Chapter 43
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Because she had spent quite a while buying grass jelly dessert—and asked for extra milk, honey, and ginger powder—Xu Xieyi returned to the classroom just as the warning bell for evening self-study was ringing. She followed a group of girls toward her seat in the third row.
Yang Bingbing was biting into an apple when she noticed the grass jelly dessert in Xu Xieyi’s hand. Pausing mid-bite, she exclaimed in surprise, “Didn’t you already buy some?”
Xu Xieyi responded with a puzzled “Huh?” Then she saw a neatly placed cup of bubble milk tea on her desk, the small black pearls faintly visible at the bottom. Looking down at the two cups in her hands, she realized there were three drinks in total.
Yang Bingbing looked bewildered. “Can you really drink that much by yourself?”
As Xu Xieyi hesitantly sat down, a name quietly surfaced in her mind. The classroom gradually fell silent. She lowered her voice, “Keep it down, the study session has started.”
She put the milk tea and the two cups of grass jelly into her drawer.
Yang Bingbing, still munching on her apple, gave her a suspicious sideways glance. “Are these for some handsome guy? You’ve been braving wind and rain lately—who are you being so nice to?”
“No one.”
“I don’t buy it.”
Yang Bingbing kept staring with doubt, but Xu Xieyi maintained a calm expression that revealed nothing.
Finally, Yang Bingbing gave up and suddenly blurted out an odd observation. “Xuxu, sometimes I really think you’re a cold-hearted girl.”
Taken aback by the unexpected criticism, Xu Xieyi blinked in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“It’s just a feeling.”
Yang Bingbing poked her cheek and averted her big eyes, trying to explain. “You’re the kind of person who’s very clear-headed and principled. No matter what others do, it hardly affects you… Ah, I can’t really put it into words, but seriously, are you going to tell me? Who are these for?”
Xu Xieyi kept her lips sealed. Yang Bingbing was way too nosy to be told the truth.
“Fine, if you won’t say, forget it. But, seriously, what kind of guy likes this milky, sweet stuff?”
Xu Xieyi thought to herself: One—an aloof guy who’s anything but soft.
The evening study session began.
The class gradually settled down as the homeroom teacher made rounds. Once the teacher left, Xu Xieyi exhaled deeply and glanced at the three drinks lined up side by side in her drawer.
Two were identical, perfectly paired. The other one looked somewhat out of place…
Perhaps she’d grown used to milk tea without pearls lately; now looking at one with pearls made her feel a little unsettled.
The answer to who bought the milk tea was obvious.
Xu Xieyi took out her physics workbook and began working, though her mind wandered. She paused mid-writing and propped her head up, recalling what Xu Muzhou had said in the cafeteria.
He said he knew…
She thought deeply for a moment, her cheeks warming slightly, then snapped back to focus on her homework.
—Finish what needs to be done quickly. Lin Gege will come to pick me up after class, and I can’t keep him waiting.
—
Day students finish evening self-study half an hour early.
Xu Xieyi packed her bag and stood up, glancing toward the back door. In the last two rows, scattered students remained; Xu Muzhou was focused on writing.
From her angle, she caught sight of his furrowed brow as he pondered.
Pulling her gaze away, Xu Xieyi looked down at her toes for two seconds, then stepped toward the back door.
Beside Xu Muzhou, an open math book lay on the page about sequences. Unlike most boys, his books were very neat. Xu Xieyi placed some change on top.
Xu Muzhou paused his pen and looked up.
Seeing no one paying attention, Xu Xieyi pressed her lips together and quietly said, “Thank you.”
Then she left.
Before Xu Muzhou could reply, her slender, graceful figure had already disappeared through the back door.
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“Ah!”
He called out softly, but it was to no avail.
Along the campus main road, streetlights lined the path, casting a hazy glow in the misty winter air. Fog drifted through the light.
Students poured out of the teaching building, flowing toward the parking lot and school gates.
Xu Xieyi clutched her bag straps, weaving through the bustling crowd.
Suddenly, quick footsteps approached, someone calling her name.
“Xu Xieyi.”
Before she could turn, the footsteps circled to her front. A tall boy, breathing heavily, wearing minimal clothes despite the cold, his clean school jacket loosely draped over him, said, “Finally caught up with you.”
She looked up, meeting his gaze.
“What’s up...?”
Xu Muzhou smiled faintly, then lowered his eyes to take her hand. A few bills were pressed into the pale palm.
“Who told you to give me money?”
“Didn’t you buy me the milk tea?”
“Just because I bought it, you have to pay me?”
Xu Xieyi tried to pull her hand back to push the money away, but he was too strong. Their hands touched awkwardly, making her blush. Xu Muzhou noticed and let go.
One head looked down at the toes, the other hand scratched the nose—both clearly a bit embarrassed. Usually confident and talkative, Xu Muzhou was unusually quiet. “You really don’t have to pay me.”
Her gaze moved from her feet to the school emblem on his chest. “If you don’t want the money, then don’t buy me anything anymore…”
After saying this, she lowered her head and walked past him.
Xu Muzhou looked at the money in his hand. Xu Xieyi was more principled than he had imagined.
He stood still for two seconds, then followed her.
“Alright, I’ll take the money. Don’t feel burdened.”
Xu Xieyi stopped.
The streetlamp’s light fell behind him, softening the brown tint of his hair. When their eyes met again, Xu Muzhou smiled faintly.
Perhaps it was the hallmark of an athlete—he carried a bright, lively energy that put people at ease and felt approachable.
Xu Xieyi immediately dismissed the thought.
—Lin Gege also loves sports, but he’s delicate and often sickly. Always worrying.
And although Lin Gege was gentle and kind, after spending time with him, she noticed his gaze sometimes drifted, carrying a subtle danger—completely opposite to Xu Muzhou’s clarity.
The crowd slowed their pace.
Xu Muzhou was tall and handsome, occasionally attracting glances from girls.
“Not heading to the school gate?”
“I’m going to the parking lot.”
“Your family picking you up?”
“Yeah.”
“The same one as last time?”
“Last time.” Xu Xieyi hesitated, recalling that day outside the school gate by the roadside when he had met Lin Sheng. “Yeah.”
Half the cars in the parking lot had already left.
Lin Sheng had declined his friend’s invitation to a bar and arrived early.
The car’s interior felt stuffy; he disliked confined spaces and had stepped out to lean against the hood, waiting.
Dressed in a shirt and slacks, covered by a black wool coat, he looked clean and sharp.
Today, the little bunny seemed slower than usual.
Usually, as soon as class ended, she would dash over, anxiously scanning through the crowd to find him, wanting to come but held back. Her impatience looked like a small pet who’d been separated from its owner for too long.
Too bad he couldn’t see her tail.
Lin Sheng glanced away from his watch and looked up, a faint smile touching his lips. Checking the time, it was about right.
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The main road by the parking lot had thinned out.
After scanning many student faces, Lin Sheng finally spotted the familiar delicate face.
Xu Xieyi smiled slightly, a hint of shyness. A boy stood beside her, chatting about something that seemed pleasant.
Lin Sheng blinked slowly, serene, watching them talk and walk.
Xu Muzhou had accompanied Xu Xieyi to the parking lot entrance, reminiscing about some middle school memories.
“So, how did you stop them from causing a ruckus?” Xu Xieyi stopped, curious.
“You mean Tang Zhou and the others?”
Xu Muzhou smiled. “Simple—I let them copy my homework, but only if they promised not to bother you again.”
Xu Xieyi lowered her face slightly, looking at him shyly because of his protective words. “Thank you.”
The girl was delicate and pure. Xu Muzhou noticed the swirl of hair on her head, the pale skin at her roots. It stirred a gentle ripple in his heart. He’d noticed her since middle school but never found the words. She seemed wary of the people around him.
“I’m here now, goodbye,” Xu Xieyi said.
“Goodbye.”
They waved farewell.
Xu Xieyi watched Xu Muzhou disappear into the crowd, then turned her gaze to the parking lot, startled.
Lin Sheng wasn’t in his usual spot deeper inside; he stood not far from the entrance, slightly bent, leaning against the car with his hands in his pockets, watching her.
She hurried over.
“Lin Gege.”
Lin Sheng looked down at her as she stood before him, then after a moment replied, “Hmm. Why so slow today?”
“Sorry, I was just talking to a classmate for a bit.”
Lin Sheng seemed thoughtful, watched her for a few seconds more, then turned and opened the car door, speaking briefly, “Get in.”
She climbed into the car. Lin Sheng said nothing, driving out of the school grounds along the campus road.
Xu Xieyi wondered if she’d been too slow and made Lin Sheng a little upset.
“Lin Gege, have you eaten?”
She took out the grass jelly dessert.
Lin Sheng glanced at it, then at the tear in her bag.
Staring ahead, his voice was faint: “Whose milk tea is that?”
Xu Xieyi hadn’t expected Lin Sheng’s sharp eyes.
“Mine.”
“A classmate’s gift?”
“Mm-hmm.”
There was a silence of about ten seconds.
Lin Sheng drove on, his brows barely furrowing. “I gave you a card. Buy whatever you want yourself. Don’t accept things from others.”
Xu Xieyi turned her face to look at him, puzzled, wondering if she had heard wrong. “Huh?”
“I said, don’t accept things from boys.”
Xu Xieyi was surprised. She never imagined Lin Sheng’s eyes would be so perceptive. She had no room to hide at all.
A cold sweat broke out, but she still wanted to know why.
“Why, Lin Gege...?”
The road was busy, and Lin Sheng didn’t answer.
Xu Xieyi didn’t dare press further.
Before, she had never directly faced this question. She felt it wasn’t the right time yet. She was still so young—at least wait till after high school.
But at that moment, Lin Sheng suddenly realized their paths might be starting to diverge.
He was quiet, pondering problems that had long existed.