03.

Seeing them looking around at the intersection, I leaned against the wall and said, "Here."

"Oh." I replied coldly, preparing to leave.

Just put it there. The director casually pointed to a place, then looked up and saw me, and said, "Ji Qingnian, come here."

I used to be that canary too, but the owner's eyes were always sharp, and he could observe the spirit of the canary.

The teacher's glasses slid down his nose, and he sternly said, "You're already so grown up, can't you have some sense of propriety? It's all you guys who have led Ji Qingnian astray!"

Ling Haochen brought me to the oldest wooden building in the school and pointed to a pot of yellow chrysanthemums for me to see.

I held the test paper in silence for a long time—this time the score was even lower than last time.

The girl with earrings seemed completely unprepared for my response, and she didn't say much to intimidate me. She straightforwardly commanded, "Stay away from him in the future."

I vigorously slapped him and said, "You're the one who's a pansy!"

More than a month has passed since the Golden Week ended, and the matters concerning Ji Ming have been implemented.

And now, I stand under the setting sun. Someone approaches and opens this cage. In their hand, they hold a key, appearing before me like a savior. I have just stepped out of the cage and need to be protected by them. I fear that if they turn around, I will never find them again.

Do you know who they are?

Rest assured? It turns out that I can also say these two comforting words without blushing or my heart racing.

30 minutes later, Uncle Hua, who is in charge of Ji Dahai and Guan Jiaoling, came to the office and kept apologizing to the head teacher. The head teacher threatened to publicly criticize us throughout the school. After apologizing, Ji Dahai muttered in a low voice, "I will deal with you when I get back!"

I wiped away my tears. Ling Haochen's gaze fell on me. I lowered my head to avoid letting him see my ridiculous appearance.

Classmate, who are you unable to control your thoughts about? Ling Haochen asked softly behind me.

I suggest that we go eat barbecue.

Rumors have it that Ji Qingnian is dating Ling Haochen.

I put down the exercise book and walked obediently to him. The headmaster said earnestly, "Student Ji, you know, with your grades, you have a bright future ahead. Don't disappoint your teachers and parents."

Ling Haochen! The homeroom teacher shouted so loudly that his voice broke. "What kind of attitude is this? Let me tell you, I'm giving you a major demerit now. Wherever you go in the future, you will carry this stain with you! As for Ji Qingnian, because of his excellent attitude in admitting his mistake, he will receive a warning. Ling Haochen, reflect on your actions."

You... Perhaps didn't expect these words to come out of the mouth of a good student like me. The homeroom teacher was momentarily at a loss and swallowed his anger. Pointing at us, he said, "Call your parents! Immediately! Right now!"

I don't seem to have become obedient because of the teacher's warning at school. Wherever I go, I see people pointing at me and whispering, talking about the rumors between me and Ling Haochen.

I couldn't help but laugh. The homeroom teacher immediately changed his expression and sternly scolded Ling Haochen, "Ling Haochen, what are you saying? Are you still acting like a student? Shut up!"

I ignored it.

Upon entering the office, I unexpectedly found Ling Haochen there. With his hands behind his back, Ling Haochen turned his head and winked at me, which instantly lifted my previously gloomy mood.

Mo Yanyan saw me lost in thought, reached out and waved her hand in front of me, and asked, "Nian'er, what's wrong?"

I nodded and summoned my classmates to collect their exercise books, then headed towards the principal's office.

So, at 3 o'clock on this scorching Friday afternoon, the school gathered all the teachers and students on the playground to make an example of someone.

What's going on? It's just a warning for me, but Ling Haochen not only received a demerit but also has to write a self-criticism, which is unfair.

I understand the implied meaning of the director's words and replied, "Don't worry, I will do my best."

Luo Qiqi sneered coldly: "Pathetic!"

青念啊。 The homeroom teacher called my name affectionately and said, "Come here, come closer. What's been going on with you these days? Are you feeling particularly tired? What happened during this exam..."

The setting sun's afterglow shines on the glass wall of the 56th floor of the building, while the street echoes with the unrestrained laughter of two girls. Lu Qi and I chase each other as we run towards the barbecue place, something I once longed for beyond measure.

Luo Qiqi is quite famous on the road, and ordinary gangsters dare not provoke her. The girl with earrings realized that she had picked the wrong person to mess with, and could only leave unwillingly.

Nian'er. Mo Yanyan pushed my arm at the front desk and said, "Teacher Xie wants you to take the exercise books from the class to the teaching office. It seems that someone is coming to inspect and wants to see how our homework is coming along."

I am being led by him like this, running along with his footsteps. All the surroundings are receding, and I seem to not see the astonished gazes of my classmates. Now I feel like a free and unrestrained little bird.

What does it mean? I asked, puzzled.

I pursed my lips and said, "What a useless metaphor."

I say directly: "You are wrong, it's not recently, we have always been quite close, and our relationship has been very good."

I know, it's a lesson for me. I put my hands in the pockets of my school uniform and smiled at Jiang Lin. She looked at me with confusion, as if pondering something.

The girl with earrings said contemptuously, "I heard you've been getting close to Ling Haochen recently?"

My heart is throbbing with pain, clearly it is my willingness to approach them, which has nothing to do with Ling Haochen.

I walked over and stood side by side with Ling Haochen: "Teacher, did you call me?"

What does that have to do with anything? The barbecue is delicious and spicy!

I want to go up and make things clear, but I was stopped by Mo Yanyan. Mo Yanyan held me tightly and said, "Miss, please endure it. If you go up, it may bring greater punishment to Ling Haochen."

I chuckled lightly and said, "I will retaliate."

I looked up and searched for Ling Haochen's figure. He jumped down from the stage and came straight towards me, frowning, and asked, "Did you cry?"

I left the Education Office and walked down the hallway, lost in thought.

I bumped into Luo Qiqi with my shoulder and praised, "You're quite impressive."

You go first. I pushed away her hand.

Luo Qiqi raised her head and boasted, "That's right. If you hadn't gone out to inquire about who I, Luo Qiqi, am, you should thank me. If I hadn't happened to pass by here, your fair and tender face would have been reddened."

Hello, you are so vulgar.

I stood in the crowd, watching Ling Haochen standing alone on the stage in bewilderment.

Those girls, like scattered wild horses, immediately surrounded me.

I may have lost touch with Ling Haochen and the rest of the group for a long time, so I take advantage of my free time to study more. However, Ling Haochen always comes to my mind intentionally or unintentionally, causing me to be absent-minded during class.

Other people were puzzled but dared not come forward to help. The girl with earrings covered her face and cursed, "Luo Qiqi, are you blind? Why did you hit me?"

"On what basis?" I raised my eyebrows and asked.

Ling Haochen's hand passed through my palm, tightly holding it, and said, "Come with me."

Teacher. I said coldly, "Both Ling Haochen and I made mistakes. Why didn't you discipline me? Besides, my brain is on my own body. It's my own business if my grades are not good. What does it have to do with Ling Haochen?"

The girl with earrings proudly said, "Do you want to come and try to fix the shameless woman for my friend?"

Afterwards, there was always a very strange feeling between me and Ling Haochen. I would look at couples holding hands on the street and suddenly start fantasizing that it was me and Ling Haochen.

Luo Qiqi walked over and looked at the girl with earrings, saying, "Old friend, long time no see, what are you doing?"

No. I shook my head.

"I'm serious, it's just a metaphor!" Ling Haochen quickly explained, then looked at my blushing cheeks and burst into laughter. "Ji Qingnian, what are you thinking? Hahaha, I mean you are like this potted chrysanthemum, blooming perfectly, so you can rest assured and blossom, I will protect you."

Ling Haochen said discontentedly, "Teacher, when I was silent just now, you said my attitude was not proper. When I spoke, you asked me to shut up. What should I do?"

The homeroom teacher held a microphone and criticized Ling Haochen. Ling Haochen was used to this kind of situation and enjoyed the scenery by himself, occasionally joking with the low-flying birds.

The girl with earrings widened her eyes: "Why? Did I have to hit you for you to listen?"

Lu Qiqi smiled and hugged me, saying, "Well done, you shouldn't let others bully you easily."

Why do you think I've changed? I don't care that much.

However, this is too difficult. Many students carry the expectations of their teachers and parents, constantly cramming textbook phrases into their minds, unable to have their own free time and do what they like. It's like a canary trapped in a cage, eating the food brought by its owner and sadly chirping.

They heard the sound and walked in from outside, surrounding me. The leading girl, wearing a black jacket with a huge earring on her earlobe, coolly said, "Waiting to die here?"

The briefing will end soon. All the students who should leave have left. I stood still and refused to move.

However... However, this is not his fault.

Nian'er, let's go.

Too polite! Come on, let me treat you to a meal. Luo Qiqi pulled me generously and ran outside.

I am happy enough.

I deliberately turned into an alley, waiting for them to come.

That's good. The director nodded and said, "Go and busy yourself first."

After school one day, as I was walking halfway, I had a feeling that someone was following me. I walked up to a parked car and pretended to fix my hair in front of the window. Through the rearview mirror, I saw a group of young women who looked like delinquents.

I burst into laughter and accepted Luo Qiqi's kindness, saying, "Thank you, beautiful Luo."

Just as I walked out of the classroom, I was stopped by Jiang Lin.

The girl with earrings took a step back as if watching a show. Luo Qiqi moved her wrist and then swung it in a circular motion. With a crisp "snap," it landed on the girl's face.

A girl with earrings was smoking a cigarette as she walked up to me. One hand held the cigarette while the other hand was moving her palm, ready to blow smoke towards me at any moment.

I put down the test paper weakly, propped my forehead with my hand, and sighed frequently.

You are like this pot of chrysanthemums right now.

The future is bright? Is it your expectation or mine? I just want to study what interests me and live freely.

Luo Qiqi laughed twice, looked at me, and said, "Your face is so fair and tender, it has never been touched. Let me do it."

Mo Yanyan took my test paper and looked at it, saying, "I told you that making friends with them would affect your grades, didn't I? And you didn't believe me."

Director, this is our class assignment. I knocked on the open door.

Luo Qiqi thought for a moment and said, "I'm not sure, because there are too many people who like Ling Haochen. It could be anyone who doesn't like you. But don't be afraid, I will protect you." After that, Luo Qiqi patted my shoulder like a little adult.

My nose feels sour, Ling Haochen's figure on the stage becomes increasingly blurry, and finally turns into three overlapping shadows.

Luo Qiqi turned around and stood in front of me, saying, "All of you, take a good look. This person is my friend. If you have any sense, you'll get lost immediately, the farther the better. Next time you come to provoke her, it won't be as simple as just getting slapped."

What are you doing? The voice of Luo Qiqi suddenly came from the alleyway.

This is my own business.

Okay.

I chuckled in my heart and said, "Teacher, perhaps I am a little tired. I can't concentrate in class and can't control my thoughts."

Nian'er, the homeroom teacher asked you to go to the office.

Ling Haochen said, "Comparing people to flowers."

I took the test paper back, put it in between my textbooks, and then walked out of the classroom.

What's the matter? Speak up. After hanging out with Luo Qiqi for a long time, I have adopted her mannerisms.

I admit, at this moment my heart is as sweet as honey. I believe that a corner of my heart not only sprouted, but also bloomed.