Proud senior schoolgirl was tender and sweet, we fell in love

Chapter 18: 18 Let's Go to the Bookstore Together

Luo Yanran was not surprised by the question, sipping her milk tea, chewing the tapioca pearls indistinctly as she asked, "Many have asked, but I never told them. Do you want to know?"

She smiled at Xie Xiao, "Then exchange it with your secret."

After that, she quietly stared at Xie Xiao.

Xie Xiao didn't shy away but met her gaze. The girl before him was indeed beautiful, as if favored by the creator himself. Xie Xiao felt no one could look into her eyes for a few minutes and not fall in love with her because she was too perfect.

In the end, Xie Xiao looked away first, "If you don't want to say it, it's fine, I won't force you."

Luo Yanran seemed slightly surprised, "How do you know I don't want to say?"

Because I understand you. If you wanted to say, you wouldn't beat around the bush with exchanging secrets. You'd just say it outright.

But Xie Xiao just smiled, "Just a hunch."

"Then your hunch is quite accurate," Luo Yanran chuckled, then glanced at her watch, "Lunch break is almost over, thank you for the milk tea."

She stood up, wearing the uniform that was the same for everyone, oversized and baggy. Many girls would secretly alter the trousers and the shirt inside to show off their body curves.

But Luo Yanran hadn't altered hers; she wore the original uniform, and instead of looking bulky, it made her appear both youthful and innocent.

The effect those other girls had tried to achieve by altering their uniforms again and again seemed effortless for Luo Yanran.

Xie Xiao looked up at her and suddenly said, "You're glowing."

Luo Yanran looked down slightly, surprised and puzzled, but Xie Xiao stood up and with a gesture as if to tousle her hair from a distance, touched the top of her head, "Don't be sad, your sadness makes even this sunny weather feel irritating."

He added, "That person, it's me."

That makes people feel…

That person is me…

Luo Yanran's heart fluttered; she could almost confirm, Xie Xiao was really flirting with her, not just her illusion.

Xie Xiao withdrew his hand, "Let's go back, I'll walk you."

Luo Yanran suddenly really wanted to ask, why was he suddenly flirting with her?

After all, he had only had eyes for Zhou Mianmian before, seemingly indifferent to all other females, so why had he changed all of a sudden?

But deep down, she was too timid to speak up, even if it was just Xie Xiao whimsically teasing her. After years of what seemed like an unending secret crush, suddenly someone opened that box. Though nerve-wracking and scary, she ultimately couldn't bear to shut it herself.

Luo Yanran always considered herself to be very rational, but she could never keep her rationality when it came to Xie Xiao.

If everything could be measured with rationality, then it wouldn't be the most passionate of feelings.

The two walked one after the other down the school path without talking.

Xie Xiao watched her figure from behind, slightly frowning; he realized he didn't understand her that well after all, as he was clueless about why Luo Yanran was repeating a year, a topic they hadn't touched in their past life.

Xie Xiao felt irritated; why did everyone who returned in novels have such incredible advantages, like Golden Finger or various systems? Here he was, having lain low for three years without much difference.

But being reborn was probably already the biggest Golden Finger, and he needed to learn to be content because not everyone had a chance to do it all over again.

By the time they reached the building, Xie Xiao finally remembered his main purpose, "Ranran, do you want to go to the bookstore together tomorrow?"

Luo Yanran, walking ahead at the mention of this tender 'Ranran,' looked unnaturally flushed, touching her ear before turning around, "To the bookstore?"

"Yes, you mentioned you didn't do well on the mock exam, right? Me neither, so I planned to buy some practice books. Want to go together?" Xie Xiao asked earnestly.

The reason sounded very serious and reasonable.

Although Luo Yanran felt their relationship was not at the stage of browsing bookstores together, deep down, she didn't really want to refuse.

After all, this was Xie Xiao.

Xie Xiao noticed her hesitation and added with a smile, "Didn't you say earlier that you would transfer some money to me? Forget about the money, how about treating me to lunch after we visit the bookstore tomorrow noon?"

Luo Yanran couldn't find a reason to refuse Xie Xiao anymore, so she hummed softly, "Then send me the time and place on WeChat in a bit. I'm going up first."

Xie Xiao responded, "Alright, go ahead, don't be upset."

Luo Yanran didn't respond to that, just glanced at him and turned to go upstairs.

As she turned, the corners of her mouth slightly curled into a smile. From the moment I saw you, my mood was already getting better.

Xie Xiao stayed on time and returned to the classroom.

Lin Yu glanced at him, "Is the bubble tea drama over today?"

Xie Xiao snorted with laughter, "I hope it really quiets down next week."

Lin Yu understood, "Just now Yan Shi, that idiot, was bragging to his buddy that Zhou Mianmian bought him a fruit tea, huh? Is this a case of making the best out of waste?"

Xie Xiao: ...

He glanced at Lin Yu, "Maybe you should accumulate some virtue in your mouth?"

Otherwise, he feared that even if it wasn't because of him, Lin Yu was bound to end up in a fight sooner or later.

Lin Yu chuckled, "Speaking of which, are we playing basketball tomorrow?"

"Not playing," Xie Xiao said without hesitation, "I'm going to the bookstore."

Lin Yu: ... I forgot this guy is a study nerd who bombed the mock exam.

In the end, he muttered, "Shouldn't we balance work and rest? Bombing one exam doesn't mean anything!"

Xie Xiao sighed. If he didn't review now, it wouldn't just be one failed exam.

Even Mr. Lin thought his performance was affected by a broken heart when he ran into him in the corridor, and he began earnestly advising him.

Xie Xiao reassured him several times that it was just an accident and he could definitely bounce back next time. Only then did Mr. Lin, still skeptical, let him return to the classroom.

Of course, while studying was important, so was closing the gap with Luo Yanran.

As for basketball and Lin Yu, they could wait.

After the evening self-study session, Lin Yu hurried off and didn't wait for Xie Xiao, having heard that his grandma at home had lately taken not only to making breakfast but also to preparing midnight snacks.

This left Lin Yu speechless. Unable to change her mind, every day he had to rush home right after classes to help.

Xie Xiao packed up his things while still considering where else they could go tomorrow besides the bookstore and lunch.

Looking up, he saw Yan Shi eagerly following behind Zhou Mianmian, probably intending to walk her home.

However, Zhou Mianmian smiled and declined, and as she looked up, she accidentally met Xie Xiao's gaze.

Zhou Mianmian couldn't help but grip her backpack strap tighter, as if afraid Xie Xiao might misunderstand. She slightly increased her distance from Yan Shi and said softly, "No need to trouble you, I can go back by myself. See you next week."

Then she looked at Xie Xiao again only to find that he had already walked away.

Zhou Mianmian felt a bit dejected, then smiled to Yan Shi and hastily walked out.

Tonight Xie Xiao seemed to be going home alone; just now, he was also looking at her.

It's been so many days, had Xie Xiao calmed down?

Perhaps he was waiting for her just now? But he left after seeing Yan Shi?

She couldn't help but feel annoyed with Yan Shi, blaming him from the very beginning!

Zhou Mianmian brightened up as she saw the tall and straight silhouette of the boy ahead, "Xie Xiao!"?