Evanescent Dreams

17. Cherry blossoms, warmth, and you

I will figure everything out.

Lin Xingren buried her face into her hands that lay on her desk. 

These evanescent dreams. 

Lin Xingren groaned at herself with utter embarrassment as she recalled again and again the unanticipated words she said to Liu Gujing the day before. 

Am I insane? Do you even understand your own words, Lin Xingren!

She squeezed her hands from banging the table. 

Behind Lin Xingren, Chen Siyun was quietly taking notes.

 Since her secret was exposed, Weng Bai took the role of frightening every classmate he saw that was gossiping or making fun of Chen Siyun with emotionless smiles. Because of his slightly intimidating smile, people did not openly discuss the topic anymore. 

Lin Xingren lightly slapped herself and, as though awoken by her own slap, raised her head and stared at the front. Ye Zhen was solving a maths question on the board at the front of the room. He sensed her stare and gazed back. She looked away after thinking he winked at her, but he was only squinting his eyes from the warm rays that reflected on his pale skin.

You're important to me. I wish we could be friends.

Memories of the heartfelt conversation from a few nights ago suddenly snuck in Lin Xingren's mind. 

After that night at the playground,  Lin Xingren had decided to continue the oddly secretive relationship with Ye Zhen. She hesitated in sharing her true feelings, but she would act as of she was Sunflower Fruit, and he would listen, then pretend to forget. She never tried such a thing before, and didn't know what consequences, what twisted fate that  would be ensue, but she was fighting the eager to make a change, to figure something out...Could this realization she was seeking for be the reason why she had bewilderingly declared those promises to Liu Gujing yesterday? Was she trying to break a cage, or strengthen a cage, or does it have anything to do with a cage at all?

Gosh, I've really been up to a lot these days. I hope I don't explode. 

Just then, a paper slip slid onto her desk. She turned to see Ye Zhen walking back to his seat. One side of his mouth twitched up as he sat back down.

Lin Xingren unfolded the note. Meet at school gate after school?

No.

But she still went. 

---

"Hey!" Weng Bai waved his hands enthusiastically. 

He was wearing a fluffy orange sweater vest outside his white school shirt, and looked exactly like a teenager who grew up only physically but not mentally. 

Lin Xingren frowned as she saw Weng Bai standing next to Ye Zhen at the school gate. She didn't know why, but she couldn't control it. 

"Hi, Weng Bai," she smiled awkwardly.

Ye Zhen was also obviously annoyed by Weng Bai's sudden appearance. He made a face to Lin Xingren to express that he also did not know why Weng Bai was here. 

"Siyun!" Weng Bai called out to Chen Siyun who just came out of the school building and was walking towards them. 

"Why didn't you wait for her?" he asked Lin Xingren. 

"Ah..." Lin Xingren exchanged glances with Ye Zhen. Weng Bai obviously didn't know they wanted alone time. 

"Since we're all here, " he lowered his voice to Lin Xingren and Ye Zhen, "shall we give Chen Siyun a surprise to raise her mood?"