Chapter 44: A Phone Call from Abroad
When Xiang Yang packs her bags to go back to school after the holiday, she suddenly remembers that she forgot to return the money to Lian Rui.
She doesn't have Lian Rui's contact information. Even if she did, she's sure he wouldn't want to take it.
Xiang Yang originally wanted to return the money to Lian Rui through Fu Guanxian, but she searches her phone and realizes she changed her number. Except for a few elders and a few friends she contacts frequently, she hasn't backed up anything else.
Xiang Yang smiles. Not only does she not have his phone number, but it seems she also doesn't have his WeChat. She has no way to contact him at all.
Xiang Yang is happy about this. It's good, isn't it?
Xiang Yang goes downstairs and asks Jiang Manxin, “Mom, can you transfer a few hundred yuan to Fu Guanxian for me?”
Jiang Manxin is studying sheet music. When she hears this, she asks, “You borrowed money from Guanxian?”
That shouldn't be the case. Even if Guanxian had lent money to her, it shouldn't be to the point of having to ask for it back. Because in Jiang Manxin's eyes, he's a very generous kid.
Xiang Yang briefly summarizes the situation. “Mom, it's just that last time we went to eat, we bumped into Fu Guanxian's friend. He was quick to pay the bill for us. I felt really embarrassed. I've been so busy these past few days that I completely forgot. I want to pay him back, but I don't have his contact information, so I want to pay Fu Guanxian and ask him to pass it along.”
Jiang Manxin nods. “That's true. If it was Guanxian who paid, then it's fine. But if it was his friend, then you definitely have to pay.”
“Yeah, Mom. That's what I think. So, transfer five hundred yuan to him for me.” Seeing that her mom agrees, Xiang Yang feels a little bit of mischievous joy.
But Jiang Manxin doesn't understand. “Why don't you transfer it to him yourself?”
Xiang Yang confesses. “I changed numbers, and I forgot to save his contact information.”
Jiang Manxin hands her the phone. “Then you send it yourself.”
Xiang Yang happily takes the phone. “Okay, thanks Mom!”
It's better to use her mom's phone than to use her own, Xiang Yang thinks this.
Xiang Yang finds Fu Guanxian in her WeChat friends list. She's about to transfer money to him, but then she remembers that he definitely won't accept it. So she adds Fu Guanxian as a friend on a certain payment app.
Xiang Yang waits for several hours before he accepts her request. She immediately transfers five hundred yuan. Actually, the meal didn't cost that much. Xiang Yang just wanted to make it a round number.
After she sends the money, she imitates Jiang Manxin's tone and adds a sentence. “Guanxian, Xiaoyang said that last time you went to eat, your friend helped pay the bill. She feels bad about it, so she asked you to pass this money along to your friend.”
Xiang Yang thinks her plan can fool everyone. She doesn't know that after she closes the app, Fu Guanxian sends her a message. “Xiang Xiaoyang?”
But Fu Guanxian's message falls into the abyss. No one replies to him.
The second day Xiang Yang gets to school, she is about to go to the piano room to practice. She gets a call from an unfamiliar number. Seeing that the screen doesn't show the caller ID, she feels a little strange. She asks, “Hello? Who is this?”
After a long time, the other side finally says in a deep voice, “It's me.”
Xiang Yang is startled. She feels her heart beating faster, but a few seconds later, she laughs at herself for being like a startled bird.
Fu Guanxian is abroad. Why am I still afraid of him?
She composes her expression and calmly asks, “What's up?”
Hearing these three emotionless words, Fu Guanxian subtly arches his lips. It appears that during his extensive time overseas, he has overlooked certain nuances about her.
“You're getting more and more confident.” Fu Guanxian commented.
Xiang Yang doesn't want to mess around with him. “If you're calling just to say that, thanks. I've heard it. Nothing else, I'm hanging up.”
“Did I say I had nothing else to say? Xiang Xiaoyang, you're so eager to hang up. What are you planning to do?”
Xiang Yang bites her lip and then says loudly, “Just say it. What is it?”
Fu Guanxian seems to chuckle coldly. Then he says, “I've already transferred the five hundred yuan back to your mom.”
“You…” Xiang Yang is anxious. “I wasn't repaying you. It's for Lian Rui.”
Fu Guanxian says calmly. “Lian Rui's? I already paid him back for you.”
“Well, then…”
Fu Guanxian hears her sound a little anxious. His mood brightens slightly. He says, “What's a measly five hundred yuan? I don't care about five hundred yuan. If you want to pay me back, consider paying me back five hundred million. Or, considering that we grew up together, I'll give you a discount. How about fifty million?”
“Where would I get fifty million!” Xiang Yang is really annoyed. “I don't want to talk to you!” This guy is crazy!
Fu Guanxian rarely makes a call, but he ends up hanging up. However, his lips curve slightly upwards. He doesn't seem angry at all.
Xiang Xiaoyang… Can I see a completely different her when I return to the country?
Fu Guanxian secretly has expectations.
Not long after the start of the semester, Xing Zhaoyan comes to school to find Xiang Yang. He brings her a lot of snacks.
Xiang Yang quickly refuses. “I have everything here. You don't have to bring things for me every time.”
She's really embarrassed to accept it. Whenever he's nice to her, she feels embarrassed. She wants to repay him, so she realizes that because of this back-and-forth, they've unconsciously started spending more and more time together. Even many of the classmates around them believe they are a couple.
Seeing that she is not avoiding him after the start of the semester, Xing Zhaoyan is a little happy. Although he still goes to her school often, in order to avoid making her feel annoyed or taking up too much of her study time, he also adjusts the frequency and timing of his visits.
But what surprises him is that sometimes, Xiang Yang will even take the initiative to call him to have dinner. This also makes Xing Zhaoyan very happy. So every time he goes to see her, he bring her different snacks or delicate and fun little gifts.
When he sees that she's unwilling to accept it, he smiles and says, “It's not just for you. Consider it a gift for the other classmates in your dorm.”
“This…” Xiang Yang doesn't know what to say.
Xing Zhaoyan immediately changes the subject. “It's my basketball game the day after tomorrow. Do you have time? 4 pm? Can you come and cheer me on?”
Xiang Yang thinks about it. She doesn't have any plans that afternoon. She asks, “Is it a department game?”
“Yes, so will you come?”
Xiang Yang smiles. “Okay, I'll go.”
Xing Zhaoyan also smiles. “Then I'll come and get you.”
Xiang Yang quickly says, “No need. You have to prepare for the game. I'll just go by myself. Is it the basketball court? I'll ask around if I can't find it.”
“Okay, it's at the gymnasium. Or you can call me when you reach our school gate and I'll pick you up at the gate.”
Xiang Yang smiles. “I've been to your school once or twice before. No need to be so troublesome.”
“I never think it's troublesome when it comes to you.”
Xiang Yang is stunned. Then she unconsciously looks away. She doesn't reply.
On the day of the game, Xiang Yang tells her roommates that she's going to watch the basketball game at An University. Zhang Yi hears this and immediately asks, “Xiang Yang, can you bring a companion?”
“Of course! Do you want to go together?”
“Yeah! To see the handsome guy!”
Xiang Yang is happy to hear this. “Okay! Then let's go together later.”
Zhang Yi is looking forward to it. But when she sees the other two staring at her with disdain, she doesn't know what she did wrong.
Zhang Yi curiously asks, “What's wrong with you two looking at me like that?”
The other two don't say anything. They silently curse her for being stupid. Isn't this being a third wheel! Where did her common sense go!
When they arrive at An University, Xiang Yang walks for a while, relying on her memory. To be precise, she asks a classmate for directions. The person tells her the way. Xiang Yang thanks her.
Zhang Yi asks her, “Xiang Yang, haven't you been here before?”
The school is large. Xiang Yang has only been to the teaching buildings, the dorms, and the library building. She's never been to the gymnasium. So she honestly tells her.
Zhang Yi smiles and says, “You should learn from Xing Zhaoyan. He's so enthusiastic. Even if you're not as enthusiastic, at least be half as enthusiastic as he is. Be careful, or he'll…”
Seeing that she suddenly stops talking, Xiang Yang says in confusion, “What?”
“Nothing, I was just kidding!”
Xiang Yang walks into the gymnasium. She finds that there are a lot of spectators in the audience seats, and Xing Zhaoyan is wearing a jersey and warming up.
Xiang Yang looks around, trying to find a seat in the front row. But she doesn't expect that Xing Zhaoyan immediately spots her. He gets off the court and walks straight towards her.
Xiang Yang is just about to walk to the front row seats when Zhang Yi pats her hand. “Hey, your man…”
“What?”
“Xiang Yang.” Xing Zhaoyan calls her name before he reaches her. “You came?”
“Yeah.” Xiang Yang nods.
“I asked someone to save you seats. Come with me.” Xing Zhaoyan finishes, then sees that her roommate came with her too. So he nods at Zhang Yi, as a way of greeting her.
Zhang Yi smiles and says, “I'm crashing.”
“Welcome.” Xing Zhaoyan says very gentlemanly.
After he arranges seats for the two of them, Xing Zhaoyan says, “There are some water and snacks here. If you're hungry, have some to hold you over. I'll treat you to dinner after the game.”
“Okay.”
“Then I'll go back to the court.”
Xiang Yang smiles. “Go get 'em! Be careful not to get hurt.”
“Don't worry. I won't make the same low-level mistakes I made years ago.”
Xiang Yang smiles.
After Zhang Yi and the others leave, she dramatically pats her arm. “You two are really something! You're so cheesy!”
Xiang Yang: “...” She and Xing Zhaoyan didn't do anything!
Before the game starts, Xiang Yang sends Fan Xiaoyu a message to say that she's at her school watching the basketball game. She asks her if she has time to come and have dinner together.
Fan Xiaoyu sends her a meaningful emoji. “You two are so sneaky! Well, I think I'll stay home. That way…”
“My roommate's here too. Come with us.”
“Okay, then. Wait for me. I'll tidy up.”
When Fan Xiaoyu enters, she's stunned by the cheers of all the girls in the stadium: “Xing Zhaoyan!” She looks around at the game. The situation seems a bit intense, but the score… Xing Zhaoyan's team is temporarily ahead.
Fan Xiaoyu searches for a long time before she finds Xiang Yang.
She's met Zhang Yi and the others a few times, so they're not strangers.
As soon as Fan Xiaoyu sits down, Zhang Yi asks, “Xing Zhaoyan's really popular at your school?”
Fan Xiaoyu thinks about it for a moment. “He's quite popular. I heard he's the most likely candidate for next year's Student Union president. He has a good reputation, strong abilities, and high support.”
Xiang Yang is slightly surprised, but also thinks it makes sense. Xing Zhaoyan has always been a standout.
The game is intense, but as time passes, the score gap gradually widens. Xing Zhaoyan's three-pointers also regularly lead to cheers from the students in the stadium, especially the girls.
Near the end of the game, Fan Xiaoyu says, “It looks like the outcome is already decided.”
Xiang Yang actually figured out the outcome less than twenty minutes into the game.
Fan Xiaoyu speaks, intentionally looking at Xiang Yang. “I always feel like Class Monitor's in a good state today!” There's a hint of meaning in her words.
Zhang Yi hears this, but she's trying hard to hold back her laughter because of Xiang Yang's thin face.
Xiang Yang sighs. “Can you stop bringing up this topic all the time?”
“It's the truth.” Fan Xiaoyu says innocently.
Xiang Yang is too lazy to pay attention to her. She focuses her attention back on the court. Xing Zhaoyan, who has won the game, is celebrating with his teammates.
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