Chapter 67: Coercion (3)

“You're back, go wash your hands; dinner will be ready soon,” her grandmother's voice called from the kitchen.

“Alright,” Qiao Xi replied. She took her backpack to her room, set it down, and went to wash her hands.

When she came out, the dishes were already arranged on the table. She sat down to eat with her grandmother but found herself distracted.

Chou Chou was right; sooner or later this matter would reach Fengyang, and then Gu Heng would know… Should she call him first?

“Xi…”

A voice startled her from her thoughts. She looked at her grandmother, who gazed at her with concern. “Why are you so absent-minded, not even picking up your food?”

“It’s nothing, I was just thinking about something. I’m fine now.” Qiao Xi didn’t want her grandmother to worry, so she smiled and began serving herself.

“Did something upset you at school?”

“No, just thinking about class.”

“Different schools have different teaching methods. You’ll get used to it in time.”

“I know. Let's eat, Grandma.”

“You should eat more, too.”

“Mm.”

After dinner, Qiao Xi gathered the dishes and took them to the kitchen to wash.

When she finished, her grandmother was watching TV. “Grandma, I’m going to my room to do homework,” she said.

She entered her room, took out her textbooks and assignments, and focused on her homework.

There wasn’t much, so she finished quickly and put everything in her backpack.

The room was quiet. Her grandmother, knowing she was studying, had lowered the TV volume so much that almost nothing could be heard inside.

She glanced at her phone on the desk, reached for it, but withdrew her hand.

Even if she called, she didn’t know what to say.

She had known Gu Heng for over ten years, but hardly ever talked with him. They’d never argued, not even when she abruptly transferred schools; though he was unhappy, he never quarreled with her.

In contrast, Xin Meng often bickered and fought with Gu Heng. That was a kind of interaction, she supposed. Sometimes she envied Xin Meng, but her way of getting along with Gu Heng seemed so habitual that she couldn’t change it.

She left the room and saw her grandmother laughing at the TV. Although elderly, her grandmother loved comedies.

Hearing her come out, her grandmother turned, “Xi, finished your homework?”

“Yes,” she answered, then added, “Grandma, I’m going out for a walk.”

“Wear an extra jacket, the night wind is strong.”

“Okay.” Qiao Xi went back to her room, grabbed a light jacket, put it on, and said to her grandmother, “I’m heading out.”

“Don’t come back too late.”

“I know.”

She closed the door behind her and walked toward the main road.

She didn’t really know why she wanted to go out, just felt like walking.

Without realizing it, she ended up at the school gate.

It was probably habit; ever since she transferred, she’d walked this route almost every day.

She was about to turn back when she saw someone exit the school.

She paid no mind and kept turning away.

“Qiao Xi?”

She’d taken only a couple of steps when a voice sounded from behind—soft, uncertain.

She turned around and saw Ou Ya, pausing in surprise.

Ou Ya walked over, smiling slightly. “It really is you. Why are you here so late?”

“I… came out to buy something,” she replied, offering an excuse. Then she asked, “What about you?”

“There was some student council business. I didn’t realize it had gotten so late,” Ou Ya said.