Chapter 45: Premonition

Early Thursday morning, Xiahou Ming arrived at school earlier than usual.
On one hand, she was looking forward to taking her relationship with Wen Xuelan a step further today, which would give her a little false comfort to the heavy sense of guilt in her heart.
But more importantly, she needed to fulfill the “agreement” with Yu Yuhui as soon as possible.
She had a hunch that she had to give an answer that would satisfy the woman, so that the distant thread between them could be reconnected.
This expectation came to an abrupt end when she reached the stairs of the teaching building.
She saw Wen Xuelan.
She was walking down from upstairs with a stack of homework books in her arms.
Xiahou Ming subconsciously wanted to give her a smile that she had practiced for a long time.
Wen Xuelan’s footsteps paused instantly.
A hint of joy first flashed in her eyes.
But that ray of light only lasted for less than a second.
Her lips opened slightly uncontrollably, and an indistinct syllable spilled out of her throat.
“Xia…”
But she immediately bit her lower lip and swallowed back the name that was about to come out.
Then, holding her homework book, she ran past Xiahou Ming quickly, almost sticking to the wall on the other side.
From beginning to end, she never looked at her again.
As she passed by Xiahou Ming, a voice full of guilt and pain floated into Xiahou Ming’s ears like the wind.
“…I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”
Xiahou Ming stood there in a daze, the smile on her face froze.
What’s going on?
Apologize? Why?
Totally incomprehensible.
Yesterday… wasn’t everything fine?
Could it be…
She found that skirt. Did I steal it?
Or… did she find out that I was Xiahou Ming!?
These two thoughts, like two invisible hands, tightly grasped her throat, making her feel suffocated in an instant.
Immediately afterward, an even stronger feeling of irritability surged up.
Damn it!
The agreement between Yu Yuhui and I has just made a little progress!
I thought I could make her trust me completely today, but now… everything is messed up!
Looking at Wen Xuelan’s fleeing back, she was enveloped by great confusion and panic.
The moment she stepped into the classroom, Xiahou Ming felt like she had entered an unfamiliar stage.
The classroom was unusually “peaceful” today.
It’s eerily peaceful.
Lin Xiaomei, contrary to her usual behavior, did not bother her again.
She just sat in her seat and chatted with the girls in the back seat.
Ling Yicai, as usual, carried breakfast and walked to her seat.
“Good morning, Xiao Ming.”
She put the breakfast on the table and saw Xiahou Ming’s absent-minded look.
She asked with concern:
“What’s wrong? You looked so pale since you came in. Are you feeling unwell?”
Xiahou Ming shook her head and said nothing.
She was restless, her mind a mess.
Her eyes involuntarily drifted to the corner of the classroom near the corridor.
Instinctively, she wanted to seek a hint from the only person who might know the “answer.”
But a cold voice sounded clearly in Xiahou Ming’s mind.
Actors should not ask the audience for help.
Xiahou Ming sighed.
After ruling out this option, her eyes still fell on that person.
Amid the noise of the break, she stood up and walked to Ling Yicai’s seat.
“Ling Yicai… can I… ask you something?”
Ling Yicai seemed to be completely caught off guard by her initiative to strike up a conversation and looked up in surprise.
“Of course, Xiao Ming.” She closed the book and looked at her with a smile, “What’s wrong?”
“That is… what do you think is the reason why a person who used to be… on good terms with you suddenly changes their attitude and starts avoiding you?”
The smile on Ling Yicai’s face froze for a moment when she heard this question.
“…Is it… Xiao Ming, your ‘friend’?” she asked tentatively.
“…I don’t know if we can be considered friends,” Xiahou Ming replied vaguely, “I just think it’s a bit strange.”
Ling Yicai took a deep breath and suppressed the bitterness and jealousy surging in her heart.
“Maybe… she feels that you have disappointed her.”
“…Disappointment?”
“Yeah.” Ling Yicai nodded. “Sometimes, you might inadvertently do something that hurts her, but you are completely unaware of it.”
“Girls’ minds are so sensitive.”
She reached out her hand and naturally helped Xiahou Ming straighten her collar, which was tangled up due to her annoyance.
“So, Xiao Ming, you must be careful with the people who are truly important to you and never make them sad. Because some cracks, once they appear, can never be mended.”
Xiahou Ming felt even more confused after hearing Ling Yicai’s words.
Did I hurt that girl? When?
So, it could only be that it was exposed, right?
The more she thought about it, the more confused she became.
She had no clue what was going on and was left with only the frustration of having messed up everything.
The lunch break bell finally rang.
Most of the students rushed to the cafeteria noisily.
Xiahou Ming didn’t move.
She had no appetite at all and just lay on the table, secretly observing the corner out of the corner of her eye.
According to usual practice, Yu Yuhui should pick up her book and calmly walk to the rooftop as soon as the bell rang.
But today, she didn’t.
She just sat in her seat, turning the pages of the book slowly, one by one, as if she didn’t hear the bell at all.
This abnormality made Xiahou Ming’s heart sink again.
She doesn’t even go to the rooftop…?
Is it because she doesn’t want to see me?
Xiahou Ming lay on the table, feeling like a pet rejected by its owner.
She even lost the “holy place” where she could be alone with her.
In that case…
She thought, should she… just go find Wen Xuelan and ask her clearly?
At least, to solve this morning’s mystery.
Just as she was driven by this thought and was about to get up, Ling Yicai once again walked in front of her as if she had calculated the time.
“Let’s go, Xiao Ming,” she knocked on Xiahou Ming’s desk, “Don’t lie down, there’s work to do.”
Xiahou Ming raised her head and looked at her in confusion.
“The Student Union is short of staff to print the school anniversary program, and Teacher Wang has asked you to come over and help out.”
“I still consider it…” Xiahou Ming frowned instinctively, wanting to refuse.
“The school provides meals, and there’s also pocket money.”
Ling Yicai smiled, stretched out a finger, and waved it in front of her eyes.
Xiahou Ming looked at her confident expression, touched her empty pockets, and finally snorted in annoyance.
“…When did the school become so rich?”
She muttered as she stood up reluctantly.
When Ling Yicai was holding her arm affectionately and half-heartedly leading her out of the classroom, a strong sense of foreboding suddenly gripped her heart for no reason.
She subconsciously turned around and looked toward the classroom.
Lin Xiaomei was still lying on the table, as if she was sleeping.
Yu Yuhui lowered her head and read quietly.
Everything looked no different than usual.
You’re overthinking it…
Behind her, Ling Yicai’s mouth, which always had a smile on it, curled up slightly, forming a meaningful arc.
She looked at Xiahou Ming’s defenseless ponytailed head and whispered in her heart:
“Let’s go, Xiao Ming.”
“Don’t worry.”
“Nothing… will happen.”