“Ah ah ah! No, Sister!” After being decisively rejected by my sister, I threw myself forward without a care for appearances, tightly hugging her slender white legs.
‘Sister, I just want to see my classmates! To visit my old friends. If I don’t go, the class will forget me. And if any of my classmates owe me candy or snacks, they might feel bad and give it back. Sniffle… Sister, don’t worry, I’ll bring the candy back. We can share it, you and me. Sniffle… Please, Sister, you’re the most beautiful, kind, and understanding sister in the world. Be a role model for all sisters! Don’t break my heart! Sniffle… My beloved Sister, please help me! I’ll do anything you say, study hard, finish my homework. Please, Sister!”
I begged with the utmost humility, and anyone with a heart would find it impossible to refuse. By the end, I was sobbing like a girl.
****
Xia Yinuo trembled with excitement the moment Jiu hugged her leg. It was as if she was stuck with a dog clinging to her. Xia Yinuo’s fair face flushed red, even the leg Jiu touched turned pink. Her other leg remained as white as milk, with no change in color. Xia Yinuo turned to look.
Jiu’s fair face was incredibly cute, with skin as soft as a baby’s. His clear eyes were filled with tears that threatened to spill over.
Xia Yinuo bit her lip, resisting the urge to tackle Jiu to the ground. Jiu’s crying was so beautiful, he looked like a fallen angel. To maintain her older sister’s dignity, Xia Yinuo had to act indifferent. In reality, her heart raced from one beat per second to one hundred, and the speed kept increasing. If her heart were on a highway, it would be speeding at 249 kilometers per hour, constantly overtaking other cars.
Xia Yinuo held her heart, fearing it would explode. Still, she maintained her composure: “Jiu, no more acting cute, or I’ll die!”
“Yay! I can finally go to school!” I jumped up excitedly. Even though Sister was facing away, I could tell from her tone that she was happy too.
Sister offered to ride her bicycle to take me to school, but I refused. I’d rather jump from the building and die than ride a two-wheeler again. My butt still ached from the last time.
“Jiu, I have a cushion!” Xia Yinuo pulled out a round, fluffy pillow from somewhere.
“No way!” I shook my head, keeping my hands behind my back, and started walking forward. I hadn’t taken two steps when Sister grabbed me by the back of my neck, lifting me off the ground.
“Ah ah ah, no! Sister. My butt will hurt if I ride the bike.” But when I felt myself land on the bike’s back seat, it was surprisingly comfortable. It was soft and bouncy, even more comfortable than a sofa.
“Huh? It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“Hold on tight! I’m starting to ride.” Xia Yinuo turned back with a smile, and with a push of her foot, the bicycle wobbled along the cement road.
I quickly hugged Sister’s waist. Because she was riding so fast, the white hem of her skirt fluttered in the wind, looking like a blossoming pear flower. Sister’s dress was already short, and now, sitting down, her long, fair legs were fully exposed.
I noticed many men on the street staring at Sister with leering eyes, which made me uncomfortable. Sister seemed unaware of their strange looks. To prevent Sister from exposing herself, I moved my hands from her waist to her skirt. With my hands on either side, the flutting pear flower was perfectly contained, leaving the onlookers speechless.
The truth was, those men were jealous of Jiu, a mere kid, being so intimate with such a beautiful girl. From their angle, the boy seemed to be touching the girl in inappropriate places, sliding from her waist to her round buttocks.
After half an hour, we finally arrived at the school. Sister parked the bicycle at the entrance and showed her student ID to enter. Our school wasn’t very large, and upon entering, we saw two teaching buildings. Sister led me to the left one, and I remembered the school but not which class was mine.
I followed Sister all the way until she stopped at the door of Class 1, Grade 7. The door was open.
Knock knock knock!
Xia Yinuo lightly knocked three times and waved at the young-looking teacher at the podium. The teacher was about thirty, with ruddy skin, but a bald head surrounded by some hair. Xia Yinuo, being the student council president, knew many teachers in the school.
Teacher Cangsong was in the middle of an enthusiastic lecture when he heard the knocking and paused. Looking towards the door, he saw a strikingly beautiful girl. Her red lips were glossy, and her white dress clung to her body, accentuating her curves. Her slight cleavage gave her a youthful, blossoming allure. Her skirt was just long enough to cover her thighs. Teacher Cangsong, who had seen many women in his teaching career, was taken aback by this girl’s fresh and new appearance.
Teacher Cangsong, being an adult, quickly regained his composure. He coughed dryly and walked out, finding the classroom already in an uproar. Xia Yinuo’s appearance and attire had captured the attention of all the boys, and even some girls admired her natural beauty. The girls in the classroom, though some were pretty, hadn’t yet learned makeup, and their heavy uniforms hid their natural charm.
“What can I do for you, student?” Teacher Cangsong felt this girl was familiar, and when he saw her ID, he realized who she was, though he didn’t show it.
“I’m here for my brother,” Xia Yinuo stepped aside, revealing Jiu behind her.
“Jiu? You’re better?” Teacher Cangsong’s stern face lit up with joy. After all, Jiu was part of the class, and his absence left a void.
“T-teacher… good!” I forced a smile, feeling my facial muscles stiffen. I didn’t know which subject this teacher taught, and I felt a bit constrained during our first meeting.
“Teacher, Jiu’s physical wounds are healed, but his emotional ones are severe. He’s forgotten all his past memories.” Xia Yinuo gently tapped Jiu’s forehead, her voice tinged with regret, as Jiu had also forgotten how they met.
“You mean Jiu has a mental issue? What did the doctor say? Is there a risk of him developing a mental illness?” Teacher Cangsong replied without hesitation. Generally, a troublemaker is easier to handle than someone with mental issues. If Jiu truly had a change of heart, he wasn’t sure he could accept him back.