Chapter 24: I Like You
The osmanthus tree in the botanical garden had long shed its blossoms, leaving only bare branches. Wen Hupo stood under the tree, gazing up at its tall trunk. She wore a light blue knitted beanie and a thick wool coat, her expression cool and composed. Her platinum blonde hair added an ethereal air of detachment. An Baili noticed that Wen Hupo lingered by this tree for an unusually long time. Remembering Chu Jingyi’s tearful request to take good care of the transfer student, she forced herself to ask, “Hupo, this is an osmanthus tree.”
“Yes, I know. I’m just curious, all the other trees in the Chuanhai No. 1 High School botanical garden are small and thin, only this osmanthus tree is tall and sturdy. Why is that?”
An Baili wasn’t familiar with the affairs of Chuanhai No. 1 High School and couldn’t answer, so she just stood there awkwardly with her hands behind her back. If it weren’t for Chu Jingyi’s tearful plea to take good care of the transfer student, she wouldn’t have bothered talking to Wen Hupo.
Wen Hupo didn’t expect to get an answer from An Baili. She speculated to herself, “Is it because only this osmanthus tree is best suited to the local climate, while the other tree species are replaced every year?”
An Baili nodded slightly, as if it were true. Wen Hupo’s words reminded her. Chuanhai No. 1 High School sent away many dead plants from the botanical garden every year. It wasn’t because the school lacked the resources, but because some precious plants were too delicate. On the other hand, this cheap osmanthus tree, planted when the school was founded, had survived to this day.
This osmanthus tree had witnessed countless couples coming and going in this aristocratic school, witnessed the establishment and prosperity of Chuanhai No. 1 High School. It wouldn’t be wrong to call it a living fossil of the school. Looking closely, An Baili could even see names of boys and girls carved into the bark. It must have been done by those bored couples, right?
Wen Hupo seemed to have thought of something. “An Baili, if one day even this osmanthus tree is removed, would this botanical garden still be the botanical garden of Chuanhai No. 1 High School?”
“What do you mean?” An Baili was confused.
“Every plant in this botanical garden has been replaced. The only thing connecting it to the past is this osmanthus tree. If one day, even this last connection disappears, would this botanical garden still be the same botanical garden?” Wen Hupo asked wistfully.
An Baili chuckled. “Of course it would still be the botanical garden of Chuanhai No. 1 High School. No matter how many times the plants inside are replaced, it still belongs to Chuanhai No. 1 High School.”
“Hmm.” Wen Hupo looked at her. “Is that so?”
Wen Hupo’s rhetorical question made An Baili’s heart skip a beat. She naturally felt apprehensive and hesitant in front of Wen Hupo, as if this calm blonde girl had an unquestionable authority. She suddenly remembered a question Lu Li had discussed with her before: What exactly was reborn when they were reborn? Was it their souls? Their memories?
Wen Hupo’s eyes were unfathomable. She often felt that Lu Li’s eyes held stars, while Wen Hupo’s eyes held an abyss.
She must know something… This thought arose uncontrollably in An Baili’s mind. But Wen Hupo didn’t show any unusual behavior. She just turned and walked away as usual. “An Baili, let’s go. I want to see what the dormitory conditions are like at Chuanhai No. 1 High School. Is that okay?”
Lu Li and Chu Jingyi sat side by side on a bench in the corridor, watching the nurses come and go. Neither of them spoke, savoring this indescribable silence. Silence seemed to be the main theme between him and Chu Jingyi. It wasn’t an awkward silence, but a peaceful one, as if the air itself was tinged with pink. Chu Xiaodong had gone to the outpatient department with a large group of people. As for what they were doing there, Lu Li didn’t care.
“Um, Lu Li…” Silly Goose’s small face was flushed from the cold wind. Lu Li lovingly adjusted her scarf. “Was I too impulsive just now? Hugging you in front of so many people… Sob…” The girl looked at him innocently, her expression truly pitiful.
“Jingyi, why are you here?”
“The school is sending people to Mulan City to pick up the students. I heard my dad say he was coming too, so I tag…ged along, tagged along…” Chu Jingyi stammered. Seeing Lu Li’s calm and gentle gaze, her body softened. “…Lu Li, I wanted to see you.”
No matter how flowery the language, no love confession could compare to Silly Goose’s simple “I wanted to see you.” What could be more touching than sincere and pure emotions?
Lu Li’s heart trembled, as if a slender hand was plucking at his heartstrings.
The Class Monitor lowered her head and whispered, “Lu Li, you know, I thought you were right back then. I didn’t actually like you, it was just a vague impulse. But, but for the past month, whenever I thought about you being trapped in Mulan City under the shadow of the epidemic, I couldn’t sleep well, and I kept having nightmares…”
“Lu Li, my parents always taught me to be brave, to take responsibility for my actions, to love and hate boldly, and not to wait until I lose something to cherish it and regret it. Even if I fail, it’s still a valuable experience in life.” The Class Monitor took a deep breath, forcing herself to overcome her shyness and look directly at Lu Li. “I like you! Lu Li!”
After saying those words, Chu Jingyi felt as if time had stopped. The nurses walking around seemed to have stopped and were looking at her. The clock on the wall stopped ticking. Although she was looking at Lu Li, her gaze was focused on the void behind him. She didn’t dare to look at his expression, didn’t dare to hear his answer.
Chu Jingyi, you’re truly an angel. Lu Li sighed inwardly. For a girl as pure and untainted as her to confess her feelings so openly, what good deeds had he done in his past lives?
“I…” Lu Li was about to respond to the girl’s feelings when her jade-like hand covered his mouth.
“Don’t tell me the answer, Lu Li.” Her eyes were red. “I don’t want to hear it now. You’re a big liar, you lied to Baili and you lied to me. I’m an idiot, I’ll happily count your money even after you’ve tricked me. I’m afraid you’ll lie to me again, so please don’t say anything now, okay?”
Lu Li’s heart softened. “Then can I hug you?”
“…Yes…”
Lu Li embraced Chu Jingyi, feeling the girl’s breath in his arms. His heart was filled with joy, guilt, satisfaction, and shame. Complex emotions entangled him like a tight net, trapping him in a vortex of emotions.
“Liar Lu Li…” she muttered softly. “Why did you lie to me and Baili… Did you set a trap for me, this idiot, to fall into…”
Because I’m shameless. Lu Li mocked himself inwardly. He wasn’t just shameless, he was a shameless, cunning, and despicable scumbag.
After a long while, Chu Jingyi said softly, “Lu Li…”
“Hmm?”
“Focus on your studies…” She raised her small head and looked up at Lu Li. “Baili and I made a pact. No matter who you like, you’re not allowed to be in a relationship until after the college entrance exams.”
“What if I like Baili?”
The Silly Goose in his arms shrugged, her voice filled with grievance. “Then I’ll leave on my own, I won’t bother you…”
Hearing this, Lu Li held her even tighter. The words “I like you both” were stuck in his throat. In front of Chu Jingyi, his worldly desires seemed so dirty and despicable.
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