After dinner, I logged into Weibo, eager to share my happiness with Xia Li who was far away in Italy.
"Hi, Xia Li, I'm with him."
I typed out this sentence without thinking, and then all the bits and pieces that had been buried deep in my heart for ten years came flooding back like the sea.
In a private message, I told Xia Li about my first encounter with Xiao Shitou; how blue the sky was, how white the clouds were, and how green the camphor trees in the orphanage were; how he spread his fledgling wings like an eagle to protect me; that my real name is Banxia; how I stubbornly refused to change my name after being adopted by the Ai family; the origin of "Ban in half, Xia in summer"; how he looked when he gave me the word "Banxia", down to the angle and the size of the upward arc of his mouth...
Finally, I said, "Xia Li, can you believe it? I still remember the color and taste of that piece of candy. Moreover, after so many years and tasting all kinds of delicacies, I still think it is the most delicious thing in the world, even though I know it is just an ordinary piece of candy."
Many years later, I still remember clearly that the moonlight that night was particularly bright, covering the floor in front of the window like broken diamonds. I jumped around on the floor barefoot, imagining myself as an elf dancing in the moonlight.
Later, I often wondered, if I had known what would happen later, would I still be so happy? But who can predict the future?
So, everything that happened later was probably destined.
Aisi went to bed very late tonight. He didn't go to bed until almost ten o'clock, and he knocked on my door with his bedtime milk.
"Sister, are you okay?"
I sat on the bed, looked up at Aisi who looked anxious, smiled, stood up, pulled him in who was leaning against the door, and touched his head out of habit.
Aixi must have known about the "big-character poster" incident, which is why she came to me with such concern.
This child is like this, he looks like an adult, but once something happens to me, he is always cautious and afraid to touch my wounded heart.
"Aixi, if you give me the milk, I'll be fine! I'm so thirsty now." I glanced at the cup of milk with Ovaltine in Aixi's hand and said with a blink.
Seeing my shameless appearance, Ai Xi's worry instantly disappeared, and she said with a stern face as usual, "Ai Banxia, ​​you really don't deserve sympathy!"
I didn't comment, just smiled, ruffled his soft hair, and said lamentingly: "Ai Xi, I know what you are thinking. I'm fine."
Aisi looked at me suspiciously, shook her head helplessly, broke free from my hands, and put the milk .
"This was originally brewed for you. It's said to help you sleep."
When he looked up again, the child was gone.
My chest suddenly felt warm.
My lovely brother, Aisi.
I thought the "big-character poster" incident would end with my efforts to keep things quiet, but I didn't expect it to escalate.
The next morning, before Aisi and I entered the school gate, some discussions and speculations floated into our ears intentionally or unintentionally.
The gist of it is that Xu Xiye was locked in the classroom while on duty after school last night, and the "murderer" who received the most votes in everyone's mind was naturally me.
I remembered that Ai Xi stayed on campus for a long time after school last night. Just when I was about to ask if he did it, Ai Xi suddenly turned his head and said, "Don't look at me. I hope it was me."
"Really?" I demanded.
"Of course. Would I be so stupid as to retaliate immediately and let others suspect you?" Ai Xi said disdainfully, "'A gentleman's revenge is never too late' is my style."
I thought about it and nodded. "That's right. Ai Xi has always been known for being sinister and cunning. How could he avenge me in an open and aboveboard manner? Well, this is really not your style."
Ai Xi showed his sharp fangs, looking mad: "Ai Banxia! The real murderer is obviously insidious and cunning, you confuse right and wrong, black and white, it is unacceptable..."
"If it wasn't you, then it must have been him!"
Thinking of this, a sweet feeling welled up in my heart. I just kept lowering my head and smiling foolishly, not paying any attention to Aixi's accusations against me.
But my thoughts were soon seen through by Ai Xi. He glared at me with an unhappy look on his face: "Humph, Ai Banxia, ​​you can't be so partial. The same thing, when I do it, it's insidious and cunning, but when Jian Chen does it, it's open and aboveboard?"
I smiled. Aisi really understood me.
If it wasn't Ai Xi, the person who locked Xu Xiye in the classroom could only be Jian Chen.
Come to think of it, it does resemble his style.
But, I suddenly felt heartbroken. Was this kind of character, with a clear distinction between love and hate and a desire for revenge, the result of that past that is too painful to recall?
Although he has lost that memory, he can never return to the sunny smile he had when I first met him. How can I make him happy again?
Maybe I was too suspicious, so the first thing Long Xuan said when he saw me at the classroom door was: "Banxia, ​​good job. Haha, it's really fun. Let's see if Xu Xiye dares to do anything else in the future."
"Not me." I shook my head.
"Hey!" Long Xuan was sure it was me, "I won't tell anyone else."
I sighed and teased her, "Well, I've always wanted to do that."
Long Xuan had no doubt at all: "I guessed it was you. Ai Banxia's aura is not to be underestimated. I could tell from the first time I saw you that you are not someone who can be easily messed with."
I smiled but didn't answer.
She leaned close to my ear and whispered mysteriously, "If Xu Xiye comes looking for trouble later, don't say anything. I'll take care of everything. Anyway, my dad is going to invest in Baisha College to build a bowling alley this year, so the school shouldn't do anything to me."
I felt warm inside when I saw Long Xuan patting his chest seriously, but he said nonchalantly, "Everyone is responsible for their own actions."
"Hey, do you still consider me your friend?" Long Xuan protested, "Aren't friends supposed to share hardships?"
"Is it that serious?" I laughed.
"Of course!" Long Xuan nodded, "Based on my understanding of Xu Xiye, she will definitely not give up."
For the whole morning, Long Xuan and I were on high alert, but Xu Xiye never showed up.
It was not until I met Jian Chen in front of the teaching building at lunch time that I began to understand why Xu Xiye did not show up.
Jian Chen stood quietly in the shade of the tree next to the pillars on the first floor. His calm gaze staring into the distance always gave me the illusion that he had been standing here waiting for me.
The advantage of being sentimental is that it gives you more courage.
I walked up to Jian Chen, shook my right hand, smiled like a rogue, and said, "Handsome guy, have you been waiting for me for a long time?"
"I am indeed waiting for someone." Jian Chen had long been resistant to my crazy talk, and said calmly, "But the person I am waiting for is not you."
Then, I saw Xu Xiye walking down the stairs.
So, is he waiting for Xu Xiye? What does he want to do with Xu Xiye?
Before I could figure it out, Jian Chen pulled me away without saying anything.
"Huh? You are waiting for Xu Xiye, right? Then why do you want to leave when you see her?" I asked in confusion.
"You talk a lot." Jian Chen pulled me and walked faster and faster.
"If someone is evasive, he is either a traitor or a thief."
I protested quietly and turned my head to look back, but I only had time to see the corner of Xu Xiye's clothes flash by at the corner of the stairs.
"What did you say?"
Jian Chen let go of my arm, stood still and looked at me.
"Huh?" I said with a look of alert, "It's either a traitor or a thief?"
He said coldly: "The first sentence."
I didn't know what he wanted to do, so I could only say blankly: "Handsome guy?"
"Behind." He gritted his teeth.
"Let me tease you first?" I knew something was wrong before the words even finished. Unfortunately, it was too late to regret.
"That's it." Jian Chen glanced at me with a smirk on his face, "Since you strongly requested it, why don't I take the initiative?"
I admit that I was shocked by his sudden "initiative" and said incoherently: "No... that... tell me first what you want to do with Xu Xiye?"
“I wonder what it feels like to be locked in a classroom.”
It took me two seconds to realize that he was answering my question. Why is he so direct? I've never seen anyone prank someone so brazenly and confidently. But suddenly, a small, sweet ripple appeared in my heart.
"I have already answered your question," Jian Chen suddenly leaned forward, looked at me pointedly, and said, "So, now should I..."
"Ah?" My heart was beating so fast that I could only speak monosyllables. His chin was within reach if I raised my head, and I could even clearly smell the faint plant fragrance on him.
Because we were too close, I could feel the invisible pressure from Jian Chen, and even my breathing became cautious.
I think my face must be as red as a ripe tomato, otherwise Jian Chen wouldn’t smile so proudly.
"It turns out to be just a meowing kitten." He stood up and looked at me, his slender eyes full of undisguised mockery.
"What kitten?" The invisible sense of oppression dissipated, I sighed secretly and refuted him, " At least it should be a tiger."
"Hello, Katie."
"Huh?" I was a little slow in thinking. It took me two seconds to remember the source of his answer - if a tiger doesn't show its power, you will think I am "Hello, Katie". So, was he telling a joke just now? It was not funny at all, but I actually liked it.
"Since someone else is the tiger, I am naturally happy to be Katie - pretty and cute." I couldn't help but ask, "So, was Xu Xiye really locked in the classroom by you, the powerful tiger?"
He frowned and said, "Am I so ungraceful ?"
"Yes, that's right, absolutely right." I continued fearlessly, "You don't seem to have anything to do with the word grace, do you?"
I thought Jian Chen would be irritated by me, or at least deliberately put on an icy face towards me, but he actually smiled and said nonchalantly, "It doesn't matter. I don't really like the word 'demeanor' anyway."
"So you admit it?"
"I admit nothing."
"Even if you don't admit it, I know it's you," I said. "Anyway, thank you for helping me..."
Before I could finish my words, Jian Chen interrupted me: "I think you misunderstood. I did lock the door, but I didn't know there was someone else in the classroom at the time. I have already explained to classmate Xu Xiye that I did it completely unintentionally, and it was not for any reason or person."
I think I probably know why Xu Xiye hasn't come to settle the score with me. She must have been warned by Jian Chen early on with words like "That matter has nothing to do with anyone . "
Doesn't he know that there is a saying in this world: "There is no silver here, but there are three hundred taels of silver"? Anyway, I heard two meanings from his long explanation: Xu Xiye was indeed locked in the classroom by him, and he locked Xu Xiye up for me.
I sighed secretly. It is indeed tiring to get along with the "Iceberg Face" with a super twisted personality - some words should be understood in the opposite way.
"I still want to thank you anyway." I raised the corners of my mouth slightly, not exposing him.
"I told you I didn't do that because of you." Jian Chen turned his face away and deliberately avoided looking at me.
"Well, your unintentional act helped me get my revenge." I deliberately put emphasis on the word "unintentional" and looked up at him with a playful smile. "How should I thank you? How about I buy you a drink?"
Jian Chen frowned. Fortunately, I was prepared and said, "If you go, it's 'unintentional'. If you don't go, it's 'intentional'."
"How clumsy." Jian Chen muttered softly.
"What?"
He said bluntly: "Your provocation."
I was ruthlessly exposed again and said angrily: "Don't you know you will die if you pretend?"
"I won't die, but life will be less interesting than it is now." He raised his eyebrows at me, then strode away first.
I was stunned, unable to react. Was he enjoying teasing me?
After Jian Chen walked a long way, he suddenly stopped, turned around and saw me still standing there in a daze, frowned and expressed his displeasure: "Why don't you hurry up!"
"Well?"
"Drink something." He said word by word, seeming very reluctant.
"Okay, okay!" I couldn't expect the "Iceberg Face" to take the initiative to admit that he was willing to go for a drink with me, so I happily followed him.
The beverage bar that Jian Chen and I went to was only one street away from Baisha College, and most of the customers were students from Baisha College. Therefore, when Jian Chen and I appeared together , we caused quite a stir.
As soon as I entered the door, I heard a girl deliberately say in a shrill voice: "Ha, it turns out that Jian Chen's taste is not that good."
I smiled generously. Standing with the famous figure of Baisha College was bound to be criticized. I was prepared for this, but I didn't know how Jian Chen would react. I couldn't help but secretly observe Jian Chen from the corner of my eye. His expression was always calm, and he seemed to be oblivious to the discussions.
I secretly breathed a sigh of relief and sat down at the window seat. I looked up and glanced at him and smiled, "You're in trouble. You're going to be a hot news figure in the future. Alas, it's because Ai Banxia is so famous. There's really nothing I can do about it."
I spread my hands to express my helplessness.
Jian Chen sat down opposite me and said confidently, imitating my tone: "I'm afraid you are the miserable one. I am the famous 'Iceberg Prince' of Baisha."
It turns out that he already knew that others called him "Iceberg Prince" behind his back. I laughed out loud at his irritation, and my mood became as bright as the sunshine outside the window: "Well, 'Iceberg Prince', the super invincible Ai Banxia has to admit defeat."
When he said that, did he acknowledge the fact that I was dating him?
Jian Chen glanced at me and said quietly, "Don't you think that 'Grass Pile Head' and 'Iceberg Prince' are a better match?"
Grass pile head? He actually remembered the ugly nickname that those people gave me! What is a grass pile head? Although my hair is short, it is still longer than a "grass pile", okay?
I looked around, trying to find one or two short-haired beauties to show that I was not the odd one out, but was annoyed to find that, except for me, all the girls in the beverage bar had long flowing hair.
I sighed in frustration.
Jian Chen smiled and comforted me, "Don't be discouraged. Short hair suits your personality."
"Really?" This seemed to be the first time he praised me, although it was very "subtle".
I stared at him without blinking and asked anxiously, "What happened?"
I imagined in my mind that he might say "valiant and dashing", or at least "refreshing and neat", but I didn't expect that his smile became more and more weird, and he said: "Well, it suits someone's silly look very well."
I was deeply shocked and completely discouraged, but I heard him say in the soft music: "Sometimes I am so stupid that it makes your teeth itch, and sometimes I am so stupid that it is cute."
Although he spoke very quietly and quickly, I still heard every word he said.
My face suddenly felt hot, as if it was burning. I think I really like him. Otherwise, why would Ai Banxia, ​​who is usually carefree, become shy like a lady at this moment?
The soothing music, the whispers of people talking quietly, the noisy horns on the street outside the window, at this moment, all the irrelevant sounds became blurred, the only clear and distinct thing was, he said, sometimes he was so cute.
At this moment, the world was so quiet that it seemed as if only he and I were left. I could hear my own rapid heartbeat, and it felt like there was a drum in my chest that kept beating. I lowered my eyelids and dared not look at Jian Chen's dark eyes, fearing that I would not be able to help but remind him that when I first met him ten years ago, in that summer when the air was filled with the scent of jasmine, he also looked at me quietly with a pair of eyes that seemed to be smiling but not smiling.
For the first time in my life, I blushed and my heart was pounding so fast that I didn't know what to do. Fortunately, the waiter brought the menu at this time.
I sighed inwardly, and pretended to look at the menu while saying, "Please give me a latte, a large one, and he wants a glass of ice water. And two servings of strawberry pudding. That's all, thank you."
During the whole process, Jian Chen didn't say a word, but just tilted his head and looked at me with a strange look.
I felt secretly proud of myself. He must be wondering why I knew so much about his preferences - he only drank ice water and liked everything made with strawberries, especially strawberry pudding.
I smiled mysteriously, waiting for him to ask me, but I had no intention of telling him the truth.
However, until the waiter had served all the food, Jian Chen had no intention of asking questions. He just frowned and stared at the strawberry pudding. His expression did not look like he liked it at all, but rather a bit like he was disgusted.