Sheng Xia had no idea how much time had passed – she’d lost all sense of it.

“Zhang Shu… I don’t want…” she began, but hadn’t thought through what to say.

The little figures in her heart were fighting, while the person before her was much calmer than her.

“I hadn’t planned to say it now. At this stage, the best relationship isn’t romance, but moving forward together, like interlocking rings – even back-to-back, we should jump to the finish line before turning to face each other. I believe you share this view with me. So I was afraid saying it would trouble you, but feelings like this, as you can see, can’t be hidden – who can’t tell I like you?”

He spoke as if the words just flowed naturally, without pause.

“But not saying it seems to trouble you more.”

“Don’t be afraid, don’t panic.”

“I can’t say things like ‘my feelings for you have nothing to do with you’ – I just don’t want you to feel pressure, but knowing your personality there’s still considerable pressure. Just think of me as someone who wants to be good to you – like, treat me as your dad?”

Sheng Xia: …

Uh, maybe he wasn’t so calm after all.

Zhang Shu propped himself up on his elbows, putting up a brave front but nervous as hell, even starting to stumble over his words. He somewhat regretted his habitual snark – it was proving counterproductive at this crucial moment.

He stopped himself, quickly correcting course and deciding to lay out his intentions plainly: “Sorry, I meant brother – how about brother? I’ll be good to you, you just accept it, though you have no choice since I can’t help myself… When someday you want to date, when you’re ready to date, I get first succession rights as your boyfriend, deal?”

He leaned in closer, speaking softly as if whispering: “Just allow me to like you first, okay?”

The turmoil in her abdomen ceased – all intense activity seemed paused by his words.

This moment was identical to the end of watching that video that day.

Numb.

He wasn’t out of breath, but she had lost control of her muscles and pulse.

“Hmm?” Getting no response, he brought his whole face closer, his high straight nose almost touching hers.

Sheng Xia panicked, jerking back suddenly – her head nearly hit the wall before he grabbed her arm, steadying her to prevent the collision. Then a broad palm cradled the back of her head, suddenly pulling her toward him, mere inches apart.

“Can I?”

He asked, voice so low only they could hear it, causing an involuntary shiver.

The hand at the back of her head was still gently massaging as if coaxing…

Bang, bang, bang!

Her heartbeat seemed to run backward, constantly hitting against defenses.

She stared at his handsome face, too close to see clearly, not daring to move, unconsciously holding her breath until she was nearly suffocating!

Just before her last string snapped, Zhang Shu released her, sitting back straight.

But his eyes still stared directly at her.

Sheng Xia’s hand resting on her knee lightly felt her pulse while trying to find her voice.

“I- I don’t know, I, I need to think about it.”

As soon as the words fell, both froze.

Sheng Xia suddenly realized—

What was she saying!!

How was this any different from agreeing?

It was only because his question was too crafty – what did he mean by “allow” him to like her? If she said no, would he stop liking her? Was this something she could control?

How was anyone supposed to answer that?

It was completely unsolvable!

No matter what the answer, as long as it wasn’t rejection, wasn’t it equivalent to having the same intention?

This was a trap!

Ahhhhhhh!!!

Zhang Shu indeed smiled, then seemed to realize he was smiling, touched his nose, and gave a light cough, but ultimately couldn’t hide his joy. Suddenly he leaned back against the sofa and let out two loud laughs, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down, sharp with an air of certainty of victory.

Ha, ha!

His two abrupt laughs echoed through the entire hall.

Sheng Xia: …

“Sorry,” he said smilingly, “just confirming this is real space-time, not a dream.”

Sheng Xia needed to do something to ease the tension, but her mind was blank.

Zhang Shu was the first to calm down, his gaze returning to the neglected cake, “Still want to eat? Though this is probably the same as yours, might not even taste as good…”

Sheng Xia came back to her senses, confirming that his tone indeed held a melancholy she’d never heard before – probably still dejected that he’d gotten the same cake and a smaller one than hers.

She found her voice again, “Actually, they’re different.”

Zhang Shu: “Hmm?”

“This brand’s cakes, I heard their delivery men are all over 1.8 meters tall, and all have proper looks and demeanor, that’s part of their… brand premium…”

Zhang Shu continued looking puzzled:?

“But mine was bought by a family, so I didn’t see the delivery person, missed out…” Sheng Xia hesitated, looking at the small red heart before her, mumbling, “With yours, I saw him.”

She saw this delivery person right in front of her, whose looks and demeanor were more than just proper.

Brand premium – she got her money’s worth.

“No loss.” The final two words were so soft they were barely audible as she lowered her head.

While speaking, there was a buzzing in Sheng Xia’s ears – she wasn’t even clear herself what exactly she’d said, or if she’d explained it properly.

Zhang Shu indeed froze for several seconds before nodding: “Oh, sorry then, I’m 1.85 meters.”

Sheng Xia: …He didn’t understand.

He too had lost his quick wit to nervousness, taking a while to realize – was she trying to comfort him?

In such a roundabout way?

Was she saying his cake was different because he was the delivery person?

That must be it, right? He hadn’t misunderstood the cultured person’s words, had he? Zhang Shu pondered repeatedly.

Looking at her bright red face lowered as far as possible, his heartbeat suddenly lost its rhythm too.

How many times had he marveled – how could she be so cute?

He could barely hold back anymore, really wanted – wanted to touch her, pinch her cheeks, hold her hand, pull her into his arms, kiss— stop.

Anything would do, he wasn’t picky.

Zhang Shu thought as he regained some thinking ability, asking: “So want to eat?”

Sheng Xia nodded.

Just as Zhang Shu was about to cut it, he suddenly remembered he hadn’t sung Happy Birthday or watched her make a wish, but these mini cakes didn’t come with candles. He suddenly stood up, “Wait for me a minute.”

Then he strode out, before Sheng Xia could react, she saw him stop, stride back, pull out his phone from his pants pocket, adjust the phone light, and shine it on the white wall, brightening the whole space.

“Don’t be scared, this is the library, ghosts can’t read so they can’t come in, I’ll be right back.” He said this while running out backward.

Sheng Xia was stunned.

Was he worried about her being alone, afraid of the dark?

Had her image of being superstitiously fearful become so deeply ingrained?

Then, through the window, she watched him run up the circular stairs of the teaching building.

Round and round until his figure disappeared on the fifth floor…

What was he trying to do?

In less than a minute, she saw him circling back down, taking three or four steps at a time.

Then he appeared before her, out of breath.

Wind on his shoulders, light in his eyes.

“I don’t smoke, borrowed this from Han Xiao.” He raised a silver lighter in explanation.

Sheng Xia looked at him puzzled.

Zhang Shu didn’t return to his original seat, but crouched down at the edge of the table, right in front of her, one knee higher than the other, posture almost like kneeling on one knee.

Though he wasn’t really, Sheng Xia’s ears grew slightly hot.

He turned off the phone light, one hand holding the cake, the other clicking the lighter.

With a “click,” the flame shot up.

Using the lighter as a candle, in the flickering firelight, he sang deeply: “Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to my baby, Happy birthday to you…”

His voice was completely different from when he sang rock in the video – magnetic, low, unbelievably gentle, accompanied by his rough breathing and light panting from running… each note striking Sheng Xia’s heart.

Especially that “to my baby” – electricity seemed to run down Sheng Xia’s spine, followed by her ears burning as if on fire.

Who! Who was his baby?!

Trembling, joy, nervousness, shyness… various complex emotions mixed, creating an overwhelming impact that nearly drowned her.

She recalled what Hou Junqi often said – who could handle this?

“Make a wish.” As the song ended, he looked up, raising his eyebrows, watching her with eyes full of anticipation.

Sheng Xia stared at him blankly for two seconds, pressed her lips together, then clasped her hands together under her chin, devoutly closing her eyes.

She felt the light seem to go out, then he quickly clicked the lighter again.

When she slowly opened her eyes, the firelight was still bright.

He asked: “Done wishing?”

“Done.”

Zhang Shu: “Blow out the candle.”

Sheng Xia looked dubious, he gently lifted his chin to indicate the lighter.

She leaned in, gently blowing.

He released his grip at the same time, the flame retreating into the lighter.

Immediately, he quickly threw the lighter on the table, shaking his hand, “Fuck, that bastard Han Xiao, what crappy lighter, nearly burned Daddy.”

Sheng Xia: …

One angry curse broke the subtle romance and awkwardness in the air.

But he didn’t stand up, and she didn’t move either.

She was still in the position of blowing the “candle,” very close to him.

The two just stared at each other for a long time in the dim light.

Finally, when his gaze shifted from focused to playful, Sheng Xia came to her senses first, suddenly sitting up straight, “Just now, Teacher Wang said, five minutes… the cake, I’ll eat it later…”

“Silly, five minutes passed long ago, can we go back a bit later? Let me look at you a while longer.”

Still crouching, he looked up at her slightly, under his soft fluffy bangs his gaze was focused and immersed, making one want to drown in it.

Look- look at what! What kind of talk was this?

How could he say it so naturally?

The burning in Sheng Xia’s ears gradually spread, like a prairie fire.

Could he- could he not talk like this!

So skillfully casual!

Frivolous!

“No! How could this be okay!”

She was indignant but didn’t notice the undisguised coquettishness in her tone.

Zhang Shu felt his heart melting, unable to hold back anymore, casually pinched her hand resting on her knee, “Okay, let’s go back.”

His fingers tightened briefly, a wave of warmth – his hand was damp and hot, touching just once before letting go, but Sheng Xia was frozen again, feeling that spot go so numb it almost didn’t belong to her anymore!

How could he touch her hand?

She quickly stood up and started walking, but still feeling something wasn’t right, she suddenly turned back while walking ahead, “Zhang Shu.”

“Hmm?” He complied readily.

“From now on, you’re not allowed to do this.” She made her demand.

Zhang Shu looked at her puffed-up face, “Do what?”

“We’re just classmates, you’re not allowed, you’re not allowed to, you…” She was too embarrassed to describe it, so anxious she looked about to cry.

“Okay okay okay,” Zhang Shu hurried to placate her, “I won’t do it anymore, don’t be angry…”

Sheng Xia turned and fled in indignation.

Zhang Shu smiled helplessly, rubbing the fingers that had touched her hand as if trying to forget that sensation to avoid addiction. But it was futile – that soft touch seemed branded on, just thinking about it made his heart melt completely.

How could anyone have such soft hands, did she not have bones?

Not do this? Do what? If this wasn’t allowed, was he supposed to suffocate?

Zhang Shu put the cake back in its box, and caught up to her in a few steps, steadily following behind, two or three meters away.

Just before entering the teaching building, Sheng Xia was suddenly called again.

“Sheng Xia.”

She turned back slightly.

Zhang Shu didn’t walk up close to her, just stopped behind her, speaking: “I think I should inform you of something.”

She didn’t move or speak, just waited.

“Just now, I discovered I like you even more than I imagined.”

Like you even more than I imagined.

She couldn’t count how many times he’d said “like you” today.

Sheng Xia wanted to beg for mercy – could he slow down, stop talking? She feared her remaining strength wouldn’t support her walk back.

His voice still came from behind, tone solemn.

“Until now in this life, I’ve never liked anyone, except my sister, I’ve never been good to anyone. If I haven’t mastered the proper boundaries, please remind me, or, forgive me.”