He Will Come Back Before Dawn

46

“Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way……”

A Christmas tree was placed in front of Sixth High School’s concession stand and Christmas songs were playing from the store. The Christmas tree was twinkling with colorful lights and Santa's socks, and Li Fangqun showed his disapproval. “We’re Chinese, what use is celebrating foreign festivals? What’s the point of making this all fancy? In our generation, this is called blind worship of foreign goods and ideas, you know?”

The classroom was bursting with laughter.

Li Fangqun also laughed. “However, it may also be that your teacher is old-fashioned. I’m old and do not understand you youngsters. Your English teacher is young and trendy, so she should like this kind of festival."

The so-called young and trendy English teacher: “...”

It was time for the first evening study session when Chen Feifei saw Bei Yao’s drawer with amazement. “My God, Yaoyao, how many Christmas cards have you received!”

Her voice wasn’t small, attracting many of her classmates’ attention. She covered her mouth and smiled.

Bei Yao said awkwardly, “Feifei, lower your voice.”

The thin Christmas cards were so many that they were piled up to the height of ten books. From freshmen to seniors, from boys to girls in this class, everyone liked Bei Yao so much that on a holiday like this, where cards could be sent openly, Bei Yao’s desk was filled almost to the point of overflowing.

Some of the cards were exquisitely made and were said to cost ten dollars a piece. They could also play music when opened, while others were three-dimensional.

Wu Mo cast a sidelong glance, and put the three cards she received into a book, feeling upset. Her three cards, compared to her's, were like a drop in the ocean.

Chen Feifei was both amazed and envious. "If only I could receive so many cards."

Bei Yao buried her head in writing a return card.

Courtesy demanded reciprocity. It was impossible to only receive from other people without any expression. After buying clothes for Bei Jun last time, the rest of her pocket money had been used on buying greeting cards. The ones she had bought were affordable, only one yuan each. Bei Yao would give all the cute girls a return card.

Although her cards were not expensive, every word was written with much thought, and everyone’s card was unique.

As for the boys’ cards, they must not be returned. It would become troublesome if she returned them. No matter who it was, the school was going to be full of gossip about the school flower’s love scandals tomorrow.

From the pile of cards, there was one from Fang Mingjun.

Fang Mingjun was in class 8. Her grades were pretty good.

This year, without the influence of Chang Xue, Fang Mingjun’s life was more peaceful and she was actually much happier. The discord between the teenagers had melted into the heavy snow.

One by one, Bei Yao wrote on all the greeting cards until a single card was left, which she was planning to give to Pei Chuan.

But the kiss last time had made the girl feel so shy that after writing everyone else’s, the card was still blank.

Today’s evening self-study session should’ve been led by the English teacher. Because the teacher had something to do at home, Li Fangqun as the homeroom teacher took one session, and the physics teacher took another session.

During the third period of evening study, the English class representative quietly announced, "The English teacher isn’t coming tonight, so let's have a Merry Christmas!"