On Friday evening, the classroom at Guanghui High School was filled with a light and excited atmosphere. The students were packing up their bags, ready to embrace the freedom of the weekend. In the class where Su Feiyan sat, the lively chatter indicated that everyone had their plans.
"I'm just going to stay home and play games, absolutely not going out!"
"I want to sleep well and catch up on all the sleep I've lost!"
"Weekend? Of course, it's all about studying! I need to finish two full mock exam papers," a diligent student declared, earning applause from the others. "Really, learning never stops!"
Su Feiyan quietly tidied his desk when suddenly, Lin Xi's soft voice broke the silence. "See you next week," she said.
Su Feiyan looked up, sensing a hint of melancholy in her tone. He nodded. "Yeah, see you next week."
"What are your plans for the weekend?" Lin Xi asked softly, almost shyly.
"Well… I might do some homework, maybe take my sister out to eat—I've promised her. Then I'll rest a bit and maybe play some games." Su Feiyan replied casually, wondering why she would suddenly ask…
Lin Xi hesitated for a moment before asking, "Are your parents usually home on weekends?"
Su Feiyan thought for a moment and answered, "Mom will be home, but Dad is sometimes busy. He usually comes home though."
"That's nice…" Lin Xi's voice trailed off, growing softer.
Su Feiyan noticed the change in her mood, hesitated, and asked, "What about your parents?"
Lin Xi lowered her head, hesitated, then spoke in a barely audible voice. "They… they're not often home. I don't blame them, but…" Her voice grew so quiet it was almost inaudible.
Before Su Feiyan could respond, a familiar gentle voice came from the door. "Feiyan, your mom is here to pick you up!"
He froze for a moment, turning to see his mother standing at the door, her face adorned with her usual warm smile. "Mom? I can take the bus home by myself…"
His mother raised an eyebrow, a playful smile on her face. "I'm not here to pick you up—I came to meet your lovely classmate!"
Both Su Feiyan and Lin Xi froze. Su Feiyan's ears turned almost instantly red, and Lin Xi's face turned bright red as well. She lowered her head, trying her best to avoid eye contact, as if she wanted to disappear into the floor.
"Ha… hello, Auntie…" Lin Xi stammered, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible. Her hands nervously clasped together.
Su Feiyan's mother stepped closer, bending slightly to examine Lin Xi, her smile widening. "What a quiet, polite girl."
Lin Xi's head dropped even lower, murmuring, "You're too kind, Auntie…"
"Not at all! Feiyan often talks about you, says you're a great classmate," his mother teased. "You two should help each other out, okay?"
Su Feiyan was at a loss for words, clearing his throat. "Mom…"
His mother turned to look at him with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "What's wrong, feeling shy?"
Lin Xi shrank even further, her face burning like fire, trying to hide behind her schoolbag. Her nervousness only made her look more adorable.
Seeing this, Su Feiyan's mother gently patted Lin Xi's shoulder. "Don't be shy. When you have some free time, come over to our house. I've made a lot of delicious food, and you can meet Feiyan's sister—she's even cuter than him."
"Mm… okay…" Lin Xi nodded quietly, her voice barely audible. She stole a glance at Su Feiyan, who was nervously staring at the floor as if hoping to become invisible. The scene made her heart race, but it also brought a small, shy smile to her face.
As they prepared to leave, Su Feiyan's mother smiled and said, "I'll leave Feiyan in your hands then."
"Mom!" Su Feiyan immediately protested, his face as red as a tomato.
Lin Xi quickly waved her hands. "No, no, that's not necessary…"
After leaving the classroom, Su Feiyan asked, "Mom, what exactly were you doing here?"
"Just checking in to see how your week went with your teacher," his mother replied nonchalantly. "Of course, I also wanted to meet your lovely classmate. She's such a well-behaved girl."
"Mom!" Su Feiyan groaned helplessly.
When they arrived at the teacher's office, their homeroom teacher, Mr. Chen, greeted them warmly. "Feiyan did well this week," he said. "He's a bit shy, but he and Lin Xi seem to work well together, helping each other out. It's great."
After leaving school, mother and son went to pick up Su Feiyan's sister. Just as the bell rang, a little girl with a ponytail dashed out from the crowd, shouting, "Brother!"
She jumped into Su Feiyan's arms and hugged him tightly. "I want 'sibling time'!"
Su Feiyan staggered slightly from the impact, laughing helplessly. "It's only been a week, why do you act like you haven't seen me in years?"
"Of course! I have so much to tell you!" she said seriously, as if it were an urgent matter.
Their mother smiled, gently patting her head. "Alright, we'll talk at home, don't wear your brother out."
Though the little girl pouted, she still held tightly onto Su Feiyan's arm, chattering away as they walked. Her excitement filled the evening with warmth and energy.