“Your mother, she—” Fang Yuzhe was startled, hoping the situation wasn’t what he imagined.
Xia Yuluo shook her head, “She’s not sick, she just got married. She lied because it wasn’t convenient to bring me along.”
“What’s there to cry about? Getting married is better than being sick!”
“But I no longer have a home, and I feel like I’ve lost my mother.” She was about to cry again.
Fang Yuzhe looked at her and suddenly smiled, “I know where to take you. Come with me.” He pulled her up—not by the wrist, but by the hand—and ran towards the school gate.
A tall and a short figure, one following the other, ran from one end of the playground to the other. Xia Yuluo didn’t want to draw attention, but she had no choice; his hand held hers tightly.
His steps were so large that Yuluo had to take her biggest strides to keep up.
If only the hand holding hers would never let go, how wonderful that would be—her mother’s hand, his hand, running together to the end of time, the world full of happiness.
“Your mom must love you very much.”
Fang Yuzhe found her quite amusing, “Don’t all mothers in the world love their children? Your mom loves you too. She must have lied to you only because she had no choice.”
With his words, Xia Yuluo felt less dejected. In fact, she was thinking that at least her mother was still alive and healthy, and there would be a chance to meet again someday. Whereas Fang Yuzhe would never have the chance to see his mother again. What right did she have to be sad in front of him?
“Fang Yuzhe, thank you for bringing me here. I feel much better now.”
“Actually, I brought you here for another purpose,” Fang Yuzhe’s gaze was somewhat evasive.
“What purpose?” Xia Yuluo had a premonition about what he was going to say, so she was already nervous.
Fang Yuzhe enjoyed seeing her nervous.
“Well, Xia Yuluo, can you be my girlfriend?” He swore he had never said such words before. Usually, it was others asking him, “Can I be your girlfriend?”
“Ah?” Xia Yuluo had been afraid he would ask her this question, and now he finally had.
“Does ‘ah’ mean yes or no?” What kind of answer was that?
“Would that be any different from now?”
“Of course it would be different! If you’re my girlfriend, I can righteously protect and take care of you!”
“Fang Yuzhe, you’re the kindest boy I’ve ever met!” Xia Yuluo was unexpectedly moved, her eyes reddening right next to his mother’s tombstone.
No way! Fang Yuzhe immediately felt remorseful, mentally drawing a cross on his chest: Mom, forgive me. I promise not to deceive her next time!
Dad, if you earn money this time, I’ll buy you a car when I get back!” Xia Dahao said quickly to comfort his daughter when he saw she was unhappy.
“I don’t want a car. Just be careful outside, don’t drink too much, and take care of your health.” Despite everything, Xia Yuluo was still sensible about her father.
“My good daughter is already worried about her dad!” Xia Dahao was very happy and immediately pulled an envelope from his pocket. “Take this, it’s pocket money I’m leaving for you.”
Don’t ask your aunt for money when I’m not home!”
Wow, Yuluo didn’t need this much money, but she was still happy. Look how thoughtful he was before leaving, which shows he really loves his daughter!
Having a dad who loves you feels pretty good!
Early the next morning, before the sky had fully brightened, Yuluo heard her dad’s car engine – he was leaving really early.
She couldn’t sleep anymore and pulled open the curtains. Outside, the sky was filled with dawn glow.
Having common sense is good. As the morning glow faded, the sky was overcast all day, and by evening, heavy rain was pouring down.
Yuluo was glad she was smart. After the school bell rang, she hurried to Class 2, where Fang Yuzhe was just coming out.
“Are you here to find me?” Fang Yuzhe’s eyes lit up as she approached.
“Yes,” Yuluo said quite proudly.
“So, you’ve changed your mind?”
Yuluo pulled an umbrella from her bag, saying, “What decision? I brought an extra umbrella to give to you!”
“Have you considered what I said yesterday?”
“What did you say?”
She had actually forgotten his first confession, “Be my girlfriend!” Fang Yuzhe’s voice was so loud that Yuluo was startled!
Suddenly, people from various classrooms rushed out and surrounded them in the center.
“Wow, Fang Yuzhe is confessing!
“A major news story at Xuyang High School.
“What are you doing?” Yuluo whispered.
Fang Yuzhe scratched his head, “Look, everyone’s watching me. I remember last time I gave someone a lot of face.”
“Xia Yuluo, will you be my girlfriend or not!” Fang Yuzhe looked out the window.
“Well—” Yuluo blushed, lowering her head and softly saying: “Of course I’m willing.”
Fang Yuzhe had finally caught the girl he wanted.
To celebrate, he didn’t take the car sent by his family but braved the rain with a small personal umbrella, performing a “walk in the rain” with Xia Yuluo.
The umbrella was small, so they huddled together. He firmly held Yuluo’s shoulder, despite her reminder: “I have two umbrellas.”
“So what? I’m your boyfriend!” He held her tighter.
On their first day as a couple, Fang Yuzhe was excited. At Yuluo’s doorstep, he was reluctant to part, “I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning?”
“No need, we’ll see each other at school!”
“I’m your boyfriend now, can I kiss you?”
“No!” Yuluo quickly shook her head, “Someone might see!”
“Who would see? Your curtains are drawn.”
Just as Yuluo naively looked up at the window, Fang Yuzhe quickly bent down and kissed her lips, this time fully avenging his previous “half-second” kiss, holding the kiss for over ten seconds before releasing her, and only because he saw her struggling and felt soft-hearted.
“You’re so cute,” he stood up and pulled the timid girl into his arms again, being affectionate for a while before finally letting go amid her “protests”.
“I’ll come find you in Class 7 tomorrow!” He patted her head one last time.
Yuluo could barely handle his passion. She didn’t dislike it; in fact, her heart felt sweet, but she was also scared, feeling like she was doing something only bad kids do, gradually becoming a bit bad.
Following the usual routine, after Fang Yuzhe’s figure disappeared around the street corner, Yuluo turned to enter her home. As soon as she entered the living room, she saw her stepmother slowly coming downstairs with a mocking, cold smile. “Impressive! You’ve been in the city for just a few days and already learned to hook men!”
Yuluo’s face instantly turned red. She must have seen what just happened. How embarrassing! She would never be able to lift her head again!
“Should I call your father?” Ma Jiao asked provocatively.
“No!” Yuluo almost begged her, “Auntie, please don’t tell my dad. I won’t do it again.”
When she wasn’t feeling well, she couldn’t play mahjong, and when she couldn’t play mahjong, her mood was bad. Tonight she had planned to sleep early, had drawn the curtains, and was just waiting to finish her last cigarette by the window when she unexpectedly witnessed this “exciting” scene.
Xia Yuoluo was indeed quite foolish. Her stepmother was just bored and trying to scare her, but she didn’t think about it – Xia Dahao himself was notoriously promiscuous, and wouldn’t care about his daughter’s early romance. In fact, he might even praise her for her quick wit, falling for the number one guy at a prestigious high school right after transferring.
Ma Jiao, seeing Yuoluo so scared, had her day’s frustration completely dissipated. Exhaling cigarette smoke, she said: “I think you should stop studying. Save those expensive tuition fees to buy more clothes and accessories, and just marry a rich man!”
Yuoluo treated her words as mere anger and didn’t argue, leaving without eating and returning to her own room.
