chapter 12
Chapter 12
On May 1st, Labor Day, both Cheng Yubai and I had three days off.
On the first day of the holiday, while we were having breakfast, Cheng Yubai suddenly looked at me and said, “Manman, you seem to have grown taller.”
“Huh?”
The porridge was hot, and I was blowing on it as I held the bowl. Hearing this, I looked up at him, surprised and delighted. “…Really? I’ve actually grown taller?”
I lost all interest in cooling my porridge.
At my urging, Cheng Yubai found a tape measure and immediately measured my height.
He glanced at the scale: “One meter fifty-one… point six.”
“Rounded up, that’s one meter fifty-two.”
Suddenly it all made sense. “No wonder my pants have felt short lately-I’ve grown this much.”
Cheng Yubai patted my head. “I’ll take you shopping for new clothes this afternoon.”
What? I get to buy new clothes again?
I cheered, “Yay!”
Time slipped away from the hems of my too-short pants, and in a flash, it was June.
The exams arrived as scheduled.
The first was Chinese. I felt a bit nervous when writing my name, but soon realized the questions weren’t that hard-at least, they were easier than the ones Cheng Yubai had given me.
My confidence soared, my nerves calmed, and my writing became smoother and smoother.
I didn’t feel nervous again for the rest of the day.
After the English exam, I capped my pen, packed my water bottle, and walked calmly out of the exam room.
Dad was already waiting outside the school gate.
When he saw me, he took my water bottle, never mentioning the exam, just kept asking what I wanted to eat or play, afraid I’d feel pressured.
I hopped along beside him all the way home, in a fantastic mood.
After that, I had only one thing to do: wait.
Finally, after lying around at home for more than half a month, the results for the primary-to-middle school entrance exam came out. Dad and Cheng Yubai accompanied me to school, and my hunch was right-my name was indeed on the admission list for No. 1 Middle School.
But while I got into No. 1 Middle School, Guan Qi went to No. 2 Middle School.
Even though we only became deskmates in the last year, there was no doubt we were the best meal buddies.
I sighed, full of reluctance.
She, on the other hand, was calm, even comforting me: “It’s not like we won’t see each other again. Why are you so down?”
I pouted, “Without my meal buddy, food just doesn’t taste as good.”
Guan Qi mused, “That’s true. At No. 2 Middle School, I’ll have my grandparents as meal buddies, but you’ll be on your own… Why don’t you eat with my uncle and future aunt at No. 1 Middle School? I’ll put in a word for you-it’ll definitely work!”
“Please don’t!”
A chill ran down my spine, and I quickly declined, “Eating with teachers from school-I’d be too scared to even pick up a dish.”
Guan Qi was about to say more, but was interrupted by a voice from outside the door.
“Manman!”
It was Cheng Yubai, who couldn’t help but call out when he saw I hadn’t come out yet.
I responded quickly, “Coming, coming, right away!”
Turning to see Guan Qi’s eyes shining, she said with feeling, “You always said your brother was good-looking, but I didn’t expect it to be true.”
Me: ?
So she thought I was bragging before?
Guan Qi nudged me with her elbow, thinking she’d come up with a brilliant idea: “Isn’t your brother at No. 1 Middle School? You can eat with him!”
Cheng Yubai was already walking into the classroom.
I forced a laugh, “You’re right, I do want to eat with him.”
As if.
Just as I finished speaking, Cheng Yubai walked up to us. In a simple white T-shirt and black pants, his height and long legs made him stand out in the crowd.
“Manman.”
He took my hand, his tone gentle, “It’s getting late, we need to go home.”
Cheng Yubai, for all his faults, has one redeeming quality-
When we’re out, he always gives me face. Even if I’ve really done something wrong, he’ll settle it behind closed doors, never letting others see me embarrassed.
I really appreciate that.
Reluctantly, I said goodbye to Guan Qi, and Dad took Cheng Yubai and me away from the school.
As I walked out the school gate, I didn’t realize it was my last time there. I thought I’d come back when I had time, with Guan Qi-but I never did, and I never saw Guan Qi again.
En County kept growing, and neither Guan Qi nor I expected that the goodbye we said that day would be our last.
It was also on that day that my beautiful childhood quietly ended, gently bidding me farewell. Before I even realized it, time softly and irresistibly pushed me to the next crossroads of my life.
Standing with my backpack at the gate of No. 1 Middle School, looking up at the tall plane trees, I suddenly felt a wave of melancholy.
There was always a voice in my heart, softly telling me-
She said, Manman-
You’re not a child anymore.