Xiao He did not even have time to react.
In his startled wide eyes was the calm face of the girl.
The steel pipe swung towards him with sharp force, and it looked like his head was about to be split open, but the expected scene of blood splattering did not happen.
At the last moment, the steel pipe stopped steadily, barely touching his hair. Xiao He could even feel the icy cold temperature of the steel pipe.
His breath was caught in his throat as well.
Xiao He broke out in a cold sweat, swallowed some saliva and asked, "...What are you doing?" He looked at Qiao Ying.
Qiao Ying looked at the somewhat slow-reacting Xiao He, and calmly said, "Does this steel pipe look good?"
Xiao He looked at her as if she was crazy.
Qiao Ying threw the steel pipe to the ground, "Just kidding."
Xiao He, who was leaning against the wall, caught his breath with some difficulty before straightening up. His body had been hit by a few steel pipes, and even breathing was painful.
After glancing at the gangsters rolling on the ground and yelling, Xiao He asked Qiao Ying, who had her hands in her pockets, "Why are you following me?"
Qiao Ying said, "I'm not following you. I heard there's a place around here that sells crossed bridge rice noodles that are very authentic, so I came to buy some."
Xiao He: "Did you manage to buy any?"
Qiao Ying: "Couldn't find it."
Xiao He glanced at her, ignored her again, and clutching his aching abdomen, headed towards the pitch-black corridor, intending to go home.
Qiao Ying called out to him, "I saved you, didn't even get a word of thanks, so shouldn't you at least take me to buy rice noodles?"
Xiao He stopped in his tracks. After pondering in the same spot for two seconds, he turned and walked out of the alley.
Qiao Ying followed him.
She took the initiative to strike up a conversation, "What's up with those people?"
Xiao He said, "It's none of your business."
Qiao Ying said, "I love doing good deeds, especially for classmates. Maybe I'd be happy to help."
Xiao He: "I don't need it."
Qiao Ying looked at his back: His personality is the same too.
Just like Feng Ying, full of thorns all over his body, keeping everyone thousands of miles away, not trusting anyone.
Xiao He brought Qiao Ying out of the alley and stood on a street lined with shops. He pointed out a rice noodle shop in front for Qiao Ying.
Qiao Ying looked at him and asked, "Do you need to go to the hospital?"
Xiao He said, "Mind your own business."
Qiao Ying also did not pamper him, "Ungrateful one."
Qiao Ying turned and walked away immediately.
After seeing her actually enter the rice noodle shop, Xiao He then turned around and entered the alley again.
A black Rolls Royce was parked at the south gate of Peking University.
Qin Hanyue had come to pick Qiao Ying up after her evening self-study session.
The students walked out of the school gate in groups of three and two. Suddenly, the car door on this side opened and Qiao Ying got in.
And right across was a taxi that had just started moving.
Obviously, Qiao Ying had taken a taxi here.
Qin Hanyue looked at her curiously, "You weren't at school?"
Qiao Ying: "I went out to buy food."
Qin Hanyue: "So why didn't you go straight home?"
She had taken a taxi back here. Given that she came from quite far away, since she was already out, why did she still circle back to school instead of going straight home?
Could it be because of him? Qin Hanyue secretly rejoiced in his heart.
Qiao Ying: "Let's go."
Qin Hanyue said caringly, "After a day of classes and giving lectures to students, you should pay more attention to resting your eyes."
Qiao Ying glanced at him, "Staring at forums all day, you should take better care of your eyes too."
Qin Hanyue laughed dryly, at a loss for words.
"So what food did you buy?"
Qiao Ying handed him the bag she was holding.
Qin Hanyue opened it to see a box of soft and chewy Suzhou green rice balls.
Qiao Ying: "Want to eat it?"
After Xiao He left, Qiao Ying immediately came out of the rice noodle shop. She then received Qin Hanyue's message that he was coming to pick her up after evening self-study.
Qin Hanyue said, "Yes I do, I haven't eaten dinner yet anyway."
Qin Hanyue opened the box and offered it to Qiao Ying first.
Qiao Ying: "I'm not hungry." She didn't like eating these either.
Qin Hanyue held the rice balls and asked, "You bought these specially for me?"
But Qiao Ying asked Qin Yan (one of his assistants) who was in front, "Old Qin, want to eat?"
Qin Hanyue also looked at Qin Yan, "He probably won't eat right?"
Qin Yan: "Thank you Miss Qiao, my stomach is not good so I can't eat such soft and mushy stuff." He smiled politely on the surface while crying bitterly inside.
Competing with the Young Master for food, he still wanted his mouth!
Couldn't you just reply with a simple yes, I bought them specially for you? Wouldn't that make everyone happy?
These two black-hearted ones just loved to play with him whenever they had nothing better to do.
After injections and medication when they got back to the villa and Qin Hanyue left, Qiao Ying received an electronic file from Huo Chengdong.
It contained all the information about Xiao He and his parents.
Huo Chengdong sent a message: [Sister Ying, I know you have high moral standards, but just for a sweet and sour pork ribs, isn't this a bit much?]
Huo Chengdong: [Your heart toward me is already enough]
Qiao Ying replied: [My dog likes playing ball too, let me know when you're free to come match wits with it.]
Huo Chengdong held his phone: [???]
The next day during lunch time. Xiao He was busy finishing up at the canteen. He simply started doing his homework there. He had missed over a semester of courses. Not only did he have to catch up on last semester's knowledge, he also had to keep up with the current curriculum.
Suddenly, a bottle of medicinal wine specifically for treating bruises and sprains was placed in front of him. Xiao He looked up and saw Qiao Ying.
Qiao Ying: "Came late, is there still food?"
Xiao He looked at her for two seconds but ignored her. He continued taking notes.
Soon however, he stopped writing. Then he stood up and left silently. A few minutes later he came back carrying a tray of food.
He placed the tray of rice and dishes on the table, then sat down again to continue taking notes.
Qiao Ying sat opposite him: "How much is it?"
Seeing that Xiao He ignored her, Qiao Ying went on to eat the food on her own accord.
After eating a few bites, she heard him ask, "Do you have the notes from last semester?"
Of course she didn't. Apart from there being not much knowledge that required her to take notes, even if there were, she would commit them to memory.
Qiao Ying said, "I have them, want to borrow?"
Xiao He looked at her, his meaning obvious without needing words.
Qiao Ying said, "I'll lend them to you, what good does it do for me?"
Xiao He lowered his head again without further response.
After finishing her meal, Qiao Ying left the medicinal wine behind without caring whether Xiao He would accept it or not.
Xiao He waited until almost the start of afternoon classes before packing up his books and returning to the classroom.
As soon as Xiao He entered the classroom, he noticed that whether male or female, his classmates were all looking his way, accompanied by hushed whispers.
Qiao Ying sat and ate with him at the canteen when there were still quite a few students around.
They must be gossiping due to Qiao Ying having sat across from him at the canteen just now.
Xiao He returned to his seat. A few notebooks were left on his desk. He looked up to see Qiao Ying.
His classmates' whispered conversations instantly grew louder.
Xiao He's lips moved, seemingly trying to say thank you, but given his personality, the words did not make it past his mouth eventually.
Qiao Ying also did not mind. She returned to her own seat.
Xiao He flipped open the notebook on top. The class monitor's name was written on the front page - Qiao Ying must have borrowed them from the class monitor.
Early Saturday morning.
Older Ming came to see Xiao He's mother for a house call again.
The previous time Older Ming came to diagnose Mrs. Xiao was with Headmaster Zhang accompanying him. However, it wasn't just Older Ming and Headmaster Zhang present this time.
There was also Qiao Ying.
Xiao He was using a mop to clean up his mother's vomit from the floor when the few of them arrived.
The run-down little room, peeling walls, unpleasant smell; that side of him that he was embarrassed for anyone to see had been caught in the act. It would make anyone feel ashamed.
"Sorry, our door wasn't shut properly. We came right in without knocking," Zhang Chengyong eased the atmosphere. He knew children of this age had strong pride, especially in front of their peer who was a girl like Qiao Ying.
Xiao He remained silent as he lowered his head to diligently mop the floor clean. Carrying the mop, he headed out.
Qiao Ying made way for him.
