Zhang Xin picked up a piece of fish, turned her head, and asked Zhang Zhao: "When I called you, were you still in class?"
Zhang Zhao was about to pick up the fish with his chopsticks but quickly stopped: "Yes."
Zhang Xin frowned: "Did I interrupt your class?"
Zhang Zhao seed a bit flattered: "No, not at all."
Zhang Xin softly said oh and looked at Zhao ii, trying to control her slightly anxious mood, asking politely and naturally: "After last ti we t, I’ve been thinking of inviting you and your brother to visit my ho, but your brother has been quite busy. Perhaps when I finally arrange a day with him, you could co along?"
Zhao ii had a good impression of Zhang Xin, and upon hearing her question, she responded, "Sure."
Zhang Xin held the jug of sour plum juice and filled the cups of Zhao ii and Wang Jiayue: "Wasn’t your brother busy trying to rent a booth earlier? How co he hasn’t gone recently?"
Zhao ii replied casually: "Not sure, hasn’t he been hanging around with my Brother Chao all the ti?"
Upon hearing Qu Chaozong’s na, Zhang Xin tightened her fingers around the chopsticks. No wonder...
Since unintentionally eting Shi Yang last ti, Zhang Xin had been waiting for Shi Yang to reach out to her. Unexpectedly, not only did Shi Yang fail to call, but he also stopped going to the mall.
Zhang Xin’s previous confidence started to falter imdiately. Could it be that Shi Yang is planning to give up on renting the mall space?
If that’s the case, then all the effort she put in earlier would have been wasted. Realizing this, she felt uneasy.
Zhang Xin arranged today’s eting with Zhao ii specifically to find out what Shi Yang had been up to. Now, upon hearing the outco, her heart skipped a beat—Shi Yang switched to working with Qu Chaozong, running around kindergartens. Could it be that he’s really giving up on the mall channel?
During the al, only Zhao ii ate enthusiastically. Wang Jiayue wasn’t very used to interacting with strangers; she ate a couple of bites and then put down her chopsticks.
As for Zhang Zhao, his attention was all on his sister. He attentively served tea and poured water, occasionally pricking up his ears to listen to Zhang Xin and Zhao ii’s conversation. When he noticed Zhang Xin frequently ntioning Zhao ii’s brother, a trace of displeasure flickered in his eyes, yet he didn’t say anything. He ate a couple of bites himself and then handed Zhang Xin a napkin.
After hearing about Shi Yang from Zhao ii, Zhang Xin lost her appetite, but she dutifully fulfilled the role of the host. At the dining table, she displayed the deanor of an elder sister, concernedly asking about the kids’ academic situations, discussing the choice between arts and sciences—all things that are forgotten after being spoken.
Once the al was over, Zhang Xin settled the bill and led the three out of the restaurant. Her car was parked right at the restaurant entrance. She said to Zhang Zhao: "Make sure you take ii and her friend back to school!"
Zhang Zhao quickly agreed obediently.
After Zhang Xin said goodbye to Zhao ii and Wang Jiayue, she drove away.
Zhang Zhao watched Zhang Xin’s car depart, turned around, and said: "I’d like to take a walk."
Zhao ii nodded, linked arms with Wang Jiayue, and turned to leave.
Zhang Zhao called out to Zhao ii: "I want to ask you sothing, mind walking with ?"
Wang Jiayue proactively said: "I’ll head back to class then."
After Zhao ii bid farewell to Wang Jiayue, she turned and walked with Zhang Zhao towards the back gate of the school.
From the restaurant to the school’s back gate, Zhang Zhao was utterly silent. His thin upper lip pressed into a line, eyebrows lowered, deeply engrossed in his thoughts.
When they reached the wall beside the gate, Zhang Zhao halted and picked a concrete platform beside the road to sit down, gesturing to Zhao ii.
Zhao ii also sat beside him without saying anything.
Zhang Zhao habitually reached for his pocket to take out a cigarette, startling montarily when he put it in his mouth, then turned to Zhao ii: "Hope you don’t mind if I smoke?"
Zhao ii shook her head, observing Zhang Zhao expertly light the cigarette and take a deep drag, couldn’t help but ask: "Does it really taste that good?"
Zhang Zhao exhaled smoke through his nose, raised an eyebrow: "What?"
Zhao ii pointed at the cigarette in his hand: "Is this stuff particularly fragrant?"
Zhang Zhao shrugged and handed the pack to her: "Want to try?"
Zhao ii took it and examined it carefully in her hand, then shook her head: "No, it’s bad to get addicted to this stuff."
Zhang Zhao chuckled: "Then just don’t quit!"
Zhao ii lifted her thin eyelids and eyed him disdainfully: "You should smoke less; it isn’t good for your health."
Zhang Zhao softly tugged at the corner of his mouth, took another deep drag from the cigarette, and then casually stubbed it out.
In terms of height among girls, Zhao ii was considered tall, but when they sat side by side, Zhang Zhao still needed to lower his head slightly to et her gaze.
Zhao ii’s skin tone was wheatish, unlike Zhang Xin’s almost transparent whiteness. Her eyebrows and eyes were subtly elongated, exuding a bold heroic spirit, especially when she laughed or scolded, her eye corners slightly lifted. Zhang Zhao couldn’t quite put his finger on why, but when he was with Zhao ii, he never thought of her as a girl. In his eyes, Zhao ii seed like a presence without gender.
No, it wasn’t just Zhao ii. In his mind, aside from Zhang Xin, everyone else lacked that special spark; he couldn’t articulate what it was, just sothing particularly captivating.
"How did you et my sister?"
Zhao ii was taken aback, she thought for a mont before replying: "Had dinner together once."
Talking about this, Zhao ii couldn’t help but ask: "Hey, why did your sister invite for a al today? Was it you who asked her to?"
Zhang Zhao glanced at her: "No, my sister specifically asked for you."
Zhao ii asked curiously: "Why?"
Zhang Zhao squinted: "Because of your brother!"
When Zhao ii heard this, her expression imdiately beca odd: "What do you an by ’because of my brother’?"
Zhang Zhao scrutinized her expression: "During the al, my sister asked about your brother, but nothing else!"
Zhao ii retorted without thinking: "Still, it’s not because of my brother."
Zhang Zhao: "Is your brother getting along with my sister well?"
Zhao ii glared at him: "What are you talking about! What do you an by my brother getting along with Sister Xin? It’s clear Sister Xin is dating my Brother Chao, what’s it got to do with my brother!"
"Who?" Zhang Zhao questioned: "Your Brother Chao?"
Zhao ii rolled her eyes: "The one who picked up from the principal’s office when Robber Hao was looking for my parents last ti, didn’t you see him?"
Zhang Zhao tried to recall but had no mory of it. He asked again: "Is your Brother Chao really getting along well with my sister?"
Zhao ii hesitated, then admitted truthfully: "They haven’t officially introduced themselves to each other, so I can’t say for sure."
Zhang Zhao pondered silently for a mont, then suddenly stood up, brushing off his school uniform: "Let’s head back to class."
Zhao ii stood up and felt a bit confused. She opened her mouth, uncertain of what to ask, so she stopped talking and followed him through the back gate back to school.
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