The arrival of the new student became the talk of Class 3 in the second year for several days. Fortunately, it was the first semester of the second year, so if she had come a couple of semesters later, it would be close to the college entrance exam. By then, catching up with the curriculum would be difficult, not to mention adapting to a new school.
“Su yanXi, where do you live? Let’s walk together after school.” Hu Ying casually ran over.
“In the South City District.” Su Yanxi put down her pen and looked up at her.
“That’s very close. Mu Qi and I live in Sunshine District right next to South City. It’s on the way. Let’s walk together?” Hu Ying sat on the front desk, straddled the chair, and said to them.
“Sure.” Su Yanxi smiled and nodded.
Mu Qi hadn’t spoken throughout the process. Hearing the conversation between the two, she felt a headache and flipped over the back of the desk and went out.
Now it was lunchtime, and the students were already hungry, hurrying home, longing to sit at the dinner table and enjoy a good meal.
On the way back, Hu Ying kept chatting with Su Yanxi, while Mu Qi walked ahead without saying a word.
“Seven Brother, what are you doing?” Hu Ying felt that Mu Qi had been out of sorts all day, and now she was silent, as if she had become a different person.
“Nothing.” Mu Qi waved her hand without turning back.
Su Yanxi watched Mu Qi’s back, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.
When they reached the entrance of Sunshine District, Hu Ying said goodbye to Su Yanxi, and then followed Mu Qi into the community.
Only when their figures disappeared did Su Yanxi retract her gaze, a smile on her lips, and she happily returned home.
Mu Qi opened the door, and the atmosphere inside was cold as usual. She walked into the kitchen and started cooking.
Ever since her parents divorced two years ago, she had been living alone. Every month, her dad or mom would come back to check on her. Tonight was the night when both would come together.
She didn’t like these kinds of days. Instead of having both of them awkwardly and uncomfortably come back, she preferred the way it was now—living alone.
After a simple bowl of noodles, Mu Qi went to her bedroom for a nap.
In the afternoon, Hu Ying came to get her.
“Are your parents coming back today?” Hu Ying didn’t think about it when they finished school but realized it when they were about to eat dinner.
“Yeah.” Mu Qi replied indifferently.
“Are we going out to eat together tonight?” Hu Ying looked at her sideways.
“Yeah.” Mu Qi lowered her head, kicked a stone at her feet, and let it roll ahead until it stopped in front of someone’s feet.
Seeing that person, Hu Ying quickly changed the topic, her face showing a smile. She said, “Su Yanxi, what a coincidence.”
“Are you two just getting ready for school?” Su Yanxi’s gaze fell on Mu Qi’s gloomy face, and she subtly furrowed her brows, wondering what was going on with her.
“Yeah, let’s go together.” Hu Ying said.
“Okay.” Su Yanxi nodded.
In fact, she had been waiting at the entrance of the community for more than ten minutes, hoping to wait for Mu Qi and then go to school together.
But thinking about Mu Qi’s expression, she had been secretly observing her all the way, wondering what was wrong with her.
To liven up the atmosphere, Hu Ying kept finding various topics, asking Su Yanxi about her previous school, why she transferred, and whether the transfer was late.
Unconsciously, the three arrived at the school gate.
“Seven Brother, you can’t sleep in Mr. Li’s class this afternoon, or we’ll really have to stand in the playground for everyone to see.” Hu Ying said.
“I’ll try.” Mu Qi lifted her foot and went up the stairs.
Hu Ying sighed and said, “You better not just try. The second class happens to be a physical education class.”
“I know, why are you so annoying, like an old nagging woman.” Mu Qi couldn’t help but pat the back of her head.
“I’ve worried so much.” Hu Ying exaggeratedly said, holding her heart.
Su Yanxi stood beside, covering her mouth, trying not to laugh. Mu Qi turned her head and saw the happy expression of the girl. When the latter realized she was caught, she quickly put on a serious face, put down her hand, and pretended not to have laughed.
In the first math class, it was like listening to a heavenly book for Mu Qi. From the beginning of the class until now, she couldn’t help but yawn four or five times. But every time she was about to lay her head on the desk, Mr. Li would glance over, forcing her to prop her head up with her hands.
“This is for you.” Su Yanxi took advantage of the teacher’s inattention, took out a small box of medicated oil from her desk, and handed it to Mu Qi.
Mu Qi lowered her head, glanced at the small red tin box, then looked at the girl. The latter was looking at her with anticipation. She neither refused nor accepted, just withdrew her gaze.
“You put a little here on your temples, and you won’t feel sleepy during class.” Su Yanxi thought Mu Qi might not know how to use it, so she quickly opened the medicated oil, applied a little on her fingertips, demonstrated by rubbing her temples, and then looked at Mu Qi, as if telling her that it’s done like this.
Mu Qi twitched at the corner of her mouth, inwardly criticizing whether this girl came here to make fun.
Seeing that Mu Qi hadn’t taken any action, Su Yanxi bit her lip, whispering, “Don’t you like it?”
With a face full of grievances, those who didn’t know might think Mu Qi had bullied her.
And among those who didn’t know was the teacher on the podium, Li Wei.
Seeing the new student looking so aggrieved, coupled with Mu Qi’s cold expression, he jumped to the conclusion that Mu Qi had bullied her. Stopping the class, he angrily shouted, “Mu Qi, stand up!”
Mu Qi and Su Yanxi looked at him in confusion, while the entire class eagerly watched the scene unfold.
Mu Qi stood up without saying a word.
“You go outside and stand there. Come in when you’ve figured out your attitude,” Li Wei pointed outside.
Mu Qi went out without a word. She was used to various teachers disliking her, and if it weren’t for her father being somewhat useful to the school, she would have probably been expelled long ago.
“Teacher!” Su Yanxi stood up at this moment, hesitating as she looked at Li Wei.
“Su Yanxi, don’t worry. I saw Mu Qi bully you just now. If she bullies you again later, you tell the teacher,” Li Wei comforted her, looking at her with approval.
He had a very good impression of this new student, who not only had good grades but also behaved obediently. For their lower-tier class, such a student was like a cherished treasure to each teacher.
“Teacher, although Mu Qi usually messes around a bit, you can’t bully her like this,” Hu Ying couldn’t stand it and stood up, challenging Li Wei.
“Shut up!” Li Wei didn’t say anything, but Mu Qi stopped her first, then said to Li Wei, “Teacher, I want to go to the bathroom.”
“Alright, go ahead.” Li Wei waved his hand, somewhat easing the awkward atmosphere.
“Teacher, I also need to go to the bathroom.” Hu Ying said and, without waiting for Li Wei’s reaction, followed Mu Qi out.
“Why did you stop me from speaking?” Hu Ying bumped into her with her elbow, clearly still annoyed by what happened earlier.
“You stopping me would only make the teacher lose face.” Mu Qi straightforwardly stated.
“Let the teacher worry about his own face; I don’t care.” Hu Ying rolled her eyes, showing clear defiance.
“After all, he is an elder.” Mu Qi said.
Hu Ying snorted, no longer saying anything. Although she knew she had acted impulsively just now, she couldn’t sit still when she saw her good friend being bullied.
“Luckily, Su Yanxi explained it to you; otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to wash away the accusation even if you jumped into the Yellow River.” Hu Ying said as she looked at her.
Thinking of the girl’s actions in class just now, Mu Qi felt her face twitching.
The other party treated her like she had an intellectual disability.
The two smoked in the bathroom, washed their hands, stood in the corridor for a couple of minutes to let the smoke dissipate, and only then did they return to the classroom.
Li Wei glanced at the two of them, then continued with the class.
“Sorry.” Su Yanxi knew it was because of her that the teacher criticized Mu Qi, and she felt extremely guilty during these ten minutes. Seeing Mu Qi now, she felt even more remorseful.
“Just pay attention to the class.” Mu Qi glanced at her. The underlying meaning was clear: don’t talk to me anymore.
Su Yanxi also understood this underlying meaning, lowered her head to fiddle with her fingers, and did not lift her head for the rest of the class.
Finally, the class ended, and the lively atmosphere in the classroom broke the awkwardness on their side.
“Seventh brother, let’s go, play basketball together!” Hu Ying called out.
Since the next class was physical education, Hu Ying had been eager to start. She looked at Su Yanxi and asked, “Little Xiaoxiao, do you want to join?”
“I’ll go.” Mu Qi hooked her arm around Hu Ying’s shoulder and went out.
Su Yanxi quickly followed.
At this point, the classmates in the classroom had already run to the playground. They liked physical education class more than regular classes.
The boys liked playing basketball, and the girls liked sitting on the grass chatting or playing volleyball and badminton.
Of course, girls who liked playing basketball, like Mu Qi and Hu Ying, were relatively rare. Moreover, the two of them played well, so whenever the boys played, they liked to join them.
Su Yanxi had never played these games, but she wanted to play with Mu Qi and the others. So, she took a basketball, ran to the corner of a basketball court, quietly dribbled the ball, and then imitated Mu Qi’s shooting posture, throwing the ball towards the basket.
However, each time, the force was not enough, and the basketball just brushed past the basket.
Mu Qi happened to turn her head and saw the girl hiding and avoiding the basketball rebounding from the basket. The sight made her involuntarily burst into laughter.
“What are you laughing at?” Hu Ying walked over and asked.
“Nothing.” Mu Qi withdrew her gaze, took the basketball thrown by the sports committee member, patted it on the ground a couple of times, and said, “Continue.”
