Chapter 78

Chapter 78: Childhood Promise

Actually, Mei Fang hadn’t expected Lin You Xi to tell Xia Yuan about her feelings so soon. He felt that running for class president and saving money to buy a gift for her father had greatly influenced Lin You Xi’s character.

However, even if Lin You Xi didn’t bring it up tonight, Mei Fang still planned to have a serious talk with Xia Yuan.

After eating dinner at home, Mei Fang came over to do homework with Xia Yuan. It seemed Xia Yuan had been waiting for him for a long time, as she hurriedly pulled him into the room.

“Ah Fang, can you help me think of how to explain to Xiao Xue tomorrow? After I went home and thought about it, if I directly say that you and You Xi don’t like her, it might ruin our relationship in the future.”

Friends’ friends don’t necessarily become friends; this is actually quite common, so there’s no need to force it.

But Mei Fang couldn’t really take this stance, since Lin You Xi was introduced by Xia Yuan’s friend.

“Rather than that, I want to hear more about your friend… I only met her today, so I need to understand what kind of person she is before I can give you advice.”

Thus, Xia Yuan roughly told Mei Fang about her acquaintance with Peng Xue—how they became desk partners during the class committee election and how Peng Xue often shared snacks and cute stickers with Xia Yuan during her hardest study period.

“Peng Xue also wrote me encouraging notes before the mid-term exams, believing that I would definitely get good grades.”

Xia Yuan vividly described Peng Xue’s kindness to Mei Fang, “She knows much more about Bai Mei County than we do. She knows all the shops on the streets. I was thinking of taking her to the new roller-skating rink this weekend! But, if you two don’t like her, I’ll just decline…”

“Don’t rush to decline; that would be going to another extreme. You Xi doesn’t want to make leaving school together a routine, but occasionally she’s willing. For example, if you really want to check out that roller-skating rink, go ahead.”

“Then… should I go with just Xiao Xue?”

“Of course not, I’ll go with you too. As for You Xi… it depends on her.”

Xia Yuan happily nodded, pulling Mei Fang’s hand into her warm pocket for warmth.

“It’s always most comfortable talking with Ah Fang. Many things I couldn’t figure out suddenly make sense. Oh right, what did you and Xiao Xue talk about outside tonight? I guess you’re not as disgusted by Xiao Xue as you pretend, you just follow You Xi’s lead, right?”

“Yeah…”

Mei Fang held his chin in thought, “How should I put it… this might sound a bit narcissistic… but, I’ll tell you my feelings.”

“Sure! If you can say it, that’s great.”

Xia Yuan nodded with a smile, “This is my good childhood friend. Don’t hide secrets from me. Tell me, tell me, I’m listening!”

“In fact, I feel…”

Mei Fang scratched his head, “Your deskmate seems to have feelings for me.”

“Uh…”

“Ah?”

“Aaaah!”

Xia Yuan’s face turned pale, “Really or not, what did she say tonight to make you think that? Tell me word by word!”

“She said that among the boys she knows, none are as gentle and thoughtful as I am, and…”

Mei Fang recounted Peng Xue’s words to Xia Yuan without exaggeration.

“Hmm, although it’s true…”

Xia Yuan blushed, fidgeting with her fingers, “Oh, it’s all because I keep talking about you in front of her, making her interested in you. This is my fault.”

Mei Fang patted Xia Yuan’s head, “So, in the future, don’t talk about me in front of others. Some will envy, but many will think you’re showing off, which isn’t good.”

“By the way… how do you actually feel about her? Of course, as students, we should focus on studies, but I’m curious about your opinion…”

“What aspect?”

“Just… the one you’re thinking about.”

Xia Yuan earnestly said, “We are the best childhood friends. You must tell me the truth when I ask something.”

“Truthfully, she’s rather cute.”

Mei Fang deliberately observed Xia Yuan’s reaction, who looked nervous with her red face avoiding eye contact.

“But compared to our Yuan Yuan, there’s no comparison.”

Mei Fang gently patted Xia Yuan’s head, “Our Yuan Yuan is the cutest in the world.”

“What do you mean ‘our’? How embarrassing.”

Xia Yuan pinched Mei Fang’s hand in the warm pocket, “If she wants to leave school with us after class, I’ll just say I don’t want to… yeah, that’s it!”

Tsk tsk…

You specifically came to discuss how to explain to Peng Xue, didn’t you already have a solution?

However, through this self-sacrifice, Mei Fang helped Xia Yuan make up her mind to reject Peng Xue from joining them after class.

Just as Mei Fang was feeling proud of his clever maneuver, Xia Yuan suddenly stretched her hand out of the warm pocket, hugging herself as if shivering, looking weak and helpless, “Wu wu, it’s so cold, someone please pity me.”

This girl suddenly acted like an actress…

She should be sent to art school!

So, Mei Fang stood up to hug Xia Yuan.

“Are you warmer now, Miss Xia?”

“Hmm… hugging like this in winter feels nothing special.”

Xia Yuan hummed, “Let’s try again next summer.”

“Next summer…”

“What’s wrong? You don’t want to?”

“No, of course not.”

“Ah Fang, promise me something, okay… let’s say it’s a childhood promise.”

“Huh, what is it?”

“Think we should focus on our studies and not think about trivial matters, like getting too close to girls, what do you think?”

“So, what about now—”

“We are childhood friends, so hugging is fine.”

Mei Fang took a deep breath to calm himself, “Then you must follow this promise too.”

Mei Fang softly said, “We should study hard together and get into Bai Mei No.1 High School.”

“Mm-hm, of course!”

Xia Yuan nestled against Mei Fang’s shoulder with a sweet smile, “I’ll work super hard, I promise.”

“This time, we must strive to be in the same class, yes… the three of us, with You Xi.”

Since meeting Peng Xue, whenever Xia Yuan invited Peng Xue to any activity, Mei Fang would join too.

Because of the psychological preparation Mei Fang gave Xia Yuan, she always kept Mei Fang close during outings, preventing Peng Xue and Mei Fang from having alone time.

As for Mei Fang, based on his current understanding of Peng Xue, she was just a fashionable young girl with some early maturity thoughts.

It’s unclear if she was influenced by Xia Yuan, but she cared deeply about her studies and exam results.

Initially, Mei Fang worried that Xia Yuan might be led astray by Peng Xue, but he underestimated the influence of Yuan Yuan’s smile, which could truly affect those around her.

Looking back now, perhaps Peng Xue’s rebellious path, fighting, dropping out, and transferring schools, was due to a combination of family, school, and friends.

Back then, Mei Fang wasn’t Peng Xue’s friend and didn’t understand her inner thoughts, he was just an observer.

But if someone had reached out to her in her darkest moment, perhaps she wouldn’t have ended up where she did.

Of course, it’s too early to judge Peng Xue’s character now.

But for Mei Fang, he can now relax his guard a little bit.

The year 2008 concluded in a quiet and uneventful life.

After experiencing the last snowfall of 2008, everyone braved the cold to complete their first semester journey, each scoring satisfactory results on their final exams.

With the arrival of the first winter break, the Lunar New Year of 2009 was just days away.

For Lin You Xi, this would undoubtedly be a memorable New Year.

There will be a bonus winter hug picture at the end of this chapter. If it’s missing, it means it was censored.

End of Chapter