At five-thirty in the afternoon, Bai Fengjiu's father poked his head out of the kitchen, "What do you all want to eat?" This tall, thin man's surname was Qi, Qi Juezhi. His daughter took her mother's surname, and this father's presence was becoming increasingly negligible; he was simply providing a place to eat.
Zou Jiaqi was a bit flustered, "I won't stay for dinner, I'll leave in a bit."
For the past twenty-six minutes and fifty seconds, he had been on pins and needles. He regretted being so foolish as to follow his class monitor home; the atmosphere was simply too awkward.
The most terrifying thing was that among the four people in the room, he was the only one who felt uncomfortable, suddenly feeling isolated. Simon and the class monitor worked on their homework, even casually exchanging a few words. Mr. Qi remained hidden in the kitchen, preparing dinner, and the warm, fragrant smell of rice wafted through the door crack, filling the entire living room.
The little chatterbox was now scared, hungry, and frustrated. Scared of the awkward situation, hungry for their food, and frustrated that he couldn't speak. It was truly agonizing.
[Zou Jiaqi: You ask me what I think? My thought is regret, deep regret!]
Bai Fengjiu heard the little chatterbox's words and looked up. She remained seated, but her neck slowly turned, moving at a steady pace, her gaze like a tangible column of cold air, hitting Zou Jiaqi's face little by little.
[Zou Jiaqi: Class monitor, are you a robot? So scary!]
Mr. Qi tried to persuade him, "Oh, just stay and eat a meal with us, it's no problem. Just send an email to your family. After you're done studying, I'll have Bai Fengjiu see you off."
Zou Jiaqi: "Thank you, Uncle, but... uh, okay, okay." Goosebumps were starting to appear on his face.
Simon said loudly, "Thank you, Uncle, I want to eat braised pork!"
Mr. Qi was startled for a moment, "Braised pork? There's no time, I've already made stir-fried pork with bamboo shoots."
"I like stir-fried pork with bamboo shoots too, thank you, Uncle!"
Simon's carefree demeanor made Zou Jiaqi's eyelids twitch. Once Mr. Qi's head retracted into the kitchen, the little chatterbox immediately leaned close to Simon's ear and whispered, "When are we leaving?"
"Isn't it good to leave after eating?" Simon also replied softly. He noticed Bai Fengjiu's gaze shifting towards them, so he looked up to meet her eyes. The class monitor still had her stern and serious expression, but her lips were pursed. It was then that Simon noticed she had some baby fat on her cheeks, like a little hamster.
Xiao Lu smiled, a very formal smile, "What's wrong? Did you encounter a problem?"
Bai Fengjiu: "I'm wondering why you're not sad."
"Sad? Because you refused to help me? Then I am a little sad," he twirled his pen, "but actually, it's just that. A band or no band, it's just finding something to do. If it can make my Great-Grandfather happy, that's good, but if not, it doesn't matter."
Zou Jiaqi tilted his head, "That's not right. At this point, shouldn't you be giving some inspiring speech to move the class monitor and then get her to join the band?"
Simon: "...You should watch less of those meaningless things, you're obsessed. If the class monitor doesn't want to join, do I have to drag her into it?" He dropped his pen, propped his head with his right hand, and looked out the living room window. The potted fruit plants were lush with leaves, adorned with the golden-red glow of the twilight, giving off a strong sense of everyday life.
He whispered, "Besides, the band was Su Xiangli's idea, she's the one in charge."
Bai Fengjiu: "If she wants something, will you help her?"
"Of course, I said I would help her for life." Xiao Lu smiled, "You understand." He slightly turned his head to look at Bai Fengjiu, unconsciously pouring out his tender affection, but the girl remained calm, like a mirror lake reflecting stars and moon.
[Zou Jiaqi: I feel so superfluous.]
Bai Fengjiu: "Is there love between you two?" She was exceptionally expectant, unable to resist anything elegant.
Simon: "...I don't know."
Zou Jiaqi: "What kind of answer is that? If you love, you love. How can you not know? Don't you like Su Xiangli?"
Simon straightened his back, "It's not like that. Liking isn't love; the degree is different. Liking can be spoken, but love cannot be casually uttered."
Zou Jiaqi: "Is it that mysterious...?" He was somewhat awed by Simon's demeanor for a moment. After receiving the love guru's verbal baptism, he suddenly felt his views on love had improved by leaps and bounds.
Bai Fengjiu demurely cupped her face, looking happier than ever before, though this joy was not exceedingly intense. This girl, who in Simon's eyes was like a lilac burdened with sorrow, seemed to gently twirl the oiled paper umbrella in her hand, scattering drops of brilliant rain. Such grace was truly rare to behold, and it was hard to believe such grace appeared on Bai Fengjiu. Zou Jiaqi watched, mesmerized. The class monitor's gaze flitted about, the bone-deep chill completely gone, replaced only by a warm spring breeze. The poetry she had read now came alive, breaking through her rigid shell, supporting her soul, transforming her.
It wasn't until Bai Fengjiu's gaze lingered on him for a moment that Zou Jiaqi blushed deeply and lowered his head.
Bai Fengjiu swayed her head and recited, "Lighting a lamp in the well, deeply wishing for you, my love. Let's walk together forever, no more chess. The exquisite dice holds red beans, deep-seated lovesickness, do you know?"
Zou Jiaqi trembled again, "Is she talking about me, or Simon?"
Simon, hearing the poem, also found it very much to his liking and laughed joyfully. At this moment, the kitchen door opened, and Mr. Qi called the children to set the table. He laid out a simple but not meager homemade dinner, and it was time to eat.
After dinner, Bai Fengjiu picked up the well-fed dog and saw the two male students out, walking all the way back to the bus stop.
When the three arrived, Simon and Bai Fengjiu were silent, while Zou Jiaqi was talkative. When the three left, Simon and Bai Fengjiu, however, chatted happily, while Zou Jiaqi was unusually reserved.
At their farewell, Bai Fengjiu apologized to Simon, "I really can't help you with the band. It's not that I don't want to, it's just that I can't. I'm truly sorry."
Simon suddenly received an email. While comforting the class monitor, he pulled out his phone to check it.
The email was quite long, from Su Xiangli. She said she had found band members, and a music teacher would be in charge of the band's training. There was a music festival in the summer, and they could try to participate.
"Oh, alright, the band is settled."
...Bai Fengjiu arrived at her mother's house with the dog.
The woman asked her, "Were those two boys looking for you today, or your dad?"
"For me, they wanted me to be the band's drummer."
"You didn't agree, did you?"
"No." Bai Fengjiu was expressionless, and her mother was also expressionless.
"That's good. Your priority at this stage is studying. Go to your bedroom for your online class; I'm going to work. Have you fed Zongzong?" The woman's daily routine was the opposite of her family's; she was active at night and rested during the day. Simon and his friends thought she was walking the dog after dinner, but for the woman, it was her morning exercise.
"Fed him." Zongzong was the chihuahua.
"Good, that's good. We'll have to return him in a couple of days, so don't let him go hungry." The woman packed her handbag and left.
The door closed, and the deep night enveloped Bai Fengjiu. It was only then that she realized that during their long conversation, neither she nor her mother had thought to turn on the lights.
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