Wang Wei announced during class that Zhang Shu had safely woken up, and the classroom atmosphere instantly lightened.
Hou Junqi pretended to cry from the back row, "But why isn't this guy replying to my messages?!"
Someone shouted, "Maybe because he's socially dead on Weibo and won't look at his phone for the rest of his life."
The class erupted in quiet laughter.
Everyone secretly glanced at Sheng Xia.
Sheng Xia also recalled his tree-hole confessions, like "How can she be so cute"—utterly mortifying.
"Can we go see him?" Qi Xiulei called out.
Wang Wei replied, "Maybe in a few days. Right now, he can't eat normally and is just on IV nutrients. He doesn't even have the strength to talk, so don't disturb him. And when you do go, keep it to three or four representatives."
Still can't eat...
Sheng Xia silently scolded herself for being so careless.
He was injured in the abdomen—why hadn't she even asked about that?
And yet he'd talked so much with her that day.
Tonight, she'd have to make sure he spoke less, preferably not at all.
As soon as school ended in the afternoon, Sheng Xia packed her bag to leave but was stopped by Chen Mengyao, who rushed over in a flurry.
The hallway was bustling with people, and everyone curiously watched them.
Chen Mengyao pulled Sheng Xia to a quiet corner of the corridor and got straight to the point: "Do you know which hospital he's in? You must know, right?"
Sheng Xia was taken aback. "Why would I definitely know...?"
"Isn't your dad, like, the most important person in Nanli or something?"
Well, that description.
"Can you tell me?" Chen Mengyao was desperate. "I was in Dongzhou recently, in a closed training camp. I just saw the news—how did this happen? Is he okay?"
Sheng Xia said, "He's out of danger, so don't worry. He's recovering now and shouldn't have visitors."
Chen Mengyao suddenly stared straight into Sheng Xia's eyes. "You're lying to me."
Sheng Xia: ?
Chen Mengyao: "You told me you two weren't together. I said if you got together, you had to tell me."
"We really aren't together..."
Chen Mengyao: "Really? Promise?"
Sheng Xia: "Yeah."
Chen Mengyao: "But everyone's saying he thought the girl in the bookstore was you, and that's why he rushed in to save her."
"No," Sheng Xia shook her head firmly. "He... was there because of me, but no matter who was inside, he would've rushed in."
Chen Mengyao paused, her gaze dimming slightly. "I saw his Weibo posts."
Sheng Xia pressed her lips together and didn't respond.
"But aren't you going abroad?" Chen Mengyao said. "As long as you two aren't together, my stance stays the same. If you hear anything else, can you tell me?"
Sheng Xia: "I can do that."
As someone else who cared about him, she understood.
Chen Mengyao: "Then can we add each other on WeChat?"
"Okay..." Sheng Xia pulled out her phone and opened her WeChat QR code. As the "ding" sounded, she remembered the letters from the girls in her backpack, addressed to Zhang Shu. Hesitating, she added, "But you might have a hard time."
"Added—accept it," Chen Mengyao pointed at her phone before realizing what she'd said. "Huh?"
"Right now... he might like me a lot. It might be tough for you..." Sheng Xia murmured, repeating it once more.Sheng Xia's WeChat appeared in the friends list. Chen Mengyao looked up and met the girl's utterly sincere gaze, momentarily stunned—
How could someone be this naive?
This rivalry was turning out to be rather dull.
Chen Mengyao suddenly smiled. "That's my business."
Then she turned and walked away without another word, her departure abrupt and borderline rude.
Sheng Xia was used to it. She glanced at the newly added contact—Chen Mengyao's profile picture was a selfie, as was her Moments cover photo. Confident and radiant, undeniably beautiful.
......
Sheng Xia arrived at the hospital, escorted by an officer on duty to the ward.
She'd heard reporters were lurking downstairs, though she couldn't spot any.
The rescued girl from that day was hearing-impaired, a detail that had reignited media frenzy. With a police station just two kilometers from the crime scene, some tabloids were already spinning insinuations. The recent sensationalized coverage had officials treading carefully—poor handling could spark public outcry. Every step was being taken with extreme caution.
Sheng Mingfeng had assured her that once the dust settled, the city would hold a commendation ceremony.
It was mealtime now. The aroma of food wafted from other wards as she passed, but Zhang Shu's room felt icy and silent, save for faint, stifled groans of pain.
Sheng Xia's entire body tensed. Peering through the small window, she found the curtains drawn tight, blocking any view inside.
His low, restrained moans came intermittently. Sheng Xia frowned deeply, turning to the officer beside her. "What's happening in there?"
"Probably changing dressings or an examination..."
Her grip on the doorframe tightened.
After what felt like an eternity, the doctor finally pulled back the curtains, gave a few instructions, and left.
On the bed, Zhang Shu's forehead glistened with fine beads of cold sweat.
He gasped for air, gradually steadying his breathing.
Once the medical staff had cleared out, Sheng Xia entered. A nurse was hanging an IV bag for Zhang Shu and, spotting Sheng Xia, teased, "Campus Hottie, has your niubi-lity arrived?"
Sheng Xia recalled their classmates joking that Zhang Shu had suffered social death. And well—it did seem a little true.
She herself couldn't forget that line: "I want all your wishes to come true, for everything to go your way, for your whole life to be full of niubi-lity."
If she hadn't repeated it several times, she'd never have guessed the suffix "-ity" could be transliterated so... creatively.
It was, admittedly, slightly unhinged.
Zhang Shu shot the nurse a glare, his voice weak yet firm. "Enough already..."
The nurse chuckled but didn't provoke him further, settling his arm properly before exiting.
Passing Sheng Xia, she added, "Someone's been asking since noon if a very pretty girl would show up."
Sheng Xia averted her eyes, embarrassed.
Campus Hottie.
Seemed he'd gotten along well with the nurses during his stay.
That was just like him—wherever he went, the atmosphere never stiffened, even though he wasn't particularly warm by nature.
This inexplicable magnetism was probably innate.
"Sit..." he called out, noticing her frozen stance.
Sheng Xia took the same chair as the night before, suddenly at a loss for words.
She'd come just to see him, yet always found herself tongue-tied.
"Does it hurt?" She really had no new material.
Zhang Shu figured she'd overheard earlier and simply nodded this time.
"What can be done?" Remembering how attentive he'd been when she was injured—even fetching the doctor—she asked, "Can they give you painkillers?"
"Already did." His voice was barely audible now.
Sheng Xia's gaze drifted to the rows of IV bags hanging above."Are they all nutrient solutions?" she asked, lowering her head. "Don't speak, just nod or shake your head."
Zhang Shu suddenly smiled—a toothy grin.
Despite his sickly appearance, Sheng Xia felt as if sunlight had spilled everywhere.
He shook his head.
Sheng Xia almost asked, "Then what are they?" but swallowed the words. He couldn't answer too much, so she shouldn't speak too much either.
The two of them simply gazed at each other in silence.
"Is Sister Sujin gone? Did she go back?"
Zhang Shu nodded. "Coming tonight."
"Oh, then who's taking care of you? A nurse?"
Zhang Shu nodded again.
Silence fell once more.
Zhang Shu watched the girl intently. The way her eyes darted about as she racked her brain for conversation topics was utterly amusing.
She had no choice—usually, he was the talkative one. When he wasn't speaking, there was always Hou Junqi, who talked even more.
"Is the pain still bad even with the painkillers?" She circled back to the original question, probably because it was what concerned her most.
Zhang Shu thought for a moment, then frowned. "Very painful."
Sheng Xia instinctively asked, "What would help then?"
Zhang Shu closed his eyes, as if seriously considering it. "If you compliment me a few times, it'll get better..."
He opened his eyes, full of expectation.
Sheng Xia was momentarily stunned. "Compliment... you...?"
"Ten," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Sheng Xia didn't quite catch it and leaned her ear closer to his head. His warm breath brushed against her earlobe and neck, sending a sudden shiver through her.
He repeated, "Ten good points about me..."
Sheng Xia straightened up, looking at him with a mix of bewilderment and helplessness, her ears turning pink...
How could someone so shamelessly ask to be praised?
"You... study well."
Zhang Shu pressed his lips together and nodded in acknowledgment.
"Mmm..."
She felt awkward—complimenting someone face-to-face was strange.
But her brief hesitation made Zhang Shu's pleased expression darken.
Was he really that hard to compliment? Did he have so few good points? Huh?
Sheng Xia: "Smart!"
Zhang Shu's expression soured further.
"What's... the difference?" he said, louder this time. "That's just lazy!"
"No, no," Sheng Xia waved her hands, looking sincere. "Being smart and studying well are different. Studying well is just an outward result. Being smart is about everything—it's wisdom in all aspects..."
Zhang Shu could barely suppress the grin tugging at his lips.
"Okay, what else?"
Sheng Xia: "That's two. Do you feel better?"
Zhang Shu nodded. Better, his foot—his stomach felt like it was being torn apart.
Sheng Xia continued thinking. "Thoughtful."
"Mmm."
"Broad-minded."
"Mmm." Wasn't that the same as being smart? Whatever—she was the cultured one with all the big words.
"Kind."
Zhang Shu: "Mmm." Why were they all personality traits? Couldn't she be a little more superficial?
"Brave."
Zhang Shu didn't even bother with an "Mmm" this time.
Sheng Xia counted on her fingers. "Six now..."
She hesitated to continue, glancing at his already impatient face before quickly listing off: "Tall, handsome, strong, sings well, plays the drums!"
Wait—that made eleven.
She could've even added that he was good at basketball and volleyball.
Stop.
Her ears burned.
The girl lowered her head, wishing she could bury herself in the blanket in front of her.
Ugh, saying things like "handsome" and "strong" made her sound like some obsessed admirer...
Zhang Shu was completely stunned, the sheer delight in his heart momentarily dulling the pain.
Sings well? Plays the drums?
For a long while, she didn't raise her head again.Zhang Shu reached out and tugged at the sheet in front of her. "Where did you hear me sing?"
"Weibo... ah..." She looked up and answered softly.
The smile on Zhang Shu's face froze instantly, leaving him awkward.
Of course. The whole internet had seen his Weibo post—how could she have missed it?
Zhang Shu: "Do you like listening to me sing?"
Sheng Xia nodded. "Mhm... everyone does..."
Zhang Shu: "Was I handsome?"
Sheng Xia: "......"
"Handsome." She lowered her head again, burying it like an ostrich in the sand.
After a long pause, she suddenly realized—how had this turned into him questioning her? He wasn’t supposed to talk this much.
So she looked up again and got to the point: "I brought your mock exam papers, along with the answer key. But since you can only lie down right now, you probably can’t look at them yet. I’ll leave them here for when you can sit up."
The papers were neatly folded in a folder. After setting them down, she pulled out a stack of envelopes from her bag.
Zhang Shu looked at her, puzzled.
Sheng Xia: "These are... letters from classmates..."
"Classmates?"
Zhang Shu glanced at the colorful stationery and could easily guess which "classmates" had written them.
Most likely love letters.
Love letters others had written for him, and she had calmly collected them to show him?
What kind of thought process was that?
Zhang Shu: "Do you know what’s written inside?"
Sheng Xia shook her head. She hadn’t read them—how would she know?
But she could probably guess.
Zhang Shu: "You don’t know, yet you dare show them to me?"
His mood instantly plummeted to rock bottom.
So, her being so accommodating was only because he’d just returned from the brink of death?
Unaware of his shift in mood, Sheng Xia continued rummaging through her bag. "Do you want to read them now or later? I’ll just leave them here for now."
Zhang Shu: "......"
When Sheng Xia looked up again, she met a pair of utterly exasperated eyes.
It was easy to tell he was unhappy.
Her intuition told her it was about the envelopes, so she stacked them on the nightstand and dropped the subject.
It was time for her to leave. She couldn’t disturb him for too long, and she still had class at Hengxin Tower.
"Um..." She felt like she’d failed—visiting a patient only to make them upset. "I have to go now. I have class tonight."
What class? He didn’t need to ask.
After following her for days, how could he not know?
Seeing the light in his eyes vanish completely, Sheng Xia knew that studying abroad was the most unspeakable topic between them.
But since the final review hadn’t passed yet, she couldn’t give him uncertain news. If she failed, she would still have to go abroad, and the same painful separation would repeat.
At least wait until after the final review.
Staring into his dejected eyes, she couldn’t muster a single word of comfort.
Sheng Xia stood up. "I might not be able to visit you these next few days. I’ll come again when you’re better."
"Sheng Xia."
She stopped at his call, hearing him say faintly, "Do you pity me?"
"What?" She wondered if she’d misheard.
"Nothing," he turned his head slightly, his gaze losing its usual intensity as he lay flat. "Goodbye."
Sheng Xia hesitated before leaving.
Glancing back every few steps.
...
To keep Sheng Xia from running to the hospital every day, Wang Lianhua resumed picking her up and dropping her off.
And since Sheng Xia had evening classes at the tutoring center, it was impossible to hide anymore.Wang Lianhua remained silent for half an hour before finally losing her temper. "So I, as your mother, am unworthy of having any say in your future, is that it? You and your father pulled off such a major scheme behind my back. Don't think I don't know about all the lies you've told before! Where did that dress under your bed come from? Didn't you say the school paid to rent it? Why wasn't it returned? I don't even need to look at it to know that style and price range—it's Zou Weiping's handiwork!"
"And Zhang Shu, do he and his wife both tacitly approve of you two dating already? Ha! I raised my daughter, and they get to play the good guys! I suppose you're very grateful to them! While I'm the one always disciplining you, the wicked woman who stands in the way of true love, is that it!"
"Every single thing you've kept hidden from me! The three of you are the real family, aren't you? Ganging up to keep this outsider in the dark! All this time, I've held my tongue because I saw how hard you were studying, how exhausted you were. And look how well that's turned out—the path is already paved, and now and in the future, you won't need your mother anymore, is that it?"
Sheng Xia stood frozen on the sofa before shakily getting to her feet.
Mother and daughter were both in tears.
"Mom, it's not like that, it's not..." Sheng Xia tried to explain. "I wanted to wait until I could be sure about getting into a good university here before telling you."
Wang Lianhua shot back, "And what if you don't get in?"
Sheng Xia fell silent.
In truth, she had no solution.
If she ultimately failed to test into Heqing University, Sheng Mingfeng was bound to have a fierce argument with Wang Lianhua.
She was so confused. She didn't know either.
Why was balance so hard to achieve?
Why did her wish for everyone to be a little happier end up causing everyone so much pain?
Had she overestimated herself?
Clearly, she couldn't resolve this.
Just like with Zhang Shu—she couldn't truly make him happy.
How had she gotten into this situation?
Where had it all started going wrong?
Sheng Xia felt like a lump of non-Newtonian fluid—lacking a core, impossible to define, a tangled mess when squeezed, spreading out flat when released.
"Mom, I don't know what to do either, Mom..." The complaint finally spilled out.
Why did no one remember she was only seventeen?
Wang Lianhua's agitation subsided slightly at the sound of Sheng Xia's sobs.
How could she not understand? Sheng Xia was the most sensible child; the current situation was already the result of her utmost efforts.
Wang Lianhua finally truly admitted: The selfish one had always been herself.
Her own suffering should never have been transferred onto her child.
Slumping onto the sofa, Wang Lianhua asked, "Sheng Xia, would you be willing... to go live with your father? I'm not saying this in anger. I just think he could give you more."
"No!" Sheng Xia threw herself onto her mother's lap, burying her face in her embrace. "I don't want to, Mom. I only want to stay with you. I still need to graduate and find a good job to take care of you properly, Mom. I didn't mean to. I'll tell Dad right now—I won't go abroad. Mom, please don't abandon me..."
"No, my good child," Wang Lianhua lifted Sheng Xia up. "Mom was wrong. I shouldn't have said those things earlier. Actually, going abroad is the best choice for you. I was the selfish one. Your dad always opposes me, and I got carried away in the heat of the moment. Let's both calm down and think things through properly. Don't act on impulse."
Apart from faint sobbing, there wasn't another sound in the house.At night, Sheng Xia lay in her bed, hearing faint roars from her mother's room next door.
She knew they were arguing again.
She couldn't make out the words, but every pause and syllable hammered against her fragile heart.
When would all this finally end?
...
The argument had barely ceased for two minutes when Sheng Xia received a call from Sheng Mingfeng.
"Dad..."
"I told you before, we should have talked to your mom earlier," Sheng Mingfeng sighed. "Don't blame her. She's just stubborn. Once she calms down, she'll know how to do what's best for you."
"Mm."
Sheng Mingfeng continued, "Why don't you want to study abroad?"
"I want to study Chinese..." She was exhausted and wanted to keep it brief.
Sheng Mingfeng sighed again. "Have you thought about the future? Study Chinese, and then what?"
And then what?
"Your father is a man, but I don't want to make excuses for men. Men mature late—perhaps even later than they imagine..." Sheng Mingfeng sighed once more. "Like me and your mother. We met in college, both convinced no one could be more suited for each other. But look how it turned out... You've seen it yourself."
"On this point, I agree with your mother. You're too young. Don't let emotions cloud your judgment. Any decision you make must be for yourself."
"I owe your mother. She wants you to stay by her side, and I understand that. But education is the most important choice in life—even more so than marriage. I hope you'll consider it carefully. Choosing a university, a major—it's not just about prestige and wealth, but you can't ignore those factors entirely..."
"Studying Chinese isn't bad, but you want to focus on classical Chinese. I don't know much about that. Can you explain it to me?"
"Classical Chinese..." Sheng Xia slowly sat up straighter. "It's the most beautiful language in the world. I don't know what use it will be to me in the future, but if I can be of use to it, that would be my achievement. If my writing, my research, can help more people access it and come to love it, that would be the most fulfilling thing for me."
Silence on the other end. Sheng Mingfeng seemed to be pondering.
After a long pause, he said gently, "I'll look into it first. Don't rush your decision. As for studying abroad, you should still prepare—the exams are in May..."
Sheng Xia slumped back, staring at the ceiling.
Compared to Wang Lianhua's hysterics, Sheng Mingfeng's gentle knife was even more unsettling.
Gentle, yet unyielding.
"Get some rest..."
"Dad." Sheng Xia stopped him.
"Is there something else?"
"Dad, can I... make my own decision for once?"
A long silence.
Sheng Mingfeng's voice remained patient and kind. "Don't be hasty. Think everything through carefully."
That meant no.
"Goodnight."
...
The battle had ended, but the smoke still lingered.
Wang Lianhua kept a tight watch on Sheng Xia, not allowing her to visit the hospital frequently.
It had been nearly a week since Sheng Xia last went.
She had left messages for Zhang Shu on Q.Q, asking about his condition, but received no reply.
Was it really because he never wanted to look at his phone again after the "social death"?
But she could understand. After such a major incident, his phone must be flooded with messages. With only one hand usable, replying to everyone would be exhausting—and showing favoritism wouldn't do. It was easier to treat everyone the same.
Everyone understood.However, several more days passed, and even Zhang Sujin had already returned to the shop to work, yet there was still no word from him.
Sheng Xia thought, maybe she could skip PE class in the afternoon to go see him? If she sneaked back afterward, her mother wouldn’t notice.
Once she made up her mind, her appetite even improved at lunch.
Across from her, Hou Junqi suddenly exclaimed while looking at his phone, "Holy shit!"
Sheng Xia gave him a puzzled look.
Hou Junqi couldn't contain his joy: "Hey, Shu-ge said I can go visit him now!"
Sheng Xia was also delighted: "Really? How is he doing? Can he sit up yet?"
"He didn't mention that, not sure. Here, listen to the voice message—"
Hou Junqi played it on speaker, and Zhang Shu's voice came through: "Not coming to see your dad? Isn't that unfilial? What about Han Xiao and the others? Don't care about grandpa's life anymore?"
Sheng Xia was slightly speechless. The hierarchy among boys was really strange.
What was heartening was that his voice no longer sounded weak. Though not loud, there was strength in it now.
Hou Junqi asked, "Should I call them to go together? Are you coming?"
"Of course..." Sheng Xia's words caught in her throat as she glanced at her silent phone and the unresponsive chat window, the light in her eyes dimming. "You guys go first?"
Last time she visited, he seemed unhappy afterward.
He could reply to Hou Junqi's messages but not hers.
He probably didn't want her to come...
Never mind.
Hou Junqi thought Sheng Xia was worried about her mother and comforted her, "We'll send you videos."
Sheng Xia: ...
"Okay."
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