His low and hoarse voice took on a hint of mockery. Even without looking directly at Lin Jinran, Su Qinian could guess the self - satisfied look on her face now that she had tricked him. "You look good," he replied crisply, his voice clear.
As if he had no distractions.
Lin Jinran seemed a bit disappointed and pouted.
Suddenly, she exclaimed, "Hurry up! A bunch of test papers have just been handed out up front. They're all piled up on our desks. Pass them down quickly!"
She started to scramble to organize the papers.
Su Qinian watched her quietly. From an angle she couldn't see, his ears had already turned a faint shade of crimson.
She just didn't know.
For teenagers in their teens, all emotions were pure. Love came like a thunderstorm, unexpectedly.
A single glance back, an accidental encounter, could write half of one's youth.
The winter - only wind was often cold, but it could also bring unexpected warmth. It gently blew past the desks of the teenagers and carried away their unspoken thoughts.
At noon the next day after school, the last class was the head teacher's. He stood beside the podium, taking in every corner of the classroom.
"After today, tomorrow will be a new year. May you make the most of your time in the new year, fear not the future, set sail for yourselves, and cheer for yourselves! Happy New Year's Day! School's out!"
"Happy New Year's Day! Happy New Year's Day, head teacher!"
"Happy New Year's Day, class monitor! Happy New Year's Day, Lin Jinran! Happy New Year's Day, everyone! See you next year!"
As soon as the head teacher left, the students in the class went crazy, cheering and congratulating everywhere, as if they were venting all the stress from the old year.
A group of teenagers in their seventeenth and eighteenth years chased and played with each other in the classroom and outside the corridor, making a great commotion.
"See you at the riverside hotel at eight tonight," Su Qinian said, a faint smile curving his lips and his eyes bright.
Like the scenery of a lake after a rainstorm, it was extremely charming.
Lin Jinran nodded and smiled. "See you tonight."
"Lin Jinran, Song Langqing is looking for you!" Lu Youchuan called out, poking his head in through the back door.
"Coming!" Lin Jinran immediately slung her schoolbag over her shoulder, hurriedly said goodbye to Su Qinian, and then left the classroom.
She talked to Song Langqing as she walked.
In the end, Lin Jinran decided to go to Aunt Ying's house at noon today and spend the New Year's Eve with her classmates in the evening.
In the following two days, apart from going to her mother's place, she could also stay at home quietly to study.
Without anyone disturbing her, she could enjoy some peace.
When the two of them reached the school gate, Lin Jinran asked, "How are we going there later? By taxi or by bus? I want to buy some fruits for Uncle and Aunt. It's my first time visiting, after all."
"No need, no need. You don't need to buy any of these. If my mom knows you bought something to take back, she'll kill me. She specifically told me that you mustn't be polite, especially not bring gifts or anything."
"My mom should still be cooking in the kitchen at this time. My dad came to pick us up. Let's hurry. He's waiting for us at the next intersection."
Lin Jinran followed Song Langqing and walked forward. Sure enough, she saw Song Langqing's father at the next intersection. Lin Jinran called out sweetly, "Hello, Uncle."
"You're all here. Get in the car together. Yingzi was just asking if I'd picked you up," Uncle Song said with a hearty laugh. He opened the car door, waited for them to get in, then got in himself and started the car.
"Jinran, how's your study going at school recently? I watched the video of your hosting. You and Langqing did a really good job hosting," Uncle Song said from the front seat.
Song Langqing explained in a low voice, "My friend sent me the video of our part of the hosting last night. I showed it to my parents."
The time was too short. The photos and videos taken by Tao Wan's camera last night hadn't been sorted out yet and weren't sent over.
The ones taken by other friends were sent to the email immediately.
But Lin Jinran had stayed at her mother's place for a long time last night and hadn't had time to open and look at them.
"It's been going pretty well recently. The head teacher even praised me and said that everyone should learn from me and not just study blindly. Langqing has really good hosting skills. I've learned a lot from him."
Song Langqing almost choked on his saliva when he heard the last sentence. He glanced at Lin Jinran awkwardly. Learned a lot from him?
The more he listened, the weirder it sounded.
"If that kid had grades as good as yours, your aunt and I wouldn't have to worry about his grades every day," Uncle Song said helplessly, shaking his head and sighing.
"Hey, Dad, my grades are okay too. Aren't you satisfied with being in the top 100 of the grade?" Song Langqing got angry and started to mutter.
"And I'm only a freshman in high school. I still have two whole years. Don't look down on me. I might just get first place in the grade and surprise you."
"Pfft!" Lin Jinran tried hard to hold back the corners of her mouth, but in the end, she couldn't help laughing, her eyes curving.
Was this still the steady and mature Song Langqing from last night?
Sure enough, clothes make the man, and gold adorns the Buddha.
Was it the suit from last night that sealed Song Langqing's chatterbox attribute?
Tsk, it was really amazing.
Amid the laughter and play, Lin Jinran and the others arrived at Huacheng Community. They took the elevator and opened the door. Aunt Ying walked out of the kitchen, smiling from ear to ear.
"Jinran's back. Hurry up, Langqing. Find a pair of slippers for Jinran, then go wash some fruits and chat with Jinran. Husband, come and give me a hand. The food will be ready soon."
Aunt Ying arranged everything in an orderly manner.
Song Langqing found the slippers and washed the fruits. He sat on the sofa with Lin Jinran and chatted leisurely.
"Don't be fooled by my dad's big and tall appearance. Actually, he doesn't have as much say as my mom," Song Langqing said, stuffing a grape into his mouth.
After swallowing it, he sighed, "These grapes are so sweet. Sis, you should have one too. Don't just let me eat them all."
"Okay." Lin Jinran took a bite. They were indeed very sweet, just the sweetness she liked.
"Are they delicious? They're really sweet. I like them too," Song Langqing asked again. A large bunch of grapes had been mostly eaten by him.
Song Langqing really talked a lot.
Lin Jinran found it both funny and helpless. She looked around and asked, "Where's your bathroom? I need to use it."
"Come on, I'll show you. It's just around the corner in front, near the kitchen." Song Langqing stood up and casually threw the trash on the glass table into the trash can.
He accompanied Lin Jinran and walked forward.
"This is your first time here, so you're not familiar with the place. But it's okay. You'll get familiar with it if you come a few more times. There's an extra room here. If you want to stay, you're very welcome, Sis. My mom has always wanted to invite you to stay. Look, that room is empty. Sis? Sis?"
After calling for a long time with no response, Song Langqing turned his head curiously and saw Lin Jinran standing in front of a table with photo albums on it.
"What are you looking at?" Song Langqing walked over and followed her gaze. He saw a photo of his mother and another aunt.