And being safe and healthy is also important… Am I wishing for too many things?
The “lucky charm” that was said to be very effective online was a small red blessing bag, strung with a red cord, like a small pendant.
However, just as Lin Zhexia stood up with the lucky charm, she received a message from Chi Yao-
On the bus now.
…
Lin Zhexia: Weren’t you supposed to leave in the afternoon? It’s only noon now.
Chi-dog: Old Liu specially drove over to pick me up
“What’s wrong?” Chen Lin asked her.
“Chi Yao left early,” Lin Zhexia put down her phone, feeling a bit disappointed. “I still didn’t make it in time.”
Since she didn’t need to rush back to give Chi Yao anything, the three of them went to a restaurant with a nice environment for lunch after leaving the temple.
After ordering, Chen Lin saw Lin Zhexia still staring at the blessing bag.
After putting down the menu, she said, “It’s okay, he’s so good academically that participating in a competition is just a small matter for him.”
Tang Shuxuan also said: “That’s right. Think about his scores. He wouldn’t be afraid even if he faced opponents from Lianyun No. 1 High School.”
“And even if you don’t think about his scores, think about his personality—”
Tang Shuxuan shook her head, “With that invulnerable personality, he’s more likely to poison others than be harmed.”
From Tang Shuxuan’s perspective, she couldn’t imagine Chi Yao needing anyone to worry about him in a competition.
She even felt that they should be more concerned about Chi Yao’s opponents.
Lin Zhexia held the blessing bag and said, “It’s not like that, he…”
He’s sometimes stubborn about saving face.
He gets nervous, too. Sometimes, he even can’t sleep.
But these words that only she knew circled in her mouth and ultimately remained unspoken.
At the same time, Lin Zhexia’s memory was pulled back to many years ago.
At that time, Chi Yao’s health had improved somewhat, and he had returned to school normally, though he wasn’t very popular at school.
In other classmates’ eyes, Chi Yao was difficult to get along with.
He didn’t pay much attention to people, always giving off a “stay away from me” attitude.
Only she would follow behind him after school, chirping: “Chi Yao, the cafeteria food was so bad today.”
“Chi Yao, I don’t know how to do my labor technology homework. I know someone as helpful as you will help me.”
“Today, our teacher mispronounced my name in class. He called me Lin Chai Xia.”
“Now my classmates have started calling me Chai Xia—”
“…”
The path from elementary school back to Nanxiang Street was very short, surrounded by tree shade. At that time, Lin Zhexia, carrying the pink backpack Wei Ping gave her, walked together with Chi Yao.
She changed topics several times, and finally remembered something and called out: “Oh right, I heard you’re going to participate in a math Olympiad competition next week.”
Lin Zhexia continued: “Don’t be nervous.”
Chi Yao, at that time, stopped walking. With his hands in his pockets, he spoke coldly and condescendingly: “Me? Nervous?”
She didn’t understand what Chi Yao meant by those words at the time, and only said: “Everyone gets nervous.”
Chi Yao cut her off: “I don’t.”
“That small competition, I don’t take it seriously at all.”
But even in her naivety, she vaguely sensed Chi Yao’s unusual insistence.
It seemed like being looked down upon, being thought of as not strong enough, was something he couldn’t accept.
This suspicion was unexpectedly confirmed the day before the math Olympiad competition.
By coincidence, Chi Yao lost his house key that day.
The locksmith had already finished work and would only come the next morning, so Chi Yao had to temporarily stay at her house.
Lin He and Wei Ping originally wanted to give him their bedroom, but Chi Yao refused to trouble them so much. Finally, unable to persuade him, they made up a bed for him on the sofa.
Lin Zhexia, with her hair down, watched Lin He make the bed: “He can sleep with me.”
Chi Yao directly refused: “Who wants to sleep with you?”
“…”
Lin Zhexia: “My allowing you to sleep with me is already your honor. Don’t be ungrateful.”
Lin He turned to look at her: “You talk less.”
Lin Zhexia shut up.
Then, when she got up at night to use the bathroom, passing through the living room, she found that the bed Lin He had made was still perfectly intact, with no signs of having been used. Only a very dim light was on in the entire living room. Through the faint light, she saw the person sitting on the living room carpet.