The bookstore was quiet in the afternoon, the sound system playing a soft, melodious French song.
Sunlight streamed through the windows, enveloping the girl in a hazy glow.
Hearing footsteps, she slowly looked up, her eyes like pools of clear spring water.
"Shu..."
She called his name, her voice light and gentle, like dandelion seeds drifting across a wilderness.
"Shu..." She gazed at him, rising slowly to her feet. "I've been stuck on this problem for a while. Can you explain it to me?"
Zhang Shu stepped closer, the glow dissipating as the girl's face and figure came into clear view. Her skin was as pale as porcelain, as smooth as jade.
He lowered his head to look at the problem, only to find the entire test paper filled with her elegant handwriting—Zhang Shu, Zhang Shu, written over and over.
He lifted his gaze, but before he could speak, the girl playfully threw herself into his arms with a mischievous smile. "I was wrong, I was wrong. Shu can punish me."
Her lips were as soft as cream puffs, and kissing her felt like kissing clouds.
He trapped her between the desk and his chest, restraining the urge to snap her waist in half, his forearms braced against the desk, muscles taut.
"Shu, Shu..."
"Shu, Shu..."
...
Zhang Shu jolted awake with a muffled groan.
His forehead was damp with sweat. He glanced down—unsurprisingly, the summer quilt was tented, and slightly damp.
Zhang Shu pressed a hand to his forehead and cursed, "Fuck!"
He checked the time: six in the morning.
What afternoon sunlight?
This was pure heaven and hell.
He got up to shower. Under the spray, the broad-shouldered youth stood with firm, toned arms. He pushed back his damp hair, tilting his head to let the cold water wash over his flushed face.
How many times was this now?
Every time he touched her, his nights were filled with sweet dreams. At first, he couldn’t see her face—only heard her voice. Later, he could see her, but she was fully clothed. This time...
This time, he hadn’t even touched her!
The boy cursed again in his mind—"Fuck!"
Was Zhang Shu really this pathetic?
Back when he and Hou Junqi used to watch those "treasures" of his, he’d never had this kind of lingering effect.
Hou Junqi had even mocked him for being useless.
But the truth was, he’d never felt much. At first, it was mildly interesting, but after a while, it all looked the same. The faces were forgettable, gone the moment he looked away—unlike Hou Junqi, who could recognize someone just by a single body part.
Was this something that, once started, would become an addiction? It was driving him mad.
Zhang Shu stepped out of the bathroom, towel-drying his hair, only to bump into Zhang Sujin leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.
"Damn, sis, what are you doing here so early in the morning?"
Zhang Sujin studied her brother’s increasingly defined features and sturdy shoulders. "My Shu has grown up."
Zhang Shu paused mid-motion, eyeing his sister suspiciously. "What’s wrong with you? Creepy much?"
Zhang Sujin smirked. "Then what’s wrong with you, showering first thing in the morning? Didn’t you just shower last night?"
"Hot." He brushed past her, shaking water droplets from his hair.
Zhang Sujin watched the lanky teenager, now a full head taller than her, with amusement. "Your room’s AC is set to 16 degrees. You’re hot?"
"None of your business. Want me to pay your utility bills?" The boy ducked into his room and emerged wearing his class uniform.
"Tsk, tsk," Zhang Sujin mused. "Even in rags, you’d look this good. Truly Zhang Shu."
The boy grinned, smug and unrestrained. "Well, look whose brother I am."
Then, realizing he was wearing something she’d designed, he quickly backtracked. "Wait—this isn’t rags! Look at this pattern again. Isn’t this artist-level work?"
Zhang Sujin laughed and poked his forehead.“Don’t you have the day off from prepping ingredients today? Why are you up so early?” Zhang Shu asked.
“To make you breakfast, of course. Didn’t expect someone to rise earlier than a rooster—didn’t have time to make anything proper,” Zhang Sujin said as she walked into the kitchen and brought out two bowls of wontons. “Frozen ones. Make do with these.”
Zhang Shu swung his long legs over the dining chair and dug in with obvious satisfaction, mumbling through a mouthful, “You don’t have to make me breakfast on your days off. I can just grab something outside.”
Zhang Sujin raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Learning to care for your sister now? What’s gotten into you lately?”
Zhang Shu: “Take it or leave it.”
Zhang Sujin shot back, “No girl’s gonna like you with that attitude!”
Zhang Shu gave her a look that said, Are you out of your mind? “Other parents worry about their kids dating too young. What’s wrong with you?”
Always prying, one way or another.
“Early dating is only a problem because most kids lack judgment and can’t protect their partners,” Zhang Sujin said with a smile. “But I think A-Shu has good judgment and can protect a girl. Didn’t you even figure out on your own that brown sugar helps with period cramps?”
“That’s just common sense,” Zhang Shu muttered, lowering his head awkwardly. “Stop meddling.”
“ You’re the one who should worry!” Zhang Shu wolfed down the rest of his food and looked up at Zhang Sujin. “Don’t you have a date to get to on the weekend?”
Zhang Sujin gathered the bowls and chopsticks. “Heading out soon.”
Zhang Shu smirked and patted her shoulder approvingly. “My sister’s finally learning! Go on, but be back by ten.”
Zhang Sujin: “……”
As Zhang Shu slung his backpack over his shoulder to leave, Zhang Sujin called out again, “Zhang Shu.”
His back stiffened—full names meant trouble. He turned. “What?”
“If you ever start dating, tell me. No—you have to tell me,” Zhang Sujin said, her expression serious and resolute. “There’s something very important I need to say to you.”
Under that gaze, Zhang Shu couldn’t muster a snarky reply. After a brief silence, he answered, “Got it.”
……
On Sunday afternoon, Class Six practiced their formation march in their class uniforms.
The uniforms were a bright, eye-catching yellow, with a bold design by Zhang Shu—the word “SIX” in artistic lettering, hiding a chibi version of Wang Wei’s face inside. The plump cheeks and a few stray strands of hair were uncannily accurate, giving the whole design a playful yet trendy vibe that everyone loved.
For the march, they’d carry a banner. Class Six’s slogan read: You have your poetry and romance, I have my mountains and fields —though it was blatantly plagiarized.
The back featured Zhang Shu’s chibi Wang Wei design.
Seemed like school sports meets were the same everywhere—roasting the homeroom teacher was the main event.
Sheng Xia had assumed they’d practice for days, but they only did one round before calling it quits. Xin Xiaohe explained that Affiliated High’s opening ceremony was super casual—no need for perfect formations since the class uniforms made it obvious who was who, and no rehearsals either. Everyone just cheered and goofed off as they passed the podium.
So Sheng Xia didn’t need to practice holding the sign either. She’d just wing it.
This was what a sports meet should be—carefree, focused on enjoying the games.
The event ran from Wednesday to Friday, with the opening ceremony on Wednesday morning. As usual, Sheng Xia arrived at school by six, did some English listening practice, and was soon called over by Fu Jie.Fu Jie spread out her makeup kit on the desk. Sheng Xia stared at the dazzling array of bottles, jars, and brushes that looked almost identical yet slightly different, hesitantly asking, "Teacher, will you use all of these?"
Wouldn't that take forever?
"Of course not," Fu Jie replied, "but pretty much."
Sheng Xia: ...
She sat in Fu Jie's chair while Fu Jie stood to apply her makeup. Feeling a bit awkward, Sheng Xia said, "Teacher, maybe I should go get another chair from the classroom."
"No, no, no need. I can't sit still anyway."
So Sheng Xia watched as Fu Jie's hands kept switching tools, waving them in front of her face.
"Wonderful, youth is such a blessing—no powder caking at all."
"Amazing, these brows barely need any shaping."
"Perfect, this nose doesn’t even need contouring—just a bit of highlighter."
"Fantastic, these lashes don’t even require falsies."
"Gorgeous, you don’t even tear up with inner eyeliner."
...
The clock on the desk ticked from 6:40 to 7:55 before Fu Jie finally finished the last step. Cradling Sheng Xia’s chin, she examined her work with sparkling eyes, utterly pleased. "Flawless. Hurry up, go change and get your hair done."
Huh? It wasn’t over yet?
"Go downstairs and call someone to help carry your gown and stuff to the sports field," Fu Jie instructed. "I’ll pack up here first."
"Okay."
The school had arranged rooms under the sports field’s podium for the pageant contestants to do their makeup and change, preventing them from wandering around in formal wear.
Sheng Xia felt something tight and strange on her face, making her uneasy.
Head lowered, she returned to the classroom intending to call Xin Xiaohe, but the seat was empty. Sheng Xia peeked through the back door.
"Wow, Sheng Xia!"
Someone spotted her and gasped softly, prompting nearly the entire class to turn and look.
"So pretty..."
"A movie star!"
"She’s gonna win today."
"It’s Sheng Xia..."
Sheng Xia was stunned. She could tell from their expressions—admiring, awestruck. Her palms grew warm, and her cheeks flushed. She had no idea how she looked now. In her memory, makeup never suited her; stage makeup for past performances always turned out weird, making her look unlike herself. So she hadn’t expected much...
While dazed, a lazy voice sounded behind her. "What’s up? Blocking the way?"
Clutching the doorframe, Sheng Xia turned and met Zhang Shu’s impatient gaze.
She stepped aside and explained, "I was looking for Xiao He."
Their eyes locked. Zhang Shu, who had just barely made it to class on time, froze in place. His previously relaxed expression stiffened slightly.
In the silence of their stare-off, Sheng Xia’s mascara-coated lashes fluttered rapidly as she looked up at him.
The clock ticked from 8:00 to 8:01. Zhang Shu’s Adam’s apple bobbed before he lifted his gaze past her into the classroom—Xin Xiaohe wasn’t even there.
The whole class was still turned around, staring at their class’s star of the day.
Zhang Shu asked, "What do you need her for?"
His voice sounded slightly strained.
From this distance and angle, she could see his sharp Adam’s apple again, making her heartbeat skip. She averted her eyes and mumbled, "I wanted Xiao He to help me carry some things."
Zhang Shu cleared his throat. "Your gown?"
How did he know again? Sheng Xia nodded. "Yeah.""Let's go, I'll carry it for you." He tossed his own backpack onto the seat by the window in the last row, not caring whose seat it was, then turned toward the staircase.
Sheng Xia pursed her lips and followed.
In the classroom, students exchanged glances, faces full of knowing smiles, whispering in small groups.
"They're definitely dating, look at that vibe—I'd eat chalk dust if I'm wrong!"
"They actually look kinda good together!!"
"Didn't Zhang Shu like Chen Mengyao?"
"That's ancient history—Zhang Shu's been flirting with Sheng Xia for a while now."
"Really?"
"Didn't someone see the notes they passed?"
"Against Zhang Shu, Sheng Xia's like a little bunny?"
"With her looks and personality, who wouldn't switch their crush?"
"So pretty, so pretty—I envy beauties but not goddesses, I'm totally here for this!"
"Did you see Zhang Shu's look just now? Scary intense, like he was about to unravel..."
...
Fu Jie raised an eyebrow when she saw Zhang Shu coming to help, amusement dancing in her eyes. "Since we've got a gentleman here, you can handle all the carrying. Sheng Xia, don't lift a finger—we don't want you sweating and ruining your makeup."
Sheng Xia flushed slightly—that really wasn't necessary.
Zhang Shu also arched a brow slightly and nodded. "Fine."
He bent down, stacked the small boxes atop the larger ones, and lifted them all in one motion. "Where to?"
"The sports field. Sheng Xia, show him the way," Fu Jie glanced up. "Then put on your dress first but leave everything else. I'll come do your hair after I finish here."
Sheng Xia nodded.
The two walked downstairs one after another, passing Class Six's corridor where loud teasing erupted from the classroom.
Sheng Xia quickened her pace while Zhang Shu pretended not to notice, following at a leisurely distance as they crossed the garden to the sports field.
Colorful flags fluttered across the packed sports ground.
With the opening ceremony at nine, both junior and senior students had arrived early. Energetic warm-up music blared across the field as students in class uniforms transformed the track and turf into a vibrant mosaic.
The international-standard field meant quite a distance to the main podium, especially with stairs to navigate.
Sheng Xia turned back. "Is it too heavy? I can take the small ones—"
Mid-sentence, she nearly missed a step while walking backward...
"Watch your step!" Zhang Shu almost dropped the boxes to catch her, sighing in relief when she steadied herself. His scolding tone was sharp, eyes exasperated. "Clay Bodhisattva, walk properly!"
Sheng Xia patted her chest and focused on her footing, abandoning any offer to help.
How embarrassing.
Whether it was Sheng Xia's makeup or Zhang Shu's fame from flag-raising ceremonies, their passage across the track drew numerous glances.
Sheng Xia even noticed a campus journalist filming them, press badge dangling from their neck.
She was starting to regret asking Zhang Shu for help.
After what felt like forever, they reached the back of the podium. Sheng Xia checked the door numbers.
Hou Junqi had shown her around on Sunday—Classrooms 105 were reserved for Grades 11-1 through 10.
The door to 105 stood open, laughter drifting out.
"We're here," Sheng Xia turned and took three small boxes from his arms. "This way you can enter more easily."
Zhang Shu's lips quirked. "Not bad—remembering to warn me first. The Clay Bodhisattva has manners."
Sheng Xia: ...
She peeked inside first and, seeing other boys present, turned back to call Zhang Shu. "You can come in now."The people inside noticed the commotion at the door and turned their heads to see a stunning couple walk in.
They truly deserved to be called a perfect pair—the word "match" might as well have been carved on their foreheads.
Dressed in identical class uniforms, if it weren't for the school sports meet, they would undoubtedly be mistaken for wearing matching couple outfits.
Zhang Shu—no one in the senior year didn’t know him. The rumors about him could fill a novel long enough to circle the high school three times. The rumored female lead of that novel was the school beauty, who was currently changing into her formal dress in the back room.
So who was the beauty by his side now?
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