“Xu You, hurry up with your homework. You’ve been spacing out for half an hour.”

Her desk-mate quietly reminded her. Only then did Xu You snap back to reality. She smiled apologetically, picked up her pen, and read the problems absentmindedly.

But her mind continued thinking about how to resolve the situation at home.

“Xu You, come out for a moment.” After a pause, the homeroom teacher walked around the corridor and looked at her hesitantly.

The moment Xu You’s foot left the classroom, her classmates started discussing.

“Is the school offering more recommendation spots again?”

“It’s possible.”

“I see Teacher Wang calling these top students out for talks every day. It’s probably about that.”

Outside the classroom.

Wang Xiadong frowned and told her, “Your mother just called saying the hospital phoned. Your grandmother isn’t doing well. They want you to go to the city center hospital.”

Like a bolt from the blue, Xu You instantly didn’t know how to react.

Sometimes heaven really doesn’t make sense—almost all the blows happen in a single night, regardless of whether a person can withstand them.

The entire journey to the hospital was a nightmare. That grandmother who had raised her since childhood, the elderly person for whom she had very deep feelings.

Xu You kept vigil by her grandmother for one night.

The old woman’s eyes were half-open, half-closed—impossible to tell if she was awake or asleep. Her consciousness was sometimes clear, sometimes confused. When she remembered, she would say a few words to Xu You.

“A’Chai…”

“I’m here, Grandmother.”

Xu You lay by the bedside responding. She held her grandmother’s hand, moved her lips, and suppressed her choking voice to say, “Grandmother, sleep well. When you wake up tomorrow, you’ll be better. A’Chai will sleep with you.”

Following the customs from their hometown, the family removed the old woman’s clothes. Chen Xiuyun wiped her mother’s body and personally changed her into burial clothes, murmuring, “Mom, just rest easy. Xu You is sensible.”

Grandmother seemed to be smiling, murmuring deliriously, “I know, A’Chai is obedient… Grandmother is waiting for A’Chai to get into university. Grandmother still wants to cook mung bean porridge for my A’Chai to drink…”

“Okay, I’ll definitely get into university. Don’t worry, Grandmother.”

The younger generation keeping watch on the side couldn’t help but turn their heads away, but they all knew in their hearts that the old woman probably wouldn’t make it through the night.

Tears welled up in Xu You’s eyes and trembled down. She didn’t dare cry out loud.

The old woman, whose lamp oil had run dry, had a gaunt, waxen face. Her hands, rough from a lifetime of hard work, were withered and bony. At first glance, her appearance was somewhat distorted and frightening.

But Xu You wasn’t afraid at all. She was only afraid that dawn would come too early and she would have to bid farewell to Grandmother forever.

Grandmother still couldn’t make it through that night. She breathed her last at dawn. Chen Xiuyun wailed in grief while Xu You’s aunt comforted her on the side.

The family contacted the funeral home and began arranging the funeral in an orderly manner.

When Grandmother died, the younger generation had to observe mourning for three days.

During those days, the situation at home was chaotic. Xu You took leave from evening self-study to kneel in front of the spirit hall for several hours. Although physically and mentally exhausted, she still had to force herself to go to school for classes.

Kneeling for so long every day—her body actually couldn’t take it. As long as she stood for a while, her legs would go weak.

Xu You asked Song Yifan to tell Xie Ci that something had happened at home and he shouldn’t come wait to walk home together anymore.

Actually, she didn’t want to deliberately avoid Xie Ci. She just didn’t want to add to the family’s troubles at such a critical juncture.

But habits—they’re truly terrifying. Walking home alone, Xu You occasionally felt lonely.

Walking on the road, she would have the illusion that someone was following beside her. Thinking of Xie Ci was just a fleeting thought. Senior year kept her too busy to think about more.

Days were torturous while preparing for the college entrance exam. As it approached the Spring Festival break, time became more tense day by day.

Looking back on that period later, it was particularly hard to endure, yet it passed particularly quickly.

One evening during self-study, Xu You kept coughing and suddenly felt unbearable abdominal pain.

This past month, she’d been under too much pressure. Combined with insufficient sleep and not treating her naturally cold constitution, her period pain was killing her.

Xu You covered her stomach with one hand and buried her head in her arm. She lay on the desk while her desk-mate looked at her with concern. “You look really uncomfortable. Are you okay?”

Xu You waved her hand. Her lower abdomen suddenly twisted viciously, causing her to bite her lip in pain. “I’m taking leave to go buy some medicine. If there’s an exam tonight, help me put the test paper in my drawer.”

In the office, Wang Xiadong saw her pale cheeks without a trace of color and immediately wrote a leave slip.

“What’s wrong? Can you get home by yourself? Should I have a classmate escort you, or should we call your parents?”

Xu You took the leave slip with both hands and bowed to Wang Xiadong. “No need, I’ll go out and buy some medicine myself. Thank you, Teacher.”

“All right then.”

Wang Xiadong was a male teacher and couldn’t say too much. He put down his pen. “Be careful going alone.”

—

After leaving school, every step was torture. Xu You’s lower abdomen felt even more uncomfortable—the pain was almost causing stomach cramps.

It had snowed lightly that evening, and the road was very slippery.

Fortunately, the pharmacy wasn’t far from school.

She barely made it to the pharmacy entrance. Unable to hold it in, she finally leaned against a tree, squatted down, and vomited.

Stomach acid surged straight up. Xu You felt so terrible she saw stars, even drawing sidelong glances from passersby.

She clenched her fist, cold sweat beading at her temples, her whole body without an ounce of strength. Just at this moment, a hand firmly gripped her wrist.

Xie Ci bent down, half-pulling, half-dragging, helping Xu You stand up using his strength.

His worried, frowning appearance came into her view.

“What are you doing here?” Face pale, she asked after catching her breath.

Xie Ci half-supported Xu You, his arm around her shoulder, and the two went to the pharmacy to buy pain medication. The female doctor, wearing a white coat, saw Xu You looking half-dead and went to the water dispenser to get her a cup of hot water. “Your period pain is this severe? You definitely don’t pay any attention to treatment normally, do you?”

With Xie Ci present, Xu You’s face couldn’t help but turn slightly red when the doctor asked so directly.

Seeing she was too embarrassed to speak, the doctor asked Xie Ci beside her, “Are you her boyfriend?”

Xu You was thin-skinned, but Xie Ci’s skin was quite thick. He smiled and said, “Yes.”

“As a boyfriend, you need to take care of your girlfriend.”

Xie Ci smiled even more happily but didn’t dare show it too obviously and recklessly. He could only nod. “I know, I know.”

—

The painkiller worked quickly. With adrenaline secretion suppressed, after a while, Xu You basically returned to normal.

The light snow didn’t stop, drifting and scattering throughout the entire city. Xu You and Xie Ci walked slowly along the road. Neither spoke.

He wore a white jacket and blue jeans with rolled-up cuffs and a pair of black sneakers. His tall, slender figure and handsome face attracted the attention of passersby.

Passing the first streetlight at the corner, she finally turned around.

A nearby shop was playing Wang Fei’s music—the casual female voice mingling with neon lights. Vehicles flashed past them. Xu You said, “You don’t need to accompany me anymore. Go home early.”

Xie Ci remained impassive. “What’s been going on with you lately? Did something happen?”

“Something did happen.”

Her hair was blown messy by the wind. “So I can’t see you for a while.”

“What do you mean?” Xie Ci felt somewhat at a loss, vaguely sensing her concealment.

The yellow-orange streetlight cast a halo around Xu You’s figure. Her plain face appeared soft in the light, except the corners of her eyes and brows showed exhaustion that wouldn’t fade.

“Can our matter wait until after my college entrance exam to discuss?” Xu You lowered her head, feeling her fingertips ice-cold.

Although she had conceived countless ways to say it, facing him and standing before him, she couldn’t say any of the extra words.

“You mean you want to break up with me.” He stated flatly.

“No.”

He kept not speaking. Xu You was the first to turn and leave, walking away step by step, then stopping again ten meters away.

She couldn’t leave as wished. Xie Ci grabbed her hand from behind. His palm was burning hot and sweaty. Xu You could faintly feel him trembling.

“I know you’re in senior year. Isn’t it enough that I won’t disturb you? Don’t talk to me about ‘later’—I don’t like hearing it.” He seemed to be convincing her, more like convincing himself. “It’s not any different anyway. After all—”

Xu You said nothing. She turned around, stepped forward, and hugged Xie Ci tightly.

She hugged him so tightly that Xie Ci suddenly froze, his mind blank, not daring to move.

Xu You’s height only reached his shoulder. Xie Ci could even smell the faint jasmine scent of shampoo from her hair.

Another stretch of silence.

She said, “Wait for me.”

Unknowingly, Xu You cared more and more about Xie Ci, considering his feelings in everything.

She cared so much that she didn’t even want to tell him about her parents’ situation.

With just this one inexplicable sentence, Xie Ci didn’t continue asking anything but simply agreed, “Okay, I understand.”

At that time, Xu You didn’t know, and Xie Ci didn’t know either.

They were both so young, thinking feelings would never change, thinking there was still plenty of time in the future. But who could say for certain what would happen tomorrow?

—

Back home, Father Xu sat on the sofa smoking sullenly while Chen Xiuyun sat on a chair to the side without making a sound.

When they saw Xu You return, Father Xu spoke first. “Your teacher just called me. What’s wrong with your body?”

Xu You didn’t even blink, speaking while taking off her shoes. “My stomach hurt, so I went to the pharmacy to buy medicine.”

“What’s uncomfortable? Why didn’t you tell us?”

Seeing her mother’s still-red eye sockets, Xu You didn’t know what she felt. She knew her parents must have just argued about her again.

“It’s nothing serious. Just my period. An old problem.”

After Father Xu confirmed she was all right, he relaxed. For the first time in these days, he softened his tone with her. “I know you’re studying hard, but you can’t neglect your health either.”

That evening, Xu You sat at her desk working through test papers. Behind her, the door clicked softly, and Chen Xiuyun walked in.

Hearing the sound, she put down her pen but didn’t look up.

Chen Xiuyun sat at the foot of the bed and asked, “You’re not seeing that boy anymore, right?”

“Mm…” She answered reluctantly. “Mom, you don’t need to worry about me. I’ll handle it properly.”

After a pause, Xu You added, “And don’t keep arguing with Dad because of me.”

The room was quiet for a long time, only Chen Xiuyun’s heavy sighs audible. “You never believe what adults say.”

“I can let other things go, but absolutely no dating before the college entrance exam.” Chen Xiuyun pressed her forehead, feeling her temples throb. “Mom’s health is getting worse. You’re my only support now. If you… don’t forget what you promised your grandmother.”

“I remember.”

“If I see you with that boy together even once more, I can’t do anything about you, so I’ll just go die myself. If I can’t even teach my own daughter properly, what am I living for?”

“Mom?! Why are you saying such things?! Are you crazy?!” Xu You stood up anxiously.

Chen Xiuyun looked into her eyes and continued, “Xu You, don’t disappoint your mother. Don’t see that boy anymore.”

“Promise me today.” Her mother pressed her.

After a long while, Xu You bit her lip hard and nodded.

She finally compromised and had no choice but to compromise.

—

Senior year winter break—called a winter break, but actually just one week off to let students go home and spend the New Year with their families.

After visiting relatives on the first day of the lunar year, Xu You stayed at home.

Because her parents had to return to their hometown to sweep the ancestors’ graves and Xu You’s time was precious, her parents didn’t take her along.

She was alone at home, using an alarm clock to time herself while working through problems. When she got tired of writing, she would sleep a while.

Near afternoon, Xu You finally felt somewhat hungry. She went to the kitchen planning to cook herself some noodles, but opening the refrigerator, she discovered there was nothing inside.

No choice—she had to get dressed and go out shopping.

Last night’s snowfall hadn’t completely melted yet. Her snow boots made crunching sounds stepping on it.

Coming out from the residential complex entrance, the cold wind was biting, making her ears very cold. Xu You put on her earmuffs properly, then put on gloves, and waited at the traffic light across the road.

The light turned green. Xu You walked toward the opposite side along with the bicycles and electric bikes around her when suddenly someone called her name from behind.

Her steps didn’t stop—she just paused, looking left and right, discovering no one had called her.

Just when Xu You thought she was hallucinating, her fluffy earmuff was suddenly pulled off. Xu You’s head reflexively turned.

She saw Xie Ci standing right behind her, head lowered, playing with her earmuff in his hand.

“What are you doing here!” She cried out in surprise, followed immediately by happiness spreading through her, her heart like a little drumstick beating.

Xie Ci looked at her and said lightly, “I’ve been waiting for you all along.”

“…..”

The two crossed the road. Xu You hesitated to speak. Xie Ci looked at her quietly. “Do you have time to go out with me this afternoon?”

“I…” Xu You struggled internally, hesitating.

“Just today.”

Seeing that although he appeared as usual without any expression, his eyes were clearly somewhat disappointed, Xu You still couldn’t bring herself to say the words of refusal.

Perhaps heaven was helping—the sun even emerged from the sky. Although it had no warmth, looking at it still felt cozy.

Having just passed the thirtieth day of the lunar year a few days ago, most shops in the neighboring city had opened their doors.

Xie Ci held Xu You’s hand and wandered around. He was abnormally quiet today, often spacing out while looking at her.

Xu You just didn’t pay too much attention.

They revisited old haunts, going to the night market Xie Ci had taken her to before. During the day, there was a food street there with entertainment stalls too.

Xu You hadn’t eaten, so her appetite was exceptionally good. She bought a lot of food to hold in her hands.

“Are you a little pig? You eat more than I do.” Xie Ci deliberately teased her, earning a fierce glare. Though he said this, he always rushed to pay before her every time.

Shuttling through the crowded throng, Xu You chewed on red dates while holding a cup of pineapple porridge to drink. Her eyes wandered around looking for anything fun.

Suddenly turning her head, she discovered Xie Ci was still looking at her, very focused. Xu You panicked for a moment, shyly averting her gaze, silently grumbling in her heart.

What was so interesting about her…

Why keep staring…

“Hey, Xu You.” Walking along, Xie Ci suddenly stopped and pulled her to a shooting booth.

He seemed very interested, asking the owner the price, then casually picking up a gun from the rack and shooting wildly at the balloons.

The bullets were quickly spent, but few balloons on the wooden board had popped.

The people watching on the side: …..

This young man’s technique seemed to have some problems.

Xie Ci himself didn’t care at all and didn’t feel embarrassed in the least. He put down the gun.

“Do you remember when you threw rings before and won me a bear?” As if remembering Xu You’s appearance at that time, he laughed, his voice unconsciously lowering. “I want another one today.”

“……” Xu You silently put down what she was drinking, estimating the distance to the balloons while asking, “What do you want?”

The owner loading the magazine paused, looked up at this strange couple, and said with a smile, “Young man, how can you rely on your girlfriend?”

Xie Ci made a sound of acknowledgment, not feeling anything was wrong, and seriously replied, “Relying on my girlfriend is pretty good.”

On the other side, Xu You said nothing. She had already chosen her gun, raised her arm, and aimed at the balloons.

Her expression was focused. Xie Ci leaning to the side had a smile at the corners of his mouth.

“So where do you want to go?”

Pop pop—

Pop pop—

Pop pop—

The owner watched the balloons on the wooden board continuously decrease, his eyes gradually widening. It was almost a one hundred percent hit rate—not a single bullet wasted.

One really can’t judge people by appearances…