WG - 14

The evening was still a bit warm.

Chi Zhiyu and Wu Xuan walked home together, stopping at the small snack street next to the school gate to buy ice cream cones.

Since it was the start of the new semester, there were many students on both sides of the street, coming and going. Most of their uniforms were still new, some even had crease marks, clearly just taken out of their packages and worn for the first time.

Chi Zhiyu followed Wu Xuan towards the ice cream shop, glancing at the people around them, frowning slightly, “Why are there so many people?”

“The freshmen just arrived, they definitely want to explore and eat,” Wu Xuan explained.

“Don’t they have plenty of time later? Why rush now?” Chi Zhiyu placed her order, paid, and sat down waiting for her number.

Wu Xuan chuckled at her words, “Didn’t you do the same when you were a new student?”

“No.” Chi Zhiyu shook her head, “Xie Ye and I were too lazy to walk around, we went straight home after registration.”

Wu Xuan showed disdain, “You two are so boring.”

Chi Zhiyu casually explained, “I was very tired from dancing that day, of course I didn’t want to walk.”

“What about Xie Ye?” Wu Xuan asked, “He can’t be dancing too, right?”

“Oh.” Chi Zhiyu said slowly, “He was tired from sleeping.”

“......”

Disturbed.

While they were talking, the number thirty was called. Chi Zhiyu glanced at her receipt, stood up to get her order, with Wu Xuan following behind.

After getting the ice cream cone, Chi Zhiyu took a bite of the top point. The creamy flavor was rich and smooth but a bit icy on her teeth.

Chi Zhiyu squinted slightly, and Wu Xuan, seeing her expression, laughed and led her out.

Just as they were leaving, the door was opened from the outside by a few boys, who were joking and horsing around as they entered, making quite a bit of noise.

Chi Zhiyu heard the commotion and looked up.

They were freshmen, casually wearing their uniforms over colorful short-sleeve shirts, looking like lively youngsters.

The leading boy had his arm around another’s shoulder, chatting and laughing without looking ahead, walking straight forward.

Chi Zhiyu, holding her ice cream cone, stepped aside.

However, unexpectedly.

As the boy passed by her, he must have been excitedly saying something and suddenly lifted his head, accidentally hitting Chi Zhiyu’s wrist.

Caught off guard, Chi Zhiyu’s hand trembled slightly, and she loosened her grip.

The ice cream cone fell in front of her toes, the milky white ice cream splattering, with a few drops landing on her shoe.

Chi Zhiyu glanced at it, frowning.

The boy turned his head and saw the smashed ice cream cone at her feet but didn’t react much.

“Classmate,” Wu Xuan stopped him, somewhat displeased, “Don’t you know to watch where you’re going?”

The boy clicked his tongue, “It’s just an ice cream cone, I’ll buy you another one.”

Hearing this, Chi Zhiyu raised her eyelids, her gaze falling on his face.

Suddenly catching her eye, the boy froze for a moment, then whistled upon recognizing her beauty, “Oh, so it’s a beautiful girl.”

Chi Zhiyu’s gaze remained calm.

Wu Xuan, hearing his words, frowned deeply, “Apologize.”

“Alright, apologize,” the boy licked his lips, smiling, “And since the beautiful girl is so pretty, I’ll buy you two ice creams, alright?”

His words finished, the boys around him burst into laughter.

“Why are you joking around? Hurry up and compensate her, or the beautiful girl might get angry,” the boy on the left nudged him.

“Don’t worry,” another boy laughed, “Even if the beautiful girl gets angry, she’s still beautiful. Enjoy the view.”

They completely disregarded others, just finding it amusing and fun, as if playing around.

Their laughter grew louder, drawing the attention of the people inside the shop.

Most were freshmen. Seeing Chi Zhiyu and Wu Xuan, they initially wanted to see what happened.

But upon noticing the group of boys’ unruly demeanor, they chose to stay quiet.

After all, it was the start of the semester, and they didn’t dare cause trouble.

After offering compensation, the boy immediately acted as if adhering to honesty and integrity, ordering two ice cream cones from the cashier.

After paying, he held one in each hand and extended them to Chi Zhiyu, smiling, “Here, beautiful girl, two ice cream cones. This is my apology, alright?”

Chi Zhiyu lowered her eyes, glancing at the two ice cream cones in front of her.

Perhaps rushed by the cashier, one of the cones wasn’t shaped well and had already collapsed.

The melting creamy ice cream dripped down the edge of the cone, looking sticky.

Disgusting.

Ignoring that cone, Chi Zhiyu reached out her left hand to take the intact one, looked up at him, and calmly said, “No need to apologize.”

The boy froze, “What?”

The shop was silent, everyone watching this spectacle.

“Because,” Chi Zhiyu used her right hand to pick up the cone dripping with thick cream, pinched the bottom, and moved it in front of the boy.

The next moment.

Her fingertips suddenly released.

The cone landed squarely on his shoe, the half-melted ice cream splashing.

Seeing this scene.

The boy instantly raised his head, narrowing his eyes to stare at Chi Zhiyu in front of him.

Chi Zhiyu stood there, expressionlessly meeting his gaze, her eyes cold and emotionless, not showing any fear, instead seeming to look at something dirty, mingling with obvious contempt and sarcasm.

“I returned your gift, handsome guy.”

......

Exiting the ice cream shop.

Wu Xuan glanced at the ice cream stains on her shoe tip, frowning, “Is it dried up already? Can’t be wiped off?”

“Maybe.” Chi Zhiyu didn’t care, “If it can’t be wiped off, then let it be.”

Wu Xuan clicked her tongue, “You should have thrown the ice cream in his face, wasted those eyes of his.”

Chi Zhiyu shook her head, “I wouldn’t dare.”

“......”

Wu Xuan glanced at her, “What are you pretending for? You even threw a shoe earlier.”

“I’m not like you,” Chi Zhiyu blinked, “People will be scared.”

Wu Xuan bluntly said, “You’re disgusting.”

Chi Zhiyu: “......”

Wu Xuan watched her still nibbling on the ice cream cone, “Is it good? What flavor is it?”

Chi Zhiyu ate the cone she had taken from the boy just now, “Vanilla, it’s okay.”

“I thought you would throw that one too,” Wu Xuan was eating her own ice cream cone.

“I didn’t plan to throw that one either.”

“Huh?” Wu Xuan was surprised, “Then why did you throw it?”

“That one looked too ugly,” Chi Zhiyu wrinkled her nose, disdainfully, “And it was pink strawberry flavor.”

“......”

Wu Xuan knew this person disliked strawberry-flavored things, but she didn’t expect it to reach this extent.

Served her right.

But Chi Zhiyu completely didn’t care, munching on the cone and suddenly remembering something else, “We have to get up early tomorrow, right?”

Wu Xuan nodded, “Morning reading starts, formal classes begin.”

Chi Zhiyu frowned, “How annoying, I don’t want to get up.”

The epitome of someone who struggles to wake up.

“Early to bed and early to rise is naturally correct, the problem lies with you,” Wu Xuan pointed out.

Chi Zhiyu took a bite of her ice cream cone, “Is it because mobile phones are boring or nightlife is dull? Why should we sleep and wake up early?”

“It’s good for your health.”

“I don’t care.”

“......”

The two continued arguing, slowly parting ways at the intersection. Chi Zhiyu hadn’t walked far before opening the door and entering her house.

Aunt Wang in the kitchen heard the sound and turned to smile, “Little Yu is back.”

Chi Zhiyu responded, preparing to change her shoes when she noticed a neatly placed pair of high heels beside her, pausing for a moment.

She arranged her changed shoes neatly and walked into the living room.

Aunt Wang poured her a glass of lemon water, placing it on the coffee table, softly asking, “How was school today? Are you adapting?”

“Not bad,” Chi Zhiyu casually placed her backpack on the sofa, picked up the drink, sipped it, and glanced at the high heels by the entrance, “Mom is back?”

“Just returned, she’s upstairs changing clothes now.”

“Okay.”

Aunt Wang didn’t disturb her rest and went back into the kitchen to continue cooking.

After drinking a few sips of water, Chi Zhiyu put down the cup and headed toward the bathroom.

Her hands had gotten some melted ice cream cream on them earlier, which became sticky after drying.

After washing her hands, Chi Zhiyu grabbed a tissue, casually wiping the water as she came out. At that instant, she looked up and saw a woman sitting on the sofa who had come down without her noticing, her eyes slightly dim.

Bai Li also seemed a little tired, seeing her come out softly said, “Back from school?”

“Mm.” Chi Zhiyu nodded slightly, still feeling thirsty, wanting to get more water.

She picked up her water bottle and walked into the kitchen.

Aunt Wang noticed her coming in, “What’s wrong?”

“Want to drink water.”

“Alright, I’ll pour it for you.”

“No, I’ll do it myself.”

Chi Zhiyu picked up the kettle just as Bai Li in the living room suddenly called out, “Ayuu, come here.”

Hearing this, Chi Zhiyu paused, turned to look at Aunt Wang, her eyes questioning what was going on.

Aunt Wang thought for a moment, shook her head indicating she didn’t know either.

With no information, Chi Zhiyu helplessly put down the cup and turned around to leave, “Mom, you called me?”

“What did you eat today?” Bai Li sat on the sofa, calmly gazing at her, directly asking.

Chi Zhiyu remembered the ice cream cone she ate when she came back, calmly answering, “Nothing special, just the usual.”

“The usual?” Bai Li tossed the shoes beside her out, “Then tell me what this is on the shoes?”

Chi Zhiyu’s gaze dropped, scanning the cloth shoes stained with cream on the floor, suddenly feeling a headache coming on.

She had forgotten to put the shoes in the shoe cabinet when she came back; no wonder Bai Li noticed.

Since she had been caught, Chi Zhiyu didn’t waste words, nodding to admit, “I ate an ice cream cone after school.”

Unexpectedly, she admitted so quickly.

Bai Li was momentarily stunned, then began questioning, “Who allowed you to eat it? Didn’t I say not to eat these high-calorie things?”

Chi Zhiyu mumbled, “I forgot at the time, slipped my mind.”

“How can you forget such a thing?” Bai Li frowned, lecturing her, “Mom isn’t forbidding you from eating, but you need to know moderation. At your age, you can’t eat whatever you want anymore, and the art exam is approaching soon. What if your weight exceeds the limit?”

“It shouldn’t,” Chi Zhiyu slowly started, “I only ate one ice cream cone...”

“No ‘only’ about it,” Bai Li impatiently interrupted her, “Even the slightest issue, you should refuse. How many times does Mom need to remind you of these things?”

“Mm, okay.” Chi Zhiyu skillfully nodded, “I understand, I won’t do it again next time.”

Seeing this, Bai Li’s attitude softened slightly, “Alright, Mom isn’t scolding you. Tonight, skip dinner. I’ll have Aunt Wang prepare a salad for you.”

“......”

After Chi Zhiyu started school, Bai Li changed the menu to accommodate her studies and fatigue, allowing her to eat small portions of food.

But she still controlled every aspect of her diet.

Chi Zhiyu started to feel annoyed, “I only ate a little, do I really need to switch to salad?”

“How could it not be necessary?” Bai Li softly said, “Ayuu, you need to realize your life isn’t just yours alone. Be more conscious about these matters, some—”

“Is it mine?” Chi Zhiyu interrupted her, calmly asking, “Not mine, is it yours?”

To maintain this useless marriage with Chi Yan.

“......”

Bai Li was stunned, “What?”

Feeling her emotions rising, Chi Zhiyu lowered her eyes, softly saying, “I understand, I’ll be more careful in the future, don’t worry.”

Bai Li looked at her, suddenly not knowing what to say.

Chi Zhiyu turned and walked upstairs, taking a step onto the stairs, then suddenly said over her shoulder, “If you have time, go check on my dad.”

— Rather than wasting time on me, he doesn’t care anyway.