Summer Green Apples

Back in No. 2 Middle School, Ji Xiwen was the class's study committee member. She often helped the teacher with chores and was very familiar with the names of her classmates.

She had always known that such a person existed.

But the name and face don't match.

Until the end of the first semester of her first year of high school, she came out of the girls' restroom and a boy ran past her with a red face. Because he was going too fast, he bumped her into the wall.

The boy didn't even apologize, glanced at her, and quickly ran away again.

Two burly men came out of the men's restroom with their arms around each other's shoulders, and they smelled strongly of cigarettes.

"Class monitor, don't worry, we'll help you get revenge," one of the boys said with a grin.

"No, no need."

Ji Xiwen straightened her clothes and returned to the classroom.

From that day on, she often heard the name Shen Jundao.

He had very fair skin, which made him stand out among the generally dark-skinned boys. He was also short and looked easy to bully.

I heard he was the bullied student in their dorm.

Every evening after self-study, when the other seven students in the dormitory returned, he had to stand at the door to greet them.

If one person punches him twice, he won't have to sleep in the toilet tonight.

He always had many marks on his body from being beaten.

Until the following semester, the homeroom teacher changed their seats to sit in front of and behind each other.

Ji Xiwen's attitude towards him was no different from that towards others.

But one day, after the morning exercises, Ji Xiwen was sweating profusely. When she returned to the classroom and was about to go to the corridor to get water with her deskmate, she found that her cup was already full.

She asked the people around her in confusion.

Shen Jun hid half his face behind the book stand, blushing, and said shyly, "Yes."

Ji Xiwen didn't know why he did this, and since the two of them had very little contact, she didn't think that this person liked her.

"Thank you, but you don't need to call for me anymore."

She made herself very clear.

But Shen Jundao seemed not to understand.

I often help her fetch water.

If her cup gets empty, or even just a little bit empty, this person will refill it for her if she's not paying attention.

At first, it was just fetching water, but later it turned into helping her take out the trash, wipe the blackboard, do chores, and carry homework.

As time went on, Ji Xiwen felt increasingly uneasy about his conscience.

She handed Shen Jundao a small note, asking him what he really wanted to do.

He said: I just want to be your friend. I don't have any friends and I don't know how to make friends.

This sentence was followed by a crying face.

Ji Xiwen replied: We can make friends, but you don't need to do these things for me anymore.

He replied with an "okay".

Just as Ji Xiwen breathed a sigh of relief, he relapsed into his old ways the next day.

Until the evening study session after the midterm exams.

She was checking the answers when the crisp sound of high heels echoed from outside the corridor.

She thought it was a teacher and didn't pay much attention.

Until someone grabbed his hair and slapped him hard across the face.

The whole class erupted in uproar.

Ji Xiwen was completely stunned by the blow.

The woman looked unfamiliar; she had tattooed eyebrows, wore bright red lipstick, and her expression was one of disgust.

"So it was you, you little slut, who seduced my son, wasn't you? You're quite good-looking, no wonder you're so horny..."

Various vulgar and obscene language.

Ji Xiwen barely managed to remain calm. "Auntie, are you sure you haven't made a mistake?"

"Do you think you can get away with it just by denying it?"

The woman sneered, "I am Shen Jundao's mother. I have read all your chat logs with him."

"My conversations with him were just like those between ordinary classmates," Ji Xiwen tried to explain.

She rarely uses her phone on weekends, and she talks to Shen Jundao even less.

He was basically the one asking about homework or problems.

She thought there was a misunderstanding.

Unexpectedly, Shen Jundao stood up abruptly, "Mom, don't blame her, it was my initiative."

The students were initially shocked, but then began to discuss it enthusiastically.

Some boys even chimed in, "Oh, so they're dating early."

"Class monitor, your taste isn't very good."

"So many people like you, why did you fall for this short guy?"

"No wonder this short guy always helps you fetch water and runs around doing things for you, hahaha, so you're his girlfriend, hahaha."

"This pretty boy is quite the ladies' man."

Various sounds and laughter filled the surroundings.

For the first time, Ji Xiwen experienced what it meant to have a mouth but be unable to explain oneself.

She looked at Shen Jundao, completely bewildered, and asked, "What are you talking about?"

The next second, Shen Jundao knelt down in front of her with red eyes.

Ji Xiwen's breath suddenly stopped, her pupils contracted, and her lips parted slightly, but she couldn't utter a word.