He turned around as he spoke, offering no explanation for his current behavior and showing complete disregard for the many watching eyes around them.
Zhou Wan hesitated for two seconds, quietly told Gu Meng “I’m going first,” and wordlessly followed Lu Xixiao.
“Zhou Wan.” Jiang Yan suddenly called out in a deep voice.
Zhou Wan’s steps faltered as she turned back.
Jiang Yan frowned deeply: “Do you want to hang around with him?”
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Wan heard Lu Xixiao’s scornful sneer.
Worried they might fight like last time, Zhou Wan quickly glanced at his expression. Though she couldn’t detect much anger, there was pure annoyance.
He couldn’t be bothered to waste words with Jiang Yan, nor did he want to make a scene in front of everyone.
He picked up Zhou Wan’s schoolbag, lifting the straps from her shoulders and holding it in his hand.
“One minute to sort this out,” Lu Xixiao said, then walked ahead carrying her bag.
Zhou Wan didn’t use the full minute, because she had no idea how to explain her relationship with Lu Xixiao. She just looked at Jiang Yan once and said softly: “He’s not what you think.”
Regardless of what complications existed between their mothers, regardless of who was truly the victim, Lu Xixiao was innocent.
And now she could be certain that Lu Xixiao wasn’t a bad person.
Perhaps self-centered, perhaps too casual, perhaps fickle, but fundamentally, he wasn’t bad.
Jiang Yan’s gaze was complex: “You’re taking his side.”
“I’m not taking anyone’s side,” Zhou Wan shook her head. “Jiang Yan, you’re my important friend, but you can’t control who I get close to.”
*
Lu Xixiao deliberately took large strides.
When Zhou Wan caught up to him, she was out of breath. While catching her breath, she asked: “Why did you come?”
He said flatly: “Was on the way.”
“Is your cold better?”
“Almost.”
His steps became smaller, and Zhou Wan could finally slow down: “Your voice still sounds a bit hoarse, maybe take medicine again before bed tonight, I left it on the coffee table.”
“Mm.”
His voice remained flat, words sparse, still annoyed.
Zhou Wan walked quietly beside him, not knowing how to console him, only trying to minimize her presence so he wouldn’t have to see her.
To the arcade, Lu Xixiao didn’t say another word to her.
As usual, Zhou Wan went to the counter, watching the store while doing homework. Lu Xixiao found a random game machine to play, tickets continuously spitting out of the dispenser by his feet.
Zhou Wan hadn’t done much homework when her phone started buzzing non-stop.
Close classmates sent her a string of messages.
[????]
[What’s going on! You and Lu Xixiao!!!!!]
[Why was he waiting at the school gate for you!!!!!]
[Oh my god! Could Lu Xixiao be trying to pursue you!?]
“…”
Zhou Wan looked up towards Lu Xixiao’s direction. His lips were pressed tight, eyes downcast, playing games with no expression.
[Zhou Wan: No way, how could Lu Xixiao pursue me.]
He seemed like someone who wouldn’t have the patience to pursue any girl.
All his girlfriends, which one hadn’t actively clung to him?
[Zhou Wan: He often comes to the arcade, so we just gradually became familiar.]
[But! He! Came! To! The! School! Gate! To! Wait! For! You!]
Zhou Wan’s fingers paused.
She also didn’t know why Lu Xixiao had come.
She often couldn’t understand Lu Xixiao’s motivations for doing things.
Lu Xixiao was an extremely casual person who didn’t explain his reasons.
Next, her friend sent her a link.
Zhou Wan clicked it – it was content from the school forum.
Yangming High School’s forum was quite lively, partly because of Lu Xixiao. Girls from other schools often came to ask about him.
But Zhou Wan had barely ever checked the forum.
The title of the post her friend sent was—