Chapter 20: Twelve Years Old – Heart Fluttering

This idea was quite good.

Xuezhu immediately went home to discuss it with her mother. Her mother didn’t think much about it and nodded, even suggesting that Xuezhu also bring food to Meng Yuning.

“Bring food?” Xuezhu asked, confused. “Doesn’t the school have a canteen?”

“Eating at the canteen all the time isn’t good. For someone in their third year of high school, they definitely need to eat better. Your brother Zihan doesn’t eat at the canteen, every day, his mom prepares his meals and brings them to the school gate,” her mother replied.

Xuezhu, hearing that Zihan’s mom brings him food every day at noon, instinctively asked, “Then why doesn’t Aunt Xu bring food for Ningning?”

Song Yanping froze for a moment, then quickly brushed it off with an excuse: “Children don’t understand these things.”

Xuezhu didn’t press, but she could guess: “Is it because Aunt Xu is a stepmother, so she isn’t as nice to Ningning?”

She wasn’t a stranger to the story of Snow White, so why try to fool her as if she were still a young child?

“Don’t say that in front of Uncle Meng,” Song Yanping warned first, then sighed. “Actually, Xu Qin… she’s not bad to Ningning.”

Before Ningning started high school, he had been eating at Xuezhu’s house for years, and the couple had gotten used to having four pairs of chopsticks at the table. Later, when Ningning stayed at school for meals, Song Yanping had brought up the idea to Old Meng during this crucial time in Ningning’s third year of high school, suggesting that they deliver food to him to ensure he’s getting proper nutrition. But Old Meng, saying he was too busy, refused. Song Yanping had then offered to deliver the food herself, but Old Meng declined, not wanting to owe anyone any favors because of his son.

“Busy with what? He can find time to invite people over for cards but can’t find time to deliver food to his son?” Song Yanping mumbled, criticizing Old Meng for his behavior as a father. “A few years ago, he still cared about Ningning, but now that he married another woman, he doesn’t care about his son.”

Of course, Xuezhu didn’t hear any of this. She happily went back to her room to start her homework.

That evening, Song Yanping mentioned to Pei Lianyi that Xuezhu wanted to visit her brother.

Since it wasn’t a bad idea, Pei Lianyi agreed, saying, “Then let her go.”

“Also, I want Xuezhu to bring food to Ningning. If Ningning likes it, we can take turns delivering him lunch during our lunch breaks. What do you think?”

“Okay, it’s up to you.”

“Then tomorrow, buy some of Ningning’s favorite dishes at the market. Do you remember what he likes?”

“Yes, he has similar tastes to Xiao Zhu, but he doesn’t eat spicy food.”

Song Yanping nodded in satisfaction, smiling as she said, “You can deliver food to Ningning at noon, and you can also cancel those chaotic business meals you have. Who drinks alcohol in the middle of the day? It’s lucky that your director never checks the class in the afternoon.”

“I told you, it’s not chaotic,” Pei Lianyi waved his hand helplessly. “It doesn’t hurt to know more people.”

Song Yanping frowned, speaking earnestly: “You’re a civil servant, working at the tax bureau. You should be careful about who you associate with. If someone notices and reports you, what then? You’ll be in big trouble.”

Pei Lianyi’s tone grew a little impatient: “Oh, so civil servants can’t have friends?”

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

Pei Lianyi glared at his wife, saying irritably, “Then what did you mean? I now regret that I honestly took the civil service exam and joined the tax bureau. I get this pitiful salary every month, and some of my old classmates in Guangzhou already own several houses. They weren’t even as good as me when we were in school, but now they casually wear watches worth tens of thousands!”

Song Yanping’s temper flared, and she sharply retorted, “Why are you always comparing yourself to others? Just focus on living your own life. Is there anything about our current life that you’re dissatisfied with? Although we’re not wealthy, we’re certainly not poor. We both have stable jobs, we’re able to raise Xiao Zhu well, and we don’t lack anything. What else do you want?”

Pei Lianyi turned his face away, muttering, “I just think that if I hadn’t been so content with the status quo when I was younger, if I had gone out to fight for success, maybe Xiao Zhu could have gone abroad to study now!”

Song Yanping sneered, “Pei Lianyi, if you hadn’t joined the tax bureau back then, would you have met me? And sending Xiao Zhu abroad to study—what a pipe dream you’re having.”

“…Say whatever you want.”

Pei Lianyi didn’t bother to argue with his wife anymore. He put on his coat and prepared to leave.

“It’s so late, where are you going?”

“Just going out for a smoke.”

“…Smoking and drinking again. I see you don’t care about your health anymore.”

“You should save that for reminding Old Meng,” Pei Lianyi said in a low voice while bending over to change his shoes. “I think his body is going to give out sooner or later. Every time I see him coughing like his lungs are about to come out, and he’s still smoking.”

Song Yanping scoffed, “You’d better take care of yourself first.”

“…”

Meanwhile, Xuezhu, who was in her room, had been eavesdropping by the door. She breathed a sigh of relief when the argument between her parents finally ended.

A few minutes later, the door was knocked on. It was Song Yanping outside.

“Xiao Zhu, open the door.”

Xuezhu quickly scrambled to pull off the dust cover from the piano, opened the piano lid, and pretended to have just gotten up from the piano bench as she opened the door for her mom.

Song Yanping stood at the door, her tone uncharacteristically apologetic: “What I said earlier to your father…”

“Huh?” Xuezhu blinked innocently, “I was just practicing the piano.”

“Really?” Song Yanping nodded. “Well, keep practicing, and go to bed early after you’re done.”

“Mm.”

After her mom left, Xuezhu closed the door again.

She wasn’t in the mood to practice the piano, nor did she want to do her homework. Instead, she took out the class yearbook from her bag and flipped through the pages to read the messages from her classmates.

When she reached Chi Yue’s page, she saw that he had filled out every section, even including things like his favorite food and the places he wanted to visit—things Xuezhu had no interest in.

He also wrote down his parents’ phone numbers, including their home landline number.

The only personal contact he included was his QQ number.

Xuezhu pouted.

She wasn’t going to add him.

Flipping to the next pages, Xuezhu finally understood why Chi Yue had taken an entire day to fill out his yearbook.

He had written a lot—almost filling an entire page.

And it was written in pencil, as Xuezhu could see eraser marks where he had made corrections.

It’s just a yearbook, does it really need to be drafted with a pencil?

How did she not notice before that Chi Yue is such a busybody?

【Pei Xuezhu, even though we always argue at school, I don’t actually dislike you. I hope you can get into a good middle school after graduation, stay happy every day, and have everything go smoothly.】

The last sentence made Xuezhu slightly change her opinion of him.

Looking back to when she was in third or fourth grade, even Xuezhu herself thought how childish those days seemed.

She thought, although her parents often argued recently, it didn’t necessarily mean they disliked each other.

She had to admit that Chi Yue’s yearbook made her feel a bit better, and she began to regret how perfunctory her own message to him was.

Even if she didn’t write a whole essay like he did, she probably shouldn’t have just written six words. After being classmates for six years, to send him off with just six words felt a little… off.

It made her seem rather cold-hearted.

—

When Saturday came, Song Yanping made lunch and packed it in a thermal food container for Xuezhu to deliver to Meng Yuning.

“You’re going with Aunt Zhong, she’ll help you deliver the food to brother Zihan.”

“Got it,” Xuezhu replied.

Soon, Aunt Zhong came to call for her to leave.

Xuezhu got on the bus with Aunt Zhong. The scenery along the way was all unfamiliar and fresh. Even though Meng Yuning’s high school wasn’t far, to Xuezhu, any trip to an unfamiliar area felt like a new adventure.

Seeing that Xuezhu was delivering lunch to Meng Yuning today, Aunt Zhong, knowing that their families were close, started chatting with her casually as they rode the bus, like neighbors do: “Ningning is so self-motivated. His parents don’t interfere, yet he still manages to be the top student every year. If my Zihan were half as smart as Ningning, I wouldn’t have to spend so much money sending him to all these extra classes.”

Xuezhu said, “But I think brother Zihan is really smart. He’s always in the top 20 in his grade.”

“Being in the top 20 is good, but it’s still a big gap compared to Ningning,” Aunt Zhong sighed. “Xiao Zhu, you’re still young and don’t understand, but Ningning’s grades make getting into Tsinghua or Peking University a sure thing. But Zihan can only try his best, and with some luck, maybe he can get in.”

Xuezhu had often heard adults say that children with good grades would get into Tsinghua or Peking University for their college entrance exam, as if those schools were the ultimate goal for all exam takers.

Over time, hearing this so often, she also started to think that getting into Tsinghua or Peking University would truly be a glorious achievement for the family.

And now, there was someone around her who could actually get into Tsinghua or Peking University.

The bus arrived at its destination, and Xuezhu got off with Aunt Zhong.

There were already many parents standing at the school gate.

“Auntie, are all these people here to deliver food to their kids?”

“Yes.”

It turned out that, except for Ningning’s dad, all the other parents hoped their children could eat freshly cooked, nutritious meals from home during their senior year of high school.

After waiting for about ten minutes, the bell for the end of class rang out from the school’s clock tower.

Groups of high school seniors in their uniforms walked towards the school gate.

Aunt Zhong spotted her son from a distance and waved enthusiastically: “Zihan, over here!”

Zhong Zihan jogged over, clearly surprised when he saw Xuezhu: “Why is Xuezhu here today?”

“Xuezhu came to deliver food to Ningning. Isn’t he with you?”

“He’s not getting food from his dad, so of course, he’s not with me,” Zhong Zihan replied. “He’s probably over by the basketball court right now.”

Aunt Zhong frowned: “Why isn’t he eating in the cafeteria during lunchtime?”

“He says it’s too crowded at this time. Usually, after class, he goes to the basketball court first to play, and then when the cafeteria isn’t so crowded, he goes to eat.”

“Then, by the time others are finished, is there still food left?”

“Yeah, but the food’s cold by then.”

Since her son and Meng Yuning were in the same grade, Aunt Zhong couldn’t help but feel concerned: “Oh dear, it’s such a tough time in senior year. How can he eat cold food? Why haven’t you mentioned this to Uncle Meng?”

“He told me not to tell his dad,” Zhong Zihan pursed his lips and sighed. “Mom, you can’t tell Uncle Meng either.”

“…Alright, I won’t interfere in other people’s business,” Aunt Zhong pushed Xuezhu a little forward, “Quickly take Xuezhu to find Ningning, and remember to bring the lunchbox back when you’re done.”

“Got it,” Zhong Zihan said, holding the lunchbox with one hand while taking Xuezhu’s hand with the other. “Xuezhu, I’ll take you to find him.”

Xuezhu obediently followed her brother into the campus. Zhong Zihan noticed that, aside from holding the lunchbox, she was also carrying a small backpack.

“Are you still going to class today? Why are you carrying a backpack?” Zhong Zihan asked, curious.

“This is my yearbook. I brought it for you all to write in,” Xuezhu suddenly remembered, handing the lunchbox to him. “Brother, can you hold it for me?”

Xuezhu moved the backpack to the front of her chest, unzipped it, and pulled out a large yearbook.

Zhong Zihan acted like he’d never seen one before and exclaimed, “Wow, a yearbook. How nostalgic.”

Xuezhu was puzzled: “Aren’t you graduating too? Don’t you write in these?”

“Ah, we stopped writing those a long time ago,” Zhong Zihan smiled. “These are for little kids.”

When Xuezhu heard that only younger kids wrote in yearbooks, she hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to give it to her brother.

Her expression betrayed her feelings, and her sudden disappointment made Zhong Zihan both amused and helpless.

“But you’re the exception. Come on, give me a page,” Zhong Zihan stretched out his hand. “I’ll write in it today, and I’ll bring it to you tomorrow when I go home.”

Seeing that her brother was willing to help, Xuezhu instantly cheered up: “Okay! If Ningning isn’t coming home tomorrow, remember to bring his page back to me too.”

“No problem.”

The high school basketball court was several times larger than the one at Xuezhu’s elementary school. As far as the eye could see, there was open space, with more than a dozen basketball hoops. Since it was mealtime, there were very few students playing basketball, and it was easy to spot someone.

Zhong Zihan, much taller than Xuezhu and with a broader view, quickly spotted his target.

He shouted towards the target: “Meng Yuning! Xuezhu is here to find you!”

Meng Yuning, still playing basketball, didn’t hear him, so Zhong Zihan had to ask Xuezhu to move a little closer.

“Hold the lunchbox properly, don’t let the basketball knock it over.”

Hearing this, Xuezhu quickly hugged the lunchbox to her chest, using both hands to firmly protect it.

“Brother!” she shouted towards Meng Yuning.

Her clear, sweet voice finally caught Meng Yuning’s attention, pulling him away from his focus on basketball.

He still held the basketball in his hands, sweat dripping down his face as he turned to look at her. The moment he saw her, his beautiful eyes widened in surprise, and his lips parted in shock, frozen in place.

After a few seconds, the young man quickly recovered, tossed the basketball to a teammate, and ran over to her.

The distance of several dozen meters seemed to shrink to just a few steps as he quickly reached her.

Meng Yuning was still catching his breath, his usual dry school uniform now damp with sweat. The prominent Adam’s apple in his thin neck moved up and down rapidly, and sweat dampened his bangs, which stuck together in small clumps on his forehead. His eyes were as clear as ever, with his tea-colored pupils clearly reflecting Xuezhu’s stunned expression.

The young man bent down, placing his hands on his knees to be at eye level with her. The surprise from earlier had clearly been processed, and his voice, now soft, carried a hint of delight: “Xuezhu, why are you here?”

Xuezhu was still a little dazed, and she dumbly raised the lunchbox: “I brought you lunch.”

Meng Yuning was really stunned this time.

He stood there, speechless, for a long moment before slowly reaching out to take the lunchbox from her. With his chin slightly raised and his eyes lowered, he quietly said, “Thank you.”

His teammates, seeing he hadn’t come back for a while, shouted from a distance: “Meng Yuning, what are you doing over there? Are you still playing?”

Meng Yuning straightened up, turning to answer his teammates: “I’ll play later, I’m eating first.”

He took the lunchbox and walked over to the bleachers to sit down and eat.

Zhong Zihan sat beside him, finally able to open his lunchbox and enjoy his meal.

Curious about what Xuezhu’s family had prepared for Meng Yuning, Zhong Zihan leaned over to take a look and immediately exclaimed: “Wow, so fancy, all meat!”

Xuezhu giggled: “Mom said senior year is a crucial time, so I should make sure to eat well and replenish my energy.”

She always found her mom’s nagging annoying, but she remembered every word clearly.

“This is a bit too much,” Zhong Zihan shrugged. “He’s already 1.83 meters tall, if he keeps eating like this, what about me?”

Meng Yuning, amused but helpless, said: “It’s just three centimeters taller than you, stop complaining.”

Zhong Zihan exaggerated with a dramatic gasp: “Three centimeters isn’t much? Then you can give me your three centimeters!”

Meng Yuning calmly and generously responded: “If you can take them, go ahead.”

“Hmph.”

The boys who had been playing basketball with Meng Yuning were all watching in disbelief, never having seen anyone bring him food before. They ran over to surround Xuezhu, staring at her from all sides.

Xuezhu had never been surrounded by so many older boys before. She fidgeted, nervously wringing her fingers, and quietly greeted them: “Hello.”

The older boys subtly raised their lips and responded one by one.

“Hello, hello.”

“Hi, little sister.”

“You’re so cute, little sister.”

Xuezhu felt a little shy being complimented. She scratched her nose, unsure whether she should modestly deny it or confidently say thank you.

Meng Yuning pulled Xuezhu away from the boys, his tone displeased: “You all smell like sweat, stay away from my sister, don’t make her uncomfortable.”

Zhong Zihan laughed aloud: “Meng Yuning, you’re drenched in sweat too, how dare you talk about others? Come on, Xuezhu, come sit next to me.”

The boys chimed in: “Yeah, Meng Yuning, you’re the same!”

Although Xuezhu sat next to Zhong Zihan, when Meng Yuning had pulled her close earlier, she hadn’t actually thought his sweat smelled bad.

It was a clean, refreshing scent, full of youthful energy, like the soft spring rain in March or April gently falling on the grass.

One of the boys said to Meng Yuning, “This is the first time I’ve seen your family bring you lunch. I thought you didn’t want your family to come because it would be a hassle.”

Before Meng Yuning could respond, another boy immediately mocked him: “Do you even know anything? ‘Family’ for her is okay?”

Xuezhu wanted to tell them that she was actually just the neighbor across from Meng Yuning.

“It’s family,” Meng Yuning suddenly said.

Quickly, he turned his body slightly, tilted his head, and smiled at Xuezhu. His clean, low voice carried a hint of playfulness and tenderness: “Xuezhu is my little parent.”

Xuezhu didn’t respond. It wasn’t that she disagreed with him, but suddenly she found herself at a loss for words.

Her heart was suddenly filled with a rush of boiling hot water, and her heart began to beat uncontrollably, as if it were about to stop altogether.

The air in early summer was already scorching, and the steam rising from the ground made all the images in front of her twist, as if her heartbeat, which thudded louder with every beat, was reflected in the sound of the basketball hitting the court. Even though there was shade, it felt like she was exposed under the blazing sun, hotter than the sunlight itself, her whole body burning from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.

Thump, thump—

Xuezhu could clearly hear her frantic heartbeats because of him.

She didn’t understand what this was.

A face she could normally look at boldly, suddenly she couldn’t bear to look at it anymore.

A brother who used to joke and tease her, suddenly felt like her own obsession.