Old Wounds and New Surprises

After running out of Uncle Da’s fried chicken shop, I didn’t make it far before I collapsed against a tree by the street, gasping for air. My mind slowly calmed down.

Thinking about what I just did, I felt a pang of guilt. Ling Yan and the others must have been scared. I wonder if they still had an appetite. Tomorrow at school, I’ll have to apologize properly. I’ll do whatever they ask.

But I still haven’t let her go, have I?

I thought I had put away everything related to her. I hardly ever went to Uncle Da’s shop anymore. I hadn’t even mentioned her name in a long time. I thought I had moved on, but the moment Uncle Da accidentally brought her up, my heart ached as if it were being sliced by a knife.

(Letting her go? I can’t do it at all.)

I raised my trembling hand and pressed it against my throbbing chest.

But I can’t keep thinking about this. If I continue, I might go back to how I was before. I absolutely cannot worry the people around me again.

I took a deep breath, pushed down the chaotic thoughts in my mind, and started walking slowly toward home.

“Zhou Chen, I can’t accept your feelings. Because I don’t like you at all. And I’m leaving soon, so please… forget about me.”

The girl’s pale face held a gentle smile, but her words were heartless.

I tried to reach out and grab her, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t close the distance between us.

She just looked at me, her mouth moving as if she were saying something, but I couldn’t hear a word. Finally, she turned and walked away, step by step, into the distance. All I could do was watch her slender figure shrink until it became a white speck and disappeared into the void.

Ring, ring, ring—smack!

I pulled my hand back from the alarm clock and stared blankly at the ceiling.

“It’s been a while since I had that dream.”

I sat up in bed, stunned. Thinking about the dream made my heart feel as heavy as lead.

(No, I can’t think about this. Or I’ll start missing her again.)

I slapped my cheeks to clear the images from my mind. As usual, I washed my face, brushed my teeth, and put on my uniform. Once everything was ready, I took my lunchbox out of the fridge.

“Xiao Chen, are you all set?”

Mom came out of her room, rubbing her sleep-filled eyes and yawning.

“Yeah, I’m all set. Mom, I told you that you don’t have to get up every day to see me off. I’m not a kid anymore.”

I put on my shoes at the entrance and waved helplessly at Mom, signaling her to go back to bed.

Because of what happened in the past, Mom now gets up almost every morning to check on me, making sure I’m okay before she can relax.

“Haha, okay, okay.”

Mom ruffled her messy hair but didn’t go back. Instead, she leaned against the doorframe and watched me.

“I’m heading out.”

I opened the door and glanced at her curiously. By now, she should have gone back to sleep.

“Mm, have a good day.”

Mom waved her hand at me but didn’t do anything else. But just as I was about to close the door, her gentle voice came through the crack.

“Xiao Chen… if something’s wrong, make sure you tell me, okay?”

I stood outside the door for a moment. My nose stung, and I almost couldn’t hold back my tears.

So Mom noticed something was off after all. I thought I had acted the same as usual yesterday, but she still got worried.

I walked down the stairs feeling dejected, not paying attention to the figure sprinting toward me from the landing below.

It wasn’t until she pounced on me, wrapping her arms around me, that the impact nearly knocked me over. I snapped back to reality, breaking out in a cold sweat.

(Oh no. I forgot that Xiao Xi lives in the same building, just one floor down! How careless! But it’s only 6 AM. How is she, of all people, out at this hour? She’s always the last one to arrive at school!)

“Senior? Senior?! It really is you! What are you doing here!”

A soft, fragrant body pressed against me, and her sweet, excited voice buzzed in my ear. As Xiao Xi squirmed happily, her soft chest rubbed against my arm, sending shivers down my spine.

I stiffly turned my head and saw Xiao Xi looking up at me, her big eyes sparkling with excitement, as if confirming I was real.

“Um, Xiao Xi, can you let go first?”

I shifted slightly, only to realize she was holding me tight, as if afraid I’d disappear.

“No way. What if you run away again when I let go? Yesterday you just ran off for no reason.”

Xiao Xi pouted, her big eyes full of grievance, and tightened her arms around me.

But this was really bad. Her small, soft body was pressed against mine… I didn’t dare move, afraid I’d touch something I shouldn’t.

“I won’t run. So please, let go first.”

“No!”

Xiao Xi glanced at me and turned her head away.

“But isn’t it inappropriate for you to hug a guy like this?”

I looked helplessly at Xiao Xi, who had her cheeks puffed out.

“…Ah! You stupid Senior! Why didn’t you say that earlier!”

Xiao Xi froze, then reacted with a yelp. She hurriedly stepped away, her face bright red, glaring at me. But she still kept a tight grip on the hem of my shirt.

(Are you that worried I’ll run away?)

“I already told you to let go earlier. Sigh.“

“Hmph.”

Xiao Xi pouted, looking at me discontentedly.

“So, Xiao Xi, is there something you need?”

I tugged at the hem she was holding, trying to slip away, but she noticed and clenched her fist, yanking my shirt tighter.

(Hey, hey, you’re going to tear my uniform.)

“Something I need? Senior, you’re weird. Shouldn’t you be the one explaining something to me?”

Xiao Xi smiled at me, her face as angelic as ever, but I felt like I was looking at a demon’s grin. I couldn’t help swallowing.

“Haha, well, Xiao Xi, what do you want me to explain?”

I scratched my head and averted my eyes.

“Why do you live here and never told me? I even told you where I live!”

Xiao Xi’s eyes started to well up with tears, as if she were about to cry.