Once We Come Across Love / Exclusive fairytale

Chapter 16

The reason why high school is called high school is not only because the students are older, but the classes are also tougher. Except for Jia Siwen and Jiang Juan, all the students devoted themselves to their studies when they returned from winter vacation. Xiao Tu couldn't help but join the studious atmosphere and work hard.

In her previous school she spent most of her time practicing martial arts. Now she has mostly given it up for her academic career. It's true that high school is more challenging and so she must study more but it's also because of Ouyang Mei. She is the star athlete of the team, and nobody cares that Xiao Tu is also pretty good. It's not exactly great to ignored, but it also means no one notices if she skips practice. And Xiao Tu does skip practice. Ever since that one competition when she was beaten so badly by Ouyang she's been mat shy. Her performance anxiety outweighs the knowledge that she's disappointing her parents and teachers.

Unfortunately, Xiao Tu is not clever like Ling Chao. Despite her hard work she doesn't always do well in her studies. Math and Chemistry are particularly frustrating for her. It just so happens that she's really annoyed by a chemistry problem when Yin Zihan walks by. "Hey," she stops him to ask for help.

"ummm, I am going to play basketball." He offered lamely.

"Didn't' you just have P.E.?" Xiao Tu was confused. She didn't realize that Yin Zihan was trying to avoid her.

"Well, ummmm, there's a team practice. I will go back for that." Yin Zihan's eyes couldn't meet hers.

"Wait, isn't the basketball practice already over?" Jiang Juan suddenly interrupted their conversation from across the classroom. Now everyone is paying attention. Yin Zihan blushes, he knows he's been caught and doesn't know how to escape. Strangely it was Xiao Tu who rescued him.

"I heard Ling Chao say that the basketball team has an important game coming up. The practice sessions will be longer."

"Really?" Jian Juan glanced suspiciously at Yin Zihan, but held her peace.

"Xiao Tu, I ..." Yin Zihan began but he didn't know how to proceed.

Xiao Tu smiled to usher him out, "Don't waste time. Go to practice. The game is important!"

"Then about your question..."

"It doesn't matter. Just lend me your notes and I'll figure it out."

"Okay... then if you have any questions you can ask me tomorrow." Yin Zihan grimaced uncomfortably and ran away stupidly.

Xiao Xiaotu was completely oblivious to his awkward behavior. She just took the papers on his desk and started to study chemistry questions.

While Xiao Tu has been struggling through three hundred rounds of chemistry problems, Yin Zihan has also been wrestling his inner turmoil. It's been a fierce battle too. He feels so much angst about the time he called Xiao Tu during winter vacation and Ling Chao interfered by hanging up. Why was Ling Chao at her house so late? What were they doing together? Are they really in some sort of legendary relationship? It's none of his business, but why does her care so much? When he returned to school after winter vacation he had decided the best policy would be to avoid Xiao Tu, except that she's always around.

Later that night Yin Ziahn couldn't fall asleep. He's reliving the embarrassing moment from class when he tried avoiding Xioa Tu and failed. Instead he fumbled through lame excuses and still got tangled up with her again. In his heart he know that this feeling is the same heartbreak he felt when he secretly loved the class flower. It's so hopeless that he can't stop a few tears from trickling down his cheeks.

The next day Yin Zihan deliberately approached Xiao Tu.

"Xiao Tu, how was your chemistry study yesterday?" He asked.