very narrow and long, with only a few street lamps scattered around, each one far apart, making the already dim light even dimmer. Walking in the alley with low visibility, Zi Xin was very nervous, and her heart was beating fast. The light of the stars in the sky was faintly shining on the ground, casting strange and mottled shadows, which looked creepy.
The night is cool as water.
Sudden--
Zi Xin heard footsteps behind him!
Listening carefully, I heard the sound of two people's footsteps!
After a while, the footsteps seemed to be getting closer and closer to her. She didn't dare to look back. She was so nervous that she could only speed up her pace.
Faster and faster.
She felt like she was about to run quickly...
Unfortunately, her path was blocked...
"Little sister, where are you going in such a hurry?" What came into my ears was an extremely disgusting laugh, which sounded very annoying.
Zi Xin had to stop and look up, two scoundrel faces came into his eyes.
They had dyed yellow hair that looked dry and frizzy, which inevitably added a bit of disgust to people's hearts. One of the men was wearing exaggerated earrings, while the other man had a cigarette in his hand, which was still burning.
Zi Xin's heart sank, she knew that she had met a gangster. She subconsciously moved back, her heart, which was already beating wildly, seemed to be about to jump out of her chest.
Every time she took a step back, the two men in front of her took a step closer to her...
Getting closer to her...
Zi Xin clenched his fists, and his hands were wet.
What to do... She was already a little confused.
That’s right! Of the thirty-six strategies, running away is the best!
She turned around quickly and ran to the other end of the alley...
There was only the sound of the wind whistling past my ears...
Unfortunately, she had not run far before the two men behind her caught her like a chicken.
Such an embarrassing posture.
She was so close to the two bad guys that she could clearly smell the pungent smell of smoke coming from them.
What should she do? A huge fear filled her heart. Her bright eyes were filled with mist, and the world before her eyes became blurry and chaotic...
"Let me go, let me go!" Zi Xin screamed in fear, trying desperately to break free from the two hooligans around her. However, she was exhausted after a day of classes and no dinner. How could she possibly fight against the two burly men in front of her?
The breath of despair gradually spread in her heart...
She struggled constantly, kicking her feet hard.
Her desperate cries for help and struggles obviously annoyed the two hooligans beside her, and they held her arms, one on the left and one on the right.
"Silly girl, be quiet!" One of them said to her with gritted teeth, with a vicious expression on his face.
Then, Zi Xin was thrown heavily to the ground. With a "bang", the sharp stone cut her fair calf, and soon bright red blood flowed out, which was a shocking feeling.
The gangster with exaggerated earrings on his ears spat heavily on the ground: "Stinky girl, if you don't shut up, I will destroy you today."
"Help, help!" Zi Xin gathered all his strength and shouted again.
The voice echoed in the empty alley, seeming so isolated and helpless.
"Snapped!"
It was the sound of a slap in the face.
Bright red blood flowed down Zi Xin's face.
"You little bitch, I told you to yell, but I don't think you dare to yell again!"
She felt more and more dizzy, her vision was blurry, and more blood stained her fair and delicate face.
I really can't make any sound anymore...
The atmosphere of despair is getting heavier...
"Help..." Her voice became weaker and weaker, as if she was struggling in her deathbed.
"Snapped!"
Another hard slap.
Her body seemed to have been drained of all its strength at this moment, and she looked so thin and weak that she looked like she would be blown away by the wind at any time.
The wind was hoarse.
The little bit of hope that I held on to in my heart was like an hourglass that suddenly ran out.
My body feels so heavy, and my consciousness is starting to blur...
Really... Is there no one who can save her?
Sudden--
With a "bang".
Then, there was the sound of a body suddenly falling down.
"Ouch! It hurts! Who is hitting me from behind?" One of the hooligans made an angry sound and shouted angrily.
However, no voice answered him.
The alley was eerily quiet.
Immediately afterwards, another gangster's miserable cry also resounded in the night sky.
"You, who are you? Why are you meddling in other people's business?" The man with earrings cursed loudly when he finally saw clearly that the other person was a teenager.
"It doesn't matter who I am. What's important is that you guys get out of here right now and I don't want to see you again!"
"Boy! You are so cruel! Just wait! If you fall into my hands one day, I will make you suffer! Let's go!"
With that, the two hooligans fled in panic in the night. Soon, their figures disappeared at the entrance of the alley, and their running speed was really jaw-dropping.
Although her consciousness was already blurred, Zi Xin could still feel a warm current approaching her, getting closer and closer. That warmth was like finally smelling the scent of a stove on a cold snowy night...
It is an extremely precious existence.
The wind blew gently on Zi Xin's face, and her beautiful long hair obscured her already unclear vision.
Only when the figure came closer did she see his appearance clearly.
It's him!
It turned out to be him!
Is this a dream?
Or has she died and gone to heaven?
Just when she was stunned, he had already gently helped her up, and then held her tightly in his arms. She could even feel his cautiousness, as if he was afraid of hurting her.
Being held by him like this, she seemed to have regained some of her strength instantly.
The street was silent and deserted, with only the sound of the wind singing softly, and a cold and aloof breath lingering at her nose.
"Xia, Xia Boran, is it, is it you?" Zi Xin asked stutteringly, her eyes widened in disbelief. Her eyes were filled with mist, so Xia Boran's appearance did not seem so real in her eyes.
He remained silent and held her quietly. His eyes were bright, like the brightest star in the dark night, and the corners of his mouth were slightly raised.
"It's really you, Xia Boran..." Zi Xin's voice sounded a little choked. She suddenly reached out and grabbed Xia Boran's clothes tightly, as if she was afraid that he would suddenly let go of her.
It's a long-lost warm feeling...
She leaned tightly in his arms, feeling the calming breath coming from him. The two of them were so close that she could even see the thick eyelashes on his eyes.
Her heart was filled with such a sense of security, a feeling of peace of mind she had never experienced before.
"You know my name? So, you know me?" Xia Boran's incredible voice sounded above his head, with a hint of imperceptible teasing and a touch of inexplicable joy.
"Of course I know you. I'm afraid it would be hard to find someone in Jinfeng College who doesn't know you, right? Including the cleaning lady..." Zi Xin's words clearly sounded like "it's a unnecessary question".
However, it seems that it has invisibly encouraged the other party's arrogance.
Xia Bairan smiled calmly: "It seems that if you can still joke, it means that the injury is not particularly serious."
He seemed to want to let go of his arms that were tightly around her...
"Don't..." She didn't have time to think about it before she shouted these two words.
Then, a blush appeared on her cheeks. Fortunately, the night was dark, dark enough to hide the secret in her heart.
Then she heard his soft laughter, but it didn't seem to be teasing at all.
For a long while, he could not hear any rising or falling sound coming from above her head.
" Actually, I know you too, Chen Zixin."
"Ah?" At this moment, she was stunned and her mind went blank.
This is the first time in many years that I felt such an overwhelming emotion when I heard my own name.
Oh my God! Did she misunderstand what he said?
He just said clearly that he knew her too.
He was clearly calling her name.
I never thought that the three words "Chen Zixin" would have such a beautiful pronunciation in his mouth.
Her heartbeat was disturbed again...
She just stared in a daze at the boy who was hugging her tightly, with tears still on her cheeks.
Even more unexpected is——
He actually stretched out a hand and gently smoothed the loose hair on her forehead.
"It looks like those damned guys were really ruthless. I should have given them a better beating earlier." Xia Bairan frowned slightly.
Oh my god! He was such a gentle and considerate person, with a little bit of cute childishness, completely different from the cold aura he exuded when she first saw him...
He seemed even more fascinating like this.
Perhaps because she was too excited, Zi Xin's eyes were once again filled with ripples, making her look pitiful.
The slender fingers gently brushed across her face, which must be the most touching action in the world.
"Why are you crying? Does your wound hurt?" There was obvious pity in his tone.
At this moment, she seemed to be intoxicated by such tenderness and unable to extricate herself. She was stunned for a long while before gently shaking her head.
Seeing her shaking her head to deny, Xia Bairan seemed to be slightly relieved.
"Can you stand up and walk?"
"My ankle isn't injured, so it should be fine." Zi Xin answered with a little uncertainty in her tone, "I'll try." Then, with Xia Boran's support, Zi Xin broke away from his arms and stood up.
I really can't bear that temperature. If I had known, I wouldn't have said that my ankle was not injured. The girl was a little annoyed about this.
But--
Xia Bairan did not let her walk alone. Instead, he gently supported her with his arm and placed his other hand lightly on her shoulder.
It rested on her shoulders so naturally.
Zi Xin instantly became nervous again, her body trembling a little due to nervousness...
After just a moment, he felt her body trembling slightly.
"Does the wound hurt when you walk?" He frowned, worry in his eyes.
"Ah?" Zi Xin didn't react for a moment.
"Your body is shaking."
Zi Xin remained silent, not knowing how to respond, her cheeks flushed.
"What's wrong? Does the wound hurt?" He frowned and looked at her with a nervous look on his face.
"No...no, it doesn't hurt at all." Facing his concerned gaze, Zi Xin hurriedly denied it.
"Then why..." Xia Bairan's tone was full of doubt, but he was smart and soon understood.
Then, a wicked smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "Chen Zixin, it turns out that you are such a shy girl."
Such a keen penetrating power...
It turned out that he saw through her thoughts... Her cheeks became redder as she heard these words.
In the dim light, he supported her steadily and forcefully until they walked out of the alley.
“Do you have any ice at home?”
"Ah?" The injured Zi Xin obviously couldn't keep up with Xia Boran's thinking rhythm and was always in a distracted state.
"Ice cubes. Do you have any at home?" Xia Bairan repeated what he had just said with a smile.
"No." Zi Xin shook her head, "What do you need ice for?"
"Apply ice." He suddenly turned sideways and looked at her steadily. "At this time, most of the small clinics nearby are closed. It's more convenient to go home and apply ice yourself than to go to a big hospital for emergency treatment." He explained to her patiently.
"I think it should be okay without applying ice. Maybe it will be fine after a good night's sleep. In fact, there is no need to be so..." Before he could even utter the word "trouble", he was interrupted by Xia Boran.
"Wait for me here."
"Huh? What are you going to do?" Zi Xin looked at him puzzledly.
"Go to the supermarket to buy ice packs." He answered as he glanced at the supermarket not far away.
"Ah? Actually..."
"Wait for me here." He said this and walked towards the supermarket without waiting for Zi Xin's reaction, not noticing how doting his words were.
Zi Xin didn't answer, but just stared at his handsome back. Her heart skipped a beat and her face was flushed with the intoxicating blush caused by his words just now.
ten minutes later.
Xia Bairan appeared in Zi Xin's sight again, holding two large bags of ice cubes in his hands and smiling.
"I think these ice cubes should be enough for you to cool down. You should do some ice compress seriously when you get home tonight, okay?"
"Yes, I got it!" Zi Xin smiled sweetly, "But, for saving my life, it would seem pale if I just say thank you, right?" She stared at him intently, her eyes shining brightly.
Xia Bairan smiled gently, with a beautiful arc on the corner of his mouth: "Really? Well, if you plan to repay me with your body, maybe I will consider it."
"ah……"
Before this moment, Zi Xin would never have thought that someone with Xia Boran's temperament would actually make such a joke. The sun should not be in the wrong direction today. Thinking of this, she subconsciously looked up at the sky. Unfortunately, apart from a few scattered stars, there was nothing else to see.
"Silly girl." He said softly, looking at her bright eyes, his voice filled with a doting taste that made people nostalgic.
Her heart was in turmoil again...
"No matter what, I still have to say thank you so much for today." She lowered her head and dared not look at him. "Well, then I'll go first. Bye!"
Her back was so hurried, as if if she left a little later, the throbbing and secrets in her heart would be noticed by him.
"Hey, wait!"
Before he had taken a few steps, his arm was grabbed again...
Zi Xin raised her head——
Xia Bairan's domineering look was reflected in her eyes: "I haven't asked you to leave yet, how dare you leave!"
"Ah?" She stood there in a daze, her mind unable to react to what "How dare you leave when I haven't asked you to leave" meant. She could only hear the sound of her own heart beating wildly.
"It's so late, how dare you walk alone? Aren't you afraid of meeting a gangster like that again?" There was a hint of blame in Xia Bairan's tone.
Zi Xin subconsciously shrank her neck, obviously still frightened by what had just happened.
While she was in a daze, his leisurely voice had already sounded in her ears: "I'll take you home, Chen Zixin."
After he finished speaking, he gently took her hand and took steady steps. The faint starlight stretched their shadows into long and slender shapes...
Zi Xin, who had just recovered from her daze, immediately stood to his left and tried to keep up with his pace.
"Silly girl, aren't you afraid of walking alone at night?" He turned his head and asked her as he walked, with a sly smile on his lips, but his eyes were extremely gentle.
"not afraid."
"real?"
"Of course! Because I'm not alone now." She looked back at him, her tone very serious, but her clear eyes were playful.
Her appearance at this moment was clearly reflected in his deep eyes, and his heart trembled heavily, as if he was bewitched by those clear eyes.
Then, he suddenly recalled the first time he saw her. It was such a special and wonderful feeling. Now when he recalled it, it was still so clear and vivid...
The night is getting deeper.
When preparing to cross the road at an intersection, Zi Xin suddenly noticed something unusual about Xia Boran.
Inexplicably, he suddenly stopped and his face turned pale.
"What's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?" Zi Xin frowned, looking extremely nervous.
Xia Bairan remained silent and did not answer her, but his expression was a little dazed, like a lifeless doll.
"What's wrong with you, Xia Bairan?" Zi Xin shook his arm.
It took a long time for Xia Bairan to come back to his senses.
" Huh? What's the matter?" He raised his eyebrows and looked at her, his face was confused and pale.
"What happened to you just now?" Zi Xin asked with a frown.
"Nothing, I... am just a little scared of crossing the road!" As he spoke, an unnatural blush appeared on his handsome face.
Zi Xin was a little surprised. She didn't expect him to have such a childish side, but she didn't show such emotions. Everyone has something they fear, and this is nothing.
She smiled, calmly took his hand, and looked at him sideways.
"Then you won't be afraid anymore, right?" She said with a smile, her eyes curved like beautiful crescent moons.
An inexplicable sense of peace gradually spread from her palm to his heart.
Xia Bairan narrowed his eyes and looked at Zi Xin——
Her smile gradually widened in his clear eyes.
It was a smile that made people feel extremely at ease, as warm as the brightest moonlight in the dark night...
"Hold my hand all the time, don't let go." Her tone was very gentle, without any sarcasm in her words. Her hands were so small and soft, and the two of them were so close. She could hear his even breathing in her ears, and she just gently held his hand and walked across the zebra crossing at the intersection...
Zi Xin gently let go of his hand until they reached the other side of the road. The warm feeling suddenly disappeared from Xia Bairan's palm, and a slight sense of loss rose in his heart.
He raised his head and looked at Zi Xin. There was silence all around him except for the rustling of trees when the wind blew.
"Are you afraid because you have some bad memories of crossing the road?" She still had that smiling face, looking so pure.
"Yeah." Xia Bairan responded vaguely, with a slight curve at the corner of his mouth, but his eyes seemed to be deliberately avoiding something.
"Haha, it's okay, everything will be fine later." Zi Xin stopped talking. He must have some secrets that he couldn't tell.
At this time, the night was getting darker.
There were no buses left at this time, and there were not even a few taxis to be seen.
This situation is really a bit of a headache.
Two people were walking slowly on the quiet street. Everything was silent, and only the rhythmic footsteps could be heard echoing in their ears.
"A-choo..." Cold air suddenly poured into his nasal cavity, and Zi Xin couldn't help but sneeze loudly.
Xia Bairan turned his head to look at her, then decisively took off his coat and gently put it on the girl's shoulders.
The warm breath quickly spread throughout Zi Xin's body.
"Do you feel a little warmer this way?" he asked in a very gentle tone.
"Yeah." Zi Xin nodded gently and cast a grateful look at the boy in front of her, "Thank you, Xia Bairan."
Xia Bairan.
The three words dancing on the tip of your tongue are the most pleasant name.
Boom——
Suddenly, a flash of lightning flashed across the sky, followed by a roar of thunder that resounded through the sky.
In the blink of an eye, heavy rain poured down, leaving Zi Xin and Xia Boran both dumbfounded.
There was no sign of this heavy rain, it seemed like it happened in an instant, catching everyone off guard.
In just a minute, the two of them were soaked like drowned rats, looking extremely miserable.
Raindrops fell on the street, and soon formed a small river with potholes. The sound of the raindrops was like pearls falling to the ground. The leaves on the roadside were also covered with crystal raindrops, which emitted a different light in the dark night, with a bit of weirdness.
When they quickly ran to the door of their house, there was almost no dry place on their bodies. But despite this, the two bags of ice were still well protected by Xia Bairan.
Zi Xin quickly took out the key from her bag, opened the door, and then squinted her eyes and shouted to Xia Bairan beside her: "It's raining so hard, come in quickly."
"Ah?" Xia Bairan's pupils dilated a little, "Is this okay?"
That look really made people laugh and cry.
"Hurry up." Zi Xin urged anxiously, "Do you want to get seriously ill from being caught in the rain and then make me feel guilty?"
The door was closed.
The downpour was immediately shut out of the door, and along with it the annoying sound of the rain.
The surroundings suddenly became quiet.
With a "click", Zi Xin turned on the chandelier in the room. The whole room was immediately enveloped in warm light, and a fresh breath filled the air.
Xia Bairan handed the ice bag in his hand to Zi Xin and asked her to put it in the refrigerator. Then he frowned and looked around, unconsciously sizing up the house.
This is a not-so-big duplex. The furnishings inside the house seem to have not been replaced for a long time, so it looks a bit old. The wooden stairs also look very simple due to their age.
but--
All this does not affect its warmth at all. The whole room looks very tidy. The main blue color makes people feel relaxed and happy. The layout of the room is very unique, with a unique and cute atmosphere of girls.
Xia Bairan noticed that near the window, rows of Clivia were neatly arranged. The fresh scent that just came to his nose must have come from there.
Just as Xia Bairan was stunned, he heard Zi Xin's urging voice from behind him: "Go take a shower quickly. You were soaked by the heavy rain just now. You must take a shower immediately, otherwise you will easily catch a cold." It was a very cautious and serious voice.
"What?" Xia Bairan was unable to react for a moment, staring at Zi Xin in front of him with wide eyes.
The first time I visited a girl’s home, I took a bath here…
It sounds like a very strange thing.
"Shower. Why do you look like that?"
"Uh, this, we don't need it, right?" Xia Boran said in a very unnatural tone.
"So, you want to make yourself sick and make me feel guilty?"
"Of course not." Xia Bairan waved his hand.
"and you……"
"You were obviously wet just now, you should take a shower first." Xia Bairan interrupted Zi Xin, "Also, you have to take a shower quickly and put ice on your face, otherwise you won't be able to see anyone tomorrow."
"Ah?" Zi Xin frowned and looked at him.
"In addition, to prevent colds, we must start with people with weak constitutions," Xia Bairan said seriously.
Zi Xin opened her mouth but didn't know what to say.
Looking at Xia Boyan's sly smile, I felt helpless and sweet at the same time, and the pain on my face didn't seem so severe anymore.
Really... I lost to him.
When the clock on the wall pointed to 12:30, Zi Xin had already applied ice to her face and sat on the sofa waiting for a full 20 minutes.
She was wearing a set of cute little bear pajamas at the moment, her delicate eyebrows were slightly wrinkled, and there was a hint of uneasiness on her slightly red and swollen face.
When Xia Boran finished taking a shower and walked out of the bathroom, Zi Xin stood up and looked at him blankly, not saying a word for a long time, with a strange expression on her face.
At this time, Xia Bairan was wearing a set of clothes that didn't seem to fit him well. The clothes were a bit short, which made him look a bit funny against his tall figure.
But his figure is really amazing, with broad shoulders and a standard inverted triangle perfect body.
"I'm really sorry, we don't have any clothes that fit you at home. This one was left to you by your father." Zi Xin's voice sounded apologetic.
"Maybe..." He paused, raising his eyes slightly, "You should feel sorry only if you have the right clothes, right?" Xia Boyan glanced at her, his eyes full of cunning.
Zi Xin was stunned for a moment and then immediately understood the meaning of his words. A blush immediately appeared on her cheeks and her face turned red, which made her look indescribably beautiful.
A wicked smile appeared on Xia Bairan's lips. She is really a shy person.
"Have you applied ice to your face?" he asked, noticing that her cheeks were still a little red and swollen.
"Yeah." Zi Xin nodded.
"It still looks a little swollen. Let me do it for you again ."
"Ah..." Zi Xin's heartbeat began to become abnormal again and his mind went blank.
When she regained consciousness, Xia Boran had already pulled her to sit on the sofa, and he was already applying ice to her face.
Wow, it’s really comfortable.
Zi Xin glanced upwards and pursed her lips slightly.
How could he be so good at applying ice, something that only girls are good at? It's so unfair! Can't he give her a chance to live? She lamented in her heart.
"How is it? Are you comfortable?" Xia Boran's pleasant voice sounded above his head.
"Yeah." Because it was inconvenient to nod, Zi Xin just nodded lightly.
"Let me tell you, I'm an expert at applying ice compresses. I guarantee that when you wake up tomorrow morning, your cheeks will be back to their original state immediately."
"Thank you!" Zi Xin thanked him politely, paused and said, "You didn't develop this skill because you were often injured in fights when you were a child, did you?" There was obvious teasing in his tone.
"Chen Zixin, you have a very rich imagination!" Xia Boran said with a doting smile, without stopping the action of applying ice on his hands.
"Really? Thanks for the compliment!"
Then, both of them laughed out loud, looking like lovers.
The only sounds in the room besides their conversation and laughter were the bright light from the chandelier overhead.
A warm room.