Chapter 2, Childhood Sweethearts

Zhao Xiaojun pulled him and asked, "Why don't you go play with your classmates? They are so enthusiastic, truly good intentions met with no reward." Chen Qiaoqi shrugged her off and said, "They are so noisy all day long, I don't like it." Zhao Xiaojun replied irritably, "That little girl seems quite nice, why don't you like her?" Chen Qiaoqi retorted, "Why should I like her!" Zhao Xiaojun hit him lightly and said, "I just don't know who you actually like! You don't like this one, and that one looks annoying, why are you so hard to talk to?" Chen Qiaoqi suddenly stopped and said, "I like you!" Zhao Xiaojun was taken aback at first, then after a while, she indignantly said, "What an honor!" Chen Qiaoqi threw her off and angrily walked ahead, while Zhao Xiaojun staggered behind, and the two walked in silence.

Zhao Xiaojun strangely did not say "good" but only said: "Zhou Sao, I will help him find some clothes, you go and pick him up." Without further ado, he walked towards the wardrobe. The phone rang continuously, one call after another, somewhat jarring. Zhou Sao had no choice but to get up, hurried a few steps, almost tripped, steadied herself against the table, and somewhat flustered, picked up the receiver, repeatedly saying "uh-huh" a few times. After hanging up the phone, she said: "Mr. and Mrs. Chen will not be coming back tonight, they said the snow is too heavy, and the flight did not take off." Zhao Xiaojun nodded. The phone rang continuously, one call after another, somewhat jarring. Zhou Sao had no choice but to get up, hurried a few steps, almost tripped, steadied herself against the table, and somewhat flustered, picked up the receiver, repeatedly saying "uh-huh" a few times. After hanging up the phone, she said: "Mr. and Mrs. Chen will not be coming back tonight, they said the snow is too heavy, and the flight did not take off." Zhao Xiaojun nodded. Chen Qiaoqi asked: "Did they say when they would be back?" Zhou Sao shook her head. Chen Qiaoqi did not say anything further. Zhao Xiaojun, feeling somewhat sensitive, immediately changed the subject and said to him: "You don't need to change clothes, just lie in bed. Dinner will be brought up for you to eat." Chen Qiaoqi nodded slightly and burrowed into the bed.

Zhao Xiaojun's face turned green with anger as she stared fixedly at Chen Qiaoqi, feeling utterly helpless against him. She had always been compliant in the Chen family, afraid to cause any trouble. After all, she was living under someone else's roof, making her particularly sensitive and anxious. After a long while, she could only desperately explain: "I really don't know anything about the letter; I haven't even opened it, as you can see. The boy at the school gate is probably a classmate of mine, and I don't even know his name. Let alone a boyfriend, I don't even have a single male friend. Please don't go and say nonsense to your father."

Although Zhao Xiaojun was annoyed by Chen Qiaoqi's meddling and creating trouble out of nothing, she regarded it as the prattling of a child and found Chen Qiaoqi generally detestable. Moreover, she had never taken the letter to heart and had no romantic or whimsical thoughts about it; she was merely startled. Chen Qiaoqi wisely refrained from indiscriminately spreading the matter, which made her somewhat relieved. By the following Saturday afternoon, she still went to the dojo entrance to wait for him to return together.

After dinner, Zhao Xiaojun was nestled on the sofa, casually changing channels with the remote control in her hand. Chen Qiaoqi walked over to her side and said, "I am going to tell Dad that you are not studying properly and are casually dating boys at school." Zhao Xiaojun was so frightened that she almost rolled off the sofa. For the first time, she was furious and gritted her teeth, saying, "Chen Qiaoqi, stop spreading rumors and causing trouble!" Chen Qiaoqi crossed her arms and looked down at Zhao Xiaojun sitting on the sofa, saying, "How am I spreading rumors? Isn't that person at your school gate your boyfriend? Didn't he write that letter to you? Dad keeps asking me to learn from you. When he comes back, I will tell him."

A few days before the high school entrance examination, the school finally decided to give us a break. The classmates in the class cheered continuously with "Woo—Oh—Ah." Some boys simply stood on their desks, holding books and spinning around with great excitement. Others below were banging on the desks loudly, pretending to say, "Hmph, daring to commit a crime in broad daylight! Be careful to go in standing and come out lying down!" Immediately, someone disdainfully replied, "We are graduating, what are we afraid of from the teacher!" At that time, it was popular among students to balance a book on one finger and spin it quickly, like a flying wheel, creating a gust of wind. At first glance, it looked like a performance of spinning handkerchiefs on a stage. Some skilled individuals could spin not just with their middle fingers but with all ten fingers, and there were even those who could spin smoothly with their fists—perhaps due to the extremely oppressive and frustrating life, many boys were keen on this activity. As soon as class was over, there would be cheers for challenges, competing to see who could spin faster and longer, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

However, the budding friendship between them came to a halt, as Zhao Xiaojun left the Chen family and transferred to another city.

Zhao Xiaojun learned that there were many students from other places who had been admitted to the school, and many of them lived on campus. Therefore, she told Chen Nianxian that she wanted to live on campus so she could focus on her studies. Chen Nianxian initially disagreed, saying, "There is no need for that." Zhao Xiaojun insisted, saying, "The school has evening self-study sessions, and many students live on campus. I won't have to run back and forth every day, and I can sleep a little longer. Besides, I can still come back during the holidays." Chen Nianxian had no choice but to help her with the check-in procedures. When Chen Qiaoqi heard the news about her accommodation, he was quite unhappy and sulked for a long time. It wasn't until the start of the school year, when the matter was already settled, that he was willing to reconcile with Zhao Xiaojun.

Zhao Xiaojun poured some water and handed the glass to him. Chen Qiaoqi simply pulled the blanket over himself and lay down. Zhao Xiaojun frowned and said, "Get up and take your medicine." Chen Qiaoqi replied in a muffled voice, "It won't help even if I take it; it’s better not to take it at all." Zhao Xiaojun placed the cup on the table and asked, "Are you really not going to take it?" Chen Qiaoqi nodded, saying, "No, I won't take it, not even if you beat me to death." His voice was quite loud. Zhao Xiaojun understood his temperament and looked at him, saying, "If you won't take it, then I’ll leave." Chen Qiaoqi called her back and asked, "Are you really not going to take it?" Chen Qiaoqi nodded again, "No, I won't take it, not even if you beat me to death." His voice was still loud. Zhao Xiaojun knew his temperament and looked at him, saying, "If you won't take it, then I’ll leave." Chen Qiaoqi called her back, and Zhao Xiaojun said, "What, are you willing to take the medicine now?" Chen Qiaoqi scoffed, saying, "I said I won’t take it, so I won’t take it. Is the medicine tasty? Just keep me company and talk to me." Zhao Xiaojun thought that he was, after all, a patient, so she sat down beside him and said, "What is there to talk about? You should go to sleep. Maybe you’ll feel better after a good sleep." Chen Qiaoqi turned his head and said, "Then just say something random. I can’t sleep right now."

When Zhao Xiaojun came back to see him, she noticed his cheeks were flushed. She reached out to check his forehead and said, "It seems like you have a bit of a fever. You must have caught a chill from the snowball fight." Chen Qiaoqi was slightly opening his eyes, looking somewhat listless. Zhao Xiaojun quickly called for Aunt Zhou. Aunt Zhou found a thermometer, took his temperature, squinted at the light for a while, and said, "Thirty-seven point seven degrees, a slight fever. Should we see a doctor?" Chen Qiaoqi immediately replied, "No!" A slight fever did not concern Aunt Zhou, and she simply said, "Then you should take some medicine." Chen Qiaoqi frowned and said, "I won't take it!" Zhao Xiaojun ignored him and said, "Aunt Zhou, please bring the medicine over." Aunt Zhou found some antipyretic medicine and then went out.

Zhao Xiaojun said slowly: "When I was sick, my grandmother did this. It feels cool when applied to the hand, and the illness will get better quickly. You must not break it!" Chen Qiaoqi held it in her hand and examined it carefully for a long time. Zhao Xiaojun generously said: "I'll lend it to you for a day, and you can return it to me once you feel better. I'm very sleepy and need to go back to sleep now." She yawned repeatedly. Chen Qiaoqi offered half of her bed, patting the quilt and said: "Then you can sleep here." Zhao Xiaojun shook her head: "No! I want to go back to my room." Chen Qiaoqi acted stubbornly: "You hear how scary the wind is outside? What if I get a fever again?" Zhao Xiaojun walked to the window; it was dark outside, and all she could hear was the howling wind roaring "Woo—wah—lah" over and over again, sounding very mournful and chilling, making one feel a bit frightened. Zhao Xiaojun realized and said: "So you are afraid!" Chen Qiaoqi's face turned slightly red. In fact, Zhao Xiaojun was also a bit scared; it was better not to look outside, but after seeing it, she felt a lingering sense of eeriness that wouldn't dissipate. After hesitating for a moment, she still lifted the quilt and crawled in. Chen Qiaoqi's bed was large and comfortable, and warm, with a quilt as soft as clouds. Before long, she fell asleep.

Returning to the Chen family, she curled up on the sofa. The phone rang, and Zhao Xiaojun remained motionless. Chen Qiaoqi walked in, shaking off water, and said, "Hey, answer the phone." Zhao Xiaojun propped her head up and replied, "It's not mine, go answer it!" Chen Qiaoqi picked up the receiver, suddenly turned to look at her, and with a half-smile said, "Aren't you going to answer the phone?" Zhao Xiaojun ignored him and did not move. Chen Qiaoqi, somewhat annoyed, said, "It's yours!" Zhao Xiaojun thought it was a teacher calling, quickly stood up, and respectfully took the phone, saying "Hello." Suddenly, she turned to look at him, half-smiling, and said, "Aren't you going to answer the phone?" Zhao Xiaojun ignored him and did not move. Chen Qiaoqi, somewhat annoyed, said, "It's yours!" Zhao Xiaojun thought it was a teacher calling, quickly stood up, and respectfully took the phone, saying "Hello." A distant voice came through the receiver: "Xiaoxiao, is that you?" Zhao Xiaojun felt a moment of disorientation. Her mother tentatively asked, "Xiaoxiao, you finished the high school entrance exam today, right?" Zhao Xiaojun replied with an "Mm-hmm," tightly gripping the receiver with her right hand. After a while, her mother asked, "Xiaoxiao, are you doing well?" After a long pause, Zhao Xiaojun finally said, "Mm-hmm, it's okay." Her mother continued, "I heard you did very well, so I can rest easy now." Zhao Xiaojun slowly hung up the phone, feeling somewhat dazed.

The girl disdainfully said, "If it weren't for your meddling, would Zhang Hao break up with Han Chen? Last night, Han Chen cried the whole night, her eyes were swollen! You are so shameless!" It turned out she was standing up for someone else, showing loyalty to her friend. The crowd of onlookers buzzed like rippling spring water, quickly spreading and whispering among themselves. Zhao Xiaojun was both anxious and angry, her face flushed, and she said, "Who is Zhang Hao? I don't even know him!" As she spoke, she lowered her head and hurriedly walked forward. The crowd of onlookers buzzed like rippling spring water, quickly spreading and whispering among themselves. Zhao Xiaojun was both anxious and angry, her face flushed, and she said, "Who is Zhang Hao? I don't even know him!" As she spoke, she lowered her head and hurriedly walked forward. Feeling inexplicably embarrassed in front of so many people, she thought it was simply shameful to face anyone, wishing she could disappear. It was truly an undeserved blame, what did it have to do with her!

Zhao Xiaojun felt a bit embarrassed when encountering such a situation suddenly, and did not have much of a reaction, maintaining a calm demeanor as she simply said, "I want to go back." He mustered his courage and quickly asked, "Do you have time tomorrow?" Zhao Xiaojun looked at him in surprise and immediately replied, "No, I have a lot of homework to do tomorrow." He felt disheartened, seemingly very sad, his eyes dim, silently staring at the ground. The atmosphere was quite tense, and Zhao Xiaojun found an excuse to leave. At that moment, Chen Qiaoqi ran over from the crowd on the right, sweat dripping from his forehead, and quickly asked, "Do you have time tomorrow?" Zhao Xiaojun looked at him in surprise and immediately said, "No, I have a lot of homework to do tomorrow." He felt disheartened, seemingly very sad, his eyes dim, silently staring at the ground. The atmosphere was quite tense, and Zhao Xiaojun found an excuse to leave. At that moment, Chen Qiaoqi ran over from the crowd on the right, sweat dripping from his forehead, complaining, "Why are you only coming out now? We've been waiting for quite a while." Zhao Xiaojun let out a sigh of relief and immediately pulled him away, asking as they walked, "How did you come over?"

Chen Qiaoqi casually tucked a dried leaf into her textbook and remarked, "There are many red leaves in Xiangshan?" Zhao Xiaojun, without raising her head, replied, "Did you not hear what the book said—Xiangshan's red leaves fill the sky!" Suddenly, Chen Qiaoqi said, "Let's go to Beijing." Zhao Xiaojun glared at him and said, "You can go by yourself." Chen Qiaoqi turned her face towards him with his hand, looked at her earnestly, and said, "We will go together!" His eyes sparkled with a hint of determination. Zhao Xiaojun forcefully swatted his hand away, dismissively responding, "Fine, fine, fine." She then stood up and began to tidy the textbooks on the table, saying, "Then you can go by yourself." Chen Qiaoqi turned her face towards him again, looked at her earnestly, and said, "We will go together!" His eyes sparkled with a hint of determination. Zhao Xiaojun forcefully swatted his hand away, dismissively responding, "Fine, fine, fine." She then stood up and began to tidy the textbooks on the table. Chen Qiaoqi grabbed her from behind and said, "You must remember." Zhao Xiaojun gruffly replied, "I'm going to sleep. Why are you so talkative today!"

Later, the homeroom teacher stood on the high podium, supporting himself on the desk with both hands, leaning slightly forward. He was a teacher with a strong sense of authority, surnamed Huang, and his chalk handwriting was exceptionally beautiful—yet he was still unpopular among the students. He glared seriously and said, "With the high school entrance examination approaching, you still have the leisure to play with such things, thinking you are still children! This has created a chaotic environment in the class, affecting learning and disrupting class rules. From now on, all these nonsensical activities are prohibited!" After finishing, he habitually adjusted his thick black-framed glasses that were about to slip down his nose. The classroom fell into a dead silence, and many must have felt anger but dared not speak. Later, many boys sighed and turned their pens in their hands, their fingers flying, creating a circle of shadows with a "whoosh, whoosh, whoosh," secretly maintaining a monotonous joy.

Chen Qiaoqi did not answer but asked, "Who was that person just now?" Zhao Xiaojun, feeling somewhat guilty for reasons unknown, as if she had done something wrong, pretended to be relaxed and said, "A classmate." She quickly changed the subject, asking, "Why did you come here today?" Chen Qiaoqi snorted, glanced at her, and then said, "I came from the dojo next door. I have been learning Taekwondo recently." Zhao Xiaojun responded with an "Oh," and asked, "Is that so? How is your learning going?" Chen Qiaoqi, feeling somewhat proud, replied, "The coach said I am learning very well." Zhao Xiaojun, searching for something to say, remarked, "Then you should study hard." Chen Qiaoqi shot her a glance and said, "Do I need you to tell me!" With a serious expression, she asked, "What did that guy just say to you? He is still standing there!" Zhao Xiaojun silently lamented, glancing over the crowd and indeed seeing him still standing there in a daze. She stammered, "He didn’t say anything. Maybe he is waiting for someone." Chen Qiaoqi did not continue to press for details and said, "The driver is waiting at the dojo entrance. From now on, come directly to the dojo every Saturday afternoon; I might finish training a bit later."

The weather gradually turns cooler, frost thickens and leaves fall. The few remaining withered leaves twirl and drift down, just as they are about to land, a gust of wind rises, sending them floating away. Zhao Xiaojun quickens her pace and sees a fallen leaf quietly lying among the withered yellow grass. The pale red leaf bears several traces of insect damage, bordered with dark black edges, its veins clearly visible. She picks up this leaf, vibrant in color, the mingling of red and black seems to speak, gazing directly into her bright eyes. She knows this is a diseased leaf, and an inexplicable sense of pity arises within her, so she picks it up and places it between the pages of her Chinese textbook

As the years went by, Zhao Xiaojun's complexion became increasingly fair and delicate. The boys in the class secretly spread the word that "Zhao Xiaojun from Class 3 is not only academically excellent but also beautiful." Some bolder male classmates dared to invite her to activities, and despite facing rejection several times, there were still those who remained undeterred. Zhao Xiaojun's heart was only sensitive to memories, consuming an excessive amount of delicate emotions in certain aspects, being cautious; on the other hand, she naturally felt disinterested, never taking the boys' invitations to heart. She was still bound by the shackles of the Chen family—this was her own emotional knot, which remained untied.

Zhao Xiaojun picked up the textbooks scattered on the table and said, "Then I will read the text, and you quickly fall asleep, consider it a form of hypnosis." She then began to read softly, "It is snowing, it is snowing— a group of little painters has come to the snowy ground. The little chick paints bamboo leaves, the little dog paints plum blossoms, the little duck paints maple leaves, and the little horse paints crescent moons. No paint, no brushes, just a few steps and a painting is completed. Why didn’t the frog participate— it is hiding in its hole and sleeping! Hey, hey, why aren’t you asleep yet? My teacher says when I read the text, the whole class becomes drowsy— like chanting scriptures, without any emotion." Chen Qiaoqi lifted the blanket with his hand. No paint, no brushes, just a few steps and a painting is completed. Why didn’t the frog participate— it is hiding in its hole and sleeping! Hey, hey, why aren’t you asleep yet? My teacher says when I read the text, the whole class becomes drowsy— like chanting scriptures, without any emotion." Chen Qiaoqi lifted the blanket with his hand. Zhao Xiaojun covered him up and said, "If you catch a cold again, just wait to go to the hospital." Chen Qiaoqi gasped, "It’s very hot, I can’t sleep." Zhao Xiaojun poured water again, tested the temperature, and said, "Then take the medicine." Chen Qiaoqi still refused to take it. Zhao Xiaojun felt somewhat helpless, walked to her room, found a glass paperweight, placed it in his hand, and said, "Is it much more comfortable now? Then take the medicine." Chen Qiaoqi pressed it against his forehead; it was cool and indeed very comfortable. Chen Qiaoqi no longer argued and swallowed the medicine in one go.

A girl in the class happened to witness this scene and quickly ran over, helping Zhao Xiaojun up while shouting, "Which class are you from? How can you hit someone!" The provocative girl did not expect Zhao Xiaojun to suddenly fall to the ground, feeling somewhat breathless, and she forced herself to maintain the situation by saying, "You should ask her what good deed she has done! How shameless! Stealing someone else's boyfriend!" Zhao Xiaojun was also a bit angry and stared at her, saying, "You need to clarify your words and stop slandering me!" Upon hearing the commotion, everyone gathered around, instantly crowding the narrow corridor to the point of being impassable.

On a day when heavy snow was falling, Zhao Xiaojun stood under the eaves of the school, her hands tucked into her pockets, gazing up at the snowflakes gently descending, gradually covering the ground. They seemed weightless, crystal-clear, and beautifully cold. She extended her right hand, feeling the icy chill at her fingertips. A large snowflake took a while to melt and disappear on her finger. Everyone was excited by the rare snowfall. Her classmates were joyfully playing in the snow, tossing snowballs back and forth, creating a lively scene. A female classmate approached and asked, "Zhao Xiaojun, aren't you going to play in the snow?" Zhao Xiaojun shook her head and softly replied, "Aren't you going?" The girl shrugged her hands and said, "My mom said I am not well, so she won't let me play."

Zhao Xiaojun recalled that this female classmate seemed to frequently take sick leave. She let out an "oh" and then walked into the classroom. The classmate followed her in, tilting her head and saying, "Zhao Xiaojun, you seem to dislike talking very much." Zhao Xiaojun replied, "Not at all." The classmate continued, "How can that be? You hardly interact with everyone." Perhaps because everyone had gone outside to have a snowball fight and it was quite boring, she walked over and continued, "You always sit alone in your seat and never go out to play during breaks." Zhao Xiaojun returned to her seat, glanced at her, sat down, and tilted her head, saying, "Zhao Xiaojun, you seem to dislike talking very much." Zhao Xiaojun replied, "Not at all." The classmate said, "How can that be? You hardly interact with everyone." Perhaps because everyone had gone outside to have a snowball fight and it was quite boring, she walked over and continued, "You always sit alone in your seat and never go out to play during breaks." Zhao Xiaojun returned to her seat, glanced at her, sat down, unsure of what to say. Fortunately, the class bell rang, interrupting her awkwardness. She looked up towards the window, her thoughts drifting away. In the eyes of her classmates, Zhao Xiaojun was extremely quiet, and even the teacher's comment about her was "introverted." Unsure of what to say, she was relieved when the class bell rang, interrupting her awkwardness. She looked up towards the window, her thoughts drifting away. In the eyes of her classmates, Zhao Xiaojun was extremely quiet, and even the teacher's comment about her was "introverted."

Chen Qiaoqi walked up to her and shouted in a rough voice, "Hey!" Zhao Xiaojun came to her senses and saw him holding two movie tickets, asking in confusion, "What for?" Chen Qiaoqi replied gruffly, "Do you want to go watch a movie?" Zhao Xiaojun leaned back on the sofa and asked, "Why do you want to watch a movie?" Chen Qiaoqi pushed her, saying, "Haven't you finished your exams?" Zhao Xiaojun inquired, "What movie?" She took the movie tickets and glanced at them; it was "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," a recently released blockbuster that was being heavily promoted, with posters as large as an entire building. "Why do you want to watch a movie?" Chen Qiaoqi pushed her again, "Haven't you finished your exams?" Zhao Xiaojun asked, "What movie?" She took the movie tickets and glanced at them; it was "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," a recently released blockbuster that was being heavily promoted, with posters as large as an entire building. Lazily, she said, "I don't want to go; it will be on TV in a while anyway." Chen Qiaoqi glared at her, "Are you going or not?" Zhao Xiaojun shook her head, "Do I really have to squeeze into the cinema with you on a rainy day? That's torture. If you really want to watch it, just find a classmate to go with you." Chen Qiaoqi kicked the sofa and said emphatically, "I don't want to watch it with them; it's too noisy." If you really want to watch it, just find a classmate to go with you." Chen Qiaoqi kicked the sofa and said emphatically, "I don't want to watch it with them; it's too noisy."

Zhao Xiaojun entered the high school division of the same school and, as usual, lived on campus. Assigned to a new class, she found herself surrounded almost entirely by new faces. Each student was a top talent selected through a rigorous process, exuding confidence and arrogance, creating an atmosphere that was exceptionally lively compared to before. The naive youth quietly blossomed.

Due to the new film, there were many people at the entrance of the cinema, crowded together in groups. Zhao Xiaojun was afraid of getting separated and not being able to find him, so she tightly held onto his hand. Chen Qiaoqi noticed that others were holding popcorn and drinks, so he asked, "Do you want a drink? I can go buy it." Zhao Xiaojun wiped her sweat and said, "Do you want to drink? Then you stay here, and I will go buy it." Chen Qiaoqi refused to let go, saying, "Let's go buy it together." Zhao Xiaojun had no choice but to squeeze with him to the concession stand, and then asked again, "Do you want a drink? I can go buy it." Zhao Xiaojun wiped her sweat and said, "Do you want to drink? Then you stay here, and I will go buy it." Chen Qiaoqi still refused to let go, saying, "Let's go buy it together." Zhao Xiaojun had no choice but to squeeze with him to the concession stand, when suddenly she heard a little girl nearby say, "Chen Qiaoqi, are you here to watch a movie too? You said you wouldn't come when we called you, right?" Behind her were a few other children, probably there to watch the movie together. Chen Qiaoqi turned his face away and said, "I changed my mind." Zhao Xiaojun asked, "Are they your classmates?" Chen Qiaoqi nodded.

Chen Qiaoqi sat down beside her, leaned over and asked, "Really?" Zhao Xiaojun moved aside in disgust and said angrily, "Believe it or not!" Chen Qiaoqi stretched lazily and said, "Alright, I won't tell Dad. Let's just consider it a misunderstanding." Zhao Xiaojun felt a weight lift from her heart, suddenly feeling a sense of gratitude, as if she had survived a disaster. Yet she forgot that the instigator was him. Chen Qiaoqi leaned on her shoulder, and this time Zhao Xiaojun did not move away. After a while, Chen Qiaoqi lazily said, "However, if I find out that you have a boyfriend, I will definitely tell Dad." Zhao Xiaojun immediately pushed him away with force and weakly said, "Don't worry, I won't have a boyfriend! Are you satisfied now? If you dare to gossip and talk nonsense in front of Uncle Chen, be careful that I will kill you!" After saying that, she angrily returned to her room.

Zhao Xiaojun jumped up and said, "Can you not kick?" Chen Qiaoqi relentlessly asked, "Are you going or not?" Zhao Xiaojun replied while walking, "I’m not going, I’m tired from the exam and want to sleep." Suddenly, Chen Qiaoqi smashed a cup on the table to the ground, shattering it. Aunt Zhou heard the noise and walked in from outside, repeatedly asking, "What happened, what happened?" Zhao Xiaojun was startled and hurriedly said, "I accidentally broke the cup." She pulled Chen Qiaoqi upstairs, looking at him with a bit of a headache, and said, "It’s just a movie! Is it necessary to make such a fuss in the whole house? Anyway, I don’t have to pay, when is it?" Snatching the movie ticket, she felt it was damp with sweat. Aunt Zhou heard the noise and walked in from outside, repeatedly asking, "What happened, what happened?" Zhao Xiaojun was startled and hurriedly said, "I accidentally broke the cup." She pulled Chen Qiaoqi upstairs, looking at him with a bit of a headache, and said, "It’s just a movie! Is it necessary to make such a fuss in the whole house? Anyway, I don’t have to pay, when is it?" Snatching the movie ticket, she felt it was damp with sweat. Chen Qiaoqi's scheme succeeded, as he changed his clothes and shoes while humming a tune, and went out with Zhao Xiaojun. He knew that Zhao Xiaojun was most afraid of making a big deal out of things.

In the evening, when opening the textbook, Chen Qiaoqi sat beside and picked up a dried leaf that had fallen on the glass table. He looked at it and asked, "What do you want this for? It looks ugly." Zhao Xiaojun leaned forward, trying to snatch it away, saying, "It's nothing. Give it back to me." Chen Qiaoqi held it in his hand and looked at it under the light for a while, then said, "What kind of leaf is this?" Zhao Xiaojun replied that she didn't know. Then she hesitated and said, "I don't know if it's a red leaf." Chen Qiaoqi leaned over and said, "Teach me to read this passage; I have to recite it tomorrow." Zhao Xiaojun took his textbook, glanced at it, and then asked, "Have you finished learning pinyin?" Chen Qiaoqi lazily urged her to read. Zhao Xiaojun indeed began to read: "One piece, two pieces, three or four pieces, five pieces, six pieces, seven or eight pieces, nine pieces, ten pieces, pieces flying— the red leaves of Xiangshan fill the sky." She turned back and hit him, saying, "Aren't you going to read along?" Chen Qiaoqi sat at an angle and asked, "Where is Xiangshan?" Zhao Xiaojun threw the textbook at him and said, "Xiangshan is probably in Beijing—since you won't read, I'm going back to sleep."

On Saturday afternoon, the crowd of students leaving school surged in waves, bustling and lively. Zhao Xiaojun was unwilling to rush for just a few minutes, so she waited until most of her classmates had left before packing her bag. As usual, while waiting for the bus at the east gate, a thin boy approached her to say hello. Zhao Xiaojun did not know him; she was unfamiliar with half of the people in her class, especially the boys. To avoid awkwardness, she responded briefly. He shyly scratched his slightly messy hair, and seeing that she showed no sign of recognition, he stammered a couple of times before finally asking, "Zhao Xiaojun, I wrote you a letter yesterday—did you see it?" Zhao Xiaojun was somewhat puzzled and immediately replied, "What letter? I have never received a letter." His face turned bright red, and he anxiously said, "I clearly tucked it in your political science book—" His voice grew softer and less confident. Zhao Xiaojun had not touched her political science textbook in days. He had invited her to watch a movie in the letter, and since there had been no response for a long time, he could not help but ask.

Zhao Xiaojun felt little about graduation, putting away all her books, thus concluding her junior high school life. During the days of the high school entrance examination, a light drizzle fell, but it lacked the aesthetic beauty of mist shrouding everything in a haze; instead, it was damp and sticky everywhere. Zhao Xiaojun sat in the corner seat of the examination room, put down her pen, and buried her head in her arms, watching the rain patter on the banana leaves outside. A sharp leaf drooped with a droplet of water, hanging there directly, taking a long time to fall. After a while, another droplet gradually grew larger, swelling into a sphere, dangling in mid-air. The questions were very simple, and Zhao Xiaojun had finished answering them early, with many classmates leaving the examination room ahead of time. She leaned on the desk, being the last one to exit.

The dormitory in the school is quite desolate, with the public restroom located at the other end of the corridor. Zhao Xiaojun takes two and a half minutes to reach it. When she gets up in the middle of the night, the dim light casts a pale glow on the floor, and Zhao Xiaojun always runs back to her dormitory, panting, and then forcefully shuts the door. The room she lives in is one of the better ones in the school, shared by two people, and it is well-furnished with desks and chairs. There is only one day off each week. Every Saturday night, Zhao Xiaojun returns to the Chen family, bringing back clean clothes, and rushes back on Sunday afternoon to attend evening self-study. The room she lives in is one of the better ones in the school, shared by two people, and it is well-furnished with desks and chairs. There is only one day off each week. Every Saturday night, Zhao Xiaojun returns to the Chen family, bringing back clean clothes, and rushes back on Sunday afternoon to attend evening self-study.

The little girl asked, "Chen Qiaoqi, what is your number?" Before Chen Qiaoqi could respond, Zhao Xiaojun took out the tickets, and several children looked at them and chattered, "We are very close together." Chen Qiaoqi followed the group into the cinema, feeling sullen. Zhao Xiaojun felt a bit drowsy; she was not very interested in all this magic and gems stuff. After watching, the children were quite excited and kept talking. Suddenly someone said, "Chen Qiaoqi, we are going to the amusement park to play; Fu Simin's mother works there. Do you want to come along?" The children immediately cheered, "Let's go together; there's nothing to do at home anyway." Chen Qiaoqi said, "I am not going." The little girl grabbed him and said, "Chen Qiaoqi, go on, it will be fun. Do you want to come along?" The children immediately cheered again, "Let's go together; there's nothing to do at home anyway." Chen Qiaoqi said, "I am not going." The little girl held onto him and said, "Chen Qiaoqi, go on, it will be fun. You can also watch a performance." Chen Qiaoqi replied sullenly, "You all go ahead." Zhao Xiaojun said from the side, "Then you should go with everyone; remember to come back early." The children nodded repeatedly, saying, "Yes, yes, Chen Qiaoqi, let's go together." Chen Qiaoqi hurriedly said, "I won't go; I still have to go to the taekwondo gym after a while." The little girl was clearly disappointed and said a few more words, but Chen Qiaoqi remained unmoved. The children had no choice but to leave first.

After school, I saw Chen Qiaoqi's clothes and pants were dirty, and there were still grass clippings on his head. I smiled and said, "Hurry up and go change your clothes." When he got home, Chen Qiaoqi shrank his shoulders, feeling cold. The Chen family's nanny, Sister Zhou, touched him and exclaimed, "Oh dear! This collar is all wet; hurry up and take it off, be careful not to catch a cold." Just as she was looking for clothes for him, the phone rang with a "ding-ling-ling." Sister Zhou was busy and turned back to say, "Xiao Jun, please answer the phone."

Zhao Xiaojun could not resist her enthusiasm and was taken to the KFC near the school, where she ordered chicken wings and cola. As she ate, she said, "I found out clearly that the girl is from Class 3, how despicable!" Zhao Xiaojun responded with an "Oh." She continued, "What does someone else's breakup have to do with her? It's really none of her business!" Then she changed the subject, asking, "You really don't know Zhang Hao?" Zhao Xiaojun was taken aback and after a while replied, "I don't know him, I don't know many people." She leaned in closer and said, "You wouldn't say you don't know me too, would you?" Zhao Xiaojun hurriedly replied, "No," finally remembering that her name was Lin Qingchuan, and then added, "I know your name is Lin Qingchuan, thank you so much for helping me today." Lin Qingchuan waved her hand and laughed, "We're all classmates. I noticed you scraped your hand, is it serious?" Under her enthusiastic influence, Zhao Xiaojun found herself talking more. Lin Qingchuan laughed and said, "Anyway, there's nothing to do during the summer vacation, I'll look for you to hang out then. What's your home phone number?" Zhao Xiaojun hesitated for a moment, as she had already taken out a pen and paper. Lin Qingchuan waved her hand again, laughing, "We're all classmates. I noticed you scraped your hand, is it serious?" Zhao Xiaojun, under her enthusiastic influence, found herself talking more. Lin Qingchuan laughed and said, "Anyway, there's nothing to do during the summer vacation, I'll look for you to hang out then. What's your home phone number?" Zhao Xiaojun hesitated for a moment, as she had already taken out a pen and paper. This was the first time Zhao Xiaojun gave her family's phone number to a classmate.

Sitting in the car, Zhao Xiaojun placed her backpack on her lap. Chen Qiaoqi held a small piece of paper in her hand, took her backpack, and said: "Where's your pen? I need to jot down the coach's phone number." Zhao Xiaojun squinted and leaned against the cushion, saying: "I only brought one pen, it's clipped to the cover of the book." Chen Qiaoqi couldn't find it, rummaged through the bag, took out all the books she had brought, and shook them out noisily. Hearing the noise, Zhao Xiaojun said: "Chen Qiaoqi, what do you take my books for! If you want to find something, can't you look for it properly!"

Chen Qiaoqi picked up the fallen letter from the compartment, and upon seeing the pink heart-adorned envelope, immediately knew its contents. With a cold expression, she said, "Zhao Xiaojun!" Zhao Xiaojun felt a bit flustered at first, recalling the words of the boy from earlier, and then understood. Chen Qiaoqi tore the envelope to shreds in a few swift motions, forcefully throwing it into the trash bag, casting a sidelong glance at her with a very displeased expression. Zhao Xiaojun felt somewhat bewildered and did not speak. After a long pause, Chen Qiaoqi asked, "What happened?"

Zhao Xiaojun performed excellently in the elementary school graduation examination, ranking first in her grade. She was admitted to the best secondary school in the provincial capital, a semi-closed institution that is quite difficult to get into and has a long history. However, it is somewhat far from the Chen family. Chen Nianxian could not help but praise her repeatedly, saying, "Qiao Qi, you must learn well from your sister!" Qian Meiqin also felt that she had set a very good example and took the time to celebrate grandly. During the summer vacation, there were always people calling to invite Chen Qiao Qi out to play. One time, Chen Nianxian curiously remarked, "Why is it that all the calls are from Qiao Qi's classmates? No one has ever called for Xiaojun." Before graduation, Zhao Xiaojun wrote messages to her classmates, and Chen Nianxian could not help but praise her again, saying, "Qiao Qi, you must learn well from your sister!" Qian Meiqin also felt that she had set a very good example and took the time to celebrate grandly. During the summer vacation, there were always people calling to invite Chen Qiao Qi out to play. One time, Chen Nianxian curiously remarked, "Why is it that all the calls are from Qiao Qi's classmates? No one has ever called for Xiaojun." Before graduation, Zhao Xiaojun wrote messages to her classmates, and the phone section was always left blank. She never answered calls from the Chen family, allowing the phone to ring without anyone picking it up.

Upon entering junior high school, she still did not like to speak, nor did she enjoy interacting with unfamiliar people. She maintained a polite demeanor with another girl in the dormitory, smiling and nodding, and at most discussing matters related to their studies. She often sat quietly by the window, watching the drizzling rain outside, or buried herself in reading and solving problems. She had plenty of time, and when she found herself bored at the desk, she frequently recalled the quaint little town, the arched stone bridge at her grandmother's house, with its slippery moss-covered edges. She remembered her grandmother searching for her throughout the town, beating drums and gongs to call her for meals. The dim yellow sunlight filtered through the courtyard, casting a layer of old yet comforting warmth, and the ancient house was filled with warm memories. At that time, there were no reservations, no constraints; she could run freely against the wind and wade through water, getting into all sorts of trouble. It was surprising how clearly she remembered these things, even to herself.

After finally finishing seven or eight exams in a row, everyone was discussing where to relax, gathering in groups and talking animatedly. Zhao Xiaojun packed her bag, crossed the bustling crowd, and stood in the corridor on the third floor, letting out a slight sigh before heading towards the staircase. Suddenly, a girl blocked her path, hands on her hips, and aggressively said: "Hey! Are you Zhao Xiaojun?" Zhao Xiaojun was taken aback, then nodded and asked, "Is there something wrong?" The girl scrutinized her from head to toe for a long time, then disdainfully said: "You look so lifeless, what’s good about you? Bullying people like this!" As she spoke, she shoved Zhao Xiaojun hard. Caught completely off guard, Zhao Xiaojun, being slender, lost her balance and fell to the ground, scraping her elbow. She had no idea what had just happened.

What is going on! Zhao Xiaojun said impatiently. Chen Qiaoqi glared at her and huffed, "It's about the letter!" Zhao Xiaojun replied irritably, "How would I know! I don't even know where this letter came from." Chen Qiaoqi sat to the side, still angry. After getting out of the car, she slammed the door shut with a loud bang and stomped forward. Zhao Xiaojun was completely baffled and chose not to pay her any mind. After getting out of the car, she slammed the door shut with a loud bang and stomped forward. Zhao Xiaojun was completely baffled and chose not to pay her any mind.

The girl who helped her up chased her to the school gate and shouted, "Zhao Xiaojun, are you okay?" Zhao Xiaojun shook her head. She carefully looked at Zhao Xiaojun's complexion and suddenly grabbed her, saying, "Since we are on break, let's go sing at KTV! I know which KTV in the city is the best." Zhao Xiaojun knew that she had a very lively personality and was on friendly terms with many boys in the class. Her family background seemed to be quite good, and she was generous. Zhao Xiaojun replied, "No, I can't sing. I think I should go home first." She seemed to feel that Zhao Xiaojun had just gone through such an experience and must be in a bad mood. To comfort her, she couldn't help but be particularly enthusiastic and cheerfully said, "Then let's go eat something. Once we're full, we won't have any worries!" Without waiting for a response, she dragged Zhao Xiaojun away.