CHAPTER 31: CHAPTER 31: YOU JUST LIKE ME.

Zhao Meimei was upset by Xu Xu’s crying, so she reached out and poked Xu Xu’s forehead: "I told you to stop crying, didn’t you hear?"

Tears rolled down Xu Xu’s cheeks as he occasionally wiped them away with his hand.

All of Zhao Meimei’s patience vanished in an instant; she straightened up and turned back to her seat.

"Zhao Meimei." A choked, hoarse childish voice came from behind, slightly timid.

"What?" Zhao Meimei turned her head to look at Xu Xu.

Xu Xu looked at her with teary eyes, pursing his lips without speaking.

Zhao Meimei felt he looked a bit pitiful, so she softened: "What do you want to say?"

Xu Xu sniffled a couple of times and wiped his eyes: "I, I won’t cry anymore, will you play with me?"

Zhao Meimei shook her head coolly: "Why must you play with me? I don’t even like you!"

Xu Xu twisted his hands together, pouting as tears started to well up again, his big dark eyes staring at Zhao Meimei.

Zhao Meimei waited for a while, and since Xu Xu still didn’t speak, she completely lost her patience. Just as she was about to turn and leave, Xu Xu suddenly asked, "Then, how can I make you like me? Play with me?"

Zhao Meimei stared at Xu Xu for a moment: "Unless you stop crying, listen to me from now on, and stop tattling on me."

A brilliant light suddenly flashed in Xu Xu’s beautiful big eyes. Looking at Zhao Meimei with hope, he asked, "If I can do that, will you play with me?"

Zhao Meimei gave him a slight glance with authority: "I always keep my word."

Xu Xu quickly wiped his eyes and, like turning off a faucet, stopped his tears. His pretty little face immediately lost the crying expression, except for the red nose and eyes.

Zhao Meimei was extremely amazed, this person is really adept at controlling his emotions!

Xu Xu asked softly: "Can we shake hands then?"

Zhao Meimei: "What’s the point of shaking hands?"

Xu Xu extended his pale, slender-fingered right hand: "If we shake hands, it means we’re good friends."

Zhao Meimei looked impatient but still shook Xu Xu’s hand.

Zhao Meimei’s palm was warm and toasty, and Xu Xu clasped his fingertips around her hand, a satisfied smile gradually spreading on his face.

Zhao Meimei gave his hand a brief shake and then let go.

Xu Xu eagerly asked her: "Now that we’re friends, will you play with me?"

Zhao Meimei lifted her thin eyelids: "Class is about to start, what is there to play with! I’ll take you to play during the next break!"

In the evening after school, Shi Yang and Qu Chaozong came over to the elementary section to pick up Zhao Meimei since their class ended on time for once.

When the bell rang, Zhao Meimei didn’t rush out of the classroom like she usually did.

Shi Yang was puzzled and peeked into the classroom, seeing Zhao Meimei standing in the hallway, her sleeve being tugged by an especially handsome boy.

Zhao Meimei turned her head to glare at Xu Xu.

Xu Xu held onto her school uniform sleeve tightly, his big dark eyes looking at her.

"Meimei! Who is this?"

Shi Yang entered the classroom, thinking Zhao Meimei was being bullied.

Zhao Meimei heard the voice, turned her head joyfully, and upon seeing the person, called out with a smile: "Brother Yangyang!"

As soon as Zhao Meimei saw Shi Yang, she ignored everything else, reaching to pry off Xu Xu’s hand and turning to pounce on Shi Yang. After taking two steps, she was held back by Xu Xu tugging on her clothes.

Zhao Meimei turned back, glaring: "Why are you holding me?"

Xu Xu glanced at Shi Yang with his big eyes, answering timidly: "I want to play with you."

Shi Yang partially clenched his fist and coughed heavily to conceal his amusement. He ruffled Zhao Meimei’s hair and said to Xu Xu: "Class is over today, Meimei needs to go home. Play together tomorrow."

Xu Xu’s big eyes locked on Zhao Meimei as he asked: "Are we really friends now?"

Zhao Meimei nodded: "Yeah, didn’t I promise you?"

Xu Xu’s round eyes lit up brightly as he looked at Zhao Meimei, suddenly bending his brows into a radiant smile. His neat little white teeth gleamed, revealing his joy.

Xu Xu let go of her hand and waved with a smile: "Meimei, see you tomorrow."

Zhao Meimei looked at Xu Xu’s smiling face and inexplicably found it a bit dazzling. She paused for a moment, then waved back and walked away with her Brother Yangyang.

On the way home, Shi Yang asked Zhao Meimei: "Who was that kid earlier?"

Zhao Meimei leaned against Shi Yang’s chest, squinting her eyes in the wind. Hearing his question, she responded casually: "His name is Xu Xu."

Zhao Meimei reported to Shi Yang everything about how she was called to the teacher’s desk for punishment today and how Xu Xu tattled on her.

Both Shi Yang and Qu Chaozong burst out laughing after hearing it all.

Qu Chaozong turned his head and laughed to Shi Yang: "Hey! Do you think your sister and that little handsome guy are childhood sweethearts and happy enemies? Oh boy! This kid sure knows how to woo at such a young age!"

Shi Yang couldn’t help but laugh, glaring at him: "Stop teasing my sister; she’s still young and doesn’t understand this stuff!"

Zhao Meimei indeed didn’t understand what they were talking about. She habitually reached out to touch Shi Yang’s Adam’s apple and asked him: "Brother Yangyang, is your mom back? Will you have dinner at my place tonight?"

Shi Yang agreed: "Sure, I’ll eat at your place."

Qu Chaozong smirked and teased Shi Yang: "Wow, you really hit it off with your future mother-in-law’s family!"

Shi Yang scolded with a laugh: "Get lost! Meimei is my sister!"

Zhao Meimei also laughed along, feeling the breeze; she nestled in Shi Yang’s arms, feeling as if she was leaning against a solid and towering mountain, extremely secure, allowing her to rely on and depend upon completely.

The school sports meet was held on schedule, and Shi Yang’s middle school division started two days earlier than the elementary division. That evening, after school, Zhao Meimei’s mom picked her up, and the next morning, Shi Yang took her to her classroom and gave her a light-blue-covered hardback diary from his backpack.

Zhao Meimei received it with delight, looking at the cartoon rabbits on the cover, her eyes lighting up. She looked up at Shi Yang: "Brother Yangyang, you won first place in the race!"

Shi Yang gazed at Zhao Meimei’s bright eyes, his thin eyelids gradually forming a gentle arc, exuding a relaxed charisma: "Two individual firsts and one team first—the prizes were two notebooks, one for you and one for me. The team prize was laundry detergent, which we kept for home use."

Zhao Meimei grinned widely and beckoned to Shi Yang.

Shi Yang leaned in and asked: "Okay, what’s up?"

Zhao Meimei tiptoed and gave Shi Yang a kiss on the cheek, making a sound:"Thank you, Brother Yangyang!"

Shi Yang touched the spot she kissed, grinned, and ruffled her hair fondly: "Alright, go on in. I’ll pick you up this evening."

Hugging her notebook, Zhao Meimei happily entered the classroom.