The little girl finally fell asleep crying. Listening to the steady breathing of the person in her arms, Song Duanli sighed helplessly and carried her back into the room.
He felt that he had sighed more today than in the past six months.
*
Perhaps because she slept restlessly, Shen Jianxi woke up early the next morning. She stood in the living room and drank a glass of warm water, her consciousness clearing considerably.
The aunt who cooks had not arrived yet, but Song Duanli had already gone out for a run.
Looking at the kitchen, Shen Jianxi's eyes flickered. After a moment's thought, she put down the water cup and walked in.
...
When Song Duanli returned, there was a strange smell in the house, unpleasant to say the least.
The closer he got to the kitchen, the stronger the smell became.
"What are you doing?"
The sudden male voice startled Shen Jianxi, and the ladle in her hand dropped to the floor.
She bent down to pick up the spoon, and Song Duanli finally saw the millet porridge simmering in the pot. The strange smell was coming from here.
"I, I just wanted to make you breakfast." She picked up the spoon, lowered her head, and dared not look at him, her voice full of guilt.
Song Duanli noticed that ever since last night, she had been acting this way in front of him, timid and respectful, as if he were some monstrous beast.
"There's an auntie," he said, frowning. The smell alone made him nauseous.
"Yes, yes, I'm sorry, it's my fault." His words made Shen Jianxi lower her head even more, looking very scared.
Her demeanor annoyed him, so he simply went back to his room to shower, wanting to avoid the sight.
After he left, Shen Jianxi, her timid appearance gone, leaned against the counter and hummed a song with a cheerful mood.
Hearing the sound of the front door opening, she knew the cooking aunt had arrived. Tears quickly welled up in her eyes. She picked up the pot handle and poured the millet porridge into the sink, sobbing softly as she did so.
Footsteps approached.
"Is there anything I can help you with, Miss Shen?" The aunt's concerned voice startled Shen Jianxi, who was lost in thought. She appeared to have just noticed the newcomer and hurriedly tried to wipe away her tears. Unaware, the pot slipped from her grasp and fell into the sink with a loud clatter.
She quickly reached for it, forgetting that it was still very hot, and burned herself.
"Oh my, let me do it. Miss Shen, you burned yourself. Go and tend to it quickly." The aunt quickly pulled her hand, as if afraid that something in the kitchen would cause her further harm.
"I'm sorry." She pursed her lips and ran out. As she passed the stairwell, she paused and glanced up. Song Duanli had not come down yet. She grabbed her schoolbag from the sofa and left.
By the time Song Duanli came down, the smell had dissipated. A delicate breakfast made by the aunt was on the dining table, but Shen Jianxi was nowhere to be seen.
He sat down at the head of the table and said to the aunt, "Go and call Miss Shen down for breakfast."
The aunt was surprised and respectfully said, "Sir, Miss Shen has already left."
"Left?" Song Duanli was a little surprised. Thinking of her appearance this morning, he seemed to ponder something.
"Yes, sir." The aunt hesitated, then continued, "However, I noticed this morning that Miss Shen wasn't in the right state, and she even burned her finger."
Burned? Song Duanli frowned, feeling somewhat annoyed. So much had happened in just one day, yet he couldn't send her away.
He had truly taken on a big problem.
*
Shen Jianxi knew that Ak had been following her. She cried softly all the way until she entered the school, where she stopped and asked 77 to help her remove the marks on her face, planning to put them back on later.
She wasn't afraid of Ak seeing them and telling Song Duanli. Even if asked, she could say she had covered them with foundation.
However...
Damn it! Her eyes were really sore. If it weren't for 77 helping her reduce the swelling, her eyes would have been as puffy as a sad, giant frog.
77, who had held back all morning, finally couldn't resist asking, "Host, what are you planning to do next?"
First, she cooked, then she acted weak. 77 couldn't understand.
Shen Jianxi's lips curved up slightly, and she said, "What do you think? If I were almost bullied, and then I fell madly in love with him because he stood up for me and treated my injuries. How's that plot?"
77: "......Sounds good."
"You're starting to be perfunctory with me now~" Shen Jianxi let out a soft hum, her tone a little flirtatious.
77: "......" It shouldn't have asked.
What could it do? It was just a simple, cute system that didn't understand men.
"Bro!" a voice called from behind. Shen Jianxi paid no attention.
"Bro!" The person behind her kept calling. Shen Jianxi wondered who was so deaf to be shouting so loudly.
"Brother Jianxi!" Her neck was suddenly clasped. Shen Jianxi realized the voice belonged to Xie Shu. And who was he calling? Herself?!
Heh, the clown was herself.
"What did you call me?"
"Brother Jianxi, not bad, right!" Xie Shu said righteously.
Shen Jianxi: My fists are itching!
With a 'friendly' smile on her face, she gritted her teeth and squeezed out, "I'm a girl."
Xie Shu's expression was indifferent. "So what? Don't worry, I, Xie Shu, don't discriminate based on gender when making friends."
???
Was that what she was emphasizing?
Shen Jianxi felt that if she stayed with Xie Shu any longer, she would probably die of anger. She shook off his hand from her shoulder and walked away quickly without looking back.
Xie Shu, with no sense, yelled from behind, chasing her, "Brother Jianxi, why are you walking so fast? Wait for me."
Shen Jianxi walked even faster, even running.
She stopped only when she reached the classroom door, with Xie Shu catching up, panting slightly. "Why are you running so fast?"
He then realized that his 'brother' was not only good at fighting but also at running.
Shen Jianxi was panting more than him. The physical difference between males and females forced her to run with all her might, and she was exhausted.
Next time she saw a scene in a drama where a boy chased a girl, she would definitely change the channel. Being tired as a dog was hardly romantic.
There were already many people in the class. Shen Jianxi reverted to her usual cute and well-behaved demeanor, saying gently, "Classmate Xie Shu, morning reading is about to start. Please enter the classroom quickly. Students like us should study hard."
Xie Shu: Who was it that skipped school with me the day before yesterday???
"Give me back my Brother Jianxi!"
Shen Jianxi ignored Xie Shu and turned into the classroom.
"Good morning, Xi Xi." As soon as she sat down, Xu Nuo rubbed her face.
"Good morning, Nuo Nuo." Her well-behaved appearance earned her even more enthusiastic ravaging from Xu Nuo.
When Xu Nuo let go, she realized Shen Jianxi's face was a little red from being rubbed. She said with self-reproach, "I'm sorry, Xi Xi, does it hurt?"
Shen Jianxi touched her face. It didn't actually hurt, but her skin was too delicate, which made it look very red.
She comforted her, "It doesn't hurt. Nuo Nuo, you don't need to apologize."
"Nuo Nuo likes to rub. I can let you rub me anytime." She quite liked this girl; she was simple and straightforward.
This simple sentence made Xu Nuo's face turn bright red, her eyes darting away, avoiding eye contact.
She realized that her deskmate was not only cute but also, also very easy to flirt with.