Ellie felt a sudden flurry in her heart and realized he seemed to be comforting her. She spoke softly, "Thank you."
Daniel watched from the side, his mouth curling up uncontrollably.
Daniel: Wow, I suspect I'm seeing a fake William.
He exchanged a glance with Hao Ming, and they saw surprise and disbelief in each other's eyes.
William said, "Let's go, little prude."
Ellie followed the three back to the class.
The slightly cool breeze felt comfortable on the skin. Ellie turned her head to take another look at the young man beside her.
As they passed the entrance, the security guard took an extra look at Ellie, perhaps thinking that the three people next to her seemed a bit out of place with her, or maybe it was because William usually caused so much trouble that the security guard was familiar with his face.
...
On the afternoon of September 30th, everyone in the class was restless, eager to rush out of the classroom.
After Mr. Johnson finished reminding everyone about the holiday arrangements, he said, "Bring your homework and wish you all a happy National Day in advance!"
The class erupted with a "Happy holiday" that seemed to lift the roof.
William glanced at Ellie, who was packing up her things, and said, "Happy holidays, little classmate."
Ellie replied softly, "Happy holidays."
...
On October 1st.
Jennifer said, "Ellie, your father and I are going to stay at your grandmother's house for a few days. Are you coming?"
Hearing this, Ellie said, "No."
She didn't have a deep relationship with her grandmother. The only memorable thing was when her grandmother saw her for the first time as a child, she said, "Why isn't it a boy? It would be so much better if it was a boy."
Even as she grew up, her grandmother didn't like her much.
The year she was in the second year of junior high, the topics of parent gatherings were the same old things, discussing children's grades, chatting about neighborhood gossip, or talking about some rumors.
When it came to grades, Jennifer straightened her back with pride and said, "My Ellie ranked in the top ten in her grade."
Her grandmother immediately poured cold water, saying, "What's the use of a girl studying so well? She will still have to get married and have children."
At that time, none of the many people present refuted her.
Ellie said at that time, "Studying is to improve oneself, and people don't live just to get married and have children."
Her grandmother said to her, "You speak so solemnly at a young age and even talk back. Jennifer, look at how you educate your child. She is lawless and wants to ride roughshod over her elders."
Since then, Ellie has never been to her grandmother's house again.
Before leaving, Jennifer instructed Ellie, "If you feel unwell, be sure to tell SuSan, let her take you to the hospital, and call me directly if anything happens."
Ellie replied, "Okay."
After the two left, only she and SuSan were left in the house again.
Ellie did some homework and took a book from the bookshelf to read.
Her phone beeped, and she glanced at it, seeing a message from Aria.
[Aria]: Ellie, there's a new movie out. Do you want to go see it?
[Aria]: I really want to eat hot pot. Do you want to go?
[Ellie]: Sure, what time?
[Aria]: I want to go out right now!!!!
Ellie looked at the time, it was eleven o'clock.
[Ellie]: Okay, wait for me a bit.
She opened her wardrobe, casually took out a pair of light-colored jeans and a white hoodie.
The two made a date to meet at the entrance of the restaurant.
Ellie arrived earlier and waited in front.
"Ellie."
Ellie was looking down at her shoes when she heard someone call her name, so she looked up.
As soon as she looked up, she met William's gaze.
William was wearing a black hoodie today with light-colored jeans.
Ellie greeted the three people.
Daniel said, "What a coincidence, we happen to meet Ellie when we're out for a meal."
Ellie replied, "What a coincidence."
William glanced at the milk tea in her hand and asked, "Waiting for a friend?"
"Yes, not here yet."
"Ellie!" Aria had just run to Ellie when she saw the three people standing next to her.
Daniel was very sociable and greeted Aria. Aria smiled at him and then greeted William and Hao Ming.
"Since it's such a coincidence, why don't we have a meal together? Ellie, Aria."
Just when Hao Ming and Aria thought William would say no, William looked up at Ellie and chuckled, "Together? Little classmate."
Ellie was taken aback, then she said, "Okay."
In this way, what was supposed to be a meal for two turned into a meal for five.
Aria wasn't familiar with the three people and was a bit afraid of William, sitting in the corner and looking a bit uneasy.
William passed the menu and said, "Order whatever you want."
Ellie ticked a few dishes, then asked Aria, "What do you want to eat?"
Aria pointed to a few dishes, and after Ellie circled them, she passed the menu to William.
William looked at the menu with only a few ticks and then looked at Ellie again, saying, "I'll add something else."
Daniel leaned over and said, "William, add pig brain flowers, pig brain flowers are delicious."
William looked at Ellie: "Do you eat it?"
Ellie shook her head hesitantly.
William said, "Then don't order it."
Daniel felt like crying, his beloved pig brain flowers were gone just like that.
William added some more dishes, ordered a few drinks, and a bottle of milk, and handed the menu to the waiter.
"Hello, what kind of pot would you like?"
William wasn't sure if Ellie could eat spicy, so he said, "A double-flavor pot."
Ellie didn't expect the spicy side of this double-flavor pot to be so spicy. As soon as the meat entered her mouth, her face turned red visibly. She was just about to pour water when a hand reached over.
The young man's hands were good-looking, with distinct knuckles, very slender, and even his nails were trimmed clean.
Ellie stared blankly at the milk William handed over and said, "Thank you." She drank several mouthfuls of yogurt before she felt the burning sensation and spiciness in her mouth dissipate a bit. Facing William's somewhat teasing eyes, her ears turned a little red.
Aria also felt that William seemed to be a bit different with Ellie.
But she thought she might be overthinking it; the two were deskmates, and it was normal to be more familiar and take care of each other.
Throughout the meal, it was Daniel who did most of the talking, with the others responding from time to time.
"Where are you two going after dinner?"
Aria said, "We're planning to watch a movie."
"What movie, is it good?"
As soon as the topic of movies came up, Aria got excited and wasn't as reserved as before. The two quickly started discussing movies.
Daniel also felt like watching it after listening and looked at William uncertainly, saying, "William, shall we go watch it together? It sounds pretty good."
William casually replied, "Whatever."
"Then let's go watch a movie together later, William, let's go watch it."
William glanced at Ellie, who was eating quietly, and said, "Okay."