"Ok, bye!"
Mo Xuanji chuckled at her silly smile. She then turned around and her smile slowly disappeared.
There was a dull feeling in her heart. It slowly grew stronger and stronger as she walked in the lonely hallway.
The only sound in the empty hallway was the sound of her footsteps.
'Why do I.. feel so blue all of a sudden?'
Was it because she realized that at the end of the day, she was lonely once again?
Or was it because she didn't feel as if she belonged anywhere?
At the end of her destination, she'll always be alone. No one will be there for her.
Mo Xuanji didn't know why she was having such absurd thoughts at this moment.
But she actually felt so worthless. She felt as if even if she were to vanish one day, the world will continue its course, cruelly.
Even if she disappeared, no one would grief or be sad. But she knew she had friends who cared about her.
Albeit her family being so distant, she had many loved ones and also that certain someone..
Her footsteps suddenly halted after coming out of the building.
She saw a tall figure languishing against a tree while looking at his watch. Her heart skipped a beat.
The person noticed her gaze as he raised his head and smiled brightly whole waving at her.
At the end of her destination..
"You're finally here. I waited so long for you! Why were you not responding to my messages?"
There was actually someone waiting for her.
Mo Xuanji softly called out in disbelief, "..Brother Ran?!"
She wasn't alone.
Instantly, the grief in her heart turned into joy as she ran towards him and hugged him tightly.
Li Yuran was shocked by her actions, his ears flushing red. He awkwardly patted her head, "Xuanji, y-you.."
When he noticed something wet on his sleeves, he realized something and his expression changed.
"You're crying?? Why are you crying?? Did something happen?"
Mo Xuanji wiped her tears and raised her head, revealing a brilliant smile on her beautiful face.
"It's nothing, Brother Yuran! I just missed you a lot!"
Li Yuran helplessly smiled as he rubbed her head, "Silly girl! If you missed me, you could have just called me! Why are you crying as if you'll never get to see me again?"
Mo Xuanji just hugged him and didn't say anything else. Li Yuran couldn't help but ask, "Why are you alone? Where is Yuri?"
"Oh, Yuri has something on. So, she's going to stay at school for a while. Don't worry, Lu Jeongshan will be with her."
Mo Xuanji slowly pulled away from him and replied smilingly.
"Ah, I see. That's good. That lass always goes on and on about how her Bro Shan is so perfect. But nowadays, I haven't seen her talking about him.. I wonder why?"
Li Yuran frowned as he fell into a deep thought. Mo Xuanji smiled meaningfully, "They'll be fine, don't worry."
"Oh, do you wanna grab ice cream while going home?"
"Okay!"
"Which flavor do you want?"
"Vanilla! I want to eat vanilla ice cream!!"
"Haha, alright! But I thought you liked chocolate?"
"I want to try something new today!"
"Alright!"
- - -
Li Yuri tapped her foot out of boredom while inclining on the desk. She couldn't help but sigh. 'When will he come?'
She glanced at Lu Jeongshan's bag which was on the desk and looked around carefully before smiling mischievously.
'What does Bro Shan have in his bag??'
She didn't want to peek in his bag but she was just too curious.. She sneakily approached the bag and unzipped it.
Immediately, a book fell out from the bag. Li Yuri picked it up, patted it and then stared at the book from all angles.
She felt like she had seen the book before.. But she didn't remember anything. So she just excitedly flipped the book open and found a bookmark.
Just as she was about to read, she heard a cold voice behind her, "Why are you touching my things?!"
She got a shock and instantly got up, the book falling down from her hands. "Bro Shan.." She greeted him awkwardly.
Lu Jeongshan's handsome face was covered with bandages but that didn't pull down his charms at all. He silently walked over, bent down and picked the book up.
He patted the dust on the book before stuffing it in his bag and looking at her with pursed lips. He appeared quite angry.
"Why were you fiddling with my things without my permission?!"
Li Yuri tried explaining, "Bro Shan, I.."
But he didn't listen to her and just warned her, "Don't touch my things randomly."
Li Yuri's face fell and she drooped her head as she nodded quietly. She looked pitiful, just like a puppy.
Lu Jeongshan's expression turned complicated as he regretted his words. It was just that..
He was flustered when he saw her with the book she gave him. He had already told her that he had thrown the book away.
So if she found out the book was the one she gave him, she'll probably misunderstand him.. But now he messed up.
He was about to say something else when an arrogant voice beat him to it.
"That's rude, Bro Shan. Even if you don't like others invading your privacy, you don't have to put it so bluntly, right? See, Yuri's hurt now."
Tang Min came over with a similarly bandaged face as he bypassed him and hooked Li Yuri's arm with his.
"Let's go home."
Li Yuri wasn't feeling hurt but feeling guilty instead.
She shouldn't have touched his belongings. So when she heard Tang Min's words, she quickly lifted her head and explained.
"No, actually it's okay, I shouldn't have touched Bro Shan's things in his absence.. I'm sorry, Bro Shan."
Lu Jeongshan opened his pursed lips for along while before his gaze landed on their hooked arms and simply spoke, "It's okay. Just don't do it again."
He then walked away with his bag when Li Yuri pulled her arm out of Tang Min's grip and darted towards him.
"Wait, Bro Shan!"
Lu Jeongshan was surprised. Turning to the girl, he asked calmly, "What is it?"
Though his face was calm, his heart was beating fastly against his chest. He didn't know what he was expecting her to say.
However, much to his disappointment, Li Yuri said, "Mr. Gong called us to go to his office! I couldn't find you so I just waited in the class!"
She then added softly, "It's regarding the after school club! If you don't want to go, I can go there alone!"
Lu Jeongshan was silent for a moment. Just as Li Yuri was thinking he'd reject her, he said, "..Fine."
Li Yuri's smile instantly broadened, her dimples appearing on her cheeks, "Oh, then let's go!"
Tang Min looked at their disappearing backs and then at his empty arm, his face slightly darkened.