one

With my eyes closed, I can still taste the ointment in my mouth, and then I recall the events that have transpired since I met this young gentleman, which makes me feel uncomfortable all over. For instance, the doubts and even disdain from his friends, as well as the unfounded hostility from the infatuated women by the roadside.

After exchanging a few words, the boy's gaze fell on me again, with a meaningful expression that was strikingly similar to the annoying look from Zhuang Yi. He arrogantly tilted his chin at me and asked Bao Kangqi, "Who is this? Why isn't anyone introducing her?"

However, as if he found the gazes of others not ambiguous enough, he walked over and asked me: "Xiao Di, would you like to go eat with me?"

At this moment, it was precisely the time for school to be dismissed, and there were quite a few people at the school gate. However, I spotted Bao Kangqi at a glance. I must admit, he stood out like a crane among chickens, his tall and slender figure particularly striking. I did not know what he was doing here, and I vaguely felt reluctant to speak with him, so I did not greet him and planned to avoid him.

He stepped forward and suddenly grabbed my hand, like a child, using a spoiled tone: "Yes, I do have a thick skin, what are you going to do about it!"

The dim light fell above our heads, and his tall, slender shadow easily enveloped me. In that moment, I saw his brows and eyes, his face; in fact, none of these were inferior to Su Yunjin. It was the first time I looked at him so earnestly, as if I were meeting him for the first time.

Before he could utter any more nauseating and sentimental words, I quickly covered my ears and ran away. Breathless, I returned home, and when my mother asked where I had been, I did not respond. I entered the room alone and locked the door.

Unexpectedly, Baokangqi smiled slightly and nonchalantly said, "It doesn't matter, I like you very much"

Bao Kangqi saw an acquaintance and once again displayed his signature silly smile

I looked at his expression, feeling not a shred of goodwill; he said nothing, offered no greeting, and quietly drank the warm soup that had just been served, his head bowed.

I feel that something is wrong, why has it suddenly become so fierce

I am leaving, please do not come looking for me anymore, I beg you

In such weather, with blue skies, white clouds, and a gentle warm breeze, his pursed lips suddenly remind me of four words—"a fleeting dream of life." It feels like a beautiful dream without an end

In the following days, he invited me out several times, but I declined with various excuses. Because that day when we were singing, I had spoken to him and felt that although he was not a bad person, it was unfortunate that he had such an off-putting childhood friend like Zhuang Yi. Moreover, I felt that we were fundamentally not on the same wavelength; the only bond between us was Su Mo and Su Yunjin. Therefore, there was no necessity for me to accept his invitation to meet alone.

"Xiao Di, do you have something to discuss?" He spoke first, leaving Zhou Shiyun feeling somewhat embarrassed.

I lowered my head, no longer engaging in the usual chatter about Su Mo or Su Yunjin, and walked alone towards the school gate

I held back my words, feeling a surge of unexplainable anger within. Who have I offended? Why is it that when I kindly remind someone, I am subjected to repeated suspicion?

Baokangqi noticed that I was angry and quickly mumbled a few words to distract that boy. The boy was not so oblivious, but as he was leaving, he still stepped on my foot, saying: "Well then, if we encounter the same situation at the subway station next time, you must remind me."

I originally wanted to go see the cherry blossoms with him, but after glancing at Zhou Shiyun, I did not continue speaking. Zhou Shiyun smiled knowingly and said that they were going to participate in the drama club's activity, and finally asked me: "Xiao Di, do you want to go?"

Actually, how should I put it? It is not that I do not feel happiness in my heart, but that happiness merely stems from the vanity of being confessed to by some outstanding boys at this age. I am very clear that this is not affection.

I, like a monk who cannot comprehend the situation, shrugged my shoulders, not knowing what was going on, after all, it was me who was scalded, not him

"What do you think..." I also felt a bit awkward, turning my head and not daring to look at him directly, "I was just looking... just looking at how thick-skinned you are!"

I do not speak to her either, but quietly watch Su Yunjin.

I blurted out: "Do you like me? What do you like about me?"

"Fu Man Lou." He mentioned the name, which took me by surprise. Because during the last singing session, I had casually mentioned to him that I had once dined at Fu Man Lou with Su Mo and others, and I really liked the dishes there. Unfortunately, that restaurant is always bustling with customers, making it difficult to reserve a table. I didn't expect him to pay such close attention; I mentioned it just once, and he remembered it.

What are you doing? I am asking knowingly.

I listened and let out a cold laugh: "You are too naive, Baokangqi. Your friends already have this opinion of me, so no matter how you try to change it afterwards, it will be very difficult to reverse their thoughts. Moreover, they have already thought of me this way, haven't they? Even if you can change their future opinions, can that alleviate the inexplicable grievances I have? The issue between us is simply due to the different positions you and I occupy."

On the streets, where night is about to fall, many people are walking. Passing by Chunlai Street, the cherry blossoms are beautiful. I tilt my head back, brushing away the falling cherry blossoms while watching the moths fluttering under the dim streetlights

Su Yunjin opened her mouth, originally intending to say something to me, but at that moment, coincidentally, the president of the drama club arrived. He glanced at me, said nothing, and simply mentioned that a group of people was waiting for Su Yunjin and Zhou Shiyun, urging them to hurry up and leave

Xiao Di ... ... '' Bao Kangqi seems to have something to say

I felt my body stiffen; indeed, people tend to associate with those similar to themselves, and the individuals around Zhuang Yi all exhibit this same character.

The girls who were chattering around him suddenly fell silent, all following his gaze to look at me. He disregarded this and walked towards me with a smile

"Kang Qi, you are here too?" A sudden unfamiliar male voice came from behind.

Su Yunjin felt a bit embarrassed, and finally nodded at me, indicating that I should leave alone first

Do not come looking for me again in the future I spoke up before he could

The boy clearly did not believe it, and pretended to be casual as he pulled the girl next to him, smilingly saying: "Oh, is that the girl who reminded you at the subway station that Xiaoyi mentioned last time?" After saying this, he immediately added, "What a coincidence! I really want to go find that uncle thief and ask him about it."

Two people began to eat, and there happened to be a bowl of chicken soup that I particularly like on the table. I hurriedly scooped a bowl and started drinking. Unexpectedly, the chicken soup was sprinkled with chopped green onions, and there was a layer of oil floating on the surface, so it did not emit steam and appeared not very hot. As soon as I took a sip, I was scalded and shivered. At that moment, I couldn't spit it out or swallow it, my face turned red, and I was at a loss for words.

Baokangqi noticed that something was wrong with me and quickly brought over a small bowl, indicating for me to spit it out

I looked up at him, and he was displaying his few signature white teeth, confidently waiting for my response. However, I opened my mouth to ask, "Where is it?"

At this point, I had no other words to say; refusing him again would seem somewhat unkind, so I could only brace myself and go with him to Fumanlou.

I silently scoffed, wondering how many years ago those lines were, yet he still used them on me, thinking I was still an innocent girl? I rolled my eyes and looked up at him.

My words were quite decisive, and my expression was undoubtedly cold. Baokangqi was almost left feeling dejected by what I said, yet he did not give up the last glimmer of hope, and with bright eyes, he asked me: "What if Xiaoyi and the others no longer say that?"

After that day, I no longer spoke to Bao Kangqi. Whenever he called me, I would simply hang up, and if he called again, I would hang up once more. Eventually, I decided to block him entirely, ignoring all his greetings and advances. Sometimes, on clear nights with a bright moon, I would walk alone on the streets where cherry blossoms fell, and I would recall the scenes from that time.

That night, I was lying in bed at home reading a book when I suddenly received a call from Bao Kangqi

I frowned slightly, feeling quite annoyed inside, as I greatly dislike the sensation of being watched by others

I quietly wept in my heart, I didn't want it to be this way, did I! But in the end, I said nothing, and my heart felt as if it had consumed honey, sweet and delightful

He felt embarrassed under my gaze, his face turned red, and with flushed cheeks, he closed his eyes and pressed his lips towards me. Sensing the situation was not good, I pushed him away and said, "What are you doing?"

I rolled my eyes; how can I eat anything after applying the ointment

He did not expect that I would refuse, his face turned bright red, like a tomato, and after a long while he finally managed to say: "I thought you ... ... "

I was taken aback, pondering how he managed to obtain my number since I had not given it to him. However, upon reflection, the only two people he could have contacted were Su Mo and Su Yunjin. My heart sank, and I could only repeatedly reassure myself that it must have been Su Mo who provided him with my number

I have no relationship with him, so there is no need to bear so much for him

Before he could even speak, he instructed the waiter to remove the delicious spicy dishes, and without blinking, he ordered several light yet expensive dishes.

As soon as I finished my meal, I told Bao Kangqi that my mother was home alone, waiting for my return, otherwise she would be worried. He had no choice but to take me back, although I was initially reluctant to have him escort me home. After he insisted several times, I finally agreed.

I forced a smile at him, nodded and said okay, but suddenly I fell back into that sadness, just like that night when he didn't escort me home. I don't blame him; it's just that my heart feels heavily constricted.

I was taken aback by his deliberately cute demeanor, gasping in surprise, and as I shook off his hand, my face also turned red

Upon arriving at the restaurant and taking my seat, I realized that Bao Kangqi had ordered a table full of dishes that I liked. Regardless of the circumstances, I felt somewhat touched, so I quietly expressed my gratitude to him. To my surprise, he appeared flabbergasted, as if I had been mistreating him all along

In the end, I had no choice but to pour myself a glass of lemonade to drink, but that water was both sour and cold. I probably burned my mouth just now; the sourness was simply unbearable. Upon seeing this, Baokangqi became even more exasperated, leaving me behind as he turned and walked out.

But some people are truly unavoidable. I had just taken a few steps when he saw me and suddenly called out, "Xiao Di, you finally came out."

I originally thought that this would make him give up, but what happened in the following days took me by surprise

I stirred the spoon in the white porcelain bowl, making a clinking sound. Suddenly, I raised my head and looked directly into the boy's eyes, asking him slowly and deliberately: "Is that so? Then you must take me with you."

Baokang Qi seems to share my love for spicy food. After picking up a few dishes for me with his chopsticks, he slowly began to eat a little himself. Suddenly, the two of us fell silent, enveloped in an extremely subtle and awkward atmosphere. Finally, he spoke up and said: "You should eat a little less this time; your mouth is burned like that, and you should be more careful. Next time, we can come back to this place to eat."

After a considerable amount of time, he returned, holding the ointment in his hand, and instructed me to apply it immediately

Baokang scratched his head, unsure of what to say, and finally could only say: "Ah, she is my friend."

He did not speak, merely staring at me blankly. After a moment of silence, he suddenly reached out and grabbed my shoulder, asking me fiercely: "An Xiaodi, are you really going to hide from me like this?"

I turned my head and saw a boy I had never seen before, but he was quite good-looking. Standing next to him was a girl, and just by their demeanor, it was clear that, like Bao Kangqi, they must come from a wealthy family

Leaning against the somewhat cold door, I gradually calmed down, thinking to myself, how nice it would be if it were Su Yunjin saying these words to me tonight

On the road, Bao Kangqi chattered incessantly, and I engaged in conversation with him intermittently, yet my mind was preoccupied with Su Yunjin, still pondering what mischief Zhou Shiyun would get up to next

He was rendered speechless by my pressure, merely gazing at me, his face etched with unhappiness

At that moment, a tall shadow suddenly appeared in front of me, blocking my path. I looked up and saw the distorted face of Bao Kangqi, which had changed due to some anger.

Indeed, if we are not on the same path, it is better to have less contact, I think this way

After the new dishes were served, they were all bland and watery, which I did not enjoy at all, leaving me somewhat disheartened

I cast a deep glance at the culprit of it all, Zhou Shiyun. If it weren't for her words... She, however, seemed completely unconcerned by my gaze, laughing and joking as she prepared to take Su Yunjin away.

Hmm. He seemed to ponder carefully, and after a while, he finally spoke, "This Saturday evening, a few of my good friends and I are going to the riverbank to have some fun, maybe enjoy some barbecue. Would you like to come?"

She is well aware that the president of the drama club has a negative opinion of me. In short, I have already offended that president, and it is unlikely that I would be able to participate in their activities; I can imagine that if I were to appear in front of him, he would want to tear me apart.

Baokang Qi did not expect me to ask this, and slowly said to me: "To like is to like, why are there so many questions?"

Therefore, from now on, I will not say a word to Bao Kangqi, no matter how he tries to coax me, I will remain silent

What can be done if one is unhappy? I am still unhappy as well

I repeatedly ask myself, and then reflect

I was somewhat at a loss for words, thinking to myself that I had only known him for a short time, so why would he suddenly invite me out like this? Without much thought, I declined the invitation

The warm spring breeze tickled my nose, causing me to sneeze. I rubbed my eyes, and when I opened them again, I saw Su Yunjin and Zhou Shiyun. She was persistently pulling Su Yunjin to go somewhere, and upon seeing me, she appeared disinterested.

At that moment, I felt a bit moved; it turned out that although he seemed rather foolish, he was actually meticulous and gentle towards others

After I took the bowl and spat out the soup, before I had a chance to speak, he scolded me furiously, angrily questioning why I was so careless, and his originally attractive features appeared strange.

I vaguely said "thank you" to him, and he was taken aback, remaining silent, crossing his arms as we waited together for the new dishes to arrive

He was still cheerful on the other end of the phone, but after a few attempts to speak, he hesitated. I grew impatient and directly interrupted his long-winded conversation that had yet to get to the point, asking him: "Just say what you want to do!"

I have never been the kind of person who is particularly delicate or gentle in thought, so I bluntly expressed my feelings: "Your existence has brought me a lot of trouble"

At this moment, the wound in my mouth began to ache again, reminding me not to daydream...

I closed my eyes, turned my head away from him, and said to a patch of air beside me: "I made it very clear that night, didn't I? We are simply not on the same path."

Thus, I turned away and no longer waited for him to speak

He was taken aback, and a look of panic appeared on his face. He nervously asked, "Why?"

Without waiting for his response, I continued speaking in a tone that was both indifferent and assured: "Just look at what your friends think of me. I merely happened to see you about to be robbed at the subway station and kindly reminded you. How did it end up in the mouths of your friends as if I were the one trying to steal from you? I know your family is very wealthy, even richer than Mo Mo and the Yun Jin family, but precisely because your family is so wealthy, it makes interactions with others quite exhausting."

As March arrived, the cherry blossoms on the other side of the street bloomed like clouds and rosy clouds. I thought to myself that it had been a long time since I last met Su Yunjin, so I decided to go find him

At that moment, I almost doubted that I had misheard, after all, we had only met a few times and did not know each other well, so how could they suddenly confess their feelings to me

On the other hand, I feel somewhat uneasy. After all, it is not that I underestimate myself, but I am indeed a rather ordinary girl. I do not possess the serene and peaceful aura of Su Mo, nor do I have the flamboyance of Zhou Shiyun. Liking someone like me brings no advantages.