At the start of the new year, after a brief period of relaxation, Chen Er had to rush back to the training camp.
There was only half a year left until the college entrance examination.
Chen Er seemed a bit anxious, but she hid it well. The countdown on the blackboard was decreasing day by day, and countless test papers became the bricks and tiles that piled up Chen Er's youth.
Time flew by like a white pony passing through a crack. In the blink of an eye, the school had its winter vacation, exactly half a month before the Spring Festival.
Jiang Cong had been waiting at the school gate early. As soon as Chen Er came out, he stepped forward to take the heavy review materials on her back. He didn't ask about her recent study situation. The two walked towards the car parked by the roadside in silence.
Chen Er was probably extremely tired. Leaning her head to one side, she fell into a deep sleep on the passenger seat.
Jiang Cong slowed down the car and sized up the quietly sleeping Chen Er. The sunlight outside the car window shone on Chen Er's face, and even the tiny fluff on both sides of her cheeks could be clearly seen.
Although Chen Er had never complained to him about the schoolwork pressure, Jiang Cong was well aware of every move of Chen Er.
After every exam, the first person to know Chen Er's grades was Jiang Cong. He would patiently analyze the problems in Chen Er's grades and then tell the head - teacher of Chen Er's training camp to urge her.
The little girl tried her best to act as if nothing was wrong. If he hadn't checked with the head - teacher every now and then, he might have been deceived by Chen Er's perfect disguise.
"What a little liar." Taking advantage of the red light, Jiang Cong turned his head and deliberately reached out to pinch Chen Er's small nose hard.
Chen Er was disturbed from her sweet dream. She wrinkled her nose discontentedly. Her small face puffed up because of Jiang Cong's "harassment", looking like a cute little bun, but she still didn't open her eyes.
In Jiang Cong's eyes, this appearance could only be described by four words: deliciously charming.
Of course, he wasn't polite. He pinched Chen Er's cheek again, feeling the warm and smooth touch on his palm, and the corners of his mouth curled up happily.
Chen Er slept for a long time. When she woke up, it was already evening.
Jiang Cong was pretending to sleep with his eyes closed. Chen Er leaned closer and, plucking up her courage, gently traced the outline of Jiang Cong's deep - set features with her fingertips.
Jiang Cong's eyebrows were very straight. There were occasionally one or two new and messy eyebrows beside them. His eyelashes were long and curly.
Chen Er got even closer to Jiang Cong. Opening her eyes wide, she couldn't even see half a pore on Jiang Cong's face. She silently sighed at the skin condition of the man in front of her.
Jiang Cong's lips were relatively thin. Chen Er remembered the saying "A man with thin lips is heartless". Her fingertips stopped on Jiang Cong's lips and rubbed them from time to time.
"Are you done touching?" Jiang Cong suddenly opened his eyes. Meeting Chen Er's flustered expression, the teasing in his eyes was full of interest.
Chen Er was extremely embarrassed. She bounced back to her original position like a spring. Her whole body was like a cooked shrimp, exuding the heat of embarrassment and shyness.
Jiang Cong obviously didn't intend to let Chen Er, who wanted to act like an ostrich, off easily. He was relentless and described in great detail the "atrocities" Chen Er had committed against him just now.
Chen Er was so embarrassed that she quickly covered Jiang Cong's mouth to stop him from describing further.
Jiang Cong let out a low laugh. His thin lips accidentally brushed against Chen Er's palm, bringing a slightly moist touch.
The atmosphere in the car heated up quickly, and an amorous feeling spread.
"Ahem." Chen Er cleared her throat and coughed lightly, forcibly breaking the atmosphere that made her almost out of breath.
"Hmm? Dumbfounded?" Jiang Cong's voice rose at the end, with a hint of imperceptible doting.
Chen Er took a deep breath, silently recited the Tao Te Ching in her heart, forced herself to calm down, and said seriously, "It's getting late. I should go home."
"Now we're right in front of your house." Jiang Cong tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, making a soft "clink" sound.
This sound in Chen Er's ears was like a death knell. She felt that she couldn't stay in the car for a single moment longer. She quickly left a sentence "See you! Good night!" and then, like a rabbit chased by a wolf, opened the car door and disappeared in a flash.
"What a little fool." Jiang Cong lightly sniffed the lingering smell of Chen Er in the car, and boundless ripples spread in his black eyes.
Chen Er had a half - month winter vacation, and Jiang Cong took most of it without hesitation. It wasn't until Jiang Cong's father called to urge him to go home for the Spring Festival that Jiang Cong reluctantly set foot on the way home.
As soon as Jiang Cong left, Chen Er felt a bone - deep coldness.
Chen Er hated the Spring Festival the most.
That kind of happy family reunion always seemed so far away from her. The empty house constantly reminded Chen Er that no one loved her.
In the living room, the Spring Festival Gala was playing on the TV. Chen Er was a bit in a daze. When she came to her senses, the water in the kitchen had already boiled dry.
The instant noodles were burned. Chen Er helplessly poured the miserable - looking food in the pot into the trash can. And because she was distracted, she accidentally burned her hand.
"What bad luck this year." Chen Er complained bitterly. She simply threw the pot into the sink, dragged her slippers, and dejectedly walked out of the kitchen.
Loneliness was even more prominent in this moment of longing.
As if Jiang Cong had a premonition, the next second, he made a video call.
"What's up?" Chen Er lay listlessly in a small corner of the sofa. Her plush pajamas wrapped her tightly, with only a delicate little face showing.
"Guess where I am?" Jiang Cong exhaled, his nose red from the cold.
Chen Er was amused by Jiang Cong's appearance. She leaned closer to the screen and tried hard to distinguish the scenery behind Jiang Cong.
"I don't know... It kind of looks like my home." Chen Er gave up the investigation and replied recklessly.
"You're right." Jiang Cong walked to Chen Er's door and knocked.
Although it was just three concise words, Chen Er felt that in that instant, several years had passed between her and Jiang Cong.
Chen Er didn't even have time to put on her slippers. She rushed towards the door happily. When she opened it, there stood Jiang Cong.
It had started to snow outside without knowing when, and a thin layer of frost covered Jiang Cong's shoulders.
"Why are you here? Didn't you go home?" Chen Er stepped aside while naturally patting the snowflakes off Jiang Cong's coat.
Jiang Cong took off his coat. He was still wearing a light - gray knitted sweater inside. He sat on the sofa and drank the hot tea.
"My parents thought I was in the way, so I was kicked out." Jiang Cong said half - seriously and half - jokingly.
Chen Er frowned suspiciously. Why didn't she believe it?
In fact, Jiang Cong wasn't completely wrong.
He was indeed kicked out by his father. Because he pretended to mention unintentionally that there was still an important person waiting for him in the north city, his father, not wanting to see him and be annoyed, took his mother on a Spring Festival trip abroad.