Xie Xiao quickened his pace as soon as he heard the familiar voice behind him.
At the same time, he hoped that Yan Shi would be sensible enough not to dwell on whether she really rejected him or not. Just insist on walking her home, and that would be the end of it, right!?
Unfortunately, Yan Shi obviously hadn't heard his internal plea; the sound of running footsteps drew closer, and Zhou Mianmian's voice followed, "Xie Xiao, wait for me, let's go back together?"
Her voice was lively, but Xie Xiao didn't stop or slow down, "No need, we are going in different directions."
Upon hearing his reply, Zhou Mianmian hesitated for a moment. So, Xie Xiao wasn't waiting for her just now?
"Then... then let me walk you home before I go back?" Zhou Mianmian said softly.
Xie Xiao abruptly stopped and sighed. They had just reached the staircase on the first floor, "Zhou Mianmian, what exactly are you trying to do?"
Zhou Mianmian tightened her grip on her schoolbag strap. Even this schoolbag was a gift from Xie Xiao, as was the watch on her wrist, and even the phone she was currently using...
It was only now that Zhou Mianmian realized how much Xie Xiao's presence permeated her life, "I just want to be good to you, just like you used to be to me. Would that make you stop being mad at me sooner?"
Xie Xiao didn't know why she was so certain that he was ignoring her because he was angry. Did she think everything would be fine once his anger subsided?
He turned to look at Zhou Mianmian, meeting her innocent, confused eyes, "Zhou Mianmian, do you really not understand, or are you pretending not to? I've just come to my senses and realized how ridiculous and deserving I was before."
His expression was cold, and the look he gave Zhou Mianmian had none of its usual warmth, "You're a girl, and I never want to speak too harshly, so from now on, just live your own life and stop doing anything for me."
He shook his head with a mix of helplessness and derision, "After all, there isn't much sincerity in it."
Having said that, he turned and walked away, eager to get home. He was a bit hungry, and he wondered if Old Xie had prepared some late-night snacks for him...
"Xie Xiao! How do you know I'm not sincere towards you? It's unfair of you to say that. I might have overlooked you before, and I've done many wrong things, but I can change!" Zhou Mianmian called out unwillingly.
Her voice was not quiet.
Not far away, Liu Ou and Luo Yanran also heard her and stopped in their tracks.
They saw Xie Xiao continue walking without a moment's pause, about to reach the school gate.
Liu Ou was somewhat speechless. They usually didn't walk this way, but tonight she wanted to take a walk, so she invited Luoluo to walk on this side.
She hadn't expected to encounter such a coincidence that not even a TV drama would dare to script.
Looking at the fading figure of Xie Xiao as well as Zhou Mianmian standing in place.
Liu Ou, pulling Luo Yanran along, muttered, "What a sin, I knew we shouldn't have come this way."
She glanced at the silent Luo Yanran, "But it seems like Xie Xiao doesn't care much after all, haha~"
She forced a laugh, "Looks like they've really broken up."
Luo Yanran didn't say anything, just glanced in the direction Xie Xiao had gone. There was no sign of him now.
When she turned back to look at Zhou Mianmian, she noticed that another boy had joined her.
Had they really broken up?
Yet, Zhou Mianmian seemed so upset just now. How come she's walking out with another boy already?
Luo Yanran found it somewhat incomprehensible.
Liu Ou also glanced at Zhou Mianmian and sighed, "No wonder I heard people calling Xie Xiao a 'loyal dog' before. This Zhou Mianmian seems to accept all her pursuers."
"Is that so? Weren't they a couple before?" Luo Yanran was a bit puzzled, "They always seemed so close."
"Please, a lot of people thought that, but Xie Xiao denied it, and so did Zhou Mianmian. Everyone felt like it was only a matter of time before they got together, but Zhou Mianmian's behavior is quite something," Liu Ou knew her friend didn't follow these gossips, so she spoke seriously, "Now it seems Xie Xiao has finally seen the truth about her. It's good for him, or else I would've felt sorry for Xie Xiao."
Luo Yanran nodded, "Then, he must have been very upset before..."
It was obvious how much he liked Zhou Mianmian, but in return he got a 'just friends' from her, and she seemed to accept the advances of other guys as well, really, it's quite hurtful.
Xie Xiao was still unaware that he had inadvertently tugged at Luo Yanran's heartstrings.
He returned home excited only to discover his mother was working overtime today and old Mr. Xie was already asleep.
There was absolutely nothing left for him to eat.
Xie Xiao sighed, not in the mood to cook for himself, so after entering his room, he opened the food delivery app, but after a look around, found nothing appealing to eat.
Finally, he simply posted on his social circle, "Starving enough to devour a whole cow in the middle of the night, but there's no cow at home!"
The first to like the post was always Lin Yu, who also left him a message, "I haven't closed up shop yet, come over?"
Xie Xiao contemplated for a second and replied, "No."
He really didn't want to go out so late at night, ordering food delivery seemed more sensible.
While he was earnestly browsing the food delivery options, a message popped up, "What do you feel like eating?"
It was Luo Yanran, and Xie Xiao immediately perked up.
He clicked on the message, thought for a moment, sent a pitiful-looking emoji, and followed up with, "Haven't found anything I want to eat."
Then a WeChat call came through from the other side.
Xie Xiao was somewhat surprised and quickly answered, "Hello..."
"I'm outside right now, not far from your house, and there's a snack street nearby. What do you want to eat?" Luo Yanran's voice sounded calm and emotionless.
Xie Xiao frowned, "You're outside this late?"
"Yes, Liu Ou said she wanted to grab something to eat before heading back," Luo Yanran replied as she watched Liu Ou happily purchase a bowl of stinky tofu.
"Just the two of you girls? Where are you?" Xie Xiao stood up, noticing it was already half-past ten.
He was genuinely worried about two girls being out so late.
"At the night market in West City, I can pack something for you in a bit," Luo Yanran repeated.
Xie Xiao, however, said, "No need, it just so happens I want to go out for a midnight snack too, wait for me!"
Luo Yanran was taken aback, hadn't he just declined Lin Yu's invitation on social media? Yet now he wanted to come out.
On Xie Xiao's end, he had already grabbed his things, changed his shoes, and was heading out the door, "Just two stops away, should be about ten minutes, I'm on my way now."
Luo Yanran gave an 'okay' but didn't know what else to say, and in the end, she said, "Then come over and see for yourself, I'm hanging up."
"Wait! Don't hang up," Xie Xiao hurriedly called out to her, "Tell me about the good things to eat there. I've never tried them."
Xie Xiao was running towards the bus stop.
Luo Yanran glanced at the endless stretch of snack street, her voice filled with hesitation, "But there are a lot of foods here."
How long would she have to talk? "You better come over and see for yourself."
After saying this, she wondered if she sounded a bit cold?
She hesitated and added, "There really is a lot..."
Xie Xiao laughed on the other end of the line, and spoke softly, "I know, I just didn't want you to hang up the phone. This is the first time you've called me."