06 : make up

 In He Xi's impression, Chen Zhoumu, although an absolute school bully, was very kind and had a good temper, especially towards this new transfer student.

In He Xi's eyes, their relationship was even better than his own with Chen Zhoumu.

However, they had only known each other for a few days, yet they were as familiar as if they had known each other for centuries, with his "Brother Mu" being very proactive.

Although they hadn't met many times, they got along very well, and the school even had their own special invitations.

Song Shi glanced at Chen Zhoumu, only to see that the other's head was down and his hand was still in the same position as before. He felt a little regretful; perhaps he shouldn't have said that, after all, since he had first arrived at the school, Chen Zhoumu had been taking care of him.

He picked at his hand in annoyance, but quickly turned away and walked straight out without saying a word, and the other didn't follow.

Chen Zhoumu watched Song Shi's retreating figure. Aunt Chang was right; he was somewhat thin, but very upright, like bamboo. His words, too, were as hard and piercing as bamboo.

Even if he had several hearts, they would have been pierced by him, let alone the fact that he only had one.

He had a lot of enthusiasm, finally managing to get people a little closer, but the next second he would extend his sharp claws and scratch them unexpectedly, causing intense pain without drawing blood.

He was more vigilant than most people, yet he possessed a strange attraction that drew people closer.

*

Song Shi sat at a table in the cafeteria with his food. Tang Ze looked up and tentatively asked, "What...what's wrong?"

The person opposite him didn't speak, but his hand holding the chopsticks paused for a moment before returning to normal.

Tang Ze wisely didn't ask further, shaking his head at He Xi not far away. He Xi opposite him also made a helpless gesture. Tang Ze had a strange feeling, a feeling that was...

His best friend and his girlfriend were having a fight, arguing, giving each other the silent treatment, and finally breaking up?

Tang Ze shook his head. What kind of logic was that? Not only were the two people arguing his brothers, but how could two boys be described as a sweet couple arguing? But the situation was exactly as he suspected.

He had never seen his childhood friend act like this towards anyone. They said that being angry with someone meant you cared about them. Thinking about it, Song Shi never had any better friends, except for himself and

Chen Zhoumu, whom he met after transferring schools.

Before he could think any further, the person sitting opposite him picked up his plate and was about to leave. Tang Ze quickly stuffed a few more bites into his mouth and was about to follow when He Xi called out to him from a short distance away.

He walked forward suspiciously: "What are you doing? I'm sticking to my battlefield, I would never do something as disgusting as betraying my brothers."

He Xi rolled his eyes: "Who cares? Who wants to bribe you? I'm asking you, what does Song Shi like to do when he's unhappy? Or what does he like to eat?"

The more Tang Ze listened, the more it sounded like a couple arguing in class, and the guy trying everything to coax the girl.

His phone vibrated in his pocket, and he took it out to look.

H: [Come to class, ten minutes]

Tang Ze saw this message as if he had seen something terrifying, and hurriedly left after saying a few words.

After leaving the cafeteria, Song Shi suddenly realized he had nowhere to go. He didn't want to go back to class or go to the dormitory, mainly because he didn't want to face Chen Zhoumu. He didn't know why he had taken his anger out on that person for no reason, and now it seemed like he was being very dramatic.

He didn't know how to face this matter, so he could only choose to escape, thinking that this would solve the problem.

It's like a knotted rope; if you ignore it, it won't untie itself, and it'll only get tighter over time. By the time you try to fix it, it's become a dead knot, and no amount of pulling will help.

Song Shi knew he wasn't actually that angry; his main emotion was embarrassment. He couldn't bring himself to say what he'd said.

He rubbed his face in frustration. He'd never experienced anything like this before. For him, friendship was a very abstract concept. He'd always had a bad temper and a difficult personality, and the only person who'd always been by his side was Tang Ze.

In his view, if he could have fun, he'd have fun; if not, he didn't care. He didn't need such things, so he wasn't emotionally affected when others gradually distanced themselves from him.

But this time seemed different.

Song Shi wandered aimlessly outside. He'd been in Xia City for almost half a month and hadn't explored the area. He figured it would be good to get familiar with it now. He walked for a while, and eventually, he arrived at the wonton shop.

The shop was doing quite well that evening. Aunt Chang was busy in the smoky kitchen. Just as Song Shi was about to leave, Aunt Chang looked over. She had remembered him after their first meeting; the young man was handsome and memorable.

She smiled and invited Song Shi in. Song Shi, feeling awkward refusing, sat down. Looking at the steaming wontons on the table and Aunt Chang sitting opposite him, under her gaze,

Song Shi began to eat slowly and deliberately.

"Where's Xiao Mu? Didn't you come with us?" Aunt Chang asked with a smile.

"...He's busy."

"Did you two have a fight?"

"No..."

"Auntie knows. When I was young, I did the same thing when we argued. We'd give each other the silent treatment, neither of us would speak to the other, and neither of us would

give the other a way out. It's kind of funny to think about it now. After experiencing so much, I realize how short life is. If we spend all our time arguing, it's not worth it." "When I was young, I was arrogant and wouldn't give in to anyone. Later, I realized I should have just swallowed my pride a little back then." "

Once you've made a mistake, you really have. If only she had..."

Song Shi felt something was off. Had Aunt Chang misunderstood something? Even if she hadn't said anything, it was still too strange. Although he did like men,

Chen Zhoumu wasn't his type. So, Song Shi still categorized him as Tang Ze.

Seeing that Aunt Chang was completely lost in her memories, Song Shi put the money at the bottom of the bowl and left the wonton shop. The streets were already bustling with activity when he came out of the alley.

From the bustling snack street to Xiacheng No. 1 Middle School, you have to turn two streets. The noisy crowd gradually disperses, the surroundings become quiet, and the people become sparse.

As you turn the last alley, a commotion erupts ahead.

"Hey, you're really good at hiding! Like a turtle? Always holed up in school?" A rather shrill male voice comes from the alley.

"Boss, don't waste your breath on him. He broke one of our brothers' legs; today we'll break both of his." A deep voice replies.

"Yeah! We haven't gotten revenge on Chen Jiajin yet; let's take them all out this time." Another person chimes in.

Song Shi raises an eyebrow. A gang fight? He has no interest in such matters. Just as he's about to step into the alley, the man speaks again.

"Hey Chen Zhoumu, are you mute? It's just you this time. If you pay up and apologize to my brothers, we'll call it even." It's the same person who spoke first.

Song Shi, who hadn't been involved, stopped at the alley entrance. Looking up, he saw four people inside; three of them were holding things and facing Chen Zhoumu alone, who hadn't said a word the entire time.

But when they met at the alley entrance, Song Shi sensed a hint of loneliness and...grievance in Chen Zhoumu's eyes

. Song Shi turned away.

Song Shi didn't speak.

Song Shi calmly walked past the alley entrance.

"What are you looking at! I'm talking to you... Ah!" Before the man could finish speaking, he was kicked hard against the wall.

Hearing the pitiful scream coming from the alley, Song Shi steeled himself, threw his schoolbag at the intersection, and ran back.

When he ran back to the alley entrance, he only saw the three men lying sprawled on the ground, while Chen Zhoumu coldly stepped on one of them, his tone harsh: "Go back and tell Chen Jiajin to stop bothering me."

"Yes, yes, yes... Master Chen, we were wrong, we'll leave right away."

Song Shi, his hair blowing in the wind as he stood at the alley entrance: "..." He should have known better than to run so fast.

Chen Zhoumu, standing not far away, met his eyes again. In just one day, Song Shi had lost face twice, both times at the same person. He turned around, but this time he couldn't escape.

Chen Zhoumu had somehow appeared behind him and grabbed his hand: "Don't be angry..."

Song Shi tried to break free, but the person behind him fell in his direction, and the scent of gardenias wafted over him, along with a source of warmth.

He braced himself on Chen Zhoumu's shoulder: "Hey, are you alright?"

"It hurts..." The drama queen coughed violently against his shoulder.

"What hurts? Where does it hurt?"

"My whole body hurts, I got hit."

Song Shi glanced at the group, his eyes even more menacing than Chen Zhoumu's.

The thugs who were about to leave were stunned by what they saw. Was this some kind of joke? Who hit whom?

Heaven, judge the good from the bad!

After the thugs left, trembling, Song Shi pushed them aside: "Alright, stop pretending."

Chen Zhoumu stood up and met Song Shi's gaze: "I'm not pretending, I got hit but it doesn't hurt that much."

He took out an exquisite box from his bag on the ground behind him, inside which was a cake that looked quite expensive: "So, our classmate Song is very generous, can we make up?"

The boy's hair was blown by the wind, carrying a cautious tone mixed with a coaxing intent. Song Shi's heart fluttered a little. It must have been the speed of his heartbeat that night when he ran too fast, or perhaps the fragrance of flowers in the wind that night stirred his heart, he thought.

"Click—"

A blinding flash of light unexpectedly pierced their faces. Song Shi turned his head, bewildered, and saw a few girls standing in twos and threes not far away.

One was holding up her phone and taking pictures of something, while another was complaining about the flash.

Finally, seeing the two looking over, they hurriedly laughed and ran away.

Song Shi: "..." Sure enough, nothing good ever comes from meeting this person.

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