After her birthday, Zhou Wan finally turned on her phone which had been powered off for a long time due to a dead battery.

Countless messages and missed calls flooded in at once, causing the phone to lag for quite a while before recovering.

Zhou Wan read through them one by one, responding to each.

At the bottom, she saw Lu Xixiao’s message from ten days ago.

She pursed her lips and asked, “Did you come looking for me at the airport last time?”

“Yes.”

“How long did you wait?”

Lu Xixiao didn’t hide it from her: “Until the next morning.”

Zhou Wan was stunned, finding it hard to imagine how Lu Xixiao, who everyone saw as proud and arrogant, would willingly wait for her all night. She lowered her head and said softly, “I’m sorry.”

“Since you know you’re sorry, you should change,” Lu Xixiao seized the opportunity. “Don’t do this again in the future.”

Zhou Wan nodded obediently, saying okay.

That evening, the pitter-patter of rain sounded outside the window again – early spring always brought frequent light rain.

Lu Xixiao sat on the sofa, embracing Zhou Wan’s waist from behind, his tone slightly irritated: “It’s raining again.”

Zhou Wan turned her head: “You don’t like rainy days?”

“No.”

“It should clear up tomorrow,” Zhou Wan said, then after a pause, she called softly, “Lu Xixiao.”

“Hmm?”

“Tomorrow, I want to go back to school.”

He smiled and ruffled Zhou Wan’s hair: “Okay.”

Zhou Wan hadn’t been to school for about ten days. During this time, various teachers, Gu Meng, and Jiang Yan had called her several times and sent many messages, but she hadn’t received them because her phone was off.

As soon as she walked into the classroom in the morning, Gu Meng rushed over and hugged her waist: “Wan Wan, I was so worried! Later, Jiang Yan and I went to your house to look for you but couldn’t find you!”

Zhou Wan smiled and patted her back, saying gently: “I’m sorry for making you worry.”

Back at her seat, Jiang Yan also smiled: “You’re finally back.”

“Mm.”

Though Zhou Wan had been absent for so many days, her desk was still clean, probably thanks to Jiang Yan’s help. In the upper left corner was a tall stack of blank test papers from these days.

So for the next few days, Zhou Wan buried herself in catching up on homework.

Although the physics teacher felt it was a pity Zhou Wan didn’t participate in the competition, given the circumstances, there was nothing to be done. In the end, nothing was mentioned; the teacher just patted her shoulder and said: “Don’t worry, with your grades, you can get into the school you want just with the basic scores.”

After school, Lu Xixiao would wait for her at their classroom door to go home together.

Initially, some people gossiped about this, but after a couple of days, no one said anything anymore.

In the evening, Zhou Wan would study in the living room, with Lu Xixiao sitting beside her, also with a book open in front of him.

She assigned him to preview homework, and after finishing her work, she would give him two corresponding questions to solve – all basic ones, which he always got right.

Occasionally, Jiang Fan would call asking him to come out.

Lu Xixiao flatly refused: “Not going.”

“Are you hiding a sweetheart at home or what? Why are you cooped up at home every day?”

Lu Xixiao dropped two words: “Studying.”

Jiang Fan’s jaw dropped, thinking Lu Xixiao must be desperate to make up such a lame excuse to avoid going out.

After hanging up, he tossed his phone aside and continued reading.

Suddenly, he noticed Zhou Wan’s gaze on him and turned to look at her.

Zhou Wan rested her cheek on her hand and smiled softly at him.

His heart fluttered at her smile, and he raised an eyebrow: “What is it?”

“You like this-” Zhou Wan’s eyes curved as she tilted her head to look him up and down, saying, “You’re quite well-behaved.”

“I’ve always been well-behaved.”

He was the complete opposite of “well-behaved” in every way, and Zhou Wan let out a light scoff.

“What are you scoffing at?” Lu Xixiao pinched and kneaded her face. “Isn’t your boyfriend well-behaved enough?”

“You’ve been quite good lately,” Zhou Wan let him squeeze her face as she smiled and said, “If you keep studying like this until senior year, you should be able to get into a decent university.”

“Will you go to City B?” Lu Xixiao asked.

“I don’t know,” Zhou Wan said, “I’m not sure if I can get in with just the basic scores.”

“You definitely can,” Lu Xixiao said, “So I need to study hard too, otherwise we’ll have to do long-distance in the future.”

Zhou Wan paused, then turned her head and smiled slightly, saying nothing.

The mid-term exams came in mid-April.

The night before the exam, they were studying at home as usual. At nine o’clock, Zhou Wan yawned, and Lu Xixiao turned to her: “Tired?”

“No,” Zhou Wan rubbed her eyes, “Just a bit tired from looking at problems.”

“Then let’s go for a walk outside.”

“Huh?”

Zhou Wan had finished her review, but Lu Xixiao still had a lot left to study.

He smiled: “Can’t get fat in one meal. Let’s go out for a bit to clear our minds.”

They wore the matching jackets Lu Xixiao had bought at the mall last time – Zhou Wan in white, Lu Xixiao in black – and walked out together.

Without realizing it, they walked past Zhou Wan’s house. The cherry blossoms on both sides of the street had bloomed, a sea of pink and white, with many petals blown to the ground by the wind, creating a beautiful carpet.

“Wait,” Zhou Wan said, “I want to get my bicycle.”

The bicycle Lu Xixiao had won for her at the arcade on Christmas.

“Okay.”

Zhou Wan went upstairs, and returning home made her heart ache again. She lowered her eyes and pushed the bicycle out without a word.

Lu Xixiao helped her carry the bicycle downstairs. Noticing her mood, he stroked her hair and asked with a smile: “Where do you want to go?”

“Anywhere.”

Lu Xixiao swung his long legs over the bike and rang the bell: “Then I’ll take you for a ride in the wind.”

Tonight’s wind was quite strong, brushing through the blooming cherry blossom branches, scattering tiny petals, some landing on Zhou Wan and Lu Xixiao’s heads.

She held his waist, sitting on the bicycle’s back seat, tilting her head up slightly to feel the wind on her face.

Lu Xixiao rode aimlessly through the quiet streets.

Before they knew it, they arrived near Huang Ping’s supermarket.

“Want to go in?” Lu Xixiao asked.

“Okay.”

He parked the bicycle at the supermarket entrance and pulled open the curtain to go in.

Huang Ping didn’t know about what had happened in Zhou Wan’s family. Seeing them come together, he smiled and said: “Oh, so you’ve made up?”

Zhou Wan paused, then smiled at him.

Huang Ping said: “Little sister, you don’t know how upset Lu Xixiao was when you two had that fight. He was cold-faced and even gave me attitude.”

Zhou Wan looked at Lu Xixiao, who showed no embarrassment at being exposed, just smirked and lit a cigarette while sitting to the side.

“Come on, tell brother, how did this punk win you back?” Huang Ping asked teasingly.

Before Zhou Wan could answer, Lu Xixiao said: “That’s enough.”

Having had his fun, Huang Ping asked cheerfully: “A few people are playing inside, want to take a look?”

“No,” Lu Xixiao exhaled smoke, “There’s a young lady here.”

Zhou Wan volunteered: “I don’t mind, you can go look.”

Huang Ping let out a long hiss: “No, no, little sister, have you forgotten the dating advice I gave you last time? You can’t be so understanding, you need to make trouble for him, that way he’ll always think about you.”

“Don’t teach her bad habits,” Lu Xixiao grabbed a lighter from the shelf and threw it at Huang Ping.

In the end, Lu Xixiao didn’t go in to look, just sat there chatting idly with Huang Ping.

Zhou Wan got some oden and sat nearby eating while watching the rerun variety show on the small TV on the refrigerator.

Midway through, Lu Xixiao got up to use the bathroom.

Huang Ping bit into a crab stick from the oden and called out: “Hey, little sister.”

“Hmm?”

“Don’t let Xiao’s appearance fool you, he’s the most faithful person. Once he’s decided, it might be for life.” Huang Ping said, “He used to do those terrible things simply because he never truly cared about anyone, but you’re different now, he likes you.”

Zhou Wan froze.

Her fingertips unconsciously tightened, pressing into her palm, leaving a crescent-shaped mark.

“Last time when you two fought, he was really upset. Though this kid’s been spoiled by girls because of his looks all these years, and sometimes his temper is bad and he’s not good at comforting people.”

“But that time he told me he wanted to study hard, to go to university in the same city as you later, and wanted to be able to take care of you on his own. I told you before, right? He never cared about car races, but that time he participated just to win the prize money for you, so you wouldn’t have to work part-time jobs so hard.”

Zhou Wan’s dark lashes trembled.

She thought of the clothes Lu Xixiao bought her on her birthday.

“Xiao lost his mother very early, and he’s practically estranged from his father. Before, when I watched him going down the wrong path, I had no way to persuade him, so when I heard him say he wanted to study hard, I was really happy.”

Huang Ping said, “So, little sister, Xiao only has you now, be good to him.”

The more Huang Ping spoke, the harder Zhou Wan’s fingertips pressed into her palm, almost drawing blood.

“What are you telling her again?” Lu Xixiao came out from the back.

Huang Ping winked at Zhou Wan: “Teaching my little sister how to handle you in the future.”

Lu Xixiao patted Zhou Wan’s head: “I’ve told you several times, don’t pay attention to him.”

With mid-terms tomorrow, Lu Xixiao didn’t stay long at Huang Ping’s, riding the bicycle to take Zhou Wan home.

Zhou Wan hugged his waist, her face pressed against his back, her mind full of what Huang Ping had just said.

She didn’t know when things had started developing in a direction she couldn’t control.

She liked Lu Xixiao.

Yet she didn’t want Lu Xixiao to like her too much.

The more Lu Xixiao liked her, the more she felt she didn’t deserve his affection.

“Lu Xixiao.”

“Hmm?”

“I’m sorry,” Zhou Wan suddenly said.

“Sorry for what?”

Zhou Wan opened her mouth, wanting to tell him everything.

Tell him she was a girl with dark, heavy thoughts, that all this was her long-planned scheme, that she wanted revenge on Guo Xiangying – his stepmother, her birth mother.

But when the words reached her lips, she couldn’t say them.

Zhou Wan turned her face slightly, her forehead against Lu Xixiao’s back, her nose stinging with pain and heartache.

She didn’t want to hurt Lu Xixiao, but no matter what, she would end up hurting him, unavoidably.

Lu Xixiao turned his head: “Zhou Wan?”

She silently wiped her wet eyes on his back: “Mm.”

“Why are you suddenly saying sorry?” Lu Xixiao laughed casually.

“I always trouble you, make you worry,” Zhou Wan let out a breath, saying softly, “And make you give me rides home.”

He chuckled: “I’m happy too.”

The mid-term exams were over the next two days.

The results came out the following day, and Lu Xixiao went to look at the grade rankings on the bulletin board for the first time.

Second place, Zhou Wan.

Seeing this line, Lu Xixiao lowered his head and smiled slightly.

He continued looking and found his name on the fourth sheet.

235th place, Lu Xixiao.

These days Zhou Wan had briefly taught him all the math, physics, and chemistry within the exam scope, so he did well in these subjects. What dragged him down were Chinese and English.

Jiang Fan also saw his name and his mouth gaped wide enough to fit an egg: “Holy shit, did you cheat?”

Lu Xixiao let out a derisive laugh.

“Wait, you’ve been studying these days?” Only now did Jiang Fan believe what Lu Xixiao had said before.

He raised an eyebrow: “Yeah.”

“Why?”

Lu Xixiao didn’t need to study – he could have everything easily without doing anything. His family background was enough to support him in living a carefree life forever.

Lu Xixiao glanced at Jiang Fan and said softly: “Because I don’t just want to date her.”

I want to guard her, protect her. Want my girl to live without worries from now on, with only happiness and joy left in her life.

Jiang Fan was stunned.

He knew Zhou Wan was different, and knew that Lu Xixiao liked her, but this was the first time he truly realized just how serious Lu Xixiao was about Zhou Wan.

It’s not the innocent ones entering the mundane world you need to worry about, but the playboys who finally settle down.

That day after school, Lu Xixiao took Zhou Wan out to eat, celebrating their good exam results.

He now properly wore his school uniform every day. Spring had come, and they’d changed into fresh blue and white spring uniforms. As they walked, many girls kept turning to look at Lu Xixiao and discuss among themselves.

Zhou Wan noticed this, puffed her cheeks, and pulled his sleeve to whisper in his ear: “A lot of girls are looking at you.”

Lu Xixiao was long used to such attention and hadn’t paid much mind, but hearing this, he raised an eyebrow: “Jealous?”

Zhou Wan paused: “No way.”

Lu Xixiao smiled: “Why won’t you admit it?”

“…”

He used to find such unexpected jealousy very annoying, but with Zhou Wan, he found it interesting.

“Then how about this, cover my face with your hand so they can’t see me,” he drawled teasingly, “Or better yet, just keep me locked up at home where only you can see me.”

“…”

This guy never missed a chance to act up.

Zhou Wan couldn’t take it anymore. Red-faced, she raised her hand and covered his face, pushing him away before walking quickly ahead.

Lu Xixiao stepped back with the push, then started laughing heartily, his shoulders shaking, before running up to wrap an arm around Zhou Wan’s shoulders and bending down to her ear to demand in mock seriousness: “How dare you hit me?”

“…”

The two found a restaurant in the mall for dinner.

“Anything you want to buy?” Lu Xixiao asked.

“No,” Zhou Wan said, “You?”

“Then come with me to look at some clothes.”

Spring had come, and it was time to buy some spring clothes, and also get a few outfits for Zhou Wan.

Knowing she definitely wouldn’t accept if he bought them directly for her, Lu Xixiao picked out several unisex pieces that could be worn by either gender, ordering them one or two sizes smaller when paying, planning to say they didn’t fit him so she could wear them.

Lu Xixiao was tall with long legs and good bone structure and looks – everything suited him, looking even better on him than on the models.

He changed into a white hoodie, and while he was adjusting it, Zhou Wan caught a glimpse of something near his collarbone.

Zhou Wan’s gaze paused: “What’s that?”

“Hmm?”

She poked the spot below his collarbone through the clothes: “Here.”

Lu Xixiao raised an eyebrow: “Pull it down and look at yourself.”

“…”

Zhou Wan’s movement halted as she sensed the mischief in Lu Xixiao’s words. Too embarrassed to follow his suggestion, she mumbled, “No way.”

Lu Xixiao chuckled softly, in no hurry.

After all, a tattoo was a lifetime thing.

No matter how long it took, those two characters would stay there.

He bent down to kiss her lips and pinched her ear: “Well, in a few years, you’ll be able to see it.”

“Why?”

He laughed, bending down to her ear, deliberately lowering his voice to tease: “By then our Wan Wan will be grown up, and we can do grown-up things, right?”

Zhou Wan blinked in confusion.

“For example-” Lu Xixiao drawled leisurely, his tone playful, “Taking off my clothes.”

He spoke just loud enough for those nearby to hear, including the saleswoman standing beside them.

The saleswoman understood immediately and started smiling.

“…”

Zhou Wan’s face instantly turned bright red.

How could he, how could he say such things so openly in broad daylight…!

Zhou Wan refused to engage with him anymore, stepping back with her red face and stiff neck, trying to maintain composure: “I’m going to the bathroom.”

Lu Xixiao, pleased with his successful teasing, laughed happily: “Alright, I’ll wait here.”

Watching Zhou Wan walk away, Lu Xixiao laughed again and asked the saleswoman to package the clothes he’d tried on in women’s sizes.

Zhou Wan walked into the bathroom and leaned against the stall wall, taking quite a while for her wildly beating heart to finally calm down somewhat.

Lu Xixiao was really…

Zhou Wan’s little bit of experience was nothing compared to his.

These days living at his house, he’d been so well-behaved, never making any inappropriate moves or saying any inappropriate things, almost making Zhou Wan forget what kind of person he was.

Although Lu Xixiao would never force her and would respect her, just hearing those words made her face and ears burn – she couldn’t handle it.

Zhou Wan covered her face with her hands, truly embarrassed.

For the moment, she also forgot about what was on his collarbone, thinking it was probably just a birthmark or something similar.

She stayed for a long time until the heat finally faded from her face. Just as she was about to leave, she heard the sound of high heels outside, and someone entered the stall next to her.

Zhou Wan smelled a familiar perfume and frowned.

It wasn’t until she went outside to wash her hands that she remembered the perfume was identical to what Guo Xiangying wore.

At the same time, Guo Xiangying’s voice came from the stall as she talked on the phone.

“Yes, that old woman finally died. That illness dragged on for so many years, who knows how much money was wasted.”

“She even wanted to have a transplant surgery before, really don’t know why she was making such a fuss at her age. So afraid of death, not thinking about making things easier for the younger generation at all. Didn’t she know that at her age, dying earlier would reduce the burden on her precious granddaughter?”

The person on the other end said something, and Guo Xiangying laughed mockingly.

“Fortunately I called the old woman that night, otherwise they really would have swindled me to death. That ungrateful girl wanted 300,000 for her grandmother’s treatment as if my money grows on trees.”

“Good thing the old woman was still clear-headed enough to tell the doctor herself she didn’t want the surgery.”

…

“150,000 is fine, consider it money spent to cut ties, better than being blackmailed every time they need money in the future.”

“It’s finally over now, just that she’s still with that Lu family’s son, which makes me uneasy. I’m worried the Lu family might find out about this someday.”

…

The cold water ran over Zhou Wan’s hands.

Her mind was filled with Guo Xiangying’s words.

Fortunately, I called the old woman that night, otherwise, they really would have swindled me to death.

…

What exactly had she said to Grandmother?

Zhou Wan also remembered hearing the nurses talk about how when her father was diagnosed with late-stage cancer, Guo Xiangying immediately agreed to give up treatment.

It was the same.

It was the same again.

Using the same old trick again.

After their father’s death, she took her grandmother away in the same way.

Zhou Wan gripped the sink with both hands, her eyes slowly turning bloodshot.

She could feel herself slowly losing control, slowly breaking down, those dark and poisonous thoughts spreading again, consuming her completely.

Like poisonous snakes flicking their tongues, coiling around her, constraining her, then dragging her down bit by bit, shattering her.

If at this moment, Lu Xixiao hadn’t been waiting for her outside.

If at this moment, she had a knife in her hand.

Zhou Wan wasn’t sure what she might do.

But just then, her phone vibrated.

[6: Why so long, are you okay?]

Zhou Wan suddenly broke free from her previous trance, her whole body covered in a cold sweat.

Her hands wouldn’t stop shaking.

[Zhou Wan: Coming out.]

She turned off the water and walked out of the bathroom.

Lu Xixiao had been smiling, but seeing her pale face, his smile immediately vanished and he quickly walked over, bending down: “What’s wrong?”

“Suddenly feel a bit nauseous.”

He raised his hand to feel her forehead temperature – not hot, but ice cold instead.

“Then let’s go to the hospital now,” Lu Xixiao said.

“It’s fine,” Zhou Wan shook her head, “Let’s go home, I’m a bit tired.”

“Okay.”

Lu Xixiao held her hand – it was also cold. Looking down, he saw the red rash had appeared again; who knew how long she’d been running it under cold water?

Lu Xixiao rubbed her hand between both of his, bringing it to his mouth to breathe on it so it would warm up quickly.

Zhou Wan’s mind was in chaos.

She didn’t want to get involved in those things anymore, but she was inevitably being pulled back in.

Why did she have to suffer all this?

Why did it have to be her?

As Lu Xixiao held her hand crossing the street, Zhou Wan couldn’t help thinking viciously about why Guo Xiangying couldn’t just get hit by a car and die.

She’d done so many evil things, why wasn’t she the one suffering retribution?

Why wouldn’t she just die?

…

Back home, Lu Xixiao found a thermometer in the cabinet and handed it to Zhou Wan: “Take your temperature.”

Zhou Wan took it and put it under her tongue.

She sat quietly to the side, next to the clothes Lu Xixiao had bought earlier, while he was on his phone looking up what to do about nausea.

Zhou Wan absently touched the clothes, suddenly catching sight of one of the tags.

Size S.

Her fingers paused, and she checked the other tags.

Five or six pieces of clothing, all size S.

Lu Xixiao certainly couldn’t wear size S, and Zhou Wan knew without thinking about who these clothes were bought for.

Lu Xixiao looked at the time: “That should be enough.” He took out the thermometer and checked – 37 degrees, normal temperature.

He secretly sighed in relief and was about to urge Zhou Wan to go to bed when she suddenly moved closer.

Her cool, slender arms wrapped around his neck, and without warning, Zhou Wan tilted her head up and kissed his lips.

This kiss carried a sense of urgency and desperate resolve.

Cold and trembling.

Zhou Wan’s kiss had no technique to speak of, but those chaotic breaths and audible heartbeats were enough to bewitch the heart.

Lu Xixiao’s whole body tensed, feeling electricity course through his nerves.

He placed one hand on the back of Zhou Wan’s head, calling softly between kisses: “Zhou Wan?”

She kept her eyes closed, her eyelashes trembling non-stop, and said softly: “I like you so much.”

I like you so much.

But why, why did I have to fall for you, of all people?