Little Sweetheart

Gu Siyi's heart was filled with depression. She realized that she and Xia Zhijun were being too intimate, especially in the classroom, in front of so many classmates. As she looked up, she saw the surprised, envious, and jealous eyes of the students outside the window…

She quickly gathered her thoughts and pushed Xia Zhijun away. "I'm fine now…" she said, trying to sound casual.

She lowered her head, touched her nose to hide her embarrassment, and whispered, "Let's go eat."

After she finished speaking, she turned and walked out. Zheng Peipei followed beside her, put her arm around Gu Siyi's shoulder, blinked, and said with a playful smile, "Honestly, getting a hug from Xia Zhijun in exchange for a little embarrassment, not bad, right?"

"…" Gu Siyi's face flushed red. "Don't be silly," she scolded.

"Tsk, I didn't expect you to be so good at acting cute, Yi Ge."

"I'm going to hit you!" Gu Siyi threatened playfully.

Zheng Peipei was not afraid at all and made a face at her.

Gu Siyi was both angry and amused. As she joked with Zheng Peipei, the previous grievances disappeared.

Lan Xiaqiu was standing by the classroom door. She was about to leave the classroom when she heard the voices inside and turned to look.

The scene of Xia Zhijun hugging Gu Siyi appeared before her eyes…

She clenched her fists, her face gradually turning pale, and her heart felt as if countless tiny steel needles were constantly pricking her.

She had liked Xia Zhijun for three years. Since they were in the same class in junior high school, this tall, handsome, and extremely intelligent boy had attracted all her attention. Her world, apart from studying, was him.

She silently paid attention to him, silently watched him, and occasionally discussing a problem with him in a study group would make her ecstatic.

She knew that he was arrogant and indifferent. Every day, girls would write him love letters, but he would disdainfully throw them away without even looking at them. When the school beauty confessed to him back then and was rejected, she liked him even more wholeheartedly.

Liking someone like him felt very safe. There was no need to worry about another girl suddenly appearing and taking him away.

In order to be in the same class as him in high school, she had to ask her mother to find connections at school, using the excuse that the class Xia Zhijun was in must be the best class in the entire grade.

When she saw him in the new class at the beginning of the new semester, only she knew how happy and excited she was.

She had time to keep working hard and getting closer to him. He was aloof, and she was aloof like him. He was indifferent, and she was indifferent like him. He didn't meddle in other people's business, and neither did she. She would always let him know that they were the same kind of people.

But all of this was shattered because of Gu Siyi's appearance…

He had changed.

He didn't like to interact with girls, but he was always with her. He didn't like to explain problems to others, but he always explained them to her.

He, who never smiled, would show that kind of doting smile to her. He even… openly hugged her in the classroom?

Lan Xiaqiu felt a sharp pain in her heart. She pinched her palm and turned away, walking quickly.

When tears were about to well up, she repeatedly told herself, "Don't cry, don't cry, don't act unusual."

"Xia Zhijun is so good to Gu Siyi…"

"Oh my god, I never would have imagined that the aloof school god would be so sweet to a girl…"

"Are they dating?"

"I heard that their families have known each other for generations, and Gu Siyi is Xia Zhijun's godsister?"

"Get out of here… He has a cousin in junior high, and I didn't see him being so caring towards her."

"Xia Zhijun must like Gu Siyi… Definitely, absolutely, for sure! His eyes don't lie!"

"Tsk tsk, our Longxing school grass has finally been taken… There's no more flower on the high mountain…"

Lan Xiaqiu tried hard to calm down and not be trapped in this pain, but the classmates passing by were all gossiping about Xia Zhijun. That name was constantly ringing in her ears.

She really couldn't take it anymore. She quickened her pace and ran back to the dormitory. In the private space where no one was around, she let the tears flow freely.

In the school cafeteria, Xia Zhijun and the others were having a meal with a few classmates.

Lu Jiaye ordered a large table of dishes and said, "Today's theme is to cheer up Little Dimple and don't let that insensible Old Wang affect your mood. Ajun is right, even if you're stupid, we all like you!"

Gu Siyi said, "Alright, stop talking about it."

Lu Jiaye said, "Anyway, our Little Dimple is the best, no objections allowed!"

Xia Zhijun's face didn't look too good. He glanced coldly at Lu Jiaye. "Can you be quiet?"

"I'm doing psychological counseling work here. Why are you looking at me like I'm a class enemy?" Lu Jiaye said, feeling wronged.

Zheng Peipei sneered. "You talk too much when you shouldn't. You're so stupid."

Lu Jiaye was unconvinced. "Why shouldn't I talk?"

"You've said everything. What else is there for the school god to say?" Zheng Peipei retorted.

"…"

"She's not your Little Dimple. Why are you getting so worked up? Little Dimple is sad. Does she need you to comfort her?"

"…" Lu Jiaye was speechless by Zheng Peipei's words.

Gu Siyi, who was sitting next to them, was extremely embarrassed. Fortunately, the dishes were served. She quickly said, "Let's eat, let's eat."

After dinner, everyone went to a beverage shop together.

Xia Zhijun bought Gu Siyi a cup of oolong tea and handed it to her. "Go back to the dormitory and have a good nap," he said.

"Okay." Gu Siyi nodded. The moment their eyes met, she didn't know why, but she felt particularly shy.

She immediately lowered her head, and those words surfaced in her mind: Even if you're stupid, I still like you… Her cheeks burned.

Zheng Peipei walked back to the dormitory with Gu Siyi.

Zheng Peipei said, holding Gu Siyi's arm, "I suddenly thought of something."

"What?"

"Who told the teacher that you copied Xia Zhijun's test paper?"

"…" Gu Siyi was a little confused. She had been so busy blaming herself for being stupid that she hadn't thought about this at all.

"You clearly didn't copy, but you told the teacher that you did. Isn't that too cunning?"

"It's not that complicated…" Gu Siyi thought for a moment and said, "Maybe the teacher thought it was unreasonable for both of our test papers to get full marks, so she just made up an excuse and said someone told her?"

"It's not impossible, but I think it's more likely that someone is deliberately targeting you."

Gu Siyi was stunned. "But I haven't offended anyone…"

"Oh please~" Zheng Peipei snorted. "Except for me, Xiang Li, and Xin Yi, every girl in the class has probably been offended by you."

"???" Gu Siyi was completely confused.

"Do you think Xia Zhijun, as the school god and heartthrob, a handsome guy with both brains and looks, doesn't have any girls who like him? The girls who like him are like wildfire that can't be burned out, and spring breeze blows and they grow again, okay?"

"But he and I…" Gu Siyi originally wanted to say that she and him were just good friends with good family relations, but she didn't know why she choked up and suddenly couldn't say it out loud…

Zheng Peipei continued, "Your relationship with him can be said to be very close. I can say with my conscience as Xia Zhijun's childhood sweetheart that you are the only girl who is so close to him. Unique favor, absolutely no one else!"

Zheng Peipei's tone was a little sour when she said this.

After all, when she was young and innocent, she was also fascinated by Xia Zhijun's appearance and temperament.

However, her feelings were unrequited. Zheng Peipei was not the kind of person who would chase after someone who was indifferent to her, so she gradually lost interest in him.

Because of that stifled affection, she especially wanted to see Xia Zhijun suffer at the hands of Gu Siyi.

Gu Siyi was slow and clueless, so she didn't bother to say anything. At first, she even wanted them to have some conflicts.

However, as she got closer to Gu Siyi and witnessed Xia Zhijun's special treatment of her, her thoughts changed.

At least Xia Zhijun didn't fall into the hands of someone who was not good enough for him. It was a good thing that the boy she once liked was with the girl she liked.

Zheng Peipei's voice was like a clap of thunder. Gu Siyi's ears buzzed, and her heart pounded wildly. "What are you talking about… You're exaggerating…"

Zheng Peipei rolled her eyes. "Who's exaggerating? I think Xia Zhijun just likes you to death. Anyway, he said it himself."

"…" Gu Siyi's mouth suddenly went dry, as if all the blood in her body had rushed to her head. Her ears were as red as if they were about to drip blood.

"Yi Ge, so you're this shy?" Zheng Peipei looked at her with a smirk.

"… I'm not talking to you anymore!" Gu Siyi covered her burning face and walked forward quickly.

Zheng Peipei followed behind, laughing so hard that she almost couldn't breathe.

Gu Siyi ran all the way to the dormitory door in one breath. She calmed down, and her rapidly beating heart didn't know if it was because of those words or because of the strenuous exercise.

She pushed the door open and saw Lan Xiaqiu buried in her desk.

Lan Xiaqiu looked up when she heard the sound and quickly wiped the tears from her face.

Their eyes met. Gu Siyi could tell that something was wrong with her, but Lan Xiaqiu had always been aloof and indifferent, and she never talked to others, let alone confided in them.

Gu Siyi, who had never comforted anyone before, didn't know what to say even though she saw that Lan Xiaqiu was unhappy. She was afraid that it would only add to her embarrassment.

Gu Siyi nodded lightly and returned to her seat as if nothing had happened.

As Gu Siyi was about to go to bed for a nap, Zheng Peipei came back. As soon as she entered the door, she said with a playful smile, "Oh my, you ran faster than a rabbit. It's just that Xia Zhijun likes you. You're usually so shameless when you're being lovey-dovey with him, and now you're all shy?"

Gu Siyi almost fell off the bed frame. She blushed and lowered her voice. "Stop it, there's someone else in the dormitory."

Zheng Peipei glanced at Lan Xiaqiu and chuckled twice. Because of Lan Xiaqiu's behavior of handing in her test paper early in the morning, she was a little unhappy with her.

Lan Xiaqiu silently got into bed and covered herself with the blanket. The tears that had just stopped welled up again because of Zheng Peipei's words. She buried her face in the blanket and bit her lip to stop herself from crying out loud. She was so heartbroken that she could hardly breathe.

Gu Siyi lay in bed, replaying Xia Zhijun's words in her mind—

But even if you're stupid, I still like you… It doesn't matter to me at all…

At that moment, her shock had overwhelmed all other emotions, but now, as she recalled his words alone, his low voice still lingered in her ears. Only then did she realize the lingering aftertaste of her racing heartbeat and shyness, which continued endlessly throughout the afternoon nap, leaving her restless.

.

In the afternoon classes, Gu Siyi listened attentively.

During breaks, she would either go to the bathroom with Zheng Peipei or get some fresh air outside the classroom. Even when she was at her seat, she sat up straight and did her homework.

In short, she didn't look at Xia Zhijun even once.

When Gu Siyi got up to get some water, Xia Zhijun's cup appeared in mid-air. "Bring me a cup," he said lazily.

Gu Siyi took the cup, didn't look at him, and left with her head down.

She came back with two cups of water, put Xia Zhijun's water on his desk, deliberately avoided his gaze, turned her head, and left. As she turned, she almost bumped into Lu Jiaye, who was walking towards her.

"Hey, did you spill it?"

"No, no…"

"What are you panicking for?" Xia Zhijun's light chuckle rang out.

Gu Siyi didn't say anything and silently returned to her seat to drink water.

After finishing a cup of water, Xia Zhijun turned sideways, knocked on her desk, and said, "Pour me another cup of water."

Gu Siyi obediently got up and walked to Xia Zhijun's desk. Just as she was about to pick up the cup, it was suddenly taken away. Her gaze followed the cup and landed on Xia Zhijun's face.

He looked at her with a half-smile, his eyes filled with scrutiny. "Did I offend you?"

"Huh? No…" Gu Siyi quickly denied it. Meeting his dark eyes, she felt an inexplicable panic, and her eyes began to wander again.

"Then why aren't you asking me any questions?"

"???" Gu Siyi mumbled innocently, "I don't have any questions to ask."

"You're ignoring me just because you don't have any questions to ask?" There was a hint of displeasure in his tone.

Yes, Young Master Xia, who had been ignored all afternoon, was very unhappy.

"No…" Gu Siyi denied it.

"Look at me," Xia Zhijun said in a deep voice.

Gu Siyi, who had been looking left and right, instantly focused her eyes on him.

Their eyes met. Looking at the girl's clear eyes, long eyelashes, and her red, moist lips that made him want to take a bite… Xia Zhijun suddenly didn't know what to say.

Gu Siyi looked at Xia Zhijun's handsome nose bridge, his entire being seemed to be glowing under the light.

They looked at each other for a moment, neither of them saying anything, but both of their faces turned red.

Lu Jiaye, who was beside them, was tapping away on his phone, sending messages in the WeChat group chat with his best friends.

Lu Jiaye: Ajun is getting more and more outrageous. Little Dimple was just quietly pouring him water, and he had to find fault with her!

Lu Jiaye: He's throwing a tantrum just because she didn't ask him any questions. What a tyrant!

Lu Jiaye: I found that he's clinging to Little Dimple all day long!

Su Han: Puberty, it's understandable?

Zhou Xiao: I didn't expect Ajun to be so energetic…

Su Han: Haha, Meng is talking about him.

Lu Jiaye: Meng my ass, he's being obvious now. He was hugging and cuddling with her in the classroom at noon, he might as well announce to the world that Little Dimple is his!

Zhou Xiao: I'm used to your sour smell.

When they were at Mount Emei, Zhou Xiao had already mastered the ability to remain strong and calm in the face of Lu Jiaye's sour smell.

The boys were chatting happily in the WeChat group. Gu Siyi looked at Xia Zhijun, her face flushed red, and mumbled, "Give me the cup…"

Xia Zhijun gave her the cup and turned to get her some water.

Lu Jiaye: Tsk tsk tsk, my Little Dimple has become a bullied little wife.

Xia Zhijun, who had some free time, picked up his phone and saw these messages. He typed with a cold face, "Your what?"

"… Can't I have a verbal tic? I know she's yours, yours!"

Xia Zhijun's lips curled up slightly. Lu Jiaye snuck a glance at him. The crisis was averted.

.

During morning reading the next day, the homeroom teacher came to Gu Siyi's desk, knocked on her desk, and said, "Come with me to the office."

Gu Siyi got up, confused, and followed the homeroom teacher out.

Lu Jiaye asked in a low voice, "Why did the homeroom teacher take Little Dimple away?"

Xia Zhijun glanced at him indifferently and said, "Ask her when she comes back."

In the office, there was no one else but the homeroom teacher and Gu Siyi.

The homeroom teacher didn't beat around the bush. She got straight to the point. "I heard that you and Xia Zhijun are dating?"

Gu Siyi's expression changed, and she quickly said, "No!"

"But many students saw Xia Zhijun hugging you yesterday at noon."

Gu Siyi's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately explained, "Because I was misunderstood by the math teacher for cheating, and I was very sad and about to cry, that's why he comforted me like that…"

"Oh." The homeroom teacher looked thoughtful.

Gu Siyi continued, "My parents and Xia Zhijun's parents are old classmates and have a very good relationship. I knew Xia Zhijun before I entered school, and I often go to his house on weekends… Auntie asked him to take care of me, so he's more concerned about me…"

"So that's how it is." The homeroom teacher's expression softened a lot. "It seems that the teacher listened to rumors."

The homeroom teacher looked at Gu Siyi and said earnestly, "It's good that you're not dating. You should study hard at this stage. Dating will affect your studies. The first year of high school is a critical time to build a foundation, and you can't slack off. Also, Xia Zhijun, he has been the top student in the city year after year, and he is the pride of our school. If his grades decline, the negative impact will be too great."

"I know…" Gu Siyi said in a low voice.

"Alright, go back to your classroom. The teacher just wanted to ask. Since you're not dating, you don't have to explain to anyone anymore, including Xia Zhijun, so as to avoid causing him unnecessary psychological pressure."

"Okay." Gu Siyi nodded.

When Gu Siyi returned to the classroom, Zheng Peipei immediately came over and asked, "What did the homeroom teacher want?"

"Because of the math teacher… she was afraid that I was feeling bad, so she took me to comfort me." Gu Siyi lied casually.

"Oh, she's quite humane."

After morning reading, Lu Jiaye also came to ask Gu Siyi. Xia Zhijun was watching from the side.

Gu Siyi didn't want to repeat the lie, but fortunately, Zheng Peipei answered for her directly.

Gu Siyi felt a mix of emotions, unable to describe what she was feeling.

In the end, she summed it up in one sentence: Of all the pursuits, studying is the most important.

.

Gu Siyi went to the English corner to practice and ran into Lu Ming again.

He was still carrying a bag of gifts and greeted her naturally in English. "This is from my dad for you."

Gu Siyi was slightly taken aback and didn't want to accept it. Lu Ming directly placed the things at her feet. "Anyway, I'm just an errand boy."

He continued to chat with her in English with a smile. Learning from the experience of making her unhappy last time, this time he went along with what she said and exchanged opinions on some public issues, no longer trying to explore her private life through conversation.

Xia Zhijun, who was doing practice problems in the dormitory, received a WeChat message.

Su Han said in the group chat, "I heard that someone saw Lu Ming and Little Dimple at the English corner…"

Lu Jiaye immediately replied, "That bastard, he hasn't given up yet!"

Xia Zhijun threw down his pen, got up, and left the dormitory.

While Gu Siyi was talking to Lu Ming, Xia Zhijun suddenly appeared and walked to her side.

He looked at Lu Ming coldly. Lu Ming smiled and said, "If you guys have something to do, I won't bother you."

After saying that, he turned and left gracefully.

Xia Zhijun took Gu Siyi's hand and walked out of the English corner.

Gu Siyi thought of the people coming and going in the building and struggled to free her hand from Xia Zhijun's.

Xia Zhijun glanced sideways, his eyes turning cold.

Gu Siyi said uncomfortably, "This is a public place…"

If they held hands and were seen, they would be reported to the teacher again…

Xia Zhijun was silent for a few seconds. He looked at the gift in her hand, bent down, took the things, and said, "Come with me to our spot."

When they passed by a trash can, Xia Zhijun directly threw the bag of gifts into it.

Gu Siyi, who was walking behind him: "???"

This was a gift from an elder. How could she explain it when she went back?

Xia Zhijun put his hands in his pockets and walked away with big strides.

Gu Siyi obediently followed him. She knew that their spot was the rooftop.

She kept a short distance from him, and he didn't stop to wait for her. He was like a sulking child, walking ahead by himself.

Looking at the boy's thin and slender back, Gu Siyi felt a little at a loss. Her heart was in a mess, and a subtle premonition made her want to run away, but she didn't dare to. Her feet obediently followed him.

Gu Siyi slowly walked onto the rooftop. Xia Zhijun was already waiting there.

Night had fallen, and gray lead clouds covered the stars. Only the faint yellow decorative lights illuminated the rooftop.

Gu Siyi stood a distance away from Xia Zhijun and spoke first, "That was a gift from his father. It might even be for my parents. What are you going to do now that you've thrown it away…"

Xia Zhijun walked towards her. With every step closer he took, Gu Siyi's heartbeat quickened.

He walked up to her, causing her to step back. He placed his hands on the railing behind her, bent down slightly, and looked at her at eye level. "I just wanted to throw it away, so what?"

His expression was unhappy, with a hint of childish willfulness and a strong sense of jealousy.

Gu Siyi's heart skipped a beat under his gaze. She said weakly, "Nothing… If you want to throw it away, then throw it away. Whatever makes you happy."

"His parents could have given the gift to your parents directly. Why did they have to ask him to deliver it?"

"…" Gu Siyi didn't know how to answer.

"Isn't it to create an opportunity for him to get close to you?" Xia Zhijun pressed on.

Gu Siyi was speechless. She remembered her mother. When she asked her to deliver the chili sauce, it was actually to get closer to Xia Zhijun…

Gu Siyi: "I didn't think of that…"

He cursed in a low voice, "You don't think of anything. You're so stupid."

Gu Siyi said self-deprecatingly, "Yeah, yeah, I'm stupid…"

Xia Zhijun reached out, lifted her chin, and looked into her eyes. "You're still acting cute with me after making me angry?"

"I didn't…" She blushed and avoided his gaze.

"What are you hiding from?" He cupped her face again, forcing her to meet his gaze.

In the dim light, his handsome face had a dangerous and aggressive aura.

Gu Siyi's heart pounded under his gaze. She didn't know what to do and stammered, "What are you so angry about…"

"I get angry when I see you with that Lu guy," Xia Zhijun said in a deep voice.

"I just bumped into him at the English corner… and then… we were just practicing our English…"

His eyes narrowed. "So are you going to continue practicing with him if you bump into him again?"

"No… What's wrong with that? We're just studying…" Although she didn't really like talking to Lu Ming, it wasn't a crime to exchange a few words with him if they bumped into each other, right?

"There's a problem," he said with finality.

"…" Fine, he was the boss.

"You're not allowed to talk to him again, not even to practice English."

"???" Gu Siyi was stunned. "You dislike him that much…"

Xia Zhijun held the girl's face, his heart filled with both anger and frustration. He threw caution to the wind, lowered his head, and kissed her quickly and forcefully.

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