novelraw Chapter 21
Chapter 21
Chapter 21
All dressed up and ready to go—today was the first day of school, and little Xia Ying had dressed with extra care: little white dress, little white shoes, the rubber band holding her ponytail re-tied again and again until she was satisfied.
Only then did she go to meet Liu Wenjie. Grandpa had already arranged with Liu Yingjun's family that they would escort the children to school together.
Yet when the exquisitely dressed little Xia Ying stepped out the door hand-in-hand with her Grandpa, she found Liu Wenjie standing there looking exactly the same as always.
The guy was, as usual, indistinguishable from any other day—plain, clean, ordinary clothes, relying entirely on his face to carry the scene.
The little girl blinked: "Older Brother Wenjie... you look so handsome today too."
Liu Wenjie shot her a disdainful glance: "Why did you suddenly blurt that out?"
"No reason... I just think Older Brother Wenjie looks handsome no matter what he wears."
Liu Yingjun and Lin Xiaoli exchanged a look, smiling meaningfully. Lin Xiaoli, who understood girls' hearts best, bent down with both fondness and exasperation and said:
"Little Xia Ying, actually your Older Brother Wenjie is wearing new clothes today—he just bought several identical sets. Your Older Brother Wenjie is a bit stubborn about clothes~ This morning Auntie told him to wear the new Ultraman ones, but he wasn't willing."
Little Xia Ying was a bit surprised: "So that's how it is! But Older Brother Wenjie's outfit today looks great!" She kept cheering him on.
Liu Wenjie: "....."
Who could understand the shame he felt when, the moment he got up, Mom handed him clothes patterned with Ultraman Transformers and told him to wear them to school?
Even if his body had returned to that of a child, his soul absolutely could not accept wearing such clothes—damn it!
Lin Xiaoli studied little Xia Ying's outfit. Although it was also a little white dress, the details were different.
As if giving a hint, she asked: "Did little Xia Ying change into new clothes today?"
Little Xia Ying lowered her head shyly, small hands smoothing the snowy hem: "Mm, they're new. Grandpa took me to buy them a few days ago." She sneaked a glance at Liu Wenjie.
At that moment the whole place fell silent—Dad, Mom, and Grandpa Xia were all staring at Liu Wenjie, as if everyone was waiting for a certain someone's comment.
Feeling the scorching stares of the crowd, plus a certain little girl's anticipation, Liu Wenjie's forehead beaded with sweat. After half a minute he had no choice but to look at Xia Ying and force out a sincere-sounding appraisal: "Looks good, looks good—today's little Xia Ying is super cute."
Little Xia Ying blushed, shy, happy, and embarrassed.
"Thank you, Older Brother Wenjie..."
Dad and Mom burst out laughing.
Grandpa Xia said: "All right, let's head downstairs? Don't be late."
The group finally went down together and set off for the new school.
Calling it "new" wasn't quite accurate—it was still inside the Small Town; the kindergarten lay in the south, the elementary school in the north.
At the school gate, staff were on hand to check documents with parents.
Once inside, they had to go to an assigned area to see which class each child was in, after which the parents could go home.
The Children had to head to their new classes on their own.
Standing amid the crowded throng, Liu Wenjie and little Xia Ying looked for their names on the class lists.
Liu Wenjie searched for his own name; little Xia Ying, afraid, kept her eyes tightly shut—she didn't dare look.
What if she wasn't in the same class as Older Brother Wenjie? The sky would fall.
Liu Wenjie spotted it: "Oh, I see my name! I'm still in Class One."
Little Xia Ying, eyes still closed beside him, asked: "W-what about me, Older Brother Wenjie?"
"You? I see you too—what a coincidence, Xia Ying!"
Hearing the word "coincidence," little Xia Ying finally opened her eyes happily—only to discover she was in Class Four, not in the same class as Liu Wenjie.
Liu Wenjie said woodenly: "What a coincidence, we're both in first grade."
Little Xia Ying's happy hands instantly knotted in front of her.
Lin Xiaoli and the others had no solution—class assignments were pure luck.
After saying goodbye to Mom and Dad, the two carried their backpacks toward the teaching building. On the stairs little Xia Ying asked softly: "Older Brother Wenjie, do you think they'll reshuffle the classes? Could this one not count?"
[Your little childhood sweetheart still wants to stay with you. Although you know the answer, seeing her sad, what do you say?]
[Option 1: Gentle reassurance. Reply: Whether they reshuffle or not, the two of us won't be separated. Reward: Dad adds one extra mao to today's gas money.]
[Option 2: Dreamy utopia. Reply: Don't worry, Xia Ying, I'll ask the teacher to switch classes—I must be in class with you! Reward: Lifetime nightmare frequency reduced by 15%.]
[Option 3: Brutal truth. Reply: No, stop thinking about it, completely impossible. Reward: Stamina +1]
Looking at the choices this time—precious stat points!
But seeing Xia Ying's wronged expression really tugged at the heartstrings, haha.
Still, I have to say it.
"No, stop thinking about it, completely impossible."
[Congratulations to host for obtaining Stamina +1]
Little Xia Ying bit her lip, even more unhappy: "Why is it like this... Logically I should be in the same class as Older Brother Wenjie."
Reward received, Liu Wenjie felt lighter going up the stairs. He laughed: "Actually it's all the same. Even if by luck we were in the same class, odds are we wouldn't be desk-mates. Even if we were that lucky, once the teacher finds out we know each other she'd definitely separate us, so don't overthink it—it's all the same."
The more little Xia Ying heard, the more hopeless she became.
This world is so dark.
"Teachers couldn't be that mean, Older Brother Wenjie."
Liu Wenjie chuckled: "Everything else might be negotiable, but when it comes to seating arrangements teachers are even more ruthless than I said."
The two arrived at Class One's door.
Liu Wenjie pointed into the distance: "I'm here. Keep going that way—Class Four should be at the end."
Little Xia Ying, reluctant and listless: "Mm... goodbye, Older Brother Wenjie."
Seeing the kid's downcast look, Liu Wenjie flicked her forehead to jolt her awake.
Little Xia Ying yelped in pain, clutching her head and staring at Liu Wenjie.
Liu Wenjie said:
"Remember, don't be like in kindergarten. Try to make a friend in class. In a place like school you can't rely only on yourself. If someone bullies you, fight back—don't just cry. If you really can't handle it, come tell me, understand?"
Little Xia Ying rubbed the spot, slowly lowered her arm, and nodded obediently: "Mm, I won't let Older Brother Wenjie down. After special training I'm already super strong—I won't be too scared to speak like before."
Liu Wenjie snorted: "Do your best. I'm going in."
He turned and left; little Xia Ying watched him go, waving her small hand in farewell.
Taking a deep breath, she looked toward Class Four in the distance; the corridor was packed.
Little Xia Ying pumped herself up—she must not disgrace Older Brother Wenjie!
She gripped her backpack straps tightly, glanced one last time at Liu Wenjie to refill her courage, and marched alone toward Class Four.