Xiang Qing seemed a little excited all afternoon.
He kept pestering Zhang Zhaomu with questions about his relationship with Chen Zhenzhen.
Unfortunately, Zhang Zhaomu was so sleepy he was practically in heaven and had no interest in paying attention to her. Although Chen Yongchao had warned him, he still managed to sleep on and off until bedtime when the teacher wasn't looking.
As soon as the bell rang, Xiang Qing woke Xiang Qing Chaomu up. Zhang Zhaomu yawned and said, "Let's go."
"Mmm." Xiang Qing stood up, her excitement turning into nervousness.
She straightened her school uniform and asked, "Do I look... okay?"
"It looks good." Zhang Zhaomu gave a thumbs up in approval.
This girl definitely has a slim waist and long legs. You don't really notice it when she's sitting down, but when she stands up, even her school pants, which look loose on others, can't hide her long legs.
Zhang Zhaomu couldn't help but raise his hand and measure it above the other person's head. He moved it sideways and found that it reached the bridge of his nose.
"What are you doing?" Xiang Qing tilted her head slightly in confusion.
"You're so tall!" Zhang Zhaomu exclaimed.
"You're taller than me." Xiang Qing pursed her lips. "I... I want to be shorter."
"Why?" Zhang Zhaomu didn't quite understand. "Isn't it good the way you are now? Look at other girls, they even wear high heels of more than ten centimeters to look taller, like they're walking on stilts every day."
"Not good."
Presumably because she had a lot to say, Xiang Qing simply pulled out a hard-cover notebook and started writing rapidly:
"Because I'm too tall, I'm easily disliked."
Zhang Zhaomu's lips twitched slightly as she said, "Is it possible that it's not because you're tall?"
Xiang Qing isn't the only tall girl in school. Although being too tall does make it harder to get along with boys, since boys at this age are mostly quite proud and don't really want to be with girls who are much taller than them.
But Xiang Qing's appearance could clearly conceal this problem perfectly.
"Really?" Xiang Qing asked, somewhat puzzled.
"You've got cause and effect backwards," Zhang Zhaomu explained. "People who dislike you will hate all your traits, whether you're tall or short."
"Look, you used to be unwilling to chat with boys, and when girls tried to talk to you, you were indifferent. People who are too dazzling and unconventional are naturally easy to gossip about; it's human nature."
"Oh." Xiang Qing nodded thoughtfully and wrote, "I didn't mean to be unconventional, I just didn't know what to say."
"Besides, Mom said that what others think is their business. At this stage, I should focus on my studies and not be distracted by such things. When I get into a good university, I will naturally have more outstanding people to be my friends."
Zhang Zhaomu couldn't help but complain, "That sounds reasonable."
But it feels a bit extreme.
Zhang Zhaomu didn't say this aloud, after all, it's impolite to say that someone else's mother is wrong in front of them.
He simply said tactfully, "High school is indeed a time to focus on studies, but that doesn't mean you can eliminate everything else. After all, people aren't machines; they'll feel sad if they're ostracized, and they'll feel lonely if they're alone every day."
"Yes." Xiang Qing nodded seriously. "I'm not a machine."
As they spoke, the two had already reached the first floor of the teaching building. Just then, the science class finished its extra class and Wang Qianzi was walking out of the classroom with Chen Zhenzhen's arm in hers. When she saw Zhang Zhaomu and Xiang Qing standing together, she was stunned for a moment.
No, Zhenzhen was already Zhenzhen yesterday when she brought Duan Chan'er over, and now she's brought another one?
There should be a limit to bullying Zhenzhen!
She instinctively grabbed Chen Zhenzhen and whispered, "What's the meaning of 'that' in your family? Isn't her name Xiang Qing? The one the boys in our class have been raving about like she's a goddess lately?"
"What do you mean?" Chen Zhenzhen asked, puzzled, then corrected her, "I already told you not to use terms like 'my family'."
"Why are you still worrying about this!" Wang Qianzi, exasperated. "I feel like he's just showing off to you! Zhenzhen, you can't back down! I'll help you get back on your feet later!"
"What are you talking about?" Chen Zhenzhen was a little speechless. " Xiang Qing is Zhang Zaowan's deskmate. I wanted to ask her for a favor, so I just asked Zhang Zaowan to act as a go-between."
"Huh?" Wang Qianzi was taken aback. "Not a love rival?"
"Of course not!" Chen Zhenzhen said irritably, "Besides, there's no such thing as a rival in love!"
"Okay, I'll go talk to them about something first, so I won't be having dinner with you."
Wang Qianzi nodded hesitantly. "Okay... you must tell me as soon as anything happens."
"Okay."
Chen Zhenzhen waved her hand and walked towards the two of them.
"Really not a love rival?" Wang Qianzi glanced at Xiang Qing again.
Her sixth sense told her that things were unlikely to develop as simply as Chen Zhenzhen thought.
Any guy would be tempted by a girl as beautiful as an angel!
"Hello," Chen Zhenzhen greeted Xiang Qing politely, "I'm Chen Zhenzhen, the 'Zhen' in 'truth,' both characters are the same, you can just call me Zhenzhen, please don't call me Chen Zhen like Zhang Zaowan does."
"Y-you... hello." Xiang Qing's gaze darted around as she whispered, "My name is Xiang Qing..."
"It is... it is..."
She tried hard to give a complete self-introduction, but when the words reached her lips, she couldn't get them out because of nervousness.
"The sunflower's direction, the sunshine of a sunny day." Zhang Zhaomu continued, "This guy is socially awkward, Chen Zhen, you'll get used to it."
"Yes, you mentioned it before." Chen Zhenzhen nodded.
"Let's go to the cafeteria first," Zhang Zhaomu said to Xiang Qing with a smile. "But the food there isn't as good as the special meals you usually have, so please don't complain."
"No!" Xiang Qing quickly replied.
Chen Zhenzhen naturally treated everyone to this meal, and the atmosphere of the conversation was more harmonious than Zhang Zhaomu had expected.
The main reason is that Chen Zhenzhen is a very talkative person, especially when talking about things related to Zhang Zhaomu, she becomes even more talkative, so much so that Xiang Qing doesn't need to take out her notebook, she only needs to nod in agreement.
"Anyway, these are the things you need to be careful about. Actually, my mom is quite easy to get along with. Just stay as you are, talk less and eat more. I'll take care of your mouth!"
"Okay." Xiang Qing nodded obediently.
"Then there's your matter," Chen Zhenzhen said thoughtfully. "Since your home isn't in the county town, just say that the school requires you to have make-up classes this weekend and you can't go back. I'll help you verify that."
Xiang Qing shook her head, finally took out her notebook, and wrote:
"No, my mom will definitely call the school to ask, and she might even come to the school in person."
Chen Zhenzhen was stunned for a moment.
It wasn't because of what Xiang Qing wrote, but because of her act of suddenly taking out a pen and starting to write.
She almost lost her composure, giving Zhang Zhaomu a look that conveyed a silent message: "What kind of setup is this? It feels kind of familiar!"
Zhang Zhaomu shook his head slightly and gave him a look. "Hold back your criticism."
Chen Zhenzhen understood and looked away.
Suddenly, Xiang Qing quickly wrote a few more words and held up her notebook:
"You can complain."
Chen Zhenzhen, Zhang Zhaomu: "????"