The next morning, Zhou Wan accompanied her grandmother to the hospital for a full-body check-up.
Sitting alone on a chair in the hallway, she spaced out for a while before suddenly remembering something.
She calculated the interest on the medical expenses Lu Xixiao had covered for her last time using the bank's interest rate, rounded up the remaining small amounts, and transferred the full sum to Lu Xixiao, thanking him once again.
Lu Xixiao didn’t reply immediately—it was only 8:30 in the morning, and he was probably still asleep.
Zhou Wan put away her phone, leaned her head back against the wall, and let her mind go blank.
After some time, her grandmother finished the examination and came out.
"Let’s go, Wanwan."
Zhou Wan stood up and asked Dr. Chen when the test results would be ready.
"It’ll be next week. I’ll call you then," Dr. Chen said.
"Okay." Zhou Wan thanked Dr. Chen and helped her grandmother leave the hospital.
Noticing that Zhou Wan was still carrying her backpack, her grandmother asked, "What are you planning to do later?"
"I’m going to the library. I made plans with a classmate to work on the newly assigned physics test—it’s a bit difficult."
"Alright." Her grandmother smiled. "Then you should go ahead. Grandma can go back by herself."
Zhou Wan was uneasy about letting her grandmother return alone, but her grandmother insisted, so she reluctantly agreed. She watched until her grandmother reached the bus stop across the street before turning and heading toward the library.
Unbeknownst to Zhou Wan, after she left, her grandmother returned to the hospital.
"Ma’am, why are you back?" Dr. Chen asked in surprise when he saw her. "Did you forget something?"
"No, Dr. Chen. I came back to ask you something," her grandmother said. "Is this check-up Wanwan had me do related to a surgery I might need later?"
Dr. Chen froze for a moment—Zhou Wan had asked him not to tell her grandmother about this.
After hesitating briefly, he sighed. "How did you find out?"
"Wanwan’s mother called me early this morning and told me."
Dr. Chen had no good impression of Zhou Wan’s mother and frowned. "What did she say?"
Her grandmother sighed helplessly. "What else could she say? She thought I had sent Wanwan to ask her for money and said all sorts of unpleasant things."
"Don’t pay her any mind. Your health is what’s important."
"I know." Her grandmother smiled faintly. "I came to ask you a favor. No matter what the results show, please tell Wanwan that my body isn’t fit for surgery."
Dr. Chen paused.
"I understand doctors aren’t supposed to lie, but this is my body, and I should decide whether or not to have surgery," her grandmother said. "Wanwan is still young, not even an adult yet. I’m afraid that to raise such a large sum of money, she might sacrifice everything. She’s still young and has a long future ahead of her. She shouldn’t have to waste it all on an old woman like me."
As she spoke, her eyes reddened, her voice trembling. She gripped Dr. Chen’s hand tightly. "So, Dr. Chen, I’m begging you—just tell Wanwan I can’t have the surgery. As long as she can grow up well and healthy, that’s all I want."
Her Wanwan had a difficult life.
Her father passed away early, her mother abandoned her, and the only person she could rely on—her grandmother—was bedridden with illness.
Wanwan worked so hard to grow up, excelling in her studies and striving to earn money.
She didn’t want to become a burden to her.
Zhou Wan bought a baked sweet potato for lunch and went to the library, where she found Jiang Yan on the second floor.
She sat down across from him, took out her test papers, and immediately focused on solving the problems.
"Zhou Wan," Jiang Yan called her.
She looked up, keeping her voice low. "What’s wrong?""Do you like Lu Xixiao?"
He was still bothered by how Zhou Wan had left with Lu Xixiao after school on Friday.
Zhou Wan froze, pursed her lips, and said nothing.
Jiang Yan: "Have you thought about the future, Zhou Wan? After the college entrance exams, what school will you go to? And him? He can barely even get into university!"
He truly despised Lu Xixiao, and his voice unconsciously rose, standing out starkly in the quiet library.
"Keep your voice down." After saying this, Zhou Wan paused before speaking again. "Jiang Yan, what do you think my future will be like?"
"Get into a prestigious university, graduate smoothly, and find a really good job."
Zhou Wan lowered her eyes and chuckled lightly. "You overestimate me. I haven't even thought about those things. I'm different from you, Jiang Yan. None of that comes easily to me."
"You're different from me, so you're the same as Lu Xixiao?"
Zhou Wan still shook her head. "Actually, I really admire him. He lives so purely and openly—liking what he likes, hating what he hates, without any pretense."
Jiang Yan was about to say more when Zhou Wan interrupted him. "Let's focus on the problems."
She lowered her head and whispered, "Maybe only if I achieve a good ranking in the National Competition will I have the right to talk about the future."
...
This time's test paper was especially difficult. By the time she finished, it was already 5 p.m., time to head to the Arcade.
Zhou Wan packed her things and left the library. When she took out her phone, she noticed Lu Xixiao had replied to her message hours earlier.
[6: ?]
Just a question mark.
[Zhou Wan: For the medical expenses.]
[6: Didn't you say end of the year.]
Zhou Wan lowered her gaze and replied: [My mom gave me the money]
Lu Xixiao didn't respond further, just confirmed the transfer.
The bar was bustling with noise, the dry ice machine shrouding the entire stage in mist, mingling with the heavy scent of smoke and alcohol. Laser lights and drumbeats pulsed with the music.
Lu Xixiao sat in the inner part of the booth, his slender, bony fingers holding a glass. A casual smile played on his lips as his gaze drifted lightly over the diverse crowd coming and going.
"Brother Xiao, tomorrow's your birthday, right?" one of the girls asked, her eyes bright as she stared directly at Lu Xixiao across from her.
Lu Xixiao looked up, raising an eyebrow.
"What's the date tomorrow?"
"The 18th."
Jiang Fan said, "It really is A Xiao's birthday. So, how do you plan to celebrate this year?"
He scoffed lightly. "What's there to celebrate?"
"Come on, it's our Brother Xiao's 18th birthday—we have to make it special."
Lu Xixiao laughed, cursing as he kicked him playfully.
Another guy nearby chimed in, "Turning 18 means you're an adult now. Of course, you've got to do some adult things, right, Brother Xiao?" He winked suggestively at Lu Xixiao.
That remark reminded everyone of something else.
Soon, someone brought up the post from the school forum yesterday.
They had long noticed the unusual dynamic between Lu Xixiao and Zhou Wan and would tease them about it, but it was mostly just joking around. After all, the two of them didn't seem like they were actually dating.
None of Lu Xixiao's previous girlfriends had failed to cling to him tightly, afraid that if they took their eyes off him for a second, some other temptress would snatch him away.
In places like bars, they would always follow him.
But Zhou Wan—every time they saw her, it was Lu Xixiao who initiated contact.
And yesterday after school was even more extreme.
No one had ever seen Lu Xixiao specifically wait for anyone before.
"Brother Xiao, how far have you gotten with that little academic genius?" someone asked. "Have you kissed yet?"
Lu Xixiao took a sip of his drink, his sharp Adam's apple bobbing."You're really underestimating our Brother Xiu with that comment..."
As the teasing was about to cross the line into inappropriate territory, Lu Xixiao leaned forward and set his glass down on the coffee table with a deliberate clink. "That's enough. I'm single."
"Single?" a guy exclaimed in surprise. "You broke up?"
"Never dated her in the first place."
This time, everyone was even more astonished.
Lu Xixiao had little patience for girlfriends, let alone other girls.
So why was Zhou Wan the exception?
Jiang Fan narrowed his eyes.
Having known Lu Xixiao the longest and being privy to more details—like the time Zhou Wan went to Lu Xixiao's place—he understood better than anyone that Zhou Wan was indeed special to Lu Xixiao.
Someone asked the crucial question: "Is it that you haven't started dating yet, or you don't plan to?"
Lu Xixiao picked up the cigarette case, pushed it open with his index finger, pulled out a cigarette, and clamped it between his teeth as he leaned back into the sofa. "Does it have to be one or the other?"
Whether they dated or not made no difference.
Nothing would really change.
Lu Xixiao felt comfortable with the way things were and saw no reason to alter the status quo.
But to those reading between the lines, it sounded like a subtle rejection.
The pretty girl sitting beside Lu Xixiao perked up slightly, her earlier disappointment fading.
The guys bantered for a bit longer before shifting to other topics.
The girl gazed at Lu Xixiao's profile, watching him smoke, her heart fluttering uncontrollably. After a moment, she couldn't resist leaning closer. "Brother Xiu."
Noticing his cigarette remained unlit, she cupped her hands around the flame and lit the lighter for him.
Lu Xixiao obliged, leaning in slightly to light his cigarette, then exhaling a plume of smoke.
The girl's heart raced wildly.
"What are you doing for your birthday tomorrow?"
"Sleeping."
"Alone?"
Only when Lu Xixiao's gaze shifted to her did she realize how ambiguous her question sounded—she'd meant to ask if he was spending his birthday alone, not sleeping alone.
His bone structure was impeccable, his eyes teasing, and under the flickering lights, he looked even more irresistibly charming.
He flicked the ash from his cigarette. "Why? You offering to join?"
The girl's face flushed crimson.
It took a while for the blush to fade. Gathering her courage, she leaned close to Lu Xixiao's ear amid the noisy music.
"I was going to wish you a happy birthday tomorrow, but it seems I won't get the chance," she said with a smile. "So I'll give you a song tonight instead—an early birthday wish."
It wasn't yet late enough for the band to perform, so the microphone on the bar's stage stood empty.
The girl stepped onto the stage.
Her waist-length hair and meticulous makeup, especially her eye shadow shimmering under the lights, drew everyone's attention as soon as she said, "Hello, everyone." Whistles erupted from the crowd.
Lu Xixiao glanced over indifferently.
Clutching the microphone, the girl locked eyes with Lu Xixiao across the room.
She thought this might be the bravest moment of her life.
"Hello, everyone. Tomorrow is someone's birthday," she said, her gaze fixed firmly on Lu Xixiao. "I'd like to sing 'Can't Say I Love You' for him, to wish him a happy birthday."
The crowd cheered and whistled in response.
As her youthful, earnest voice filled the room, many followed her gaze to Lu Xixiao.
He sat there completely at ease, his expression unreadable.
By the end of the song, her voice carried the bittersweet ache unique to unrequited love.
When she finished, she returned to the booth, picked up her glass, and said, "Lu Xixiao, happy early birthday."The surrounding boys began to stir, about to applaud, but were silenced by Lu Xixiao's sharp glare.
The booth area fell quiet.
Lu Xixiao didn't embarrass her. He picked up his glass, clinked it with hers, and downed it in one go: "Thanks."
He placed the empty glass back on the table, then stood up, lighting a cigarette as he walked out. "Be back later."
The girl froze, her eyes quickly reddening: "...Lu Xixiao."
Mustering her last bit of courage, she called out to him.
Lu Xixiao turned back.
"I—"
I like you.
Before she could finish the remaining three words, Lu Xixiao cut her off: "Sorry."
The girl couldn't even tell whether this was Lu Xixiao's final act of politeness or his ultimate cruelty.
In the end, she never got to confess her feelings to him in person.
His expression remained unreadable, cold and detached under the kaleidoscopic lights, silently widening the chasm between them.
Lu Xixiao didn't look at her again. He gestured vaguely toward the outside and walked away.
Watching his retreating figure, the girl thought he would probably never understand what it meant to love passionately—that kind of blind, all-consuming devotion that makes you lose yourself.
No matter the situation, he always seemed able to remain composed and self-possessed, ready to disengage at any moment.
Resolute and indifferent.
At the arcade, Zhou Wan turned off the lights and locked up.
Just as she stepped outside, her phone buzzed. A message from Lu Xixiao.
It was a location pin—a bar.
[6: Come here.]
Zhou Wan paused, checking the time. It was already 11:05 PM.
[6: Had too much to drink.]
[Zhou Wan: You have a cold. You shouldn't be drinking.]
[6: Yeah.]
Zhou Wan stared at her phone screen, hesitating.
It's so late.
After a moment's indecision, she decided to go.
She didn't know how much Lu Xixiao had drunk. If he was truly wasted and she left him there alone in the cold, something bad might happen.
Besides, she owed him for having used him before.
The least she could do was indulge him now, try to make him happy.
The arcade was over ten kilometers from the location he'd sent. To get there faster, Zhou Wan hailed a taxi.
She rarely went downtown this late at night. It was her first time seeing Pingchuan's vibrant nightlife—the neon lights and bustling streets. Through the taxi window, the city lights cast a crystalline glow on her fair skin.
The taxi's navigation announced they were 500 meters from the destination.
Zhou Wan spotted the bar's flashing sign from afar.
As the car drew closer, she saw Lu Xixiao standing outside the bar.
He leaned lazily against the wall, tall and long-legged, a striking sight amidst the glittering nightlife.
Zhou Wan pressed her lips together.
"Here we are, miss," the driver said, pulling over by the bar.
"Thank you," Zhou Wan replied, bending to retrieve her wallet.
Just as she pulled out a 50-yuan bill, the car door beside her opened.
Lu Xixiao rested one hand on the roof, leaning in slightly. His voice, roughened by alcohol, was deeper and huskier, tinged with a nasal tone: "How much, sir?"
"25."
Zhou Wan hurriedly said, "I can pay for it myself."
Lu Xixiao ignored her, brushing her hand aside as he bit down on his cigarette and scanned the payment code. "Done."
The taxi drove off. Zhou Wan stood beside Lu Xixiao as he pulled her by the wrist to the inner side of the sidewalk. He exhaled a plume of smoke and looked at her: "Hungry?"
"Not really."
"Let's get something to eat anyway."
He walked ahead, leading her to a nearby café where he ordered a chicken wrap.
Zhou Wan asked, "Aren't you having anything?"
"Not hungry."The coffee shop's heating was turned up so high it was suffocating. After buying a chicken wrap, she walked back out.
Zhou Wan tore open the wrapper and took a bite. The chicken was tender, wrapped with lettuce, and juices overflowed—it was delicious.
She watched Lu Xixiao smoking beside her, observed for a moment, and asked, "Are you drunk?"
His gaze slanted down lazily. "Yeah."
But he didn’t look drunk at all—his face wasn’t flushed, and his eyes were clear.
"Were you drinking alone?"
"Jiang Fan and the others are here too," Lu Xixiao said. "They’re still inside."
"Then why did you come out first?"
He flicked his finger, tapping off the ash, and said languidly, "Someone inside was trying to hit on me."
Zhou Wan froze.
His words were too abrupt and too blunt.
For a moment, she didn’t know how to react.
Lu Xixiao’s remark was a bit strange, and since he said it while looking at her, it felt somewhat deliberate, like… fishing for praise.
As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she shook her head, feeling she must be too tired to think clearly.
She had only eaten half of the chicken wrap and couldn’t finish the rest. Zhou Wan went back into the coffee shop to ask for a bag and packed up the leftovers.
Tomorrow was Sunday, no school. Suppressing a yawn, she asked, "Shall we head back?"
Lu Xixiao said, "Keep me company for a while."
"Where to?"
"Anywhere."
Zhou Wan walked by his side, accompanying him as they aimlessly wandered the neon-lit streets.
It was quiet around them, with passersby chatting and laughing.
But the two of them were silent.
For the first time, she felt such a heavy sense of loneliness emanating from him.
Even heavier than when he was defeated at home alone on his mother’s death anniversary.
Even though the surroundings were so lively.
He stood out, out of place.
The cicadas' chirping made the forest seem quieter; the birds' songs made the mountains feel more secluded.
"Lu Xixiao."
He turned to look at her.
"Let me take you somewhere fun," Zhou Wan said.
She thought, at least for this period of time, she should try her best to make him a little happier.
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