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Hearing his accusation, Bo Ying was momentarily speechless.
She struggled for a while, then gave up refuting him.
“Fine,” she looked at He Jingxiu, with an expression that said she was indeed a scoundrel, “Whatever you say.”
He Jingxiu lowered his eyes, kissing her lips, “How come you still sound a little unconvinced?”
“No,” Bo Ying said against her will, “I’m very convinced.”
“...”
He Jingxiu pinched her earlobe and chuckled, “Let’s eat first.”
“Oh...” Bo Ying looked at him with her eyes curved in a smile, “CEO He, aren’t you going to settle the score with me, the scoundrel, first?”
Hearing that, He Jingxiu raised an eyebrow.
He stared directly at Bo Ying for a while, then said, “I’ll settle it with you after you’ve eaten your fill.”
Bo Ying: “...”
She didn’t know why, but “settling it later after eating your fill” somehow didn’t sound like anything healthy or pure.
Aunt Chen’s cooking was truly excellent. Bo Ying had already tasted the food He Jingxiu specifically had Aunt Chen prepare for her before, and besides, she was genuinely hungry at the moment.
The physical activity had consumed too much energy, and after a night like that, she felt like she could devour an ox.
________________________________________
After eating and drinking to her heart’s content, Bo Ying didn’t want to move at all. She walked two steps towards the living room and collapsed onto the sofa.
He Jingxiu finished cleaning up the table and came out to see this scene.
She lay there lazily, with He Bomei sprawled beside the sofa. The afternoon sun streamed in, making the scene bright and warm.
He Jingxiu looked on, suddenly feeling a sense of tranquil years.
He stood still, reluctant to approach and break the peace.
Suddenly, Bo Ying spoke, teasing.
“CEO He, weren’t you going to settle the score with me?”
He Jingxiu took a step, stopping beside her, “Are you sure you still have the energy for me to settle the score with you?”
“...”
Bo Ying glanced at him, her cheeks slightly flushed: “I don’t know what CEO He means by ‘settle the score’.”
He Jingxiu smiled, knowing full well what she meant.
He sat down beside Bo Ying. She naturally rested her head on his lap, closing her eyes and saying, “I’m still a bit sleepy.”
He Jingxiu instantly couldn’t bear to settle any scores with her.
His Adam’s apple bobbed, and he stroked her head, whispering, “Go sleep a little longer?”
“Let’s take a nap later. I just finished eating.”
“Okay.”
One lying, one sitting, with He Bomei panting heavily at their feet.
The house wasn’t entirely silent; occasionally, snippets of their conversation could be heard, but it was incredibly comfortable.
Bo Ying truly enjoyed such weekend moments.
“He Jingxiu.”
“Hmm?”
Bo Ying closed her eyes, thought for a moment, and said, “Read me something.”
He Jingxiu: “...”
He chuckled, “What do you want to hear?”
Bo Ying tilted her head and thought for a moment, “Whatever, anything is fine.”
He Jingxiu got up and casually picked up a short fairy tale novel.
Bo Ying opened her eyes and looked at it, then couldn’t help but laugh, “Why did you buy this?”
It was a fairy tale novel she had really liked in high school, “The Nightingale and the Rose.”
He Jingxiu didn’t explain, only asked, “Which story do you want to hear?”
Bo Ying pointed, “The one with the book’s title.”
“Okay.”
He Jingxiu’s voice was very pleasant. When he spoke unhurriedly, it always made one feel as if he was expressing deep affection.
Just listening to his tone, you would feel comfortable and be drawn in involuntarily.
Bo Ying loved his voice, always had.
—”She said she would dance with me if I brought her a red rose,” cried the young Student, “but there is no red rose in all my garden.”
...
While reciting this passage, He Jingxiu’s voice sometimes softened, sometimes rose, making one feel as if they were right there in the scene.
When Bo Ying first read it, she always felt it was just so-so. Later, as she grew up and read it again, she gradually discovered a different meaning.
Under He Jingxiu’s voice, she closed her eyes, moving from feigned sleep to actual sleep.
Unknowingly, she fell into a deep slumber.
________________________________________
Bo Ying had a dream.
The dream felt both real and fake, with some events that had truly happened and some that were her long-held fantasies.
In the dream, she was back in her second year of high school.
During a basketball game, He Jingxiu represented the school, and Bo Ying naturally cheered him on.
In her hoarse shouts, He Jingxiu won.
At that time, many girls excitedly ran up to give him water, but he didn’t take any.
Bo Ying knew well that he probably wouldn’t take hers either, so she quietly prepared to turn and leave.
Unexpectedly, he suddenly called out to her.
He looked at her, smiling freely and spiritedly, his words sounding a bit arrogant, yet not off-putting.
Because you would feel that someone like him should be that way.
Even if he were a bit more arrogant, it wouldn’t matter. They wouldn’t dislike him.
“Wasn’t your water for me?” he asked.
Bo Ying was startled, looking at the water in her hand that she had warmed, and gently nodded: “It was for you.”
He Jingxiu smiled, walked closer to her in front of everyone, took her bottle of water, unscrewed it with one hand, and drank.
For some reason, the entire place fell silent for a moment, then erupted in screams and gasps.
Bo Ying was dazed, still not fully grasping what was happening, when he pulled her to a gathering.
During that meal, she ate distractedly, completely bewildered.
After dinner, the two walked together again.
After He Jingxiu asked for her home address, he surprisingly accompanied her onto a bus and saw her home.
On the way back, there were flower vendors by the roadside.
Bo Ying had just read “The Nightingale and the Rose” that day, and the story still lingered in her mind. Her eyes unconsciously lingered on the flowers for a long time.
Suddenly, the young man beside her walked towards them without a word.
Before Bo Ying could react, he had already bought a flower and returned.
“For me?”
She looked at the red rose in front of her, extremely surprised.
The young man nodded, “Is there anyone else here?”
Bo Ying was slightly startled, “Why are you giving me flowers?”
“It’s about reciprocity,” He Jingxiu said very casually.
Bo Ying opened her mouth, realizing he was referring to the bottle of water.
“But... flowers are different.”
“Hmm?” The young man’s dark eyes looked at her brightly, “Do you give water to everyone?”
“............”
When she woke up, Bo Ying was still a little dazed.
The dream was too real, making it impossible for her to fully wake up for a while.
The familiar scent of the man still lingered in her nose, clear and pleasant.
Sensing Bo Ying’s movement, He Jingxiu looked down at her, “Awake?”
“Mm...”
Bo Ying opened her eyes and saw that she had returned to the room at some point; she knew it must have been He Jingxiu who carried her in.
The room’s curtains were tightly drawn, blocking out the light from outside. A small lamp was on one side. He Jingxiu was sitting against the headboard, reading a book.
Bo Ying looked at the book in his hand; it was a book she couldn’t understand.
She lay in bed for a while, then suddenly said, “He Jingxiu, I just had a dream.”
He Jingxiu: “What kind of dream?”
“I dreamed you were so coy in high school,” Bo Ying looked at him. “You liked me but didn’t confess properly, just casually bought a flower by the roadside and gave it to me.”
He Jingxiu: “...”
Bo Ying told him about the dream, unconsciously snuggling into his arms, muttering, “I even feel a little nostalgic for high school.”
He Jingxiu didn’t say anything.
Bo Ying talked to herself for a while, without getting a response.
She poked He Jingxiu’s chest and hummed softly, “Why aren’t you saying anything? Don’t you want to go back to high school?”
He Jingxiu pondered for a moment, then looked at her with downcast eyes, “Generally.”
Bo Ying: “Why?”
He hugged her and lay down, whispering, “I don’t want you to chase me again.”
And I definitely don’t want us to separate again.
Bo Ying was startled, completely unexpected by this reason.
She laughed, imagining, “Then if we could really travel back, you chase me instead.”
He Jingxiu didn’t even think, and simply said, “Okay.”
________________________________________
With his answer, Bo Ying was very happy.
She curled her lips, looked at him, and asked, “How long until Christmas?”
They had agreed to return to school for Christmas.
“One month.”
The two stayed home for almost a day, only going out for food in the evening.
After dinner, He Jingxiu took Bo Ying to watch a movie.
The cinema was near their residential complex. There was a commercial area right next to their complex, with everything for food, drinks, and entertainment.
When Bo Ying went with He Jingxiu, she was a little nervous for a few seconds, “Do you think we’ll run into my brother and them?”
He Jingxiu: “Unlikely.”
Bo Ying thought about it and indeed.
Her brother and them were probably watching movies at home, not going out on dates.
The two were wearing similar colored clothes, and the styles also looked very similar, indistinguishable from couple’s outfits.
When they arrived at the cinema entrance, their movie’s admission time hadn’t arrived yet.
Bo Ying’s hand was held by He Jingxiu, never letting go.
On the weekend, there were many people at the cinema entrance.
He Jingxiu scanned the area and asked her, “Do you want popcorn?”
“Yes,” Bo Ying said, “But just a small cup. I can’t eat much.”
She had just finished dinner.
He Jingxiu: “Okay, wait for me here?”
Bo Ying shook her head, clinging tightly, “I want to go with you.”
He Jingxiu agreed.
The two queued up for popcorn. Bo Ying was wondering if she should also buy a cup of cola, but He Jingxiu refused.
The weather was so cold, and drinking something icy wouldn’t be good for her health.
Bo Ying had no choice but to settle for mineral water.
They were next in line. Just as Bo Ying was about to step forward, someone suddenly patted her shoulder.
She turned her head and her eyes widened when she saw who it was.
“Chi...”
Chi Lu raised an eyebrow, “Chi what?”
Bo Ying choked. She looked up and saw the person standing behind Chi Lu.
Chi Lu saw her shocked expression, suppressing a laugh, and said, “Buy me a bottle of mineral water.”
Bo Ying: “...Oh.”
After buying it, the four met.
Bo Ying’s steps felt floaty as she looked at Bo Yan, not daring to make a sound.
Bo Yan’s face was stern. He stood with his arms crossed, looking at the young couple in front of him.
He glanced at Bo Ying, then at He Jingxiu, and then downwards, at their similar clothes.
After a moment of silence, He Jingxiu was the first to speak, “CEO Bo.”
Bo Yan nodded, coldly polite, “CEO He.”
“...”
The atmosphere instantly became awkward.
Bo Ying snapped out of it at their voices and frantically shot Chi Lu a pleading look.
Chi Lu stifled a laugh, tugging at Bo Yan’s clothes, telling him not to be so serious.
Bo Yan, for once, didn’t listen to her and remained stern-faced.
“Bo Ying.”
He spoke, “Aren’t you going to introduce me?”
“...” Bo Ying opened her mouth, secretly glancing at He Jingxiu, regretting why she had just jinxed them.
She was on the verge of tears, whispering, “My boyfriend.”
“What?” Bo Yan said, “I didn’t hear you clearly.”
Bo Ying, exasperated by him, blurted out in one breath, “I said this is my boyfriend, He Jingxiu, did you hear me this time?”
“...”
At her words, Chi Lu was the first to burst out laughing.
“I heard, I heard,” she said.
She curled her lips, smiling, “Yingying’s boyfriend is good.”
He Jingxiu smiled gracefully, “Miss Chi.”
“You’re too kind,” Chi Lu broke the deadlock, “Which movie showing did you buy tickets for?”
Bo Ying obediently showed her the tickets.
After looking, Chi Lu expressed surprise: “We’re also watching this one, and our seats seem to be together.”
“Huh?”
Instantly, Bo Ying had the urge to tear up the tickets and not watch the movie.