CHAPTER 72: CHAPTER 71: MIDDLE SCHOOL LIFE (1), 5TH UPDATE

Zhao Meimei nestled on the sofa watching her Brother Yangyang control his character, mercilessly dealing with Qu Chaozong’s character — blue hair, green eyes, two horns on the head — stylish as he put it.

The home phone rang.

Shi Yang was busy playing games, he casually instructed, "Meimei, answer the phone."

Zhao Meimei slid over sideways on the sofa, reaching for the receiver.

"Hello?" Zhao Meimei held the receiver to her ear.

"Hello, Meimei!"

Zhao Meimei’s eyes lit up instantly, calling out warmly, "Mom!"

Liu Xiue: "How are you? Feeling better?"

Zhao Meimei cradled the receiver, "Much better, Mom. Is there something you need?"

Just as Zhao Meimei finished speaking, Shi Yang quickly abandoned the game controller, came over and glared at her: "How do you talk to your mom like that? Be careful or you’ll get scolded."

Almost simultaneously, her mom’s voice echoed in the receiver, scolding her: "You cheeky girl, talking to your mom like that, can’t I call without a reason?"

Zhao Meimei stuck out her tongue and quickly explained, "No way, Mom! You miss me, don’t you?"

Liu Xiue sighed, "Once I hear you talk like that, I know you didn’t miss me."

Zhao Meimei chuckled.

Liu Xiue said, "Xu Xu came over to play at our house, heard you were sick and was quite worried. Here, talk to him."

Zhao Meimei’s eyes widened, "Xu Xu?"

The sound of Liu Xiue handing over the receiver came through.

Xu Xu: "Hello? Meimei."

Zhao Meimei: "Hi."

A strange silence filled the receiver, Zhao Meimei clearly heard a heavy breathing sound, as if reverberating from someone’s chest, particularly suppressed and deep.

Zhao Meimei instinctively held her breath, not daring to say another word, just quietly waiting for the person on the other end to speak.

When Zhao Meimei realized she was just holding her breath listening to the other party’s breathing, feeling a bit suffocated, she finally took a deep breath.

Just as Zhao Meimei was about to speak, a cautiously restrained voice came through the receiver, very weak and light, clearly trying hard to suppress something: "Meimei, did you go to the hospital last night?"

Zhao Meimei: "Uh-huh."

Xu Xu: "You..."

When Zhao Meimei heard the final elongated, trembling tone, her heart skipped a beat, she hurriedly said, "I’m fine, I got out of the hospital last night, it was just a cold. Don’t cry, I’m most afraid when you cry. Pull yourself together, you hear me!"

The sound of sniffing was heard through the receiver: "You’re really better?"

On the sofa, Qu Chaozong stopped playing games too, came over and asked Zhao Meimei with a mischievous smile, "Who is it?"

Zhao Meimei: "My friend."

Qu Chaozong grinned knowingly, "What kind of friend? Calling all the way to here, huh? It’s Xu Xu from your class, right? The one who’s really good-looking? You’re something else, little girl!"

Zhao Meimei recognized it, and angrily retorted, "You’re talking nonsense! I am not!"

Qu Chaozong made a surrender gesture, reached out and continued playing games with Shi Yang.

Zhao Meimei looked at her Brother Yangyang’s side profile, a bit unhappy, she said gruffly into the receiver, "Really better, I’m playing at Brother Yangyang’s house. Why did you suddenly come to my house today?"

Xu Xu: "Our grapes at home have ripened, I brought you some grapes."

Xu Xu added, "You’re really better, huh? Not lying to me?"

Zhao Meimei: "Nope!"

Xu Xu asked again: "Really?"

Zhao Meimei was impatient, "Why would I lie to you!"

Xu Xu said softly, "I just care about you."

Zhao Meimei replied, "You’re such a nag!!!"

Xu Xu was momentarily speechless, holding the receiver, feeling a sharp pang in his heart, unsure of what to do.

Liu Xiue stood by and asked Xu Xu, "Xu Xu, are you done chatting? I still have some things to tell Meimei."

Xu Xu blinked his pretty eyes, staring blankly at a point in the air, clutching the receiver, unwilling to let go as if in a struggle.

Liu Xiue asked again, "Xu Xu?"

Xu Xu turned his head towards Liu Xiue, hesitated for a moment while clutching the receiver, then silently handed it over.

As a result of this slow action, he didn’t hear Zhao Meimei’s final words: Really, nagging just like my mom. Alright, thank you for your grapes, I’ll come find you when I get home!

Xu Xu was originally someone who liked to keep things to himself, and chatting with Zhao Meimei over the phone, unable to see each other’s expression or gaze, easily led to misunderstandings.

Xu Xu felt that Zhao Meimei seemed a bit reluctant to play with him, thinking that he was too clingy, chatty, nagging, talking too much, and that Zhao Meimei didn’t want to bother with him anymore.

Zhao Meimei didn’t hear Xu Xu’s response when she spoke, mindlessly muttering, "Did you hear me talking?"

Liu Xiue: "Hey, Meimei!"

With her mom interrupting, Zhao Meimei immediately cast aside her conversation with Xu Xu.

Zhao Meimei stayed at her Brother Yangyang’s house for two days because she was sick, but was urged back by her mom’s four or five calls a day.

Graduating to middle school, this homework-free summer vacation was always the happiest and most beautiful last memory for Zhao Meimei.

Happy times are always short, when Zhao Meimei diligently managed to tan herself to a wheat color, again tanning so much she looked like an African native, school started.

The original sixth-grade students all moved to the middle school section, becoming first-year students, class assignments based on grades.

Zhao Meimei was placed in Class One, she took a careful look around as she entered the class, many classmates were moved to other classes, but Xu Xu remained.

After the summer vacation, Xu Xu started to grow taller, previously half a head shorter than Zhao Meimei, now standing level with her.

Today was the first day of school; Xu Xu arrived early, found an empty seat and sat down, the arts committee member came over, put her bag next to him and asked, "Can I sit here?"

Xu Xu glanced at her with his beautiful eyes, giving silent consent.

Since the call with Zhao Meimei, Xu Xu hadn’t sought her out, nor had Zhao Meimei sought him out.

Xu Xu was a bit disappointed and disheartened, feeling that Zhao Meimei really didn’t want to bother with him anymore.

The arts committee member had always liked Xu Xu, seeing him agree, she hurriedly sat down happily next to him, turned and said, "Xu Xu, I didn’t expect us to be in the same class."

Xu Xu: "Hmm."

The arts committee member supported her head with a hand, looking at Xu Xu’s profile: "More than half of our former classmates have been moved to other classes, but fortunately, my friends stayed behind. I see Zhao Meimei stayed too, you two have always been close, aren’t you happy?"

Xu Xu’s pretty eyelids drooped, his tone lonely and dejected, he mumbled softly, "I am happy, just not sure if she is."