Chapter 114

Early Morning

William Wei walked into the bathroom and turned on the faucet.

He placed a hot towel over his face.

After rubbing it vigorously a few times, he looked at himself in the mirror.

Despite having shaved yesterday, a few stubbles had already sprouted on his chin...

...

...

It was getting late.

He turned off the faucet.

Stepping out of the bathroom, he entered the quiet living room, without any lights on.

Guided by the faint light from outside, he made his way to the entrance.

Bending down, he changed his shoes.

"William Wei," a woman's voice came from behind.

He didn't respond, as if he hadn't heard her, and tied his shoelaces.

"Cough, cough..."

The woman coughed with a husky voice.

"Are you smoking again?"

"..."

He had his back to her, holding a freshly lit cigarette in his hand.

After a brief pause, he extinguished the cigarette butt.

Standing up, he opened the front door.

The morning sunlight poured in from outside, shining on the woman's frail face.

The wrinkles were clearly visible under the sunlight.

"I'm leaving," he said softly.

After walking out of the door, he closed it.

...

...

"Ice Palm!"

"Huh?!"

Raina Nan shivered abruptly and turned around, covering the back of her neck.

Only to find Bell Tong looking at her with a mischievous smile.

"..."

She paused for a moment.

Taking advantage of Bell Tong's distraction, she suddenly reached out and covered her cheeks with both hands.

"Hey!"

Bell Tong almost jumped out of her seat.

"Damn, you're colder than me!"

"Hehe~"

With a hint of smugness, Raina Nan lifted her nose.

"What a cold-blooded woman."

"Huh?!"

With a playful smile on her face, she extended her claws.

"What are you guys talking about?"

At this moment, Roxie Lin also approached.

Bell Tong looked up and grabbed her hand.

"Hey~ Ruo Xi's hand feels so warm~"

"Hehe, I've always been like this in winter~"

In fact, it was one of her proud "skills."

"Is that so~"

Raina Nan said, also taking her hand.

"It's true..."

Although it was still snowing outside and there was no heating in the classroom...

"But there is also a saying in the martial arts world..."

Resting her chin on her hand, Bell Tong smiled and said.

"It's said that palm reading is the opposite of heart reading. The hotter the hand, the deeper the scheming... Just a thought, tsk tsk..."

"Always saying these things..."

Roxie Lin seemed to be used to Bell Tong's habit of talking nonsense.

Muttering, she didn't say much.

She turned her head and looked at Raina Nan.

"Xiao Yu."

"Huh?"

Raina Nan raised her head while squeezing her hand.

"Lately... it seems like Nan Ge Ge has been picking you up from school..."

"..."

She was stunned for a moment.

"Well..."

"Huh~~"

Roxie Lin thought she would continue to ask something.

But it seemed like she didn't have such intentions.

Instead, she slightly averted her gaze and looked out the window.

In this southern city, it was rare to have snow this year.

Snowflakes gracefully descended from the sky, landing on the window pane. Within moments, a thin layer of frost covered it.

After a while, Roxie Lin spoke up softly.

"Where do you think we will be at this time next year?"

"Who knows..."

Raina Nan leaned on the desk, looking out the window.

"What's there to think about? Of course, we'll be sitting in a university classroom, attending classes."

"Hey, Bell, so confident?"

"I always do what I say..."

Bell Tong propped her chin up and looked out the window.

Moving her lips slightly, she whispered:

"I will definitely catch up with both of you."

"..."

"Keep going."

"Keep going~"

"..."

Bell Tong didn't say anything.

The three of them tilted their heads and looked out the window together.

Even though the snow-covered streets outside let them look as long as they wanted, there was still nobody there.

"Um... I mean, if, if I have to repeat another year of remedial classes next year, will you guys accompany me?"

Of course, even people like Bell Tong occasionally prepare for the worst...

"Remedial classes? Well..."

"We won't."

"Hey!!"

...

...

...

"Hello, Teacher Wei."

"Oh, hi."

William Wei was lying on the corridor outside the classroom, waiting for the bell to ring.

"You're going to get scolded again because the principal caught you smoking~"

A girl walked past him, covering her mouth and laughing.

"..."

He paused for a moment, then threw the half cigarette butt into the trash can.

The habit of smoking had persisted from his student days until now. He had thought about quitting, but he never managed to.

...

Let's discuss the things that need to be arranged and go back earlier today...

Thinking this, he turned around to go towards the classroom.

Just as he took a half step, he stopped again.

...

"Yuyu."

"Hmm?"

Raina Nan was about to enter the classroom, but he called her.

"Wei-ge... Teacher, do you need something?"

"Ah..."

He hesitated for a moment, thought about it, and then said:

"Come here, I want to ask you something."

"..."

Raina Nan looked at him, pointing hesitantly to the watch on her wrist.

"It's almost time for class..."

"..."

A moment of silence.

"Yes, yes, right."

He smiled and scratched his head.

"What's the matter?"

"..."

He bit his lip, seeming like he wanted to say something.

"No, it's nothing."

In the end, he swallowed his words.

"..."

Raina Nan was stunned for a moment.

Without thinking too much, she nodded and walked into the classroom.

"..."

...

...

Dong~ Dong~ Dong~

The school bell rang, signaling the end of the day.

"Bye, see you~"

"Bye~"

Students stood up and started leaving the classroom in pairs or groups of three.

Raina Nan sat in her seat and packed all the books on her desk into her backpack.

Although she may not necessarily read all these books when she takes them home...

But as the college entrance exams approached, it felt like something was missing if she didn't do so...

"Raina Nan, Raina Nan~"

At this moment, a girl patted her shoulder.

She turned around.

The girl smiled and nodded toward the window with her chin.

She looked in the direction the girl pointed.

"..."

A man in a dark coat, with a thick scarf wrapped around him, was standing at the school gate.

His hands were in his pockets, occasionally taking out his phone to check.

She remained silent and looked at him from a distance through the window pane.

"Wow, the stalker is here again..."

Bell Tong passed by while looking out the window.

"A pervert~ He comes every day... Disgusting, isn't it?"

"It's none of your business..."

She lowered her head to pack her backpack and said softly.

"Tsk tsk tsk~"

"Let's go."

"Oh, bye... Oops!"

Before Bell Tong could finish her sentence, she was struck on the neck by Raina Nan's icy palm.

When she came to her senses, Raina Nan had already run out of the classroom.

"Look at you, acting so smug. What's there to be happy about..."

...

...

"..."

Samson Nan stood at the school gate, long after school had ended.

Snow was falling around him, and the visibility was limited due to the fog.

He didn't bother to look around anymore, burying his face in his scarf and looking down at his phone.

"...?"

Suddenly, he felt someone poke him from behind.

He turned around.

"...Are you a ghost?"

"..."

He saw Raina Nan standing silently behind him,

Holding her hands in front of her mouth, breathing out a puff of warm air.

"Are you cold?"

"Yeah..."

"..."

He slightly leaned over and held her slightly red hand.

"So cold!!"

"Don't make such a fuss..."

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and said softly.

"Why don't you wear more? Sweater? Down jacket? Did your mom not buy them for you or what?"

"I don't want to look like a fat person..."

"You're so stubborn..."

He didn't understand what girls were thinking these days. They would rather freeze than wear a little more. He even saw two girls wearing skirts just now. Scary...

"Come here, let me check if you're wearing long johns!"

"Huh?!"

As he spoke, his hand reached towards her thigh in school pants.

"Get lost!"

She held her backpack and took two steps back.

"Come here~"

"No way!"

"..."

"Is it necessary..."

He was speechless and without saying anything, he grabbed her hand.

He pulled her to his side.

"..."

She didn't seem to resist.

With a slightly flushed cheek, she turned her head to the side.

...

He remained silent, walking with her while holding her hand and matching her pace.

"Oh, by the way."

As if suddenly remembering something, he paused for a moment.

"Tomorrow is Wei Ge's birthday, right?"

"Wei Ge's birthday?"

"Yeah."

He thought for a moment.

"Let's treat him to a meal~"

"Oh..."

William Wei always seemed to forget his own birthday for some reason. If it wasn't for Samson and Jocelyn York reminding him every year, he probably wouldn't celebrate it.

"Just the two of you?"

"Luo Jia should come too, I think."

"Oh..."

"Are you coming?"

"..."

With her face turned to the side, she thought for a moment and spoke softly.

"I'll pass on it."

"Why?"

"You three having a gathering, what use is there for me as a third wheel..."

"Haha, so you know you're the third wheel?"

He found it funny. It was the first time he had heard this girl say such things.

"And besides... I still need to review my lessons, pass, pass..."

"Suit yourself. I'll buy an extra gift when I go shopping later, and I'll say it's from you, how about that?"

"Oh, then I'll give you the money later..."

"No need for that. We're in this together, right?"

"It's a must to give, otherwise it wouldn't count as my goodwill..."

She looked up, her eyes fixed on him without blinking.

"..."

He was silent for a moment.

After a while, he smiled lightly and placed his hand on her head.

"Okay~"

...

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