Su Qi pursed his lips, but didnât relent. âI just like being with you.â
I couldnât stand it anymore. It was only our second meeting, but he acted like he knew me so well. I flew into a rage out of humiliation and asked him, âWhat do you want?!â
The boy was surprised, but maintained a smile that revealed his white teeth. âCanât you tell that Iâm wooing you?â
My chest constricted. Maybe I thought his smile was too annoying, but I quickly turned my head and said, âMy mother doesnât allow me to date at my age.â
âYouâre already so old. Does your mother still watch over you?â
I ignored him and reached for my bag.
Su Qi dodged me again and said, âIâll take you home.â
âNo!â
âYes!â
âNo!â
âYes!â Su Qi threatened. âOtherwise, Iâll tell the girls in your class that you like me!â
âWhoever likes you!?â
âYou!â
I didnât know that he was such a scoundrel, but I was really afraid that heâd do what he said so, I had no choice but reply, âYou may send me as far as the bridge, and not right to my door!â
âAlright.â
âReturn my bag to me then!â
Su Qi did not persist and returned my school bag to me. I took it, carried it on my back, and immediately ran in the direction of home.
âHey! Yin Xiachun!â
He realized heâd been tricked by me and shouted angrily behind me.
I ran without turning back, as if running from some sort of beast. I ran with all my might until I reached the bridge. I looked back and saw that I had shaken him off. Then, I stopped running. I panted heavily as I walked home.
I thought he would just give up after this.
To my surprise, he turned out to be more persistent than I had thought.
Unexpectedly, I saw him again the next day, the moment I walked out of the classroom after class was released.
He was sitting on a bicycle. When he saw me, he got off the bicycle and pushed the bicycle towards me. He snorted coldly, âLittle trickster!â
I looked at him guiltily and lowered my head. I couldnât help but suspect if he had ridden his bicycle today so that it would be easy to keep up with me?!
âStop following me! Iâm going home!â
I turned and walked away.
He caught up with me and tugged on my sleeve. âDonât. Itâs still early. Iâll treat you to some fun.â
âI donât want to! My mother will be worried if I donât go home!â
âUsing your mother as an excuse again!â
He pulled on the strap of my bag and smiled. âLetâs go. Iâll take you to a fun place!â
I saw that I couldnât get away this time, so I got onto the bicycle.
I thought, given his persistence, he would surely follow me all the way to my doorstep.
Sitting in the back of his bicycle, I fretted over how I was going to get rid of this pest of a guy. When I snapped back to my senses, I found the bike parked in a posh-looking place.
There were a few young students standing at the door. Two of them looked like unemployed youths. When they saw Su Qi, they greeted him respectfully, âBrother Su Qi, youâre here!â
âSkating rink!?â
I stared at the lit sign, startled.
Su Qi asked me, âEver tried ice skating?â
I shook my head.
For me, places like the skating rinks, Internet cafes, and K singing room were all bad places. Be it parents or teachers, they all told us that we were not to go to these places!
I wouldnât consider myself an obedient child, but I had always stayed far away from these places. Thus, I was especially resistant to entering such places.