Lu Xixiao's words were truly despicable.
"Give me a kiss and I'll forgive you."
As if Zhou Wan had actually committed some grave mistake.
If she weren't thinking clearly, she might have been fooled by his twisted logic, but Zhou Wan was far too clever. Even with her face burning and her mind somewhat muddled, she wasn't confused by his nonsense.
Her cheeks flushed crimson as she stared in disbelief at the instigator before her. She opened her mouth: "You—"
Zhou Wan was rendered speechless by his shamelessness.
Lu Xixiao, however, showed no sign of thinking he'd gone too far. He raised an eyebrow: "Me what?"
"Shameless." Zhou Wan mustered her courage and couldn't resist cursing him.
But the moment the words left her mouth, her courage deflated like a punctured balloon. She didn't even dare look at Lu Xixiao's face, immediately lowering her head.
Unexpectedly, instead of getting angry, Lu Xixiao laughed. He forcefully lifted Zhou Wan's chin, pinching her cheek: "Have I spoiled you so much that you dare curse at me now?"
He truly had no sense of restraint.
Zhou Wan's cheeks grew even redder, the color so intense it seemed about to bleed.
She didn't dare complain about the pain, standing obediently at attention to "take her punishment."
Seeing her like this, Lu Xixiao guessed the girl was probably cursing him secretly in her heart—she was so good at using that innocent face of hers to pretend to be well-behaved and deceive people.
He scoffed, releasing her, and lightly scolded: "Get lost and go home."
Zhou Wan didn't move, looking up at him again: "Then... are you still angry?"
Lu Xixiao let out a light laugh: "You curse at me and still expect me not to be angry?"
"..."
He had a point.
Zhou Wan was utterly at a loss, not knowing what else she could do to appease him.
Lu Xixiao seemed to be losing patience, tilting his chin: "Go home. If you catch a cold, don't blame me."
...
When she got home, Grandma was sitting in the living room watching TV.
"Wanwan's back." Grandma stood up. "Have you eaten? Should I make you some wontons?"
"I've already eaten, Grandma."
Zhou Wan put down her backpack, careful not to get too close for fear Grandma would smell the smoke and alcohol from the KTV. "How are you feeling today?"
"Very well, I've been fine recently. No discomfort at all, don't worry."
After chatting with Grandma for a while, Zhou Wan returned to her room.
As soon as the bedroom door closed, she leaned against it and let out a long sigh.
Lu Xixiao truly made her feel overwhelmed.
He was too casual, too unrestrained.
Zhou Wan had originally thought that dating Lu Xixiao simply meant staying by his side and keeping him happy. It wasn't until today that she realized being together as a couple wasn't that simple.
But she really couldn't bring herself to do the things he asked.
Zhou Wan lowered her gaze, staring at her toes.
She wondered how long someone like her could hold Lu Xixiao's interest.
Lu Xixiao was in a surprisingly good mood. After returning home and showering, he noticed Zhou Wan hadn't sent him a single message. He wondered if his words today had scared her.
Lu Xixiao smirked slightly and put down his phone.
A moment later, Jiang Fan called.
Lu Xixiao answered: "What?"
Jiang Fan was laughing uncontrollably on the other end: "Did I interrupt your romantic evening?"
"Stop talking nonsense."
"Alright, alright, my bad. I won't say anymore." Jiang Fan laughed as he apologized. "Is the lady with you?"
"She went home."
"Wow, our lady's something else. It hasn't even been an hour and she's already managed to calm you down?"
Lu Xixiao scoffed: "She doesn't know the first thing about calming anyone down."
"So you're still arguing?"Though he said that, Jiang Fan could tell Lu Xixiao wasn't in a bad mood—even if he hadn't completely let go of his anger, most of it had already dissipated. "Take it easy. Only someone as patient as Zhou Wan can put up with you. Don't go too far and drive her away."
"She wouldn't dare." Lu Xixiao lit a cigarette and tossed the lighter onto the table.
"Oh, listen to you, showing off your relationship." Jiang Fan's grin grew increasingly cheeky. "Don't forget, I was the one who first thought Zhou Wan was pretty. You're the one who snatched her away."
Lu Xixiao exhaled a plume of smoke and narrowed his eyes. "Jiang Fan, are you itching for a beating?"
"Alright, alright, I spoke out of turn." Jiang Fan said. "But seriously, this relationship of yours is really different from before. Could it be that you actually like the obedient type?"
"Her? Obedient?"
"Isn't she?"
Lu Xixiao scoffed. "It's an act. She could chew you up and spit you out without leaving a trace."
The next day, Saturday.
Zhou Wan woke up early in the morning. First, she accompanied her grandmother to the hospital, then went alone to the library.
Waking up early in this season was difficult, so there were only a few people in the library. Zhou Wan found a spot in the corner, took out her Physics Competition problems, and started working on them.
Actually, many physics problems shared similar methods. Once you found the trick, they weren't particularly difficult.
Zhou Wan could solve most of the problems with ease, only occasionally stumbling on a few that required checking the solutions.
By noon, she didn't want to bother going home to eat. She ordered takeout for her grandma and bought a cup of instant noodles from the library's convenience store to fill her own stomach.
After finishing the noodles, Zhou Wan thought for a moment and sent a message to Lu Xixiao.
[Zhou Wan: Have you eaten?]
Lu Xixiao didn't reply until 3 p.m.
[6: Just woke up.]
"..."
Who knows how late he stayed up last night.
[6: At home?]
[Zhou Wan: Studying at the library.]
[6: Dinner?]
[Zhou Wan: Where?]
[6: Up to you]
[Zhou Wan: I know a casserole restaurant that's pretty good.]
[6: When are you done? I'll pick you up.]
[Zhou Wan: No need to trouble yourself, I can go on my own.]
[6: When.]
"..."
Zhou Wan rested her chin on the test papers and replied: [4:30.]
After solving a few more problems, when the clock hand pointed to "20", Zhou Wan packed her backpack and went downstairs.
As she stepped out of the library entrance, Lu Xixiao was sitting on the steps smoking.
His striking appearance made passing girls turn their heads to look at him.
Zhou Wan hurried over: "Lu Xixiao."
He turned his head and stood up.
"Why didn't you message me when you arrived?" Zhou Wan asked. "How long have you been waiting?"
Lu Xixiao glanced at her and said flatly: "Two hours."
"..."
It hadn't even been two hours since he woke up.
Was this person still angry...
Zhou Wan quickly caught up with his pace: "That casserole restaurant is really close, we can just walk."
"Mm."
Silence again.
Zhou Wan was someone who could endure silence well, never finding it unbearable or awkward, but this silence stemmed from Lu Xixiao's anger.
As for the method to make him let go of his anger...
Zhou Wan pressed her lips together, lowering her head to hide her chin and mouth inside her coat collar.
That method—she really couldn't bring herself to do it.
"Lu Xixiao." She broke the silence.
"Mm."
"When you got angry about things like that before, did those girls always... comfort you that way?"
"What way?"Zhou Wan hesitated, pausing for a moment before whispering softly, "Just... kiss you."
Lu Xixiao suddenly stopped walking, stared at her for a long while, and tugged at the corner of his mouth without much emotion. "None of them have your nerve, daring to make me jealous."
"Were you jealous?"
"..."
Lu Xixiao's face turned cold. "Shut up."
Zhou Wan: "..."
Before dating, Zhou Wan had only heard from others and online that some girls might have minor tantrums in relationships, called "acting up."
After dating, she realized this "acting up" wasn't limited to any gender.
After finishing the hot pot, Lu Xixiao called a car.
Zhou Wan got in the car, and only after a while did she realize they weren't heading home.
"Where are we going?" Zhou Wan asked.
"The place I took you last time," Lu Xixiao said. "The motorcycle spot."
Zhou Wan made an "oh" sound and quietly sat back.
It was still the same small convenience store, but today there were many people and cars outside. Zhou Wan followed Lu Xixiao out of the car, and as soon as they entered, she saw the same group of rough-looking boys from last time. They smiled and greeted her, "Long time no see, little sister."
Lu Xixiao glanced up. "Stop claiming relatives."
Huang Mao laughed. "Last time I called her little sister too, why can't I today?"
Lu Xixiao couldn't be bothered with him. He took Zhou Wan's backpack and led her to a table in the corner. "Study here."
Zhou Wan was taken aback. "Huh?"
Lu Xixiao looked at her. "There's a competition inside. I'm going to check it out. You stay here."
"I can go with you."
"You don't like it," Lu Xixiao said flatly. "When's your Physics Competition?"
"Next March."
Lu Xixiao grunted in acknowledgment. "Study then. I won't corrupt you."
Lu Xixiao quickly lifted the rolling shutter and went inside. The roar of engines and cheers could be heard, fading slightly as the shutter closed again.
Zhou Wan was someone who could focus deeply and wouldn't be disturbed by such an environment. She soon buried herself in solving problems.
After finishing a unit of exercises, Huang Mao came over with a box of strawberries. "Have some, little sister. Studying tires the brain."
Zhou Wan quickly waved her hands, declining.
Huang Mao sighed. "If only your boyfriend had one-tenth of your politeness."
"..."
Huang Mao laughed. "Alright, no joking. Eat up. It's from the store anyway, doesn't cost anything."
"You still have to pay for the stock."
"Oh right, no wonder A Xiao says you're a good student. I almost forgot I need to restock. No wonder I haven't made any money running this store for so many years."
"..."
"Eat up, eat up. After you finish, when A Xiao comes out, I can charge him a fortune."
"..."
Zhou Wan thought that all of Lu Xixiao's friends were quite peculiar.
As he spoke, Huang Mao very familiarly sat down in front of Zhou Wan, looking like he was about to start a chat.
"Little sister, how old are you this year?"
"16."
Huang Mao slapped the table. "That beast!"
"...I just started school early. We're in the same grade."
"Same grade..." Huang Mao laughed. "That term feels a bit strange when associated with A Xiao. He hardly ever goes to school, right?"
"Yeah, he hasn't been these past few days."
"Actually, A Xiao used to be really good at studying. Super smart."
Zhou Wan was stunned.
Huang Mao looked at her expression. "Didn't expect that, did you?"Zhou Wan asked, "Before his mother passed away?"
This time it was Huang Mao's turn to be stunned: "Damn, girl, you even know about that? You're something else."
"..."
"I met A Xiao after his mother died. He came to my shop to buy something. That little bastard's been a piece of work since he was a kid—buying my stuff but giving me attitude. I can't even remember what trivial bullshit started it, but we ended up fighting."
"I was three years older than him and much taller at that age, so I beat the crap out of him. Scared the little brat so bad he covered his head and cried, immediately calling me 'bro'."
Zhou Wan thought his story probably had some artistic embellishment.
It was possible Lu Xixiao lost the fight, but covering his head crying and immediately calling someone "bro"? Absolutely impossible.
"When my dad found out, he dragged me over to apologize. Feeling sorry for the kid wandering around alone, he even brought him home for dinner. Who knew that bastard would actually have the nerve to move into my house?"
Zhou Wan smiled. "Then what?"
"Then we became friends through fighting, and later he started riding racing motorcycles with me." Huang Mao said, "He's really smart—did well in school back then, learned racing fast, and had guts."
Zhou Wan looked toward the rolling shutter door. "I didn't expect so many people to be into this."
"Usually there aren't this many. Today's special because there's a competition with prize money—ten thousand yuan for first place. Actually, if A Xiao participated, he'd definitely win. Too bad he's not interested."
"How old was Lu Xixiao when you met?"
"Elementary school." Huang Mao thought for a moment, gesturing a height. "About this tall, probably third grade."
Third grade.
All those changes happened so early.
Huang Mao, being chatty, continued: "When he stayed at my place, I saw his test papers—even Olympiad math problems, super difficult. Made my dad depressed, always yelling at me for being useless."
"Actually, he did really well all the way through middle school. Could easily rank top ten in his grade. Then his grandparents passed away too. He had a huge fight with his dad around that time, moved out on his own, and after that he barely went to school, just messed around all day."
Just as he was speaking, Lu Xixiao suddenly walked out. "What are you telling her now?"
Huang Mao immediately made a shushing gesture toward Zhou Wan, then turned and said, "I was just looking at what problems your girlfriend was solving."
Lu Xixiao scoffed. "As if you could understand them."
"Whatever, like you can understand them either."
"I don't need to understand them—she's still mine." Lu Xixiao somehow got competitive about it.
Zhou Wan: "..."
Huang Mao waved him off. "Get lost, you annoy me."
Lu Xixiao ignored him and asked Zhou Wan, "Finished studying?"
"Done." Zhou Wan quickly packed her backpack.
"Let's go."
Huang Mao: "Leaving already? The competition isn't over."
"Bunch of trash, nothing worth watching."
"..."
Talking to him was seriously frustrating.
No idea how his girlfriend put up with it.
Huang Mao shot Zhou Wan a sympathetic look.
On the way back, Zhou Wan kept thinking about what Huang Mao had said.
Although Zhou Wan didn't believe studying was the only path—maybe that saying was true for her, but for someone like Lu Xixiao from a well-off family, it wasn't.Yet she still felt it was such a shame—he had once been so academically outstanding, only to be beaten down step by step by reality until he reached this point.
He should have shone.
"Lu Xixiao," Zhou Wan turned her head to ask, "Will you come to school on Monday?"
"Why?"
"Nothing." Zhou Wan paused. "Just asking."
He answered carelessly, "We'll see."
Zhou Wan: "Don't you need to take the college entrance exam later?"
He chuckled, "What, want me to study hard?"
"Yeah."
Lu Xixiao raised an eyebrow, curling his lips mischievously, "Studying requires rewards, otherwise I'm not interested."
Zhou Wan asked, "What kind of rewards?"
Under the streetlight, Lu Xixiao's pupils gleamed with an amber glow. He let out a lazy, light laugh, his tone teasing, "For example, how many places I advance in ranking equals how many times I get to kiss you?"
Zhou Wan froze completely.
She never imagined that studying could be twisted into something like this.
Her face flushed crimson, and she couldn't stand it, turning her face away in exasperation. "Lu Xixiao!"
But he just laughed.
As if he'd found the greatest amusement, his shoulders shook uncontrollably.
"Are you cursing me in your heart again?"
Zhou Wan stayed silent.
Lu Xixiao raised his hand, wrapped his arm around Zhou Wan's shoulder, and pulled her forcefully into his embrace, firmly trapping her neck and forcing her to lift her chin.
He looked down at her from this close, dominant position, raising an eyebrow. "You're getting bolder. Seems you still misunderstand me—do you really think I'm a pushover?"
Zhou Wan's face grew even redder as she struggled awkwardly. "Lu Xixiao, let me go first."
"My girlfriend, I'll do as I please." He sounded like a complete ruffian.
The oppressive aura emanating from the young man grew heavier.
Zhou Wan's strength was no match for his; she couldn't break free at all.
Even if he really lowered his head to kiss her now, Zhou Wan wouldn't be able to avoid it.
"Lu Xixiao," Zhou Wan averted her eyes in embarrassment, her breath and voice trembling as she tried to reason with him, "We just got together. This is too fast."
"We're already together and I still can't kiss you?"
Truthfully, Lu Xixiao had never been one for such intimate gestures, but seeing Zhou Wan like this, he couldn't resist teasing her.
"Then how long wouldn't be too fast?"
"At least... at least a year." Zhou Wan blurted out a safe timeframe.
A year—by then, Lu Xixiao would surely have lost interest in her.
He chuckled lightly, his tone flippant, "A year is enough to have a baby."
Zhou Wan thought she misheard, widening her eyes. "What?"
Lu Xixiao glanced at her.
The girl's deer-like eyes were round with shock and disbelief.
Afraid he might truly upset her, Lu Xixiao pressed his lips together and laughed softly. "Nothing."
The arm trapping her neck finally loosened, and Zhou Wan quickly took two steps to the side, straightening her collar and smoothing her disheveled hair.
Lu Xixiao watched her for a moment before asking, "What did that Huang Mao say to you earlier?"
"...Nothing." Zhou Wan lowered her head. "I just think you're so smart—if you studied seriously, you could definitely get into a good university."
"What, want me to go to the same place as you?"
"Not exactly." Keeping a safe distance from him, Zhou Wan said softly, "I just feel like this is how you were always meant to be."The casual smile on Lu Xixiao's face faded slightly upon hearing her words. He took a drag of his cigarette and said lazily, "Get into college, and then what?"
"Then you can leave this place."
Lu Xixiao's eyelashes lowered, his jaw tightened, and he remained silent.
"I think you're a very free person. You shouldn't be trapped here by the past, nor should you follow the conventional path others force upon you."
If conventional success and fame were applied to Lu Xixiao, Zhou Wan felt it would be mismatched and clichéd.
He should be unrestrained, he should venture out, he should walk paths with no visible end or destination.
He didn't speak, and the two continued walking along the quiet path.
When they reached the neighborhood entrance, Lu Xixiao stopped and smiled indifferently, "Forget it."
Zhou Wan looked up at him.
The corners of his mouth were lifted but held little genuine smile, his eyes dark and deep.
Zhou Wan didn't know how to persuade or comfort him.
Those wounds originated from too long ago, and even though Zhou Wan could now glimpse a fraction of them, it was like scraping poison from the bone—not easily healed.
"I'm going back," Zhou Wan bid him farewell. "Good night."
"Mm."
She walked a few steps inside before suddenly stopping and turning back.
Just as Lu Xixiao was about to ask "What's wrong?" before he could speak, Zhou Wan suddenly ran toward him.
The girl's slender waist was outlined by the wind as she ran, her soft black hair bouncing. The unique floral scent of her laundry detergent washed over him like a crashing wave.
The moment Zhou Wan threw herself into his arms, Lu Xixiao's mind went blank. He only had time to move the cigarette in his hand farther away to avoid burning her.
After just two seconds, Zhou Wan released him and took a step back.
Her head was lowered, her face flushed red down to her neck.
"Lu Xixiao," she didn't dare look up at him, keeping her head lowered the entire time. "What you said... that, I really can't do it. Can it just be like this?"
Lu Xixiao silently gritted his teeth, feeling as if his heart had been lightly scratched by tiny claws.
Zhou Wan's voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz: "If you study hard, I'll hug you, okay?"
Lu Xixiao raised an eyebrow, feeling an itch in his throat and the tip of his heart.
"The hug just now was too short, I didn't feel anything," he said.
Zhou Wan's eyelashes fluttered. Still looking down, she took another step forward and opened her arms.
This time the hug lasted three seconds.
Her face grew even redder.
Lu Xixiao estimated the temperature could probably burn his hand by now.
He laughed, his voice magnetic and deep, speaking in a deliberate and mischievous tone: "Just like this? Then it seems I'm still at a disadvantage."
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