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Using Tan Jili’s locker as a wishing tree for the monthly exam became the most popular thing at school this week.
Several girls from Xu En’tang’s class gradually brought their own wishing red strings, taking the opportunity before morning self-study or during lunch break to go to the International Department.
On Thursday night, while Xu En’tang was doing her homework, her phone rang.
It was a call from Xia Ning.
The management at Licheng Experimental School, where she used to study, was much stricter than at Beicheng No. 1 Middle School. Phones were not allowed.
As a boarding student, Xia Ning could only use her phone when she returned home on Saturday afternoons.
Xu En’tang had chatted with her last weekend.
Now that it wasn’t the weekend, why was Xia Ning calling her?
Xu En’tang recalled that something similar had happened around this time in her past life.
She answered the call.
“Enbao, are you busy?”
Xia Ning’s voice came through the phone, a bit muffled, her tone very calm.
Calm to the point of being abnormal, lacking her usual vibrancy.
Xu En’tang: “Not busy. How did you get your phone?”
Xia Ning: “I took a leave to go home.”
Xu En’tang: “What happened?”
Xia Ning choked up.
Xu En’tang: “Ning Ning?”
After two or three seconds, Xia Ning’s voice trembled as she said, “My parents got divorced.”
Xu En’tang: “When did this happen?”
“They told me today, and they had already finalized the divorce,” Xia Ning said. “My dad left this afternoon, leaving the house for me and my mom.”
Her uncontrollable sobs made Xu En’tang’s heart ache. “Why did they get divorced?”
Xia Ning: “I don’t know either. Everything seemed fine when I went to school on Sunday afternoon.”
She couldn’t understand how everything changed so suddenly.
“Enbao, I don’t have a home anymore…”
Xia Ning started crying.
It was the first time Xu En’tang had heard Xia Ning cry like this.
The sound of her sobbing was heart-wrenching.
Comforting her with phrases like “Maybe separation is for the best for your parents” felt too insincere.
No one could truly empathize with the hurt and blow she was facing in this situation.
All Xu En’tang could do was accompany and listen to her, not letting her spiral into despair.
She faintly heard car horns in the background and asked, “Ning Ning, where are you now?”
Xia Ning’s voice was hoarse from crying: “I’m outside. I don’t want to go home.”
It was already past nine, and she was alone outside, which made Xu En’tang worry for her safety.
“Ning Ning, do you want to come to my house?”
Xu En’tang was referring to her home in Licheng.
“The neighbor has a spare key to my house. I can message her to let her know to leave the key under the doormat.”
Her neighbors had been close friends with Xu En’tang’s grandparents for over a decade.
Before moving to Beicheng, Xu En’tang had left a key with the neighbors in case something was needed while she wasn’t in Licheng.
Xia Ning choked out, “Enbao… thank you.”
Xu En’tang: “Don’t linger outside, just come to my house.”
Xia Ning replied, “Okay… thank you.”
Xu En’tang: “No need to be so polite. We’re good friends. I’m glad you thought of me.”
Xia Ning: “Yeah, I’m lucky to have you as a friend.”
After hanging up, Xu En’tang first messaged the neighbor.
After receiving a reply, she messaged Xia Ning again.
Xu En’tang: 【The key is under the doormat.】
Xu En’tang: 【Did you go to my house yet?】
Xia Ning: 【I’m on my way.】
Xu En’tang: 【Call me anytime if you feel down.】
Xia Ning: 【Okay.】
Xu En’tang stared at the chat log for a few seconds, still uneasy.
In her past life, Xia Ning’s life had changed from this incident onwards.
Not keeping in close contact with her had been a constant regret.
She didn’t know when that later-on cheating outsider had befriended Xia Ning.
After some hesitation, Xu En’tang decided to return to Licheng.
She didn’t want the events of her past life to repeat themselves.
She wanted Xia Ning to live a good life.
Grandpa and Grandma usually rested early, so Xu En’tang didn’t want to disturb them so late and went to find Aunt Zhou instead.
Aunt Zhou was very surprised when she heard this: “What? You’re going back to Licheng tomorrow?”
Xu En’tang nodded, “My good friend’s family has had some trouble, and I have to go and see her.”
After almost a month of living together, Aunt Zhou knew Xu En’tang wasn’t someone who would act recklessly.
Coupled with her firm attitude, Aunt Zhou didn’t say anything.
“What time are you planning to leave tomorrow?”
Xu En’tang: “In the morning.”
Aunt Zhou: “Should I ask someone to go with you? It’s not safe for you to go alone.”
Xu En’tang smiled, “No need, I can go back by myself.”
She added: “I won’t disturb Grandpa and Grandma Lu for now.”
Aunt Zhou: “Alright, I’ll tell them tomorrow morning.”
The next day, before Xu En’tang set off, she heard that Grandpa and Grandma Lu were already awake, so she went to say goodbye to them.
Grandpa and Grandma Lu had already heard about it from Aunt Zhou.
Both elders were a little worried about her going alone.
“Are you really sure you don’t need anyone to accompany you?” Grandpa Lu asked. “Or shall we wake Lu Jin up now and ask him to go with you?”
That was even less necessary.
Xu En’tang said, “Really, no need. I’ll be careful. The driver can just drop me off at the high-speed rail station.”
Grandma Lu: “Remember to send a message when you arrive to let us know you’re safe. We’ll take care of your leave from school.”
The high-speed rail journey from Beicheng to Licheng takes about four hours.
When she was about an hour away from Licheng, Xu En’tang messaged Xia Ning, telling her that she was on her way back to Licheng.
The high-speed rail arrived at Licheng station at 12:30 pm.
Seeing Licheng again after ten years, it felt truly like a lifetime ago.
As soon as Xu En’tang exited the station, she saw Xia Ning in the crowd.
“Enbao!”
They hugged.
When Xia Ning received Xu En’tang’s message, she thought she had misread it.
“You took a day off?”
Xu En’tang: “Yeah, for a day.”
Including the weekend, she could stay in Licheng for three days.
“You actually took a day off specially to come back for me.”
Xia Ning was incredibly moved, her eyes immediately reddening.
Seeing Xia Ning in person again, Xu En’tang’s nose also felt a bit sour.
She smiled at Xia Ning, “Don’t cry.”
Xia Ning nodded, “I’m really happy you’re back.”
She linked arms with Xu En’tang, “Let’s go eat first, let’s have your favorite beef hot pot.”
They didn’t talk much about Xia Ning’s parents’ divorce.
After eating beef hot pot, they strolled around the shopping mall and went to the snack street in the evening before heading home.
After arriving home, Xu En’tang went to say hello to the neighbor first.
After saying goodbye, her phone buzzed.
It was a message from Lin Jiayu.
It was just after school.
Lin Jiayu: 【I didn’t expect you to know Lu Jin!】
Mentioning Lu Jin out of the blue, Xu En’tang was a little puzzled.
Xu En’tang: 【What?】
Lin Jiayu: 【Some classmates saw him at the teacher’s office, Lu Jin came to ask for leave for you.】
It turned out Lu Jin had asked for leave for her.