Sure enough, looking at Lin Xi, Zhang Cui gathered herself and put a smile on her face.
She then dropped another big piece of fatty meat into her bowl.
“Aye, child, you shouldn’t just eat the rice. Here, have some meat.”
Pausing a little, Zhang Cui added, “I plan to pay the village that I came from a visit. Xiao Xi, you have never been, right? Come with me this time. You can even stay there for a little while.”
Here it comes.
Thought Lin Xi to herself. She had another mouthful of rice without giving herself away. Looking at Zhang Cui, she put on a baffled look, “Why do you want me to go visit there with you out of the blue?”
“Well, you have nothing else going on, no?”
Lin Xi shook her head. “I don’t want to go.”
Hearing the determined tone in Lin Xi’s voice, Zhang Cui knew that she would need a little bit more in order to convince her. She faked a sigh, then told “the truth”. “Well, we are doing this for your own good. After what had happened to Xinxin and you at school, others will gossip when you go back to school. There might even be disciplinary action from the school. What if they want you to turn in reports stating that you are sorry or even add a demerit onto your record?
“As such, you come with grandma and stay in the village for a little while. We will have you back after the incident dies down a bit.”
Like heck I’d believe you.
Lin Xi rebutted her in her mind.
Then there was Lin Anxin. Had she no idea the real reason she had fallen into the pond? And now she was nodding along as Zhang Cui talked and looked at her with worries?
At this moment, even Song Kexin, who rarely spoke to Lin Xi, chimed in, “Your randmother only has your best interest in mind.”
Zhang Cui nodded anxiously, “Exactly. Things aren’t half bad in the village nowadays. Besides, it’s only temporary. It’s not like you will be staying there forever.”
Lin Xi still have resentment on her, “What about school then?”
“You don’t have to worry about that. There’s school in the village too.” Zhang Cui paused for a little, then added, “Your mother even graduated from there in the past.”
Seeing that Lin Xi had remained silent and lowered her head as though she had accepted the suggestion wordlessly, Zhang Cui’s smile grew and she said with a kindly look, “Okay, it’s set then. You can pack up after breakfast and then we will head out.”
Xu Jiaofeng took a sip of the soup and said, “Having Uncle Li take you.”
“Sure. Thank you, in-law,” said Zhang Cui as she gave Xu Jiaofeng an appreciative smile.
Lin Xi watched the interaction between the others and snickered: They have had it all planned out already. What was the point in asking her for her opinion symbolically?
Lin Xi knew that her objection would be ignored and gave up fighting any further.
Poking at the rice with the chopsticks in her hand, she hesitated a little and said, “My classmate has a few of my notebooks. I need to get them back if we are taking off.”
Xu Jiaofeng didn’t like that idea. With a disgruntled look, she said, “It’s just some silly notebooks. You can buy them after you have arrived there.”
“My notes are in them.”
Xu Jiaofeng was about to say something else but, noticing that Song Kexin was gesturing her with her eyes, she finally stopped talking unhappily. She was not happy about it: All they wanted to do was to send a child away. What’s with all the hassles?
The few exchanged a look and Xu Jiaofeng said, “Alright then. We’ll take off tomorrow.
“But early tomorrow morning. We can’t wait any longer. We don’t want to hold your grandmother back.”
-- Xu Jiaofeng looked down on Zhang Cui. Naturally, she would not have her best interest I mind. She obviously just wished for her to leave as soon as possible.
Lin Xi wanted to laugh but said nothing else. She buried her face in the bowl and nodded. She started her own plan in her head.
***
As she needed to go to pick up her notebooks at school. Lin Xi went to school with Lin Anxin in the car after breakfast.
In the car, Lin Anxin looked over at Lin Xi, hesitated a little bit, and finally said in a low voice, “I’m sorry, Big Sister. It was so hectic yesterday. I had no idea how I fell into the water. I did say that to Mom and Grandma, but they wouldn’t believe me.”
Lin Xi turned her head. She had better things to do than paying attention to Lin Anxin.
Seeing that, disgruntlement and discontent flashed past Lin Anxin’s eyes. She thought about it some and carried on, “I didn’t think that Grandma would bring you over to the village. I’ve heard that the living conditions there are quite poor. Perhaps I can talk Grandma out of taking you there.”
Lin Anxin seemed to be aggravating Lin Xi on purpose. Lo and behold, her words were like punching at cotton. Lin Xi did not pay her any attention at all.
Feeling defeated, Lin Anxin looked away disappointedly.
The two did not exchange any more words on their way to school.
Once they have arrived at school, the two of them got out of the car and went to their respective classrooms.
Because of what had happened the day before, Lin Anxin had two bodyguards entering the school with her. Thanks to Lin Anxin, Lin Xi, too, have one bodyguard following behind her.
Naturally, that bodyguard’s job was not to protect her, but to monitor her.