Xiaobai Is Also Troubled Today

Pei Xiuming, the president of Bai Tingzhi's junior high club, wasn't a student at Bai Tingzhi's current school.
 

He had a chiseled face, a high nose bridge, and a gentle, friendly temperament that suited his golden hair. Many people had pursued him in the past, but Pei had always said that he was too young and had no intention of falling in love.
 
Whatever the case, why had he appeared here now?

 
"I came to see you."
 

Pei Xiuming's smile was sunny and full of life.
 
Bai Tingzhi was speechless and just gave him a look, letting him figure it out for himself.

 
"Haha, I'm with a friend on an errand and will be leaving later. I just came to see you on the way."
 

Pei Xiuming remembered they hadn't been in touch much, so Bai Tingzhi probably couldn't figure out how he'd found him.
 
"You came empty-handed?"

 
Even if they didn't communicate often, Bai Tingzhi still remembered the happy times in their junior high club. No matter how little contact there was between friends, a reunion after a long time wouldn't be too awkward.
 

Pei Xiuming's eyes were clear. "Next time, I promise."
 
"Are you still practicing piano?"
 

"Yeah..." Bai Tingzhi said, a little embarrassed. He had been slacking off for a long time.
 
Just then, the door of a distant office opened, and a student-like figure in a black windbreaker waved in their direction.

 
Pei Xiuming nodded toward the figure. "I'm leaving first. I'll come see you next time."
 

Bai Tingzhi waved his hand, not even saying goodbye.
 
Pei Xiuming took a few steps, then stopped, walked back to Bai Tingzhi, and stuffed something into his hand.

 
"You've gotten more beautiful," he whispered, then quickly left.
 

Zhou Qi, the class monitor, had been standing behind the door and now poked her head out.
 
"Why don't you introduce such a handsome classmate to us?"

 
"Does the class monitor want to fall in love?"
 

Bai Tingzhi wasn't surprised to see the girl appear beside him. He lowered his head and opened his palm.
 
It was an acrylic pendant of a white puppy.

 
More beautiful? You *&...￥#...
 

"I'm not interested in yellow-haired guys, but his face is really something!" Zhou Qi said excitedly.
 
Bai Tingzhi nodded with feeling and walked to his seat, Zhou Qi's voice gradually fading behind him.

 
"There are so many girls in our class, there must be someone he'd want to meet..."
 

Maybe, but Lao Pei probably wouldn't want to meet them...
 
The dim path of light was intermittent. Bai Tingzhi went home after the afternoon self-study, asking Xia Gu'an to hand in his homework so he didn't have to stay.

 
"Are you back?"
 

Chen Qianqian brought a plate of freshly fried bamboo shoots to the dining table just as she saw Bai Tingzhi opening the security door.
 
"I'm back."

 
"Come and eat quickly, before it gets cold."
 

"I know, I know..."
 
Bai Tingzhi responded listlessly and went to his room to change into some thin home clothes.

 
While he ate, Bai Tingzhi's mother noticed he wasn't in good spirits and wondered if something had happened at school.
 

"Tired?"
 
"No, just sleepy. The weather's been bad."

 
"Go to bed early after dinner," Chen Qianqian said with concern as she cleared the table. She and Bai Pushan had already eaten and were just waiting for Tingzhi to come back.
 

Bai Tingzhi buried his head in his bowl and went straight back to his room after finishing his meal.
 
"Why have I been so tired these days...?" he muttered, unable to understand it himself.

 
In a haze, the light in the room grew brighter and brighter...
 

"...Xiaobai! Xiaobai! Xiaobai! Xiaobai?"
 
Zhou Qi poked Bai Tingzhi's forehead with her finger, and it took a long moment to wake him up.

 
Bai Tingzhi, jolted back to his senses, shook his head vigorously, looking at the class monitor with wide, confused eyes.
 

"What's wrong?"
 
"You were so out of it, I was embarrassed to disturb you."

 
"But you called me."
 

"A girl is looking for you. Of course I had to call you."
 
"Oh, okay." He didn't ask, but he had already guessed who it was.

 
I haven't had a good rest these past two days. I should probably go to the hospital for a check-up when I have time.
 

Why isn't Lin Yunian back yet? Who knows where he's off visiting.
 
Bai Tingzhi paused after rounding the corner of the stairs and walked toward the open space behind the classroom.

 
The girl's back was thin, her long hair flowing over her shoulders.
 

"Classmate Junzhu."
 
"Xiaobai!"

 
Gu Junzhu turned around excitedly, her hands held behind her back.
 

Bai Tingzhi looked at Gu Junzhu again. She was beautiful, excellent, and seemed aloof but was actually a little shy.
 
"What's up?" he asked with a faint smile.

 
The girl shook her head excitedly. "It's nothing important."
 

Gu Junzhu brought her clasped hands in front of Bai Tingzhi and slowly opened them.
 
A cute chinchilla pendant.

 
"This is...?" Bai Tingzhi was a little unsure.
 

"I saw it yesterday. I wanted to give you a small gift today, Tingzhi."
 
He hesitated, unsure whether to accept. It was fine for a simple friend to receive a gift, but Gu Junzhu's intentions weren't so simple. The thoughts in his mind gradually became clear.

 
Gu Junzhu held her hand out for a while, but seeing that Bai Tingzhi didn't accept it, she grew sad.
 

Bai Tingzhi reached out, caught the girl's slowly retracting hand, and took the object.
 
"Thank you. I like it a lot."

 
Since they were friends, there was nothing wrong with accepting a gift. He just had to remember to give her something in return.
 

Seeing the sadness on Gu Junzhu's face disappear, Bai Tingzhi waited a moment before asking.
 
"What do you think of Lin Yunian, Classmate Junzhu?"

 
"Hmm... Lin? I don't know much about him." Gu Junzhu's eyes were full of doubt. "Lin seems pretty good, though. I used to see him at competitions all the time."
 

"Competitions?"
 
"Yes. He was very serious during the competitions, always so serious and calm."

 
Do top students only hang out with other top students? Serious and calm doesn't sound right. When has Lao Lin ever been serious?
 

"What do you think of him as a person, aside from his studies?"
 
Gu Junzhu smiled. "Tingzhi should know better than anyone. I heard you two grew up together, so you know what kind of person Lin is best."

 
It felt like Gu Junzhu had just neatly deflected the question by praising his friendship with Lin, and Bai Tingzhi’s train of thought came to a halt.
 

"Is Tingzhi coming to my house for dinner?"
 
Gu Junzhu's words startled Bai Tingzhi so much that he almost broke out in a cold sweat.

 
"No, no! My family usually cooks early. If I don't go back, the leftovers will have to be eaten tomorrow."
 

"Okay. Well, if you ever want to come, Tingzhi, you're welcome anytime."
 
The clanging sound of footsteps echoed on the wooden path as several teachers walked over, chatting.

 
This time, Gu Junzhu was even more anxious than Bai Tingzhi. "I'm leaving first! See you later!"
 

Seeing the slightly panicked expression on the girl's face, Bai Tingzhi laughed without trying to hide it, though not too loudly.
 
Unfortunately, the ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) girl fleeing in a panic didn't see it, leaving only her hurried back.

 
The longan trees beside the wooden path were evergreen, with no trace of the fruits of previous years. He had just started high school and didn't know about these things yet.
 

Last year.
 
When he had first come here last semester and passed by this spot, the blooming osmanthus flowers danced with the wind, their fragrance carrying that same inexplicable, budding feeling.

 
Hazy, clear, and like a dream.