Lemon Soda Candy - 17

Tang Jianrui turned his head, looking puzzled, "What candy?”

Zhu Ran, who was sitting next to Chen Luobai, chimed in, "Someone left candy on his desk last Friday.”

"Really? Someone did?" Tang Jianrui was visibly intrigued,”Then shouldn't it be left there by some girl? Luo ge, why are you asking me? Trying to show off?"

Zhu Ran's voice was not so quiet when he made this remark.

Sensing the gossip in the air, Zhou Anran noticed that, not only Tang Jianrui, some people in the front row also glancing in their direction.

Zhou Anran suddenly felt her heart racing faster than it had on Friday afternoon, as if it might leap out of her throat at any moment.

Chen Luobai kicked the leg of Tang Jianrui's chair, cursing with a smile, "Showing off, my foot.”

"Then why did you ask?" Tang Jianrui gossiped with some puzzlement, "Why would I put candies on your desk?”

Zhu Ran explained to him, "Well, it's just two.”

Tang Jianrui was still confused, "What two?" 

Zhu Ran pointed to Chen Luobai's desk, "Last Friday, someone stuffed two candies into his desk. No wrapper. No box. Just two candies placed there randomly.”

"Huh? Just two?" Tang Jianrui immediately lost interest, "It's not from a girl then. Those girls always make sure to beautifully wrap their gifts for Luo ge.” 

Zhu Ran: "That's why he's asking if it's you.”

"It's not me." Tang Jianrui shook his head, "Maybe someone just accidentally left it there.”

The others waiting to hear gossip also seemed to share the same opinion, and turned their curious heads back.

Zhou Anran saw Yan Xingxi had a disappointed look on her face.

Chen Luobai retracted his legs. Zhou Anran hurriedly pulled Yan Xingxi to their seat with her head lowered. She then took a seat without even wiping the desk and chair. Her heart had yet to calm down and was still pounding rapidly. 

The story that someone put two candies in Chen Luobai's desk quickly spread throughout the class, but everyone seemed to agree with Tang Jianrui's guess, even Sheng Xiaowen and Zhang Shuxian were no exception.

During the second period, it suddenly started to rain outside. They didn't have to do any exercises during the morning recess.

Zhang Shuxian turned around and rested her head on Yan Xingxi's desk, while Sheng Xiaowen came over and squeezed on Zhou Anran's chair, chatting quietly with them.

"Did you guys hear about someone leaving candy on Chen Luobai's desk?” Zhang Shuxian said in a slightly suppressed voice.

Yan Xingxi nodded,”I overheard him asking Tang Jianrui about it this morning. I doubt it's from a girl. Do you think they would give him just two candies? Someone probably just put it there by mistake."

Zhou Anran : "...”

Sheng Xiaowen agreed, "I also think it wasn't a girl who did it, but don't you think it's a bit too outrageous to put candy in the wrong desk?”

"Not really." Zhang Shuxian said, "Have you guys heard about that incident with the boys from class 9 before?"

Yan Xingxi quickly became interested, "Never heard of it, what happened?"

Sheng Xiaowen: “Me neither.”

“At the start of last semester, a boy from class 9 skipped his nap to play ball one noon. When he returned in the afternoon, he went to an extra floor. It happened that the classmate who was sitting in his place in the classroom upstairs asked for a leave that day, so he sat in someone else's seat and went straight to sleep.”

As she spoke, Zhang Shuxian couldn't control her laugh, pausing before continuing, "Then the head teacher of the class upstairs came by, when he saw that some students were still sleeping after the bell rang, he threw a piece of chalk at him. The boy from Class 9 was woken up by it. When he looked up, the head teacher realised he was an unknown person and asked him who he was and why he was in their classroom. The boy, still not completely woken up, was taken aback by the unfamiliar teacher and asked in confusion, 'Who are you and why are you in my class?'”

Yan Xingxi, who was easily amused, burst out laughing from her seat.

Sheng Xiaowen laughed and rested her head on Zhou Anran's shoulder, "I remember, I've heard about this before.”

Zhou Anran also joined the laughter. 

Noticing the small dimples on Zhou Anran's cheeks, Zhang Shuxian playfully reached over and pinched her face, saying, "Ranran, you seem so quiet today. Why do you look so low on energy?”

Zhou Anran gave the same excuse she used in the morning, "I didn't sleep well last night.”

"No wonder." Zhang Shuxian said.

Yan Xingxi wiped away the tears that came out of her laughter, "Well, looks like the candy in Chen Luobai's desk was really mistakenly left there by someone.”

Zhou Anran: "......”

She was so relieved that she didn't get ‘exposed’ like she did in her dream last night.

However, the way things turned out in the end left her surprised and somewhat disappointed. 

She wonders if he threw away those two ‘mistakenly left’ candies.

Zhou Anran lay on her arms, listening to their conversation, then she happened to see Yin Yizhen entering the classroom through the front door.

The girl had her hair tied up in a fluffy bun, looking bright and beautiful. She walked into another class's room with such ease, as if it were her own. Holding a wet umbrella and a shopping bag covered in water droplets, it seemed that she just returned after buying things outside. 

Yin Yizhen headed straight to the aisle next to their row and stopped beside Lou Yiqi. She took out a bottle of soda from her bag and placed it on Lou Yiqi's desk, "This is for you."

Lou Yiqi responded with a smile, "Thank you.”

Yin Yizhen pulled her hand back and gestured towards the back, "I also got drinks for Chen Luobai and Zhu Ran, so I'll go see them first. Let's meet at our usual spot this noon.”

Lou Yiqi: "Okay."

Yin Yizhen then carried her things and walked towards the back row.

Zhou Anran clutched the sleeves of her school uniform jacket, her eyelashes dropping low.

That's right, this is how you gracefully show your affection without causing any misunderstandings.

But it's not like she wants to show affection that day. 

Zhang Shuxian's already hushed voice became even lower, "Hey hey, look behind.”

Her words allowed Zhou Anran to avoid raising suspicion, she followed Sheng Xiaowen and Yan Xingxi as they looked back.

Yin Yizhen walked from their side of the aisle to the back, but instead of stopping right next to Zhu Ran at the end of the row, she went behind him, and finally stopped at a spot next to Chen Luobai's desk before taking out the drinks and handing it to them.

Chen Luobai was leaning against the back of the chair, he seemed to be saying something to her, his words were muffled by the distance, but she could see the smile on his face. 

It was as if he was smiling at her.

Zhou Anran immediately turned around.

She comforted herself in her heart, at least he appeared happier today, and wasn't as unhappy as he was last Friday.

Even if the reason for his happiness wouldn't have the slightest bit to do with her.

Zhang Shuxian gossiped in a small voice, "Say, don't o you think she really has some interest in him?"

Lou Yiqi, who had not spoken to them since the start, suddenly opened her mouth, she did not look back, but her tone was obviously disapproving, "Why are you so concerned about someone else's interest?”

Zhang Shuxian's expression sank down,”Have you forgotten how many times you gossiped about her with me? Why? Now that she's your best friend, we're suddenly not allowed to even chat?” 

Lou Yiqi's back stiffened, "I, I can't be bothered to care about you.”

Zhang Shuxian enjoyed gossiping, but Zhou Anran knew that she did so without any ill intentions. Whether it was discussing Yin Yizhen or any other girl interested in Chen Luobai, she always spoke about them in a positive light.

Perhaps because she and Lou Yiqi used to be close friends, Zhang Shuxian didn't retaliate back, but her eyes turned a little red.

Zhou Anran wasn't very good at comforting people.

She attempted to comfort him last Friday and almost turned into the butt of the joke in class today. Thank God no one knew it was her who left him the candy.

She pursed her lips and could only clumsily change the subject, "Shall we grab lunch at the cafeteria today? It's pouring outside, it's not convenient to go out. Plus, I heard they're serving duck bone* today."

(*pieces of duck meat that have not been deboned) 

The duck bone dish at the cafeteria is Zhang Shuxian's favourite, and sure enough, her attention was diverted a little, "Really?"

Zhou Anran confirmed, "Yes, I overheard the canteen staff talking about it when I arrived this morning.” 

“Then let's head there right after class.” Zhang Shuxian's mood brightened again.

The parent-teacher meeting this afternoon went smoothly.

But perhaps because they had been weighed down by the mid-term exam and the parent-teacher conference for a while. As soon as the parent-teacher conference ended, the students, who had been on their best behavior, started to become restless again.

Within a week, Zhou Anran heard several pieces of gossip.

First, she learned from Zhang Shuxian that the class monitor of Class 5 was secretly pursuing their cultural recreation committee member. She also heard that two girls had placed gifts inside Chen Luobai's desk.

It is not known who gave the gift.

But no other girls appeared around Chen Luobai. It seemed that those gifts were either quietly returned or locked away in a drawer never to see the light of day.

***

After the week passed, May Day arrived. 

On the first day of the holiday, Zhou Anran and her parents visited her cousin's house again, this time to celebrate her cousin's birthday.

As soon as she entered the door, Tuan Tuan immediately pulled Zhou Anran to the living room sofa to watch cartoons together.

The little girl had two little buns on her head today, she looked really adorable. Zhou Anran took out the strawberry hairpin she bought at the school gate a few days ago from her school bag, gently placed it in her hair, and silently apologized to her.

Sorry, your auntie gave away the candy you secretly stuffed.

The two candies you gave are probably thrown into some trash can by now.

Tuan Tuan lifted her head, "Auntie, what did you put on my head?”

Zhou Anran revealed a small mirror from her school bag and showed it to her, "A strawberry hairpin.”

Tuan Tuan grabbed the small mirror, took a few more looks of herself, then hopped off the sofa and hurried to her cousin with her short little leg, pointing to her head joyfully, "Mom, put a few more.”

Zhou Anran laughed at the sight.

The cousin helped Tuan Tuan, "Where did you get the hairpin?"

Tuan Tuan's small hand pointed to her, "Little Auntie."

The cousin smiled and looked towards her, "You are still a student yourself, why did you buy her something again?"

"I just happened to see it at the school gate, it's not expensive." Zhou Anran said.

The cousin pinched her daughter's face, "Did you thank Auntie? Go play with her.”

Tuan Tuan ran back with the mirror, "Auntie thank you.”

Zhou Anran carried her back to sit on the sofa.

Her phone rang softly at this time.

Zhou Anran took it out of her pocket and saw that Yan Xingxi had sent her a WeChat.

Xixi: [Remember to buy candy for me!!!]

Zhou Anran: "...”

Although everyone thought that the two candies had been left in his desk by mistake, and even if he had them thrown away, he should have seen the outer packaging before that.

Plus, this lemonsoda candy couldn't be found in either small or large supermarkets at school and their neighborhood. It was not a well-known brand. Zhou Anran had never seen anyone at school eating it, if Yan Xingxi were to take it to school, she would be at risk of being exposed.

But if she bought it, she has no reason to ask Yan Xingxi not to bring it to school.

She can't tell anyone that she likes Chen Luobai.

Even if she did tell, there was no possibility for her and him.

It's better to let this matter remain a misunderstanding forever.

Zhou Anran lowered her head and typed: [I just came back from the supermarket, they no longer sell that lemonsoda candy here either.]

Xixi: [No way, they don't?]

Xixi: [crying.jpg]

Zhou Anran could feel her disappointment through the screen.

She pursed her lips: [I'm sorry.]

Xixi: [It's not your fault that the supermarket didn't sell it, what are you sorry for?]

Feeling guilty, Zhou Anran thought for a moment before responding: [My cousin's neighborhood has great vegetable pickles. I'll bring some for you tonight, along with a few bottles of soft drinks. What flavor do you want?]

Xixi: [I'd like orange!]

Xixi: [My mom also happens to make fried chicken legs tonight. I'll save some for you. Come over to my place later, let's do homework together.]

Zhou Anran: [Sure.]

***

After the May Day holiday, the annual college entrance examination is just around the corner.

The third grade's teacher no longer dares to put too much pressure on the prospective candidates, urging them to take proper rest once in a while, but no one dares to relax at this time. The teachers in the first and second grades, on the other hand, are the complete opposite, each and every one of them is winding up their students, reminding them in their ears not to think that the college entrance examination is still far away from them, and that a year or two will pass by quickly.

So the whole month of May went by swiftly in this creeping, tense atmosphere.

The day before the third year seniors went to have a break, after the bell rang for the last class in the afternoon, inspirational songs were played one after another on the radio station.

From, ‘Facing headwind is a better way to fly, I'm not afraid of million people going against me, only scared that I will give in*’ to, ‘Run, proud youth*’. 

(*倔强 by Mayday (五月天)) 

(*Jiao Ao De Shao Nian 骄傲的少年 by Nan Zheng Bei Zhan NZBZ 南征北战NZBZ) 

She didn't know if it was because of the ‘graduation shouting*’ that the school organized for tonight, or if she was simply caught up in the emotions of the song. When Zhou Anran returned to the classroom, instead of diving into her homework like usual, she sat down and chatted about the future. 

(*When they graduate and leave school, students gather together downstairs in the dormitories of their classmates to shout out their feelings and blessings. Some schools now also do this on the playground.) 

The topic was started by Zhang Shuxian, she was still sitting backwards, lying on Yan Xingxi's desk, propped up her chin and asked, "By the way, what do you want to do in the future? My Dad is a firefighter, sometimes he will inevitably get injured on duty. I want to go to medical school and pursue a career as a doctor.”

Sheng Xiaowen answered confidently, "You should already know my first dream. I want to enter the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and become a diplomat.” 

Yan Xingxi touched her chin and pondered, "I'll probably study media communication. Who knows, I might even have the opportunity to get in touch with my idol someday, hehehehehe.”

Zhang Shuxian then turned to Zhou Anran and asked, "What about you, Ranran?”

Zhou Anran was also lying on the table, a thought emerged from the bottom of her heart, rolled to the tip of her tongue, but in the end, she was too embarrassed to say it.

She shook her head, "I haven't thought about it.”

Dong Chen just happened to be passing by and was called by Sheng Xiaowen, "Dong Chen, what school do you want to go to in the future?”

"Me?" Dong Chen stopped in his tracks and answered without hesitation, “Aviation University.” 

Sheng Xiaowen let out a ‘yo’, "A pilot? That's pretty cool.”

Yan Xingxi looked at Dong Chen in disbelief and questioned, "You? Becoming a pilot?”

"What's wrong with me being a pilot? And what's with that disbelieve look on your face." Dong Chen leaned on her desk, “Want to make a bet? If I really get accepted into Aviation University, you have to promise me one thing.”

Yan Xingxi: "Sure, it's a bet!”

Zhou Anran: "......"

Yan Xingxi and her impulsive personality.

Dong Chen didn't even say what it was and she already agreed.

Yan Xingxi seemed to have finally realized as well, "But what exactly do you want me to promise?”

"I don't know yet." Dong Chen said, "Anyway, I'm not going to sell you, you're not worth much money.”

Yan Xingxi was exasperated by him, "I still don't think you can get into Aviation University. If you don't get in, you promise me one thing.”

"OK." Dong Chen readily agreed.

Seeing him with a smile on his face, Yan Xingxi frowned, "What are you smiling about?” 

"It's nothing." Dong Chen raised his head to look at He Mingyu sitting in the third row, "Mingyu, what school do you want to go to in the future?”

He Mingyu looked up, held his glasses in his hand, saying without hesitation,”A University.”

Maybe because Dong Chen's voice was loud and attracted the attention of others. In the end, this small conversation about the future somehow became the focus of the class, and all the students in the classroom was joining in.

"I want to be an architect."

"For me, I'm considering joining the army in the future."

"I want to study finance.”

Listening to the conversations of her classmates behind her, Zhou Anran took the chance to turn around and glance at the vacant seat in the sixth row.

What about him?

She wonders what he wants to do in the future.

The song playing on the radio continued, capturing everyone in the classroom-

"All youth, without regrets and worries, grows. All the ideals and hope for the future...*”

(*Nian Qing De Zhan Chang 年轻的战场 by Zhang Jie 张杰) 

As Zhou Anran listened to the song while lying on her desk and listening to her classmates talk about their dreams, a wave of inexplicable emotion arose in her heart. 

The word ‘youth’ always seems to be associated to hopes.

With their whole lives ahead of them, they seem to have unlimited hope.

She hoped that she would be able to get into the school she wanted to go to and live up to her dreams, she hoped she would be a little braver in the future.

She also kind of selfishly hoped that he wouldn't fall for another girl so quickly before she became brave.

But she forgot that hope is sometimes deceptive and fragile.

---

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