Chapter 9 I Was Also Secretly in Love

  The first class of the second grade in the county's No. 1 Middle School had a self-study lesson in the last period of the morning, because the semester final exam was approaching and it was the top class of the whole grade, so although there were no teachers present, most students were still studying diligently, occasionally whispering to each other in very low voices.

  Liu Qiang looked up and glanced at the empty seat in the front row. Luoxing Ye probably wouldn't be coming to school again, he thought with a pang of regret. That girl wasn't like other girls, she was always quietly sitting in her seat, and when she smiled, it was soft and gentle. Her studies were also very good.

  I'm not sure when I started paying attention to her, but whenever I got tired of reading and doing homework, I would look up at her and feel very relieved. I once thought that this could be a good way to relax too.

  Liu Qiang knew that his family had high hopes for him, and he also had his own ideals and ambitions. He never intended to fall in love early, and even he himself was not sure if his attention towards the girl was just liking her or something more. But since he could no longer see her figure on campus, the confusion and loss in his heart grew stronger and stronger, affecting his originally good academic performance.

  Just as he inadvertently glanced out the window, "whoosh", his classmates saw their class leader rush out of the classroom. Some students who loved to joke with each other asked if it was diarrhea and couldn't hold it in, so they rushed out that quickly.

  Luo Xingye came to the school in his memory today, he only studied here for one year and two months, but he still has feelings for it, especially his head teacher Qi, a female teacher who was less than fifty years old but had prematurely gray hair. She truly loved every student regardless of their grades or behavior, and she showed special care to Xingye, who came from a difficult family but was diligent in his studies. She provided him with great help in life, and even after leaving for many years, thinking of her still made Xingye feel warm.

  When Xīng Yè found her and told her that he wanted to keep his student status and take a year off, she didn't say much and went to help Xīng Yè find the principal to do the paperwork. Xīng Yè knew that she was unwilling to see students drop out of school for various reasons, and usually most of her meager salary was spent on poor students.

  Bid farewell to Teacher Qi who wanted her to stay for dinner, Xing Ye didn't leave immediately, but wandered around the campus, even if she were to return to school, she probably wouldn't come back to this school.

  Staring at the tall and thin boy who suddenly ran in front of her but didn't say a word, Xing Ye tried to recall his name as he was supposed to be their class monitor, but couldn't remember it for the moment. Not seeing him speak, his expression became more and more embarrassed, Xing Ye smiled and asked: "Class Monitor, is there something you want?"

  Liu Qiang stood in front of Xing Ye at night, secretly blaming himself for being rash. Seeing the familiar figure, he chased out without thinking, but was so embarrassed that he couldn't say a word until Xing Ye spoke first and he came back to his senses.

  "Luoxingye, you haven't been to class for a long time, I'm afraid your homework is all behind."

  Xīng yè yǒu xiē gàng rán, méi xiǎng dào tā pǎo guò lái jiù wèi le shuō zhè ge.

  Translation:

  He was taken aback at night, didn't expect him to run over just to say this.

  "I've come to apply for a leave of absence, I won't be able to attend classes anymore."

  "Taking a leave of absence? Are you okay? Planning to resume high school in September? If you have any difficulties, we will help you." Liu Qiang saw the mourning band on Xing Ye and knew that her mother had passed away, so he spoke carefully.

  "Ah, thank you, I'm fine, thanks for everyone's concern."

  "You've fallen behind a lot... If it's with your studies... I can help you catch up..."

  Xing Ye slightly furrowed his brow, the class monitor's voice grew softer as he spoke, and his words became increasingly incoherent. Looking at his bright red face and evasive eyes, Xing Ye suddenly had an epiphany - could it be that this class monitor had a crush on him?

  Although the school repeatedly emphasized that it is not allowed to fall in love early, but at the age of 17 or 18, young boys and girls can't help but have affection for each other. There are also several couples in the class who secretly date. If I hadn't seen many men before, I probably wouldn't have known that someone liked me in high school.

  "Thank you, but no need to, I'm going to leave here for a while, don't know when I'll be back." Xing Ye saw the other person's face quickly darken after hearing her words, saying: "But I won't give up on my studies, I will definitely go to university."

  Liu Qiang looked at Xing Ye's smiling face and felt that today's Luo Xing Ye was even more dazzling than that day.

  "Goodbye, I wish you also get into a good university." He bid farewell and left in the middle of the night.

  Liu Qiang saw Xing Ye leave into the night, and wondered if this was a permanent goodbye. The thought made his heart ache, but he also thought that maybe one day they would meet again on campus. Liu Qiang steeled himself to study even harder, for the sake of that faint hope.

  Luoxingye walked out of the post office, remembering the staff's silly gaze, and smiled self-deprecatingly. How could a phone number from over a decade ago still be in use? She had only asked the staff to check with a try-on attitude, hoping to find a record of the changed phone number, but didn't expect that young staff member to show such an obvious mocking smile, definitely taking herself for a country bumpkin.

  Staring at one's own reflection in the glass window of a store on a starry night, it doesn't feel out of place in a small town, but compared to the fashionable dressing of various girls in the county town, one's own attire really looks rustic.

  At night, I considered selling some clothes. After walking around the store, it was close to Chinese New Year and many people were buying new clothes. The mall was bustling with all sorts of colorful clothing and accessories. After thinking about it, I gave up on the idea. I'm still in mourning and being alone, it's better to keep a low profile.

  Bought some fruit at the market and arrived at a bungalow not far from the market in the middle of the night. This time, I came to the county town to handle the suspension procedures at school and to visit Grandma Wang who lives here.

  At that time, Yu Youyue rented the Wang family's house with a big belly and gave birth to Xingye safely with the help of Grandma Wang and her family. Grandma Wang took care of Yu Youyue like her own daughter during her confinement, teaching her how to take care of the baby, and even took on the responsibility of taking care of Xingye when Yu Youyue went to work without pay. In this way, Yu Youyue established a mother-daughter relationship with Grandma Wang, and the old lady treated Xingye as her own granddaughter. For so many years, the two families have been coming and going like relatives.

  In the alley, three or four eight- or nine-year-old boys were pushing and shoving a smaller boy. One of them, who seemed to be the leader, held a straw hat in his hand and waved it around. The little boy tried to grab it back, but was pushed away by the other children. He became so anxious that he almost cried, which made the other children burst out laughing.

  He quietly walked up and snatched the woolen hat from the boy's hand, slapped his buttocks and shouted: "You little rascal, bullying your classmates, just you wait, I'll tell your teacher."

  It's said that you should tell the teacher that a few kids ran away, and Xing Ye is considered a big kid in the eyes of adults, but to these little kids, he's an adult. You want to say that telling his mom this kid isn't necessarily afraid, but at this age, kids who have just started school will listen to what the teacher says 100%.

  "Star Night Sister", the little boy who was bullied, saw it was Star Night and excitedly called her.

  "Are you okay, Keke?" The boy was Grandma Wang's grandson. She had stayed up all night knitting him a woolen hat, and now she patted the dirt off his clothes and rearranged them, checking to see if he was hurt anywhere after being pushed to the ground just now.

  "I'm fine, really," Weiwei said with some embarrassment, feeling ashamed that Xing Ye had seen him being bullied.

  Stargazing at night, he really didn't have anything on his mind. He pulled her hand and said: "Let's go home."

  "Yeah, grandma said the day before yesterday, it's been a long time since she saw you"

  "Does Xiaohui miss his sister?" Xingye liked this well-behaved little brother very much.

  "Xiao Ke also misses his sister and aunt." Xiao Ke gently pulled Xing Ye's hand, looking at Xing Ye said: "Sister, don't tell grandma, okay?"

  Xiao Ke opened a pair of bright black big eyes, pitifully looking at the starry night like a frightened little rabbit.

  At night, lovingly stroking his small face, a pang of distress in her heart. This obedient and well-behaved good child's life was also pitiful, his mother had left home when he was two years old, his father didn't care about him either, it was always his grandmother who took care of him, growing up thinner and smaller than children of the same age, but inheriting his mother's delicate appearance, the neighbor girls all liked to play with him, while the boys often bullied him, making him a bit weak in character.

  Xiao Ke thought she didn't respond so he quickly said: "I'm afraid grandma will worry."

  "Okay, this time I won't tell grandma if nothing's wrong with you, but if they always bully you, you have to tell the teacher or your dad, okay?"

  "If I tell the teacher they don't like playing with me anymore." Xiaohui said softly, lowering his head.

  "Xiao Ke, you're a boy and will grow up to be a strong man. When something happens, telling the teacher or parents isn't always the best solution, but sometimes it's the most effective way to protect yourself. Grandma is getting older, if you want to take care of her without worrying her, then you need to learn how to protect yourself so that you can take good care of her in the future." Xing Ye looked at Xiao Ke who seemed a bit perplexed and didn't expect an 8-year-old kid to fully understand.

  Pat his head: "You remember 'men should be strong', don't always think you're inferior to others, or people will look down on you. Now you may not understand, but when you grow up, you'll understand."

  Xiao Ke grasped Xing Ye's hand tightly: "Sister, I know I have to be a man, protect Grandma, and also protect Sister Xing Ye."

  At night, I was moved by the child's understanding and pinched his little nose with a smile: "Well, my little man, from now on, sister will rely on you for protection. Come on, let's see who gets home first."

  Xing Ye finished speaking and ran off first, provoking Xiao Kai to chase after her shouting "Sister, you're so naughty!"