Chapter 5: Jinnian 2
Gigi Lai handed the water over and said, "When I was buying water just now, I heard someone say that Chen Qiaoluo also participated in the competition today. I thought that someone like him would never participate in such an event to protect the honor of the class."
When I heard Chen Qiaoluo's name, I couldn't help but turn to look at her and asked in confusion, "Someone like him?"
"Yeah, people like him." Gigi Lai took a sip of water and said, "Don't you think Chen Qiaoluo is too cynical? Boys like him are not the kind of people who would consider others."
I understand what Gigi Lai means, but I am too lazy to argue. Maybe in the eyes of others, Chen Qiaoluo is a selfish person, but I know he is not, he can give a lot for his mother. And all this, as long as I know it, is enough.
I told Li Zi that I was going to the bathroom, and then I slipped down from the stands. I wasn't very interested in the school sports meet, it was just a group of people participating in the competition, but the good thing was that we could get a three-day respite from the dark life of senior high school.
I went to lie under the small tree behind the teaching building, the wind blew gently on my face, I closed my eyes and let the sunshine shine on my face. At this moment, my heart was extremely peaceful.
Just when I was about to fall asleep, I heard footsteps. I opened my eyes in confusion and saw a boy looking down at me. I woke up in an instant and got up from the ground reflexively. Only then did I realize that it was Chen Qiaoluo standing there.
We haven't been in touch for a while, and although I often see him at school, it's always a quick glance. Now that I look at him carefully, I find that he looks much more haggard, and his clean chin has grown into stubble without knowing when, and even his plump cheeks have become deeply sunken.
We just looked at each other until I realized what was going on and lowered my head in embarrassment.
It was unknown how much time had passed before Chen Qiaoluo said, "Hello, Yun. Long time no see."
"Haha, that's not a long time." I replied with a perfunctory smile.
As soon as the words fell, the two of us fell silent again.
Just when I was about to be unable to bear this weird atmosphere and wanted to escape, Chen Qiaoluo spoke again: "You have been hiding from me for a month, do you want to continue hiding now?"
Seeing him say this so bluntly, I was so embarrassed that I froze there for a moment.
Just as I was hesitating about how to respond to him, Chen Qiaoluo suddenly said seriously: "Hello, Yun, I like you. I think you should have guessed it a long time ago. I didn't take the initiative to contact you these days because I wanted you to calm down and think carefully about our previous relationship. I know that my family and background are not worthy of you, but even so, I still want to tell you in person how much I like you."
This confession was finally made by Chen Qiaoluo one month later.
I stood there, and the surroundings were suddenly extremely quiet. My feet seemed to be rooted and I couldn't move. Chen Qiaoluo in my sight had a sincere face, a look I had never seen before.
Suddenly, there was an indescribable feeling in my heart.
Just when I didn't know what to do, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind me: "Chen Qiaoluo, how could anyone like someone like you?"
I was startled and turned around to see Guyu standing there. His expression was the most provocative I had ever seen.
Seeing me looking at him, he put away his hostility towards Chen Qiaoluo, looked at me with a smile and said, "I'm sorry, I just happened to pass by here and heard your conversation, especially his confession."
Guyu emphasized the word "confession", and his smile seemed indifferent.
Since I found out about Guyu's family and Chen Qiaoluo's family, I no longer have too many illusions about Guyu. I am Chen Qiaoluo's friend, and Chen Qiaoluo is Guyu's enemy. There is no way for the two of us to be together.
Just when I was lost in thought, Chen Qiaoluo stepped in front of me, looked at Guyu unfriendly and asked, "Why are you here?"
"Why can't I be here?" Gu Yu asked with a smile, and then continued, "How can you, the son of a murderer like you, have the right to like others?"
I saw Chen Qiaoluo stiffen when he heard the word "murderer", but he spoke soon. He said: "Guyu, I know my father was wrong, but it has been so long, and I am doing my best to repay what I owe to your family." Chen Qiaoluo's voice was filled with deep and unrelieved sadness.
Looking over his shoulder, I saw Guyu's originally good-looking face become a little distorted. He sneered and said, "Repay? Can you afford it? If it weren't for your dad, how could I not have a dad? If it weren't for your dad, how could my mom be seriously ill in bed? So I tell you, you will never be able to repay these debts in your lifetime."
I have never seen such a Guyu, it is as ferocious as a demon crawling out of hell.
Chen Qiaoluo didn't say anything else, but even though he had his back to me, I could imagine that his face was filled with sadness.
Seeing that Chen Qiaoluo didn't say anything, Guyu turned his gaze to me, and his expression gradually eased. He walked around Chen Qiaoluo, stopped in front of me, and suddenly said, "Your name is Zhu Yun, right?"
Although I didn't understand why Guyu suddenly asked this, I still nodded.
Just as I nodded, he suddenly said, "If I remember correctly, you confessed to me last semester. I seemed to have rejected you at that time, but now I want to regret it. I am willing to let you be my girlfriend."
Guyu’s words were like a thunderclap, which stunned me for a moment.
Before I could react, Chen Qiaoluo in front of me reacted first. He turned around and roared at Guyu, "Guyu, if you have anything to do, just come to me. Why do you have to involve innocent people?"
"Innocent?" Guyu frowned, then suddenly smiled, "Chen Qiaoluo, don't forget that my father was also an innocent man at the beginning."
This matter was Chen Qiaoluo's weak spot. In an instant he was defeated and stood there helplessly with his head down.
Immediately afterwards, Guyu took my hand and led me forward.
I wanted to break free, but his hand was like an iron chain holding me tightly. I turned around to look at Chen Qiaoluo, but he didn't react at all. He just kept the same posture, with his head down, full of sadness.
Guyu pulled me all the way to the school garden before he let go of my hand.
I twisted my wrist and the place where he was holding it was already red and it hurt so much when I touched it lightly.
Just as I was frowning and enduring the pain, Guyu's next words surprised me again.
He said, "Hello Zhu Yun, how about we try dating?"
I looked up at him in surprise, and his face was hidden in the shade of the trees.
The wind kept blowing past us, but my heart was gradually rippled by Guyu's words. Just when I didn't know what to do, he turned around and left without saying another word.
I stood there, watching his figure gradually walking away, like a traveler with no way home.
I forgot how I got back to Gigi Lai, and I also brought back my messy mood. At this time, the loudspeaker announced that the 400-meter sprint event was about to begin, and I heard Guyu and Chen Qiaoluo's names were among them.
For a moment, I looked down reflexively.
At this time, they had already changed into sportswear and were doing warm-up exercises outside the court. Guyu and Chen Qiaoluo were not far away, and I seemed to be able to sense the undercurrent between them.
A bad feeling gradually spread in my heart. Just when I was at a loss, the referee fired a gun to announce the start of the game. I watched the two of them running forward without giving in, and all I could hear were the cheers of my classmates. I felt like I was hanging on a tightrope, and I was very nervous.
My eyes followed the two people on the playground closely. Whether it was Chen Qiaoluo or Guyu, they both left the others behind, but they didn't give in at all and ran towards the finish line. When they were about to reach the finish line, Chen Qiaoluo on the left suddenly seemed to step on something, and his body tilted and fell down. A girl's scream came over, and I stood up reflexively and rushed to the playground.
When I squeezed through the crowd and got to his side, Chen Qiaoluo had already been taken to the rest area. His face was pale and cold sweat kept pouring out of his forehead. I was panicked and quickly squatted down to check his injury. The part of his ankle that was sprained was already red and swollen.
Someone said, "It looks like it's been sprained pretty badly. Let's rush to the infirmary."
This sentence was like a revelation to me. I immediately stood up and said to Chen Qiaoluo, "Let's go. I'll take you to the infirmary."
When Chen Qiaoluo heard this, he looked up at me. There were too many emotions in his eyes that I couldn't understand. I don't know how long it took before he said coldly: "Hello Zhu Yun, what does my business have to do with you!"
This sentence hit me hard in the face like a slap in the face. I even felt that my heart was about to burst with pain. I bit my lower lip hard with my teeth, and I didn't let go until I smelled a strong smell of blood in my mouth. Everything around me seemed to have returned to the ancient times in an instant, and there was a dead silence.
Chen Qiaoluo looked at me with such coldness in his eyes that I felt as if I was in a world of ice and snow.
Maybe there will really be no future between us.
I stood up with a wry smile, and at that moment the surroundings returned to their original noise. Without saying another word, I turned around and staggered away.
I didn't go back to the stands, nor did I watch the rest of the game. I just ran out of the school alone.
It seems that every time I feel embarrassed, I will meet Xu Xuan.
I was sitting alone on the steps of the square when Xu Xuan suddenly appeared in front of me. He squatted down and looked at me for a long time before smiling and asking, "Do you want to go ice skating at my place? I'll treat you."
I followed Xu Xuan to his skating rink.
It was three o'clock in the afternoon and there were no customers here. The girls behind the service desk were all yawning with their heads down, but they quickly came to their senses when they saw Xu Xuan.
He led me to a chair and sat me down, then went to the service desk to get me a pair of shoes and squatted down to help me change them.
I was shocked to see this man, whom I had only met briefly, doing this, but I didn't know what to say.
But Xu Xuan didn't seem to care at all. He stood up again, stretched his hand in front of me and said, "Good lady Zhu Yun, let's go."
Xu Xuan led me onto the ice.
There were only two of us in the empty field. I needed to vent my depression, so I let go of his hand and skated forward alone. The unhappiness and sadness faded away in the process of sliding back and forth.
Two hours later, I was sweating all over, and the sadness I had felt seemed to have flowed out of my body with the sweat.
It was only then that I realized that Xu Xuan had returned to the outside of the venue without me noticing, and I was the only one in the venue.
Seeing me looking at him, he clapped his hands at me and said with a smile, "That's amazing!"
I smiled and then did a difficult move.
When we left the skating rink, it was already dusk outside. Xu Xuan followed me out and insisted on treating me to a meal. Thinking back to everything he had just done for me, I couldn't refuse and had to follow him to the restaurant next door.
We found a seat by the window and sat down. The waiter came over and handed us the menu. After we ordered a few dishes, we fell silent.
