C34 (1/2)
In the past, Xia Ying did not like taking pictures, so there were very few photos taken at home. But even so, Zhong Zhen still found her high school graduation photo. The girl wearing the school uniform had an expressionless face as she stared straight at the camera.
”Why are you always forcing yourself to do something you don't like?” Zhong Zhen asked directly.
Xia Ying didn't know how to reply, ”Maybe I feel that I don't have a better choice.”
”Is there anything you've always wanted to do that you haven't done yet?”
”Hmm — I really didn't think of it.”
”Yeah, you have to tell me when you have more.” Zhong Zhen took back the photo, and quietly placed the school uniform wearing a smile on his face into his pocket.
Xia Ying really liked that picture. She looked very childish and gentle at the same time.
In the afternoon, the two went to Xia Ying's school. There was no one in the school during the winter vacation, and the main gate was tightly shut. Looking around and seeing that there wasn't any place they could crawl into, Zhong Zhen had a face full of disappointment.
”Follow me.” Xia Ying suddenly thought of the skipping path she took when she skipped class with An Xiyan. She wasn't sure how things would change over the years. But all of a sudden, she really wanted to go over and take a look.
”In the past, Xiyan and I would always find out about sports classes.”
”Don't you like physical education?”
”I don't like it, especially not eight hundred meters.”
”No wonder his stamina is so low.”
At first, he didn't know what he was talking about and couldn't help but say, ”I work out every week. ”It's fine.”
Only when she saw his mischievous smile did she realize what aspect he was referring to. She ignored him and continued walking forward. Zhong Zhen quickly caught up and grabbed her hand.
Xia Ying brought him to take a detour to the back of the school, where the wall was slightly lower than the front. Unexpectedly, after so many years, this place was still the same.
Xia Ying was glad that she was wearing a pair of sneakers, because at this time, Zhong Zhen was already standing on top of the wall, trying to pull him up, ”You can get off by yourself, I can do it.”
Zhong Zhen entered the school in a flash, and Xia Ying also neatly jumped in.” ”Well, it looks like I used to do that all the time!
”There's only one PE class a week.”
”So little?” ”He doesn't pay much attention to the combination of work and leisure.”
”What about you? ”What did you hate studying in the past?”
”Hmm, me? I hate class.” Zhong Zhen spoke in all seriousness. Xia Ying was amused by his serious expression.
”Then he must be a failure.”
”Yeah, that's right.” Zhong Zhen did not refute him. If going to Harvard Business School was considered a failure, then he really was a failure.
The two of them looked from one side of the empty campus to the other. Every time they came to a familiar place, Xia Ying would explain what she had done here. This was the first time Zhong Zhen felt that he was so close to her.
It was like being part of her youth.
Once they were at the front of the field, Zhong Zhen suggested that they run a round.
The two of them ran a big circle around the sports field. The moment Zhong Zhen turned around and saw Xia Ying's smile, he instantly felt very warm in his heart.
He sat on the steps of the sports field and said, ”Before you go back, come with me to my grandma's house.”
”Alright.” Zhong Zhen heard the unwillingness in her voice and nodded his head.
Zhong Zhen stood up, patted off the dust on his body, and suddenly turned his back to Xia Ying, ”Come!”
”Are you sure?”
”So what? ”Come on up.”
Xia Ying hugged his neck, and slowly said some insignificant words, causing Zhong Zhen's heart to itch, ”If you continue acting like this, I'm afraid -”
”Hmm?” Remembering the night of the Spring Festival, he felt like he was in a dream, because she was too unaccustomed to it. The two of them had been sleeping in the same bed for the past few days, and Zhong Zhen only held her in his arms, not daring to make another move.
Her proactive approach had already surprised Zhong Zhen. He couldn't ask for too much at once, but could he really restrain himself in love?
He put her down. ”And —” He took her face in his hands, kissed her, and pressed his lips to hers.
After a long and deep kiss, Xia Ying said to Zhong Zhen with lowered eyes, ”I'm hungry, let's go back.”
”I'm at a disadvantage.” Even though she said that, she still took her hand and walked back.
”What loss?” Xia Ying really did not know what was the meaning behind his sudden question.
”You've only starved for such a short period of time. How long have I been hungry for?” He turned his head and looked deeply into her eyes. ”I can't tell you yet.”
He realized what he was saying, but it was really painful. She wailed in her heart, but on the surface she still looked the way she usually did.