Tangent

19.

"Ah, how many exams have you guys taken!"

"It's great to finally get into X University!"

"Hey, look at Yu Yan's grades..."

"...Fuck, this is unscientific!"

A few days after the results of the college entrance examination were released, the school slowly put up the red list. Although they had already checked the results online, and most of them were busy filling out the voluntary registration, many people still wanted to meet acquaintances to catch up with each other. Unanimously, they flocked to the school.

Some families are happy and some are sad. When we meet again, the taste has changed a lot.

"Yu Yan! Come and see your grades!"

Yu Yan checked the results as early as the day the results came out, but today she still couldn't help being excited and a little vanity. With a reserved smile, she squeezed into the crowd and stood under the red list with her name on it.

"That's amazing...just a little less than Ruan Jing."

Yu Yan smiled, but did not answer.

"What's the matter with Qiao Lijia...he's also a little less than Ruan Jing, I thought he would be the No. [-] pick this year."

"Maybe it's not working properly...but it's really a pity."

If it wasn't to help him cheat, he must have done well in the exam this year, right?

Yu Yan once again became curious about "why did Qiao Lijia help her cheat", but she didn't dare to ask, because Qiao Lijia...is really so cold QAQ.

"Yu Yan!"

An excited Ruan Jing appeared out of nowhere, pulled Yu Yan away from the crowd, and did not let go until a place where there were fewer people.

"Will you...will apply for F University?"

The nervousness and uneasiness that belong only to young teenagers, with a little unruly and arrogance, is probably the taste of youth.

"The score is just enough...it should be. What about you?"

"I'm going to F University too! I'm so happy to be together again!"

Ruan Jing made no secret of her joy, and her eyes were filled with an emotion called joy, like water rippling.

"I'm glad too."

Yu Yan was brought to smile by him, a sincere smile from the heart, not the hypocrisy that was a bit reserved before.

Probably, you can try...to accept him, right?

20.

Ruan Jing hadn't seen Qiao Lijia in the whole summer vacation, and she hadn't seen him when she was looking at the list, and she hadn't met him when she was wandering around this small city afterwards, although the joy brought about by the progress with Yu Yan was about to come. Dazed, but he still cares about Qiao Lijia silently for some reason.

Because they are brothers.Ruan Jing thought silently.

Relying on the good relationship with the teacher before, many inquiries and his own intentional attention, Ruan Jing knew that Qiao Lijia seemed to be out of order, and he did not get the first prize as expected by others, but a score similar to Yu Yan's, and A little worse than myself.The volunteers were also filled in a mess. Under the disappointment of his parents, he was admitted to a second-rate local university.

With the same grades as Yu Yan, how can I apply for an F major like myself?

Ruan Jing really didn't understand why Qiao Lijia let himself go at such an important time, he couldn't be reached by phone, text messages were not answered, and all invitations to class reunions were rejected.When the half of August was almost over, Ruan Jing simply ran to the school secretly, had a rough meal with the dean, and almost cried, made trouble, and hanged himself, and finally arrived at the address of Qiao Lijia's house.

"Joe..."

"……come in."

Qiao Lijia just frowned, turned around and led the way before Ruan Jing finished speaking.

Ruan Jing stared blankly at Qiao Lijia's thin back, the state of front and back was the same as a day long ago.Follow him through the porch, past the living room and kitchen, stepping on the wooden stairs leading to the second floor, with the creaking sound of the boards being squeezed in your ears, you have already entered Qiao Lijia's room, and closed the room. Door.

The atmosphere suddenly became weird.

21.

"..."

Qiao Lijia looked at him indifferently, silent.

"That... I haven't been in touch... so... I asked the school for the address... How did you..."

Ruan Jing hesitated to explain.

"I just don't want to go out."

"Then...you didn't pass the exam because you didn't perform well? It shouldn't be..."

"……You do not know?"

Gently, it is unclear whether it is a question or a statement tone.

"Huh? Know what?"

"It's nothing."

Qiao Lijia sat on the bed with her knees hugged, huddled into a small ball, resting her chin on her knees, her eyes were fixed on Ruan Jing's direction, her eyes were so empty that she didn't know whether she was looking at Ruan Jing or looking through him. something else.

"Then...why do you fill in the volunteers? Obviously the scores are not bad, at least you can apply for F University."

Ruan Jing herself didn't realize the sad tone of the little daughter-in-law.

Qiao Lijia narrowed his eyes playfully, and smiled a rare way, with unknown meaning.

"I just want to stay here."

"..."

"What time do you leave?"

"us……?"

Ruan Jing froze for a moment, and quickly realized that he and Yu Yan were referring to him, blushing slightly.

"The train on the 29th of this month..."

"Understood, I will deliver it."

After finishing speaking, he covered his head with a quilt and said nothing more, as if seeing off a guest.

"Then... I'll go first."

Ruan Jing was busy thinking about why Qiao Lijia felt a little strange, but she didn't pay attention to the low "hmm" behind her that seemed to be about to cry.Qiao Lijia didn't dare to cry until she could no longer hear the sound of stepping on the wooden stairs.

Just leave it alone, Ruan Jing.

Someone who was already walking on the street sneezed and rubbed his nose, but another picture popped up in his mind.

Slightly thin body, slender waist, a pair of long legs exposed under the shorts, coldly and intently staring at his own eyes, tightly pursed thin lips, with flushed cheeks.

...What happened to suddenly feeling that Qiao Lijia looked good when she was on bed 111?

22.

The summer moon is long, but it will end with the disappearance of the cicadas.Qiao Lijia stood on the platform, feeling the cooler wind compared to last month.

It was the beginning of the school day, and the crowd was surging. Qiao Lijia narrowed his eyes slightly, and saw (...) Ruan Jing and Yu Yan who were meeting each other's parents not far away.

The parents were short-tempered, and the trivial matters were told thousands of times. Seeing that the parents of the two families were nagging but never tired of bothering, Qiao Lijia suddenly thought of her parents who were always respectful, and she thought she was smart enough to divorce him quietly without telling him. Be separated for a long time.

Fortunately, I can be considered an independent adult, so I don't have to worry about who to follow.

There was a touch of sarcasm at the corner of his mouth, and his emotions gradually dissipated when he saw the two approaching.

"Qiao Lijia!"

Ruan Jing waved in his direction, with a bright smile on her face, just like when she helped him buy food more than ten months ago.

Qiao Lijia smiled back, walked slowly through the crowd, and found the couple who looked very talented.

"Sorry, I have something to say to Yu Yan."

"……what?"

Ruan Jing looked blankly at Qiao Lijia pulling Yu Yan away, while her (future) girlfriend acted very submissive, feeling deeply heartbroken.

Chihhhh, why are you talking swollen, and you don’t want to take my QAQ.

"Congratulations, you can be admitted to F University."

"...Thank you, thanks to you."

Qiao Lijia's eyes darkened, and the grip on Yu Yan's wrist tightened a bit.

"What did I tell you... just pretend it never happened, and don't mention it to anyone."

"Sorry... I didn't mean to."

Yu Yan himself didn't know why he felt fear of the boy in front of him, or it was an emotion mixed with apology and admiration.

"never mind……"

Qiao Lijia let go of her hand, took a small step back, and was about to disappear into the crowd, with a smile on the corner of her mouth.

"Hurry up and get together...I'm good at assisting."