Chapter 457 — Wasted Effort

Feng Xiaoxiao's gaze left Wei Zhao somewhat uncomfortable, and Tang Zhi felt even more awkward. What was this, really? Wei Zhao was her boyfriend, and now here sat another admirer, staring at him just like that! How was she supposed to eat in peace?

"Feng Xiaoxiao, aren't you going to eat?" Tang Zhi finally could not hold back and asked. She could hardly drive the girl away, but neither could she let her stare at Wei Zhao endlessly like this, could she?

"No. Watching Wei Zhao eat makes me happier than eating myself!" Feng Xiaoxiao murmured.

"You..." Tang Zhi was choked speechless by Feng Xiaoxiao.

With great difficulty, they endured that awkward stretch of time in the cafeteria, and Wei Zhao pulled Tang Zhi out of the dining hall.

"Could you please not let her tag along next time?" Tang Zhi could not help saying to Wei Zhao. "With her beside us, I feel strange—I can't even get my food down."

"You think I want her following us?" Wei Zhao smiled bitterly.

Tang Zhi pouted, rather displeased, yet there was nothing she could do. She wanted to say something, but feared Wei Zhao would think her petty. She was secretly vexed with herself—how had she come to fret over every gain and loss? Where had her old courage gone?

Before, she could mock Wei Zhao without the slightest restraint, even go so far as to step on his foot. But now she had to think everything over before she acted. Was she truly afraid that Feng Xiaoxiao would come and snatch Wei Zhao from her?

What am I thinking? Tang Zhi blushed and silently scolded herself, determined to put such muddled thoughts aside. Only a few months remained before the college entrance exams, but what with the troubles at home and the business with Wei Zhao, Tang Zhi had only just finished reviewing the second-year material; the third-year coursework still awaited her, and if she did not hurry, there would be no time.

She hurried back to the classroom, pulled out the third-year textbooks, and began to read, flinging all those tangled thoughts to one side.

When Feng Xiaoxiao returned to the classroom, she bought Wei Zhao another bottle of drink. "Wei Zhao, this is a newly launched fruit tea—it looks like it tastes really good. I bought two bottles; why don't you try it?"

"Feng Xiaoxiao, what exactly are you thinking?" Wei Zhao took the drink she handed him but did not drink it; he set it aside.

"Nothing much. I just want to be able to stay by your side, that's all!" Feng Xiaoxiao said earnestly. "I won't tease you anymore, don't worry." Hearing her hazy, insubstantial words, Wei Zhao knew that further talk would be wasted breath. He simply ignored her.

At first, Wei Zhao had assumed that Feng Xiaoxiao's interest was merely a passing whim—that if he paid her no attention and gave her plan no room to advance, the girl would soon grow bored and retreat before the difficulty. But to his surprise, for several days running Feng Xiaoxiao maintained a single posture: wherever Wei Zhao went, she followed.

When Wei Zhao went to the restroom, she waited at the door. When Wei Zhao went to find Tang Zhi, she trailed along beside him. Tang Zhi was on the verge of grinding her teeth, and in her heart she grew all the more suspicious of Feng Xiaoxiao's motives.

Zhong Yongliang had actually managed to find a private seaplane through the seaside bathing resort club in Colorful City. The cost was steep—tens of thousands of yuan in charter fees for a single flight—but to Zhong Yongliang such money was nothing much, and it was far cheaper than buying a plane outright, was it not? Besides, if it would please Gu Mengyao, he did not mind spending a little extra.

The plane was not large, but it could seat the more than forty students of the whole class with room to spare, so Zhong Yongliang did not bother to arrange for a bus as well. One person cost the same as forty anyway—the charter fee was fixed.

When Zhong Yongliang announced that he would take everyone to the seaside resort by private plane, the classmates erupted once again.

"However, when you bring personal items, be careful—no flammable or explosive materials," Teacher Liu began reading out the aircraft security regulations.

Though the security procedures for a private plane were not as strict as ordinary screening, certain basic dangerous goods still could not be brought aboard, and to avoid trouble, Teacher Liu had no choice but to warn everyone in advance.

Most of the students would not be carrying anything dangerous anyway, so after hearing Teacher Liu's list once, they felt it had nothing to do with them and paid it little mind. Zhong Yongliang, however, was going to have to change some of his plans.

Originally he had intended to bring a barbecue grill and some charcoal to the seaside for an open-air cookout, but since no ignition sources were permitted on the plane, Zhong Yongliang could not bring those things either.

"Little Fu, looks like the barbecue plan will have to be shelved. And Gu Mengyao and the others still want to grill shark meat—how are we supposed to manage that for them?" Zhong Yongliang asked.

"Brother Liang, I hear there are these new solar-powered grills on the market now. Why don't we buy a solar one?" Gao Xiaofu suggested. "They don't seem expensive either—just a few hundred yuan."

"Is that so? That's not bad, then. Go buy one—I'll leave the matter to you!" Zhong Yongliang's heart settled the moment he heard Gao Xiaofu's words.

Early Saturday morning, Zhong Yongliang and Gao Xiaofu arrived at the school laden with bags large and small. They had arranged beforehand to meet at the school gate, and from there the whole class would take a coach to the airport together.

Zhong Yongliang had originally meant to drive, but reflecting that both Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu would be on the coach, he decided it would not do to make an exception of himself. So upon reaching the school he sent his father's driver back and waited with his classmates for the coach.

Feng Xiaoxiao wore sunglasses and a sun hat and carried a small backpack, the very picture of a young traveler—petite, pretty, and adorable—and drew no small number of glances. In the past, the boys of the class had focused most of their attention on Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu; now that Feng Xiaoxiao had joined them, however, some of that attention was diverted her way.

Feng Xiaoxiao stood right beside Wei Zhao, filling the crowd with envy and jealousy alike—and yet Wei Zhao looked utterly indifferent, so that every one of those boys felt an urge to step up and take his place.

"Wei Zhao, I brought loads of snacks!" Feng Xiaoxiao turned her head toward him, her little face flushed pink with excited delight.

"Oh..." Wei Zhao answered flatly, neither warm nor cold.

"I can't swim. When we get there, will you teach me?" This time Feng Xiaoxiao was not fibbing to Wei Zhao—she truly could not swim much at all, a regular landlocked duck.

"Oh, is that so?" Wei Zhao said mildly. "Neither can I."

"You—" Feng Xiaoxiao was thoroughly exasperated. Whatever she said, Wei Zhao always wore that same air of not caring in the least! Blind! she fumed inwardly. She had dressed with great care just to make Wei Zhao notice her more, and yet he seemed not even to have glanced at her once! What a waste of effort!