Emotional student romance: Gift of three-leaf clover
The sky was dotted with light clouds, faintly visible in Xin Xin’s sleepy eyes. It was lunchtime, and she couldn’t muster any energy for anything. Yawning continuously, she lay on her desk. The classroom was empty and quiet, with only the faint sounds of activity drifting in from the playground through the windows.
Xin Xin was slipping into a deep sleep when a sudden loud door slam startled her awake. The one who entered was Chen Zhe, a well-known heartthrob in their grade. Seeing Xin Xin’s frightened expression, he hurried over and asked, “Did I scare you awake?” Xin Xin smiled and nodded, saying, “It’s okay.” Chen Zhe smiled too, moved a little closer to her, and softly said, “You look cute when you’re scared.” Xin Xin felt a flush of warmth on her face. In a daze, she heard the door close again, and once more the classroom was empty and silent.
In the days that followed, Xin Xin felt as if there was a light source nearby, but she dared not look, fearing it would blind her and disturb her heart. Finally, one day after class, she found a pink letter in her desk, signed by… After that, she often heard people calling “Chen Zhe… Chen Zhe…” and received countless Cokes, ice creams… and smiles from him. Xin Xin smiled back, though she didn’t know why. Perhaps it was happiness, she thought.
May 14th, Xin Xin’s birthday. When she arrived in the classroom, she found a red box on her desk. Inside was a baby bear hair accessory, very cute. Chen Zhe walked over and asked with a smile if she liked it. Xin Xin smiled again, mechanically. After Chen Zhe wished her a happy birthday and left, her face showed signs of fatigue. She had long grown tired of these smiles—so empty, yet filled with a sense of obligation she couldn’t quite place.
After evening study, Xin Xin was preparing to go home when Chen Zhe offered to walk her. Her movements became unusually slow. “Hey, Xin Xin,” said Zhao Nuo, holding a small flowerpot. Inside was a delicate little plant. Each stem had three leaves, and tiny purple flowers bloomed at the tips. Xin Xin’s eyes lit up; the plant lacked the usual garishness but exuded elegance. She smiled as she accepted the flowerpot, Zhao Nuo’s voice ringing in her ears, “I know you like plants, so consider this a birthday gift. I’m not sure what it’s called though…” “Three-leaf clover, let’s call it that. I like it, thank you,” Xin Xin said happily, smiling. She glanced at the red box, thinking of the hair accessory. “Maybe this doesn’t suit me,” she muttered to herself, picking up the box and walking out of the classroom. When Zhao Nuo saw her return empty-handed, he noticed she had packed up her bag and was now carrying the “three-leaf clover,” leaving with light steps.
That night, Xin Xin dreamed of looking up “three-leaf clover” in the dictionary. The entry read: “Three-leaf clover, a perennial herb that loves sunlight. It is small and elegant. In Greek mythology, it is the favorite of the angel of moods, symbolizing joy from the heart and friendship…”
Thank you for reading! ” Sitestorys “
