67 Chapter 67: Zhao Jinmai 1

Elite High School

As sunlight flooded into Elite Highschool, students poured in, their excitement tangible. Armed with cleaning supplies, they darted around like characters from Left for Dead. Amidst the cheers and laughter, they turned cleaning into a competition, each striving to be the fastest, infusing the school with contagious energy and unstoppable momentum.

One of the busiest classes today was Lin Miaomiao's, as their seats weren't being replaced. All students were busy wiping down their classroom.

Lin Miaomiao was currently wiping the windows of their classroom, while Ye Bai was tasked with supervising their classmates who were cleaning because he was the Top Scorer and this was one of his benefits.

Lin Miaomiao glared at Ye Bai. "If it used to be Qian Sanyi, now it's you," she said, a hint of annoyance in her voice.

"Sorry, Miaomiao, this task was given to me," Ye Bai said, sounding somewhat melancholic.

Rolling her eyes at Ye Bai's response, Lin Miaomiao feigned weakness. "Aren't you concerned about me? I'm doing so much, and it's exhausting," she said, hoping Ye Bai would offer to help.

Ye Bai furrowed his eyebrows and nodded. "That's true, I don't want to see you struggling."

"Really?" Lin Miaomiao's mood brightened, and she handed the rag to Ye Bai. "Here's the rag, Ye Bai. Where are you going?" she asked as Ye Bai headed out of the classroom.

Ye Bai looked back in confusion. "Why did you give me the rag? I told you I don't want to see you struggling, so I'm going out to avoid seeing you struggle," he said, before quickly running off.

"Ye Bai!" Lin Miaomiao yelled, stomping her foot in frustration.

Deng Xiaoqi, standing nearby, couldn't help but chuckle at their banter. "I don't want to see you struggling either, Miaomiao," Xiaoqi said, turning away with a laugh.

Unable to take out her frustration on Ye Bai, Lin Miaomiao turned to Xiaoqi and quickly began tickling her, releasing her pent-up irritation towards Ye Bai.

...

Principal Xie watched the energetic students running around the school grounds through his office window. Seeing them cleaning, playing, and laughing brought a smile to his old face.

Zhang Rongbao walked beside Principal Xie and couldn't help but ask, "Principal, what are you looking at?"

Principal Xie smiled, "The happiest thing for educators like us is being able to be with children. Looking at them takes me back to the time when I was full of energy," reminiscing why he chose to become a teacher.

Zhang Rongbao nodded, his gaze flitting back to the window where the students continued their lively antics. "Indeed, it's as if the school has come alive once more with the start of the new term," he mused.

Tang Yuanming couldn't resist chiming in with a playful remark. "While we wait for spring to work its magic, the energy of these young ones is like wildflowers in a neglected garden—unstoppable and untamed," he said

"That's why teachers like us are called gardeners," Principal Xie responded as he walked to the center seat. "We have to take great pains to trim them," he finished as he sat down.

Tian Shanshan, who was busy writing, couldn't help but chime in, "Do you know why teachers like us have two vacations every year? They're used to heal us. If there were no vacations, teachers would go crazy."

The teachers around the table couldn't help but laugh; they all related to what she said.

"So why does a new term begin after taking a vacation?" Tang Yuanming asked curiously.

Tian Shanshan paused, setting her pen aside as she met Tang Yuanming's gaze. "Because teachers have already recharged their batteries. And if the new term didn't begin, the parents of the students would go crazy," she explained, her words met with laughter and nods of agreement.

Zhang Rongbao, ever the astute observer, summarized their conversation with a hint of amusement. "You mean teachers take a vacation before they go crazy, and a new term begins to save the parents of the students from going crazy."

Principal Xie shook his head listening to the teachers, especially noticing their lack of energy today. It was like they didn't have energy or were just going through the motions. "Ayy, do you think this is a group crosstalk? They just finished, where is your energy that has been supplemented?"

"Saved to use it later. I have to conserve it for students for several months," Tian Shanshan answered.

"Okay, let's stop it. Let's start the meeting," Principal Xie decided.

...

•••••

Zhao Jinmai visited Ye Bai's comatose body in the hospital, gazing at his peaceful sleeping figure. She reminiscing the first time they met.

*****

Zhao Jinmai had just finished school and was on her way home. Occasionally, mothers passing by would glance at her, her face familiar from her recent appearance as an actress in a show.

As she walked, she noticed a child who seemed disoriented, with blood trickling from his head. Approaching him, Jinmai recognized him immediately as the son of their neighbor, Auntie Wu. She remembered Auntie Wu because she had praised her when her show aired. Despite having a small role, her acting skills in her part were undeniable.

Approaching the child, she asked, "Brother, are you alright?" But the child just stared at her, looking puzzled. Jinmai looked into the child's eyes, as if communicating with him. The child touched his head, saying, "Huh?"

Feeling a bit flustered by the situation, Jinmai reached out and took the child's hand, guiding him towards Auntie Wu's house.

They continued walking until they reached Auntie Wu's house. Jinmai knocked on the door, calling out, "Auntie Wu, Auntie Wu!"

Auntie Wu quickly opened the door, recognizing Jinmai's voice and growing worried at the urgency in it. "What's wrong, Jinmai?" She suddenly noticed her son, his head bleeding.

She quickly knelt down and held her child. "Oh, Ye Bai, what happened to you?" Wu Qian asked anxiously, her concern evident.

She noticed her son just staring at her, which heightened her worry. She quickly called for a vehicle to take her child to the hospital.

Meanwhile, Jinmai watched everything unfold. She looked at her hands, still stained with blood, so she hurried home to wash them.

...

Word quickly spread in their neighborhood about the change in Wu Qian's son after the accident at the playground. Some said he had developed mental issues since hitting his head. Others claimed he suffered from amnesia.

Jinmai heard about this and couldn't help but be curious about what really happened.

So, whenever she passed by Auntie Wu's house, she couldn't resist asking about Ye Bai's condition.

Wu Qian would then glance at her son, who would be sitting on the sofa reading a book. She couldn't tell whether she was happy or not, as he seemed more focused on reading now, unlike before when he was always engrossed in computer games.

"Do you want me to introduce you?" Wu Qian asked Jinmai.

Jinmai nodded, and Wu Qian led her over to the sofa where Ye Bai was reading a book.

"Ye Bai, do you know her?" Wu Qian asked her son. "She's Zhao Jinmai, the girl who brought you home."

Ye Bai looked up and glanced at Zhao Jinmai. "Thank you for bringing me here."

Zhao Jinmai sat next to Ye Bai and peeked at the book he was reading. "What are you reading?"

"Journey to the West," Ye Bai answered nonchalantly.

"I'm reading that too. My favorite part is when he faces his doppelganger," Lin Miaomiao replied.

This brought a smile to Ye Bai's face. "Yes, that's my favorite part too. Especially when he outwits his doppelganger."

Wu Qian, who was watching their conversation, smiled. It seemed that her old Ye Bai was slowly returning.

Zhao Jinmai enjoyed accompanying Ye Bai because she found a friend, unlike in the classroom where her friends were too childish. The teacher had remarked that she had a more mature mindset than her peers. So, having someone she could relate to brought her immense joy. "I'll come back here, and we can chat again."

Ye Bai just nodded in response to Zhao Jinmai's suggestion.

With a wave goodbye, Zhao Jinmai ran out of the house.

...

Liu Mei glanced at her daughter, who was hurriedly changing into casual clothes. "Maimai, why are you in such a rush? Where are you off to?" she asked curiously.

"I'm just going to Auntie Wu's place," Zhao Jinmai replied to her mother.

Liu Mei nodded. "Don't stray too far, and have you read the script they sent you?" she reminded her daughter.

Zhao Jinmai nodded. "Yes, Mom, I've read it. Anyway, I'm off." And with that, she dashed off quickly.

It had been a year since the bloody meet up with Ye Bai, and they had grown close, treating each other like siblings. Now and then, she would hang out at Ye Bai's house to chat or play video games.

Entering the house, Zhao Jinmai greeted Auntie Wu with a warm smile.

"Hello, Maimai," Auntie Wu said, "Ye Bai is on the rooftop with his father."

Quickly, Maimai dashed up to the rooftop. At the top, she spotted Ye Bai and his father, Ye Feng, engrossed in a game of checkers.

The two glanced up as they noticed Maimai's arrival. "Hey, Maimai," Ye Feng greeted.

"Hello, Uncle," Maimai replied, then she moved to the side to watch who was winning.

She couldn't help but notice Ye Bai's struggling game. With a mischievous grin, she chimed in, "Ye Bai, need some help? Looks like you're on the losing side!"

Ye Bai shot her a playful glare. "I'm just giving Dad a chance to win for once," he retorted, earning a chuckle from Ye Feng.

Maimai rolled her eyes playfully. "Sure, sure. Let me show you how it's done then!" she declared, reaching over to make a move.

As Maimai attempted to teach Ye Bai, their game only seemed to deteriorate further, much to the amusement of Ye Feng. Looking at Maimai's move, Ye Bai just shook his head in disappointment. "What do you call that move?"

Lin Miaomiao moved to Ye Bai and whispered, "'Make a sound in the east, then strike in the west.' We need some sacrifice. I'll let him take our pawn, and I will take—" she didn't finish her words before Ye Feng ate three of her pawns.

Ye Bai chuckled mockingly. "What a great move," he gave her a thumbs-up. "Well played."

Maimai didn't expect that her pawns could be taken so easily. She smiled awkwardly, but her eyes lit up as she noticed she could eat a pawn on Ye Feng's side. "Look, I took his pawn," she exclaimed excitedly to Ye Bai.

Ye Bai's expression turned sour. "You gave up three pawns for a single piece. 'Defeat the enemy by capturing their chief'—is that their leader?" he teased, chuckling.

"Y-you, you," Maimai stammered, unsure of how to respond.

Ye Feng smiled and made another move, eating another of Maimai's pawns.

Ye Bai laughed. "I think that pawn is a beautiful woman. That's a 'beauty trap' strategy, right, Maimai?" he teased further.

Maimai pouted and didn't say anything.

Ye Bai then made a move, sacrificing one of his pawns. Ye Feng furrowed his eyebrows, observing his son's move, and then shook his head before eating the pawn.

Ye Bai was now about to eat two pieces and make a king, but he suddenly noticed Maimai's quietness. He smiled and whispered to her, pointing to the pieces.

Maimai raised her head, listening attentively, and her eyes lit up. She took the two pawns and happily showed them to Ye Bai, giggling. As Ye Bai got a king, Maimai just moved it back and forth.

Ye Bai and Ye Feng smiled. Amidst the laughter and banter, it became evident that their rooftop checkers session was turning into an entertaining scene, with each move bringing about more laughter and friendly teasing.

*****

She reached out and gently brushed his head with her hand, her voice soft as she spoke to him, willing him to wake up.

"Ye Bai, it's me, Maimai," she whispered, her eyes filled with hope and concern. "You've been sleeping for so long now. It's time to wake up, Ye Bai. We miss you. Your family misses you. Please, come back to us."

She continued to talk to him, pouring out her thoughts and feelings, hoping that somehow her words would reach him and bring him back to consciousness.

"Ye Bai, I have something to tell you," she murmured, her voice trembling slightly. "Tomorrow, I'll be filming my first kissing scene for 'Youth Pi' season 2. I'm a little nervous, but I know it's part of being an actress."

Zhao Jinmai leaned closer to Ye Bai's face, her heart heavy with emotion. She spoke softly to him, sharing her innermost thoughts.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and a single drop fell onto Ye Bai's face. With a shaky breath, she leaned in and pressed her lips gently against his, her touch tender and hesitant.

"This is my first kiss," she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper.

With a lingering moment of closeness, she pulled away, she move away and took her bag and goes out of the room.

•••••