"Bai Qi?" Old Madam Bai spoke. She saw that her grandson has been standing on the same spot and smiled. Perhaps, the boy too would not expect that this girl would come over to his house to look at him.
Hearing his grandmother's voice, Bai Qi finally snapped out of her trance. However, his eyes were still on the little fairy.
It was as if he was afraid that the moment he look away, the little fairy would disappear.
"Your friend is here," Old Madam Bai spoke again. "Are you not going to say anything to her? She comes over specially to see you."
His grandmother's words surprised him.
The little fairy came over to his house specially to see him?
His eyes lit up brightly. However, the boy still stood in his place as he was unable to react.
Seeing that the boy had not said anything made the little girl restless. Zhang Li Xue wondered if Bai Qi was unhappy that she had come over to his house unannounced.
"Brother Bai Qi." Zhang Li Xue's voice was soft and sweet. "Do you not want to see me?"
Bai Qi saw the change in Li Xue's eyes and begin to panic. "No." He stepped forward to her but stopped himself before he gets too close. "That's not it. I just... did not expect to see you here."
Her lips turned into a bright smile.
Bai Qi thought that Zhang Li Xue's smile was really like a flower blooming. She was just like a living flower fairy. Her smile made him feel a little shy. Gradually, his cheek turned a little pink.
"You... why did you come to see me?" He looked at the girl and finally noticed that something was strange.
Bai Qi gave her a look over as he pondered what was this strange feeling.
His eyes widened in surprise when he finally recognized the uniform on her body. This uniform was similar to the one that he was supposed to put on this morning. However, due to some circumstances, Bai Qi would not be attending school anymore.
"Li Xue, you...why are you wearing the school uniform?"
Zhang Li Xue lowered her gaze and realized that she had not changed out of her uniform after school. Her mother would probably scold her, but she did not want to think about it at this moment.
"Brother Bai Qi, I skipped a year and entered school earlier," Zhang Li Xue said.
"What?" Bai Qi was confused to hear her words.
"This was supposed to be a surprise," Zhang Li Xue continued. "My parents allowed me to take the test and enter school earlier. I was supposed to give you this surprise. I thought that we could go to the same school and continued to practice basketball together. We promised to be on the same team." Her lips pursed into a small pout. "But then, Bother Zhen Yu told me that you are not going to school."
There was a complicated look on Bai Qi's face. He had never thought that this little girl would skip a year and enter school earlier. If he stayed, he might attend school with her. But now, everything was not possible.
This was not something that he can decide on. His parents had already made this decision for him. His parents were moving away along with his grandparents. If he stayed, there will be no one to look after him.
But knowing that he would be attending school along with this little fairy, Bai Qi was unwilling to move away.
Why can't he stay? Why did he have to listen to the adult's opinion?
Zhang Yu Ying looked at her niece helplessly. Although she could understand the little girl's disappointment, Zhang Yu Ying was a little worried that her niece's words would cause trouble for the Bai.
What if Bai Qi throw tantrum because of Li Xue? Then, what was she supposed to do?
Zhang Yu Ying glanced at Old Madam Bai and was relieved to see that the woman did not seem to mind her niece's words.
"I'm sorry." Bai Qi lowered his head. He did not dare to look at the little girl's expression. He was worried that he would not be able to leave he looked at her. "But my parents are moving away and I have to go with them."
"I know." Zhang Li Xue nodded.
She knew that as a child, they have to follow their parents. If her parents chose to move away, she too would have to follow them. Zhang Li Xue could not imagine being away from her parents for a long time.
"Therefore, I come over to see you one last time before you leave," Zhang Li Xue continued. "Brother Bai Qi, fortunately, you haven't left the country yet. I was worried that I might not say goodbye."
His heart was aching. The feeling was suffocating him. The thought that he would not be able to see this little fairy and practice basketball with her again made him sad. Once the girl leaves, he won't be able to see her again.
But he did not want to cry in front of her.
The little girl did not cry. So, he can't cry.
Zhang Li Xue walked over and stopped in front of the boy. She stretched her hand and patted his shoulder. "Brother Bai Qi, don't be sad. In the future, we will meet again."
His eyes lit up as he listened to her words.
They will meet again?
"That's right," Old Madam Bai spoke. "The two of you are friends. Perhaps, after your father was done with his project, we can return here again."
Bai Qi's eyes were full of hope.
"Un. Grandmother is right." Zhang Li Xue nodded. "Brother Bai Qi, you have to look after yourself. When you move to a new place, you have to promise to continue practicing what I had teach you," Zhang Li Xue said. "You have to drink milk a lot and grow taller. Otherwise, I might not recognize you when we meet again."
"I promise. I will drink milk everyday and grow taller. I will practice everyday. I won't forget what you had taught me," Bai Qi promised.
He wanted to see this little fairy again. He had to do what he had promised.
"Then, pinky promise." Zhang Li Xue held out her pinky finger at him.
The two of them sealed their promise and smiled. "Brother Bai Qi, let's meet up again in the future."
"No matter how long it takes, I will return and look for you." Bai Qi made another promise.
Old Madam Bai finally saw the smile on her grandson's face after a few weeks. A sigh escaped her. It was good that the little girl had come over to see Bai Qi one last time. At least, the boy would not be that unwilling to leave. At least, he still have something to look toward for.
A thought came to her mind and Old Madam Bai took out her phone. "Come on, Bai Qi, Li Xue, let's take a picture together so that you will remember each other."
"Alright." Zhang Li Xue nodded. She tugged at the red faced Bai Qi and smiled for the camera.