Chapter 8, Sounding the Horn of Battle

Two roads intersect to form a crossroads

She stood in place, watching Shen Xuechi navigate around the crowd in front of her, finally stopping at the crosswalk illuminated by a red light. The fierce flame of battle that burned brightly in her heart began to gradually weaken, casting a reddish glow in her chest. In the gentle breeze stirred up by the pedestrians and vehicles swiftly passing by her, she swayed slightly in a state of mild dejection

idiot

Pig! Come back soon

Leaving school: At 5:00 PM, there is always a diligent phone call to check in, but...! ... That must be the butler coming to take her home

Upon thinking of this, Le Xiaolian's eyes suddenly brightened, and the flames in her heart blazed once more! She exerted force with her feet and eagerly rushed towards the crosswalk! In just a few steps, she caught up with Shen Xuechi and grasped her slightly cool hand tightly!

Which blind fool dares to occupy my seat

Manual 3 of Xiao Qi Chi: To understand a person, one must delve deeply into the environment in which she lives

Clearly dissatisfied, Shen Xuechi, the goddess of the country, frowned tightly and struggled awkwardly, trying to pull her hand back from the firm grip of Le Xiaolian. However, it felt as if their hands were glued together with strong adhesive, and they could not separate at all

Just when the atmosphere had frozen to its extreme, a gentle sound of footsteps echoed in the quiet self-study classroom

It is very noisy

Hello, I am Driver Zhang Bo. The young lady instructed me to take you home as soon as possible

Under the sunlight, Le Xiaolian's face bore a smile so rich it seemed inseparable, resembling a vibrant marigold in full bloom, radiantly flourishing. Meanwhile, behind her, Shen Xuechi's face, perpetually hovering at a freezing point, appeared to be slowly thawing in the sunlight.

Drip—drip—drip—drip—

Time is like the text played on a tape recorder during an English listening class; no matter how desperately one tries to grasp it, it always slips away in an instant

However, the harder Shen Xuechi swung, the tighter Le Xiaolian held on! She looked at Shen Xuechi with excitement, taking a light breath in delight, and said with a face full of longing.

I understand!

Who would have thought that the Earth girl, Le Xiaolian, was still unable to maintain her balance, losing control along with her bicycle and falling heavily onto the sidewalk! The heavy bicycle toppled over her sprawled body, the handlebars askew to one side, while the two wheels continued to spin tirelessly.

Tap-tap-tap

Shen Xuechi raised her head in a daze, looking at Le Xiaolian's strange behavior. Seizing the opportunity, Le Xiaolian raised her right hand high and waved at her with a smile: "hi!"

A loud sound of the door being pushed open suddenly echoed in the quiet classroom, causing everyone to involuntarily turn their gaze towards the entrance. A long-haired girl, panting, was pulling along a somewhat shy girl as they rushed in from the right side towards the door. The long-haired girl's big, watery eyes flickered anxiously as they scanned the classroom, finally landing on the short-haired girl sitting by the window, seemingly oblivious to her surroundings. A spark of determination suddenly lit up in her stern expression, and she quickly walked forward.

Conclusion 1: Shen Xuechi is immensely popular at school! She is a superstar who attracts the attention of thousands.

Wuliwala

Le Xiaolian, pushing her bicycle, walked dejectedly on the sidewalk, her face completely devoid of vitality. As she walked, she listlessly picked up the small stones scattered on the ground.

Shen Xuechi looked coldly at the orange figure gradually receding, her originally calm gaze slowly shifting in silence, as if lost in thought

However, even so, amidst the hurried and relentless flow of people, Shen Xuechi remained true to herself, maintaining her own pace as she walked forward. Yet, as Le Xiaolian observed all of this, her gaze flickered slightly, and another passage of text surfaced in her mind

Under Shen Xuechi's "Tathagata's Divine Feet," a yellow sticky note inscribed with "Xiao Yan Feng" is being firmly stepped on.

Placeholder

Looking at the few girls ahead who were walking and discussing animatedly, Le Xiaolian's body involuntarily stiffened as she recalled the reports from the past few days tracking Shen Xuechi

However, Le Xiaolian seemed to sense her signal, turning around with great excitement and displaying a smile that was more radiant and warmer than the sun towards Shen Xuechi

In the blink of an eye, the first-year students of the Star Alliance have welcomed the third week of September

Chattering away

At school: Apart from the unavoidable interactions with others during classes, going anywhere else is like being a "lone female hero".

This warm smile left Shen Xuechi momentarily stunned, yet she gradually ceased her struggles. With her head slightly lowered, she unexpectedly chose to follow Le Xiaolian's lead, quickly running alongside her towards the opposite side of the road.

A large red fork seemed to fall from the sky, landing heavily on her forehead

In an instant, the classroom was filled with the chaos of battle, sparks flying everywhere! Xiao Yan Feng and Le Xiao Lian were like two Spartan warriors, fiercely contesting with each other, their faces flushed with excitement!

The gentle breeze blowing in from the window tousled the girl's meticulously kept short hair, adding a touch of softness and beauty to her otherwise indifferent expression. In the seat behind her, a slender young man with long hair cascading over his shoulders, dressed in a pure white shirt, elegantly closed a thick book and walked briskly towards the door. Just as he turned left upon exiting the classroom, there was a loud bang.

Failure

Cold ... ... Cold autumn night, senior ? !

A friend is a snail, crawling very slowly...

The pedestrian is a goldfish, swimming swiftly and rapidly

"Xiaoxue! I... I originally intended to come and discuss literature with you today! I was very touched after reading your poem last time!" Seeing Shen Xuechi walking slowly, Le Xiaolian's eyes lit up, and she continued, "Classmate Shen Xuechi, I analyzed it carefully for a long time... Last time, your poem included frogs, shrimp, and little fish, right?"

Le Xiaolian's features instantly contorted in pain, appearing crooked and misaligned. She couldn't help but let out a sigh of disappointment as she gazed ahead, only to be unexpectedly dazzled by a sudden brightness before her.

Then why is everyone still so enamored with her?" The girl with the ponytail blinked in confusion

Hahaha!

No one noticed that the corners of her lips, always as flat as the horizon, were gradually and subtly rising, while a faint blush quietly crept onto her fair cheeks

After Zhang Xinru finished speaking, she stepped down from the podium. As she passed by Le Xiaolian, who was gently nodding with a pen in hand, she couldn't help but ask with concern: "Xiaolian, how is your effort to win over Shen Xuechi going?"

She took a deep breath, pedaled backward a few circles, and brought the bicycle to a near stop in place! Then she forcefully turned the handlebars!

Conclusion 2: Shen Xuechi always goes about alone, as if she were an extraterrestrial, without any friends

Upon witnessing the scene before her, Le Xiaolian recalled the verses written by Shen Xuechi in her essay about friendship, and her heart, shrouded in thick mist, experienced a faint glimmer of brightness

Autumn campus cultural festival! It is imperative to first secure a team with Shen Xuechi!

Ah!

Le Xiaolian stared blankly at the solitary figure of Shen Xuechi, lost in thought, when the call of a female student interrupted her reverie

What bad luck! It seems that I have failed again today

It is quite strange, why does that super invincible and extremely powerful Jiang Sulium you mentioned never take the stage? I think either he is naturally timid, or he knows that the Chongyang Festival is fundamentally a losing battle and is unwilling to participate

Blue sky is blue, white clouds are white, classmate Shen Xuechi, as long as you are willing to accept all of this, it will all exist in your world. Passersby are quick, cars are quick, as long as you are willing, I will run to your side at my fastest speed, striving to become your best friend

Before the seventh period extracurricular activity class on Friday afternoon, the class monitor Zhang Xinru stood on the podium, her expression serious as she delivered this week's summary report

"Xiao Lian, have you eaten yet?" The soft voice of Ke Le's mother came through the phone, causing Le Xiao Lian to involuntarily smile slightly. Before she could respond, the voices of the children from the welfare home came through, each trying to speak over the other.

Shen Xuechi, who was beside her, suddenly froze, slightly turning her head to look at Le Xiaolian, whose face was filled with joy, constantly sparkling with the stars of expectation directed at her

Although classmate Shen Xuechi appears cold and aloof, it is undeniable that she is a great beauty

However, a clear brainwave suddenly struck Little Lian, causing her to instantly freeze like a statue in place

Shen Xuechi stood on the sidewalk, her gaze indifferently fixed ahead at the large crowd of pedestrians waiting for the green light.

The wheel traced a beautiful arc on the ground, and Le Xiaolian skillfully pedaled, orbiting around Shen Xuechi like the Earth revolves around the Sun.

On her right, several girls dressed in the orange uniforms of the Star Alliance Academy were chattering excitedly like happy sparrows, discussing the latest topics from the magazine. Meanwhile, in the flowerbed to her left, a patch of marigolds was in full bloom. The warm autumn sun cast a gentle glow on the golden petals, making them appear like little suns fluttering in the breeze, beautiful and captivating

The vehicle is like a shrimp, moving swiftly and rapidly

Le Xiaolian's earlier wild thoughts instantly vanished, and her originally dull eyes immediately sparkled with hope! She leaped into the car, exerting herself to stomp on the pedal with determination, and swiftly surged forward!

Arriving at school: At seven thirty in the morning, a black Mercedes delivered her to school on time

Upon thinking of this, Le Xiaolian let out a long sigh of disappointment

Conclusion 3: Shen Xuechi has a luxurious home as large as a palace, but the most numerous around her are servants, and only servants!

Shen Xuechi furrowed her brows tightly and, feeling frustrated, directed a helpless brainwave towards Le Xiaolian's occiput.

Manual Two of Little Pond: To understand a person, one must comprehend the events she experiences every minute and every second of her day

barbarian

Le Xiaolian paused mysteriously for a moment and secretly glanced at Shen Xuechi beside her

Le Xiaolian pondered for a moment, then suddenly jumped up without any warning, dragging Zhang Xinru towards the door as she ran, shouting loudly all the while

Ah! This is bad, the traffic light is about to turn red! Xiaoxue, let's hurry over there!

Excerpt from the blog "The Illusory Land of Lotus" published on October 8, 2008, Category: Journey of the Heart

Passersby are in a hurry

How is that possible? Seeing that Le Xiaolian had gained nothing, Xiao Yanfeng also furrowed his brows in confusion. He simply lowered his head and began searching for half a day, only to finally discover—

You despicable defeated minions, are you tired of living! How dare you treat it as scrap paper! Hmph! When the Double Ninth Festival comes, I will make sure to defeat you thoroughly!

Shen Xuechi was suddenly taken aback, turning to look at the panting yet brightly shining centrifugal force. A furious cross-shaped vein bulged on her forehead, as if she were trying to shake off a snotty worm stuck to her hand, desperately shaking her wrist and fiercely sending out impatient "go away" brainwaves towards her.

Having spoken, she turned around in a fluster, not even bothering to shoot a furious glare at Xiao Yanfeng, and dashed out the door with the speed of a snow leopard

Shall we run over together

Is it already impossible? ... I still haven't been able to decipher the meaning of classmate Shen Xuechi's article, and I cannot make any progress in my relationship with her. With only two days left until the autumn campus cultural festival, ... it seems that there is no way to persuade classmate Shen Xuechi to join the competition team formed by Xiaoru and me ...

On the white paper filled with dense calculations, the three large characters "Jiang Shuo Liu" can still be faintly seen

Hahaha! Who made you so vain! Alright, let's run slowly then

Ah, classmate Shen Xuechi, I heard that her IQ exceeds 200! How impressive!

It has been more than half a month since I entered the school, yet I have never seen Shen Xuechi's parents... Moreover, whether in class or after class, whether going to the cafeteria or the library, apart from myself, who is persistently following her despite the countless disdainful glances and the "barrage of bullets," there are hardly any classmates who are her true friends. Even when classmates encounter her, they will instinctively avoid her and take a detour, as if a "demon-dispelling" talisman were affixed to Shen Xuechi.

Le Xiaolian raised her head, feeling both embarrassed and anxious as she looked at Han Qiuyue, who was walking briskly towards her. Her heart seemed to skip a beat, feeling somewhat constricted and uncomfortable

"How is that possible? Is there not even a bit of progress?" Zhang Xinru saw Le Xiaolian's face instantly darken and couldn't help but ask again, which immediately caused a dark cloud to loom over Le Xiaolian's head.

At this moment, Shen Xuechi had followed the surging crowd, walking across the zebra crossing to the opposite side of the road, while the vehicles on both sides of the zebra crossing, having been released from the red light, simultaneously accelerated, swiftly traversing this bustling intersection

Hahaha! Xiao Yan Feng was initially taken aback, but then he proudly placed his hands on his hips and laughed mockingly towards the sky, saying, "Let me tell you, you ignorant little ants! This time, our Xing Gao has dispatched an invincible and powerful lineup led by me. Under my charming and talented leadership, we will surely achieve ultimate victory!"

Xiao Yan suddenly became furious, his towering head erupting like Mount Fuji, spewing flames fiercely

Manual 1 for Understanding Xiao Qi: To understand a person, one can obtain "first-hand intelligence" from her followers

Shen Xuechi surprisingly did not leave, but stood silently a meter away.

Heading north

Hmph, Jiang Shuliu is the future king of the Star Alliance! To deal with insignificant ants like you, he has sent me, a great general, which is more than enough! If you are unconvinced, let us have a wager; the loser will have to perform a hula dance under the Star Tower

Upon this thought, a large bead of cold sweat involuntarily rolled down Le Xiaolian's forehead. In her view, Shen Xuechi resembled a bird living in a gilded cage; although she was free from worries about food and clothing, her life was pitifully monotonous

The road is a zebra, leaping, very quickly, very quickly

In an instant, it seemed as though the air in the entire library had been siphoned away, plunging it into a profound silence

Is that so? Le Xiaolian straightened her chest and retorted, "Perhaps it is you who will have to kneel and beg for mercy!"

However, Shen Xuechi seemed indifferent to everything around her. She stood there silently, waiting for the red light to end... as if she were the only person in the entire world

Upon hearing Le Xiaolian's words, Shen Xuechi seemed to be struck by lightning, her body trembling slightly! ... She fixed her gaze on Le Xiaolian, and within her eyes, which were as indifferent as ice, a flowing radiance gradually emerged ...

Xiao Yan glanced at Le Xiao Lian with disdain, arrogantly tossing his head back and declaring, "I have reserved a spot!"

I am the personal maid of the young lady, Xiao Cai. The young lady is upstairs, but she has said that she does not wish to see anyone

You big fool! Do not touch me!

Seeing Shen Xuechi, who treated her as if she were invisible, Le Xiaolian puffed her cheeks in disappointment, but soon her eyes rolled around and a light bulb lit up above her head

"Call Fei'er, Sister Xiao Lian! When are you coming home!"

The light bulb is a frog, jumping, very quickly

Rather than saying that classmate Shen Xuechi always walks at her own pace, it would be more accurate to say that she does not know how to joyfully take the same steps towards the other end like those few girls from Yanli...

Who will tightly hold your hand at the next stop

Heading East

... ...

The girl who stayed behind to clean diligently moved the last desk into place, straightened her back with effort, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and glanced around the now bright and tidy classroom. Then she bent down again, took a deep breath, picked up the round white plastic trash bin behind her, and walked alone towards the trash can near the stairwell at the end of the corridor. Just as she had laboriously emptied the trash, she heard a whispering sound coming from the stairwell.

She looked up, and beneath the clear blue sky, a half sun was solitary, hidden behind the cold, towering buildings in the distance

Ah, you don't know, actually everyone doesn't really like her in private. However, her family is so wealthy, being friends with her will definitely bring many benefits! The round-faced girl seemed to see through everything, disdainfully lifting her head.

The long-haired boy who left the self-study room a few minutes ago has returned to the doorway at an unknown time. His smooth, medium-length black hair remains as flowing as ever, gently swaying from time to time, partially revealing the attractive curve of his profile. Beneath his delicate brows, a pair of slender eyes with slightly upturned corners exude a gentle aura from their pitch-black pupils, reminiscent of the night.

Are you the young lady's classmate? Good, please come in. I am Butler Li, may I ask if this is the residence of ... ...

Bang

Little Snow! Little Snow!

Suddenly, a countdown sound echoed in the pedestrian direction. Le Xiaolian was taken aback and immediately turned her head to look at the traffic light timer, letting out a startled cry

Originally resembling a frog that had been run over by a wheel, Le Xiaolian immediately sprang back to life. With a swift motion akin to a carp leaping, she hurriedly got up from the ground, propped up her bicycle, and quickly caught up with Shen Xuechi's pace

"Xiao Lian, are you alright?" Han Qiuyue quickly stood before everyone. He wore his usual serene smile, looking at Le Xiaolian kindly as he asked.

Le Xiaolian turned around and was surprised to find that it was Xiao Yanfeng! She saw him swaggering forward, closely followed by the calm-faced Wen Zhenhai

Having spoken, Le Xiaolian unceremoniously pulled Shen Xuechi and dashed across to the other side of the road

"What on earth, who would admire that weirdo? She is as cold as a piece of stainless steel. Have you seen the school newspaper? She actually has no hobbies at all, isn't that a bit terrifying?" The round-faced girl exclaimed with a snort from her nose.

The blue sky is blue, very blue; the white clouds are white, very white; the red flowers are red, very red; the green grass is green, very green; friends are alive, very alive

Five minutes later

That... Le Xiaolian took a deep breath and rushed to the front of Shen Xuechi, forcefully placing both hands on the study desk! Just as she was contemplating and finally decided to speak, a domineering and arrogant voice came from behind her.

Speaking of which, Shen Xuechi has always lived in her own world. She has no friends and lacks the interests and hobbies unique to girls her age. Even on weekends, the house is empty, with only her alone... She writes verses about blue skies, white clouds, red flowers, green grass, and friends. Is she depicting the scenes she yearns for but that do not exist in her world...?

Creaking sound

I am so envious of her! With such a prestigious family background, she is simply like a noble princess!

I didn't expect that Senior Han Qiu Ye was also in the library just now, and he came over with such concern to ask if I was okay! ... Sigh ...? ... My actions just now must have seemed very strange, right? ? ! ... I wonder what Senior Han Qiu Ye thinks of me now ...

It is truly unfortunate! ... By the time I chased out of the library, I realized that Shen Xuechi had already disappeared

Hurry up, hurry up! The green light lasts for a very short time!

The classroom after school is extremely quiet, with a gentle sunset softly filtering through the window, quietly casting its orange-yellow glow upon a girl who is busily engaged in her tasks.

It is better not to mention it; as soon as Shen Xuechi is brought up, a wisp of black smoke rises above Le Xiaolian's head

"Mom, Xiao Feng wants to talk!"

Under the traffic light

The slender figure of the young girl waits alone

The girl, holding hands with another, playfully ran past Shen Xuechi, leaving behind a laughter that chimed like silver bells

Ahead on the sidewalk, a young girl is walking alone, holding a book in her hands with an indifferent demeanor. This figure is none other than Shen Xuechi

The study room in the library has always been a sanctuary for students who are passionate about learning

Classmate Shen Xuechi, I... I understand!

Did Shen Xuechi receive the cake you sent her today? It's strange, why are you suddenly so enamored with her?" A girl with a high ponytail curiously asked a round-faced girl in a low voice.

Shen Xuechi ... ... she always seems to be alone. ... ... ... such a life ... ? ... is it not lonely?

Hey! Don't run too fast! The leather shoes I'm wearing today are a bit tight!

Ah! The green light is on

Ding

Le Xiaolian was taken aback and instinctively searched around, but found nothing.

Haha, I finally understand! Xiaoxue, with your family's good financial condition, you must really love animals and be a person who cares for nature!

You!" Xiao Yan Feng angrily raised his head, taking a quick step forward to confront Shen Xue Chi. He was about to give this arrogant De Ya girl a good scolding, but his eyes suddenly widened like two 500-watt light bulbs! With quick reflexes, he grabbed a piece of paper from the table in front of Shen Xue Chi and, upon seeing it, he immediately gasped in shock.

"Classmate, has someone stipulated that this seat must be yours?" Le Xiaolian stood in front of Xiao Yanfeng, adopting a posture that suggested she was ready to engage at any moment

I ... ... '' gazed into the concerned eyes of the chilly autumn night, and Le Xiaolian immediately felt as if there were fifteen water buckets in her heart, all in disarray. She could only hurriedly shift her gaze, `` Ah! Shen Xuechi has left! I will go find her! ''

Shen Xuechi closed the thick book with a "thud," stood up expressionlessly, and without hesitation turned to walk towards the door.

Never mind, never mind! This time, I will treat a dead horse as if it were alive; I must strive to win over classmate Shen Xuechi

Haha! Wonderful! Her eyes indeed shimmer with a flowing glimmer once again! Le Xiaolian, victory is right in front of you! Keep it up!

Intersection

A pebble rolled smoothly across the flat ground, rolling quite a distance forward. Le Xiaolian looked up and instinctively fixed her gaze!

Even Xiao Feng's gruff voice sounded particularly endearing to Le Xiao Lian. After happily chatting with everyone for a few moments, she reluctantly hung up the phone

That is all regarding the overall situation of the autumn campus cultural festival activities at the school. I hope everyone prepares well and makes the most of the last ten days!

Upon hearing Le Xiaolian's words, Xiao Yan's face turned pale and then flushed, alternating between white and green. After a long while, he finally regained his voice to argue back.

Just as Le Xiaolian was lost in her memories, a sudden and urgent vibration came from her pocket. She took out her phone and skillfully pressed the call button

The crisp sound of the bicycle bell accompanied by Le Xiaolian's cheerful shouts soon reached Shen Xuechi's side. However, Shen Xuechi's gaze remained fixed on the English magazine in her hands, as she continued to walk forward, lost in her own thoughts

However, today is different. As it is currently the seventh period of extracurricular activities, many students have chosen outdoor activities. The self-study classroom, usually crowded, now appears somewhat empty, with only a few individuals scattered about. In the middle of the classroom, by the window, a girl is flipping through a book with a blank expression.