Chapter 54  

After the class bell had rung, Jia Shao was still writing with tremendous speed and in front of her was a tall stack of books.

"Jia Shao, school is over, are you still not leaving? Do you want me to accompany you?" The female student behind patted on her shoulder.

Without lifting her head, she replied. "I'll be ready in a little while."

"You don't have to call her. Don't tell me you don't know she is waiting for someone?" Someone said jokingly and his words attracted bursts of laughter.

The information touching on affections between males and females that the students of age 12 to 13 in junior high schools could assess were vaguely understood by these youngsters. If there was any affection that had the slightest hint of blooming possibility and if there were any intimate schoolmate relationships around, naturally the people involved would become the target of jokes.

The sounds of laughter grew even louder and Jia Shao still had her head buried in her book, writing furiously. Today, she was reprimanded by her teacher and naturally, she did not dare to be sluggish in her work.

The classmates slowly walked out of the class in a continuous flow. Some female students with refined manners were slowly and carefully packing up their books. From time to time, they would quietly glance at the door and some, if they had nothing to do, they would lower their heads to slowly gather their belongings.

Suddenly there was an outburst of sighs and whisperings which made Jia Shao put down the pen in her hand. Silently, she stuffed the books into her schoolbag and the only thing that did not change was the frown of her eyebrows and the pout on her lips.

Standing at the door was a dashing boy with a fair complexion who was smiling faintly and gently. "Jia Shao, school is over."

"Look, it's Zhen Lang." Behind her, a girl whispered.

"Every day he will come to fetch Jia Shao." The little voice sounded envious. "Their relationship is really very good."

"What?" Someone said with disdain. "They stay close together. Of course, they will go home together. Zhen Lang is the Best Student of the Year. Why will he even look at Jia Shao?"

"That is also true." The two people totally could not care less and did not mind that Jia Shao who was sitting in front of them could hear them.

Jia Shao leisurely hooked her schoolbag on one shoulder and walked towards the door, turning a deaf ear to the loud whispers behind her.

Ever since she entered junior high school she had heard these type of remarks countless times and she was already used to it. At this age, youngsters tend to worship people who are studious and of course, first and foremost they like people who have refine manners and are clean. For 12 to 13 years old boys, no matter how good they are at sports, they will usually end up getting dirty and such type of people will never find favor with little girls.

For example......Jia Shao.

Although she is a girl, her liveliness only caused people to shake their heads at her. At this stage, girls already knew the meaning of being reserved and she who likes to jump up and down was definitely used as teaching material to showcase a typical example of a girl with negative qualities.

In particular when this Troublesome Little Horse was always accompanied by the person who everyone regarded as a first-grade Little White Horse Prince and the teacher's pride.

One who is always clean, calm and refined. One who is always carefree and bouncing around. It was not known how many young hearts were shattered into little pieces, secretly hating the prince for being committed to the wrong person.

"Bag." Zhen Lang reached out and Jia Shao threw the bag to him out of habit. Although it is said girls usually develop earlier instead she is similar to a bamboo shoot after the rain, shooting upwards. No matter how much she shoots upwards, she seems to be unable to catch up with him. The days when she was young and could press him down to lean lazily on his shoulders had long gone forever.

Carrying two school bags, Zhen Lang was still able to walk so elegantly, so confidently and at ease. He dug his fingers into his pocket and pulled out a lollipop. After tearing off the wrapper, he held it in front of Jia. Shao. "How is your leg?"

Without any courtesy, she took the candy and shoved it into her mouth. "There is still a slight pain. Mom won't allow me to ride the bicycle but I feel fine."

"Still hurts?" Standing under the bicycle shed, Zhen Lang frowned slightly.

Biting her lollipop, Jia Shao looked around without showing any concern. "It can't be helped. I have dislocated it three times, so this time it's taking a bit longer to heal."

"Then you should not run around at night." Zhen Lang placed the two schoolbags into her hands. He pushed the bicycle out from under the shed, mounted it with ease and let it roll forward. "Climb up."

Trotting up two steps, she gave her strong body a twist and gently landed on the back seat of the bicycle. Hooking two bags on one shoulder, she placed the other hand around his waist and happily started to hum a song.

"You are very happy today." Zhen Lang's voice drifted over with the breeze.

"Um......" Jia Shao nodded hard and gave an unclear reply while biting the lollipop. "Today in the class, Xu Xin asked about my injured leg. She wanted to know whether it was because of my leg that I can't ride a bicycle. She also said that in future, she will accompany me to walk home.'

"You feel so happy just because she said those words?" He smiled. "You're so easily satisfied."

"That's right." Jia Shao smiled. "All the female classmates think I am crude and don't like to play with me. She is the first one to look for me. Tomorrow I don't want to take a ride with you. I want to walk home with her."

"Your leg is not completely healed." Zhen Lang increased the speed and the ride was steady.

"I don't care." Jia Shao muttered. "I never had any female schoolmates as friends. I want to walk home."

Zhen Lang became silent and Jia Shao also did not speak. Both of them were silently in a deadlock.

This silence persisted until they reached home. Jia Shao pouted and jumped off the bicycle. She threw his school bag that was in her hand to Zhen Lang and walked towards the door of her house with her head lowered.

"Girl!" Zhen Lang called after her but she ignored him and continued to walk with her head bowed.

"Let's do it this way. Tomorrow you can sit at the back of the bicycle while I push the bicycle. You can walk with her and at the same time, you don't have to walk home on your own. How is that?" Zhen Lang's suggestion made her stopped and slowly turned back.

"Is that alright with you?" Holding up the bicycle, Zhen Lang looked helplessly at her.

The smile on her face gradually bloomed and she nodded hard. "Okay."

Thus, the intimate journey home between the two people became a strange situation in which one person sat alone, one person waited upon another and one person tailed behind.

Xu Xin walked slowly on the right side of the bicycle and in face of Jia Shao's enthusiasm, most of the time she had her head lowered. Occasionally, she would look up with a quiet smile and would talk mostly about their homework.

Jia Shao was not good in her homework and regarding this, she could only use her hand to knock on the seat in front of her and gestured for Zhen Lang to answer. As always, Zhen Lang would only look in front and when he heard Jia Shao's signal, he would only answer with minimal words before falling silent again.

When Jia Shao found a female classmate as a friend, she felt so happy and could not wait to put Zhen Lang aside. But unfortunately for her, every day the handsome young boy would wait for her at the door without fail. Even if she wanted to avoid him she could not do so and in the end, the three people had to make their way home together.

This went on for three months and Jia Shao's leg had gradually healed. When her birthday drew near, she began to think of inviting her friend to celebrate with her.

"Zhen Lang, what do you want to eat for Girl's birthday?" Jia Mama was extremely warm-hearted and heard Jia Shao muttering to herself again.

It is obviously her birthday. Why ask him what he likes to eat?

Zhen Lang looked at Jia Shao and smiled at Jia Mama. "Jia Ma, I want to eat cream cake, the kind that has a big red flower."

The day after tomorrow, Jia Shao will be participating in a competition. For her to get the first place based on her ability will not be a problem. Since she likes cream cakes, this request will certainly make her happy.

Sure enough, a satisfied expression appeared on Jia Shao's face and showing the gesture of good brotherhood, she placed her hand on his shoulder. "Hey, what are you going to give me for my birthday?"

"What do you want?" Zhen Lang asked with a doting look on his face.

"I've not decided." She had a strange smile. "It's better for you to decide."

"If I were to win in the competition, is there any reward?" She laughed without showing any guilt while imagining the scene after her victory.

He looked at her hand that was on his shoulder and solemnly nodded.

Jia Shao who was a year older on her birthday felt very happy. She looked at the big cream cake on the table with a steady gaze and said in a voice that was slightly impatient. "Mom, when can I eat?"

Jia Mama stuck her head out of the kitchen and replied. "Don't touch. We have to wait for Zhen Papa, Zhen Mama, and Zhen Lang."

"Oh......." Jia Shao answered lazily and her saliva was already flowing.

"Didn't you say there is a classmate coming?" Jia Mama called out to Jia Shao. "Why don't you go out to have a look? What if your classmate can't find our place?"

"Oh." Thinking of the good friend she had invited, Jia Shao jumped up in a hurry and ran downstairs.

It was dusk on a spring day and there was a hint of red clouds on the horizon surrounded with golden sun rays. Under this golden light, the figures of two youngsters, a male, and a female emitted a youthful atmosphere and they were taking in low tones.

Zhen Lang looked at the quiet girl in front of him as impatience flashed in his eyes and his voice was cold. "Are you not here to celebrate with Jia Shao? Why did you specifically call me to come down?"

"I......" Xu Xin's face was red and held up the thing she was holding, in front of Zhen Lang. "This is for you. Thanks for helping me with my homework these few days."

He squinted at the gift in her hands and shoved both his hands into his pants pockets. "I didn't teach you homework and I also don't have any interest in teaching you."

"But you did teach me." She felt a little nervous and did not dare to look at Zhen Lang's face.

Zhen Lang leaned against the wall and his expression was cold. "Those questions were asked by Jia Shao."

Xu Xin slowly dropped down her hands that were holding the gift. Her expression was extremely ugly and she bit her lip without speaking another word.

"Since you are here, you might as well go up. Jia Shao is waiting for you." Zhen Lang was too lazy to continue talking with her and just drop down a sentence before he turned around to walk upstairs.

Xu Xin stared at his retreating back and suddenly said. "If I get Jia Shao to tell you to teach me, will you dare to refuse?"

The young boy halted his footsteps and his eyes burned with flames of anger. When he turned around, the flames had already sunk into the depths of his eyes. Suddenly he smiled.

When the girl looked at his handsome smile, she blushed and then lowered her head again.

Zhen Lang leisurely walked back to stand in front of the girl. "What you mean is that you and Jia Shao are friends just because you wanted to talk with me?"

For a long time, Xu Xin tried to calm down before she finally raised her head. The young boy's eyes were lukewarm and bright which made her heart feel at ease.

"I........."

Her words were interrupted by the smile on the young boy's face and she stared at his face in a daze. The rest of her words were completely forgotten and she felt herself blushing.

"For me to teach you homework is very simple." Zhen Lang reached out his fingers to hook the beautifully wrapped gift off her hand and played with it. "You can come to me directly."

"Really?" Xu Xin did not expect Zhen Lang to show such a sudden drastic change and at that moment, she did not know what to say.

He nodded. "Really......"

Without waiting for the other party to speak, he added. "It doesn't matter whether you want to talk about homework or something else, you can come to me directly."

This sentence made Xu Xin completely speechless.

"However, I have a condition." Zhen Lang raised his index finger in front of her. "Since your purpose is me, then it is pointless to follow Jia Shao. You are so quiet, you really don't fit in with her."

"Okay." Xu Xin did not even need to think twice and she had quickly agreed. She pulled out another gift and held it in front of Zhen Lang. "Help me to give this to Jia Shao. I'm leaving."

Standing in the sunset, Zhen Lang's gaze followed Xu Xin as she happily walked out of the alley. He lowered his head to look at the gift that Xu Xin had specifically given him with the beautiful wrapping still intact. The gift flew up in a curve and landed right into the trash bin.

Zhen Lang turned around leisurely and Jia Shao quickly retreated as if she was the guilty party.

As regards to that whispered conversation between the two people just now, she actually did not get to hear them clearly. But later when the voices of the two people became louder and louder, especially his words 'You can come to me directly' and 'You really don't fit in with her" had made her heart instantly sank down the abyss of despair. And when Xu Xin turned around to leave without any hesitation, it gave her a bad feeling and she foolishly did not understand the reason why.

Zhen Lang could actually talk about her like this........meaning that she was not good enough to be friends with the quiet and elegant girl. After knowing him for so many years, his words brought her a burst of grief.

Why did he look down on her and also created a breakup of her friendship with her friend? Doesn't he know how much she had cherished this friendship?

Zhen Lang, after knowing you for so many years, in actual fact, you are such a person!!!

Jia Shao did not turn back her head and dashed upstairs. Without a word, she opened the door.

Jia Mama who was still busy in the kitchen did not notice the pale face of her daughter. "Is your friend here yet? Go upstairs to call Zhen Papa, Zhen Mama, and Zhen Lang to come down. It's time to eat."

Zhen Lang!!!

The name suddenly was like a giant hammer banging at her heart. The cake on the table became extremely magnified in front of her eyes and also the two red flowers on the cake were so gorgeous that they pierced her eyes.

As if caught by madness, Jia Shao picked up the cake and went into her room. She unpacked it, picked up a spoon, dug into the cake and began to spoon the cake into her mouth.

He likes to eat cakes, right? She will not give it to him!

He likes the red flowers on the cake, right? Not giving him!

He disliked her for being crude and had snatched away her good friend. So in future, they will not show concern for each other anymore and she will no longer hang around him to become the butt of other people's jokes.

He can take his role of a student with good grades and she will take her role as a fighting queen.

Zhen Lang's face seemed to appear in front of her eyes. She bit every mouthful.......hard...... then harder...... It seems as though she was biting his flesh, tearing it apart and swallowing deep into her stomach.

She began to regret. Why did she chose to run away at that moment and she was even afraid to let Zhen Lang know she was there? According to her character, she should have rushed up to him, give him a hard punch and then only ask questions.

But she had chosen to huddle up in her room silently holding her cake to vent her frustrations.

"Girl, where the devil are you?!" She heard her mother calling out loudly for her. She raised her face and saw the reflection in the mirror revealing a confused face that was covered with cream.

She also heard Zhen Mama's gentle voice calling out softly. "Girl, Zhen Lang had specially chosen a gift for you. Hurry up and come out."

Zhen Lang........again Zhen Lang!!!

At the same time, a very, very familiar voice of a young boy also shouted out her name. "Jia Shao, quickly come out! Let's eat the cake together!"

Who wants to eat the cake with him!!!

She did not want to see him......and did not want to talk to him...... and also did not want to eat the cake with him.

She scraped off the cream on the cake, grabbed the cake and kept stuffing her mouth. It seemed that it was the only way she could shut off the sounds of shouts coming from outside her door.

When the door finally opened, what everyone saw was a small yellow remnant of a huge cake. Most of the cake and the cream had vanished without a trace and on the chair, sat a weak figure leaning on it. Her face was covered with cream and scraps of cake, and she was cradling her stomach groaning in pain.

"Jia Shao, here is my gift......" The following words from the young boy were choked down and the calm on his face instantly disappeared. The thing in his hand fell to the ground and he rushed to her side in two quick steps. "What is the matter with you?"

"I don't need your concern!" Her stomach was churning like the sea. She tried hard to open her eyes and pushed him away. "You are hateful, very annoying and I can't bear the sight of you."

"What are you talking about?" Zhen Lang raised his hand to help her wipe away the cream on her face but she pushed him away again. Just as he wanted to say something, four adults rushed in and cut off the words he was about to say.

"Dad......" Jia Shao held her stomach pitifully. "My stomach feels painful."

"Painful?" The four adults looked at Jia Shao's face that was covered with cream and then looked at the little remnants of cake on the table. Suddenly they were aware of the situation and picking up Jia Shao, they rushed her to the hospital. Zhen Lang who was following behind them had several times tried to hold Jia Shao's hand but each time she would fiercely shake his hand away.

This time, Jia Shao spent a memorable birthday in the hospital and also officially declared her complete withdrawal from the competition scheduled for the next day. As a result, her excellent chance to be included in the national team slipped away just like that. She could only lie on her bed, cradling her stomach and constantly rushing into the toilet. And all the doctors and nurses in the hospital came to take a look at the legendary cake girl.

After a few days of tossing around, finally, her condition began to stabilize. The adults also went back to work leaving only Jia Shao alone on the hospital bed with both her hands hugging her legs and her head lowered between them.

Gone.......her friend is gone......the competition is gone......her dream of so many years is gone...... She is not a girl who will cry easily. It is only that she feels at a loss and her heart feels empty.

"Jia Shao......" The young boy stood at the door and called out her name.

"Why are you here?" Anger in her eyes swept away the depression she had felt for so many days. She looked at the young boy at the door and all the grievances inside her became the driving force of the volcanic eruption.

"I came to see you." Zhen Lang put down his school bag and walked towards her. "At the same time, I' m here to fulfill Jia Papa and Jia Mama's instruction to help you with your studies."

"I - don't - want!" Jia Shao spat out each word. "I don't care what they say. No matter what you say to them, I said I don't want. I don't want you to visit me, I don't want you to tutor me and also I don't want your fake kindness. From onwards, I don't want to see you anymore."

In front of him, she began to release herself, release all the grievances that she had kept in her heart for so many days.

Her mother and father had thought she was greedy and Zhen Papa and Zhen Mama had thought she was throwing childish tantrums. No one actually thought that the culprit was actually Zhen Lang.

"You have made me lost my friend and made me lost the chance to compete. What else do you still want?" She grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. "Zhen Lang, I swear.......when I get well, there will be one day I will make you get a taste of what it feels like to lose everything."

"Really?" The young boy standing at the door neatly caught the pillow thrown at him. He saw her threatening gestures and that long-lost vitality of hers instantly gave him a feeling of her old self returning. It made him laughed. "Do you have the ability?"

He did not explain because he knew that what she needed was not an explanation but motivation.

"Who said I don't have?!" Jia Shao jumped out of the bed and grabbed the school bag that was lying on the floor. "Didn't you say you came to tutor me? Start!"

Zhen Lang took out a book and made her sit down. Before he could speak, Jia Shao suddenly added. "Let me tell you.....from today onwards, we will never be friends in this life. I will never forgive you and I will never go to school with you again. And I also don't want to go home with you after school. If you want to complain about me to my mother and father, you can go ahead. Anyway, I won't make your life easy."

From then on, there was less one set of sweethearts in the school and an additional set of young enemies. Jia Shao studied hard and fought hard. She wanted to realize her own ideals and would not allow herself to be a joke in front of Zhen Lang.

Many girls heard about the past relationship between Jia Shao and Zhen Lang and occasionally, a small note would be handed over to Jia Shao with the request to hand it over to Zhen Lang. She would always unscrupulously open it to take a peek and would give an even more enthusiastic small note in return to the other party.

However, her behavior did not cause any big furor. The young God's radiance still shrouded protectively over him from top to bottom and no girls could get close to him.

It is actually very strange. For several years from junior high school to high school as soon as there is a girl who comes near Zhen Lang, the next day there will certainly be a rumor of an ambiguous private association between the two people. Youngsters would not be able to withstand such unfounded gossip and all those brewing any little ambiguity would disintegrate. Even his associations with outstanding girls were also short-lived.

When her ankle was injured and healed for the fourth time and before she received the notice of successful selection into the national team, her parents had ordered her to withdraw from training. This time, her determination was not taken into consideration because as a minor, she was not qualified to oppose.

It was just a word from Zhen Lang that had ruined everything for her and all her efforts for so many years seemed to be just scratching an itch for him. At the most, both of them had no friends, both kept to themselves and both were quietly alone. In situations where they met frequently, they would exchange warring glances and brush past each other.