Criticizing Love - Chapter 32

Chapter 32

The sun pulled down a corner of the clouds, and the peeping sunlight became the sole witness.

It silently watched the silhouette by the desk push aside the water flask and abruptly slide toward the other side, her acting realistic.

Gu Nianyin fell over so suddenly that, amidst the bleak autumn chill, it felt as though a cluster of ill-timed blooming flowers had plunged into Lin Xi’s arms.

A faint fragrance suddenly welled up.

Whether it was because the focused gazes of the people around them were too burning, or because Gu Nianyin had leaned too close to her this time, Lin Xi’s heart was thumping wildly.

The classroom was put on mute by Gu Nianyin’s sudden condition. The surroundings became so quiet that a dropped pin could be heard, and the sound of her eardrums revolting at her chest was clearly discernible.

Wang Tingxiu was frightened by Gu Nianyin’s sudden movement, and subsequently stepping down down from the podium: “Nianyin, what’s wrong?”

“She…” Lin Xi knew Gu Nianyin had advanced their plan, but her erratic heartbeat pounded so hard that she couldn’t even deliver her lines smoothly.

Right at this moment, a breath carrying a slight tremble brushed past Lin Xi’s earlobe, and Gu Nianyin forced herself to lift her head: “Teacher, I’m on my period.”

She really didn’t know where this person had trained her acting skills. The discomfort she displayed was truly top-tier.

That usually cold and detached voice was coated with a layer of frailty, soft and tiny, sounding inherently uncomfortable.

Wang Tingxiu couldn’t help but feel bad for her as well, hurriedly saying: “Then do you want to go to the infirmary? Have the doctor prescribe some medicine for you and rest there for a bit?”

These words clearly ran counter to Lin Xi’s plan. Hearing this, Gu Nianyin wasn’t flustered at all, subsequently expressing to Wang Tingxiu: “Teacher, I want to have Lin Xi send me home, is that alright?”

In one sentence, she not only proposed going home but also brought Lin Xi along with her.

With such exquisite acting and such smooth composure in the face of crisis, Lin Xi even doubted whether this was Gu Nianyin’s first time acting.

There were truly too many questions about this person. The closer she got, the more puzzled she became.

Lin Xi grew increasingly certain that this person was just like a Menelaus blue morpho—beneath a dull exterior hid magnificent colors.

“You’ve all memorized ‘The Hardships of the Shu Road’, haven’t you?”

Just as Lin Xi was thinking, Wang Tingxiu’s stern voice traveled over.

Just as she was about to agree to Gu Nianyin’s request, she noticed that there were too many gazes looking over in the class.

Thus, her expression hardened, and she immediately increased the stakes for these countless gazes: “In a bit, I will not only spot-check the recitation of the text, but I will also check the explanations and translations. If you fail the definitions, the translation will also be copied ten times.”

The moment these words came out, everyone in the class felt endangered.

The gazes that had just remained on Gu Nianyin turned back one after another, withdrawing more than half of them within a few moments.

Although she knew Gu Nianyin was like this because of her period, Wang Tingxiu was still worried, reaching her hand over to hold Gu Nianyin’s hand.

The young girl had an inherently weak constitution, her hands and feet icy cold. On this autumn day with a massive temperature drop, she only wore a single jacket, looking pale, thin, and defenseless.

Holding Gu Nianyin’s hand for a while, Wang Tingxiu’s furrowed brow grew even more pained.

She knew this wouldn’t warm Gu Nianyin up, so she agreed to her request just now: “It’s not good to catch a chill during your period. Go home and change into a thicker set of clothes.”

“Nancheng is just like this, the temperature fluctuates greatly. You must pay attention to keeping warm in the future.”

Saying this, she lifted her eyes to look at Lin Xi: “I remember you have a bicycle, don’t you?”

“Uh-huh.” Lin Xi nodded.

Her acting was slightly worse than Gu Nianyin’s, so she followed up by saying: “I can just so happen to send Gu Nianyin home.”

Hearing this, an expression of surprise unsurprisingly appeared on Wang Tingxiu’s face. Looking at the slouching Lin Xi, she let out a “Yoh”: “How come the sun rose from the west today? Being so proactive? No need for me to bring up calling your parents again?”

Three consecutive teases in a row made Lin Xi feel guilty as she spoke.

But relying on her years of experience in skipping class, she followed up by bantering with Wang Tingxiu: “Aren’t I just listening to your advice to build a good relationship with the new classmate.”

Wang Tingxiu leaned against the front of Gu Nianyin’s desk, letting out a snicker from her nose: “Glib-tongued.”

However, having personally seen the interaction between these two at the sports meet, Wang Tingxiu was still reassured by Lin Xi. In the end, she agreed: “Alright, then you send Nianyin back. Be careful on the road, and call me anytime if anything happens.”

Lin Xi agreed instantly: “You can count on it.”

Shaking her head, Wang Tingxiu didn’t pay any more attention to Lin Xi, instead looking at Gu Nianyin, “Nianyin, do you want me to give your mother a call?”

The moment these words came out, Lin Xi and Gu Nianyin furrowed their brows to varying degrees.

Without pausing for even a second, Gu Nianyin subsequently expressed: “My mother went on a business trip, there is no one at home right now.”

“I see…” Wang Tingxiu nodded with a bit of regret.

She hadn’t interacted with Gu Nianyin’s mother. The only time they met was when Gu Nianyin transferred over, and she caught a glimpse of her back silhouette on the connecting corridor.

The black coat coldly separated the sunlight. Walking to the car in a few steps, her aura was already overwhelming, making people unable to forget her at a single glance while not daring to step forward to striking up a conversation.

She heard from Gu Nianyin’s former homeroom teacher that Gu Nianyin’s mother did huge business in Zhucheng. The entities under her couldn’t be called companies, but rather a conglomerate group.

They had even been puzzled over this, wondering why a family like this didn’t study at a private school but had to travel far to their public high school in Nancheng.

Although their Nancheng High School was one of the best high schools in the province, compared to Zhucheng, the educational resources were still somewhat lacking.

“Teacher, can’t you trust me just this once?”

As Wang Tingxiu was reminiscing, Lin Xi’s voice traveled over.

The young girl seemed highly dissatisfied with her action of wanting to look for Gu Nianyin’s mother just now, subsequently asking back: “Why is it that when I’m unwilling, you force me to be willing, but now that I’m willing, you still force me to be unwilling.”

In the entire class, and even the entire grade, Lin Xi was the only one who dared to be so familiar and informal with her.

Looking at Lin Xi, Wang Tingxiu pursed her lips helplessly, expressing: “Alright then, take good care of Nianyin, don’t ride too fast.”

Hearing this, Lin Xi immediately expressed: “I’ll ride all the way into the sunny spots, guaranteeing that Gu Nianyin can keep basking in the sun!”

Wang Tingxiu smiled and shook her head at these words, subsequently taking a piece of paper from Lin Xi to write a hall pass for them: “Alright, go on, be careful on the road.”

“Okay!”

“Okay.”

With the pass approved, the two nodded in unison.

Lin Xi’s acting also soared as she put on a look of caring for her classmate. Under Wang Tingxiu’s gaze, she considerately and patiently supported Gu Nianyin as they walked out of the classroom.

The gazes that had originally been fixed on the books slanted over. Zhong Sheng’s gaze chased after the departing Lin Xi, reaching the corridor outside the classroom window.

The wind that had blown all morning rarely showed signs of stopping, and the sun also revealed most of itself from beneath the clouds.

The sunlight slanted into the corridor. Gu Nianyin leaned against Lin Xi’s shoulder just like that, her soft black long hair scattered over her shoulder like a loose net, fully plated in sunlight, shrouding Lin Xi beneath it.

Meanwhile, Lin Xi, who usually looked wild and untamed, exceptionally considerately hooked her arm around Gu Nianyin’s waist at this moment.

That fair arm slenderly encircled a section, gentlemanly and measured, just letting the other party rely on her as ambiguity rose all around.

How nice.

Zhong Sheng propped up her chin, her face entirely filled with a satisfied smile over the ship she supported.

But immediately afterward, a call that couldn’t be considered too stern drilled into Zhong Sheng’s ears: “Zhong Sheng.”

Zhong Sheng’s shoulders instinctively shuddered. Snapping her head back, she saw Wang Tingxiu’s gaze shooting straight from the podium into her eyes, revealing danger amidst the gentleness.

“I see you’ve reviewed quite well, since you even have free time to watch your classmate leave.” Wang Tingxiu spread open the book, “Come on, you’re first.”

“Ah—”

Zhong Sheng was instantly filled with utter despair. Under the uncharitable, smiling gazes of everyone in the class, she stood up with difficulty.

Having carried Gu Nianyin several times, Lin Xi was somewhat adept.

Giving the pass to the gatekeeper, the gatekeeper saw Gu Nianyin leaning against Lin Xi’s back looking so pitiful. With just one glance, he let them go.

The wind that had blown all night yesterday was much better, and the sun warmed up the wind a bit as well.

Coming out from the school, the clear breeze caressed their faces all along the way, much gentler than the two nights Lin Xi had carried Gu Nianyin.

Feeling the temperature of the sun, Lin Xi asked the person behind her: “Is your mood a bit better now?”

Gu Nianyin still denied it: “I’m not in a bad mood.”

Hearing this, Lin Xi let out a “Hmph” and laughed: “I think you can go apply for a job at the steel rolling mill now.”

Gu Nianyin was puzzled: “Why?”

Lin Xi then said: “Your mouth is too stubborn.”

These words carried a bit of a teasing insult. Sitting behind her, Gu Nianyin listened and suddenly laughed.

This person’s laugh didn’t have much sound, tending more toward the sound of wind brought by a sharp breath from her nasal cavity.

Yet it was precisely this kind of calmness that brought a movement to her arm. Those slender fingers were touching Lin Xi’s skin at this moment, lightly moving and rubbing across the fabric in a small amplitude, clearly transmitting it to the person in front.

It was a laugh.

That’s right.

Lin Xi suddenly froze for a moment.

This was the first time she had heard Gu Nianyin laugh out loud. It was only a bit louder than the sound of fabric rubbing together, tiny and gentle, instantly dissolving that icy shell she usually wore.

The sunlight was warm and melting. Lin Xi lifted her head and sighed: “So you actually know how to laugh?”

Hearing this, Gu Nianyin didn’t withdraw the smile she currently wore on her face, her expression remaining relaxed.

She lightly lifted her head to gaze at Lin Xi’s back, asking her with a particular meaning: “In A-Xi’s view, what kind of person am I?”

Perhaps it was because this wind made a person relax, Lin Xi didn’t even think, blurting out: “An adult with a stinky, icy block of a face.”

Hearing this, the smile on Gu Nianyin’s face grew even thicker, using her adult arms to tighten her embrace around Lin Xi’s waist a bit more: “But I am only fifty-six days older than you.”

“Even if you’re just one day older than me, you’re an adult right now.” Lin Xi didn’t notice this overly accurate number of Gu Nianyin’s at all, reminding the person behind her while also being reminded by the action of the person behind her embracing her.

—Although they had to do the full routine for the act, they had already left the school a good distance away.

Lin Xi carried Gu Nianyin to the river channel she had to pass every time she went home, the wind blowing across the river surface to wrinkle into shimmering ripples.

In this silent place, the temperature of the two overlapping grew increasingly clear, every inch pressing against the skin through the thin school uniform.

Lin Xi didn’t know if the waists of all girls of their age group were this slender, but Gu Nianyin’s was certainly quite slender.

Just now when she held her for the act, it seemed to require barely any strength to encircle her waist, wrapping her into her embrace all at once, letting herself tease her as she pleased.

The cool wind blew along the corridor, clearing Lin Xi’s head by a few fractions.

She suddenly realized where her thoughts had spread, genuinely feeling that she had also been guided by that willow-in-the-wind frailty displayed by her.

Even though it wasn’t an uphill path, the force with which Lin Xi pedaled the bicycle became even greater.

She carried Gu Nianyin forward without looking askance, reminding the person behind her: “I say, Gu Nianyin, we’ve already left the school for a long time, don’t you think you don’t need to act anymore?”

Gu Nianyin, however, didn’t move, still encircling Lin Xi’s waist and leaning against her back: “Could it not be that my period genuinely hurts?”

Lin Xi flattened her mouth, ruthlessly exposing Gu Nianyin: “Please, young lady, your period came the Saturday before last, and it’s already been over a week since then. The longest anyone’s period lasts is a week, how could you possibly still be on your period right now?”

Hearing this, instead of becoming nervous, Gu Nianyin hooked the corners of her lips: “I didn’t expect you to be so attentive to my dates.”

Lin Xi looked at Gu Nianyin wordlessly.

Listening to the meaning in her words, it sounded as though she were saying how much she paid attention to her.

…Although from a certain perspective, this was indeed the truth.

But there was absolutely no way she, Lin Xi, would admit it, immediately saying in a loud voice: “Please, this is just my sensitivity to numbers, alright!”

After saying this, the young girl pedaled the bicycle even faster.

But no matter how hard Lin Xi pedaled the bicycle, they always remained this close together.

The long wind rose from Gu Nianyin’s line of sight, sweeping past the back of the young girl in front.

Beneath her long hair were two ears flushing with a red tint.

Crossing the bridge erected over the river channel, the silence was gradually replaced by the daytime sounds of people.

It was hard to imagine that Nancheng, which was called a bustling metropolis, still had a place like this. The old houses built up the framework of a village within the city, and the traffic of vehicles coming and going in the market area was chaotic.

Sitting behind Lin Xi, the images in Gu Nianyin’s sight and the sounds in her ears gradually grew chaotic.

It felt as though she had walked into another world, following Lin Xi through one crowded, low-rise residential building after another. The low sycamore trees were covered in scars from human pruning, their leaves shaking, showing a yellow tint.

As she was watching this, Lin Xi stopped the bicycle in front of the last row of buildings, saying to Gu Nianyin: “We’re here.”

Gu Nianyin lifted her head to look, seemingly realizing something: “This is your home?”

“Exactly.” Lin Xi nimbly got off the bicycle, her lifted head carrying a bit of a proud posture as she added for this princess who was used to living in villas and large flats: “Fourth floor, no elevator.”

Originally, Lin Xi wanted to surpass Gu Nianyin in terms of climbing speed, but she didn’t expect that when she went thud-thud-thud rapidly up to the fourth floor, Gu Nianyin wasn’t inferior to her at all, following closely behind to arrive as well.

She felt a little bit of disappointment, but it was quickly let go by Lin Xi.

She wasn’t that narrow-minded to bicker over this kind of meaningless winning or losing. Inserting the key into the door lock, she subsequently pushed open her front door for Gu Nianyin, “Come in.”

Under Lin Xi’s invitation, Gu Nianyin passed through that old-fashioned door that didn’t look very secure against theft.

What entered her sight was a small apartment that could be taken in entirely at a single glance, its size looking roughly similar to her bedroom suite.

“This way.”

While Gu Nianyin was still looking, Lin Xi had already gestured for her to follow her.

Gu Nianyin could only hurriedly withdraw her gaze, following the host over.

She didn’t know what Lin Xi meant by bringing her here, her following steps landing cautiously.

Yet as she looked toward the direction where Lin Xi had stopped, her heartbeat suddenly paused for a moment.

In her line of sight was a door that fundamentally lacked any anti-theft function, having no door lock, capable of being opened by anyone.

That room had been tidied up by someone—small and crowded, yet also neat and orderly. Quite a few books were piled on the old desk, but all of them had been deliberately cleared and placed off to the edges, intentionally leaving open the center position.

And resting in that center position.

Were all of her butterfly specimens that had been thrown away by She Ning yesterday.

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