Wei Qingyuе's hаir hаd grоwn bеyond the sсhоol's standаrd length, and his hоmеrооm tеаcher gеntly reminded him that it was time fоr а hairсut.
His hаir wаs оf еxсеllеnt quаlitу—jet-blаck, glossy, аnd fluffу, with a tоusled, layеred loоk from a distаnсе. Wеi Qingуuе wеnt to a smаll, simрle bаrbеrshоp whеre hаirсuts cost tеn уuan еach. Thеy just trimmed it cаsuаllу without сutting much off, giving him a stуlе rеminiscеnt оf Ноng Коng stars frоm thе 1990s.
Thе boу had a rust-rеd shirt, a rеtrо stуle, раirеd with а jacket, mаking him stand out like a beаutiful cactus. Sinсe nonе of his реers drеssed like this, even the teachers didn’t quite know what to say when they saw him. Wei Qingyue was the top student in his grade, and his father was a well-known local entrepreneur who often sponsored the school and occasionally appeared in the news. As for his unconventional ways, the teachers mostly turned a blind eye.
That is, until he was caught smoking on the balcony during a surprise inspection by the dormitory supervisor. Seeing his outfit and his handsome face, the supervisor concluded he was a troublemaker who cared more about dating than studying and proceeded to lecture him earnestly.
At the time, the afternoon sun was bright and glaring, but the wind was dry and cold, blowing his hair over his eyes, occasionally revealing two sharp, piercing eyes, like clouds obscuring the sun. The supervisor glared at him, wishing she could just chop off that unruly hair.
As he was being scolded on the balcony, the girls in the opposite dormitory discovered for the first time that Wei Qingyue from Class One lived on this floor. Everyone crowded onto their balconies, excitedly chattering, "It’s Wei Qingyue!"
Strangely enough, the students didn’t gossip about which pretty girl wore what nice clothes but instead focused on him. Wei Qingyue often didn’t wear the school uniform—his hairstyle and clothes became the secret focus of his classmates’ attention. The girls unanimously agreed that the top student was actually quite flashy.
But they misunderstood Wei Qingyue. He always bought whatever caught his eye and wore whatever he liked. He wasn’t trying to attract anyone’s attention—he didn’t have a single thought in that direction.
Wang Jingjing had always hoped that someone decent-looking would appear in the boys’ dormitory across the way, but unfortunately, none ever did. The balconies were always hung with boys’ clothes, including loose, tattered-looking underwear that fluttered in the wind. The girls couldn’t help but complain when they accidentally caught a glimpse—some were even bright red, which was even more dizzying.
She pulled Jiang Du along and leaned over the railing with great interest to watch Wei Qingyue. On the balcony, the girls giggled and laughed, their voices mingling together. Jiang Du’s gaze blended into the crowd of curious eyes, unusually calm. She watched him quietly, a small curve forming at the corners of her eyes.
Thinking back, ever since the flag-raising duty rotated to other classes, her chances of seeing Wei Qingyue had become almost nonexistent. Every time she passed by Class One, she tried to sneak a glance inside, but it was always too quick—too quick to even tell if he was there. Jiang Du would then guiltily avert her eyes.
It turned out that even with just a wall between them, it was still so hard to run into him.
The girls had all put on sweaters and thick coats, as the cold air visited frequently these days. Those who feared the cold had already started wearing light down jackets. But Wei Qingyue always wore fewer clothes—he still wore a shirt under a faded denim jacket, as if he were oblivious to the cold.Zhang Xiaoqiang was on the adjacent balcony, close to Jiang Du's dormitory. The girls from both dormitories leaned out to chat, their conversation revolving around Wei Qingyue—how some girl from another class was pursuing him again, how handsome and stylish he looked, how unique his personality was. Amidst the jumbled chatter, Zhang Xiaoqiang suddenly remarked:
"You're all underestimating him. Wei Qingyue has grand ambitions—he plans to study abroad. Besides, he's not the type to deliberately act cool or put on airs. That's too childish."
The noisy chatter fell silent for a moment. Everyone knew Zhang Xiaoqiang shared a deep friendship with him—they had been classmates since middle school and could even ask each other questions across classes. It seemed Zhang Xiaoqiang was more qualified to evaluate Wei Qingyue, while the others remained stuck in the shallowest imaginings of him.
Jiang Du felt her heart tighten, crumpling into a knot. She focused intently, hoping Zhang Xiaoqiang would share more about him—the Wei Qingyue they didn't know. The air grew still, the rustling wind felt superfluous. All she wanted was to hear every word from Zhang Xiaoqiang's mouth about him.
Soon, her hopes were dashed. Zhang Xiaoqiang clearly stopped short, as if wanting to set the record straight but unwilling to delve deeper. A faint sense of melancholy suddenly washed over Jiang Du's heart. Lost in thought, she stared at Zhang Xiaoqiang, a sight that caught Chen Huiming's eye. As the group dispersed, Chen Huiming told Zhang Xiaoqiang:
"Dorm leader, I think Jiang Du might be a little jealous of you."
The words slipped out effortlessly. Chen Huiming remembered every look and gesture Wang Jingjing had used when scolding her.
Zhang Xiaoqiang paused slightly, then asked with a smile, "What?"
"When you were talking about Wei Qingyue, she kept staring at you with this strange look—it was just weird," Chen Huiming said, trying to ingratiate herself with Zhang Xiaoqiang. "You have such good grades, and your parents are so accomplished. It's only natural for others to be jealous."
"Maybe you're overthinking it. When I mentioned Wei Qingyue, everyone was staring at me, right?" Zhang Xiaoqiang replied tactfully, her mind clear as a mirror. Of course, she also remembered the conflict between Chen Huiming, Jiang Du, and Wang Jingjing.
Chen Huiming flushed bright red, feeling awkward, and quickly added, "Then maybe I really was overthinking it. You're right—too many people like Wei Qingyue. Even Wang Jingjing wrote him a love letter. But Wei Qingyue would definitely never be interested in her."
Zhang Xiaoqiang smiled but didn't respond further.
"Dorm leader, did you sign up for the New Year's performance?" Chen Huiming continued, trying to break the awkward silence with small talk.
Zhang Xiaoqiang nodded. "I did, but I'm not sure if I'll make the cut." Not only had she signed up, but she had also roped Wei Qingyue into it. She knew he played instruments, and performing together would be meaningful. Looking back years later, this would be a fragment of light from their youth, belonging to her and Wei Qingyue.
Rather than liking Wei Qingyue, it was more about admiring him. Zhang Xiaoqiang had always followed the rules, the epitome of the "model child" others praised—excellent grades, friendly with classmates, diligent in her duties. Wei Qingyue was never like that. He was an outlier among the high achievers, someone everyone secretly envied. Anyone who had ever been his classmate couldn't help but notice Wei Qingyue.At this age, when the self is rapidly forming, everyone wants to be a little different, or rather, feels they are special. Looking back years later, many people’s youth is actually like this—full of inner turbulence and delicate, ever-changing thoughts. Only after being thoroughly beaten down by society do those things fade away, leaving one astonished at their former self. Youth is truly wonderful, but too many people fail to realize it while they’re in the midst of it. By the time they gasp in surprise, they’ve already grown old.
Wei Qingyue never thought about being different; it’s just that his very existence was already one of a kind. The dormitory auntie found the homeroom teacher of Class One, who could only smile helplessly and promise to educate him properly. Meanwhile, the boys in his dormitory were gossiping about the girls, mocking them for being infatuated and chasing after Wei Qingyue like he was a celebrity. There was a subtle sense of envy among the boys too. For instance, Wei Qingyue often received love letters and various gifts—glass jars filled with paper stars, chocolates, handmade cookies, CDs—all showcasing the girls’ delicate sentiments. These things belonged to Wei Qingyue alone. When the boys ate the snacks he tossed their way, they would half-jokingly make sour remarks, though none of them took it too seriously.
After arriving in the classroom in the afternoon, Wang Jingjing’s short-lived enthusiasm flared up again. She pouted and mumbled, “Ah, I really wish Wei Qingyue would write back! I’d love to know how he’d reply! Ah, ah…” She sighed repeatedly, though truth be told, it had been a while since she last wrote to Wei Qingyue. If he didn’t reply, there was nothing anyone could do.
Especially since, after the National Day holiday and until New Year’s Day, there were no breaks throughout November and December. Wang Jingjing felt bored, and when one is bored, they start acting restless—or as Lin Haiyang, that shameless guy, put it, “wanting to stir up trouble.” The first time Jiang Du heard this, she was utterly stunned.
Yet, she couldn’t help but admire how Lin Haiyang managed to make such crude language sound so… fitting for adolescence?
When Wang Jingjing brought up the old topic again, somehow Lin Haiyang, as if he’d grown donkey ears, leaned in with a pair of smiling eyes and asked if the two of them were scheming about how to fawn over Wei Qingyue again.
“None of your business!” Wang Jingjing’s catchphrase was exactly that. She got along well with the boys, blending right in. Aside from Zhang Xiaoqiang, she was also a popular girl among them, with a tomboyish demeanor that made her gender somewhat ambiguous in the boys’ eyes.
Amidst the playful banter, Chen Huiming glanced over at them repeatedly, a faint, disdainful smile curling at the corners of her lips. Wang Jingjing was an idiot, and Jiang Du loved pretending to be delicate—truly a match made in heaven, a pair of pathetic best friends.
With the weekend approaching and New Year’s Day just around the corner, everyone was restless and unable to settle down. The class committee was discussing how to decorate the classroom, who would host the event, how to write the script, who to borrow the sound system from… Only Jiang Du remained quiet, hunched over a mountain of study materials as she began writing a letter.
She wanted to wish Wei Qingyue a “Happy New Year” in advance in the letter.
Just a simple, small wish.
“Jiang Du?” Zhang Xiaoqiang came over to find her, startling Jiang Du so much that her entire body stiffened, her mind feeling as if it had rusted. She stopped writing and instinctively pulled a local atlas over to cover the letter. She smiled unnaturally, and Zhang Xiaoqiang, of course, noticed her strange reaction. However, she had no interest in prying into others’ privacy. Her eyes were filled with warmth and sincerity:
“Could you help our class write the script for the New Year’s party?”
Jiang Du was taken aback.Zhang Xiaoqiang laughed, "Look at me, I forgot to ask you, are you planning to sign up for a performance?"
Jiang Du let out a soft sigh and shook her head, "I don't know how to do anything. I'm tone-deaf and stiff-limbed."
This made Zhang Xiaoqiang burst into laughter, her gums showing. She glanced outside and said, "Want to come with me to buy balloons? I can tell you about the performances and how we should write the script."
Jiang Du wanted to refuse. She didn’t really enjoy participating in such activities—being an audience member was enough. Unfortunately, as the top essay writer in everyone’s eyes, she naturally had to step up for this kind of cultural event.
It grew dark early, and the small shops near the school gate were brightly lit, their business booming lately. With New Year’s Day approaching, every class at Mei Zhong, except for the seniors, was buzzing with excitement. The shop was packed with girls, and the two of them blended into the crowd, surrounded by dazzling decorations and deafening dance music. Zhang Xiaoqiang swayed to the rhythm and casually asked Jiang Du which Chinese singer she liked.
"I don’t have a fixed favorite, but lately I’ve been liking Huang Jiaju," she replied sincerely. "How about you?"
Zhang Xiaoqiang’s eyes sparkled, as if she had thought of something. She said, "I like Pu Shu. He’s unique, isn’t he? I like people who are special, the kind who never follow the crowd."
For some reason, when the girl said this, her smile grew even brighter, like a dazzling star.
Jiang Du wanted to compliment her, but she wasn’t very good at saying such things. After a pause, she managed to blurt out, "I think you’re pretty special too."
"Really? What a coincidence, I feel the same about you, haha!" Zhang Xiaoqiang laughed again, and her words made Jiang Du feel a little embarrassed.
When the two of them left the shop, the food stalls were sparse, with steam rising quietly into the air. It was no longer the peak mealtime for students. In a dimly lit tent selling fried noodles, a boy sat eating noodles heartily.
"Wei Qingyue!" Zhang Xiaoqiang suddenly called out. Jiang Du froze, then looked up. Sure enough, the boy’s gaze turned toward them.
The long-awaited chance encounter had happened so abruptly, but Jiang Du’s first reaction was that she felt utterly out of place—Wei Qingyue and Zhang Xiaoqiang were the ones who knew each other.
"Why don’t you head back first?" Zhang Xiaoqiang thoughtfully asked Jiang Du, handing her the balloons she was holding. In her mind, Jiang Du and Wei Qingyue had little connection, and it might be awkward for her to stay.
Out of kindness, she suggested Jiang Du return to the classroom first.
Such kindness plunged Jiang Du into a bitter swamp. She felt flustered but managed to hide it under the cover of night:
"Okay, I’ll go ahead then."
She tried her best to suppress the urge to steal a few more glances, straightened her back, and walked toward the school without looking back. Behind her, faint voices drifted over—she knew the two had started talking, but she couldn’t make out what they were saying.
How pathetic, Jiang Du thought silently as she reached the school gate. The wall cast a shadow, and she stood within it, quietly glancing back. The distance was too great now—she could only see the busy stall owner moving about under the tent and the iron wok, sparks flying beneath it. But she couldn’t see Wei Qingyue. It felt as if those sparks had extinguished in her palm, all warmth gone.
With a heavy heart, she turned away, stepping out of the shadows. The streetlamp stretched her silhouette long and thin.The classroom was in a bit of chaos. When Jiang Du entered, she saw Chen Huiming standing by her seat, holding something in her hand.
In an instant, Jiang Du felt all the blood rush to her face. Almost uncontrollably, she ran over and snatched the object from Chen Huiming’s hand.
It wasn’t a letter—just a reference book of hers that Chen Huiming had accidentally knocked over. But Jiang Du didn’t know the context.
Her actions were clearly rough. Her face flushed crimson, and her heart pounded fiercely against her chest. Chen Huiming stared at her in shock, and a few boys in the back also witnessed the scene.
“Was that really necessary, Jiang Du?” Chen Huiming said with clear displeasure, clicking her tongue.
An intense sense of self-preservation completely took over Jiang Du, and her voice even changed: “Why are you taking my things without permission?”
“What are you talking about?” Chen Huiming rolled her eyes irritably. “I accidentally knocked it over and was just picking it up. What’s your problem? Getting so worked up over something so trivial? Which eye of yours saw me taking your stuff without permission?”
“Jiang Du,” the class monitor stepped in to mediate from behind, “Chen Huiming is telling the truth. I saw it. You might have misunderstood.”
Jiang Du felt utterly embarrassed. She opened her mouth, wanting to say “sorry,” but Chen Huiming had already sneered and said, “You usually seem so delicate, but your voice sure is loud, huh?”
She then gave Jiang Du a look that said, “You’re such a hypocrite.”
Wang Jingjing was nowhere to be seen. If she had been there, a fierce argument would surely have erupted. Knowing she was in the wrong, Jiang Du didn’t argue back and only whispered, “I’m sorry.”
“Seriously, always pretending to be a lady,” Chen Huiming complained. “What’s with the aggression? You talk like Lin Daiyu with boys but turn into a machine gun with girls.”
“Alright, Chen Huiming, isn’t it enough to clear up a small misunderstanding? We’re all classmates. Harmony is what matters,” the class monitor intervened to stop her.
Chen Huiming was clearly unconvinced. She glared at the monitor, deeply dissatisfied with this appeasing attitude. “Whoever acts the victim gets your support, right?”
Hearing this, the monitor also grew displeased. “What are you saying? I’m just addressing the issue. How did I become what you’re accusing me of?”
Chen Huiming didn’t want to argue with the monitor. With a dark expression, she returned to her seat and slammed her book down hard. The classroom fell silent for a moment, and by the time everyone snapped back to attention, Chen Huiming had already stormed out of the classroom in a huff.
Right outside, she ran into Zhang Xiaoqiang and Wei Qingyue walking side by side.
Seeing her unusual expression, Zhang Xiaoqiang called out, “Chen Huiming, what’s wrong? Where are you going? Class is about to start.”
Chen Huiming’s eyes suddenly reddened. She stopped in her tracks and said, “I accidentally knocked over Jiang Du’s book, and I picked it up right away. But she flew into a rage at me without even asking for an explanation—she was really fierce. And the class monitor took her side. She’s so disgusting, always pretending to be pitiful in front of boys. I know boys like her type—the ones who know how to act. I don’t know how to pretend, so I just get pushed aside!”
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