Sure enough, Song Lan was on her way to the cafeteria, holding a meticulously wrapped lunch box.
She liked to give food to Tian Zhelan every day. But Song Lan was not ignorant. She knew other girls would give him food too behind her back so she always wrapped the lunch box with her handkerchief so he'd know which was hers.
Song Lan hummed as she walked on her way to the cafeteria, almost bouncing with her every step.
You might wonder how this young miss has come to like Tian Zhelan. It always made Song Lan smile silly.
Song Lan met Tian Zhelan in high school, with a young heart yet to like someone. Unlike others, Zhelan didn't look at her in fear or disgust. He simply ignored her, he wasn't afraid of her too. He treated her like every other person which piqued her curiosity.
One time, a bunch of delinquents gathered to beat her back up after school at the back. Despite her proficiency in fighting, she couldn't take on a dozen good for anything at the same time! Tian Zhelan happened to come across this scene where the supposedly terrifying gangster was helpless with a stubborn and unyielding face.
Song Lan was surrounded by twelve tall delinquents but she stood with her head held high and her arms crossed, domineering.
Tian Zhelan narrowed his eyes at the scene. He grabbed his phone from his pocket and took a video of the scene. Walking cool-headed towards them, he grabbed the attention of the delinquents.
Song Lan also peered on him curiously, wondering why the class president got lost and went at the back of the school.
"Hey kid, got lost? Go scurry home now unless you want to get beaten up too." One of the delinquents said.
Tian Zhelan looked at him coldly.
"Eh, look at this bastard's face. Glaring at me like that. Want me to smash your face?" One of them raised his arm like he was going to hit him.
Zhelan raised his phone, showing the screen. The video he took was about to be sent to the Department of Education with just a press.
The delinquents all froze and looked at him like he was crazy. "Y-you. The heck's your problem?"
"You're from that high school near here." Tian Zhelan peered on the patches on their uniforms.
"Wonder if they'll expel you as soon as the higher-ups see this video. Such a promiscuous video like this. It could mean a lot of things. Why are they surrounding a girl? And twelve of them..." Tian Zhelan lazily drawled out.
Song Lan was amazed at the number of words that left his mouth. She never even heard him talk more than ten words. She also felt how cool this class president was standing up for her.
The delinquents were all taller and older than him, but he looked scarier and laid back than them.
Song Lan suddenly felt a surge of excitement, "Right! These twelve bony poles are bullying such a delicate girl like me! Ayo! I was so scared, I almost had a mental scar from your scary faces!" She lamented aggrieved.
The delinquents didn't know whether they should laugh or cry at her shamelessness.
Anyone with eyes could see that she was arrogantly looking at them with her arms crossed, not even shaking. And what delicate girl?!
They were almost shaking in anger. They all got beaten up by her in the past!
Zhelan only looked at her wordlessly and Song Lan acted as if he was gesturing her to come over to him. She suddenly ran towards him like she was terrified.
"Big brother thank goodness you came or else I'll probably be a lump of dead meat!" She latched on his arm shamelessly.
Zhelan, "..."
After that, Song Lan started to try and get close to him. Always bugging him during break times, and always trying to talk to him. Song Lan was very fond of Zhelan, calling him 'Tian-gege' affectionately everywhere. She felt that she had to be thankful to him and started giving him snacks which evolved to giving him lunch boxes.
Tian Zhelan was not used to so much attention and felt uncomfortable. Song Lan would always drag a chair to the side of his desk to talk to him. He never talked to Song Lan. She always had a one-sided conversation with him.
He acted as if nothing happened and was back to ignoring her. He would only give her a glance and wordlessly go back to do his work.
Tian Zhelan was always studying or writing notes, he was the top student of the school and the class president. He was obviously academically devoted and inclined.
Song Lan took his silence as approval and always lazed around like a cat around him while he was busy. She knew when to be quiet when he was focused and serious with his work. She enjoyed watching him anyway.
Unknowingly, as time passed by Tian Zhelan eventually became used to her presence. He even considered it a daily routine to put up with her bugging.
Zhelan had always been a quiet person, he didn't consider anyone as a friend in particular. He devoted his time to studying as the hope of his family. He made sure to stay on top of everything. In addition to that, he had a cold demeanor, making it hard for people to get close to him.
Only shameless and thick faced people could manage to talk to him, for example, Song Lan and Han Chao.
Being thick faced could actually work, just look at Han Chao successfully becoming his first friend.
It was unknown to Song Lan whether he considered her a friend too, after all, anyone, even a rock would have an attachment to someone who bugged you every day.
Song Lan considered her fondness as feelings of like and declared it to Tian Zhelan one day.
"Tian-gege I like you!" Song Lan declared as she stood in front of Tian Zhelan's desk as he was reading a book.
Zhelan paused from reading and his eyes wavered, the side of his lips raising a bit but it was gone in an instant. Song Lan didn't notice this as he had his head down.
Zhelan only looked at her like she was silly.
Song Lan felt apprehensive. "It's true! I'm not just bored!"
He shook his head and looked down again. Song Lan pouted.
Unbeknownst to her, he thought, 'Stupid girl, it was obvious.'