Lin Zhexia suspected there was something wrong with her ears.

Otherwise, how could she have heard such a sentence?

A sentence that hardly sounded human.

Allergic to water, to strangers.

Those two female students were stunned too.

They stood in place without moving forward.

At this moment, the male student who had been playing basketball with him also brought over water, calling out to him: “Yao-ge, want some of mine? I bought extra.”

The male student was wearing glasses, and the two seemed to have a decent relationship.

He said in a familiar tone: “Have mine, have mine.”

Chi Yao didn’t take it either: “Get lost, I’m allergic to your water too.”

“…”

Lin Zhexia did not doubt that in the days to come, no one would dare give Chi Yao water again.

She also vaguely began to understand what that forum phrase “will be rejected terribly” actually meant.

Chi Yao didn’t accept water from anyone and walked straight to Lin Zhexia.

Then he took the water from her hand and unscrewed the cap-

On the way home after school.

Lin Zhexia emphasized her hard work during PE class: “The sun was so strong, I sat under the sun, holding your water for an entire class period.”

Chi Yao: “Couldn’t you find a place without sun?”

Lin Zhexia almost choked: “…If you don’t know how to chat, you can choose not to talk to me.”

There were many pedestrians on the way to the bus station, mostly students.

Outside Second Middle School of Cheng’an, there was a lane that had been developed into a strip of shops.

From the moment Lin Zhexia walked out of the school gate, her eyes fell on the milk tea shop across the alley. As they got closer and closer to the milk tea shop, she finally revealed her ultimate purpose: “Anyway, if a certain someone would be willing to buy me a cup of milk tea, I wouldn’t hold a grudge about being under the sun for an entire class. The milk tea should be half-sugar…”

As she spoke, the two arrived right at the entrance of the milk tea shop.

Before she could finish, Chi Yao had already completed her sentence to the shop assistant:

“Half-sugar, no ice, extra pearls.”

The shop assistant took the order as he said and looked up to ask: “Just one cup? To go or to here?”

Lin Zhexia stood behind Chi Yao. Being shorter, she stood on tiptoe and tried to peep from behind him, chirping: “Just one cup, he’s not having any. To go, thank you, sister.”

The female shop assistant wasn’t actually that young.

Being unexpectedly called “sister,” she couldn’t help but smile: “Alright, I’ll give you some extra pearls for free, no need to pay more.”

Lin Zhexia’s temper subsided quickly.

With milk tea to drink, she no longer held a grudge.

All the way, she happily cupped her milk tea and chatted with Chi Yao.

Lin Zhexia: “By the way, guess how many points I got on the first day’s test? Guess high, be bold.”

Chi Yao: “Two digits.”

Lin Zhexia felt offended: “Who do you think you’re looking down on? You’re the one who scores two digits.”

Chi Yao: “I scored full marks.”

“…”

Lin Zhexia thought to herself that the conversation should end here; she didn’t want to say another word to Chi Yao.

However, after the two arrived at the bus station, while waiting for the bus, she couldn’t help asking: “I had a question during class just now. Why aren’t you allergic to my water?”

Chi Yao stood by the bus shelter. Hearing this, he turned his head slightly to look at her: “Your water?”

“If I remember correctly, I paid for that bottle.”

“…”

The conversation should end here.

Lin Zhexia silently took a sip of her milk tea, quickly forgetting the pain, and wanted to ask Chi Yao if he had finished his homework. But then she remembered that starting tomorrow, they wouldn’t have class; they would have military training.

“I don’t want to do military training,” Lin Zhexia complained, “Military training is so tiring, and the instructors are all fierce.”

After she spoke, she paused.

Then she mentioned the point she cared about most: “Most importantly, the food at the training base tastes terrible. Can we not participate?”

Chi Yao suddenly said, “There’s a way.”

Lin Zhexia looked at him: “?”

“Take sick leave to the hospital, donate your eyes.”

Lin Zhexia almost bit through the straw in her mouth.

She had only said once that he was average-looking.

And this person was still holding a grudge.

This person is so petty.

As they were talking, the bus arrived. Before getting on, Lin Zhexia said through gritted teeth: “I also have a suggestion for you. You should buy more sunscreen when you get back. You’re not that good-looking to begin with, don’t get tanned and become even uglier.”

The military training had a dedicated base, about twenty kilometers from the school.

Before departure, Lin He prepared some daily necessities for her, filling an entire backpack and another hand-carried bag: “Five days, these things should be enough. Change of clothes and small bottles of toiletries are all in the hand-carried bag.”

“Should I bring a few more homework books?” Lin He asked.

“No need,” Lin Zhexia hurriedly picked up the things and left. “I want to focus on military training. When doing something, one should be fully committed. I’ll deal with studying when I get back.”

After arriving at school, several buses were parked outside.

The buses carried the first-year new students to the military training base. On the bus, the class monitor assigned them to their dormitories—six people in one room. Lin Zhexia, Chen Lin, and four other girls from the same group who didn’t know each other well were assigned to one room.

The first day of military training didn’t have many activities scheduled.

Teacher Xu explained with a megaphone on the bus: “After getting off the bus, first collect your training uniforms, then go to your dormitories to put away your things, change into your uniforms, and attend the enrollment ceremony. In the afternoon, follow the instructors’ guidance; they will probably teach you how to fold your bedding.”

The military training base looked like a small school, except that in the middle of the few buildings was a particularly large parade ground.

A banner welcoming them to the camp hung at the entrance.

The instructors stood in a row, claiming their respective class teams.

After receiving her training uniform, Lin Zhexia went with Chen Lin to their assigned dormitory.

The girls’ dormitory building was next to the boys’.

The six-person dormitory did not have a bathroom.

When they arrived, the other four girls in the room were changing clothes.

One of the girls was lively and greeted them with a smile: “Did you bring belts? These pants have a pretty big waist. If you don’t have belts, I can lend you some.”

That girl was called Tang Shuxuan, and her bed was opposite hers.

Lin Zhexia wasn’t familiar with her and simply said, “No need, thank you.”

Chen Lin, being a social butterfly, responded much more enthusiastically: “We did. Did you bring anything else? I secretly packed some snacks in my bag.”

Tang Shuxuan didn’t continue the conversation with Chen Lin. Instead, she was particularly warm toward Lin Zhexia. Seeing that she was about to adjust the size of her cap after putting on her clothes, Tang Shuxuan volunteered: “Let me help you.”

This time, Lin Zhexia didn’t have time to refuse.

Tang Shuxuan had already walked behind her and adjusted her cap forward by one notch.

The morning activities were tedious, standing under the hot sun listening to speeches from the school leaders and the chief instructor of the training base.

“…This military training is meant to cultivate students’ spirit of enduring hardship. Our Second Middle School of Cheng’an has always emphasized more than just academic performance; we must develop morally, intellectually, physically, aesthetically, and in labor skills.”

Lin Zhexia stood in the first row.

Finding it boring, she secretly glanced toward the far end.

However, this glance couldn’t reach Class One.

Just as she was about to look away, she vaguely saw someone walking out from the other end.

The figure was familiar.

That tall, slender figure conspicuously walked out of the formation alone and came closer to where they were.

On the stage.

The principal of Second Middle School finished his closing remarks and continued: “Next, our first-year student representative will give a speech—”

As his words fell, the distant figure approached and stood on the stage.

The young man wore a camouflage uniform, absurdly tall, with his military cap slightly pressed down, tousled hair covering his ink-like eyebrows and eyes.

He took the microphone, and his voice came through clearly: “Hello everyone, I am Chi Yao from Class One, Year One.”

Lin Zhexia was a bit surprised.

But considering Chi Yao’s entrance exam score, which was high enough for him to attend First Middle School, it wasn’t strange that he would be chosen as the student representative.

After Chi Yao took the stage, she became more attentive.

This attention stemmed from the mindset of watching a familiar person on stage while she was in the audience.

Chen Lin whispered behind her: “The student representative is Chi Yao! He’s so impressive.”

Lin Zhexia also whispered, “He doesn’t look like he’s in a good mood. Maybe he didn’t want to go on stage but was forced by the teacher.”

Chen Lin couldn’t see anything on Chi Yao’s face besides the words “handsome.” “How can you tell he’s not in a good mood?”

“…” Lin Zhexia also found it hard to answer this question, “I just saw it at a glance.”

Chen Lin was about to say “no way,” but soon, she saw the person on stage simply adjust the microphone before delivering a very impatient opening: “I’ll just say a few words, not waste everyone’s time, and try to finish within three minutes.”

After listening to so many lengthy speeches, three minutes felt like hope suddenly descending upon them.

The applause was much more enthusiastic than before.

Of course, a bigger factor in the enthusiastic applause was that this person was Chi Yao.

The Chi Yao, who had been secretly discussed on the forum since the beginning of the school year.

Lin Zhexia had originally wanted to watch the show, but during these brief three minutes, she faintly heard whispers around her.

“It’s Chi Yao.”

“I’ve only been secretly looking at him before.”

“This is the first time I can openly look at him for three minutes.”

“Although it’s hot, I don’t mind standing a bit longer.”

“If the speaker is him, even thirty minutes wouldn’t be a problem.”

“…”

Lin Zhexia’s mood for watching the show suddenly became complicated.

The afternoon military training content was relatively simple; the instructors went around to various dormitories, teaching them how to fold bedding all afternoon.

By evening, after the six roommates returned from the bathhouse with their toiletries, they lay in bed preparing to sleep.

Theoretically, bringing phones to military training was not allowed, but everyone had secretly brought them in their bags.

After turning on her phone, Lin Zhexia first reported her safety to Lin He, then opened her chat with Chi Yao-

Are you asleep yet?

[Peeping]

The reply came quickly-

No

Lin Zhexia curled up under the covers and typed: Then what are you doing?

Chatting with a shorty who stood in the first row-

Who are you calling, Shorty?

Want me to recite your ID number?

Lin Zhexia unhesitatingly sent over a newly saved set of stickers showing a child being violently beaten.

While she was chatting with Chi Yao, Chen Lin and the others were also chatting.

Most of the six people in the dormitory were day students, so living together felt novel.

After the lights were turned off, Tang Shuxuan initiated: “Let’s chat for a while.”

At first, the conversation revolved around the day’s military training content, then Tang Shuxuan mentioned the speech, and from there, the student representative.

“Lin Zhexia,” Tang Shuxuan called her name, “I heard you know Chi Yao.”

For some reason, she felt that Tang Shuxuan had been showing a deliberate friendliness toward her since morning.

Perhaps because several times when Chen Lin was talking to her, she would always shift the topic from Chen Lin to her, whom she wasn’t familiar with.

Lin Zhexia didn’t plan to say much, just gave an “mm” in response.

Tang Shuxuan: “How long have you known each other?”

Lin Zhexia thought for a moment: “About… nine years, I guess.”

Tang Shuxuan: “That’s a long time. So you’ve known each other since you were very young.”

The dormitory was pitch black after lights out, and voices seemed amplified.

Lin Zhexia didn’t continue this topic.

But Tang Shuxuan spoke again: “Um…”

“This might be a bit presumptuous, but could you give me his contact information?”

Her words carried a hint of embarrassment: “I couldn’t find it on the forum, and people from Class One said he doesn’t add friends.”

Lin Zhexia found the reason for her deliberate friendliness.

But she couldn’t give out Chi Yao’s contact information on her initiative.

So she said: “I’ll ask him.”

It was already quite awkward to ask for contact information, and now having to seek the person’s opinion made Tang Shuxuan instinctively try to stop her: “Could you not ask him? Let’s add each other, and you can just send me his card directly through WeChat.”

After Tang Shuxuan finished speaking, the others joined in urging her.

Lin Zhexia found it hard to refuse and could only directly send her the contact card.

Tang Shuxuan thanked her repeatedly. A moment later, after finding the contact, she couldn’t help saying: “His profile picture is so cute.”

Chen Lin also became curious: “What picture?”

Tang Shuxuan: “A kitty.”

Chen Lin couldn’t help recalling Chi Yao’s face: “Is this what they call a contrast…”

Lin Zhexia, who was chatting with Chi Yao, also looked at his profile picture.

Chi Yao’s profile picture was a cat hiding in a cardboard box.

She was the one who had changed it for him.

That was probably two or three years ago. The reason for changing the profile picture was quite childish—she just thought Chi Yao’s profile picture wasn’t cute enough.

Since she often chatted with Chi Yao, she wanted him to have a cuter profile picture and carefully searched online for a bunch of cute images for him to choose from.

She still remembered Chi Yao disdainfully asking at the time: “Why should I change it?”

She had answered: “It’s good for my mental and emotional development.”

…

Thinking about this, Lin Zhexia realized she didn’t feel very happy after sharing Chi Yao’s contact information.

She found it hard to describe her current feelings because she had no reason to be unhappy.

She lay in bed thinking for a long time.

Finally, she felt it was somewhat similar to the feeling that someone who had always been by her side, her good friend,

might now be known by others.

A strange feeling of her private territory being invaded.

…

In the end, she tapped her phone screen, silently telling herself not to be so petty.

After this mental preparation.

She typed a few lines in her chat with Chi Yao, as if searching for something to say:-

Chi Yao-

Did you buy sunscreen?

Don’t get tanned at all costs. As your good friend, I sincerely hope you can maintain your looks at an average level.

Chi Dog: I also hope you regain your eyesight soon

Meanwhile, Tang Shuxuan also sent her a message.

Tang Shuxuan: I should have listened to the warnings on the forum

Tang Shuxuan: I shouldn’t have asked for his contact info

Tang Shuxuan: You should have stopped me [Breakdown].

Lin Zhexia:?

The others in the dormitory had stopped talking as they chatted, probably because some had fallen asleep.

She and Tang Shuxuan could only chat via phone.

Tang Shuxuan didn’t say much, but sent over a screenshot of their conversation.

In the screenshot, after Tang Shuxuan’s friend verification was approved, she sent a friendly “Hi.”

Chi Yao replied: Who are you.

Tang Shuxuan: Hello, Chi classmate, I’m Tang Shuxuan from Class Seven, Year One. Can we get to know each other?

That “cute” cat profile picture replied with four characters: don’t want to.

Author’s note:

doublekill