Chapter 12

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Every year, the first of September was a big day for all students. The ones in their second year would move on to their third year, the first years would become second years, and there would be a new batch of fresh young faces in the first year.

Early in the morning from the corridor of the second floor, Qi Fei looked down. Zhang Ganggang had made a few journeys back and forth to move several books, and when he returned, Qi Fei was still standing there.

“What are you looking at?” Zhang Ganggang went up to him.

Qi Fei hooked his arm around Zhang Ganggang’s neck, speaking with a mysterious expression, “I heard that there’s a beauty amongst the first years. Come, look out for her with as she walked out of her room. When she saw her grandson, she was startled.

Xie Meng, “…”

“Why didn’t you let me know you were back?” Zhang Xiujuan threw the mask away and complained. “Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?”

“I’ll make something myself if I’m hungry. You should head to bed,” Xie Meng urged. Zhang Xiujuan yawned and patted him on the head, “Then I’m going to bed, don’t stay up too late.”

Xie Meng nodded. He drank some water, and his head again started to hurt when he remembered Lin Weixin.

The urn in front of his parents’ portraits was full. Xie Meng poured out some of the ashes onto the plants, and lit three joss sticks and inserted them into the urn.

The fragrance of the joss stick wafted into his nose. As though possessed, Xie Meng touched his lips with his fingers.

It felt as though there were still traces of Ji Qinyang left.

As the training class started at 2pm every day, Xie Meng would still attend school as per normal in the morning. The first thing Zhang Ganggang asked upon seeing him was about Rourou.

“…” Xie Meng had completely forgot about it. He was very apologetic, “I’ll help you ask today… I really forgot.”

Zhang Ganggang was magnanimous. “It’s alright. Then did you bring the album?”

Ever since his visit to Xie Meng’s house, Zhang Ganggang had been thinking non-stop about the photos taken by Xie Meng’s parents.

Xie Meng did not forget this. “Yes.” He took the album out from his bag, and Lin Weixin’s letter was accidentally pulled out along with it. Zhang Ganggang deftly grabbed it.

“You actually received a love letter and you didn’t show it to me?!” Zhang Ganggang was jealous. “Are we still buddies?!”

“…” Xie Meng replied awkwardly, “It’s not what you think it is…”

Zhang Ganggang held the letter up, refusing to let him take it back. Suddenly, his hand was empty, and he turned around to see Ji Qinyang standing behind him.

Ji Qinyang raised his brow. Around his neck were the headphones Xie Meng had given him. Waving the letter in his hand lightly, he had a smile on his face. “A love letter?”

Xie Meng somehow felt guilty. He opened his mouth, denying it, “No…”

“Oh.” Ji Qinyang responded, “Then I’ll help you throw it away?”

Xie Meng frowned.

Ji Qinyang looked at him, and tossed the letter onto the table. His smile dimmed a little, “I was joking. You can keep it.”

When Xie Meng tidied his bag in the afternoon, he purposely took out Lin Weixin’s letter. Thinking about it, he finally stuffed it into a pile of books in his desk.

Xie Meng took a leave of absence from the PE class. There was no one in the classroom. He packed his bag, and Ji Qinyang came in as he was about to leave.

Just as their eyes met, Xie Meng unconsciously shifted his eyes. As a result, his action was too deliberate, and instead made things awkward.

“You’re leaving now?” Ji Qinyang greeted him with a natural expression.

“Mn.” Seeing that Ji Qinyang was calm, Xie Meng too relaxed a little. He looked at Ji Qinyang wearing the headphones and could not help asking, “Ji Qinyang… How does your family express their gratitude?”

“?” Ji Qinyang was baffled. “Why are you suddenly asking about this?”

Xie Meng bit his tongue. “That day… when you kissed me… Was it because you were very happy… and wanted to thank me?”

Ji Qinyang was silent, before he laughed, “Why do you think of it in this manner?”

Xie Meng, “…”

Ji Qinyang walked up and stood next to Xie Meng. Removing his headphones, he placed them on his head. Xie Meng unconsciously retreated, but his arm was caught by Ji Qinyang.

The melody coming from the headphones was foreign yet familiar. Xie Meng only felt a warmth on his lips, the entire world quietening down, only leaving Ji Qinyang’s singing, as though he was whispering in his ear.

“Your smile of fleeting snow, lights upon my heart, little by little, bit by bit, hidden under the traces of our lives together.”