She heard the shouts of the street vendors at the school gate and the honking of cars on the roadside.
Walking forward all the way, the howling cold wind slapped her face. Jiang Yuan silently mapped out the terrain in her mind, carefully recalling the environment around the school and guessing where Chi Xu was taking her.
Although she couldn't see and felt a momentary panic, the hand she was holding was warm and broad. A faint warmth was transmitted from where their skins touched.
Jiang Yuan subconsciously tightened her grip.
Because she was blindfolded and couldn't see, Chi Xu walked very slowly and carefully.
They turned a corner from the roadside. Jiang Yuan felt the direction of the hand holding hers and couldn't help but have a doubt in her heart.
Was he taking her to the front gate of the school?
But there was nothing fun, nice, or delicious there. It wasn't as interesting as the night market street behind the school.
Jiang Yuan kept silent, tightly holding Chi Xu's hand, and followed him step by step steadily.
After walking for about half an hour, a clear "ding" sound fell into her ears.
An elevator? She wondered in doubt. Without any hesitation, she followed Chi Xu in. There were only the two of them in the elevator.
"Chi Xu, where are you taking me?" Jiang Yuan slightly pursed her lips and asked with great interest. "It can't be the apartment we live in."
"I remember the route you took me was towards the front gate of the school. Now we're in an elevator. Let me think."
Jiang Yuan pretended to gasp in surprise, covered her mouth, and let out a soft laugh. Her eyebrows were full of sly joy at having guessed correctly.
"Could it be that you're taking me to our apartment?"
Chi Xu: "..."
He didn't expect Jiang Yuan to be so smart and guess it right away. Then what was the point of blindfolding her?
Well, Jiang Yuan was the one who got into Jing University after all.
"No. There are so many buildings with elevators near the school. How could it be such a coincidence? And what's there to see in our apartment? I think you just miss Jiao Jiao."
He was stubborn and tried to defend himself.
Jiang Yuan curved her eyes and smiled. She leaned towards him. Her little finger slightly hooked and caught the boy's finger. Her fingertip gently rubbed his.
She looked mischievous, but with her eyes blindfolded, it was impossible to tell what she was thinking.
An electric current climbed up his arm. Chi Xu's heart skipped a beat. He immediately grabbed Jiang Yuan's restless hand. His fingers slipped between hers and clasped them tightly.
"We'll be there soon." Chi Xu's voice was slightly hoarse as he tried to stay calm.
Jiang Yuan looked down at their fingers but then remembered that she couldn't see. She could only feel their fingers intertwined with her sense of touch.
Her cheeks flushed slightly. Just as Jiang Yuan was daydreaming in her mind, there was another "ding" sound. The elevator had arrived.
Chi Xu carefully led Jiang Yuan out. He first let her stand at the elevator door and told her not to move. He would be back soon.
Jiang Yuan obediently stood still. Her ears perked up. She heard the key being inserted into the lock and then the door being gently pushed open. Soon, footsteps were coming towards her.
She suppressed a laugh in her heart. She knew everything but didn't know what the surprise in the apartment was. She wondered if Jiao Jiao would run out when he just opened the door like this.
The footsteps gradually approached. Jiang Yuan put away her smile and looked nonchalant, pretending not to know anything.
The hand hanging by her waist was held. A familiar voice rang in her ears.
"Yuanyuan, let's go."
She softly responded and walked beside him. Hearing his words, she obediently stepped over the threshold.
A faint meow reached her ears, and the person beside her was desperately shushing at Jiao Jiao.
Jiao Jiao didn't understand. Seeing the sister who it hadn't seen for a long time, it suddenly jumped off the sofa and was about to rush over.
Chi Xu was shocked and quickly accelerated his actions. "Yuanyuan, you can take off the blindfold now."
He himself bent down and squatted down, hugged Jiao Jiao that was running towards him, and stroked it.
Jiao Jiao opened its big watery eyes innocently and curiously and let out a "meow".
Jiang Yuan actually heard all the sounds made by these inevitable actions. She secretly laughed in her heart. Jiao Jiao was indeed an uncontrollable variable.
She was going to see what tricks Chi Xu could come up with in this ordinary apartment on Christmas Day.
When the blindfold fluttered down, everything in the apartment came into view. Jiang Yuan's pupils shrank slightly. She couldn't help but take two steps forward and stood in the middle of the living room.
The apartment was decorated in a Christmas style. The lights were off at the moment. A Christmas tree was placed in an empty space beside the window, fully decorated with ornaments. The small colored lights wrapped around it emitted a warm yellow light, like bright stars. There were more than a dozen gift boxes piled up neatly under it.
The ceiling of the living room was also filled with colored lights, one string after another. Decorations such as deer, red socks, Santa Claus dolls, and stars filled the entire living room.
Jiang Yuan happily walked around the living room in novelty. Her face was filled with a smile. Her eyes were bright and full of joy.
"Did you do all this?" she asked in surprise. How much thought and energy must this have taken? And what if she didn't want to come?
Chi Xu was holding the well - behaved Jiao Jiao. The corner of his lips curved slightly. "I did it. As long as you like it."
"By the way, the gift boxes under the Christmas tree aren't empty. You can open them and take a look."
The boy's voice was deep. He spoke slowly and was extremely gentle, which was especially charming.
Jiang Yuan looked in the direction of the voice and saw him standing in the shadow. Half of his face was submerged in the dim light. Only the snow - white Jiao Jiao in his hand stood out. But for the sake of the Christmas fun, Jiao Jiao was also forced to wear a Santa Claus suit.
Seeing her staring at it, Jiao Jiao began to struggle restlessly. Chi Xu bent down and squatted down. Jiao Jiao took the opportunity to jump out and rarely wagged its little tail, circling around Jiang Yuan.
It had been a long time since she last saw this little guy. Jiang Yuan immediately kissed, hugged, and lifted Jiao Jiao up. Poor Jiao Jiao was thoroughly "tormented".
Chi Xu picked up the camera and took a picture of this scene. His heart was filled with happiness. He thought it would be great if this moment could last forever.
After thoroughly "tormenting" Jiao Jiao, Jiang Yuan took a small stool and sat under the Christmas tree. She began to open the gifts one by one.
Just as she tore open the wrapping of the first gift box, she turned her head and shouted at Chi Xu, "Why don't you come over?"
"I just thought you were having so much fun. I didn't want to disturb you." Although he said so, Chi Xu started to move and walked to her side. "Open it and see if you like it."
"What if I don't like it?" Jiang Yuan tilted her head up and gave a mischievous smile, as bright as a spring flower. The warm yellow light was gently shining on her. She was glowing all over.
Chi Xu's heart skipped a beat. He calmly averted his gaze and helplessly shook his head.
"There are so many gifts. There must be one you like. If not, I'll have to call Santa Claus over to help me figure out what this girl named Jiang Yuan likes."