Chapter 372 You Are My Shadow

This was the most willful day in Chujian’s three years of high school.

She skipped all the evening self-study classes later that night, blew out the candles, and shared the cake with the classmates who came over to watch the fun. After the fireworks faded, she didn't want to stay too long in front of everyone and make a fool of herself, so amid the booing of some guys, Chu Jian politely thanked the classmates who wished her a happy birthday, and left the football field with Zhang Yunqi.

The two did not return to the classroom.

They didn't know where to go so late at night, but at this moment, Chu Jian didn't want to go to the classroom. She just wanted to be with the boys around her, even if she didn't do anything, say anything, or care about anything.

After leaving the school gate, Chu Jian saw the road next to the football field that they passed by every day on their way to and from school. The firework boxes thrown away had piled up into a small hill, and seven or eight old ladies were scrambling to pick up the boxes because they could sell them for money.

Chu Jian couldn't help but say: "It feels like a long time ago. When I lived in Hongshan Lane, my mother and I also picked up waste paper boxes to sell for money."

Zhang Yunqi said: "It's good to have such an experience. I have never picked up waste. At that time, I had a strong self-esteem and was afraid of being embarrassed. My sister Chunlan picked up waste. She was sensible. When she was studying in the town middle school, she ran outside the school to pick up waste after school. I still remember my sixteenth birthday. She used the money she collected from picking up waste for a long time to buy some meat and made me a bowl of potatoes stewed with fat and alkaline noodles. We ate it in a tobacco curing house in the wilderness. That should be the most delicious meal I have ever eaten in my life, and it was also the happiest birthday I have ever had in my life."

"It's great to have a sister like this."

"Yes. My sister is better than me in many aspects. She has been sensible since she was young, has a strong character, and is very determined. I always remember when she was five or six years old, wearing ragged and baggy clothes, carrying a small basket, and following me around the hills to collect firewood all day. How can I put it? Thinking of this makes me feel sad and happy at the same time."

"It's all in the past, and now we are getting better and better. The hardships we've experienced have become the heavy nutrients for our continued growth." Chu Jian pursed his lips and said, "By the way, Chunlan hasn't been home for dinner recently. Is there anything wrong with her?"

Zhang Yunqi said: "I'm not sure. She's older now and has her own independent thoughts. She needs her own space. She's sensible and I don't want to interfere with her. But when I meet her at home at night, I feel like she's in love."

I was stunned when I first saw it.

She subconsciously thought, is Chunlan in love at such a young age?
But when she thought that she was only one year older than Chunlan, she pursed her lips and blushed. When she was with Zhang Yunqi, she was younger than Chunlan, so she naturally couldn't say those words.

As the two chatted, they strolled aimlessly along Xiangzui Road. Soon they passed Wangerzhuang, approached Beimen Street, and wandered around the not-so-big Jiangchuan City.

The two of them chatted about everything under the sun, talking about the past, family, classmates, school matters, and also the issue of tutoring fees charged by the school.

Chu Jian asked Zhang Yunqi what he should do now.

Zhang Yunqi smiled and said, "What should we do? What else can we do at this point? You are clearly going against the school. The matter is very simple. If you want to pursue fairness and seek an explanation, just come clean. If you don't disclose the accounts, you will be suspended from classes. I guess many of you guys want to do this."

Chu Jian nodded: "Well, what do you think?"

Zhang Yunqi said, "You can think about it carefully. Although you are all students with good grades and are aiming for key universities, you are the school's core members. The school certainly values ​​your attitude, but the details of the tuition fees have not been disclosed. This can only mean that someone cheated you. Who dared to cheat? Who can cheat this money? I don't need to tell you, the biggest one gets the biggest share, and the one who does the work gets a little bit of the spoils."

Chu Jian was silent: "What should we do then?"

"I do not want to say."

"why?"

"Because you'd be mad if I told you."

"No way."

"Then stop it and don't get involved. Of course, if you really want to do something, I don't object. After all, this is a good thing. There is no need for any reason to do good things. I just want you to understand the consequences of doing this."

Zhang Yunqi knew that this would make Chu Jian unhappy, and it would easily make this idealistic girl question fairness and become uncertain about the beautiful beliefs she has always believed in. However, he still patiently explained the reason: "I have known for a long time that this was done by Wang Xiaokai. This guy did a lot of things that were not right, but he is smart. Although his academic performance is not very good, he will definitely make something of himself in the future. As for the tuition fee, he has now achieved his goal. What he wants is not to pay the tuition fee, because he has already spent the tuition fee on playing games, but what you want is seriously beyond the scope. It is not in the textbook, but only comes from the cruel society. To put it seriously, if it gets out of hand, it will affect your college entrance examination and ruin your life. It is always right to pursue fairness and justice, but before you are full of enthusiasm, consider whether you can bear the consequences and whether the people around you can bear them. If you think you can bear it, then do it boldly and defend your purest view of the world."

Chu Jian nodded: "Objective and pertinent."

Zhang Yunqi didn't want to talk about this anymore, but he hoped Chu Jian would think about these issues carefully. He took out a small box from his shirt pocket and said, "By the way, this is a birthday present for you."

Chu Jian was stunned: "What is this?"

Zhang Yunqi said: "It's an Ericsson GH337, a smaller version of the big brother. The number starts with 139, followed by 1977321, your birthday." (Note: In the mid-90s, mobile phone numbers were ten digits, and 139 was the mobile number.)
Chu Jian pursed his lips and said, "This... I haven't used it yet."

Zhang Yunqi said: "How can it be useless? When you miss me at night, you can call me."

In the dark night, Chu Jian’s little face was flushed and she uttered “hmm” in a voice as soft as a mosquito.

After a while, she asked in a low voice: "This, is it expensive?"

Zhang Yunqi nodded: "It's very expensive, more than 5,000 yuan."

Chu Jian opened his mouth in surprise: "This..."

Zhang Yunqi said: "But you are a priceless treasure."

The night was already very quiet at this time.

Under the street lights one after another, the deep night of the vernal equinox is filled with the warmth of spring everywhere. The small southern city of Jiangchuan is sleeping peacefully. There are few pedestrians on the streets. There are large tracts of green grass that are blown down by the wind and spread in ripples, and there are many small silver stars slanting in the sky.

Seeing that it was getting late and that he had to go to school tomorrow, Zhang Yunqi said to Chu Jian, "Shall we go home?"

When we first met, I smiled and said yes.

Zhang Yunqi held the little hand of Chu Jian and returned in the direction they had just come. The two of them crossed Beimen Street, walked back to Wangerzhuang, and arrived at Xiangzui Road where they lived.

Under the street lights, Chu Jian always lagged behind Zhang Yunqi by one step, her black leather boots stepping on the shadow left by Zhang Yunqi. She always had a clear smile on her lips, and her white cotton skirt swayed in the spring breeze.

This girl always has a certain aura about her, she is slender, fair, and calm. To use an analogy that is a bit blasphemous to first sight, when Liu Yifei is at her most beautiful, she does have a bit of the charm of first sight.

Zhang Yunqi held Chu Jian's hand, but felt that the girl was always lingering behind him, so he said, "It's so late, you will stay up late later, let's walk faster."

Chu Jian said, "Walk slower."

Zhang Yunqi asked: "Why?"

Chu Jian said: "I am stepping on your shadow."

Zhang Yunqi didn't understand: "Why are you stepping on my shadow?"

Chu Jian Xiao Lian said seriously: "I remember reading a book before that said if you step on a person's shadow, that person will never leave you."

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(End of this chapter)