Qin Hao asked in confusion, "Why are you thanking me again? I didn't help you today."
Xia Qing's pretty face bloomed with a smile, "Let's walk and talk."
She turned and walked out of the woods, and Qin Hao watched her beautiful back with an admiring look in his eyes.
Xia Qing was wearing the school uniform from No.2 Middle School, with a high-collared long-sleeve top and a black short skirt underneath. Her straight and slender jade legs were particularly eye-catching.
Fortunately, she was also wearing black over-the-knee socks, otherwise those legs alone would be enough to lead to crime.
Qin Hao took a couple of glances, then hurriedly followed her, afraid that he wouldn't be able to control himself if he looked any longer.
Having left the grove of trees, Qin Hao caught up with her and they walked side by side towards the Cuijing District.
Xia Qing walked slowly, her head down as she looked at her black boots, "Do you know why I thanked you just now?"
Qin Hao shook his head blankly, "Why?"
Xia Qing raised her head to look ahead, her cherry lips parting slightly, "When I was in junior high, I had a good friend named Chen Rourou. She was pretty, and she was my good friend."
Chen Rourou? Qin Hao had not heard this name in No.2 Middle School. If Xia Qing said she was pretty, she must be not bad-looking.
Since she brought up this Chen Rourou, Qin Hao felt that it must be related to her, and he also felt it had to do with Liu Jun.
But he couldn't quite figure out what exactly the situation was, and asked gently, "She doesn't attend our No.2 Middle School, does she?"
Xia Qing nodded, the smile gone from her face, "Right, she scored very low on the entrance exams and could only go to No.3 Middle School."
Just as he guessed, No.3 Middle School, her story matched Qin Hao's speculations precisely, and he also sensed that this matter had something to do with Liu Jun.
She continued, "She went to No.3 Middle School, the same school as Liu Jun. Because she was very pretty, a lot of people pursued her, including Liu Jun.
Rourou was deceived by his sweet talk, and they started dating. Not long after, Liu Jun found ways to sleep with her."
Qin Hao was taken aback for a moment, then came to a realization; there were many who dated in high school and even more who crossed that line.
Someone like Liu Jun must have had his share of women. Damn, all the good cabbages were dug up by pigs.
Xia Qing didn't look at his reaction, speaking as if to herself, "Afterwards, Liu Jun's true nature came out. After he slept with Rourou, he dumped her.
But they broke up not long after, and then Liu Jun started pursuing me. I had no feelings for him and turned him down, but he wouldn't let up.
Somehow Rourou got wind of this, and she blamed me for their breakup, accusing me of being blind to be friends with me."
...
The whole story was just as Xia Qing told it, not much different from what Qin Hao had guessed.
After finishing her story, Xia Qing's mood dipped, and she fell silent.
Qin Hao knew she felt upset because the situation really had nothing to do with her; it was all because of Liu Jun.
Liu Jun was not the faithful type to begin with, and Rourou's interest in him was a mistake from the start.
Qin Hao sought to comfort her, "Don't be sad. These things will pass, and maybe Rourou said those hurtful things because she's in a tough spot herself. Try to look at the bright side."
Xia Qing looked up at him, a smile breaking across her face, a cheerful, infectious beam that brought out the charming dimples on her cheeks.
Seeing this, Qin Hao was captivated. In that moment, Xia Qing was truly beautiful. His heart thudded wildly; it was like returning to the moment he first saw Du Wanrou, a thrilling feeling.
Xia Qing saw him spaced out and felt a bit smug; she had thought her beauty had no effect on Qin Hao, but it seemed to work quite well now. She asked beamingly, "What kind of difficulties do you think she's having?"
Qin Hao came to his senses, his cheeks flushing slightly, rather embarrassed.
After all, being caught staring is quite an awkward situation.
He was relieved to see Xia Qing didn't dwell on it and said after some thought, "Maybe she feels she doesn't deserve to be friends with you anymore, which is why she's saying things that hurt you."
Xia Qing inquired, "Anything else?"
Qin Hao shook his head, "That's all I can think of, and it's quite likely."
After a moment's contemplation, as if struck by a realization, Xia Qing smiled at him, "Qin Hao, can we be friends?"
Qin Hao was deeply moved, looking at Xia Qing earnestly, "You're the first person to ever say that to me. I would be glad to be your friend, just afraid you might not want to."
He looked somewhat shy as he finished.
Seeing him now, Xia Qing found it hard to associate the Qin Hao before her with the assertive presence he had in the woods just earlier, like they were two different people.