Xie Xiao was very serious and earnest as he spoke, but Teacher Lin looked at him with an expression that said it was complicated, "Are you saying I'm blind? You and Zhou Mianmian are just regular classmates? The way you define 'regular classmates' is a bit too peculiar, isn't it?"
Xie Xiao chuckled bitterly in his heart, see, the whole world thought there was something between them, yet Zhou Mianmian still insisted they were just friends. Before, Xie Xiao had been blind to it, but now, he even felt a little sympathy for his pitiable self.
After much persuasion, Teacher Lin agreed to let him change seats, but there was one condition: someone had to be willing to swap with them.
In the latter half of the senior year, it was mostly review time, and everyone was used to their own seats. It really wasn't certain that someone would be willing to change.
But Xie Xiao wasn't worried at all; he was sure there was someone who would be willing to swap with him.
So, when he went back to the evening self-study, he was in a good mood.
Lin Yu gave him 890 yuan, saying it was the money from selling the necklace, which was originally purchased for more than a thousand. It had only been a few days and it could only sell for 890 now.
Xie Xiao thanked Lin Yu, "I'll cover your breakfast for a week."
Lin Yu laughed, "Two weeks!"
Xie Xiao: ...I thought you were going to say don't bother, turns out you think it's too little.
In the end, they made the deal. It was unexpected money that had come back to him anyway, and good brothers don't quibble over such things.
After the supermarket incident, Zhou Mianmian finally calmed down and stopped causing trouble, at least not glancing at Xie Xiao for the entire evening self-study period.
Xie Xiao didn't care, his mind still hung up on why Luo Yanran hadn't messaged him yet.
He was somewhat distracted.
Until the break, he hadn't received any messages.
Xie Xiao sighed, his plan had fallen through.
After class, however, he asked Lin Yu, "Don't leave just yet, we're going to swap seats in a bit."
Of course, Liu Xiuping and Zhou Mianmian in front had heard him.
Zhou Mianmian gripped her pen tightly, but she tried hard to control herself from turning around or speaking up.
Liu Xiuping didn't have as many reservations and turned around, somewhat surprised, "You guys are changing seats?"
"Yeah." Xie Xiao responded, looking at Lin Yu, "Wanna swap?"
Lin Yu expressed his exasperation, "What else would it be, swap desk mates? Hurry up, I need to go home and help my grandma. Make it quick."
Xie Xiao laughed and looked at Yan Shi walking over, "Hey, wanna change seats?"
Yan Shi and his desk mate both looked at Xie Xiao, "What?"
"Asking if you want to swap seats. You wanted me to stay away from your goddess, right? Come on, are we swapping?" Xie Xiao pointed in the direction of Zhou Mianmian.
Yan Shi immediately said, "Yes!"
His desk mate seemed reluctant, "Weren't we fine here?"
"I'll treat you to supper later, just swap for now!" Yan Shi was afraid Xie Xiao would change his mind and quickly patted his desk mate as reassurance, whispering, "My happiness is in your hands, bro!"
His desk mate sighed but went to move the desks and chairs anyway.
Liu Xiuping glanced at Zhou Mianmian and saw that she had already quietly packed up, ready to leave.
Zhou Mianmian was actually feeling very upset, but she didn't say anything and just slung her backpack over her shoulders and left.
Yan Shi called out, not bothering to move his desk anymore, "You guys move and swap, I've got something urgent!"
He had to seize this good opportunity for himself.
Lin Yu, cursing under his breath, was in a hurry to get home and quickly swapped the seats.
Now the whole class could clearly see that something had indeed happened between Xie Xiao and Zhou Mianmian.
Whatever they thought, Xie Xiao didn't mind. After swapping seats, he walked home with Lin Yu. They shared the same route for three stops.
As he kept staring at his phone, Lin Yu couldn't help asking, "What are you looking at?"
Xie Xiao sighed and looked up at Lin Yu, "How do you get a girl to agree to a date?"
Lin Yu: ...
"You said you were going to study hard, didn't you?" His voice had a bit of a grinding edge, "Xie Xiao, do you have love on the brain or what? Can't live without a girl?"
Xie Xiao looked at the frustrated Lin Yu in front of him, furrowed his brow slightly, and hesitantly asked, "Why are you so mad? Don't tell me you've got some ideas about me? You're angry that I'm asking a girl out?"
After speaking, he even deliberately made a shocked expression.
Lin Yu's face turned dark, and he looked like he was about to start throwing punches.
Xie Xiao hurriedly interjected, "Just kidding."
His expression became more serious, "It's not that I can't live without a girl, I just..."
Can't live without Luo Yanran.
But fearing that Lin Yu might really blow up after hearing the whole truth, "...was just teasing you."
Lin Yu gave him a look; he'd be getting off in one more stop, "Xie Xiao, you need to cut ties with Zhou Mianmian cleanly now. I've seen her type before, overly dependent on others. Don't look for someone like that in a relationship; the moment trouble arises, she'll be the first to run. Trust me."
Lin Yu sighed; his brother was great at everything except judging character.
Perhaps it was because he lived in such a pure environment that he got carried away by someone like Zhou Mianmian. Lin Yu looked at Xie Xiao seriously and said, "You saved my grandma, and I said I'd be your brother for life. I wouldn't harm you."
Xie Xiao looked at the young man before him and nodded, "I know, brothers for life!"
Lin Yu smiled, the bus reached his stop, and after a wave, he got off.
Xie Xiao watched the closing bus doors and Lin Yu's retreating figure, releasing a soft sigh. He really was a brother for life.
When he got home, it was just ten o'clock. Upon entering, he saw his parents sitting on the couch.
Looking at his mother, Yang Lan, who looked so much like younger, Xie Xiao smiled and closed the door with the back of his hand before walking over to hug his mother.
Last time, in the hospital, Yang Lan had broken down in tears asking, "Why can't all the people I've saved exchange for my child's health? Why?" The scene was still vivid in his mind.
Still holding him, Yang Lan asked in confusion, "Xiao Xiao, what's wrong?"
Yang Lan, somewhat concerned, reached out to touch his forehead.
Sitting off to the side, Xie Qingxiao chuckled, "Your son has been acting off since last night. I suspect this kid's whining has an ulterior motive."
Xie Xiao looked up at his old man, "Old Xie, you're too narrow-minded."
Yang Lan nodded in agreement with her son, "Right, you're just like that, so what's wrong, Xiao Xiao?"
Xie Xiao sighed, "Mom, your son's eighteen. Isn't it inappropriate to still call me Xiao Xiao?"
"You could be eighty years old, but as long as we're alive, you'll still be the kid, you rascal," Yang Lan pushed his head with her hand.
Complaining about nicknames probably meant nothing serious was wrong.
"Heh heh~" Xie Xiao looked at his parents, who were all smiles in front of him, feeling a warm surge in his heart. It had been so long since he experienced this sort of cloudless family atmosphere.
"Dr. Yang, no overtime today?" Xie Xiao watched as Yang Lan prepared him a late-night snack and walked into the kitchen, raising his voice to ask.
"How can I not? I just got back a little while ago and went straight in to prepare for you, said you've been working hard in your third year of high school," Xie Qingxiao remarked sarcastically.
As Yang Lan came out with the prepared porridge, she overheard and retorted, "Oh, so you're not eating, is that it?"
Xie Qingxiao immediately stood up, eagerly offering his help, "How could I not eat? I'll help you with..."
Xie Xiao watched his parents in the kitchen with an amused look.
Then, his phone vibrated twice in his hand.
One was a new friend request from Zhou Mianmian.
The other was a message from Luo Yanran.
...
Ps: The popularity of the new book really isn't high. I'm brazenly asking for your recommendations, monthly votes, and generous support (＊∩ᵒ̴̶̷̤⌔ᵒ̴̶̷̤∩＊)