The morning carried a hint of coolness—a small concession from Nanli to autumn.
Sheng Xia had draped a pale yellow cardigan over her white cotton dress. The wide skirt concealed the cast on her left leg, while her right foot wore a simple white canvas shoe. She looked pristine and gentle, like a French tulip.
The tulip leaned on crutches, exuding the fragile beauty of an ailing maiden.
Wang Lianhua's car could only go as far as the main road near Class One. Sheng Xia hobbled down the long corridor on crutches, passing from Class One to Class Six. Heads turned in unison from every classroom, synchronized like a flock of geese.
When she entered the classroom, everyone's eyes lit up—this was Sheng Xia's first time wearing a skirt.
Unlike her elaborate attire during the sports meet, this dress couldn't have been simpler—no embellishments, not even a defined waistline. Yet it stood out all the more.
It was the wearer who elevated the garment.
Classmates gathered around with concern and greetings until Wang Lianhua left reassured.
Sheng Xia glanced back at her mother's retreating figure but noticed nothing unusual. Yet today's Wang Lianhua was clearly different.
She'd ironed the dresses early and let Sheng Xia choose which one to wear.
Unprecedented.
As Sheng Xia pondered this while responding to classmates' inquiries, a melodious female voice rang out from the corridor: "Zhang Shu!"
The voice drew involuntary glances.
Zhang Shu was intercepted by Chen Mengyao at the classroom door.
"What is it?" He had one hand in his pocket, the other holding a food container.
Chen Mengyao glanced at it. "What's that?"
Zhang Shu lifted it slightly. "Cat food." Then he looked at her expectantly: Well?
Cat food?
Chen Mengyao: "That container's huge—you think I'm blind? What giant cat eats that much?"
But she didn't press further, tugging at his sleeve instead. "Come here."
Zhang Shu's gaze swept briefly across the classroom. As he turned, he shrugged subtly, causing Chen Mengyao's hand to slip off naturally.
They stood where Wang Wei held his "Big Brother Heart-to-Heart" sessions, speaking with their backs to the classroom.
Chen Mengyao got straight to the point: "My art exams made me fall behind academically. Last month's tests were terrible, and I have no confidence about this month's. At this rate, forget Heyan and Dongzhou universities—I won't even make Nan Arts..."
She paused, looking up to see Zhang Shu raising an eyebrow. "And?"
And? Wasn't it obvious?
"And... my mom wants to get me a cram school tutor, but my schedule's too irregular for group classes—it'd have to be one-on-one. I thought... why not ask you? You explain things better than those teachers anyway..."
"So what's your offer?" Zhang Shu interrupted.
Chen Mengyao froze.
"Aha~" Zhang Shu stepped back, amused. "Not planning to pay?"
"Well..." She frowned. She'd actually intended to treat him to meals, but since he'd brought it up—"We can discuss it, right?"
Inside the classroom, everyone watched their murmured exchange with curiosity.
"Chen Mengyao's been awfully attentive to Zhang Shu lately?"
"Feeling threatened?"
"But I heard Zhang Shu gave her an expensive necklace for her birthday? Aren't they together yet?"
"Ahem!"
The speaker belatedly glanced at Sheng Xia and awkwardly shut up.
The group dispersed after a few more polite inquiries to Sheng Xia.
With the crowd gone, the view cleared. From her peripheral vision, Sheng Xia could now see the perfectly matched silhouettes in the corridor.At that moment, Zhang Shu seemed to hear something amusing. He took a step back, turned slightly to face Chen Mengyao, and by extension, the entire class.
His gaze casually swept across the room and unexpectedly locked with Sheng Xia's curious eyes.
He tilted his head slightly, raised an eyebrow, and gave her a faint smirk.
Sheng Xia immediately lowered her head!
What was that look supposed to mean? She hadn't been intentionally watching them—just a passing glance, and she'd been caught red-handed?
Chen Mengyao noticed his expression, as if he were teasing some small animal, and followed his line of sight.
A flash of pale yellow stood out glaringly. When she turned back, Zhang Shu's face had already returned to its usual indifference.
Chen Mengyao said, "Then name your price. I just think it'd be easier to coordinate schedules this way."
"So you mean you can summon me whenever you please?" Zhang Shu's tone was flat, devoid of anger, still carrying that lazy drawl. "In that case, the price goes up. Didn't you say yourself that I teach better than those one-on-one tutors outside? Shouldn't I charge more than them? Go ask around first, then we'll talk."
This businesslike attitude left Chen Mengyao somewhat embarrassed. "A-Shu, since when did you become like this?"
Zhang Shu frowned. "Haven't I always been this way? Weren't you the one who first started telling people how stingy I am?"
That wasn't what she had meant.
But when he said "always been this way," it wasn't entirely wrong. He had always carried this careless, indifferent attitude. She used to see it as arrogance and found their banter intimate and amusing.
Now, every word felt like a stab to the heart.
Chen Mengyao's palms turned cold.
It wasn't him who had changed—it seemed to be her.
Zhang Shu's eyes kept flickering toward the classroom. Whatever he saw made his gaze turn frosty.
"Let's leave it at that. You're better off finding a cram school—they're much more professional. No need to bother with me. I'm busy, you know?"
Chen Mengyao: "..."
Inside the classroom, Sheng Xia had just pulled out her English test paper when Lu Youze, sitting diagonally behind her, approached and asked, "How long did the doctor say before the cast can come off?"
Sheng Xia suddenly remembered that after replying to "Song Jiang" last night, she had tossed her phone aside and forgotten to check his messages again.
Feeling a little guilty, she answered gently, "Probably seven weeks or more."
Lu Youze said, "That really is quite a while. Let me know if you need any help—we live close by anyway."
"Okay, thanks."
"No need to be so polite. It makes us seem like strangers," Lu Youze said with a smile. "So is your family handling your transportation? What about lunch and dinner?"
Sheng Xia hummed in thought, about to answer, when a cold voice cut in from behind.
"No need for Young Master Lu to worry about that," Zhang Shu said, plopping a food container onto Sheng Xia's desk before sitting down beside her. He nudged his chin toward it. "Try it?"
The last two words were directed at Sheng Xia.
Out of the corner of her eye, Sheng Xia noticed the amused glances from their classmates.
Lu Youze's grip on his pen tightened, but he remained silent.
Sheng Xia hesitated. Was she really going to accept his "offering" in front of everyone?
"A dream come true," yet the fluttery feelings from last night had completely vanished. She felt a little awkward.
Zhang Shu couldn't stand her hesitant expression.
She had agreed so readily last night—did she think his food was poisoned now?
He opened the container for her and explained, "My sister made it. Guaranteed quality."
The surrounding classmates exchanged knowing looks.Zhang Shu acted as if he hadn't noticed anything, extending his hand in a "please" gesture. "My sister said to make it up to you."
So this was an apology.
Fine then.
"It's alright, you didn't mean to," Sheng Xia replied softly. "I accept it, but there's no need for next time."
Zhang Shu said, "My sister said we'll keep bringing it until you're fully recovered."
Huh?
Sheng Xia responded, "My family makes breakfast in the mornings."
Zhang Shu remained unfazed. "My sister said you can eat less at home and have more of mine."
Sheng Xia: "..."
Everyone else: "..."
"My sister said this, my sister said that"—his poor sister must be exhausted from taking all the blame.
As expected, one shouldn't hope for the arrogant king to suddenly turn gentle.
The soup was bone broth, likely strained, with no trace of grease. The dumplings were stuffed with shrimp, fresh and delicious.
Though, why were some dumplings big while others were small? Some were perfectly shaped, while others looked—frankly, a bit ugly. Honestly, it didn't seem like Zhang Sujin's usual standard.
Sheng Xia felt awkward eating in the classroom, but with Zhang Shu propping his chin on his hand and staring at her as if he wouldn't relent until she finished, she had no choice but to force herself to eat.
But she was already full. After a few bites, she really couldn't eat anymore and looked at Zhang Shu helplessly. "I... can't finish this."
Zhang Shu seemed to be spacing out. At her words, his eyebrows twitched slightly, as if snapping back to reality. "Hm? Oh, sure, no problem. If you can't eat more, then don't. You eat like a kitten—didn't expect you to finish anyway."
Sheng Xia nodded. Suddenly, she saw him take the container back, fish out a plastic spoon from the side, and start eating the remaining dumplings himself...
Xin Xiaohe was stunned. Wait, had things escalated to sharing a bowl of dumplings now?
The down-and-out scholar hadn't collapsed under pressure—instead, he was fighting harder than ever. His mental resilience was impressive!
Sheng Xia was also taken aback. Her gaze unconsciously flickered around the room, but thankfully, no one seemed to be paying them much attention. She lowered her head and pinched the bridge of her nose.
...
At noon, Sheng Xia was "escorted" to lunch by Zhang Shu and Hou Junqi.
The two tall boys flanked her like bodyguards, with a hobbling girl on crutches in the middle—turning heads at a 200% rate.
"You two go ahead. Don't wait for me—I'm too slow," Sheng Xia stopped and politely declined their escort.
Zhang Shu looked at her face, pale and almost glowing under the sunlight.
Her pastel yellow knitwear made her look even fairer. Beneath her skirt, her slender ankles peeked out, and the laces of her canvas shoes were loosely tied...
"You think people won't stare if you walk alone?" Zhang Shu found this amusing.
Sheng Xia was at a loss for words. Just as she was about to respond, the boy suddenly crouched in front of her. She looked down and saw his fluffy hair, the crown of his head gleaming jet-black in the sunlight.
Then she felt a tug on her foot—he was tying her shoelaces!
Beside them, Hou Junqi watched with great interest, unable to resist teasing. "Oho~ Now this is premium service!"
This time, it wasn't just the number of people turning their heads—the duration of their stares also increased.
Someone was so engrossed in watching that they bumped into another onlooker. Both hastily apologized.
In an instant, the spacious corridor buzzed with commotion.
Sheng Xia flushed crimson.
Zhang Shu stood up, dusting off his hands, and admired the bow he'd tied, still looking as carefree as ever. "If we don't wait for you, you'll trip over your laces and faceplant."
Sheng Xia: "..."
Hou Junqi: If only A-Shu could keep his mouth shut, everything would go so much smoother.
Sheng Xia said nothing. The best strategy now was to leave—so she hurriedly picked up her pace.
"No need to rush. No one's stealing your food!"
...
So annoying.
She'd already said she forgave him—he didn't need to go this far!The lunch break area was on the second floor. Sheng Xia hadn't yet mastered the skill of climbing stairs with crutches and stood hesitantly at the foot of the staircase.
"Made up your mind yet?" Zhang Shu spoke up. "Should I help you up, or are you going to levitate with your mind?"
Sheng Xia pursed her lips and looked up at him, her eyes shimmering.
Zhang Shu didn't want to bother figuring out what her little brain was agonizing over this time. He presented options: "Me helping you, or Hou Junqi?"
Hou Junqi waved his hands. "No, no, I'm just flabby—no arm strength."
It was Saturday, and with all their delays, there weren't many people around now.
Balancing on one leg, Sheng Xia handed her crutches to Hou Junqi and looked at Zhang Shu. "Then I'll trouble you."
She gripped the stair railing with one hand while Zhang Shu supported her other hand.
But—
She still didn't know how to proceed. Should she hop up?
As she hesitated, an impatient sigh sounded by her ear. "Ugh, what a hassle!"
Before the words faded, Sheng Xia found herself airborne—
Zhang Shu had scooped her up horizontally again.
Before she could react, her hands had instinctively grabbed his arms. In a few large strides, he'd already reached the landing. Carefully avoiding railings that might bump her legs, he effortlessly pivoted and continued upward.
Taking two steps at a time.
"Whoa~" Hou Junqi trailed behind them excitedly.
"You—!" Sheng Xia stared at his tense jawline.
Her reproachful words stuck in her throat, unspoken, when he gradually set her down and fixed her with a look. "What 'you'? If we waited for you to climb up yourself, the food would be cold."
Wait—who was it that said there was no hurry, that no one would steal their food?
Sheng Xia blinked. They'd already reached the second floor.
So fast.
Even when she had both legs, she couldn't climb this quickly.
Today he'd brought her breakfast and fetched water between classes. Hou Junqi was right—he really was providing her full service.
She couldn't bring herself to scold him—it would seem... presumptuous.
Leaving only her heart to pound riotously in her chest.
Her inner conflict made her gaze appear somewhat aggrieved.
Zhang Shu planted his hands on his hips, clicked his tongue in exasperation, and said in a soothing tone, as if utterly resigned, "Alright, I'm not blaming you."
Hou Junqi rolled his eyes, bypassing them to walk ahead while muttering, "Can't bear to watch, can't bear to watch."
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