novelraw Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Chapter 8
The kindergarten's class bell rang.
This morning was another combined-class session.
Class One, Class Two, and Class Three—three entire classes of children—gathered in the kindergarten's big yard.
Three kindergarten teachers stood in front and said:
"Children, today we have quite a lot of people and a lot to do, so this morning we won't have any other lessons. Instead, the teachers will show you how to use some sports equipment. Once you're familiar with it, we can even have a little competition, and the winners will get little red flower rewards from the teachers!"
Another kindergarten teacher pulled out a big sheet of little red flower stickers: "Then we'll see who gets the most little red flowers! Sound good?"
The children cheered in unison; they really liked any activity that got them out of the classroom.
So the third teacher wheeled over a cart piled with equipment: "All right, first up is the jump rope. Lots of you probably already know this one and have played with it before. Let me give you a quick demonstration."
The children stared at the jump rope and chattered excitedly.
Especially in Class Three, things were particularly lively.
A few girls said, "Feifei, I remember you've got several really pretty jump ropes at home, right? I saw them last time I visited—colorful ones with princess patterns!"
Xu Feifei replied, "I do, but they're nothing special. My dad bought them for me in another city."
Many kids chimed in, "Wow, bought in another city—that's amazing!"
"I don't even have a jump rope at home."
Someone who hadn't seen them asked, "Yeah, Feifei, can we come to your house and look?"
Xu Feifei lifted her chin proudly and said, "If I get the chance, of course I can show you." She suddenly glanced toward someone in Class One and changed her tune:
"How about this: I hardly ever use jump ropes anyway, so I'll give a few away another day. But I'll only give them to my good friends—no one else. Especially not to people who refuse to be my friend."
"Wow, Feifei is so nice—she's actually giving jump ropes away!"
"Feifei, I want to be your good friend too~ how can I do that?" "Me too, me too!" the children raised their little hands.
Hands on hips, Xu Feifei said cheerfully, "It's not easy to be my friend. First, you have to be really close to me, and second, you have to have something special—not just anyone can be my best friend!"
As she spoke, she looked again toward someone in Class One, only to find that person wasn't paying any attention to her—hadn't even glanced her way.
Furious, she clenched her little fists and looked away.
"Feifei, you look so pretty today, and you're wearing new clothes. Your hair ribbons are different too."
Xu Feifei gave an "mm" and looked at her clothes. "Mom bought these for me before. Because they're limited edition, I rarely wear them."
"Limited edition? What's limited edition?"
Xu Feifei explained, "It means they're hard to buy—only a small number were made."
"Wow! Feifei's amazing; we've never even heard of words like that!"
Feeling buoyed by the praise, Xu Feifei said, "It's not that big a deal."
Today Xu Feifei's outfit really was different from usual.
Instead of her usual floral dress, she wore a brand-new yellowish dress.
Little white shoes, little white socks, and neat twin ponytails tied with clean ribbons; when she spoke, a tiny canine tooth peeked out—utterly adorable.
She was dressed far more carefully than usual.
Yes, she'd dressed up so nicely on purpose for someone in particular. Ever since last night, after being rejected by that someone, Xu Feifei at home had lost her appetite, couldn't sleep, and couldn't even focus on her favorite cartoons.
She simply couldn't understand—how could anyone in this world refuse her! Everyone else loved being friends with her!
Why was he the only one acting special!
After tossing and turning all night, she resolved that from now on she would dress up super pretty every single day!
She would make that guy regret it—make him cry under his blanket for refusing her offer of friendship!
Just picturing Liu Wenjie's regretful face made Xu Feifei happy; she couldn't help curling up in bed last night and giggling.
But today's actual results were... a bit different from what she'd imagined.
Every so often, while surrounded by the crowd, Xu Feifei would sneak a glance toward Liu Wenjie in the distance.
Yet that guy didn't spare her a single look.
She grew even angrier, biting her little lip.
Was he blind? She'd worn such beautiful clothes and he still didn't look at her! And he was actually watching the teacher jump rope!
And what was Liu Wenjie thinking at that exact moment?
He was looking at the jump rope, wondering how many more jumps this morning's stamina boost would let him do.
He wondered how far this child's body could be pushed.
"A-hem, a-hem!" Xu Feifei deliberately coughed a few times to catch Liu Wenjie's attention.
Liu Wenjie still didn't react.
Maybe he could manage two hundred jumps in a minute.
Xu Feifei was about to explode; not only was he blind, he was deaf too!
Her friends asked, "Feifei, why are you coughing? Do you have a cold?"
Xu Feifei waved awkwardly. "It's nothing, just coughing for fun." That awful Liu Wenjie from Class One—what on earth was he thinking!
After the kindergarten teacher finished explaining the jump-rope techniques, she handed out two big boxes of jump ropes for the children to try in turn.
Once every child had received a rope, they eagerly started practicing.
Some kids were athletic or had played before and could jump skillfully right away. Others who were less coordinated or more timid looked clumsy.
But even the most adept among them could only manage eighty to a hundred jumps in a minute, which was already considered very fast for a child—truly gifted.
Yet when Liu Wenjie took his rope, he started slow, then sped up, then went lightning fast. The jump rope in his hands seemed possessed; swish-swish, one circle after another.
Like a giant windmill, it left the surrounding kids dumbstruck.
They crowded around to watch: "Wow, Liu Wenjie is amazing!"
"Yeah, he jumps so well—how can he be this good?"
"That boy is incredible—and so cool! Is that Liu Wenjie from Class One?"
The three female kindergarten teachers also marveled: "Liu Wenjie really is good at everything."
One teacher clicked her tongue: "Apart from making girls cry sometimes, which gives us a headache, he's truly gifted."
Another teacher shook her head: "After all, that boy in your class is just too popular."
In Class Three's area, Xu Feifei, since she had jump ropes at home, was jumping gracefully and skillfully. Kids who couldn't jump came asking for tips and praised her.
"Wow, Feifei is amazing! Can you teach us?"
Just as Xu Feifei proudly said, "It's nothing—I can teach you how to practice," the commotion in Class One drew her attention. Liu Wenjie was dazzling and had attracted many girls over.
And he was jumping even more accurately, faster, and better.
Xu Feifei was stunned.
Some girls in Class Three also noticed: "Look at Liu Wenjie from Class One—yesterday he sang beautifully, and today he's great at jump rope. No wonder he doesn't want to be friends with Xu Feifei."
When Xu Feifei heard this, her forehead throbbed. She shot those people a disdainful glare, eyes brimming with murderous intent.
What did that mean? That Xu Feifei wasn't worthy of being Liu Wenjie's friend? Impossible!
But from afar, watching Liu Wenjie's lightning-fast movements, she too was shocked—how could he be that good?
Xu Feifei clenched her fists tightly.
She turned to her classmates and declared, "I'm making an announcement: in the three-class competition later, whoever can beat Liu Wenjie will be my best friend from now on! Tomorrow I'll bring my jump rope from home and give it to the winner!"
The moment she said it, Class Three went wild.
Xu Feifei looked toward Class Two: "Class Two students, same deal—whoever beats Liu Wenjie will be my best friend, and I'll also give you a present—the best one!"
Class Two erupted as well.