274 Senior Year (six)
“Stop, ” Han Zixin said and An Xiulan stopped dancing to look at him. She was dripping with sweat, her face was red and her body was aching.
“What?” She asked, gasping for breath.
“You look thin, ” Han Zixin said.
“Really?” An Xiulan said as she looked at the mirror wall. “I’m not following any diet plans.”
“Do you even need a diet plan?” Han Zixin scoffed. “You are running from one place to another every day and still have the cheek to think about a diet plan.”
“I’m fine, ” An Xiulan tsked. “Little hard work won’t kill me.”
“Little blockhead, look at eye bags under your eyes. When was the last time you slept for more than six hours?” Han Zixin questioned her. “Mr Yun is a bloodsucking vampire, not a teacher. You wake up at 4 am each morning to practice until 7 am. You have classes all day, self-studying sessions and you don’t even rest on weekends.”
“What options do I have?” An Xiulan questioned him. “Tell me. What options do I have? You know I have walked half the journey and now I can’t go back. College entrance test is in 6 months and so is the Miss China contest that will change my life. I can feel it in my bones that the contest will change my life. You know what? I only have two dreams that I see with my eyes opened and closed: Participating in that contest and getting into university. I don’t want to be called uneducated and illiterate. I want to achieve something. I will not let this life go to waste.”
“An Xiulan, you are barely recognisable, ” Han Zixin whispered. “Look into the mirror, I can’t see my carefree best friend anymore.”
“Senior year is hard, ” An Xiulan told him. “It’s not just me, even Shen Yue lost weight due to stress. I’m taking care of my health. Don’t worry, I am not over-exhausting myself. I will make all of you proud.”
“Come on, dance with me, ” An Xiulan held his hand and pulled him up. “It will be fun.”
“Nah, ” Han Zixin refused.
“Come on, Zixin, ” An Xiulan insisted. She played a soft melody and he reluctantly stood up. He placed one hand on her shoulder and they began dancing to the beats. “You are my favourite dancing partner.”
“Who else have you danced with except me?” Han Zixin questioned.
“Uncle, dad and my brothers, ” An Xiulan replied.
Han Zixin stared at her small face and a smile tugged on her lips. “Then, I hope that this list won’t increase.”
“Hah, you wish, ” An Xiulan rolled her eyes. “You know how many people want to dance with me?”
“They all are terrible dancers, ” Han Zixin muttered.
“How do you know?” She questioned him.
“I just know, ” He smiled at her and twirled her. She fell in his arms and laughed. Soon, while dancing, they began laughing at each other.
“Jiejie picture!” Lu Xun appeared with his instant camera and clicked the picture while they were laughing and dancing.
“Xiaobao, when do you come?” An Xiulan questioned.
“Jiejie, smile!” Lu Xun was having fun with his camera and he loved taking his Jiejie’s pictures.
Han Zixin approached the little devil and crouched on the ground extending his hand.
“No. No. No, ” Lu Xun puffed his face and hid his camera behind his back.
“Don’t you want your Jiejie’s picture?” Han Zixin questioned him.
Lu Xun huffed and puffed but gave him his camera.
Han Zixin printed the pictures and took their pictures together and gave her solo one to the sister worshiper.
“Jiejie, he is bad, ” Lu Xun complained pitifully.
“Han Zixin, do not scare away my little boy!”
Lu Xun stuck his tongue at the bad boy and held his big sister’s hand.
“Xiaobao, who do you come with?” An Xiulan asked her brother softly.
“With driver uncle, ” Lu Xuan proudly said. “Jiejie, mommy was sleeping. I cried and cried and cried. She woke up. I told her if she doesn’t send me to Jiejie I will cry more.”
“Oh my god, that’s a bad habit, ” An Xiulan said, horrified.
“I know, Jiejie, but I miss you so much, ” Lu Xuan said as tears formed in his eyes. He hugged her and added, “Jiejie, please come to meet Xiaobao daily and call Xiaobao ten times a day.”
An Xiulan kisses his cheek. “My poor brother.”
When she tightly hugged him, the tears from the boy’s eyes quickly disappeared and he harrumphed at Han Zixin who was left gaping at the little chameleon.
What a bastr…
Ugh, he wouldn’t dirty himself by cursing at a small child. But what a jerk this boy would be in the future….
“Jiejie, kiss, ” Lu Xun pointed at his cheek, provoking someone.
Kiss. Kiss.
Han Zixin stomped on the ground as if he was throwing a tantrum.
“Xiulan?”
“Coming mom!” An Xiulan yelled. She looked at the boys and said, “Let’s go downstairs.”
In the living room, the family was sitting on the couch watching An Xiulan and Lu Xun playing with each other.
“Chubby, didn’t you miss me?” Lu Xuan poked his finger at the chubby guy’s cheeks.
Lu Xun made a sad face and looked at An Qinyan and complained, “Yanyan, he is calling me chubby.”
“Ah Xuan, stop calling your brother chubby, ” An Qinyan scolded him.
“Hah, ” Lu Xuan looked at the boy and said, “If you can call my mom by name, why can’t I call you chubby?”
“Because….” Lu Xun opened his mouth to say. Then, he fell silent. He looked at An Qinyan and turned his gaze away.
“Cat caught your tongue now, ” Lu Xuan teased him.
“Because she is my wife, ” Lu Xun said and hid his adorable face in his chubby hands.
Gu Yanxi, who was lazily sipping on coconut water choked. He looked at the three-year-old kid and said in horror, “Oh, kid, get your own wife. Stop eyeing mine.”
Lu Xun pouted at looked at his sister for support. “Jiejie, he is scolding me.”
“Uncle Yanxi, please don’t scold Xiaobao, ” An Xiulan said and the good boy smiled widely at her.
“Such a player, ” Han Zixin muttered under his breath as he saw the three years old kid wrapping his little blockhead around his pinky finger.