Qian Zhi touched her elbow, which was sore from the fall, stood up, taking the large towel nearby and handing it to him. He draped the towel over himself and lay down on the beach chair, saying casually, “You can go now,” and then closed his eyes to rest.
Qian Zhi was about to turn and leave when she heard Xing Tuo’s voice. “Come earlier next time. I’ve been waiting too long!”
Without turning back, her expressionless face remained calm: “I understand.”
Qian Zhi slowly walked out of the club.
The sky was already dark, and she took a deep breath looking at the gloomy sky.
Just as she was about to change into slippers after entering her home, her phone rang. She stopped changing and pulled out her phone: “This is Xia Qian Zhi.”
“It’s me,” Xing Tuo’s voice came through: “I left a math book at school. Go get it for me. I’m at home.”
Qian Zhi frowned; this was clearly an unreasonable request. At this hour, the school was already closed.
“What? Now?”
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
She bit her lip and resignedly said, “No. I understand.”
Qian Zhi put her shoes back on and told her mother in the kitchen, “Mom, I forgot a book at school. I’m going back to get it now.”
Xia Xin Wei came out of the kitchen with a bowl, saying, “What book is so important? It’s so late. Can’t you wait until tomorrow?”
“No, it’s a very important book. I have an exam tomorrow and need to study tonight,” Qian Zhi said, her face slightly reddening.
“Oh, is that so? Then go quickly and come back soon, or the food will get cold,” Xia Xin Wei advised.
“Don’t wait for me. Go ahead and eat,” Qian Zhi said as she left.
Xia Qian Zhi walked alone on the road to Xing Tuo’s house. The night had completely fallen, and the dim streetlights stretched her lonely figure. It had been a long time since she’d been here; everything was as quiet as before, but this quietness felt somewhat scary in the late autumn night. Tree shadows swayed, and the wind shuttled between the trees.
