After enough flattery, Lin Zhexia felt the atmosphere was properly set. She handed him the water: “Would you like some water? I bought it especially for you.”
But Chi Yao didn’t take her water.
The hand resting on his knee moved slightly, and he pointed a finger toward a direction on the court: “See that ball?”
Lin Zhexia looked in the direction he was pointing: “I see it.”
Chi Yao: “I’ve only been here for two minutes and haven’t touched it yet.”
Chi Yao withdrew his finger and looked at her: “I don’t know which Rukawa Kaede you saw, but I’m quite curious. Maybe you could introduce me to him.”
Lin Zhexia: “…”
She hadn’t seen anything.
She hadn’t seen anything at all.
And this person was just sitting on the basketball court, not playing.
Was that appropriate?
Lin Zhexia decided not to dwell on this issue: “Anyway! I bought you water!”
Having known each other for many years, Chi Yao didn’t believe she would be so kind: “It’s not free?”
Lin Zhexia: “It’s not.”
Chi Yao took the water: “How much?”
Lin Zhexia: “Two yuan.”
After Chi Yao unscrewed the bottle cap, she immediately added: “…Plus an eight-yuan delivery fee, so that’s ten yuan in total.”
“…”
Lin Zhexia extended her hand, ready to receive the money: “If you’re feeling generous and want to give a little tip, I don’t mind.”
A few minutes later, at the school store entrance.
Chen Lin held the sushi roll, completely astonished.
Lin Zhexia: “Eat without worry. This was a legal robbery.”
But Chen Lin’s shock wasn’t due to the “robbery” itself, but rather the identity of her seatmate’s “victim.”
After a moment, she finally found her voice: “That just now, Chi Yao? You know each other?”
Lin Zhexia briefly introduced: “My childhood friend, a ride-or-die buddy. But how do you know his name?”
Chen Lin enunciated each word: “Because he. Is. Very. Famous.”
Lin Zhexia: “?”
Just as Chen Lin was about to continue, they were interrupted by the P.E. teacher’s whistle. Everyone gathered at the playground.
She quickly pulled Lin Zhexia to line up: “It’s assembly time. After school, I’ll send you the link, and you’ll understand once you see it.”
Since P.E. was the last period, many students came directly to the playground with their backpacks.
As soon as the dismissal bell rang, these students put on their backpacks and ran toward the school gate.
Lin Zhexia had to return to the classroom to pack up before meeting Chi Yao at Class 1.
On the bus home after school, there weren’t as many empty seats as there had been in the morning. The bus was full of No. 2 High School students. Lin Zhexia and Chi Yao took the bus together. After following Chi Yao onto the bus and paying, she looked around and found only one empty seat left.
The empty seat was near the back door.
Lin Zhexia felt a bit embarrassed. She reached out and tugged at Chi Yao’s hanging backpack strap: “Don’t you have something to say to me?”
“Like offering me this seat or something,” Lin Zhexia continued, “otherwise I’d feel uncomfortable taking it.”
Chi Yao had changed back into his school uniform. He seemed to have washed his hair after playing basketball, as his bangs were slightly damp.
When he spoke, he glanced at Lin Zhexia: “What can I do? I have thick skin. If you’re embarrassed, I’m not.”
Lin Zhexia: “People should respect the elderly and care for the young.”
Chi Yao: “Elderly and young—which one are you?”
Lin Zhexia was pragmatic. She honestly said, “I’m the young one.” After saying this, she added, “Daddy.”
“…”
Chi Yao was speechless.
He took the backpack off his shoulder and tossed it into Lin Zhexia’s arms: “Sit and hold my bag.”
Soon, the driver pressed the door-closing button, and the bus slowly started.
The noise inside the bus was incessant.
Lin Zhexia sat in the seat, while Chi Yao stood beside her, one hand raised high, holding the handle above. She only needed to look up to see him.
With Chi Yao standing next to her as a shield, even though more and more people boarded the bus, no one squeezed toward her side.
—Like a natural barrier.
During the ride, she took out her phone to check if Lin He had sent her any messages.