Chapter 9: Is He Pursuing You? (5)

“The key is, I don’t want to get used to it. Back then, we…” Dan Qiuqiu paused, a sour feeling rising in her chest. Though she was gradually adjusting to this new school after a few days, she still preferred Maple High. She missed those days with her friends—playing, fooling around, cramming for exams together, teaming up against troublemakers. It all felt like just yesterday, yet somehow, without noticing, it was gone, unless one day Qiao Xi figured things out.

Maple High was truly lonely without Qiao Xi.

It wasn’t just her own sentiment; every time she called back, she heard the same complaints, followed by pleas for her to persuade Qiao Xi to return to Maple High.

As if it were so easy—if it was, Gu Shao and Sister Xin wouldn’t have failed back then.

Fortunately, after a few days spent together, she and Qiao Xi had finally become ‘familiar’ enough. Walking side by side no longer drew curious looks from classmates, and there was no need to come up with explanations for everything.

Qiao Xi would never deny she missed the days at Maple High, but since she had transferred to Yingran, she wouldn’t transfer back.

“You can go back to Maple High,” she said.

“How can I? You’d be alone…”

“I don’t need anyone to keep me company,” Qiao Xi replied, dropping the words and striding toward the school building.

“Ah, be careful!”

Just as she reached the base of the building, a shout sounded from above. Looking up, she saw a small bottle falling. In that instant, she barely managed to sidestep, and the bottle grazed her shoulder before smashing onto the ground, shattering.

No one was hurt, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

It was only a small bottle, but from the third floor, it could have been serious if it hit someone.

“Qiao Xi, are you all right?” a classmate rushed over to ask.

“I’m fine.”

“That was close, almost hit you.”

“Mm.” Qiao Xi answered simply.

“With skills like that, it’s a pity to keep them hidden,” Dan Qiuqiu shook her head, sighing. It had been dangerous just now—luckily, Qiao Xi reacted quickly.

From the first class in the morning until now, Ji Niansheng was still puzzling over it.

“Was it really just a coincidence?” Resting his chin on one hand, he pondered deeply, then suddenly looked up and asked, “Ouya, do you think it was just luck?”

At the moment the bottle fell, he and Ouya had been nearby. Though they were at some distance, he distinctly saw Qiao Xi sidestep—it was almost an instinctive move as she looked up. Was it just a reflex from seeing something, or was it her agility?

“If it were me, I’m not sure I could dodge so quickly. If that truly was Qiao Xi’s reaction, she’s definitely more impressive than she looks,” he commented.

Ouya kept her eyes on her textbook, not looking up. “Maybe it was just coincidence.”

“Really?” Ji Niansheng still doubted it. Qiao Xi seemed quiet, even delicate, but perhaps there was another side to her, hidden beneath the surface. “I have to test her.” His curiosity had gotten the better of him. If that really was Qiao Xi’s reflex, he’d finally found a worthy rival—he was eager to see.

“Don’t go overboard.”

“I understand.”

Ji Niansheng quickly came up with a plan. He and Qiao Xi were in the same class, and he knew she was on duty today.

After school in the afternoon, Qiao Xi swept the floor with her classmates. They hurried home, tossing aside their brooms and calling out, “I’m heading home, see you tomorrow!”

“See you tomorrow.” Qiao Xi closed the door carefully and walked slowly downstairs.

Reaching the sports field, she saw some students playing baseball. She headed straight for the school gate when suddenly, a baseball flew toward her.

Instinctively, she dodged, and the ball whistled past her ear. But her evasive move cost her balance, and she fell to the ground, her palm scraping against the pavement, leaving a faint, stinging pain.