CHAPTER 61: CHAPTER 61: A SMALL REGRET

Zhao Meimei has always been slow to react to these things. She entered the classroom, and as usual, stuffed her backpack into the desk, turned her head to borrow notes. During yesterday’s class, she was too busy listening to her deskmate gossiping about classmates’ little secrets and was completely absorbed, so she didn’t keep up with taking notes.

Zhao Meimei turned around and saw Xu Xu, amused, as Xu Xu was on duty today. He was standing in the aisle separating them, staring at her in a daze while holding a broom.

Zhao Meimei called to Xu Xu, "Xu Xu! Lend me the Chinese vocabulary notes!"

Xu Xu snapped back to reality, hesitated for a moment, turned back to his seat to flip through his notes, and then walked over to Zhao Meimei’s spot. He didn’t rush off, instead sat down on the empty chair next to her front desk, his two beautiful big eyes fixed on Zhao Meimei.

Zhao Meimei looked up at him and asked, "What are you staring at?"

Xu Xu mumbled, "Meimei, you changed your hairstyle, huh?"

Zhao Meimei pursed her lips and blew a breath at her bangs, asking, "Does it look good?"

Xu Xu blinked and nodded, "It looks good."

Zhao Meimei smiled contentedly and waved her hand like shooing away a fly, "Go do your thing, don’t hover around me, or the teacher will see when he comes in."

After Zhao Meimei finished speaking, she bowed her head and continued taking notes. She wrote two words and looked up, only to see Xu Xu still sitting there, staring at her.

Zhao Meimei frowned and asked impatiently, "Why do you keep staring at me?"

Xu Xu’s thick, long eyelashes fluttered twice, "Meimei, you look really beautiful."

"Tsk!" Zhao Meimei was about to drive him away, but she was pleased by the compliment, grinned and chuckled twice, and gave in, waving her hand, "You’ve already said that, hurry up now, class is about to start, don’t delay my note-taking."

Xu Xu cautiously asked, "Meimei, can I touch your bangs?"

Zhao Meimei was completely impatient then, "Go, go, go! Annoying! Can’t you see I’m busy? If you dawdle, I’ll smack you!"

Zhao Meimei lost her patience, showing a kid leader posture.

Finally, Xu Xu reluctantly picked up the broom and continued sweeping the floor.

During the May Day holiday, Shi Yang returned from school.

Ever since Zhao Meimei heard the news, she was early waiting at the courtyard gate, standing there like a waiting wife, eagerly looking forward.

A few sidekicks of Da Bao stood beside her, together stretching their necks to look at all the passing vehicles on the wide concrete road.

When Shi Yang came back, he was sitting in a taxi. From a distance, he could see a row of half-grown kids standing in front of the family building courtyard gate. As he got closer, he recognized Zhao Meimei at a glance. Shi Yang was delighted, got out of the car, and quickly walked over to greet her, "Meimei!"

Zhao Meimei saw Shi Yang and exclaimed in surprise, "Brother Yangyang!"

Shi Yang approached, opening his arms to Zhao Meimei.

Zhao Meimei rushed into Shi Yang’s embrace.

Shi Yang lifted Zhao Meimei up, embracing her so that she could sit like before on his waist belt. Then he turned his face slightly, waiting for Zhao Meimei to kiss him.

For a moment, Zhao Meimei’s body visibly stiffened; she did not lean in, her eyes flickered slightly as if she was shy.

Shi Yang was puzzled, when had this cheeky girl Zhao Meimei ever been shy with him? Has she grown up, become sensible? Knowing how to be bashful?

Shi Yang didn’t show any emotion, holding Zhao Meimei and twirling her in circles, hugging her tightly before finally placing her down. To be honest, he really missed her.

Shi Yang held Zhao Meimei by the shoulders, looked carefully, and laughed, "Wow, no kidding, with these bangs, you’ve gotten prettier."

Zhao Meimei bragged about her hairstyle over the phone to Shi Yang, but now, being truly complimented face to face, her heart suddenly thumped twice. She chuckled twice, raising her head to look at her Brother Yangyang, showing a rare shy appearance.

Shi Yang was amused by her, reached out and ruffled her head, looked towards Da Bao’s gang, and asked, "What’s this? A welcome lineup for me?"

Da Bao’s minions immediately flattered, fawning over the leader of their leader, "We’re just keeping Meimei company waiting for you."

Shi Yang laughed and asked Zhao Meimei, "Been waiting long?"

Zhao Meimei, holding Shi Yang’s hand—she’d grown quite a bit in the past six months, her height shooting up and her hands too, yet in her Brother Yangyang’s hand, she seemed particularly petite.

Upon hearing Shi Yang’s question, Zhao Meimei smiled at him, revealing her newly lined-up rows of white teeth, "Not that long."

Da Bao, being particularly blunt, exposed Zhao Meimei, "We’ve been standing here for over an hour."

A wave of warmth surged in Shi Yang’s heart, as he imagined Zhao Meimei standing at the gate under the sun eagerly waiting for an hour, touched. He reached out and ruffled Zhao Meimei’s head twice more with indulgence, asking, "Are your legs numb from standing?"

Zhao Meimei rolled her eyes and laughed beautifully, "Was too busy watching for you to arrive, didn’t notice."

Looking at Zhao Meimei’s cheerful, smiling face, Shi Yang’s heart melted; being relied upon and eagerly awaited by Zhao Meimei, he couldn’t quite express it, but felt extremely comfortable. The more he saw Zhao Meimei’s delicate, sharp face, the more he cherished it, the more pleasing it became.

Shi Yang, carrying his luggage in one hand and draping his arm over Zhao Meimei’s shoulder, walked only a few steps before sensing something wrong, he asked, "Little one, you’ve grown again, haven’t you?"

Zhao Meimei raised her hand to measure from the top of her head, reaching Shi Yang’s shoulder, "Grown a bit."

Shi Yang nodded approvingly, "Looking a bit like a big girl now."

Zhao Meimei was so pleased by her Brother Yangyang’s casual praise that she couldn’t stop grinning, chuckling to herself twice.

Shi Yang brought two big bags of specialties from the provincial city for Zhao Meimei, along with a set of new clothes. They were all quite trendy styles from the city. Shi Yang went to the store and asked directly for Zhao Meimei’s size. Fortunately, he bought a size larger, thinking she could wear it over something when it got colder. Unexpectedly, when Zhao Meimei tried it on, the length was just perfect.

Watching Zhao Meimei happily twirl in front of the mirror, admiring her new clothes, Shi Yang couldn’t quite pinpoint why, but suddenly his heart was filled with a sour feeling. He felt he’d missed out on Zhao Meimei’s lovely growth during these two years at university, feeling particularly regretful.

Once Shi Yang came back, Zhao Meimei immediately stationed herself in the little villa, circling in front and behind Shi Yang.

Shi Yang took out the snacks he had saved especially for Zhao Meimei, both of them arm to arm on the couch reclined, reaching for food together.

Zhao Meimei munched away like a hamster, making crisp sounds.

Shi Yang chewed and swallowed the food in his mouth, turned his head, squinting his handsome eyes, and asked, "Hey, Meimei, tell me about this boy in your class who has a crush on you."

Zhao Meimei’s eating motion suddenly stopped. She quickly looked up at Shi Yang with a surprised expression, "Brother, how do you know?"

Shi Yang squinted, knowing he’d guessed right, feeling inexplicably smug. Their Meimei, he knew her the best—more than her own dad, Zhao Dazhuang.

Shi Yang assumed a posture watching Zhao Meimei, "No nonsense, spill it, what’s the story?"

Zhao Meimei blushingly kept the secret from fifth to sixth grade, and finally, two patches of red slowly appeared on her once slightly pale cheeks. Embarrassed, she grinned foolishly at her Brother Yangyang, "Hehehehehe...."