Chapter 34 Witnessing a Kiss Could Clearly See Him…

Chapter 34: Witnessing a Kiss

One could clearly see him…

Yu Kui was unaware of the conversation between Tao Jiang and Qin You. After packing her bag, she left the classroom with Sun Shuya.

“What are your plans after the college entrance exam?” Sun Shuya linked arms with Yu Kui. “My mom says I’ve been working too hard and told me I deserve a trip after the exams. Do you want to come along?”

“Sure,” Yu Kui replied, also wanting to travel after the exams. “I'll check with my family then.”

“Great,” Sun Shuya said softly. “I used to think time would drag on, but June's almost here already. It suddenly hit me that high school is about to end, and I’m actually feeling a little sad about it.”

Yu Kui paused for a moment. “Even after the exams, we'll still be friends.”

Sun Shuya laughed. “Of course! You’re my best friend now.”

As they stepped out of the school building, the sky hadn’t fully darkened yet. The campus lights were already lit, and the school grounds were nearly empty. Walking along the path they had taken countless times, they found themselves getting teary-eyed.

You'd think, with the college entrance exams just around the corner, they should have been feeling tense. Instead, they were just feeling wistful.

These were moments they would never get back.

Once gone, they were gone forever.

“I’m planning to buy a memory book in a couple of days. Do you want to come along?” Yu Kui asked quietly.

“Aren’t those for grade school and junior high?” Sun Shuya chuckled. “We’re about to graduate from high school! We can just message each other on WeChat whenever we want.”

Yu Kui was quiet for a second. “Do you remember? In those memory books, you don’t just write down contact information—you also get to learn about everyone’s preferences, like their favorite colors or life mottos…”

“Of course I remember,” Sun Shuya sighed. “But don’t you think it’s a bit childish?”

“Not at all,” Yu Kui said. “I think it’s fun.”

“Alright, alright,” Sun Shuya said, giving in, looking at her helplessly. “I’ll go with you to buy one. We can ask if other classmates want to join us too.”

“Okay.” Yu Kui smiled, her mood cheering up a bit.

Yu Kui’s memory book was a bright sky blue, as clear and sunny as a summer sky.

She passed out the pages one by one and collected them again once they were filled. The previously blank sheets were now covered with handwriting, each one carrying the preferences and thoughts of their classmates.

Yu Kui carefully placed the pages back into the metal rings and put the book away carefully in her backpack.

“We have tomorrow off. Do you want to go out for hot pot in the evening?” Sun Shuya grabbed Yu Kui’s hand. “We could invite that guy in Class 13 too.”

“Is that okay?” Yu Kui had been wanting to introduce Sun Shuya and Xie Xingzhi, feeling there might be some misunderstandings between them that needed clearing up.

“If I said no, would you ignore him?” Sun Shuya snorted.

Yu Kui felt a bit embarrassed. “He’s really nice, actually.”

“Alright, alright,” Sun Shuya said, amused. “Send him a message and ask him to meet us downstairs.”

“Okay.”

Yu Kui sent a text to Xie Xingzhi, and soon the boy came down to join them.

“Where are we eating?” He slung his backpack over one shoulder, leaning casually at the classroom door.

“Just outside the school gate,” Yu Kui waved him over. “Are there any subjects you’re still struggling with lately?”

“Not for now,” Xie Xingzhi glanced at Sun Shuya standing beside her. “Just the three of us?”

“Yeah, this is my good friend,” Yu Kui hesitated. “You’ve probably met before.”

“I know,” Xie Xingzhi raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t she the one who’s always talking trash about me?”

Yu Kui: “...”

“Did I say something wrong?” Sun Shuya sneered. “You were a troublemaker—I was just stating facts.”

Yu Kui hadn’t expected them to start arguing as soon as they met and didn't know what to say. “Are you two still up for hot pot?”

“Why wouldn’t we be?” Xie Xingzhi looked at her with a smirk. “As long as you don’t think I’m a troublemaker, I don’t care what anyone else thinks.”

Sun Shuya rolled her eyes. “You’re just taking advantage of Yu Kui’s being too nice, aren’t you?”

Xie Xingzhi ignored her and turned to Yu Kui. “Let’s go. My treat tonight.”

“No need,” Sun Shuya cut in immediately. “I already said I’m paying, so I’m treating.”

“Let’s just go,” Yu Kui hated when they argued. “It’s getting late. Let’s get to the restaurant first.”

At the hot pot restaurant, the two started arguing again over what to order. Sun Shuya wanted pork brain, but Xie Xingzhi objected.

“Why can’t I order pork brain?” Sun Shuya thought he was disrespecting her. “Do you have any manners?”

“Not liking pork brain means I have no manners?” Xie Xingzhi shot back bluntly. “If that’s what you think, so be it.”

“You!” Sun Shuya balled her fists in anger. “If it weren’t for Yu Kui, I wouldn’t even bother with you.”

“Stop arguing,” Yu Kui said, their fighting was giving her a headache. “We don’t have to eat hot pot if it’s going to be like this.”

Though she was patient, she didn’t appreciate their constant bickering.

“If you’re not enjoying yourselves, there’s no need to force a meal together.” To her, both Sun Shuya and Xie Xingzhi were friends. If they couldn’t get along, they didn’t have to, but they shouldn’t put each other in a bad mood.

Sun Shuya and Xie Xingzhi stopped talking, noticing Yu Kui’s displeasure, and stopped arguing.

Yu Kui took the menu, skipped the foods they both hated, and handed the order to the server. “Please also get us some corn juice.”

“Sure.”

After the server left, she turned to the two. “I want meals to be enjoyable. If we’re eating while upset, I’ll feel very uncomfortable.”

Sun Shuya muttered softly. “I didn’t mean to start anything. He’s the one who kept provoking me—totally clueless.”

“It’s my fault,” Xie Xingzhi smiled at Yu Kui. “You’re right. We shouldn’t bring emotions to the table.”

“You’re both my friends, and I care about your feelings. I hope this doesn’t happen again.” Yu Kui lowered her gaze. “If you genuinely dislike each other, just tell me plainly. I won’t arrange meals together anymore.”

She wouldn’t ask anyone to change for her sake.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” Sun Shuya murmured. “Since I agreed to have him join us, I didn’t come with any ill intentions.”

Xie Xingzhi poured a cup of corn juice for Yu Kui. “I was in the wrong.”

“Let’s eat now.” Seeing that the tension had eased, Yu Kui quietly relaxed.

"Have you decided which university to apply to?" Xie Xingzhi changed the subject smoothly.

"Probably staying in the city," Yu Kui thought of her parents and didn't want to leave them. "Haven't decided on a specific university yet."

"That's great!" Sun Shuya's eyes lit up. "I want to attend a local university too, so I can hang out with you often."

"What about you?" Yu Kui turned to Xie Xingzhi.

"Wherever is fine," he replied casually.

"How have your recent exams been? What scores did you get?"

"I'm not telling," Xie Xingzhi said deliberately. "You'll find out after the College Entrance Exam."

Seeing his attitude, Yu Kui knew his grades couldn't be too bad. She turned to Sun Shuya and said, "Even though tomorrow's a holiday, make sure to go over the questions you're struggling with thoroughly. If you need any help, just ask me anytime."

"Got it," Sun Shuya glared at Xie Xingzhi, disliking him even more.

After finishing the hotpot, Sun Shuya went to the front desk to pay, only to be told that someone had already paid the bill.

She glanced at Xie Xingzhi, who had stepped out earlier, and remarked, "Pretty sharp, aren't you?"

Xie Xingzhi acted as if he hadn't heard her and hurried to catch up with Yu Kui, who was walking ahead.

"How much was it? I'll transfer the money to you," Sun Shuya said, not wanting to take his charity. She refused to feel like she owed him.

Xie Xingzhi stopped in his tracks and replied, "Yu Kui doesn't like pig brains. Don't order dishes she dislikes when having hotpot with her in the future."

Sun Shuya was stunned. By the time she processed his words, Xie Xingzhi had already caught up to Yu Kui and was speaking to her softly. His usually sharp features seemed unusually gentle at that moment.

Snapping back to reality, Sun Shuya cussed him out in her head.

What's wrong with eating pig brains? Yu Kui never complained, so why did he have to meddle? He really is a jerk!

She jogged forward and linked arms with Yu Kui. "Feel like having boba? I'll go buy some."

"I can't drink anything right now," Yu Kui rubbed her full belly. "Let's just go home."

"I want some," Sun Shuya insisted. "Wait here for me."

"Okay."

Yu Kui and Xie Xingzhi stood on the sidewalk across from the school. The sky was already dark, and there were noticeably fewer cars passing by.

The lights in the teaching building were off, leaving only the streetlights still on.

"Are you really staying local?" Xie Xingzhi looked at her pale profile. "I thought you'd go to City B or City Z."

"Most likely staying," Yu Kui wasn't sure why he was so hung up on her university choice. "Are you really planning to go to the same city as me?"

"Is that a problem?" Xie Xingzhi took two steps closer. "You're always so good to me. Of course I want to stay near you."

Yu Kui hadn't expected him to say that and instinctively replied, "You and Sun Shuya are both my friends. You don't always have to consider where I'm going. Choose the university you like and go wherever you prefer."

"But what if I want to go to a city where you are?"

Yu Kui: "..."

As they were talking, a young couple emerged from the school gate across the street, arguing as they walked.

"I already told you there's nothing between me and that girl. She was just asking me about a homework question. Why won't you believe me?"

Yu Kui hadn't noticed them at first, but the voices from across the street caught her attention.

Under the dim streetlight, a boy in uniform held tightly onto the girl beside him, his voice pleading, "I'll delete her number right now. Please don't ignore me."

"Just deleting her?" the girl said in a teasing voice. "I want you to never talk to her again. If you can't do that..."

"I promise," the boy hurriedly showed her his phone. "I've already deleted her."

"That's more like it," the girl gave a satisfied hum and pecked his cheek. "If something like this happens again, I won't bother with you."

The boy responded by eagerly kissing her back.

He held the girl tightly and kissed her deeply.

A car drove past, its headlights so bright it made you blink. But Yu Kui didn't look away. She quietly watched the couple embracing across the street.

With cars roaring past, in the slightly cool early summer night, she could see them clearly.