Perhaps the brief chat with Chi Yao before sleep had an effect.
Lin Zhexia slept soundly that night without any dreams, all the way until the next morning.
Lin He made her a sandwich. She took a few bites, then put the rest in a bag and hurried outside: “Mom, I’m going to Chi Yao’s place to bring him breakfast. You know, since he’s sick, I want to check on him.”
When she arrived at Chi Yao’s place, he was still getting ready.
Chi Yao had a bandage on his hand. He was wearing his school uniform with the collar still unbuttoned, half open.
Lin Zhexia respectfully handed him the food bag: “My offering to you.”
Chi Yao glanced at it: “Your father isn’t hungry right now. Put it aside.”
Lin Zhexia: “Sure thing.”
She put the sandwich down and sat in the living room, waiting for him. After a while, she suddenly made up a story: “Chi Yao, I had a dream last night.”
“In my dream, I fought sixty people, one punch each. I was amazing.”
“Those sixty people were all very strong, but they were no match for me, Young Master Lin. In less than three minutes, they were all down.”
Chi Yao twisted his lips: “Good that you know it was a dream.”
Lin Zhexia just wanted to cheer him up. After speaking, she tentatively asked: “How’s your mood today?”
“Not good,” Chi Yao said. “Feel like killing someone.”
“…”
Lin Zhexia thought to herself, A whole night has passed: ‘You’re still angry?”
Chi Yao spoke flatly: “I have a bad temper. Easily angered.”
Lin Zhexia: “…”
She had already apologized and didn’t know what else to say to make Chi Yao feel better.
After thinking for a while, she said: “I swear, this is the last time. From now on, whatever happens, I’ll tell you first thing.”
After saying this, she noticed Chi Yao showed a slight reaction.
She thought for a moment and added, “I won’t hide anything from you. If you don’t believe me, we can pinky swear.”
Lin Zhexia made a pinky swear gesture.
Chi Yao didn’t extend his hand, just passed by her, saying, “Childish.”
The tone of “childish” was different from his previous sentences—the ending lightened. Others might not have noticed, but Lin Zhexia immediately knew his anger had subsided.
When they reached the bus stop, He Yang was already there waiting.
The three of them boarded the bus together.
Chi Yao often napped on the bus. As usual, Lin Zhexia grabbed one of his earbuds, piggybacking on his music. She listened while drinking milk, and after finishing her bottle, looked around for somewhere to throw it away.
The bus gradually filled with people.
Lin Zhexia looked up but couldn’t find a trash can. Instead, she noticed several students in No. 2 High School uniforms on the bus.
And these people seemed to be deliberately or unconsciously looking in their direction.
More precisely, looking in Chi Yao’s direction.
The song in the earbuds ended, leaving a moment of silence.
In this silence, Lin Zhexia followed their gaze and glanced to the side.
Chi Yao sat by the window, with light from outside falling perfectly on him, very similar to that widely circulated photo on the forum when school began.
Under such scrutiny, Lin Zhexia suddenly felt an indescribable awkwardness.
She didn’t want to indirectly become an object of attention, so she removed the earbuds, hugged her backpack and empty milk carton, and moved to the front row to sit with He Yang.
He Yang was still copying homework and asked strangely, “Why did you come over?”
Lin Zhexia: “…To see how your homework copying is going.”
He Yang: “Almost done with math, just English left.”
“But next time, do your homework,” Lin Zhexia said. “You look quite pathetic copying it on the bus.”
After saying this, Lin Zhexia couldn’t help but mention: “Those few in front seem to be from our school.”
He Yang continued writing without stopping, quickly glanced up, then said: “You mean those who keep staring at my Brother Yao?”
Lin Zhexia responded with an “Mm.”
Before He Yang mentioned it, she thought she might have been mistaken.
But He Yang seemed unsurprised: “What’s the big deal—before, when I went to school with Brother Yao, it was even more exaggerated. There was someone who didn’t take this bus route home but insisted on riding it for an entire semester.”
Lin Zhexia: “Huh?”
He Yang turned his head to glance at the back seat, found Chi Yao napping, unaware of his words, then said: “Our classroom was at the end of the corridor, by the water station. Every time there was a long line for water, all filled with people sneaking glances at him. Sometimes I couldn’t get water, and I wanted to twist his head off and kick it out of the classroom.”
“Does that sound too cruel?”
Lin Zhexia imagined the scene: “Not cruel. I completely understand how you felt.”