Jiang Yuan found it quite amusing. What did it matter to him that she lived here? And he looked so shocked!
However, out of caution, Jiang Yuan didn't answer his question directly, afraid that they might hold a grudge and cause her trouble later.
"What does it matter to you?" she said.
The little boy tilted his head in confusion. "Then why are you here?"
Jiang Yuan raised her eyebrows and stepped out of the elevator. "Can't I be here?"
There were so many apartments in this building. It wasn't owned by their family!
Jiang Yuan grumbled to herself and ignored the little boy. She headed straight back to school.
Classes went on as usual in the afternoon. After school, Jiang Yuan returned to her dormitory to pack her luggage. Amid the reluctant farewells from her roommates, she dragged her luggage and left the dormitory.
She needed to go through the off - campus living procedure, which required the signature of the counselor on Monday when they were at work.
Her new apartment was on the sixth floor. Jiang Yuan pressed the elevator button and waited for it to come down.
With a "ding", the elevator door opened, and an old woman walked out.
Their eyes met, and Jiang Yuan was stunned. It was actually the grandmother of that naughty kid!
Unexpectedly, the grandmother of the naughty kid took a quick look at Jiang Yuan, then quickly averted her gaze as if she had a guilty conscience and left without saying a word.
She was completely different from the woman who had thrown a tantrum on Thursday night.
What bad luck... There was a primary school near the school, so she hadn't thought much when she saw the little boy here. But now even his grandmother showed up.
Jiang Yuan frowned slightly, and her grip on the handle of the suitcase tightened.
Maybe she was just overthinking.
Jiang Yuan shook her head, hoping she was wrong.
If there really were problems, she would find a new place to live as soon as this month was over. She didn't believe she couldn't find a suitable place.
The dormitory group chat was in full swing. After packing everything, Jiang Yuan decided to go to the supermarket to buy some daily necessities.
Instant noodles, vegetables, seasonings, tissues...
Jiang Yuan pushed the shopping cart while mumbling to herself. Whenever she saw something her new apartment needed, she would immediately throw it into the cart.
When she came to the fresh food section, the razor clams were jumping around in the water - filled area. Jiang Yuan murmured softly, "They're so lively. They must be delicious. But I don't know how to cook them. Suddenly, I miss the stir - fried razor clams cooked by my mom at home."
A razor clam swam in front of Jiang Yuan. Their eyes met, and then the razor clam suddenly jumped out, splashing a burst of water.
Jiang Yuan was standing close. She couldn't dodge in time and got splashed all over her face. She was stunned for a long time.
The razor clam was still jumping vigorously on the floor.
Jiang Yuan didn't have any tissues, so she just wiped her face messily.
A faint, clear and refreshing pine - like fragrance wafted into her nose. It was a bit familiar. Jiang Yuan sniffed hard, curious about the source of this fragrance.
Then a piece of tissue was unfolded in front of her eyes. A hand with distinct knuckles was holding the tissue, as if holding a light cloud.
Jiang Yuan was stunned.
"Here. Wipe your face."
Jiang Yuan immediately turned her head and saw Chi Xu standing right in front of her. She was stunned again. Instead of taking the tissue, she first asked, "Why are you here?"
As the weather was getting colder, the boy was wearing a black hoodie. His shoulders were straight. Against the light shining from the ceiling of the supermarket, his collarbone under the hoodie could be faintly seen.
Seeing that Jiang Yuan was still in a daze, he sighed softly, bent down slightly, and helped her wipe the water off her face.
The warm breath mixed with his unique fragrance rushed towards her.
Her snow - white ears turned red with shyness. Jiang Yuan quickly took a step back, snatched the tissue, and wiped her face messily again.
"What are you doing? Planning to blow up the school?" Chi Xu pointed at the almost - full shopping cart, smiling half - mockingly.
Jiang Yuan slapped his hand away and snorted. "I've moved out of the school."
"Oh, you've moved out. Where to?"
Chi Xu raised his eyebrows leisurely and followed behind her. Her ponytail swayed with each step she took, almost swaying into his heart.
"It's none of your business. While you guys are still struggling with the school curfew at night, I'll be having a great time outside alone."
Jiang Yuan walked to the doll section, picked up a doll with a sad face, turned around, and pushed it in front of Chi Xu with a smile. "Look, doesn't it look like you?"
"Are you living alone?" Chi Xu asked again. He took the doll, looked at it, and imitated its expression, deliberately drooping the corners of his mouth. "This is more like it."
"Why are you so concerned about me?" Jiang Yuan evaded the question and smiled playfully. Taking advantage of his inattention, she suddenly rushed in front of him and probed, "Do you have other thoughts about me?"
"You have a beautiful imagination. Keep thinking like this next time." Chi Xu took the shopping cart from her and leaned on it lazily, pushing it forward.
"Come on. Why are you here? Don't you have anything to do?" Passing by the cooked food section, the roasted ducks were hanging there, sizzling with oil. Jiang Yuan leaned in and sniffed hard.
It smelled so good. It was simply mouth - watering.
The master who was packing the roasted ducks looked up and was startled when he saw the two of them. He couldn't help but laugh. "Look at your girlfriend. She's so greedy that she's drooling. Why don't you take a box home?"
Jiang Yuan's attention was on the back. Her big round eyes widened. She turned her head to look at Chi Xu and gently tugged at the corner of his clothes.
"Did I drool? I didn't, right?"
She still remembered the incident of snoring some time ago. If it hadn't been for the exhaustion of climbing down the mountain, her image would never have been ruined.
Chi Xu lowered his eyes and stared at her seriously. Suddenly, he smiled. His handsome eyebrows and eyes became even more dazzling. He ruffled her hair half - amusedly and half - helplessly.
"No. The master was just making a metaphor. Do you want to eat?"
Jiang Yuan's eyes curved slightly. She declined regretfully. "Forget it. You treated me to KFC last night. As a matter of courtesy, tell me what you want to eat. Sister Yuan will pay!"
Here came "Sister Yuan" again.
Chi Xu was both angry and amused. It was as if he had returned to many years ago when the girl had stood in front of him and happily said, "Sister Yuan will protect you."
"Oh, right. Master, you're wrong. He and I are just friends. We're not in a relationship." Jiang Yuan remembered this and seriously explained it to the master before leaving.
The master who was packing the roasted ducks nodded with a smile. His eyes saw through everything, but he didn't expose them.
In the end, Chi Xu just took a pack of chips. Jiang Yuan double - checked, but Chi Xu still chose the chips.
It wasn't expensive, but it was delicious. He liked it.
Chi Xu accompanied her back to the apartment building. He watched her get into the elevator and disappear from his sight. Then he munched on the chips one by one. They were crispy and fragrant.
Without Jiang Yuan around, Chi Xu couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth. The smile could no longer be hidden and overflowed from his eyes and eyebrows.
He had gone shopping with her.
He liked it very much, really very much. The gentle companionship that was only found among family members was like cotton stuffing his heart. It was so sweet.
Just being by her side made him feel satisfied.
Watching her smile, listening to her talk, and bickering with her.
The night was thick. Chi Xu wrapped himself in the boundless night and returned to his dormitory.