I’ll Hold Your Hand And Promise You A Lifetime - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Being Approached By You Again (2)

Finally, the two of them managed to leave the house at 7:15 AM.
Yi Luo stared at Yue Xi with slight annoyance, but since they weren’t entirely used to each other’s living habits yet, she didn’t say much.

“I’ll get up earlier tomorrow,” Yue Xi said, adjusting the glasses on her nose, a little guilty.

“You said it,” Yi Luo turned her head. Her delicate features, the perfect expression, and that slightly sulky look—this moment became the most beautiful start of Yue Xi’s day.

“Mhm. I keep my word,” Yue Xi nodded seriously, her face solemn.

“Alright, I’ll believe you one more time.”
Seeing Yi Luo’s bright, radiant smile, Yue Xi couldn’t help but reach out and gently pat her head.

“I’m not a kid anymore!” Yi Luo pouted in protest.

“But you’re younger than me,” Yue Xi remembered clearly.

“Tch.” Yi Luo grabbed Yue Xi’s arm and dragged her forcefully toward the classroom.

“We’re here.” Yue Xi quickly but discreetly shook off Yi Luo’s hand.

“Mhm. Let’s eat together at lunch, okay?” Yi Luo added.

“Okay.” Yue Xi felt a surge of happiness and quickly ran to her seat.

“Hey hey, bro, did you come with the class president today?”
A tall, skinny boy sitting next to Yue Xi leaned over curiously.

“Who’s your bro?” Yue Xi’s cold voice, paired with the indifferent gaze behind her glasses, made the boy shrink back a little.

“Yue Xi, don’t be so fierce.”
The boy, still unwilling to give up, continued poking his head over.

“So what if I did?”

“Are you close with the class president?”

“We are, alright.”

“Then… could you help me…”
As he spoke, the boy pulled a delicately wrapped box from his desk drawer.

Yue Xi glanced at him, “You want me to be your go-between?”

“Mhm, no wonder you’re the legendary transfer student!”
At CH High, transfer students typically fell into two categories:
One, they had excellent grades and were recruited by the school.
Two, they came from wealthy families who could afford the expensive transfer fees.

“I don’t have good grades.”

“Oh come on, you don’t have to be modest in front of me. You’ve got that powerful aura—definitely a smart one!”
The skinny boy kept buttering her up, not noticing that Yue Xi hadn’t agreed to help.

“I’m not being modest.”

“…Fine, you’re just playing cool.”
After several failed attempts to chat, and seeing Yue Xi uninterested, the boy finally sat back down.

Yue Xi listened intently during morning classes, jotting down notes in her book.
Perhaps it was a sense of imbalance—her homeroom teacher had strict rules about seating arrangements.
The top ten students could freely choose their seats and seatmates.
Students ranked 11–20 could choose their seat only.
The remaining thirty had to follow the teacher’s arrangement.
If Yue Xi wanted to sit closer to Yi Luo, she had to improve her grades—it was the quickest method as a student.

“Yue Xi, let’s go eat,” Yi Luo walked over from the middle of the classroom and was a little surprised to see Yue Xi still reading so seriously.

“Just a sec, let me finish this page,” Yue Xi replied without looking up.

“Mhm, I’ll wait for you.”
Yi Luo didn’t rush her. It was rare to see Yue Xi, who used to be such a playful kid, now quietly focused on her studies.
She sat silently in the seat in front of Yue Xi, glanced around, and saw that everyone else had already gone for lunch.

About three minutes later, Yue Xi finally closed her book. With a slight hint of apology, she said,
“I’m done. Let’s go. What do you want to eat?”
She pulled out her wallet from her bag and quickly slipped it into her uniform pants pocket.

Yi Luo glanced at her wallet—it was a limited edition foreign brand—but didn’t show much reaction.
“Let’s get a rice bowl. There’s a decent place near the back gate—it’s clean, and the food’s good.”

“Mhm. Let’s go then. I’m still new here, not familiar with anything. You decide.”
Yue Xi felt a little tremor in her heart—Yi Luo had naturally taken her arm.

The restaurant wasn’t big, and it was a bit crowded.
The owner had a good attitude and knew that most of the lunch rush were students, so the food came out quickly.

“Wah… hoo… it’s so hot…”
Yi Luo blew on her food while trying to reach for her tea cup.

“Slow down…”
Seeing Yi Luo’s flushed face from the heat, Yue Xi felt both anxious and concerned.
She quickly handed over her own slightly cooler water, then ran to the counter to buy a bottle of mineral water.

“Take a sip first. Hold it in your mouth—don’t swallow too fast.”
Yue Xi’s gentle voice moved Yi Luo deeply, and she hurriedly nodded.

“Hoo… that’s better… thanks.”
Yi Luo looked at Yue Xi’s serious, caring face and felt a warm glow in her chest.

“You’re welcome.”
Yue Xi lowered her head and quietly ate from her own plate.

“Boss, the bill please.”
Yue Xi’s calm voice made Yi Luo feel reassured.

“I’ve got it,” Yi Luo quickly reached to stop her.

“You’re staying at our place. Room and board’s included.”
Yue Xi’s tone was brief but firm.

“That feels kind of awkward…”

“Aren’t we friends?”

“…” Since when did Yue Xi start using my own words back on me…?
Thinking about how there were many days ahead, Yi Luo didn’t argue further.

After lunch, the two walked shoulder-to-shoulder through the campus.
Yue Xi thought, If only we could keep walking like this forever.
She turned her head to glance at Yi Luo and smiled.
Yi Luo reached out again and took her arm.

“Yi Luo!”
Just as they were immersed in the rising warmth between them, a male voice called from behind.

“Yi Luo.”
The boy caught up when she stopped. “I thought that was your back… hey, turns out it really is you.”
Thick brows and big eyes—he paused. “Have you eaten?”

“Yeah, I ate with a friend.”
Yi Luo smiled politely.

“Oh. Then… are you coming to the game this afternoon?”

“If I have time, I’ll definitely come.”

“Alright. See you later.”

“Bye.”

The boy didn’t push, just walked off quickly.
“He’s the forward on our grade’s basketball team—his name’s Lin Yu.”

“Oh. No wonder he’s so tall,” Yue Xi commented while watching him leave.

“You’re tall too.”
Yi Luo let go of Yue Xi’s hand, compared their heights, then re-linked their arms.

“Just average. I want to grow taller.”

“What for? Be careful you’ll end up not getting married,” Yi Luo joked, resting her head on Yue Xi’s arm.

“I’m not getting married. I’m getting a wife.”
Yue Xi replied with a straight face.

“Sure, I’ll see who you end up marrying.”

“You’ll know in the future.”
Yue Xi didn’t say more. In her heart, she added: Because I want to marry you.
Then she gently pulled Yi Luo along toward class.

The afternoon passed at a steady pace.
Before the last class, Yi Luo sent a message to Yue Xi asking if they could go watch the basketball game together after school.

The two of them arrived at the court with their bags.
A boy standing next to Lin Yu spotted them and coughed—
Then the rest of the guys seemed to realize something and began to tease him.
Lin Yu’s face turned red instantly.

Yue Xi found it funny. “That kid likes you, huh?”

“Maybe.”
Yi Luo didn’t seem to care much.

“Wow, he’s good at basketball, looks decent, and even blushes easily—don’t you like that?”

“Nope. He’s alright looking, but I prefer someone more manly.”

“He’s not girly though.”

“If you like him, go chase him yourself!”
Yi Luo shot Yue Xi a sideways glance, not wanting to engage.

“I’m not interested.”
Yue Xi raised both hands in surrender.

Then the two chatted as they watched the game.

“Do you play basketball? You’re tall—you could be useful.”

“Me? Does our grade even have a girls’ team?”

“Mhm. Our classmate Liu Le is the captain. She’s recruiting now. If you want, I can tell her for you.”

“No need. I’ll go sign up myself.”

“Alright.”
Yi Luo was visibly happy.

“He’s looking at us,” Yue Xi reminded her.
They had been chatting so freely, they didn’t realize the first quarter had ended.

“Do you still want to watch?” Yi Luo whispered as she leaned against Yue Xi.

“Let’s go home.”
Yue Xi also found the game a bit boring.
The gap between the freshman and senior teams was pretty wide—it was a mismatch.

“We’re going home,” Yi Luo echoed, then waved at Lin Yu.
Seeing her wave made Lin Yu’s happy expression dim a little.

“How was your day?”
Ning Ran asked while washing vegetables.

Yue Xi put down her backpack and replied, “Not bad. I’m planning to join the basketball team.”

“Really?”
Ning Ran dropped her veggies and ran over to give her a big, loving bear hug.

“Mhm. I’ll sign up tomorrow.”
Yue Xi patted Ning Ran’s back. “I’m going to the bathroom.”

Once Yue Xi left, Ning Ran snuck over to Yi Luo.

“You persuaded her to join the team, didn’t you?”

“No, I just mentioned it casually. I said she’s tall—would be a shame not to play.”
Yi Luo had already changed into slippers. “Need help with anything?”

“No, no, how could I let you work? There’s fruit cut up on the table—go eat some.”
Ning Ran continued cooking, looking every bit the doting mom.

“Alright, just call me if you need anything.”
Yi Luo didn’t insist. She knew Ning Ran was very straightforward.

After some fruit, Yi Luo pulled Yue Xi to do homework.
Both of them were serious—Yi Luo was surprised by how fast Yue Xi finished everything.
They finished at almost the same time, packed up, and went to the dinner table.
Ning Ran was already done cooking, quietly scrolling on her phone while waiting for them.
Hearing footsteps, she said, “I figured schoolwork was important, so I didn’t disturb you. Done already?”

“All finished.”

“Wow, you finally figured things out.”
Ning Ran smiled as she scooped rice. “Thanks, Xiao Luo.”

“Yue Xi’s the one working hard. I didn’t do much.”

“I know.”
Ning Ran winked at Yi Luo.

Dinner was cozy and warm.
As usual, Yue Xi did the dishes—sisters had agreed one cooked, the other cleaned.

“I’ll help you,” Yi Luo said, feeling bad just sitting there.

“Help me put the dishes into the sterilizer,” Yue Xi said, understanding her thoughts.

“Okay.”