Lin Zhexia almost blurted out: You’re full of crap!
Who was the one who fought three people at once before?
And who was the one who bragged about being Cheng’an School’s boss?
She hadn’t seen him get weak-kneed during fights; instead, she remembered him not even blinking.
After a moment, Lin Zhexia asked: “Are you joking?”
Chi Yao replied with a mirthless smile: “You started the joke first.”
“…”
At this point, Lin Zhexia could only tell the truth: “Actually, I want to get my ears pierced.”
Chi Yao’s gaze shifted down a few inches, landing on the girl’s small, fair ears.
Lin Zhexia’s earlobes were clean, with nothing on them.
“But I don’t dare go alone,” Lin Zhexia added, “I’m afraid of pain.”
Chi Yao withdrew his glance: “Does Aunt He know?”
Lin Zhexia: “I plan to act first and report later.”
Chi Yao commented: “You’re quite brave.”
Although he hadn’t explicitly agreed to accompany her, as they talked, they had unconsciously started walking toward the commercial street.
Lin Zhexia: “Actually, I’m still quite nervous, but I’ve already thought it through. If my mom doesn’t let me in the house today, I’ll go to your place to do homework.”
Chi Yao: “You’ve certainly thought everything through.”
Lin Zhexia: “I guess so.”
Chi Yao: “You haven’t considered that I might not let you in either.”
After a moment, Lin Zhexia said: “…I have a key.”
The commercial street after school was crowded with students in No. 2 Middle School uniforms. Some were lining up to buy milk tea, others were buying snacks. As Lin Zhexia pulled Chi Yao through the crowd, she vaguely heard people whispering.
After a full year in high school, Lin Zhexia had become somewhat immune to these discussions.
After all, as someone who often stood at the edge of the spotlight, she was also indirectly the subject of attention.
Fortunately, as they walked further into the alley, there were fewer people.
The shops inside weren’t as busy as those on the main street; many storefronts were empty with seals on their large glass windows.
After walking a long way, they finally saw the accessory shop Chen Lin had mentioned.
A pink sign read: “Xinxin Accessory Shop.”
The shop was brightly decorated, and the glass door had three lines of round, cute writing in colored markers: Necklaces, Ear Accessories, Ear Piercing.
This shop thoroughly understood girls’ preferences; it even had an orange cat inside.
As soon as Lin Zhexia entered, the cat showed no fear of strangers and immediately trotted over to rub against her school uniform pants.
“…” Lin Zhexia said with delight, “A kitty!”
Chi Yao, who followed behind her with his bag on one shoulder, slowly crouched down and reached out to tug at the cat’s ear.
There was a strange harmony when Chi Yao was with cats.
Strange because he didn’t look like the type of person who would like cats at all.
The cat seemed to be more drawn to him, circling his hand.
Lin Zhexia was a bit displeased: “Why does it like you more?”
Chi Yao: “Because it has eyes.”
Lin Zhexia: “Maybe—this cat’s eyesight isn’t very good.”
Chi Yao naturally followed up with something only the two of them would understand: “Then how do you explain Xiao Mi?”
Xiao Mi was a cat Lin Zhexia had rescued when she was little.
There used to be stray cats frequenting the housing complex, and one emaciated stray had given birth in the night.
Early one morning, Lin Zhexia went out and heard faint meowing from the bushes near her building.
She parted the bushes to look and saw a snow-white kitten.
“Your Uncle Wei is allergic to cat hair,” Lin He, seeing her desire to keep the cat, had to persuade her, “I’m afraid it’s not possible.”
She remembered anxiously saying back then: “But if we don’t take care of it, it will die.”
Lin He: “How about this, let’s ask around the complex, maybe someone will be willing to adopt it.”
The first person Lin Zhexia thought of was Chi Yao.
Chi Yao, who was just starting middle school then, was already quite tall.
The young boy, just like now, crouched beside the bushes and lightly tugged at the cat’s ear in a teasing manner.
“You can leave it at my place,” Chi Yao said as he finally stood up, “but you’ll have to take care of it yourself, and remember to keep my place clean.”