Chapter Nine: I Want to Help You

Lunch time! As the bell for the last class before noon echoed through the campus, the entire school erupted in excitement. Students streamed out of their classrooms like a school of fish, sprinting towards the cafeteria as if racing the hundred-meter dash.

"Alright, class dismissed." The physics teacher had barely finished his sentence when Xu Tong and his friends had already dashed out the door, leaving the teacher behind, bewildered and sighing to himself about today's students.

Xiao Lin and Lin Xudong, on the other hand, exited the classroom at a leisurely pace. There was no need for them to rush; Xu Tong, Wang Tao, and Yuan Weiye were in charge of grabbing meals, while their only task was to secure a good spot in the cafeteria. Originally, Xiao Lin, as an athlete, should have been responsible for getting food as well, but with his current temperament, there was no way he’d do it.

The two of them ambled over to the cafeteria and claimed a table by the window—their base for meals, where they ate nearly every day.

Within minutes, Xu Tong and the others returned. Xu Tong carried two trays, Wang Tao two as well, while Yuan Weiye had just one.

"Here’s your meal, Xiao Lin," Xu Tong said, handing over a tray.

Xiao Lin nodded lightly, took it, and began eating with his chopsticks. The group sat down and ate together.

Suddenly, Xu Tong asked, "Has Little Fatty finished getting her food yet? Isn’t she usually pretty quick?"

Yuan Weiye replied, "Come on, there’s an extra person today."

Understanding dawned instantly among them.

A moment later, Tan Linlin approached, balancing a tray in one hand and pulling Wang Yuqing along with the other.

Tan Linlin plopped her tray on the table, hands on her hips, and began scolding Wang Yuqing.

"Honestly, Yuqing! You have to fight for food these days. How can you be so slow? All the good dishes are gone. Oh, my chicken drumstick, snatched away by the girl ahead!"

Wang Yuqing smiled quietly, saying nothing, and slipped into the seat opposite Xiao Lin.

Tan Linlin huffed, "Prioritizing boys over friends!"

Suddenly, Yuan Weiye let out a strange cry, startling everyone in the middle of their meal.

"Old Yuan, could you please shut your duck voice and eat quietly? Stop yelling," Wang Tao scolded.

"No, no, look at Xiao Lin and Wang Yuqing’s trays," Yuan Weiye pointed at their plates.

Everyone stared in confusion.

They saw that Xiao Lin’s and Wang Yuqing’s trays contained exactly the same dishes, except Wang Yuqing’s had a little less rice.

The group exchanged glances, then exclaimed together, "Oh!"

Xiao Lin looked at his own tray, then at Wang Yuqing’s, then noticed everyone watching him. Even with his indifferent nature, he couldn’t bear their blatant scrutiny.

He tossed his chopsticks onto his tray and addressed Wang Yuqing, "Come outside with me." With that, he stood and walked out of the cafeteria.

Wang Yuqing gently set her chopsticks on her tray and followed him.

"Hey, hey, Little Fatty, what’s going on with them? My curiosity is about to burst," Xu Tong said, unable to focus on his meal, sidling up to Tan Linlin.

"You all want to know too?" Tan Linlin glanced at the group. They nodded, faces eager.

Tan Linlin rubbed her hands together. "If you want me to spill, you’ll have to offer me something in return." She eyed their trays.

Xu Tong was the first to catch on, promptly placing his untouched drumstick on Tan Linlin’s tray. The others quickly followed suit, adding food to her plate.

Tan Linlin looked at her tray, now piled high with goodies, and happily picked up a drumstick to eat.

"Come on, tell us! Don’t just eat," Xu Tong urged.

"Mm. Mmm. Actually... I don’t know either. Wang Yuqing never told me. How about this: I’ll ask her later and let you know," Tan Linlin replied, mouth full and indistinct.

"Seriously? You tricked us!" Xu Tong gave her a playful knock on the head.

Tan Linlin ignored him, too busy stuffing her mouth.

Outside the cafeteria, Xiao Lin leaned against a pillar by the door, while Wang Yuqing stood before him with her head lowered, like a shy young bride.

"Wang Yuqing, what exactly do you want?" Xiao Lin asked, looking at her.

Wang Yuqing raised her head, gazing at the boy before her, and spoke deliberately, "I want to help you."

Xiao Lin was taken aback, sizing her up again. "Help me? With what? Do I need your help?"

Wang Yuqing summoned her courage and leaned close, stopping just two centimeters from Xiao Lin’s face. "Xiao Lin, I know your past. I know how exceptional you once were. I don’t care what happened to you. I want to help you become the person you used to be."

Staring at her pretty face so close that he could see the fine hairs on her skin, feeling her breath on his cheek, Xiao Lin felt his heart itch. He quickly stepped back, regaining his composure. "Wang Yuqing, I don’t need your help. Even if you know about my past, so what?"

Wang Yuqing chuckled as she watched him retreat. "Xiao Lin, you’ve changed so much. You’ve even forced yourself to abandon habits you used to practice daily. But let me tell you, nothing can be truly forgotten. For example, your eating routine—you still follow it, right? Maybe seeing certain scenes brings back memories you tried to erase. Today, for instance—doesn’t it feel familiar? You remembered a lot, didn’t you?"

Hearing her words, Xiao Lin was momentarily stunned and uncertainly asked, "Did I know you before?"

Wang Yuqing didn’t answer directly, instead teasing him, "Xiao Lin, do you really like the person you are now? As for whether you knew me before, that’s something you’ll have to ask yourself. But the genius Xiao Lin of the past was famous throughout the school!"

With that, Wang Yuqing turned and walked back toward the cafeteria. After a few steps, she looked back. "Xiao Lin, please believe in tomorrow. Hehe!"

Watching her lively figure disappear inside, Xiao Lin shook his head. Wang Yuqing was truly a mystery.

He looked up at the white clouds in the sky and asked himself inwardly, "Xiao Lin, do you really like who you are now?"

The handsome young man’s face was full of thoughtful contemplation.

Sunlight streamed down from the sky, illuminating him and penetrating deep into his heart, as if soothing old wounds and bringing warmth. After a long while, Xiao Lin withdrew from his reverie.

"Yes, I really should give this some thought," he mused silently.