Side Story 8: Lin Wei CP (Part 3)
Wei Zhuoning meticulously cared for Lin Xiaozhi’s sensitive stomach, while Lin Xiaozhi relentlessly pushed Wei Zhuoning’s fragile grades forward. In their final year of high school, even their moments of affection were a luxury.
Wei Zhuoning proposed a deal: “If I get into L University’s literature program, you quit smoking, okay?”
Lin Xiaozhi knew quitting wasn’t easy, but to motivate Wei Zhuoning, she agreed.
During the final exam sprint, not only did Wei Zhuoning’s grades improve, but so did her cooking.
Her mother, seeing her study until past midnight, then wake up before 6 am to prepare breakfast and lunch, even packing two extra lunchboxes, asked:
“Is that extra one for your class president?”
Her mother, seeing her sneakily packing the lunchboxes, teased her.
Wei Zhuoning, seeing her mother’s knowing smile, stammered:
“She’s been helping me study, and she always forgets to bring lunch, she eats takeout all the time. And it’s not healthy for her stomach, she has gastritis, it affects her studies!”
“One simple question, and you give me a whole speech, you’re clearly hiding something.”
“Mom!”
Her mother chuckled. She knew her daughter was dating the class president. She had overheard their confession.
She had initially thought that Lin Xiaozhi, smart, beautiful, and seemingly mature, might be playing with her naive daughter’s feelings.
Just like she had been played before…
One wrong step could ruin a life.
She knew her daughter, kind and trusting, easily manipulated.
But Lin Xiaozhi was different, unlike anyone she had met in her forty years of life.
“Okay, okay, I won’t tease you. How’s the scar on her arm?”
Wei Zhuoning’s expression turned somber: “It left a scar. She’s been using scar removal products, but it’s not very effective. She’s planning on surgery after the exams.”
“How much does the surgery cost?”
“I’m not sure, maybe tens of thousands of yuan.”
“We should pay for it,” her mother said. “If it weren’t for her, we might have been injured too, even worse. We can’t ignore this.”
“I know,” Wei Zhuoning said, shouldering her backpack. “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it. If you want the food spicier, add some chili sauce. I made a new batch last night.”
“Okay, I know, go on.”
As Wei Zhuoning was about to leave, her mother stopped her.
Wei Zhuoning: “?”
Her mother smiled and sighed: “My daughter, you’ve worked so hard.”
Wei Zhuoning, surprised by her words, smiled: “It’s nothing, I’m happy. I’m leaving now.”
“Okay, go on.” Her mother’s eyes were red as she waved goodbye.
“Will you be alright alone?”
“Yes, Mrs. Zhang will be here soon.”
“Then I’m leaving?”
“Yes, go on.”
On her way to school, Wei Zhuoning’s heart ached, remembering her mother’s words. She was the best mother in the world.
It had been raining for two days, the temperature dropping below zero, the ground icy.
As Wei Zhuoning got off the bus, someone slipped and fell right in front of her.
Wei Zhuoning almost fell too, but someone caught her.
“Thank you!” She looked back, recognizing the girl, a classmate from Class 2, known for her long, black hair.
The girl just shook her head and walked away.
Wei Zhuoning, checking the time, realizing she was about to be late again, rushed towards the school gate.
Just as she entered, she slipped, slid several meters, and landed on her knees right in front of Lin Xiaozhi.
They stared at each other for a moment, the attendance AI waiting by the closing gate, ready to record her tardiness.
“Get up, it’s not New Year’s yet, why are you kowtowing?” Lin Xiaozhi helped her up, chuckling. “Don’t worry, you’ll get your red envelope.”
“I wasn’t kowtowing! I fell!”
Lin Xiaozhi burst out laughing.
Wei Zhuoning: “…Are you enjoying this? How can you be so heartless!”
“Poor baby, let me see if you’re hurt.” Lin Xiaozhi leaned closer, her gaze on Wei Zhuoning’s neck.
Wei Zhuoning quickly pulled away: “You pervert! And I hurt my knee, not my neck!”
“Who knows, maybe you hurt something else too,” Lin Xiaozhi said, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Wei Zhuoning suddenly remembered something and quickly zipped up her jacket.
“No way…”
She remembered last night, after their late-night study session, the school empty, Lin Xiaozhi dragging her to the playground and kissing her for a long time. If Wei Zhuoning hadn’t insisted on keeping things PG in public, her clothes might have been ripped off. Lin Xiaozhi had been very enthusiastic, and Wei Zhuoning had also been aroused, but she had held firm, and Lin Xiaozhi, frustrated, had lingered on her neck for a while.
Had she left a mark?
Wei Zhuoning’s face paled: “Is there, really a mark?!”
Lin Xiaozhi put her mask back on and coughed softly.
Damn it! There was!
And she hadn’t been wearing a jacket at home this morning, just her pajamas, had her mom seen it?
Wei Zhuoning glared at Lin Xiaozhi and turned to leave.
Lin Xiaozhi grabbed her hand.
Wei Zhuoning, unable to shake her off, glared at her:
“What are you doing! Not in public!”
“The ground is icy, what if you fall? I’d be heartbroken.”
“I’m not that clumsy…”
Just as she said that, Wei Zhuoning slipped and fell on her butt.
Lin Xiaozhi, caught off guard, also fell.
“…”
They looked at each other, their awkward positions making them burst out laughing.
They continued laughing even after reaching their classroom, earning strange looks from their classmates.
“Are the class president and Wei Zhuoning crazy?”
“What’s so funny?”
Sha Xinyu shook her head: “You single people wouldn’t understand.”
Everyone: “??”
During lunch, everyone left except for Sha Xinyu, who, having learned her lesson, wisely chose to nap at her desk, leaving Lin Xiaozhi and Wei Zhuoning alone.
Wei Zhuoning had brought Lin Xiaozhi’s favorite beef dish, slightly spicy and tender.
“How can you cook so well?” Lin Xiaozhi asked, devouring the food. The intense studying and Wei Zhuoning’s delicious cooking had made her gain a few pounds.
“As long as you like it.” Wei Zhuoning was happy to see her enjoy it.
Lin Xiaozhi added: “You’ll be a good wife someday.”
This usually made Wei Zhuoning blush, but today, she just stared at Lin Xiaozhi’s right arm.
Lin Xiaozhi: “What’s wrong?”
Wei Zhuoning pointed at her arm: “Can I see it?”
Lin Xiaozhi understood: “There’s nothing to see, just a faint scar.”
Wei Zhuoning didn’t speak, just looked at her with pleading eyes.
“Sigh… you’re so persistent.” Lin Xiaozhi rolled up her sleeve. “But promise me, no crying.”
Wei Zhuoning had prepared herself, but Lin Xiaozhi’s words made her realize it might be worse than she imagined.
She nodded, took a deep breath, and then, seeing the long, jagged scar on Lin Xiaozhi’s once flawless arm, felt her blood run cold.
She held Lin Xiaozhi’s wrist, staring at the scar in silence.
“I told you not to cry…” Lin Xiaozhi quickly grabbed a tissue and wiped away her tears. “It’s not that bad, I haven’t had the surgery yet, it’ll be fine after that, as smooth as your cheek.”
Lin Xiaozhi pinched her cheek playfully, but Wei Zhuoning’s tears continued to flow silently.
“Don’t cry, baby,” Lin Xiaozhi pulled her into a hug. “I don’t regret it, not at all. And wasn’t I cool back then? Protecting you, that was the best decision I ever made.”
Her words only made Wei Zhuoning cry harder.
“What’s wrong, Xiao Zhuoning?” Lin Xiaozhi held her tighter. “It’s okay, just let it out, but don’t let the others see you like this when they come back.”
Wei Zhuoning’s voice was hoarse: “Haven’t you bullied me enough?”
“Not nearly enough, but if you let me, I’ll take all the blame. So, how about it?”
Wei Zhuoning pulled away: “You’re crazy!”
Lin Xiaozhi gently wiped away her tears: “No more crying, okay?”
Wei Zhuoning looked at her, took her hands, and, with a newfound determination, said:
“Let’s get married after the exams. I want to take care of you, for the rest of our lives.”
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