Сhаpter 20: Сlassmatе Fu, Саn Yоu Sреak Сhinеsе, Plеasе?
“Yes, I neеd tutоrs for аll subjeсts. Аgе and ехpеriеnсе dоn’t mаttеr—just makе sure thеу’re skilled enough tо get thrоugh to mу thiсk hеаd.”
“Dad, I’m reаlly not running а fеvеr, аnd I havеn’t lost mу mind. I reallу, trulу аm уоur daughtеr—this isn’t a scam саll оr АI-gеnerated.”
“Аlright, аlright, I’ll stоp tаlking. I’m hanging uр now.”
“Wait, wаit, wаit—соuld you tеll Аunt Sun I’d like tomаto beеf briskеt fоr dinnеr tonight? Маke sure it’s stewed until it’s really tеnder.”
“Мhm, thе swееtеr kind.”
“Okаy, bye, Dаd.”
Putting аwaу her рhone, Jiang Er slurped up the last of her nearly melted ice cream and hummed a tune as she skirted around the flower bed, hoping to take a shortcut back to the classroom.
Suddenly, a figure hurried out and bumped right into her.
She hastily raised her arm.
But it was already too late.
Plop—
The chocolate-flavored ice cream slid slowly down the other person’s uniform before falling to the ground along with the stick.
Jiang Er quickly grabbed a tissue to wipe it off. “Sorry, sorry! Hold on, this doesn’t seem to be coming off clean. Let me go buy some wet wipes.”
“It’s fine. I have a spare uniform—I’ll just change into it when I get back.”
The other person was a tall girl with long, flowing hair, gentle and graceful.
“Besides, I was the one who bumped into you first, so there’s no need to apologize,” she said softly, ignoring the stain on her clothes as she asked Jiang Er, “Are you hurt?”
Jiang Er was taken aback.
This person… looked so familiar.
“I’m fine,” she replied, snapping out of her daze and shaking her head. “I’m okay.”
“That’s good.” The other girl smiled and prepared to leave.
Jiang Er couldn’t help but ask, “Have we met somewhere before?”
The girl studied her for a moment before suddenly realizing. “You’re the new transfer student in the second year, aren’t you?”
Jiang Er was puzzled.
But the girl extended her hand to Jiang Er. “Hello, I’m Wen Xiyue.”
Jiang Er blinked.
So this was Lin Ling’s crush?
No wonder she was so famous—she really was a stunning beauty.
Jiang Er, the self-proclaimed admirer of beauty, happily shook Wen Xiyue’s hand. “I’m Jiang Er.”
“I know your name,” Wen Xiyue said, her eyes deep and thoughtful. “The forum is full of posts about you right now—it’s hard not to know who you are.”
Jiang Er thought of Lin Ling, who had been described in the posts as flying ten meters and spitting blood upon landing, and she nearly cringed hard enough to dig a three-bedroom apartment with her toes.
“Well, I should head back to the classroom now,” Wen Xiyue said with a smile. “Feel free to come find me in Class Three when you have time.”
“Mhm, mhm.”
Jiang Er watched her leave, wiped up the melted ice cream on the ground with a tissue, and casually tossed it into the trash bin.
“Where have I seen her before?”
She kicked a pebble on the path, walking around the lush flower bed as she tried to recall. “It probably wasn’t in this lifetime—it must have been in a past life.”
“There’s no way I wouldn’t remember someone so good-looking… Fu Tinghan?!”
Jiang Er was startled by the figure ahead.
She blurted out, “What are you doing here?”
The pink bougainvillea was in full bloom, cascading like a waterfall. The dense branches of flowers were arranged in a staggered pattern, with a few reaching just in front of the boy’s forehead.
He stood silently in the shadows, resembling a sculpture or a building more than a person.
A cold, lifeless building.
Jiang Er instinctively disliked this version of Fu Tinghan.
Cupping her hands around her mouth like a megaphone, she raised her voice and called out his name, hoping to awaken the “building”:
“Fu Tinghan!”Fu Tinghan mechanically lifted his head to look in her direction, his eyes unfocused.
She drew out her tone and called again, “Fu, Ting, Han!”
In an instant, Fu Tinghan’s scattered gaze gradually sharpened.
After recognizing the person before him, he froze in place.
Cicadas clamored, light and shadow flowed gently.
The girl’s almond-shaped eyes sparkled like stars, more vibrant than the green apricots on the branches.
The next moment, with her hands clasped behind her back and a hint of an urge to leap, she walked toward him. The crown of her hair reflected the softest ray of sunlight from the horizon, outlining half a bright hair whorl.
The cicadas’ chorus abruptly ceased, and the world fell silent.
Fu Tinghan slowly raised his hand to press against his chest.
Through the thin layer of flesh and blood, within his chest, a pounding echoed.
His face was filled with panic.
“Hey, what are you thinking about?”
Jiang Er waved her hand in front of his eyes. “You look so pale—are you sick? And why are you wearing a hearing aid?”
Wen Xiyue’s words still lingered in his ears. Fu Tinghan’s eyes dimmed for a moment, but he said nothing more and turned to leave.
“Wait for me!” Jiang Er called out.
Fu Tinghan’s strides were long and hurried, forcing her to almost jog to catch up. “What’s really going on with you?”
“I’m fine,” he replied without looking back.
He clearly looked devastated—definitely provoked by something.
Jiang Er grumbled inwardly.
Just a moment of inattention, and someone must have troubled him again.
Would she have to carry him in her pocket everywhere just to keep him safe?
This was far more demanding than taking care of Laifu.
At least when Laifu was upset, it knew to meow, instead of tossing out a stiff “I’m fine.”
Wait, Wen Xiyue had just come from this direction—could it have been her?!
Jiang Er felt she had uncovered the truth and tentatively asked:
“I just ran into Wen Xiyue. Did you see her?”
Fu Tinghan abruptly stopped.
She collided with his back unexpectedly, nearly losing her balance. Hastily grabbing his collar, she rubbed her reddened nose and gritted her teeth:
“Do you know your back is all bones?”
Fu Tinghan fell silent for a moment, then said softly, “Jiang Er, stay away from me.”
“What?” She looked utterly baffled. “I didn’t bump into you because I was too close—it was you who suddenly stopped…”
He spoke slowly, “You still have a chance to return to the other side of the river.”
Hearing this, Jiang Er quieted down, her expression shifting several times.
After a long pause, she tactfully replied:
“Classmate Fu, could you speak Chinese? Please.”
Fu Tinghan: “”