He Guoshi came to his senses and cleared his throat. “Let’s go.” He glanced at Xu Si and added, “Helping female students is what male students should do.”
Xu Si gave him a puzzled look. Just a moment ago he called it an excuse, and now he was saying this.
He Guoshi was still thinking about asking Teacher Fang Zixin if that girl wanted to transfer to a better class.
Since Jiang Rong went to the bookstore on Fridays, Aunt Liu didn’t pick her up those days.
The small path outside school was lined with phoenix trees. They had lost all their leaves in autumn, leaving only bare trunks that looked somewhat desolate in the biting wind. The birds that inhabited the trees during spring and summer had long migrated south to warmer places.
Jiang Rong was quite sensitive to cold. She wrapped her new scarf tightly around her neck.
Seeing Xu Si’s exposed hands, she asked, “Are you cold, Xu Si?”
Xu Si shook his head, looking at her small face buried in the scarf. “Should I call a car?”
He didn’t mind waiting for the bus, but it was indeed cold, and he didn’t want Jiang Rong to wait.
Just as he finished speaking, Jiang Rong said, “No need for a car. Xu Si, lower your head a bit.”
Xu Si obediently lowered his head, and Jiang Rong wrapped her scarf around his neck, making a loop. “It’s too cold. You can wear my scarf for now.”
Xu Si chuckled. “As long as little teacher doesn’t mind me wearing your scarf.”
Jiang Rong shook her head. “I don’t mind.”
After she spoke, she spotted the green bus and said to Xu Si, “The bus is here.”
“Okay.”
Jiang Rong paid for both of them and got on the bus.
There were no empty seats left.
As more people got on, Jiang Rong was pushed and almost fell, but fortunately, Xu Si caught her.
Xu Si grabbed the pole and kept Jiang Rong within his arms. “Hold onto me if you’re unsteady.”
“Okay.” Jiang Rong looked up and softly called, “Xu Si.”
Xu Si looked down at her. “What’s wrong? Is it too crowded?”
“No, isn’t the bag on your arm heavy?”
Xu Si laughed lightly. “Little teacher underestimates me. It’s not heavy.”
The bus suddenly braked hard, and Jiang Rong, who had been holding Xu Si’s arm, unexpectedly fell into his embrace.
She grabbed his clothes to steady herself.
Perhaps taking the bus today wasn’t the best choice.
Xu Si looked at her in his arms, so small and obedient, making his heart melt.
Seeing her rub her nose, Xu Si freed one hand to pinch her nose tip. “Did you hurt yourself?”
Jiang Rong shook her head. “No.”
Xu Si looked at her docile expression, really wanting to pinch her cheeks.
After the bus traveled some distance, many passengers got off, making the space more comfortable.
Xu Si noticed an empty seat nearby. “Little teacher, go sit in that empty seat.”
Jiang Rong sat down and said, “Give me your bag, I’ll put it on the floor.”
“Okay.”
The air conditioning was on in the bus. Jiang Rong pulled down her scarf a bit and asked, “Xu Si, are you hot? Want me to help you take off the scarf?”
“No need.” Xu Si looked down at her, his eyes filled with smile. “After delivering the things and going home, where are you going? Still going to the bookstore?”
Jiang Rong thought for a moment. “Yes.”
“Then if we’re not having tutoring today, I’ll go with you.”
“Sure,” Jiang Rong smiled at him.
Getting off the bus, they arrived at Jiang Rong’s residential complex.
Xu Si walked her to the building entrance. “I’ll wait for you down here.”
“Okay.”
Xu Si watched her carrying those items in her small hands and asked, “Can you manage? Want me to help you up?”
“No need, we’re already at the entrance.”
Although Jiang Rong declined, Xu Si still accompanied her to the elevator. “I’ll wait for you downstairs.”
Jiang Rong replied obediently, “Okay.”
He waited outside, opening his game “Happy Eliminate.”
Within minutes, Jiang Rong came out of the elevator.
Xu Si looked up from his phone. “That was quick.”
Jiang Rong smiled. “I just went up to drop off some things.”
…
At the bookstore.
Jiang Rong took off her scarf to save a spot, then quietly asked Xu Si, “What type of books do you usually like?”
Xu Si looked at her head leaning closer, and said softly, “I don’t read much. What types do you like?”
Jiang Rong thought for a moment before replying, “Mystery and detective stories, and I love many other genres too.”
“Then I’ll read whatever you’re reading.”
“Okay.”
Jiang Rong led Xu Si to her favorite bookshelf.
The shelf was full of books. After looking up and down for a while, she pointed to the top shelf: “Xu Si, could you help me get ‘The Missing 13 Steps’ from the top shelf?”
Xu Si retrieved the book and handed it to Jiang Rong. “Do you have any recommendations? Help me choose one, little teacher.”
Jiang Rong looked around, thought for a moment, then pulled out “Summer, Fireworks, and My Corpse.” She whispered to Xu Si, “I read this last time I was here. It’s quite good, though I’m not sure if you’ll like this genre.”
Xu Si chuckled. “No worries, we’ll find out once I read it.”
They sat facing each other.
Xu Si flipped through the book. The surroundings were quiet except for the sound of turning pages.
He looked up at Jiang Rong. She sat very straight, her long eyelashes casting shadows below her eyes. Her posture was similar to when she was in class, deeply absorbed in the book’s content.
Perhaps sensing Xu Si’s gaze, Jiang Rong looked up, leaned closer, and whispered, “Do you like this type of book? If not, we can exchange it for something else.”
Xu Si shook his head gently. “I like it, no need to change.”
Jiang Rong gave him a sweet smile. “That’s good.”
Her smile was sweet, making Xu Si smile too.
While Xu Si was reading intently, he felt small hands tugging at his sleeve.
Jiang Rong whispered, “This book is missing some pages. I’ll go tell the staff and get another copy.”
Xu Si stood up. “I’ll go with you.”
“Okay.”
Jiang Rong took the book to the staff counter at the entrance.
“Is there a problem?”
“This book is missing two pages, could you check?”
The girl in the red uniform took the book from Jiang Rong. “Indeed, pages are missing. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
She noted down the book’s number, kept it aside, and told Jiang Rong, “There are other unsealed copies on the shelf. You can get another one.”
“I understand, thank you.”
She whispered to Xu Si, “Let’s go.”
She had only taken a few steps when she heard a voice behind her: “Jiang Rong.”
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