This Christmas was the best one Lin Qingle had experienced in recent years.
Holding the box of chocolates, she couldn’t hide the smile on her face as she walked back to school.
“Qingle.”
Just as she entered the school gate, someone called her from behind. Lin Qingle turned around to see Yu Jiayou, who had also just returned from outside.
When Yu Jiayou approached, he asked, “Why didn’t you join the class rep and the others for dinner tonight?”
“I had something to do, so I couldn’t go with them.”
“I see.” Yu Jiayou was silent for a moment, then suddenly raised his hand and placed the bag he was holding in front of her.
Lin Qingle was stunned for a moment. “What’s this?”
“Chocolate. This brand is really good. Uh… Merry Christmas.”
Lin Qingle looked down at the fancy bag and asked, “Is this for me?”
“Ah… yes, no.” Yu Jiayou coughed lightly, his ears turning slightly red. “It’s for all of you. You can take it and share it with the class rep and the others. It’s really good.”
Lin Qingle felt relieved. Good thing it wasn’t bought specifically for her. After all, she hadn’t prepared gifts for anyone else. If Yu Jiayou gave her something and she couldn’t return the gesture, it would’ve been awkward.
Lin Qingle said, “Let’s take it upstairs for Shuyi. She loves chocolate.”
“Sure…” Yu Jiayou said, “But you hold onto it.”
“Alright, thanks.”
Back in the classroom, Lin Qingle sat in front of Jiang Shuyi and Yu Tingting and placed Yu Jiayou’s bag of chocolates on the desk.
Jiang Shuyi first noticed the brand of the chocolates and then looked at Lin Qingle in surprise. “Did you buy this?”
Yu Tingting exclaimed, “Whoa, this is expensive. Qingle, did you hit the jackpot?”
Lin Qingle didn’t recognize the brand at all. She shook her head. “Yu Jiayou bought it.”
Jiang Shuyi froze, exchanged a quick glance with Yu Tingting, and then both turned to look at Yu Jiayou at the back of the classroom. When Jiang Shuyi looked back at Lin Qingle, there was barely concealed surprise in her eyes. “He… Yu Jiayou gave you a Christmas gift? And it’s chocolate?”
“He didn’t give it just to me,” Lin Qingle said, a bit embarrassed. “He said the chocolate was delicious and asked us to share it. I didn’t know it was so expensive. Otherwise, I’d return it to him…”
“Hey, no need!” Jiang Shuyi stopped her hand from touching the box. “Why return it? It’s probably from some girl. His drawer is probably full of them. Let’s help him out and eat some!”
Yu Tingting nodded vigorously and gleefully opened the box, unwrapping a piece. “Mmm! So good!”
Jiang Shuyi also opened a piece and ate it. While chewing, she noticed the other small box of chocolates Lin Qingle was holding. “Hey, what’s that?”
“This? Also chocolates.”
“Let me see.” Jiang Shuyi grabbed the box and opened it. She thought it was cute and casually popped one into her mouth.
Lin Qingle’s eyes widened, unable to stop her in time. “Don’t—”
But Jiang Shuyi had already eaten it. She chewed a couple of times and frowned slightly. “This is way too sweet. It’s not good.”
Lin Qingle snatched the box back. “No way, it’s delicious!”
Yu Tingting leaned over eagerly. “Let me try, let me try!”
Lin Qingle protectively leaned back. “…No.”
Jiang Shuyi teased, “Hey, you’re okay with sharing Yu Jiayou’s chocolate, but not this? Who gave it to you that you’re guarding it so closely?”
“That’s different.” Lin Qingle stood up. “His chocolate is for everyone to share. This one… this one is my Christmas gift.”
“Oh-ho!” Yu Tingting raised her eyebrows. “A Christmas gift, huh? Who gave it to you?”
“Xu Tingbai, right?” Jiang Shuyi chimed in.
Lin Qingle asked, “How did you know?”
“Just a hunch, seeing how you’re acting.” Jiang Shuyi looked at her and suddenly lowered her voice. “Qingle, be honest. Are you two, you know…”
“What?”
“You know, that.”
“What?”
“Ugh, like, are you guys together?”
Lin Qingle froze for a moment. “No.”
“Then why are you two exchanging gifts? And you treat him so well. Don’t you… like him?”
Lin Qingle stammered, “I-I do like him…”
From Lin Qingle’s reaction, Jiang Shuyi could tell she hadn’t caught on to her real meaning. She patiently explained, “Girl, I don’t mean friend kind of like. I mean the kind—like wanting to be with him, hold his hand, maybe… kiss him kind of like.”
Lin Qingle blinked, and her face instantly turned crimson. “What nonsense are you talking about?”
“How is that nonsense? You’re so clueless!” This story is hosted at g.com.
“The bell’s about to ring! I’m heading back!” Lin Qingle abruptly left her seat.
“Hey—”
Lin Qingle ignored the call and walked straight to her seat, sitting down.
She hastily pushed the box of chocolates in her hand into her desk drawer. But as she pulled her hand out, she found herself staring at the fingertip that had been bitten by Xu Tingbai earlier.
Kissing…
Her mind conjured the image of his lips. They had touched hers just now. Soft, warm.
“……”
What was she thinking?!
Lin Qingle immediately averted her gaze!
It was all Jiang Shuyi’s fault for saying such ridiculous things!
After Christmas, the festive atmosphere on campus faded as the final exams loomed closer.
With time running out, Lin Qingle had no leisure to entertain thoughts beyond her control and focused entirely on her studies.
During this period, apart from her Sunday English lessons at Xu Tingbai’s place, she spent all her time buried in books and practice papers. Her hard work paid off: when the final exam results were released, her noticeable improvement in English propelled her ranking into the top ten—just barely making it.
She was overjoyed. Her translation and writing scores had never been this high before. Clearly, the recent intensive English study with Xu Tingbai had been effective!
The day she received her results, she couldn’t wait to rush home. Before Lin Yufen got back, she grabbed her phone and called Xu Tingbai.
She wanted to share her happiness with him immediately.
Xu Tingbai didn’t pick up right away. Standing by her window, Lin Qingle felt her cheeks chilled by the wind, but her body was warm, a rush of excitement coursing through her.
“Hello?” Finally, the call connected.
Hearing his voice, Lin Qingle’s eyes lit up. “Xu Tingbai, guess how much I scored in English!”
Xu Tingbai could tell from her tone that she had done well. He chuckled lightly. “How much?”
“130! And I only lost two points on the listening section this time!”
“Out of 150, you missed 20.”
Lin Qingle was momentarily speechless. “W-well, it’s still a big improvement. You don’t understand, my English was terrible before. If it weren’t for my other subjects balancing things out, I wouldn’t even rank!”
Xu Tingbai asked, “What’s your overall ranking?”
“Tenth! I’m tenth in the grade!”
Xu Tingbai sounded surprised. “Not bad.”
Hearing his praise, Lin Qingle felt a bit bashful. “Really…?”
“Yeah.”
“Then let’s celebrate sometime! I’m on vacation now. I’ll cook you a nice meal as a reward!”
Xu Tingbai teased, “Isn’t the reward for you?”
“Hehe, you’re the teacher! You taught me well~”
Xu Tingbai paused, then laughed softly. “Silly.”
Lin Qingle was the kind of person who meant what she said. Since she promised to cook a nice meal, she started planning right away.
A few days into the vacation, when Lin Yufen went to work, Lin Qingle went to the market, bought some groceries, and headed to Xu Tingbai’s place.
The cold weather had her bundled up tightly.
Once inside, she shed her thick coat onto the sofa and turned toward the kitchen. “I’m going to wash the vegetables first.”
Xu Tingbai felt a little dazed by her energetic movements. It wasn’t until she spoke again that he realized she was already in the kitchen.
“Wait a second.”
“Huh? What is it?”
Xu Tingbai opened his mouth but hesitated. “…Nothing. I’ll tell you later.”
“Okay.”
Lin Qingle worked quickly and soon had three dishes and a soup ready.
This was their second meal together. The first time had been interrupted, and she hadn’t fully enjoyed it. Today felt much more relaxed.
“Okay.”
“Here, take the chicken wings. I bought plenty, so eat more.”
“Got it.” Xu Tingbai looked a little helpless. “You should eat more yourself. You’re so thin.”
“How do you know I’m thin?”
“You’ve been thin since elementary school—a tiny thing.”
“That was elementary school! I’ve changed. I’ve gained weight. I’m really fat now.”
“Fat?”
“Yes.” Lin Qingle exaggerated shamelessly. “I’m so fat I need to diet. So you eat more. I don’t need it.”
“Sure, keep lying. I’ve seen you.”
“…”
Lin Qingle huffed, “Anyway, I’m fatter than you.”
She didn’t stop there, adding more food to his bowl.
Unable to argue with her, Xu Tingbai eventually noticed his bowl growing fuller and fuller…
Finally—
“Lin Qingle.”
“Hm? Is it good?”
Xu Tingbai set his chopsticks down. “Stop. Are you trying to stuff me to death?”
Lin Qingle burst into laughter at his helpless expression. “Are you full? Sorry, I thought you weren’t!”
“At the rate you’re feeding me, I’ve been full for a while.”
“Oh!” Lin Qingle pressed her lips together to hold back her laughter. “Alright, take a break. Eat more later if you get hungry.”
Xu Tingbai: “…”
Lin Qingle herself had already eaten enough. When Xu Tingbai got up to clear the dishes, she followed him to help.
After tidying up, Lin Qingle turned on the TV and sat on the small sofa to watch a movie.
“Lin Qingle.”
“I’m here, on the sofa.”
Following her voice, Xu Tingbai walked over from his room. Stopping near her, he handed her a bag. “Take it.”
Lin Qingle looked surprised. “What’s this?”
Xu Tingbai seemed a little uneasy. “See for yourself.”
Lin Qingle quickly stood up, took the bag, and opened it. “A scarf?”
Xu Tingbai took a step to the side, his face feigning calm but with a trace of unease beneath. “It’s for you.”
Lin Qingle abruptly looked up. “You bought this for me?”
Xu Tingbai replied, “…You gave me something before, so it’s a return gift.”
“For Christmas? But didn’t you already give me chocolates then?”
Chocolates didn’t really count as a proper gift.
Xu Tingbai didn’t say this aloud, but it bothered him a little.
He said instead, “Then consider it a reward.”
“A reward for what?”
“You ranked tenth in the exams. Doesn’t that deserve a reward?”
Lin Qingle froze, genuinely taken aback. A reward…?
She had never received a reward for doing well on an exam before. As long as it wasn’t first place, her mother was never satisfied.
This was the first time someone had rewarded her for getting tenth place.
Lowering her head, Lin Qingle looked at the scarf in her hands, her eyes suddenly feeling a bit warm. “Thank you…”
“The shopkeeper said it’s a scarf girls would like,” Xu Tingbai said awkwardly. “I couldn’t see it myself, so I don’t know if it looks good.”
“It does! It’s beautiful!” Lin Qingle sniffled and immediately put it on. “It’s so warm and comfortable too.”
Hearing the joy in her voice, Xu Tingbai finally let go of the worry that had been nagging at him since she’d arrived. He had been afraid the shopkeeper might have chosen poorly, that the scarf might not actually be nice.
But now… she liked it, and that was all that mattered.