As the final class meeting ended, High Guohua left, and the classroom erupted into chaos. Some students hastily grabbed their bags and rushed out, while others lingered at their desks, laughing and saying goodbye to friends.

Amidst the commotion, Zhou Anran slowly packed her things. A familiar, slender pale hand appeared in her vision, tapping lightly on her desk. A familiar voice sounded above her.

“I’m heading over first.”

Zhou Anran looked up, only to see the tall back of the boy. His backpack still hung carelessly, and he didn’t turn to look at her, merely raising his right hand high to wave at her.

Zhou Anran’s lips curved slightly.

Zhang Shuxian glanced sideways, noticing the sweet little dimple flickering on her cheek. She leaned in and whispered, “Anran, why don’t you go watch him play basketball by yourself?”

Zhou Anran turned her head. “Why? Didn’t we agree you’d all come with me?”

“Well,” Zhang Shuxian winked at her, “we feel like we might be a bit superfluous.”

Zhou Anran’s face warmed slightly. “What are you talking about? Don’t be silly. Besides, you all promised me. If you don’t go, I won’t buy you sodas.”

“Alright,” Zhang Shuxian teased, “we’ll go for the sake of the soda.”

After packing up, Zhou Anran linked arms with Zhang Shuxian and left the classroom. They waited briefly by the stairs until Sheng Xiaowen and Yan Xingqian came down, arms linked as well.

The four of them went to the school’s small supermarket together. Inside, the others each grabbed their preferred sodas. Zhou Anran reached for an orange-flavored one, but as she was about to close the refrigerator door, she paused for two seconds. Then she reached in and took out a cola and a bottle of mineral water.

Zhang Shuxian leaned in, letting out a long “Oh” in her ear. “We’ve all picked ours. Who are the cola and mineral water for?”

Zhou Anran felt her face heat up again.

Yan Xingqian turned back to look, her tone a bit sour: “Why does he get an extra bottle of water when we only get one soda each?”

The refrigerator door stood wide open, its cool breeze gently blowing, but Zhou Anran still felt her face growing warmer.

“You can grab some water too if you want.”

“Forget it,” Yan Xingqian let her off the hook. “Water tastes awful anyway. I don’t want it.”

Zhou Anran said, “Then help me carry a few more bottles.”

“What?” Sheng Xiaowen joined in the teasing. “One bottle of water isn’t enough for him to drink?”

Zhou Anran touched her slightly hot cheeks with the back of her hand. “No, it’s not that. Zhu Ran and the others are there too, right? It would be too obvious if I only bought for him.”

At the basketball court, Chen Luobai was leading Huang Shujie and Shao Zilin in a 3v3 game against Zhu Ran, Tang Jianrui, and Bao Kun.

Chen Luobai’s team had possession. As he prepared to drive towards the basket, Zhu Ran and Tang Jianrui were defending in front of him.

Just as Chen Luobai was about to break through, Zhu Ran suddenly looked up behind him and said, “Zhou Anran is here.”

Chen Luobai turned his head. People were coming and going on the tree-lined path by the basketball court, but he could tell at a glance that she wasn’t among them. Suddenly, his hands were empty, as if the ball had been stolen.

Chen Luobai turned back to see Zhu Ran scoring a layup. He chuckled, “Zhu Ran, aren’t you bored with these tricks?”

After scoring, Zhu Ran high-fived Tang Jianrui and cockily raised his chin at Chen Luobai. “I’m not bored, but I’m afraid someone else might be getting bored waiting.”

Chen Luobai couldn’t be bothered to respond and told Huang Shujie to inbound the ball from the baseline.

Once the ball was back in his hands, Zhu Ran and Tang Jianrui came to double-team him again.

Chen Luobai lowered his shoulder, about to change direction, when Tang Jianrui suddenly looked up behind him.

“Luo-ge, Zhou Anran is here.”

Chen Luobai laughed, “If you’re going to use the same trick, at least change up the words.”

“Luo-ge,” Huang Shujie interjected, “Rui-rui isn’t lying this time. Zhou Anran is here, and it looks like she’s carrying something.”

Chen Luobai’s dribbling faltered. He turned around and saw the girl walking towards the basketball court with her friends, carrying a shopping bag from the school supermarket.

He didn’t know what her friends said to her, but she suddenly smiled, her little dimple appearing faintly on her cheek, looking sweet and obedient.

Chen Luobai turned back, casually bouncing the ball a couple of times.

Zhu Ran noticed his lips curling into a familiar, wild, and provocative smile and suddenly had an ominous feeling.

Before he could stop him, Chen Luobai suddenly stepped back, his hand raised high. The orange basketball traced a beautiful arc through the air, falling cleanly through the hoop.

Huang Shujie excitedly hollered, “That’s my Luo-ge’s signature step-back three!!!”

“What step-back three,” Zhu Ran rolled his eyes dramatically. “More like a peacock showing off.”

The basketball fell back to the ground, bounced up, then down again.

Chen Luobai walked over to scoop it up, tossing it to Zhu Ran. “You guys play for a bit.”

Zhou Anran had seen him sink the step-back three from a distance. As she approached, she saw him toss the ball to Zhu Ran and turn to walk towards the sideline. Her heart began to race uncontrollably again.

Back when she used to secretly watch him play basketball under the guise of passing by, she never imagined that one day she would be openly invited to be his spectator.

Ignoring the gazes from both on and off the court, Zhou Anran carried her things to the sideline, coming to stand beside him.

There was a light sheen of sweat on the boy’s forehead, and his body still carried that contradictory mix of youthful energy and masculine pheromones that made her heart race even faster. His dark eyes looked down at her.

“What took you so long?”

“We stopped by the supermarket,” Zhou Anran glanced at her friends, who had automatically distanced themselves slightly upon entering the court. She tried to keep her tone natural. “They wanted me to treat them to sodas. I bought a few extras, including some water and cola. Do you want something to drink?”

Chen Luobai raised an eyebrow slightly. “You brought water for me?”

Zhou Anran felt her face heat up again. She had said it was just extra, but his question made it sound like she had specifically brought water for him.

Even though she had brought it specifically for him.

Knowing how perceptive he was, Zhou Anran suppressed the nervousness that threatened to show and came up with another plausible excuse. “I just bought a few extra, and besides, you’ve treated me to food several times.”

Chen Luobai’s lips curled up slightly. “I’ll take the water then.”

Zhou Anran inwardly breathed a sigh of relief and opened the bag to get the water for him.

Chen Luobai’s gaze had been fixed on her face the whole time, and only now did he look at the shopping bag in her hand. “Why did you buy so many?”

Zhou Anran’s movements faltered, feeling inexplicably guilty. “…I brought some for Zhu Ran and the others too.”

The boy narrowed his eyes, his face once again showing that “not too pleased” expression from earlier that afternoon. “Did they treat you to food too?”

Zhou Anran felt even more guilty.

“No,” she shook her head, her voice growing weak, “but we’re all classmates, right?”

Chen Luobai nodded expressionlessly, enunciating each word, “All. Class. Mates?”

Zhou Anran blinked, fighting her guilt, her voice equally faint, “Mm-hmm.”

Chen Luobai stared at her for two seconds.

The girl blinked again, looking even more innocent and obedient because of the baby fat on her face.

Chen Luobai’s fingertips tingled. This time he didn’t hold back, reaching out to pinch her cheek.

He moved so quickly that Zhou Anran only realized what had happened after he’d finished. Her face still retained the sensation of his fingertips.

She could tell that he had been raised well. Although he loved to tease, apart from the two head pats and that accidental incident in the afternoon, he had hardly ever had any physical contact with her. Even when he came close to talking to her, he always maintained a certain distance.

This kind of skin-to-skin contact was a first.

Zhou Anran’s face quickly grew hot. “What are you doing?”

The boy took the large bag of drinks from her hands. Having teased her, his mood seemed to have improved. The corner of his mouth curved slightly. “Didn’t you say we’re all classmates? If Zhang Shuxian and the others can pinch your cheeks like this, so can I, right?”

Zhou Anran was at a loss for words. This was such a twisted logic. Yet he had used her own words against her, and she didn’t know how to refute it.

Chen Luobai’s gaze lingered on her blushing face for a second before he suddenly asked, “Did you bring wet wipes?”

Zhou Anran was confused. “Why are you suddenly asking about wet wipes?”

“I did bring some. What’s wrong?”

Chen Luobai reached out his hand to her. “Give me one first.”

Zhou Anran was puzzled but obediently opened her backpack and pulled out a wet wipe to hand to him.

Chen Luobai took the wet wipe.

The next second, Zhou Anran saw him suddenly bend down towards her.

Zhou Anran held her breath, her eyes widening slightly as she watched the wet wipe she had just given him, now in his hand, coming closer and closer to her face until it finally landed very gently on her cheek.

The boy lowered his gaze as he wiped her face, his voice dropping to a near whisper close to her ear, still tinged with amusement: “I forgot I’d just been playing basketball. My hands are a bit dirty.”

*

During the National Day holiday, Nancheng remained as hot as summer.

Yan Xingqian went to her maternal grandmother’s house in the countryside with her parents. Zhou Anran’s father had to work overtime, so she didn’t go anywhere. On the first day of the holiday, she stayed home and did homework all day. In the evening, she chatted with her parents in the living room for a while before returning to her bedroom to continue her homework.

After sitting down at her desk, Zhou Anran pulled out a physics test paper. She had barely started when her phone, placed nearby, chimed.

Thinking it was Yan Xingqian, Zhou Anran casually lit up the screen. When she saw Chen Luobai’s avatar in the notification bar, her fingertips suddenly paused.

For a moment, she was transported back to the previous afternoon when he had wiped her face. Although he had been very careful not to touch her with his hand again, her heart had still raced uncontrollably at the time.

Yesterday, she’d heard him say he would be going to his uncle’s house in Wucheng for the National Day holiday. Why was he messaging her now?

Zhou Anran opened his chat window.

C: [What are you doing?]

Zhou Anran: [Working on a test paper]

C: [Which one?]

Zhou Anran took a photo of the paper beside her and sent it to him.

C: [Which question are you on?]

Zhou Anran: [Multiple choice, question seven]

Zhou Anran: [Why are you asking?]

C: [Want to make a bet with me?]

?

Zhou Anran sent a confused bunny sticker.

Zhou Anran: [What kind of bet?]

He first sent her a photo of the same test paper, completely blank without a single question answered.

C: [I’ll give you a seven-question head start on the multiple choice. If I start now and finish before you, you agree to one condition of mine]

Zhou Anran: “…”

He was famously fast at solving problems.

Zhou Anran: [What condition?]

C: [Haven’t decided yet]

C: [If you lose, you’ll owe me one?]

Zhou Anran: [What if you lose?]

C: [Then I’ll agree to one condition of yours]

Although she knew she would likely lose, Zhou Anran didn’t want to refuse him.

She wanted to know what condition he wanted her to agree to.

Zhou Anran: [Okay]

C: [Want me to give you another five minutes?]

Zhou Anran’s lips quirked up slightly.

Chatting with him through the phone screen, she wasn’t as nervous as she would be face-to-face.

Her fingertips hovered over the screen before she finally typed and sent: [Don’t look down on me too much]

C: [Alright]

C: [Let’s start now]

Zhou Anran knew how capable he was, so she didn’t reply further. She lowered her head and continued working on the test paper. He didn’t send any more messages either.

It wasn’t until she was about to start the second-to-last long-answer question that her phone chimed again.

Zhou Anran unlocked her screen to see that he had sent a photo of his completed test paper. She wasn’t surprised at all.

C: [I won?]

Zhou Anran knew there was still a gap between their academic performances, but she didn’t feel discouraged. She lay on the desk as she replied: [Mm-hmm]

Zhou Anran: [Have you decided what condition you want me to agree to?]

C: [Don’t worry]

C: [I won’t sell you off]

Zhou Anran saw her lips curve slightly in the screen’s reflection.

Just then, another message from him popped up.

C: [Same time tomorrow night?]

Zhou Anran: [Same what?]

C: [Same bet]

So they would work on test papers together remotely again?

Zhou Anran’s heart skipped a small beat: [Okay]

The National Day holiday at Er Zhong lasted eight days. For the next few evenings, Zhou Anran started working on the same test paper at the same time as him. Sometimes they competed on time, on accuracy, but she never managed to win against him.

The eight-day holiday flew by. On the last night, after she returned to her bedroom, she received another message from him.

C: [Shall we continue?]

Zhou Anran: [No more]

C: [What’s wrong?]

Zhou Anran puffed out her cheeks.

Although she knew she wasn’t as capable as him, losing every day left her feeling quite unaccomplished.

Moreover—

Zhou Anran: [I already owe you seven conditions]

Zhou Anran: [I’m afraid I won’t be able to fulfill them if I lose again]

C: [I’ll let you win tonight]

Zhou Anran: [No need for that]

She wanted to work hard to become more excellent herself, to strive to catch up with his pace.

C: [What I mean is]

What did he mean?

He hadn’t finished his sentence.

C: [Tonight, win or lose, I’ll owe you one condition]

C: [Still don’t want to?]

Huh?

Was he giving her a free condition?

But she couldn’t think of any condition she wanted to ask of him. She couldn’t exactly ask him to like her back, could she?

Although now she wasn’t completely afraid to imagine this possibility, and could even sense that he probably treated her at least a little differently.

However, just the idea of “Chen Luobai owing her a condition” was already enticing enough.

Zhou Anran: [Alright then]

C: [Have you thought about what condition you want to ask of me?]

Zhou Anran: [Not really]

Zhou Anran: [You can owe me for now]

C: [Okay]

*

The next day, as they returned to school, the sky was heavily overcast from early morning. Thick clouds hung low, threatening rain at any moment.

Before leaving home, Zhou Anran had stuffed an umbrella into her backpack. However, by the time she and Yan Xingqian got off the bus and entered the school, it still hadn’t rained.

As they approached the teaching building, Zhou Anran felt someone tug on her backpack from behind.

She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

“What are you up to now?”

The boy’s familiar voice, tinged with amusement, came from behind her: “You remember you owe me seven conditions, right?”

Eh?

Zhou Anran finally turned to look at him.

The tall boy behind her was wearing the summer uniform, his hair cut a bit shorter. One hand was holding onto her backpack strap, the other tucked into his school trouser pocket, looking fresh and handsome.

“Have you decided what condition it is?”

Chen Luobai nodded slightly: “I’ve thought of one.”

Zhou Anran’s heart skipped another small beat: “What condition?”

Chen Luobai gestured towards her backpack: “Can you open your backpack?”

Zhou Anran: “…?”

What kind of strange request was this?

But today her backpack only contained books, homework, and an umbrella, so she didn’t mind him opening it.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“Then go ahead.”

Zhou Anran stopped walking.

Chen Luobai moved behind her: “Turn around, and no peeking.”

Zhou Anran looked at him curiously: “You didn’t say I couldn’t look earlier.”

Chen Luobai’s lips curled up: “I have the final say on interpreting the conditions, understand?”

Zhou Anran: “…”

This guy had a bunch of twisted logic.

Fine, she wouldn’t look.

She turned around.

She heard him unzip her backpack, and then her already somewhat heavy bag gained a bit more weight as if he had put something inside.

“What did you put in there?”

Zhou Anran didn’t get an answer from him. Instead, she heard someone call out to him from behind.

“Chen Luobai.”

It sounded like Gao Guohua’s voice.

Zhou Anran’s heart tightened, and she quickly turned around to see that it was indeed Gao Guohua standing behind them.

From a distance, Zhou Anran couldn’t see their homeroom teacher’s expression, but she guessed it wouldn’t be too pleasant, seeing the class’s top student candidate fooling around with her early in the morning.

Chen Luobai, however, showed no sign of nervousness. His face still bore a casual smile: “Didn’t I say no peeking? Why are you sneaking a look?”

Zhou Anran pressed her lips together, no longer in the mood to joke with him. She reminded him, “The homeroom teacher is calling you.”

“Mm.” Chen Luobai unhurriedly zipped up her backpack. “Don’t worry, it’s probably something good. You go back to the classroom and wait for me.”