CH 19

The rain outside the window was falling heavily. The pendulum of the clock was swinging on the wall. Left and right, left and right.

Thin fingertips tapped the table continuously. The book on the table was blown by the wind. But the owner didn’t pay attention to it.

Bai Lu’s Mom came inside and closed the window.

“It’s raining. Why didn’t you close the window? What if the rain comes in?”

Bai Lu propped herself up from the desk and yawned. Her mom looked at her sleepy eyes and said, “Are you sleepy? Don’t study anymore, go to sleep.”

Bai Lu shook her head,”Not sleepy.”

“You can’t even open your eyes, and still saying you’re not sleepy?” Her Mom shook her head and took it upon herself to put away the books on the table, “You don’t have to study so much on vacation.”

Bai Lu said a little sarcastically: “Other parents are guarding their children to study.”

Bai Lu’s Mom smiled thoughtfully and stroked her head while saying, “Learning is good but it’s not as important as the body. You need to take care of the body, otherwise. …… Hey, what is this?”

The small black box caught her eyes and she reached out to take it.

“Yo, a necklace, very nice.” There was a mirror on the table. Bai Lu’s Mom took the locket and compared it to her own neck. Both mother and daughter had white skin, and the silver chain looked extraordinarily delicate when wore in their neck.

“Did you bought it?”

Bai Lu didn’t answer, her mom took her silence as her answer.

“Good. You study so hard. It’s good to buy something and reward yourself a little.” She put down the locket and advised, “Okay, now go to sleep. You have to return to school tomorrow.”

Tomorrow was October 3rd and school would start the day after tomorrow. But Bai Lu, as a dormitory student had to return to the school a day early to organise her things.

Bai Lu lied down in her bed at her Mom’s urging. Her Mom helped her cover her with the blanket.

After turning off the light, her Mom left the room.

The moment her Mom left, Bai Lu’s cell phone vibrated.

It was a text message from Xu Hui. He also sent a photo. In the picture, he was standing at the riverside, the river flooded with small waves. A house could be seen behind him.

He was leaning on the stone fence of the house, wearing a T-shirt and jeans. The corner of his shirt were blown up by the wind. His hair a little messy for being tousled by the wind.

A girl was standing beside him, smiling widely and hugging his waist.

In the cool weather of autumn, she wore an ultra-short pants, revealing a pair of snow-white long legs.

Bai Lu changed her position while keeping her eyes on the phone and laid with her head on the side.

He had sent her many pictures like this, starting yesterday.

During the holiday, Xu Hui went out with his friends to play on the riverside villa his family owned. He had asked Bai Lu to join him on the vacation, but Bai Lu did not agree. That’s when he started to send pictures like this.

Xu Hui’s way of expressing his dissatisfaction was always very blunt. Bai Lu could clearly understood his motive for sending his pictures with other girls. He was trying to rile her up. But he had underestimated Bai Lu’s calm nature.

Bai Lu typed: “Have you eaten?”

A call came from him rather than a reply. Xu Hui was too lazy to send a text message.

“Hello?”(Xu Hui)

“Um ……”(Bai Lu)

“Why are you whispering in such a low voice? Are you doing anything bad?”

“No, everyone is asleep.”

The sound of strong wind blowing on the other side could be heard through the phone. Xu Hui’s voice sounded distant than usual because of it.

She heard the rippling sounds of the river waves, the leaves rustling, and also the bright laughter of girls not far away.