CHAPTER 48: CHAPTER 48 PURE DEPENDENCE

Zhao Meimei sat next to Xu Xu at the table, both rubbing their bellies, they were stuffed.

Xu Xu’s nose had stopped bleeding, Liu Xiue helped him wash his face and hands, and changed the tissue twice with care.

Xu Xu felt itchy and dry in his nostrils, but didn’t dare to scratch, so he just endured it. When it became unbearable, he wrinkled his nose.

Xu Xu played at Zhao Meimei’s home until after two in the afternoon. Liu Xiue specially packed him pig trotters, and accompanied by the two children, went downstairs and let Zhao Dazhuang personally send Xu Xu back home.

That evening, Zhao Dazhuang lay in bed and sighed to Liu Xiue: "Today, when I sent Xu Xu home, I met his mom."

Liu Xiue: "Really? What kind of person is she?"

Zhao Dazhuang: "Xu Xu is so young, she must be in her thirties, right? When I saw her today, I thought she looked even older than my big sister, all dark and thin, their life seems pretty hard."

Liu Xiue immediately felt sympathetic: "Oh dear, if I had known, I would have packed another pig trotter for Xu Xu in the afternoon. I was thinking you two love it, so I didn’t give it all to him."

Zhao Dazhuang lay on his back on the pillow, rubbed twice, still uncomfortable: "Hey, wife, help me scratch my head, it’s itchy."

Liu Xiue complained: "Wash your hair quickly tomorrow, it’s been two days, right?"

Liu Xiue scratched Zhao Dazhuang, and Zhao Dazhuang tilted his head and said: "I quite like Xu Xu, he’s obedient, well-behaved, and particularly perceptive, with a clever mind. Meimei and he always get along well, we absolutely shouldn’t look down on him because of his family conditions, and should invite him over to play more often. I see him as having future potential."

Liu Xiue agreed: "Sure, I also like Xu Xu, this kid just looks so endearing."

Zhao Dazhuang shook his head: "Alright, no need to scratch, let’s sleep."

Liu Xiue softly replied and slowly settled into a calm breathing pattern.

Although Zhao Meimei was usually mischievous and troublesome at school, she was smart and always managed to maintain a top-five position in the class, despite occasional carelessness.

All the teachers couldn’t handle her. They would grind their teeth in anger during classes but immediately became fond of her during exams.

Zhao Meimei ranked second in her class for the final exam, pleasing her teacher, who praised Zhao Meimei at the parents’ meeting.

The teacher mentioned that although Zhao Meimei often whispered in class and bullied classmates, with many subtle antics, she had always maintained her studies efficiently, indicating her cleverness.

Zhao Dazhuang sat there, his face nearly hidden under the table in embarrassment from the praise, finding it more uncomfortable than criticism.

Zhao Meimei had been labeled as mischievous since second grade, then moved up to third, then fourth grade, where the class got a new head teacher.

The new head teacher, Qiu, an elderly lady, had a stern face, completely different from Teacher Wang who always wore a gentle smile, even when scolding.

During Teacher Qu’s classes, Zhao Meimei was frequently called out, not only to answer questions but often with remarks like:

"Zhao Meimei, what are you fiddling with? Hands itchy again? Scratch the wall instead!"

"Zhao Meimei, have you got nails on your seat? Hurts every time you sit, right? Stand while listening!"

Or a sudden roar, "Zhao Meimei!" carried through the open windows and doors, making friends in other classes ask her occasionally: "Meimei, did your teacher scold you again today? We heard it in our class, what was it about?"

Zhao Meimei always maintained an indifferent attitude, looking casually and said: "No worries, teacher says as long as I do well in studies, I can mess around! Just watch, I’ll make the top three in the next exam."

And she would indeed make it, only to be called out and criticized again in class, striving back to top the rankings, thus continuing the infinite cycle...

During the second semester of fourth grade, Shi Yang also entered the countdown to the college entrance exam.

Since Shi Yang began living with Teacher for tutorial sessions, Zhao Meimei rarely saw him except during holidays.

During recess, as Zhao Meimei was playing wildly with classmates in the playground, she bumped into Peng Hui, who was a year above her.

Peng Hui called her warmly: "Meimei!"

Zhao Meimei was sprinting, and hearing the call, she glanced back and changed direction to run in front of Peng Hui.

She wasn’t close with Peng Hui and didn’t like her much since she once called Shi Yang "brother".

But Peng Hui was always very welcoming, since their brothers and sisters were acquainted, they naturally considered each other friends.

Zhao Meimei stood before Peng Hui, yet still thinking of playing, hurriedly asked: "Anything you need?"

Peng Hui grinned: "Have you visited your brother lately?"

Zhao Meimei was about to stealthily slip away, but froze at the mention of Shi Yang, asking: "Why are you asking?"

Peng Hui replied: "My sister has been very busy with studies and hasn’t had time to visit me, I usually go to see her."

Zhao Meimei paused and asked: "You went to see your sister at school?"

Peng Hui nodded: "Yeah, she finishes late, so I bring her meals from home, otherwise she’d get home at midnight."

Zhao Meimei’s eyes brightened: "Can you go into the school?"

"Sure." Peng Hui nodded: "They have evening break at five-thirty, as long as it’s break time, the school gates are open, no one cares."

Zhao Meimei bit her lower lip, her eyes shifted, and asked Peng Hui: "Then why did you ask if I’d visited my brother?"

Peng Hui smiled sweetly, saying: "My dad has the night shift today and will change shifts at four-thirty, he has a car."

Zhao Meimei realized, her face lit up with joy: "Can you take me too? I want to see my brother."

Peng Hui nodded: "No problem, I called to ask if you’d come with me."

"Yes! Absolutely!" Zhao Meimei nodded eagerly, now losing interest in playing: "After school, I’ll find you in your class?"

Peng Hui nodded: "Okay."

Zhao Meimei and Peng Hui finalized everything, and Zhao Meimei was distracted the entire afternoon. When called to answer a question, she relied on her desk mate to secretly pass the answer.

Just as school ended, Zhao Meimei hurriedly grabbed her packed backpack and dashed out of the classroom first. Xu Xu called behind her: "Meimei! Wait for me!"

Every evening, Xu Xu accompanied Zhao Meimei out of the school gate, waited with her for the bus, watched her board the bus disappearing around the street corner, and then went home himself.

Zhao Meimei had never hurried off alone like this.

Zhao Meimei was anxious to find Peng Hui, hearing Xu Xu calling, she just waved a hand, still running, shouting: "I’m seeing Brother Yangyang, you walk home yourself today!"

Xu Xu was clutching his backpack, trying to keep up, but stopped abruptly at her words, watching Zhao Meimei dash down the stairs, vanishing.

Xu Xu’s eyes were dark underneath, long thick lashes gently fanned as he lowered them quietly, shouldered his backpack, and walked heavily out.

Xu Xu stepped out the school gate, walking home along the sidewalk, kicking roadside stones, feeling inexplicably wronged and utterly infuriated.

Since first grade, Xu Xu had played with Zhao Meimei, wherever she pointed, he followed, he had a natural dependence on Zhao Meimei, this dependence was simple, a habit, but Zhao Meimei’s reliance was given to her Brother Yangyang.

Whenever her Brother Yangyang was mentioned, Zhao Meimei would light up like a star.

Xu Xu pouted, unhappy, instinctively starting to dislike Zhao Meimei’s Brother Yangyang, despise the person, loathe the name, most importantly hated that he occupied a place in Zhao Meimei’s heart, making it impossible for him to squeeze in no matter how hard he tried.

Xu Xu kicked a stone despairingly and gloomily continued home.