01.

Fate is like a turning gear. I cannot tell at which moment I will return to the starting point, nor do I know when I will deviate from the track and become unlike myself. But at that time, I feel that even if I am no longer myself, it is better than the past. For example, I never regretted meeting Luo Qiqi and Ling Haochen, even though later setbacks would make me even more painful.

After leaving the cafeteria, I couldn't help but laugh. Luo Qiqi also laughed. Luo Qiqi said, "Nianzi, let's let Ling Haochen's rice grain memories on his face be carried away by the wind."

Let's go to class. I shook my head with a smile.

Sit. Ling Haochen patted the stool, indicating that I should sit down and eat together.

Luo Qiqi inserted the chopsticks into the bowl of rice, smirked strangely, and then waved his hand, saying, "Sisters, let's eat quickly, the dishes have gone cold."

I found the right moment to slip away from him, leaving him empty-handed.

Upon seeing the situation, Luo Qiqi swallowed his food and said, "Nianzi, let's go barbecue together on Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock."

I pretended to be calm, put my backpack on my back, and said, "I trust you."

Ling Haochen breathed a sigh of relief, then revealed a bright smile and said, "It's okay, as long as you promised."

Mo Yanyan withdrew her gaze and looked at me.

Walking into the corridor of the teaching building, Luo Qiqi withdrew her hand from my arm and gently patted my arm, saying, "Thank you."

No problem, we are friends.Luo Qiqi repeated the sentence I just said, and then gave me a thumbs up gesture.

Luo Qiqi affectionately linked her arm with mine, blowing a big bubble with the chewing gum in her mouth, and then poking it with her finger. She said, "Let's go together."

"Nianzi!" With a whistle, Luo Qiqi's voice entered my ears.

Luo Qiqi angrily shouted, "Yang Yanxiao, are you all snails? So slow!"

It's too crowded to go down now. I spread out the exercise book and took off the pen cap to cover the other end.

Ji Qingnian, it's as if ghosts are chasing after them when people eat, and yet you're not in a hurry. It's really strange. Luo Qiqi's voice trembled as she pulled me and ran to the cafeteria at a speed of 100 meters sprint.

As I looked at the sumptuous stir-fried dishes on the table and the three people next to me, and then at Luo Qiqi's proud expression, I guessed what was going on. They used the excuse of boring classes and left two minutes before class ended to go to the bathroom and order all the dishes, thus avoiding the queue.

"How could making a few friends lead to neglecting your studies?" Ling Haochen repeated my words like a broken record. The bowl was empty, but he still hadn't noticed the grain of rice on his face that hadn't been wiped clean.

It should be seduction, "Yang Yan smiled and said softly to Mu Shaobai."

I did not refuse.

Luo Qiqi jumped down from the stairs in a carefree manner, and when she saw me still in the classroom, she immediately rushed in and said, "Nianzi, aren't you going to have a meal?"

What? I haven't even had time to react to Luo Qiqi's mention of "taking the back door" before she pulled me up from my seat.

Lu Qiqi put his hands in his pockets, took three steps and two strides to climb the stairs, then turned back and gave me a glance before running up.

Luo Qiqi looked at Ling Haochen with pride on her face, reached out her hand, and naturally straightened Yang Yanxiao who was laughing with his head up.

Last night when I returned home, Ji Dahai lectured me in the living room for an hour. I kept my head down and admitted my mistake, saying that I shouldn't have stayed out after school and left my school bag at my classmate's house.

Lu Qiqi was still complaining about Yang Yanxiao, but he went to help Yang Yanxiao carry the heavy backpack.

I took out my phone, plugged in my earphones, turned on the music, adjusted the volume to the maximum, then leaned against the window, closed my eyes, and put on my baseball cap.

When Ji Dahai saw that my attitude was proper, he didn't give me a hard time. When I hid in the bedroom, I jumped into the bed and laughed a bit rebelliously.

I suddenly realized a very serious problem. Can someone like Luo Qiqi, who treats school as a playground and only occasionally comes to play, bring their school bag on time?

Okay. I agreed.

Ling Haochen's chopsticks holding the dish paused in mid-air, with a hint of disappointment in his tone: "Isn't this a bit disrespectful?"

Mo Yanyan still minds me having dinner with Luo Qiqi and the others. Before going to the classroom, I went to the convenience store to buy Mo Yanyan's favorite snacks for her.

Classmate Ji Qingnian, I need to explain to you that I, Ling Haochen, am a man of integrity. Have you ever heard anyone describe a man of integrity as "flirting"? Obviously not. Ling Haochen chattered and followed me onto the car, choosing to sit in the seat next to me.

I watched them walk away, then looked at Luo Qiqi and said lightly, "I'm sorry."

Ling Haochen stood still, extending his arm to try to wrap it around my shoulder: "Let me tell you, I..."

Luo Qiqi walked over, handed me the exercise book, snatched the pen, and said seriously, "Studying is important, but health is the foundation of revolution. If we wait any longer, the yellow flowers will cool down, and eating leftovers is not good for our health. Come, let me take you through the back door."

I looked up and saw Luo Qiqi casually wearing a school uniform and carrying a backpack on one shoulder, which made my heart leap with joy.

Jiang Lin advised me not to bother her. She will be fine after being angry for a while.

I'm not polite either, let's sit down and start eating.

What backdoor do you have? Are you trying to cut in line? I deliberately teased Luo Qiqi.

As soon as I thought of this, I pressed my brow and sighed.

"What's up?" I asked.

Awesome, I mean it.

I pondered with a serious expression. Seeing Mo Yanyan's sulking appearance, I smiled and said, "Of course."

Lu Qiqi stared at them provocatively.

Upon hearing the sound, I lifted my head, and Jiang Lin and Mo Yanyan, who got along well with me in the class, were looking at me with surprise while holding their trays.

The noisy sound around me suddenly stopped.

Lu Qiqi did not answer me, tiptoed around and looked around, and finally, as if seeing a treasure, pulled me through the long queue of people.

During the lunch break, I plan to do two problems before going to the cafeteria - I don't like to go and queue up.

She threw her backpack into my arms, as if she had read my mind, and nudged me with her elbow, saying with a mischievous smile, "Were you getting anxious? Afraid I wouldn't be able to bring the backpack on time?"

Mo Yanyan snatched the snack from my hand, opened it and ate it, then turned away and ignored me.

I continued eating my meal and didn't want to pay attention to him.

I don't want to go. I declined directly.

Moyanyan nodded satisfactorily, then stuffed another handful of snacks into her mouth, muttering to herself, "These potato chips are quite tasty."

I stood with my hands on my hips, tilting my head and looking at him, saying, "Are you trying to flirt with me?"

Yang Yanxiao ran over with a large travel bag on his back, explaining, "Miss, we are going to buy snacks. Don't worry, I bought many things that you like to eat."

On Saturday morning, Luo Qiqi called me to invite me to buy barbecue ingredients together.

After speaking, she forcefully pulled Mo Yanyan along, and Mo Yanyan angrily shook off Jiang Lin's hand, still quietly reproaching her for something.

Qing Nian, what's wrong with you...

The past is gone with the wind, everything becomes empty.

Luo Qiqi snacked and asked Ling Haochen, "Ling Haochen, do you have a crush on our Nianzi?"

The next day, I got up early in the morning. I bought two meat buns near the school and finished eating them. Then I waited at the school gate.

Surrounded by classmates' disgusted glances and consciously avoided by them, Luo Qiqi had the ability to ignore everything around her.

The canteen is already crowded with people, and long queues have formed in front of each window.

Many people around me who know both Luo Qiqi and me look at us with strange eyes. I understand in my heart, how could Ji Qingnian, who ranks top in academic performance, be with the socialite Luo Qiqi? I sneer in my heart and meet the gazes around me directly.

What else does Mo Yanyan want to argue for me? Jiang Lin grabbed her hand and apologized to me, saying, "Sorry for the interruption, we'll leave first."

How could making a few friends make me neglect my studies? I gave them a disdainful look and said, "Don't worry about me, I won't be distracted by trivial matters."

Ha ha ha! Yang Yan laughed and sprayed a mouthful of rice onto Ling Haochen's face, laughing so hard that he almost fell to the ground. Mu Shaobai laughed and choked a few times.

I clapped my hands and prepared to get on the car. Ling Haochen walked up to me and leaned against the car.

As I turned around, she glanced at me and said, "You can have many friends, so even if you have that group of people, you must not forget about me and Linlin!"

When she and I had exerted great effort to load almost all meat ingredients onto the car, the three young masters slowly walked over.

I turned and walked towards my seat, and suddenly Mo Yanyan called out to me from behind: "Ji Qingnian!"

No, I just feel like I've seen you before.

I stood up, sighed, and walked out of the cafeteria. Luo Qiqi followed behind me and also sighed.

I shook my head with a smile, and considered the matter closed.

Ling Haochen filled his mouth with a mouthful of white rice, and while picking up vegetables, he asked me, "We are planning to have a barbecue on the island this weekend. Would you like to join us?"

How can we be together, is that right?

I like the seat by the window. Sometimes studying can be too dull, and the old ginkgo tree outside becomes my source of entertainment. Often, in my mind, it is a living, soulful character that listens to my secrets that I have nowhere else to share. It is my spiritual confidant.

However, speaking of which. After Mu Shaobai finished his meal, he took a tissue to wipe his mouth. "Qing Nian, don't let this affect your studies. If there is any inconvenience, be sure to let us know."

I chuckled softly and said, "They are all my friends, don't overthink it, let's go eat."

Mo Yanyan went forward and said, "Don't corrupt Qing Nian."

Go away, stop talking nonsense. Ling Haochen waved his hand at Luo Qiqi as if shooing away a fly.

I walked into the adjacent classroom, sat down in my seat as usual, and waited for the teacher to call the roll.

Exactly. Luo Qiqi pushed my arm and said, "If it's because of me that you fall behind in your studies, then I would become a sinner for eternity."