Xia Chang

The day when Liu Xiaobai's high fever just subsided, the sun was shining brightly, and the cold season left, and summer came more quickly; Liu Xiaobai ate beef noodles with the antipyretic stickers, and his fragile nasal cavity began to itch again.

Zhang Nian said that he was sick like a primary school student.

The school cafeteria has plenty of air-conditioning, and Zhang Nian is sitting across from him with a Coke straw in his mouth. He is wearing white short-sleeves and light blue denim cropped pants, with a pair of slender legs quietly placed under the table.

Liu Xiaobai wrapped his thin school uniform jacket and drank the last mouthful of soup in the bowl. He smacked his reddish mouth, reached for the napkin in front of him, and said, "Let's go."

"Are you full?" Zhang Nian asked him.

Liu Xiaobai was carrying a shriveled schoolbag on one shoulder, and a thicker piece of clothing in his other hand. He rubbed his sickly hair and stared blankly at Zhang Nian for a few seconds before saying: "full."

Zhang Nian stood up holding the Coke. He was so tall, so he suddenly leaned over and said awkwardly, "I have an appointment with Tengxi tonight."

"Oh," Liu Xiaobai blew his nose with a tissue again. He seemed indifferent, and suddenly asked, "So you're going with her? Then I'll go first."

Liu Xiaobai was hanging clothes and schoolbags, and was the only one in the campus to cover up at this time. He turned to leave, but was dragged back by Zhang Nian forcefully.

"Don't go together. I'll take the bus with you. I've already told my mother that no one will pick me up today."

Zhang Nian picked up the Coke and took a big sip. He followed Liu Xiaobai who was walking out while swallowing. He took his mobile phone and called Tengxi. know the way."

"I haven't arrived yet, so don't worry." Zhang Nian said that he wanted to talk to her, but he didn't dare to say what to talk about specifically, Zhang Nian was afraid that she would not want to.

Liu Xiaobai was at the side, his black hair was wet with sweat and stuck to his forehead, his face was glowing with porcelain white, his eyes were black, and he was looking at Zhang Nian.

Zhang Nian said again: "I have to wait for a while."

This was Zhang Nian's first time asking a girl out for dinner.

He went into the restaurant and found a seat by the window. Amidst the soft music, the waiter brought water. Zhang Nian swallowed two mouthfuls, feeling that the sweetness of the Coke in his mouth hadn't dissipated.

After waiting for a few minutes, Zhang Nian saw Teng Xi running over in a panic through the glass. She was wearing a red polka-dot dress with her hair draped over her shoulders, which didn't match Zhang Nian's short sleeves at all. .

Teng Xi stepped up the steps, panting and stopped, and came over after arranging her hair, she was a little embarrassed, afraid to sit down, a few seconds later, she said: "Your clothes are beautiful. "

Zhang Nian subconsciously pressed the collar and felt the soft cloth slightly soaked in sweat. He looked at Teng Xi's slightly red cheeks and said, "Thank you."

Teng Xi sat down on the opposite side with the blue packet on her lap. She took the menu Zhang Nian handed over and said, "I can eat anything."

"I don't have any taboos, you can order whatever you want, don't be polite." Zhang Nian drank another saliva, he got up and left, saying he was going to the bathroom.

Zhang Nian was a little flustered. He washed his face and thought about how to ask about those things. He also regretted that he didn't explain the reason for inviting her to Teng Xi at first. Zhang Nian guessed that Teng Xi might have misunderstood.

Misunderstanding that I want to chat with her, or even date.

Teng Xi had finished ordering, Zhang Nian sat down scratching his face, the white porcelain plate on the dining table glowed softly, and a bouquet of flowers was placed in a glass vase.

"Chinese food is better, I like Chinese food better." Zhang Nian picked up a topic at random.

Teng Xi just nodded, and then agreed, she was probably looking forward to it, so her whole body was tense, she clenched the cup tightly, with no expression on her fair cheeks, she said: "I also like Chinese food, this family hasn't eaten yet. Pass."

"There is something." Zhang Nian sat upright suddenly. He didn't dare to look forward, so he stared at the light-colored lines on the tablecloth. He cleared his throat and said, "I have to ask you."

Teng Xi's face suddenly turned red, and the pale blood color covered the original clear and fair skin. Her eyes rolled around, staring at the tip of Zhang Nian's nose, and asked, "What are you talking about?"

"That's right, I heard that your mother and Mr. He's lover are colleagues." After speaking, Zhang Nian still didn't dare to look up. He turned his gaze out of the window, pretending to be relaxed.

Teng Xi didn't hesitate, and said directly: "Mr. He's wife has cancer, so he hasn't been to work for a long time."

Zhang Nian sighed, expressing his regret and helplessness, now he turned his face and talked with Teng Xi, and asked, "Is it better?"

"It's treatment, I don't want to give up. My mother said that Teacher He borrowed a lot of money and said that no matter what, he must cure the disease. Teacher He is quite a good person." Although Teng Xi was puzzled by Zhang Nian's question, But she still answered honestly, her feelings for the boy in front of her were not simple, she had a very demanding admiration for him, and hoped that he would be surrounded by excellent people and good things.

Zhang Nian grabbed the hair in front of his forehead, he was even more depressed, and felt that he saw some clues. He Letian's expression in front of him was when he faced him. There must be many secrets in those eyes.

"Who did he borrow money from?"

"I—" Teng Xi's mind was full of fog, but she felt that she was subdued. She didn't want to ask the reason, but nodded after hesitating, and said, "I can ask for you."

Zhang Nian's eyes suddenly lit up. Even though his mood was still not high, he was a soft-hearted person. He suddenly felt extremely sympathetic to He Letian's family, and the bad feelings after talking with him before seemed to disappear in an instant.

"Aren't you surprised that I asked you these questions?"

Teng Xi shook her head, she stroked her hair, and suddenly smiled, she said: "It's mainly because of trust, you are not someone who would do bad things."

"You still want to talk about Liu Xiaobai with me."

Teng Xi didn't answer this sentence, she covered it with a light smile, raised her eyes again, and said, "I can help you find out about Mr. He."

The girl's smile was very warm, and the corners of her mouth were in the most comfortable arc. She shook her neck slightly, and her hair followed her, swaying half a circle.

Zhang Nian's attitude towards Teng Xi today can be regarded as flattering. He talked with Teng Xi about many topics, and the two of them spent a not-so-short dinner time with different thoughts.

Zhang Nian sent Teng Xi to her house. It was not dark yet. Before parting, Teng Xi raised her face. She clenched her hands tightly. She held back when she wanted to say something, and finally stretched out her hands. , Hugged Zhang Nian's body violently.

There was no one around, Zhang Nian was sweating all of a sudden, he panicked, his whole body seemed to be pricked by needles, his heart was "thumping", and it was about to sway out.

"No, it's not good, what are you doing?" Zhang Nian felt that his whole body was being watered by hot water. He stretched out his hand to push Teng Xi away, and turned around to look around. The wind blew his bangs flying wildly. He said, "I It’s not even thinking about these things right now.”

"I'm confused, don't think too much, pay attention to safety on the road." Teng Xi's frozen eyes were mixed with disappointment, she sniffed, with a perfunctory smile on her face, she rubbed her hands, a little angry Say these words.

Zhang Nian didn't move for half a minute, he rubbed his forehead with his hands, his eyes were so dark that there were no calm waves, he turned his head, not to look at Teng Xi's back shaking in the night.

A fallen leaf fell, and Zhang Nian saw the dense branches of the camphor tree above his head. He sighed, turned around, and walked the way he came.

/

Zhang Nian came home, the light in the entrance was on, Xia Honglin was busy in the kitchen, the baked butter cake and cookies were placed on the table, Zhang Nian was not full in the restaurant, so he grabbed a cookie and stuffed it into his mouth after washing his hands .

"Waiting for egg tarts, you haven't eaten yet?" Xia Honglin closed the oven door, put her hand on the edge of the table and turned around, she went to get noodles again, and said, "Let's cook some noodles."

Zhang Nian stuffed another biscuit into his mouth, shaking his head hastily, he took out the change in his pocket, took off his school uniform, and threw it into the laundry basket.

The egg tart was ready, Zhang Nian came out of the shower, and he received a call from Teng Xi, who said, "My mother said that Mr. He borrowed some money from a colleague in the school, maybe it was Chen Yan."

Zhang Nian stood up, his hair was still dripping, but he didn't want to care about it at all. He gripped the phone tightly, walked back to the room quickly, and closed the door.

Xia Honglin came from the kitchen and stared at her son who was walking in a panic. She put the hot egg tart on the coffee table, thought about it, and finally went back to the kitchen.

Zhang Nian said, "Thank you very much. I'm sorry to trouble you. I'll treat you to something to eat some other day."

"Don't eat, you—" Teng Xi's throat groaned a few times, and she began to choke on the other end of the phone, unable to speak.

Zhang Nian didn't know how to comfort her, he covered his head with a towel, silently listened to the girl's faint crying, and stood by the door; he frowned, but still had nothing to say.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door, Zhang Nian hid the phone behind his back, held up a towel to wipe his hair, and opened the door to let Xia Honglin in.

Mom was applying hand cream, she leaned her face closer and said, "Go eat an egg tart?"

"Go and eat right away."

"Who are you calling?"

Zhang Nian threw the phone on the bed, he smiled a bit, a little far-fetched, and said, "My classmate helped me find out things."

Xia Honglin's hands were full of the faint scent of roses. She patted Zhang Nian's shoulder and urged him to dry his hair, saying, "It's the third year of high school, and the first thing to study is to know how to balance."

The hair dryer buzzed, Zhang Nian raised his face, he closed his eyes and fiddled with his hair, the mint scent of the shampoo got into his nostrils, he said, "I see."

Zhang Nian forgot to hang up the phone with Teng Xi. In the end, it was Teng Xi who hung up after he left the house. Liu Xiaobai sent a WeChat message at night, saying that he was going to ride a bike tomorrow, and asked Zhang Nian if he wanted to come together.

"Liu Xiaobai," Zhang Nian was lying on the bed. He took the initiative to call and said, "I found out that Mr. He borrowed money from Chen Yan."

It was probably in the store, and it was a bit noisy. Liu Xiaobai said with a sore throat, "What can you do, even if you can prove that Yang Kong entered the accelerated class through Chen Yan and Mr. He."

"I'm going to find Chen Yan." Zhang Nian may not have realized how angry his tone was, Xia Honglin knocked on the door again and came in. Zhang Nian pointed to the phone and said, "Liu Xiaobai."

Xia Honglin was dubious, she looked at her son in puzzlement, and felt that he was more or less abnormal today; but Xia Honglin didn't need to worry about Zhang Nian's private life, she believed him very much.