Chasing Summer

During the midsummer of August, the dazzling sun was comparable to fire and the cicadas were chirping incessantly.

Lin Zhexia huddled up on the sofa with a bag of potato chips in her hand.
The light in the room was not turned on, only a faint flashing light came from the projector in front of her.
The movie just happened to be playing out an intense part, the projector light flashed brightly, and the fierce ghost suddenly rushed out grimacing——

The room was suddenly lightened up, some of the furnishings could be seen from the projection light.

The entire house was overly tidy.

On the table were several Competition Practice books, a black alarm clock, and 2 or 3 black pens.

Apart from that, there was nothing superfluous.

The only thing that looked untidy and out of place here was the pile of snacks scattered around.

After Lin Zhexia watched some more of the movie, she took out her phone and sent a few messages to a certain chat.

-Fraud.
-It’s definitely a fraud.
-The most horrifying movie of the year isn’t horrifying at all, it’s to the degree that can be reported to the national anti-fraud center.

10 minutes later.

-Awo.
-But this ghost’s scream is quite unique.
-Awo awo awo.

Another 10 minutes later.

-It’s been half an hour.
-You still haven’t replied to me.
-Are you horsing around outside?

Lin Zhexia had her head lowered as she especially seriously typed the second half of the sentence word by word: And then you had so much fun that you forgot your father, me.

A few seconds after this message was sent, there was finally movement from the opposite side.

A word appeared on top of the chat with the nickname “Eating Medicine”: [Typing…]

A moment later, several lines of characters that can even be viewed as arrogant even through the internet appeared in the chat interface.

-I’m horsing around, very busy.
-As for not replying to you, it’s because
-I’m too lazy to talk to people who are unclear about their seniority.

Before she could reply, the opposite side followed up with another message: Where are you watching the movie?

Lin Zhexia looked around the house.
The style here is completely different from her own room.
With one glance, one could tell that it was a boy’s room.
A projector was set up in the living room, which was the main reason why she would show up here today with snacks.

However, she was a little embarrassed to say this so straightforwardly.
Instead, she replied with the word: Theater.

-？

Recalling that no horror movies airing in theaters at the moment, Lin Zhexia changed her words to: …Private theater.

-Oh

Lin Zhexia knew in her heart that this person was not so easy to fool.
As expected, the next sentence after “Oh” was: Take a picture and show me.
I’ve never been to a private theater before.
Let me enrich my experiences.

-…

Where the heck would she go to take such a picture?

Since she could not hide it any longer, she could only answer honestly: Your house.
Didn’t you buy a new projector? Yet you traveled so far away right after you bought it, so I’m trying it out for you.

The opposite side seemed to have already guessed this answer.

After a few seconds, he threw back with arrogance:

-So, who’s the father?

-…
-You.

As Lin Zhexia’s fingers typed away on the screen, she even omitted the struggle.
She directly knelt down in obedience:

-It was I who was unclear about my seniority.
-Dad.

Originally posted at suiyitl(dot)com, please do not read elsewhere.

When the conversation arrived at this part, it was interrupted by a phone call.

Lin He’s familiar voice came from the phone, “Xiaxia, it’s dinner soon.
When will you be coming back?”

“I forgot about the time,” Lin Zhexia hurriedly paused the movie.
“I’ll be back soon.”

Lin Zhexia came back very quickly.

Right after Lin He finished the phone call, she had just brought out the food to the table, and Lin Zhexia had already arrived at the door, “Mom– I’m back.”

Lin He glanced at her, “You came from Chi Yao’s house right?”

Lin Zhexia didn’t expect that she would guess correctly with a single try, “Why don’t you change your profession to fortune telling?”

“Where’s the need to fortune tell?” Lin He could estimate her daughter’s path of action according to time.
“You came back so quickly, and it’s not like you would be taking a stroll in the area.
But isn’t Chi Yao away for the holiday? He said something about… there’s some matters with his relatives and went to visit them? Why are you going to other people’s homes when they’re not even at home?”

Chi Yao.

Her childhood friend.

Also the one who talked so arrogantly in the chat just now.

The two have known each other since they were very young.

The Chi family lives in the building opposite hers, and the distance there and back is no more than 3 minutes.

Just looking out from her bedroom window, she could see the curtains drawn in his house.

Lin Zhexia slowly stuffed food in her mouth.
She really didn’t have the nerve to say that she one-sidedly went to help Chi Yao test out his newly bought projector.
Moreover, being at home during the holidays, it’s always easy to receive a scolding from Lin He.
So she found herself a reason, “He… he said he left too hastily and didn’t remember whether the windows were closed.
He told me to go and check for him.”

Lin He wasn’t suspicious of this.

As a “Pre High School Student”, Lin Zhexia was living an unrestrained and free summer holiday.

She did well in her middle school examinations.
After graduation, she naturally did not have any homework for the holidays.

Lin He obviously couldn’t allow her daughter’s life to be so unrestrained and free, “I bought you some high school teaching materials.
Start learning them from this summer holiday, to avoid failing to catch up after school starts.”

“…” Lin Zhexia swallowed the food.
“High school… teaching materials?”

“Stupid birds need to start flying earlier.
You should understand what this means.”

Lin Zhexia argued for herself, “I already got in the district of focus, the same school as Chi Yao, I can’t exactly be counted as a stupid bird.”

The results have long been out, and the score cutlines of all schools were announced.

In the past, the scores for Lin Zhexia’s mock exams had always been fluctuating.
When she meets the right test paper, she rises like a rocket.
When she meets the wrong test paper, her scores would be mediocre.
As a result, no one knew what kind of score she would get until the very last moment.

Fortunately, the final test paper was quite suitable for her.

Lin He concluded, “That was a supernormal performance, which belongs to a coincidence.”

“And how do you even have the face to mention that you and Chi Yao are in the same school?”

Lin He spoke slowly, carrying a bit of unbelievable in her tone, “Although you two are in the same school, you barely got in while he exceeded the admission cutoff by more than 90 points.”

“…”

Lin Zhexia felt that the