Chapter 5: That Delicate Flower (5)

“Is something wrong?” Song Qi glanced at Qin Xiao.

An Yao and the others fell silent, sneaking looks their way.

Qin Xiao had come back to talk to Song Qi because he was annoyed, but he hadn’t prepared what to say. With An Yao and the others watching him, he had even less idea.

“No.” Qin Xiao took a deep breath. “I just wanted to call your name.”

Then he slumped onto his desk, looking inexplicably world-weary.

“What’s wrong with him?” An Yao whispered.

Song Qi shrugged. “How should I know what goes on in a teenage boy’s head?”

Qin Xiao heard her and turned to look at her, narrowing his eyes.

“Are you trying to pick a fight with me?”

Qin Xiao frowned. “I don’t hit girls.”

Song Qi laughed. Her smile looked a little strange. “Oh, really?”

The bizarre conversation ended when the homeroom teacher came in.

There were only a few days left before the National Day holiday. Using her friendship with Song Qi as an excuse, Gu Si came to their classroom after every lesson. But when she got there, she mostly watched Qin Xiao. Sometimes she brought food, though Qin Xiao never accepted any.

“Are you really friends with that girl?” Qin Xiao asked Song Qi. “I refuse to believe you don’t see what she’s like.”

“So?”

“So, are you getting close to her just to torment me?”

Song Qi looked at him as if he were an idiot. “What was your name again?”

Qin Xiao: “Enough. Stop talking.”

Song Qi smiled faintly. Qin Xiao reminded her of one of her deputy generals back home. That one had been just as foolish—foolish to an almost impressive degree.

She couldn’t help teasing idiots. It was about the only fun she had these days.

Gu Si came by with food again. As usual, she gave Song Qi some, then turned to Qin Xiao. “Brother Qin Xiao…”

Song Qi saw Qin Xiao shudder three times.

“Can you stop coming to see me? Haven’t I made myself clear?” Qin Xiao looked at Gu Si with cold indifference. “Why are you so shameless?”

Gu Si bit her lip and looked at him, wounded. Her eyes reddened at once.

Song Qi propped her chin on her hand and watched Gu Si. Her eyes narrowed.

That expression just makes me want to bully her more.

After looking for another moment, Song Qi turned away and ate one of the cookies Gu Si had brought.

“Brother Qin Xiao, do you really hate me that much? I didn’t mean any harm. I just wanted us to be like we were when we were little.” Gu Si wiped away her tears.

Her voice wasn’t loud, but everyone in the classroom could hear. All eyes turned toward them.

“But I don’t even know you. I have no memory of you. And even if I did, that was then and this is now. I don’t want anything to do with you. Got it?” Qin Xiao said. Then he looked at Song Qi. “Class monitor, aren’t students supposed to stay in their own classes? You let her come in here every day. Isn’t that a bit much?”

Before Song Qi could answer, Gu Si glanced at Qin Xiao. “Brother Qin Xiao, don’t be angry. I’ll leave.”

The onlookers: ???

After Gu Si left, An Yao leaned over, her face full of gossip. “Where’d you find that green tea?”

“Picked her up by the side of the road.” Song Qi held out the cookie. “Want one? They’re pretty good.”

An Yao: …

Most of the girls could see what Gu Si was like, but some of the boys couldn’t.

Quite a few boys in their grade liked Gu Si. She was petite and cute, with a sweet voice. When she pouted, she made their hearts melt. Plenty of them genuinely thought she was a sweet, innocent girl who’d been wronged.

So when one of the boys told Qin Xiao not to be so mean to her, Qin Xiao stared at him like an old man trying to make sense of his phone. First he was baffled, then he was angry.

“You guys really can’t tell she’s a green tea?” Qin Xiao asked, in complete earnest.

The boy who’d come to talk to him frowned. “Girls cry. It’s normal. How can you say that about her?”

The girls nearby looked at Qin Xiao in surprise. An Yao even gave him an emphatic nod.

“I just don’t want her clinging to me,” Qin Xiao said, leaning against the desk behind him. “You probably don’t understand, but it’s really annoying.”

The boy frowned. “She’s a girl who’s swallowed her pride to come see you. How can you trample on her feelings like that?”

Qin Xiao turned to Song Qi. “Class monitor, this is all your fault.”

“You’re blaming the class monitor now?” the boy said.

Qin Xiao: …

The most put-upon male lead in history. No contest.

After the boy left, Qin Xiao leaned back against the desk behind him and stared at Song Qi, looking miserable.

“Qin Xiao.”

“Mm?”

“Have you settled into the class?”

“What?”

“Just asking.”

“What would I have to get used to?”

“Good. I’ll ask the homeroom teacher after class when they plan to change the seating.” Song Qi said.

Qin Xiao: ???

“You’re kicking me out already?” He looked even more aggrieved.

Song Qi’s mouth twitched. “Your seat isn’t a good fit anyway. And didn’t you say you didn’t want Gu Si coming to see you? If you move, she won’t be able to use me as an excuse to get close to you.”

“You finally get it? You’re cutting her off?”

“No.” Song Qi glanced at Qin Xiao. “Boys shouldn’t stick their noses into everything.”

“I’m worried about you.”

“Thanks. Don’t be.”

Song Qi did go to the teacher’s office after class, but her request to change seats was rejected. The teacher didn’t give a reason. Song Qi figured it had to be because the plot required it.

When she returned to the classroom, Gu Si was sitting in her seat, chatting with An Yao and the others. Every so often, she glanced at Qin Xiao. An Yao and the others were only half listening, and the whole conversation had a strong fake-friend vibe.

Gu Si stood up as soon as she saw Song Qi and smiled. “Where did you go?”

“To see the homeroom teacher.” Song Qi sat down on the edge of her chair. “I wanted to change seats, but the teacher said no.”

“Why?” An Yao asked, frowning.

Song Qi shook her head. “The teacher didn’t say.”

“Why would you want to change seats?” Gu Si looked at Song Qi, frowning. “Isn’t it fine the way it is?”