In the final exams, Jing Xichi ranked thirty-ninth in the class.

Just barely escaping Mama Jing’s “curse of being in the bottom ten.”

Song Cong rationally commented that he benefited from the track selection. Students planning to study liberal arts had given up on science subjects, their focus shifting from overall ranking to individual subject rankings in areas they’d need later.

Huan’er looked at his test papers – he had answered seriously this time, but over the year his foundation had grown increasingly weak.

As summer began, another batch of students in the compound finished their middle school entrance exams, with several lucky birds about to enter Tianhe as new blood. Study abroad agencies had expanded to all three hospital staff compounds, flyers flying everywhere, and enthusiastic salespeople wearing banners ready to answer any question. The idea of summer camp came from parents who had gathered comprehensive information, and like news of a supermarket clearance sale, it spread rapidly through the hospital, eventually creating an atmosphere where not going would seem like missing out on a deal that heaven itself would condemn. Mama Jing signed her son up, attracted by the serious-sounding title “University Research Training Camp.” Mama Song felt going together would provide mutual support and quickly followed suit, while Mama Chen’s purpose was simpler – having him out of sight meant a few days of peace.

Huan’er called Qi Qi to invite her along. With her tutoring schedule already full, Qi Qi could only express envy, “I want to go too, but my mom definitely won’t allow it.”

“Try to convince her! Song Cong said the class monitor is coming too, it’ll be so fun with everyone there.”

“Liao Xinyan?”

“Yeah, she’s getting tutoring from Song Cong, and he mentioned it casually.”

Qi Qi felt a mix of sourness and loss, sighing involuntarily.

Huan’er knew her friend’s family was strict – she’d met Qi Qi’s mother at a recent birthday party. A formidable career woman who had ordered a two-tiered fruit cake and decorated the house beautifully, giving an expensive tablet as a gift. But when she left, Huan’er had overheard her say, “Don’t worry about cleaning up, I’ve arranged for Teacher Li to come at eight.”

When even her birthday couldn’t escape home tutoring, Qi Qi had no chance of escape.

Thinking of this, Huan’er consoled her, “Don’t worry, there’ll be other chances.”

“Mm,” Qi Qi mumbled worriedly, “Next time… next time.”

Huan’er hadn’t held out hope, but surprisingly, on departure day, Qi Qi appeared on the bus as if descended from heaven. She recounted her battle of wits with her mother, and this bitter yet triumphant experience had Huan’er doubled over with laughter. After three hours, they reached the capital, where the Olympic spirit still lingered, their first stop being the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube. Not hearing a word of the guide’s explanation, every road, seat, railing, and light made Huan’er think of her father. She imagined her closest person standing here proudly, with grand events behind him, comrades beside him, responsibility on his shoulders, and the motherland before his eyes. She had always been proud of her father, even though he rarely came home, always nagged about exercise, and had never attended a single parent-teacher meeting. Chen Huan’er had long known she couldn’t have an ordinary father like her classmates, but if there was a next life, she would still choose to be his daughter. No – in the next life she would have memories of this one, and she would mature earlier, telling him sooner that he was her life’s pride.

In the evening, while checking into the hotel, Huan’er became troubled. Qi Qi clung to her tightly, while Liao Xinyan stood awkwardly nearby. She had to explain to her friend, “I didn’t know you were coming, I’d already agreed to a room with the monitor, and the teacher arranged it this way.”

Qi Qi let go, but grabbed her again the next second, “We can switch, can’t we? I want to room with you.”

“That’s not really…” Seeing Liao Xinyan approach, Huan’er said casually, “Why don’t all three of us share? I can sleep on a mattress – I roll onto the floor when I sleep anyway.”

She was unaware of the other two’s thoughts, only feeling that going back on a promise would be dishonest.

Liao Xinyan again. Qi Qi didn’t know what was wrong with herself, but meeting this person always brought out a competitive spirit. But seeing the difficulty written all over Huan’er’s face, she couldn’t bear to make things hard for her friend, and reluctantly conceded, “Alright then, otherwise I’ll just…”

“I’ll take a single room,” Liao Xinyan quickly announced, smiling at the two girls, “It’s all the same.”

This small episode ended quickly, but Huan’er still felt guilty. After checking in and putting down their luggage, she grabbed some snacks preparing to go out, asking her roommate before leaving, “Shall we go check on the monitor?”

Qi Qi dug out a bottle of mosquito repellent from her bag and tossed it over, “You give it to her, I’ll pass.”

Liao Xinyan had worn a short skirt today and had been complaining on the way that “the capital’s mosquitoes must be poisonous, why do they only bite one person?” The bumps got bigger the more she scratched, some even breaking skin. Qi Qi had noticed but hadn’t thought to comfort or help, but after the room arrangement concession, she felt somewhat indebted.

A bottle of mosquito repellent – now they were even.

Liao Xinyan lived two floors up. Huan’er’s visit brought her both surprise and joy, and seeing the mosquito repellent she cried out in relief, immediately lifting her long skirt to show her calves, “I’m especially attractive to mosquitoes, look at all these bites.”

“Qi understands you.”

Little did she know there was no prophetic understanding – it was just that secretly observing someone naturally led to better understanding than others had.

While patting the repellent on herself, Liao Xinyan discussed tomorrow’s schedule with her. Huan’er wandered around the room, casually responding, “We’re skipping tomorrow afternoon’s lecture, thinking of going to the Palace Museum, interested?”

Liao Xinyan stopped her movements, “Who wants to go?”

The whole class knew Chen Huan’er lived in the same compound with Song Cong and Jing Xichi – “we” naturally meant them.

“Song Cong suggested it, neither Qi nor I have been before.”

“Mm…” Liao Xinyan paused briefly, “Is Jing Xichi going?”

“Yeah.”

Huan’er answered smoothly, not even realizing the girl before she was specifically asking about one person.

“Then I’ll go too,” Liao Xinyan answered.

“Great!” Huan’er was delighted, pulling her hand while explaining the plan, “We’ll sit near the exit during the lecture, slip out once it starts. Song Cong knows the route, seems we can take the subway directly there. Bring some money, the ticket price… I forgot, just bring extra, better rich on the road.”

Liao Xinyan made an “OK” gesture, “No problem.”

Huan’er looked around the room, “Monitor, you’re not afraid to sleep alone?”

“Don’t worry.” The girl smiled, “I was more worried about disturbing you with my snoring.”

“You snore?”

“My mom says so.” Liao Xinyan pouted, “Who knows if it’s true, she exaggerates everything.”

Huan’er giggled.

Usually just exchanged casual words in class, but this trip had brought them closer through random chatter about everything under the sun.

Liao Xinyan pulled Huan’er to sit beside her, crossing her legs on the bed, “Um… what does Jing Xichi like?”

She certainly knew the three musketeers stuck together going to and from school every day, their relationship extraordinary.

“Soccer, what else could he be passionate about?”

“Besides soccer?”

“Besides soccer…”

Chen Huan’er was too slow. Growing up with neighborhood friends in their small riverside town, always hanging out together arm in arm, when thrown into an unfamiliar environment she spent all her time trying to keep up with them. Jing Xichi’s inexplicable feelings for Qi Qi were already half-mysterious to her, and she had no energy to deeply investigate. Her past experiences had left her completely unaware of the concept of “falling in love.”

Just like the biology class that would come after track selection – she knew such a thing existed, but what it taught, whether it was difficult, what the exam questions would be like, she hadn’t thought about at all.

Now Liao Xinyan was a patient teacher, telling this slow student: I can only see one person, want to follow closely behind him, and indirectly learn about all his likes – this is what falling in love is.

Just slow, not stupid. In this strange city, in the scorching summer heat, in this cold air-conditioned hotel room, a girl was confiding her feelings to her.

That strange feeling surfaced again.

This time she rationalized it as Jing Xichi becoming a campus celebrity, even the class monitor admiring him – she only felt strange because he was no longer that ordinary, unremarkable friend who went to and from school with them every day.

Chen Huan’er convinced herself: this isn’t good of you, you should be happy when your friend becomes famous. If he really becomes a world-class soccer star one day, you could ride his coattails to some position and live the good life – wouldn’t that be perfect?

Facing Liao Xinyan’s sincerely expectant gaze, Huan’er counted carefully, “Gaming, sleeping. Doesn’t like sweets, and doesn’t eat ginger. He really has no pursuits besides soccer and takes everything casually, but sometimes he’s super stubborn, won’t admit when he’s wrong, and ends up more depressed after upsetting his parents. He’s loyal though, if Song Cong or I ask for help he’ll help, as for the rest…”

Huan’er wanted to say he quietly does nice things for people, but remembering those nice things were all for Qi Qi, she swallowed the words. She had at least this much awareness.

“What else? Does he like…” Liao Xinyan’s eyes hinted at the key point that hadn’t come up.

Huan’er dodged, “…Song Cong?”

Liao Xinyan burst out laughing, “They do make a good pair. If I’d known you were so easy to talk to, I would have asked you directly. I’m only close with Song Cong, always had to ask roundabout questions, got tired of my questioning.”

Huan’er laughed too, “You asked Song Cong? He’s even more clueless.”

“Keep it secret for me.”

“Don’t worry.” Huan’er made a solemn promise.