Chapter 2: Sudden Closeness
Sudden approach （⚪
The books placed on the ground were scattered page by page by a gust of autumn wind. Her long hair also became messy in the wind. With an unintentional gesture, she brushed aside the strands of hair falling on her forehead. As she looked up, her eyes met a pair of dark ones. For a moment, she forgot to breathe. Her melancholic eyes, when meeting his bright, ink-black ones, involuntarily dodged away. Then, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she left in a flustered, caught-off-guard manner!
Ji Xiangyu, holding a football, stood under the shade of trees and extended a hand, calling out to Qing Tian, “Don’t you want your books?”
Qing Tian could no longer hear Ji Xiangyu’s calls. She had already fled at full speed. After running out of the sports field, she leaned against the wall, panting weakly!
Why did she want to run away every time she saw him? In fact, she could have spoken to him just now, but she fled in panic out of fear. Qing Tian pressed her right hand to her left chest, thinking aimlessly!
Because she had left in a hurry, she was now drenched in sweat, thinking with a slight discomfort and breathing through her mouth!
At this moment, a bottle of mineral water suddenly appeared before her eyes. The fingers holding the bottle were slender and well-defined. Qing Tian stared at the cold mineral water, as if trying to see something within it.
A magnetic and warm voice sounded from above her head, “Here, drink this!”
As he said this, Qing Tian’s brow furrowed. Why was he offering her water?
Ji Xiangyu stood in front of her. His tall stature cast a long shadow under the sunshine. Qing Tian was blocked by his shadow. When she looked up at him, his face was backlit, and his eyes’ emotions were unclear!
When Qing Tian saw him, she involuntarily swallowed. She replied somewhat unnaturally, “Thank you, I don’t need it!”
She habitually refused others, always keeping herself at a certain distance from others. He was already within close proximity! At least, so far, he was the closest person among those who had spoken to her!
Qing Tian thought this was enough and that there shouldn’t be any more interaction. She lowered her head, preparing to leave. But as soon as she stood up, she bumped into him. When she looked up again, her face hit his chin. This collision made her very awkward, and her heart pounded wildly.
She said softly, “I’m sorry!”
After speaking, she prepared to flee. If she didn’t leave now, she would only make a bigger fool of herself!
As soon as she took a step, her hand was caught by him. The touch at that moment made her feel incredibly warm. His body temperature, like his voice, was full of warmth, while her hand was ice-cold, making her tremble!
Qing Tian did not turn back. Ji Xiangyu pulled her into his embrace. Qing Tian looked at the person whose actions made her heart race and blush with a bit of caution!
Ji Xiangyu smiled and said, “You forgot your books on the sports field!” After saying this, he stuffed the books and water into her hands, then helped her stand properly. Before leaving, he smiled brilliantly at Qing Tian. Qing Tian looked at him against the light, watching his warmest smile bloom in the backlight.
Qing Tian’s eyes widened, and she stood there stunned! She smiled slightly in disbelief. He was so gentle when he spoke! His smile was so warm.
She tightly clutched the book and the bottle of water, ripples stirring within her heart!
“Sister Qing, what are you doing?”
Song Shishi patted her shoulder from behind. She was startled by the sudden bump and looked at Song Shishi, saying, “Why are you walking so quietly? You scared me to death!”
Song Shishi said innocently, “I didn’t mean to, but you were standing here spacing out, so it’s not my fault!”
Song Shishi was Qing Tian’s cousin. They both attended the same middle school. Song Shishi was known as a savage girl at First High School, often causing trouble. Qing Tian wondered what she needed her help for this time.
Song Shishi casually took the water from Qing Tian’s hand, skillfully unscrewed the cap, tilted her head back, and took a sip. Qing Tian had reached out to stop her but retracted her hand the next second. Forget it, it was just a bottle of water.
After drinking, Song Shishi continued, “Sister Qing, I’m going on a field trip this month…”
Qing Tian knew Song Shishi was asking to borrow money again. “Didn’t Uncle just give you money last week?”
Song Shishi innocently held out five fingers and said, “Sister Qing, you know everyone wants to be beautiful. Ya Ya and the others invited me to Lemon Street to get my nails done. You know, my dad is really stingy with me. I don’t have much money on me…”
Qing Tian sighed, looking at Song Shishi’s colorful fingernails, and said calmly, “In a couple of days. I don’t have that much money on me right now either!”
As long as Qing Tian agreed, everything would be easy. Song Shishi leaned in and hugged her neck, saying, “I knew Sister Qing loved me the most.”
After saying that, she pecked Qing Tian on the cheek and, grinning, hugged Qing Tian as they walked towards the teaching building. They had just reached the bottom of the teaching building.
Several notorious hooligans from First High School approached them. Qing Tian’s gaze, filled with coldness, fell upon Xia Yang, the tallest among them, who had a cool and handsome appearance.
It was Xia Yang’s first time seeing Qing Tian. He felt that this girl’s eyes actually held his own reflection. He approached Qing Tian step by step, looking into her eyes, without speaking.
Qing Tian stood her ground, meeting Xia Yang’s gaze. She also saw her own reflection in his eyes.
Song Shishi, standing nearby, pushed Xia Yang away with some worry and yelled somewhat rudely, “What are you looking at? Haven’t you seen a beautiful woman before!”
Xia Yang’s expression changed instantly. He grabbed Song Shishi’s chin and said in a cold tone, “I haven’t seen an ugly monster like you before!”
As soon as he finished speaking, his followers burst into laughter. Song Shishi shook off Xia Yang’s grip and was about to step forward to teach Xia Yang a lesson when Qing Tian stopped her. Qing Tian said in an equally cold tone, “Shishi, we don’t need to argue with villains. If a villain blocks our path, we just go around them!”
The followers, who had been smug moments ago, almost choked. One of them said angrily, “Hey, you damn ****, who are you calling a villain?”
Song Shishi pouted, “Whoever speaks is!”
The follower, furious, stepped forward to hit Song Shishi. Just as he reached Song Shishi’s side, Xia Yang spoke, his tone as cold and devoid of warmth as ever, “Stop!”
Song Shishi looked at Xia Yang in surprise, finding it hard to believe. She looked at Qing Tian again. By then, Qing Tian had already started walking away. Song Shishi pouted at the group and then chased after Qing Tian.
One of the followers asked unhappily, “Big Brother, are we just going to let these two girls go?”
Xia Yang, too lazy to explain, said, “From now on, without my orders, you are not allowed to touch them. If I see anyone being rude to them, I, Xia Yang, will absolutely not stand by and do nothing!”
The follower asked, puzzled, “Big Brother, what do you mean by that?”
Xia Yang did not answer and then left.
Leaving several confused followers behind, racking their brains…
