The next day, Zhao ii went to school, causing an imdiate stir in the classroom. She was always popular, and classmates who saw her had to co over and ask, "ii, what’s with the handprint on your face? Did you get a spanking from your dad for being naughty?"
Zhao ii raised her little neck defiantly and retorted boastfully, "My dad never hits ! This mark happened when I was protecting Brother Chaozi."
The incident of Zhao ii participating in a fight had already spread throughout the school. In the eyes of her peers, getting into a fight with high schoolers was considered a monuntal event, and Zhao ii accomplished this feat. Her classmates imdiately regarded her differently, practically seeing her as the coolest representative of both her grade and the entire school year.
Zhao ii was proudly bragging about the fight, when Xu Xu entered the classroom carrying his backpack. He imdiately saw Zhao ii surrounded by people, hurried over, squeezed to the front of the group, and stood closest to Zhao ii, feeling this was the only way to show he was unique and had a closer connection to Zhao ii than anyone else.
Xu Xu was about to speak but froze.
Zhao ii didn’t have Shi Yang’s scar-prone skin, but she did have delicate skin. Now the handprint from earlier was beginning to disperse as the blood flowed, and the injury had spread across half her face, making it look bruised and shocking.
Xu Xu blinked his large, watery eyes, and his long, thick eyelashes fluttered twice as he pursed his lips and asked Zhao ii, "Who hit you?"
Zhao ii casually replied, "Even if I told you, you wouldn’t know them."
Xu Xu moved closer, reaching out a trembling hand, wanting to touch Zhao ii’s face. Zhao ii quickly dodged, "You can’t touch it. It hurts like crazy. I didn’t even dare wash my face this morning."
Xu Xu stared fixedly at Zhao ii’s injury for a long ti, then, with a trembling voice, asked, "Does it hurt badly?"
Zhao ii was animatedly telling others how Brother Yangyang knocked soone down with one punch, and briefly answered him, "Doesn’t it! I was slapped flying at the ti!"
Suddenly, tears welled up in Xu Xu’s black grape-like eyes, quickly gathered together, and rolled down his thick lower eyelashes.
One drop, two drops, a string of them...
Xu Xu initially cried quietly without making a sound, but soon began to sob and hiccup.
Zhao ii was in the middle of speaking enthusiastically, when she turned her head at the noise and saw Xu Xu crying like a teary ss.
Zhao ii’s back hairs stood on end, and she quickly reached out to stop him, saying, "Hey! Hey, hey! Why are you crying like this, Xu Xu!"
Xu Xu didn’t move and showed no expression, just cried staring at her.
"You must have a reason to cry, right? Is it..." Zhao ii was about to say more when Xu Xu suddenly stepped forward, wrapped his arms around her neck, and before she could react, he blew warm air mixed with cool saliva onto her injured side.
"What are you doing!" Zhao ii jumped scared.
Xu Xu blew at Zhao ii again before releasing her, "Blowing on it makes it not hurt."
Zhao ii realized what he was doing, wanted to wipe her face with her hand, but feared it would hurt, so she glared at Xu Xu, and after glaring at him, she ended up smiling, "If you’re going to blow, then blow! Spraying with your saliva, what’s that about?"
Xu Xu answered with a gulp, "I was crying."
Zhao ii frowned at him, "Then stop crying!"
Xu Xu hiccupped, "I haven’t finished crying yet, can’t stop."
Zhao ii was convinced, just going to say sothing when the teacher entered the classroom, instantly seeing the most obedient student crying in front of the least obedient student.
Skipping the investigation, the teacher imdiately glared and scolded Zhao ii, "Zhao ii! Are you uncomfortable a day without causing trouble! What are you doing bullying him!"
Xu Xu was focused on crying and got startled by the sudden shout from the teacher, causing him to hiccup uncontrollably, "Uh... Teacher... not Zhao ii... uh..."
The teacher gently comforted him, "Alright, Xu Xu, stop crying, go back to your seat for morning self-study." After speaking, the teacher instructed, "Everyone take out your language books, where’s the class representative? Lead the class in continuing yesterday’s content."
After the teacher spoke, she turned back and pointed at Zhao ii from a distance, "Zhao ii! If you bully classmates again, go stand outside!"
Zhao ii was extrely upset, taking the bla unfairly. She seized the mont when the teacher wasn’t looking to glare fiercely at Xu Xu. That kid was still hiccuping like a crowing rooster!
Just after finishing the third class, the teacher announced a change in plan, today would be a half-day class with an art school using the classroom as an exam venue this afternoon.
The entire class was imdiately excited, Zhao ii was thrilled, thinking she’d go ho for lunch at noon and have her mom take her to see Brother Yangyang at the hospital.
At noon dismissal, Zhao ii was packing her backpack when Xu Xu approached, asking her, "ii, today’s a half-day, do you want to co over to my house to play?"
Zhao ii shook her head, "No, I need to see Brother Yangyang."
Xu Xu tugged gently at the collar of her shirt, "Co on, I’ve got a puppy at ho that’s really fun!"
"A puppy?" Zhao ii’s eyes lit up. She loved puppies, but her mom didn’t allow them at ho because they leave sses and shed hair.
Xu Xu let go and gestured, "Just this big, really fun, all fluffy."
Zhao ii thought for a mont and asked him, "Where do you live? Is it far? If it’s too far, I’m not going."
Xu Xu grinned, revealing neat white teeth, "I live at Dongfeng Road Junction, super close to the school."
Zhao ii didn’t really know where that was but hearing it was close, she was tempted, "Okay, I’ll check out the puppy with you."
Xu Xu was particularly excited, telling Zhao ii on the way, "There are so many fun things at my house! Have you seen a grapevine? It’s just bearing grapes now, so sweet."
Zhao ii imagined it, thinking it sounded fun, asking, "When I co over to your house, can I taste your grapes?"
Xu Xu nodded, "Sure, I’ll let you pick so."
Zhao ii was pleased, "Alright, I’ve never picked grapes before!"
Xu Xu’s pale face showed a flush of excitent, and he bounced ahead leading the way.
Zhao ii followed him for a while, glancing back and seeing the school building completely out of sight, she asked, "Haven’t we reached your house yet?"
Xu Xu pointed ahead, "It’s just up ahead!"
Hearing they were near, Zhao ii was relieved and continued walking, and soon noticed the surroundings changing from buildings to low houses.
Feeling a bit tired, Zhao ii asked, "How much farther?"
Xu Xu pointed ahead again, "Almost there!"
Xu Xu confidently led Zhao ii through winding alleys until even her good mory started to get confused.
She was just about to ask again when Xu Xu ran ahead and stood in front of an old, iron gate, "Here, this is my ho!"
As Xu Xu spoke, a series of babyish puppy barks sounded from the yard.
While taking out the key to open the door, Xu Xu called inside, "Dodo! Brother brought a girl to see you! We’ve got a visitor!"
Xu Xu pushed open the door with a creak and gestured for Zhao ii to hurry inside, "Co in!"
Zhao ii followed inside, before she could look around, her attention was caught by a fluffy ball at her feet.
Xu Xu smiled and introduced, "His na is Dodo, my little brother."
Zhao ii reached out to tease the puppy, "Dodo? Dodo! Oh! He’s so fun, he’s licking !"
After hanging the door back up, Xu Xu joyfully joined Zhao ii in squatting down to play with the puppy.
After a mont of playing, Zhao ii lifted her head carelessly and froze.
In front of her was a fairly small yard, but it was tidy. One side hung a clothesline, while the other side had two fras with vines of tender green leaves climbing and bunches of plump purple grapes hanging temptingly.
Right opposite the door was a low house, dark inside where nothing was visible from the outside.
Having grown up in residential blocks, aside from the boiler house near Shi Yang’s ho, Zhao ii had never seen such a house.
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