```Xie Xiao almost thought Luo Yanran had hung up the phone if he hadn't heard her breathing.

At last, he heard her chuckle softly, the sound like a hook tugging at Xie Xiao's heart, "Xie Xiao, what are you thinking about?"

Her voice was light and soft, "Go to sleep early, and don't overthink things. The exam is coming up soon."

Xie Xiao's ears felt a bit warm, unsure if it was because his little thoughts had been detected or because of her hook-laden chuckle, but the smile on his face was still open and natural, "What do you think I am thinking about? Ranran, how long has it been since we kissed and hugged? I miss you."

Liking someone to the point that he couldn't resist being close to her, Xie Xiao didn't think there was anything embarrassing to admit that.

So he said it openly, but it only served to make Luo Yanran's face on the other end of the phone turn even redder.

She certainly understood what Xie Xiao meant. She had indeed felt stressed lately and had started to fear not being at the same school as Xie Xiao, so she had become a bit anxious.

In truth, she missed Xie Xiao, too, just as much as he missed her...

At last, Luo Yanran slammed her iPad onto the desk, and a gentle "pop" caught Xie Xiao's attention.

"What happened? Did you drop something?"

"Yes, my tablet fell," Luo Yanran said, her eyelashes fluttering as she blushed at her own bizarre thoughts, "I'm going to hang up now. Rest early."

Xie Xiao whispered teasingly, "Little ostrich."

His voice carried laughter and indulgence.

It made Luo Yanran feel like her ears were burning.

She hurriedly hung up the phone.

Xie Xiao was in high spirits. Although he couldn't manage to secure a spot to watch the event, at least he now knew the specific date when Ranran was going to dance for him.

Life suddenly seemed to have something to look forward to.

And she must have blushed earlier, right? That flustered tone was all too familiar to Xie Xiao.

She always sounded like that when she couldn't keep up with his teasing.

Xie Xiao smiled to himself, already looking forward to Saturday.

No, he shouldn't dwell on it any further, or he wouldn't get any sleep tonight.

Xie Xiao randomly picked a lucky assignment to calm his mind.

The next two days at school were pretty much the same as before.

These days, the four of them would have lunch together. Lin Yu and Liu Ou seemed to have also moved on from that fireworks incident.

They appeared to get along fine.

At least in front of them, that was the case. What happened in private was another story.

In the evening, Xie Xiao would often go out to eat with Luo Yanran.

Occasionally, they would bring back food for Lin Yu, who was still diligently studying in the classroom.

Today was Friday, and once again the two of them went out to eat together.

Just as they left the school gate, Xie Xiao reached out and took Luo Yanran's hand. Now they were a bit brazen about it, considering that after the hotel incident, essentially all the teachers and classmates knew about them.

Yet, to Xie Xiao's relief, none of the teachers had brought it up, acting as if they hadn't seen anything.

Xie Xiao had worried about it for a while, fearful of affecting Luo Yanran.

But the teachers' "out of sight, out of mind" attitude now allowed Xie Xiao to even walk past Old Lin while holding Luo Yanran's hand.

Though, of course, they'd get a discreet warning from Old Lin.

"Lin Yu is not coming out for dinner again?" Luo Yanran looked at the message from Liu Ou asking her to get takeout, "Hai Ou has been working hard recently too. What's up with them?"

If Lin Yu were coming out to eat, he would usually take care of Liu Ou's food himself and she wouldn't need to worry about it.

So upon seeing the message, Luo Yanran guessed that Lin Yu must not be coming out for dinner.

"Right, he's reviewing the physics paper he took this afternoon. He's been studying like mad lately." Xie Xiao thought of something and hesitantly asked Luo Yanran, "Is Liu Ou planning to go to college far away?"

Luo Yanran looked up at him, her eyes filled with resignation, "Yes, and quite far. Based on her recent simulation test scores, she shouldn't have any problem getting there."

She knew what he wanted to ask.

They all knew that Lin Yu couldn't leave. It wasn't because of his grades, but because with his grandmother still there, he couldn't go.

```

Xie Xiao's eyes filled with helplessness and regret, but in the end, he said nothing.

Actually, there wasn't much to say. Even if Lin Yu and Liu Ou weren't a couple now, let alone if they were, you couldn't just tell one to give up their favored school for the other.

It was too selfish, and they both knew it.

Lin Yu and Liu Ou...

Luo Yanran clenched his hand tightly, "Don't think about these things. Just focus on doing well in your exams, and don't worry about anything else."

Xie Xiao laughed, "I'm not thinking about anything else, but I'm not thinking about the exams either, I'm thinking about when Miss Luo will dance for me."

The topic changed too quickly. Just a second ago, Luo Yanran was thinking about how to comfort him, and in the next second, the conversation had shifted here.

She didn't know what to say.

All she could do was to pinch his palm hard, "What on earth is in your mind?"

Xie Xiao pretended to cry out in a couple of exaggerated "owws," "It hurts."

Sure enough, Luo Yanran, somewhat worried, took his hand and looked at the palm, "Does it hurt a lot?"

Her voice carried a tinge of distress, and her brows furrowed slightly.

Seeing the nail marks in his palm, she felt annoyed at herself for using too much force, and pursed her lips to blow gently on his palm, "It doesn't hurt anymore, huh~"

It was like soothing a child.

Xie Xiao just stood there, watching her pout and whisper comfort.

The weather was already hot, and they both wore summer school uniforms, clean white tops with black pants underneath.

Actually, it was a very ordinary outfit, not even particularly nice looking.

But it was mainly about the people wearing the uniforms who looked good.

Not far away, a few classmates in uniforms stood by, "Wow, they are such a perfect match!"

"Xie Xiao's gaze is so doting!"

"Luo senior is really beautiful, even as a girl I find her attractive, how can she be so pale, it's like she's reflecting light ahhh~"

Zhou Mianmian, holding her packed meal, passed behind them and glanced up to see the young man touching the girl's hair in front of him.

His eyes were full of the familiar smile he used to share with her, a fondness brimming over.

She watched Luo Yanran look up and glare at him, then Xie Xiao took her hand and kissed it.

The few girls standing in front of her gasped.

But Zhou Mianmian found the scene before her eyes truly grating.

Her grades had plummeted these days, and they had never been that good to begin with.

She also had become frighteningly thin.

Zhou Mianmian felt that since that incident happened, her life had been completely ruined.

Stay tuned to mvl

She was labeled as Yan Shi's, belonging to Yan Shi.

But she hadn't wanted to go to the bar that night, and she hadn't wanted Yan Shi to get in a fight.

So why should she be held accountable for his becoming a cripple?

Zhou Mianmian withdrew her gaze numbly, unwilling to resign herself to fate.

She didn't want to spend her life with a cripple!

She was supposed to live like Luo Yanran is living now! seaʀᴄh thё Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

It was she who should be envied!

Zhou Mianmian's venomous gaze landed on the young couple not far away, then she turned and walked away.

"Alright, it doesn't hurt anymore, let's go have some food." Xie Xiao took Luo Yanran's hand and kissed it again, then suddenly felt something and looked up a few times.

That was when he saw a few girls nearby taking pictures of them with their phones.

So that was the gaze from a moment ago?

He frowned slightly.