The quality of the school uniform is so poor... The buttons at the collar are almost torn off.
Lin Qingle didn't notice it before, but after he got home, changed his clothes and took a shower, he realized that the top button was shaking.
After taking a shower, she secretly took the needle and thread back to her room while Lin Yufen wasn't paying attention and sewed the button back in place.
After sewing it, she threw the school uniform aside. At this moment, her tense heart seemed to completely relax.
As soon as he relaxed, the thrilling experience at Xu Tingbai's house came back to him belatedly.
At that time... he gave her a very oppressive feeling.
Lin Qingle's face completely flushed when she recalled their postures and actions at that time. At that time, she really couldn't feel that he was the little boy in her memory. The slightly aggressive mature aura and warmth on him... He was completely different.
—
The next day, there was still an exam. Because they were in the same exam room, Lin Qingle met Yan Dairong again.
Yan Dairong was no longer as enthusiastic as she was on the first day. When the two met, she didn't even nod.
Lin Qingle didn't care anymore. She suddenly didn't care about what was going on between her and Xu Tingbai.
The exam lasted for three days, and because it was a midterm exam, the results came out very quickly.
The day after the exam, the ranking list was posted on the bulletin board outside.
"Qingle Qingle, let's go and check the rankings!" Yu Tingting ran over to pull her, very excited.
Jiang Shuyi was standing next to Yu Tingting. He looked at her awkwardly and said nothing.
The two have not spoken to each other since their disagreement about the water-throwing incident that afternoon.
"What are you daydreaming about? Let's go." Yu Tingting didn't know what was going on between the two of them, so she pulled Lin Qingle up.
There were a lot of people in front of the ranking list, and the three of them squeezed for a long time before they were able to squeeze in from the outside.
"Look where I am... Damn, why am I not here yet... It's over, it's over." The ranking went from left to right, and Yu Tingting retreated all the way to the right, her face becoming increasingly bleak.
"200th place... I'm actually ranked 220th place?" Yu Tingting came back with a shocked face, "I studied so hard, and this is it??"
Jiang Shuyi: “…”
"Where are you?"
Jiang Shuyi's grades are average, and he has been hovering around the top 100 for many years, and this time is no exception.
"Qingle, you are number eighteen, not bad." Yu Tingting said sourly when she saw the names in the front row.
Lin Qingle had naturally seen his name a long time ago. No. 4 High School was the best high school in Xicheng, and being in the 18th grade was indeed quite good.
But she couldn't be happy, she could almost imagine what her mother would say when she knew her ranking.
"Your math score is 147? That's too good. The top scorer only got 144." Yu Tingting touched her chin, "Well... If your English was better, you would definitely be in the top ten."
Indeed, the subject that dragged down her score the most was her English.
She didn't know what was going on, but she just wasn't very interested in this subject.
Yu Tingting: "Yu Jiayou is fourth, he is indeed a male god!"
"I'll go back first." Lin Qingle nodded at the two of them, turned and walked towards the classroom.
“You’re leaving now…” Yu Tingting looked at Jiang Shuyi, who didn’t react much.
Yu Tingting's eyes moved between the two of them, and finally sensed something was wrong. She asked suspiciously, "I say, did you two have a fight?"
Jiang Shuyi turned his head away: "I'm going back too."
"Hello??"
After returning to the classroom, the head teacher distributed the test papers and praised the top students in the class. Of course, she especially praised Lin Qingle. Because the head teacher was a math teacher, she was very fond of students who were good at her subjects.
The head teacher praised her math problem-solving ideas to the skies, making Lin Qingle feel a little embarrassed.
After returning home from evening self-study that day, she put the math test paper first and even secretly wrote down the complimenting words used by her head teacher, thinking... she could tell her mother about it later.
"Mom, you're back."
Lin Yufen worked overtime today and got off work very late, so Lin Qingle made her a midnight snack at home.
"Have you eaten?" Lin Yufen changed her shoes.
Lin Qingle: "I'm not hungry, I just made it for you."
"good."
Lin Qingle saw her coming in and glanced at the report card and test papers on the table, "By the way, Mom, the midterm exam results are out. They're over there."
"Really?" Lin Yufen hurried over and picked it up. The first paper she picked up was the math paper that Lin Qingle had deliberately placed at the front. The number 147 was clearly visible in red font on the paper.
"What place did you get in the exam?" Lin Yufen asked after looking at the score.
Lin Qingle: “Eighteen.”
Lin Yufen paused: "What?"
"Eighteen." Lin Qingle emphasized, "Grade eighteen."
"How come you only scored 18? Didn't you say you understood? How come you scored so poorly?"
All the expectations and words in my mind seemed to disappear completely.
"Eighteenth place isn't too bad. If you don't believe me, ask the teacher..."
"You think you're not bad when you're so far from the top three? Didn't I tell you that you must work hard and do your best? How can you get into the best school in the capital if you're ranked 18th? It's very dangerous. If you're not careful, you might not get in. You have to be steady and make it through steadily."
Lin Qingle's face darkened: "Oh... Then give me the test paper, I'm going back to my room."
"Hey you... I just said two sentences and you don't want to listen!"
Seeing her daughter's mood drop to the freezing point, Lin Yufen probably felt that she had said something too harsh, so she calmed down and stepped forward to hold Lin Qingle's hand: "Qingle, Mom didn't mean to do this, but Mom is telling the truth. You have to know that if you want to get into the best school, you'd better be in the top three at ordinary times, so that the probability of success is greater, right?"
The environment she grew up in and the people around her taught Lin Qingle that she must do well in the exams, must become a talent, and must firmly grasp her own life in the future... She understands all this, so she is already working hard.
"I know." Lin Qingle took the test paper back from Lin Yufen's hand.
However, she really couldn't think that her mother would praise her. Without first place, such an idea was unrealistic.
"I'm going back to my room."
"Eh..."
—
The depressed mood continued until the next day.
It was Saturday, and Lin Yufen was at home for the day off. Because of what happened last night, Lin Qingle didn't want to stay at home, so he went out with his schoolbag.
"Little girl, do you want to eat rice noodles today?" When we reached the familiar intersection, the rice noodle uncle greeted us with a smile.
"No, I've already eaten." Lin Qingle asked, "Uncle, did he go out today?"
Uncle Mixian: "Xu Tingbai went to school yesterday, but I didn't see him come out today, so I guess he didn't go."
"Thanks."
Lin Qingle actually just came here to try her luck. He had classes on Saturday, and if he went to class today, she would go to the library.
But now, she can visit his house.
After walking into the familiar alley and going upstairs to Xu Tingbai's door, she habitually touched the place where the key was hidden.
It was empty, he didn't put it in.
Lin Qingle knocked on the door without hesitation. Today, he didn't knock for long. The door opened in less than a minute.
She saw Xu Tingbai standing behind the door, his face expressionless and his emotions undetectable.
"You didn't go to school today?"
"Um."
"Why didn't you leave your keys outside..."
"I, forgot."
"Then remember to put it up next time." Lin Qingle said, "Otherwise, it will be inconvenient for Grandma Jiang to come in in the future. I'm not saying this entirely for myself, I mean Grandma Jiang, she will be worried about you."
Xu Tingbai pursed his lips and said nothing. However, he did not stop her today.
Lin Qingle realized this and was delighted, so he walked past him and entered the house.
Lin Qingle: "If you didn't go to school today, what would you do at home..."
Xu Tingbai would not admit that he stayed at home because today was Saturday and she had a day off. He would not admit that deep down in his heart he was hoping that she would come today.
"… nothing."
"oh."
Lin Qingle didn't say anything afterwards. She was a little silent today, and when she was silent, there was a subtle awkwardness between the two of them. This subtlety made it difficult for Xu Tingbai not to think of what happened that night. He was determined to scare her, so he didn't use any light weight.
The difference in her today made Xu Tingbai feel that maybe the belated realization of what happened that night had taken its toll on her, and now that she was facing him, she might feel scared.
"If you're scared, don't come again." He thought about this in his mind and said it subconsciously.
Lin Qingle was stunned for a moment, then reacted: "I wasn't scared... Are you talking about that day? That day... That day was fine, but when I got home I found that the buttons on my school uniform were torn, ah, but I fixed it."
Xu Tingbai's voice was a little tense: "That's it?"
"Hmm... Also, my arms and neck hurt a little bit?" Lin Qingle said honestly, "You're so strong..."
It was very forceful, and in the chaos, it was rough and casual, and he wasn't even sure if he had touched anything inappropriate.
The fingertips felt strangely hot. Xu Tingbai took a deep breath and struggled for a while. Finally, he couldn't help but ask, "Is it serious?"
Lin Qingle was stunned. His hidden concern made her feel very happy. All of a sudden, all the annoying things were no longer annoying to her.
“It’s not serious…” Lin Qingle paused, then suddenly remembered something and changed his words, “No, no, no, it’s serious, serious!”
Xu Tingbai frowned: "How serious is it?"
"Serious!" Lin Qingle said, "So, as compensation, can you promise me one thing..."
Xu Tingbai: "...What?"
"It's very simple. I just hope that you won't say those words when I come to your house next time." Lin Qingle coughed and imitated, "Why did you come again? Why don't you leave?"
Lin Qingle imitated the tone of his voice and really grasped the essence of it.
After learning, she laughed to herself.
"I'm tired of hearing Xu Tingbai. I don't want to hear it again."
Xu Tingbai said nothing, he just felt a warm current rushing back and forth in his chest, and the air became humid and hot.
He knew that she must be staring at him at this moment. He suddenly felt embarrassed and turned to go to the kitchen.
Lin Qingle didn't expect that he didn't even answer and just went about his own business. She saw him reaching out to look for something, then he touched the kettle, held the cup firmly, and poured out the water inside.
Lin Qingle followed and asked nervously, "Will you agree to me?"
Xu Tingbai turned his back to her and took a sip of water. He almost choked because he was so confused.
"May-"
"Whether I agree or not, you will come anyway."
"Um?"
"Since you are coming, does it matter whether I agree or not?"
Lin Qingle: “It’s important.”
"… oh."
Oh, what
Lin Qingle didn't react for a moment and looked up at him.
He still didn't turn around, but the next second, she heard his voice coming very lightly, "Then I won't say it anymore in the future."