As dusk fell, the bustling commercial street was alive with noise. The smell of food from snack stalls blended with the chatter of the crowd, creating an air of chaos and warmth. I followed behind Wang Xinran, watching her tall, slender figure, my emotions a tangled mess.
She barely spoke to me along the way, occasionally glancing back with a look of indifference tinged with impatience. I couldn't decipher her intentions, so I kept my head low and silently trailed her.
Suddenly, she stopped and frowned, pointing at a food stall nearby. "Go buy me something to eat. I want fried chicken from that stall."
I nodded and was about to head over when a voice called out from behind us. "Xinran?"
I froze, turning toward the source of the voice. It was a boy dressed in branded athletic wear, looking sharp and confident. A friendly smile played on his face as he stood there with two other boys, all from our school. I recognized him immediately—Wang Zhe.
Seeing Wang Zhe, Xinran's face flushed red. A hint of surprise and awkwardness flickered in her eyes. "Wang Zhe? What are you doing here?"
"Nothing much, just hanging out with some friends," Wang Zhe replied casually, though his gaze remained fixed on Xinran.
I stood to the side, feeling like I'd been struck. I'd heard earlier that Wang Zhe had been asking about me, but I didn't think much of it. Now, watching him stand there, I suddenly felt a wave of unease. Wang Zhe had everything—good looks, confidence, and charm. He was someone from an entirely different world than mine. Worse still, he had always shown an interest in Xinran, while I could only resort to threats to get close to her.
"You're Li Hao, right?" Wang Zhe turned to me, his tone neutral.
Hearing him speak to me, my heart tightened. I nodded cautiously, unsure of his intentions. I didn't have any direct conflict with Wang Zhe, but if he decided to hit me, I'd fight back with everything I had. I couldn't afford to be humiliated in front of Xinran—if that happened, she'd look down on me even more.
But Wang Zhe didn't hit me. He simply asked my name and then gave me a long, scrutinizing look. That gaze made me feel like an insignificant ant. A faint, mocking smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Sorry to interrupt you two," Wang Zhe said, his tone polite but dripping with condescension as his eyes flicked between Xinran and me. His expression seemed to mock my pathetic presence.
"You've got it wrong! I'm not close to him," Xinran blurted out, her tone hurried and defensive.
Wang Zhe chuckled mischievously. "I didn't say anything. Why are you so eager to explain?" His gaze roamed over Xinran, openly admiring her.
"You're such a creep," Xinran retorted, lightly slapping his arm, her tone playful and familiar.
It stung to see how relaxed and natural she was with him. She was so cold toward me, but with Wang Zhe, she laughed, teased, and even displayed a hint of intimacy.
Watching them joke around, my chest tightened painfully. I wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come. In the end, I silently walked away, stealing one last glance at the two of them. Inwardly, I cursed them both.
As night fell, I walked home alone, my thoughts a jumbled mess. I hated Wang Zhe's arrogance, hated Xinran's attitude toward him, but most of all, I hated my own helplessness.
When I got home, Mom was sitting on the couch watching TV. Seeing me come in, she looked up with concern. "Why are you home so late today?"
"I was out eating and hanging out with Xinran," I mumbled, keeping my head down.
Hearing me mention Xinran, Mom's face lit up with joy. "You were with Xinran? That's great! You should spend more time with her."
I didn't reply, simply lowering my head and heading toward my room. Just as I reached the door, Mom called out to me.
"Li Hao, I just baked a cake. Take it over to Xinran," she said.
Mom was a great cook, always making delicious dishes and treats. Whenever she made something special, she'd often ask me to bring some to Xinran. Sometimes, when Xinran was left home alone, Mom would invite her over for meals or even to stay overnight. Though Xinran would come to eat, she'd never sleep over. She'd always insist on re-washing the dishes, even though they were already clean.
I knew Mom was trying to help me get closer to Xinran. She carefully packed the warm, fragrant cake into a box and placed it in a plastic bag for me.
Remembering how Xinran had looked at Wang Zhe earlier, I felt disgusted. I didn't want to see her right now. But after hesitating for a long moment, I finally headed downstairs. I still had the 300 ¥ she'd given me—I didn't want her money or the shoes she'd promised. I decided to return the money and be done with it.
Standing at the door to her house, I felt conflicted. Images of her smiling at Wang Zhe flashed in my mind, filling me with a mix of anger and self-loathing. But in the end, I rang the doorbell.
Xinran's aunt opened the door. Seeing the cake in my hands, she smiled warmly. "Oh, Li Hao, you're here! Come on in."
I stepped inside, glancing around. Xinran wasn't there. "Where's Xinran?" I asked, pretending to sound casual.
"She said she's out with classmates for dinner," her aunt replied lightly, slicing an apple as she spoke.
Hearing this, my heart sank. I clenched my fists, struggling to keep my voice steady. "Oh, then I'll head back."
"Don't rush off. Why don't you use her computer for a bit? It's quiet with her out," her aunt suggested with a kind smile.
Her offer made me pause. I respected her aunt—she'd always treated me well. But her words gave me an idea. Perhaps I could take a look at Xinran's room, see if she had any secrets she was hiding.
I entered her room, a familiar fragrance greeting me. Sitting at her desk, I looked at the neatly arranged books and notes. A strange mix of emotions stirred within me.
I opened a drawer, and there they were—her secrets. Delicate pieces of lingerie, faintly scented. I knew I shouldn't look, but I couldn't stop myself. My face grew hot, and inappropriate thoughts began to creep in.
Just then, I heard voices in the living room. It sounded like Xinran had come home. Panicked, I quickly put everything back, fixed my pants, and tried to calm myself.
Footsteps approached the room. I barely had time to sit down and act casual before the door opened.
Xinran stepped in, her face filled with irritation. Before she could speak, I hurriedly said, "My mom asked me to bring over this cake." I forced a smile, setting the cake on her desk.
She closed the door, frowning. "What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to stay away? You took my money. Isn't that enough?"
I let out a cold laugh, reaching into my pocket to pull out the crumpled bills. I slapped them onto her desk.
"I don't need your money," I said flatly.
Her expression shifted, surprised for a moment, but she quickly returned to her cold demeanor. "Fine, but don't come to my house again. Take the cake and leave."
She paused, her voice dropping further into icy indifference. "Tomorrow after school, we'll do what you want. But after that, we're done."
Looking at her emotionless face, my anger surged. I thought about how happy she'd been with Wang Zhe earlier, how differently she treated him. I couldn't stop myself. "Had fun with Wang Zhe, didn't you?" I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
She tilted her chin up, looking at me disdainfully. "Whether I had fun or not, what does that have to do with you?"
Her words only fueled my frustration. I glared at her, wanting to say more, but I held back. I clenched my fists and spat, "Just wait for tomorrow. Let's see if you can still act so high and mighty."
Her expression flickered for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. She gave me a mocking smile as I left the room, the sound of her derisive laugh echoing behind me.