The boy and girl disappeared through the back door. Inside the classroom, whispers began to rise, breaking the previous silence. Huang Shujie, sitting next to Tang Jianrui, leaned out the window to catch a glimpse of the situation, then quickly pulled back.
“Looks like Luo-ge and she went downstairs. I wonder where they’re going to talk,” Huang Shujie said, turning to Zhu Ran. “What’s going on, Old Zhu?”
This time, Zhu Ran didn’t deny it outright like before. “Why do you care about other people’s business? Why gossip? We have exams tomorrow. Focus on your studies.”
Huang Shujie glanced at the book on his desk, then looked up again a second later. “Damn, who can focus on studying at a time like this? Old Zhu, give me a spoiler. Is Luo-ge going to accept or reject her?”
“Get lost,” Zhu Ran replied. “If you’re so curious, ask Chen Luobai yourself when he gets back.”
Huang Shujie said, “I don’t dare. I’m still waiting for him to teach me the step-back three-pointer.”
Zhu Ran glanced at him. “Didn’t you say you already knew how?”
“You don’t get it. I’m just trying to perfect it,” Huang Shujie said.
The two continued chatting about basketball. Zhang Shuxian looked disappointed like someone who had their TV channel changed at the most exciting part. She muttered quietly, “Why didn’t Huang Shujie keep asking? I can’t get the full scoop, and I can’t focus on my book either. I need my friend from Class Three to keep an eye out for me. You guys watch for the teacher.”
She turned back, stealthily pulled out her phone, and sent a message. Zhou Anran couldn’t focus on her book either. She didn’t turn around but kept an ear out for any movement from the back row.
But even as the bell for self-study rang, Chen Luobai hadn’t returned. Instead, Gao Guohua strolled into the classroom. Zhou Anran quickly poked Zhang Shuxian with her pen.
Zhang Shuxian had already put her phone away and gave her an “okay” gesture. Gao Guohua walked to the podium and immediately noticed someone was missing.
“Where’s Chen Luobai?”
Zhu Ran called out from the back, “Reporting to Teacher Gao, he went to the restroom.”
Gao Guohua didn’t seem suspicious and turned his attention back to the class. “During this self-study period, I’ll go over the types of questions we discussed this afternoon.”
He guessed right. The homeroom teacher was taking over their self-study time to go over questions. Zhou Anran put away her politics textbook. For some reason, she felt a strange sense of fate, like everything was preordained. Even if she had taken advantage of his kindness that afternoon, he wouldn’t have any notes to lend her now, being outside with Yin Yizhen.
Zhou Anran was also relieved that Gao Guohua took over the self-study period. He liked to call on students to answer questions, and she never dared to be inattentive in his class.
Between questions, a familiar voice came from the back. “Teacher Gao.”
Gao Guohua glanced back. “Come in.”
But the class, still curious about the earlier gossip, turned their heads to look at Chen Luobai as he returned. Gao Guohua was puzzled. “Why are you all looking at him? Haven’t you seen enough after a year together?”
The heads quickly turned back. The familiar voice from the back spoke lazily, “Teacher Gao, have you seen enough? I’ll still be in your class next semester.”
Gao Guohua, with a look of “this cheeky kid dares to joke with the teacher,” was amused and threw a piece of chalk at him. “If you know you’re still in my class, behave yourself.”
Many turned to watch the commotion. Zhou Anran couldn’t resist and also glanced back. The boy dodged the chalk with a lazy smile on his face. So happy… Was it because he just had a private chat with her?
Zhou Anran felt a pang in her heart and turned back around. Gao Guohua tapped the podium. “Alright, the final exams are tomorrow. You’ll be in the second year next semester. Focus.”
Remembering the exams, Gao Guohua only took the first self-study period, and didn’t drag on. As the bell rang, he finished his lecture and reminded them to study well during the second period and not to chat, as he might come back to check.
Once Gao Guohua left, Zhang Shuxian rummaged through her desk and then leaned over to Yan Xingxi’s desk. “Old Gao finally left. I was suffocating. My friend messaged me. She said—” Zhang Shuxian paused, glanced at Lou Yiqi’s back, and lowered her voice to a whisper, “Yin Yizhen didn’t return to the classroom. No idea what’s going on.”
Yan Xingxi sighed. “This gossip is getting more and more mysterious.”
“Hey, hey, hey—” Zhang Shuxian suddenly got excited, forgetting to lower her voice. “Chen Luobai went out, but it looks like Zhu Ran followed him.”
Zhou Anran’s chest felt tight like her heart was wrapped in invisible strings, making it hard to breathe. Lou Yiqi, sitting in front of her, got up silently and left through the front door.
Zhang Shuxian watched her leave and muttered, “Where’s she going?”
Zhou Anran felt suffocated. “I’m going to the restroom.”
Yan Xingxi looked at her. “Want me to go with you?”
“No need,” Zhou Anran shook her head. “You need to save your idol’s CD. Study well. My stomach doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Zhou Anran left through the front door but didn’t go to the restroom. She just wanted some fresh air but didn’t know how to explain it to Yan Xingxi and the others, so she used the restroom as an excuse.
She went downstairs but didn’t walk far before her lower abdomen started to ache again. The flowers in the small garden in front of the teaching building were in full bloom, so Zhou Anran stopped and squatted by the flowerbed to look at them.
The summer evening breeze was too hot, and after a while, her mood hadn’t improved, but she had two more mosquito bites on her arm. Just as she was considering going back to the classroom, she heard Zhu Ran’s voice.
“What exactly is going on between you and Yin Yizhen?”
Zhou Anran was completely hidden by the bushes, and although she couldn’t see outside, she knew who Zhu Ran was talking to. She wondered why her luck was so bad today. Hearing Yin Yizhen say he liked her was bad enough. Did she have to hear him admit it himself now?
Lost in thought, the familiar voice of the boy came, his tone indifferent. “I made things clear with her.”
Zhou Anran was stunned. If he liked Yin Yizhen, his response after talking to her might have been, “We’re together now,” or “We’ve started dating,” or something like that. But it shouldn’t be “made things clear.”
“Clear” meant “unambiguous,” meant “no ambiguity.”
Footsteps approached. It was too late for Zhou Anran to leave now. She’d run into them directly, which would be too awkward. Fortunately, it was dark, and they probably wouldn’t see her.
Zhu Ran laughed. “Thanks to this afternoon’s rumor, I just don’t know who the hell mistook me for Yin Yizhen.”
Chen Luobai seemed amused by his last comment, chuckling before pausing and continuing, “She asked me out last night.”
“She asked you out last night?” Zhu Ran sounded surprised.
They must have been near the bushes because the boy’s voice became much clearer. He replied, “Yeah. She asked to meet after exams. I wanted to make things clear, so I agreed.”
Zhu Ran asked, “She asked you out alone, finally making it clear. Why didn’t you just clarify over the phone?”
“Because the finals are coming up,” Chen Luobai said.
“Not everyone prioritizes studying like you. I don’t think she’s focused on the exams at all. She was tangled up with Zong Kai and dragged you into it. I always thought she was too interested in you, but I wasn’t sure because she was with Zong Kai…”
Zhu Ran’s voice faded as they walked away. Zhou Anran squatted by the flowerbed, lost in thought. She hadn’t expected the same event to have such a different version from his perspective.
Maybe it was the hint of floral scent, but the hot summer breeze seemed a bit sweeter. The mosquitoes, however, were relentless. After getting her sixth bite, Zhou Anran rubbed her numb knees and returned to the classroom.
Back in her seat, Zhou Anran saw Yan Xingxi turn to her. “Why were you gone so long?”
Yan Xingxi paused, studying her. “Ranran, did you find money outside the restroom?”
Zhou Anran was confused. “Huh? What money?”
“If you didn’t find money, why is your mouth turned up so high?” Yan Xingxi asked curiously.
Zhou Anran hadn’t realized it herself. She tried to suppress her smile. “Really?”
“See for yourself in the mirror,” Yan Xingxi said.
Zhou Anran: “…”
“No need. Maybe it’s because my stomach finally stopped hurting.”
“Good. But why was it so bad this time?” Yan Xingxi asked. “You were crying this afternoon. It scared me.”
Zhou Anran, who had been lost in other emotions, now felt embarrassed. How could she have been so sure he liked Yin Yizhen just because of what she heard? And she cried like a fool in front of him. So embarrassing. Utterly embarrassing.
“I don’t know.”
“Check again next month. If it still hurts, have Aunt He take you to the hospital,” Yan Xingxi said, lying on the desk. “Hey, Ranran, why is your face red?”
Zhou Anran felt like her face and neck were burning. She made an excuse. “It’s too hot.”
“It is hot,” Yan Xingxi agreed, not thinking much of it. “I’ll get back to studying.”
Zhou Anran murmured in agreement. She rested her forehead on the desk, but the summer heat made the desk warm, offering no relief. Her face grew hotter. She wondered what he thought when he saw her crying that afternoon. She must have looked terrible.
Oh, and his notes. She had a chance to borrow his notes. Zhou Anran closed her eyes in frustration, her hand dropping to the desk and brushing against her pocket. Remembering something, she reached in and touched the tissue he had given her.
Zhou Anran exhaled slowly. At least she hadn’t refused the tissue he offered. At least they weren’t in the same exam room for finals. After finals, there would be a nearly two-month summer break. By the time they returned next semester, he probably wouldn’t remember seeing her cry on the rooftop. After all, to him, she was barely more than a stranger. He probably hadn’t even remembered her name.
People are more likely to call out someone’s name when they unexpectedly run into them. But on the rooftop, after seeing her face, he only said, “Oh, it’s you,” in a familiar tone.
But at least it was familiar. At least he remembered her. Most importantly, he still didn’t have a girl he liked. Hopefully, by next semester, she’ll be a bit braver.
But Zhou Anran didn’t expect their next encounter to come so soon.