A Bookworm’s New Routine

BUYING A GIFT

When Su Yanxi went back, only Mu Qi and Hu Ying were left in the living room.

Hu Ying glanced at her with small eyes while drinking cola.

After the third time Mu Qi saw her aim her small eyes at her, she glared at her and said: “What are you looking at?”

Hu Ying grinned and moved beside her, and while leaning on the back of the sofa with her hand supporting her cheek, she said ambiguously: “Qi-ge, have you guys confessed to each other?”

Mu Qi looked askance at her and didn’t answer.

“But that’s not right.” Hu Ying frowned and said to herself: “I just asked Yanxi last night, and at that time, she was very disappointed, and said that you didn’t have such thoughts. How come after one night has passed, it feels like you guys are together?”

Mu Qi’s face turned a little red, obviously a little embarrassed by her impulsiveness last night. She touched her nose, and coughed and said: “How can you talk this much?”

Hu Ying had been friends with Mu Qi for so many years, so how could she possibly not see her expression. She narrowed her eyes and asked: “Qi-ge, you didn’t knock on other people’s windows last night, did you?”

“Who, who knocked?” After she revealed it, Mu Qi was a little flustered and shy. She glared at her as she turned her back on her.

“Hahahaha, no, Qi-ge, did you really knock on the window?” Hu Ying originally only wanted to cheat (!) her, but she didn't expect Qi-ge to unexpectedly admit it. This made her have a whole new level of respect for her family’s Qi-ge, “Qi-ge, you are too vulgar. Now, who still holds a guitar under the window of the girl they like to play and talk about love.”

(!) 诈 (to cheat): to try to extract information by deceit or bluff; to swindle

“Say that again and I will throw you out.” Mu Qi said angrily out of shame.

Hu Ying grinned, then put away her smile, and asked seriously: “Qi-ge, you really like Little Cutie? You’re not playing around with other people, are you?”

After all, she knew that Little Cutie really liked Qi-ge. From the last time in class, when Fan Siyu looked for Qi-ge to speak with, Little Cutie was immediately a little jealous, and after yesterday afternoon’s joke, Little Cutie was extremely disappointed about Qi-ge’s denial. 

If Qi-ge was really only playing around with other people, then when the time comes, she cannot be heart-broken.

Mu Qi was stumped by her question, and pursed her lips in contemplation.

The way she looked, in Hu Ying’s eyes, was as if she was saying she wasn’t certain herself.

She sat beside her in shock, and said incredulously: “No way, Qi-ge, you’re not really only playing around with Little Cutie, are you?” Thinking of this, Hu Ying tugged on her collars, and threateningly said: “If you’re really only playing around and dumping other people, then I will be impolite to you, even if you are my best friend.”

Over this semester, Hu Ying had long ago already considered Su Yanxi as a good friend, and if someone bullies her, even if it was Qi-ge, who has been her friend for several years, she will not let it go.

Mu Qi, who had a headache, shook her head. She was still a little annoyed by her impulsiveness last night, and seeing Hu Ying’s look of ‘fighting for justice’, she patted her head and said: “Actually, I’m not sure whether I like her or not, but seeing her cry, I become worried, and seeing her feel sad, I also become sad.”

“Then you like her.” Hearing this, Hu Ying immediately let go of her.

“Like?” Mu Qi has never been in love before, and did not understand the meaning of like. She looked at Hu Ying and said: “What is like?”

“What you said just now is like. When she is broken-hearted, you are also immediately broken-hearted, when she feels sad, you are also sad, and when she laughs, you are also very happy, right?” Hu Ying said.

Mu Qi nodded.

Hu Ying laughed as her eyes narrowed into a slit, patted her shoulder and said: “Then that’s it. Unexpectedly, you are serious, I feel relieved.”

Mu Qi was still a little dazed. In the evening, while lying on the bed, she was still thinking of what Hu Ying had said, so much so that the interactions between her and the girl during this period of time appeared in her mind. 

Little by little, their moments appeared like pictures, continuously emerging in her mind.

Finally, the final picture froze on the scene of her confessing to the girl last night. 


In that moment, the girl’s eyes were bright and filled with her, which made the corners of her mouth involuntarily curl up.

Perhaps she really did like her, and under these circumstances, couldn’t help but slowly fall for her.

Thinking of this, she was no longer at a loss, rather, she closed her eyes with ease and entered the land of dreams.

On the other hand, Su Yanxi was still sitting under the desk lamp, writing on her daily diary without forgetting. 

The corners of her mouth continuously bent up, and her eyes were full of happiness.

Mu Qi, did you know? I fell in love with you when I was young, and at that time, I thought that I would marry you when I grew up.

When I was bullied by other children, you stood in front of me with your arms outstretched to protect me, and at that moment, I felt that this big sister was so powerful.

After so many years, I still can’t forget that scene.

Luckily, I met you again. In order to not miss you again, I made an agreement with my mother to get admitted to A university for my college entrance exams just to be able to transfer to the high school where you are.

So, Mu Qi, in order for you and I to be able to go to the same university, in the new semester, I will urge you to study more. 


......

“Qi-ge, the weather today is very nice, let’s go out and play.” Hu Ying sat on the sofa, and looked at Mu Qi with a look of expectation across her face.

Mu Qi glanced at her, watching absent-mindedly while adjusting the channel with the remote control.

“Qi-ge, you saw that Little Cutie didn’t come, so you’re not in the mood, right?”  Hu Ying smiled at her strangely and winked.

Mu Qi ignored her.

Hu Ying moved closer to her and said: “Qi-ge, let’s go out and play. It just happens to be time to prepare a New Year’s gift for Little Cutie. In a few days, it will be new year, don’t you want to prepare a New Year’s gift for her?

Hearing these words, Mu Qi became refreshed, stood up to leave and said: “Let’s go.”

“Hey?” Hu Ying was dumbfounded by her back-and-forth reaction, and when she returned to her senses, Mu Qi was already at the door changing her shoes. She immediately stood up and ran over while shouting: “Qi-ge, you wait for me.”

Because she was going to buy a gift for Su Yanxi, Mu Qi’s eyes kept looking at the shops on both sides. She frowned from time to time, thinking to herself about what gift to buy for the other party.

Hu Ying was bored watching from the side. She might as well stay at Qi-ge’s home and play games, rather than being bored accompanying Qi-ge shopping.

When she wasn’t with Little Cutie, Qi-ge, at that time, played more crazily than her. But now, seeing Qi-ge’s sweet appearance, the more Hu Ying looked the more she found it to be unbearable, covering her skin all over with goosebumps.

Qi-ge was no longer the original Qi-ge, and the present Qi-ge should be called Qi-jie.

“Mu Qi, Xiao Yingzi (!), why are you guys here?” At this time, two people walked towards them, and it was Qi Wei, whom they hadn't seen for a long time.

(!) 小颖子 (Xiao Yingzi): Apparently 子 (zi) can be used as a noun suffix that can be attached to names; another meaning is ‘son’. 

Seeing her, Hu Ying immediately came to life, slightly raised her chin and said with a look of dislike on her face: “Stinky mushroom, how come I see you everywhere, tell me, are you following me and Qi-ge?”

Qi Wei walked over, took her by the shoulders, and said with a smile: “Xiao Yingzi, after not seeing you for several days, this mouth of yours has become more powerful.”

Hu Ying struggled while glaring at her. 

Mu Qi, who was standing on the side, looked at the two of them making noise, and said with a smile: “Where are you going?”

“Don't blame our Qi-jie, she got a girlfriend two days ago, don’t you want to buy a present for your girlfriend?” The little brother beside her pouted and said, clearly very bored while accompanying the boss to shop.

Mu Qi, who also came out to buy gifts for her girlfriend: “......”

“A person like you unexpectedly has a girlfriend?” Hu Ying said with contempt in her mouth, however, her heart was a little strange, and as for the hand on her shoulder, she did not have the strength to continue struggling.

“Why can’t I have one?” Qi Wei smiled and looked at her, and did not continue to tease her. Because she was thinking of buying a gift, she did not talk much to the two of them, and waved her hand and said: “I won’t talk to you guys anymore, I’m going to go look around again.”

“Bye bye.” Mu Wi waved at her, and it wasn’t until the two were far away that her gaze fell on Hu Ying and asked with a smile: “What, why are you frowning when other people have a girlfriend?”

“I didn’t.” Hu Ying refuted loudly, as if she had guessed what was in her mind.

Mu Qi looked at her strangely and said: “If you didn’t, then you didn’t, why are you so loud?”

“In any case, I didn’t.” Hu Ying lowered her eyelids and said angrily.

“Okay, you didn’t, let’s go, let’s continue walking around.” Mu Qi patted her head and continued walking ahead.

 “Oh.” Hu Ying weakly shrugged her shoulders and continued to follow her. At the same time, she turned her head and looked at the direction Qi Wei had left. She pursed her lips with a trace of gloominess across her eyes.

Mu Qi took Hu Ying around for a day, and went back satisfied. Hu Ying didn’t have the mood to tease her now, so she waved her hand and went back.

Mu Qi thought she was only tired, and didn’t care. She waved her hand with a smile and went back carrying a gift in her hands.