The waves crashed again, swallowing all unspoken words.
After a while, Lin Zhexia said, “My leg has fully healed, and I can run now.”
She added, “People like us with knee injuries, who can’t exercise vigorously for a few days, love to run after recovering.”
Chi Yao’s tone was cool: “Then don’t sit next to me, go run a few more laps.”
Lin Zhexia ignored whatever he said and sat down beside him on her own, saying: “…I’ll rest a bit before running more.”
However, even if she wanted to conceal it, Chi Yao could always immediately detect when something was off about her.
Chi Yao: “You’re not quite right today.”
Lin Zhexia: “How am I not right?”
Chi Yao: “Not quite normal.”
“…”
Lin Zhexia: “You’re the one who’s not normal.”
Finally, she added haltingly: “I just, it’s my first time seeing the sea, I’m too excited.”
“This seems to be the first time we’ve seen the sea together.”
But Chi Yao said, “Second time.”
Lin Zhexia: “When was the first time?”
“When you were twelve, you insisted on watching a deep-sea documentary.”
Lin Zhexia thought for a moment and recalled that there was indeed such an incident: “…Does that even count as seeing the sea together? And it was so long ago, how do you still remember?”
“Because for three hours,” Chi Yao sneered, “I was on pins and needles.”
“…”
As evening approached, the group returned to the hotel to pack up for the journey home.
Lin Zhexia had bought tickets for the same train as them. While packing her things and checking out, she ran into Shen Shanshan.
Lin Zhexia’s first reaction was embarrassment; she wondered if she should pretend not to know about what Shen Shanshan had said last night.
Shen Shanshan, however, smiled and greeted her: “Hi.”
Currently, they were the only two people who had come down to the lobby, so they started chatting.
Shen Shanshan: “Thank you.”
Lin Zhexia was puzzled: “Thank me for what?”
Shen Shanshan: “Thank you for keeping my secret.”
“I shouldn’t have said those things yesterday,” Shen Shanshan continued, “Later, when I returned to my room, I felt a bit of regret.”
Lin Zhexia thought for a moment and sincerely said: “It’s nothing, you didn’t say anything yesterday, and I’m quite forgetful. After sleeping, I barely remember.”
Shen Shanshan knew she was trying to comfort her. The two stood quietly together for a while, then she brought it up herself: “I confessed yesterday.”
Lin Zhexia hadn’t expected her to mention this voluntarily: “Ah.”
Shen Shanshan shrugged and quickly said, “But I was rejected.”
“He said he doesn’t want to consider relationships before the college entrance exam, and hopes I can focus on my studies—very official words, right?”
Lin Zhexia: “Yes, quite official.”
After saying this, she didn’t know what else to say, and after a long while, managed to squeeze out, “You, don’t be sad.”
Shen Shanshan looked at her and said, “I’m not sad. Strangely, I even feel a bit relieved.”
“Relieved?”
“Mm,” Shen Shanshan thought for a moment and said, “Maybe it’s because I never really thought we could be together, so being able to tell him what I wanted to say before leaving is the best ending to this story.”
Lin Zhexia discovered an advantage of Chi Yao’s dog-like behavior.
That is, when rejecting others, somehow, no girl ever felt heartbroken.
Tang Shuxuan didn’t, the girl who had brought him water didn’t, and Shen Shanshan didn’t either.
…
At this point, Lin Zhexia also said “thank you” to her.
Shen Shanshan found it strange: “What are you thanking me for?”
Lin Zhexia: “Because I suddenly realized something, and without you, I might have had a hard time discovering it.”
Shen Shanshan still found this confusing, but Lin Zhexia didn’t elaborate.
“Anyway, thank you.”
As they spoke, the others came down with their packed belongings to gather and line up.
Shen Shanshan didn’t persist: “Alright, then we’ve thanked each other once, so we’re even.”
Lin Zhexia asked: “Will you be transferring this semester?”