Snowflakes scattered and hung on Qu Chaozong, their pure white color so beautiful that one couldn’t look away.
"Are you just starting to like ? Didn’t you say before that you already loved ?" Qu Chaozong laughed.
When he smiled, it seed as if even the cold winter night began to warm up.
Zhang Xin couldn’t help but smile along, and with that smile, it felt like sothing lted, bringing them closer together.
Zhang Xin coughed and blurted out: "Chaozi... I’m serious, I do seem to like you now."
Zhang Xin’s gaze was earnest: "Consider giving a chance."
Qu Chaozong stared at her for a mont and asked, "Got a cigarette? Give one."
Zhang Xin handed one over, and Qu Chaozong lit it up. He had a very cool way of smoking, pinching it with his thumb and forefinger and bringing it slantwise to his mouth to inhale.
Zhang Xin watched the smoke exhaled from his mouth and suddenly felt like having one herself. She took out a cigarette, lit it, took a drag, and asked, "Aren’t you in a hurry to go back?"
Qu Chaozong chuckled, "My mom’s already asleep."
Zhang Xin asked again, "Aren’t you cold standing outside? I have the heater on in my car, want to co in and sit?"
Qu Chaozong turned and went to the passenger seat, getting into the car.
Neither of them spoke, sitting side by side in the car, each smoking their cigarette.
Warmth from the heater swirled in the cramped space, and Zhang Xin stubbed out her half-finished cigarette, turned her head, and asked, "So, what do you say?"
Qu Chaozong squinted at her, "You really want to know?"
For so reason, Zhang Xin thought Qu Chaozong’s smile seed odd, as if there was so other aning in it.
"It’s almost dawn, you should hurry ho." Qu Chaozong suddenly tossed sothing at Zhang Xin.
Zhang Xin fumbled to catch it; it was warm to the touch.
Qu Chaozong opened the car door and got out, turning back to say: "I’m taking the 2:30 PM bus the day after tomorrow back to the provincial city."
"You, you’re..." Zhang Xin was taken aback, her eyes slowly widening, unable to say a word.
"What is it?" Qu Chaozong asked, cigarette dangling from his lips, his expression a bit roguish yet smiling: "Go ho early, I’m leaving."
Zhang Xin watched as Qu Chaozong walked into the neighborhood entrance without looking back. Only then did she lower her head to look at the warm item in her hand—it was a carton of milk, specifically ward up, and no wonder Qu Chaozong had had his hands in his pockets earlier.
Holding the carton of milk, Zhang Xin stared at it for a while, emotions surging in her chest, indescribable, just wishing the person she liked could like her back as well.
Zhang Xin glanced at the ti in the car: 11:58 PM.
Her heart stirred, and she scrambled to find her phone, quickly locating Qu Chaozong’s number, typing a short ssage, and sending it out.
At the sa ti, Qu Chaozong leaned in the shadows of the neighborhood entrance without any light, silently took out his phone, and the lit-up screen displayed a ssage: rry Christmas.
Looking at the ssage, Qu Chaozong couldn’t help but curl his lips upward, as if so heavy emotion had suddenly lifted from his heart—so light, so happy, and so endearing.
The chilly night wind stung his cheeks red, but his heart was burning hot, carrying a touch of rising desire.
On Christmas day, Zhao ii ended up not attending the makeup class, even taking a leave of absence from the last self-study session. Shi Yang had personally gone to the school to ask Robber Hao for leave, and conveniently slipped him two shopping vouchers, under the guise of a Christmas gift.
When Shi Yang arrived at the school, Zhao ii was struggling with a newly distributed test paper.
Shi Yang stood at the open classroom door, smiling slightly at the teacher standing at the podium. The teacher paused for a mont upon seeing him, then quickly walked out of the classroom.
Upon hearing the commotion, Zhao ii looked up, eyes wide with surprise, and called out, "Brother!"
The whole class imdiately turned to look, first at Zhao ii, then at Shi Yang standing at the door talking to the teacher, and soon the room was buzzing with chatter.
The teacher quickly turned back into the classroom and said to Zhao ii, "Zhao ii, hurry up and pack up to go ho."
Zhao ii hastily pulled her backpack from the desk, shoved everything on the desk into it in a fluster, stuffing things in randomly so that the zipper wouldn’t close. She didn’t bother to tidy up, just grabbed the down jacket draped over the chair back, tucked it under her arm, bid farewell to the teacher, and dashed out of the classroom happily.
Zhao ii was overjoyed, asking, "Brother! Why did you suddenly co to pick up?"
Shi Yang glanced at her unzipped backpack and couldn’t help but laugh out loud, "Why the rush? Looks like you’re fleeing sowhere."
Shi Yang took the backpack, cradling it in one arm while quickly organizing the items on top to zip it up.
Only then did Zhao ii have her hands free to put on her down jacket.
The two walked out side by side.
Shi Yang said, "I’ve already asked your teacher for your leave. No need to go to the makeup class today either."
Zhao ii asked, "Why?"
Shi Yang finally managed to zip up the backpack, slinging it casually over his shoulder, "To take you out for Christmas!"
Zhao ii was imdiately over the moon with joy, smiling so broadly she couldn’t close her mouth, "Really! Oh my! I’m so thrilled!"
Zhao ii snuggled up to Shi Yang, affectionately holding onto his arm, "So where are we going to have fun?"
Shi Yang’s lips twitched slightly: "You say where, and we’ll go there."
Zhao ii grinned broadly, "Really? Then, I want to go on a date with you."
Shi Yang agreed with a smile, "Sure, where do you want to go on this date?"
Zhao ii hurriedly made her demands, "Go to the cinema to watch a movie! Eat! Shop! And take photos, I want a sticker photo, it’s so trendy now with the full-body ones!"
Shi Yang let Zhao ii shake his arm all over, "Alright, listen to you—first dinner, then shopping and photos, and finally the movie."
Zhao ii looked down at her clothes, dissatisfied, "Brother, let’s go ho and change clothes first, I don’t want to date in a school uniform."
Shi Yang thought for a mont and nodded in agreent, "Okay."
Zhao ii went ho, rummaging through boxes for clothes while Shi Yang sat on the bed, watching her bustle around.
Zhao ii picked out her clothes and reached to remove her school uniform coat, revealing a snug white sweater underneath, with her chest prominently rounded and uplifted.
At first, Shi Yang was sitting on the bed, finding it amusing to watch Zhao ii rummage through her clothes, but as he watched, his gaze couldn’t help but drift down from her prominently shaped chest to her slim waist, his eyes gradually taking on a different aning.
Zhao ii unfolded the clothes she picked and studied how to pair them with her pants, only to suddenly be hugged tightly from behind by Shi Yang.
She turned her head, smiling, "Brother, what are you doing?"
Shi Yang turned her around to face him, saying nothing, just holding her waist and pulling her toward him, their hips pressed together, and even through thick layers of thermals, the difference at the touching point was undeniable.
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