Dong Xi’s paintbrush tip remained suspended for a long time 0.5cm in front of the sketch paper.

Wind blew outside the window, gently rustling, curling up the corners of paper pages, covering the fine sound of brush tip rubbing against paper surface. Two-thirty in the afternoon, gloomy weather threatening rain, the studio with lights on, over a dozen students sitting in a circle. No one spoke.

In the center of the circle, a figure model sat hugging her knees, upper body covered with white gauze, half a smooth back exposed, etched into people’s eyes, slowly depicted onto paper. Dong Xi stared at her own drawing board for a long time.

Looking at the work completed on the drawing board ten minutes ago.

The girl next to her passed a hardcover booklet to her lap, saying softly: “Dong Xi, this is the commemorative album of Art Week works. A hundred copies printed total. Senior Zhang asked me to bring you one. Keep it.”

Her gaze swept to her drawing: “Huh, the model’s back, why is it…”

The bell rang together with the sound of Dong Xi collecting her drawing paper. She folded the sketch paper twice, tucked it into the commemorative album. People around packed their things in twos and threes preparing to leave class. She shouldered her bag, took the album, first to leave the studio.

Opposite the main entrance of the art building was the school’s bulletin board. On the board were posted promotional flyers for various art performance activities in a jumble. In the central position, the newest cleared area, was posted a poster for tonight’s certain magazine’s tenth anniversary celebration at Zhaohua Hall.

Long Qi, as the lead model, became the person occupying the largest space on the poster.

“Dong Xi.”

Someone was calling. Dong Xi’s attention shifted from the bulletin board to behind. Lin Hui walked out from the art building’s main entrance: “Called you when class ended. You walked really fast.”

“I didn’t hear.”

After answering, her gaze fell on Lin Hui’s bag, seeing a string of peach wood ornament hanging there brazenly. Lin Hui followed her line of sight to look at her own bag, smiled: “Qi gave it.”

“Heard she also gave you one. Do you still have yours?”

Lin Hui asked this.

Dong Xi said: “Gone. Don’t have it anymore.”

Lightly supplemented: “Lost it in the dorm.”

“Recently small things often go missing in the dorm. My face cream and earphones also keep disappearing,” Lin Hui looked back, scanned around, continued saying, “Be careful. I think someone has sticky fingers.”

Dong Xi didn’t respond. About to walk away, Lin Hui said again: “Did Luo Xin send you a message?”

She paused.

Took out her phone from her bag, swiped open the lock screen. Inside indeed lay a message from three minutes ago, from Luo Xin.

—Xixi, after class please come to the coffee shop at the north gate. I want to treat you all to something, muah muah.

While she was still reading carefully, Lin Hui laughed out loud: “She’s too embarrassed to say. Actually I introduced her to a guy. Arranged to meet at the north gate around now. Don’t look at her usual boldness—in this kind of matter her courage is quite small. Hopes us dorm girls can go give her courage, and observe together while we’re at it.”

Dong Xi listened. Her finger slowly pressed across the keyboard, replying to Luo Xin: Okay.

At this time, the coffee shop didn’t have many people.

Luo Xin’s seat was at the innermost six-person table. Another girl from the dorm had already arrived. When Lin Hui sat down, they were chatting animatedly. Lin Hui casually asked: “What are you talking about?”

“Talking about tonight’s celebration event at Zhaohua Hall,” Luo Xin said. “I just asked around. So many girls from our department are planning to go tonight. Hey Lin Hui, do you have ticket sources? Tickets are especially hard to buy now. Prices are also being driven up. Shen Chenque grabbed a ticket from her friend, spent eight hundred, and it’s only grandstand seating.”

Shen Chenque was the other girl present.

“You should have said earlier,” Lin Hui took the dessert menu, looking while saying. “Before, the magazine company sent me several tickets. I gave them all to model friends I know. If I’d known you were interested, I would have kept them for you. Front row too.”

Speaking, she passed the menu to Dong Xi.

Dong Xi glanced at it briefly. The server happened to come over for service. She said: “Hot mocha.”

“Cappuccino.” Lin Hui picked up, then inquired with her eyes to the others.

“No need, we already ordered.”

“No way, my flesh suddenly hurts so much.” Shen Chenque wailed, pushing Luo Xin. “All you, not asking Lin Hui earlier.”

“You’re the one who wanted to go, okay? Not me. Haha, are you sick?”

“Change topics,” Shen Chenque said. “Don’t want to talk about this anymore. Little heart hurts.”

“How poor are you, hahahaha.” Though Luo Xin laughed, she was also happy to change topics. Propping up her cheek, the expression on her face had subtle changes, mixed with some barely concealed curiosity. “Do you want to know about the Physics Department?”

The server brought up four drinks. The topic was interrupted for a second. Lin Hui asked lightly: “What about it?”

“Recently the Physics Department has been especially restless. Do you know Fan Funing? That one who always labels herself the department’s most beautiful little white lotus.”

Luo Xin was straightforward. Who she liked or didn’t like was directly revealed in how she addressed them. Lin Hui heard and laughed.

“Well, hasn’t the Physics Department recently produced a male god? Got all us college girls constantly inquiring over there.”

“I’ve seen him I’ve seen him,” before Luo Xin finished, Shen Chenque interrupted, face flushed as she gestured. “Last time I went to the physics building and saw him.”

“How was it?”

“Really quite handsome, my god,” she moved the cup in front of her aside. “And you can tell at a glance he’s the type especially hard to approach. Not that he doesn’t like talking. Just when he looks at you, you feel like he can see through all your little schemes. Don’t dare talk to him. Really incredibly handsome. Especially trendy. Doesn’t match the style of guys in that building.”

Dong Xi picked up a small spoon, stirring the cream on top of the cup.

“You were just lucky,” Luo Xin said. “The day you bumped into him he happened to be there. Heard from over there only one class a week can see him. Doesn’t live in dorms. Completely elusive.”

“What does it have to do with Fan Funing?” Lin Hui asked, pulling back the gradually diverging topic.

“Oh,” Luo Xin said. “The little white lotus’s roommate is my high school classmate. The little white lotus at first used all her energy chasing the male god. Ended up after chasing for just a few days she disarmed. That day came back to the dorm dejected. Roommate asked. Oh my, little white lotus what’s wrong? Little white lotus at first wouldn’t say. My classmate figured maybe she was rejected. Didn’t ask more. Two days later their dorm went out for a group dinner. Little white lotus drank too much, pulled my classmate crying and making a fuss. My classmate was curious. Asked again. Little white lotus, do you have some romantic confusion? Then it got exciting. Little white lotus started spilling tea! About the male god!”

“What tea what tea!”

Shen Chenque listened with rapt attention. The coffee liquid surface in her cup surged up and down because of her table-slapping movement. Luo Xin also spoke excitedly, leaning toward the center of the table: “Little white lotus said, the male god has a girlfriend in England…”

“I also know that. Our whole department knows.”

Luo Xin pushed Shen Chenque: “Haven’t finished yet.”

“You speak, continue.”

“The male god does have a girlfriend with a complicated relationship in England. But the male god also has a girlfriend domestically. The domestic one is supposedly the true love.”

“Also, the biggest tea is coming,” she immediately continued. “Little white lotus said, that day at noon she brought the male god fruit. With her own eyes saw a female entertainer staying in the male god’s room. Currently popular one. The male god wasn’t even wearing a shirt. Little white lotus was especially shocked!”

Shen Chenque could barely speak. After tapping the table at small frequency a few times, she urgently asked: “Female entertainer! Which female entertainer?”

“Couldn’t pry this out. Little white lotus’s mouth is very tight.”

“Didn’t you say domestically there’s a true love girlfriend? How did it turn around and connect with a female entertainer?”

“My classmate also wanted to ask clearly. But little white lotus had already drunk too much. Saying one thing here, another thing there. Being able to piece together these few pieces of tea wasn’t easy.”

Lin Hui said nothing.

“My god,” Shen Chenque said. “I knew the male god looked untouchable. Our school’s girls shouldn’t think about handling him.”

“Advising everyone,” Luo Xin said. “Especially the two great beauties across from me. Don’t get involved. We can’t afford to play.”

“What time is it?”

At this moment, Dong Xi asked.

Only then did Luo Xin think to check the time. A gossip heart agitated to the extreme slightly retracted. Asked Lin Hui: “Huh, when will your friend arrive?”

“Soon. He said he’s parking.”

“Did we come too early? Seems unmaintained?”

“It’s fine. Originally meeting at school. Coming late would instead be deliberate.”

Lin Hui said to here. The server also delivered the other ordered sweets. Luo Xin turned to ask Dong Xi: “Right, I need to understand the situation first. Xixi, do you and Senior Zhang have any new developments?”

This topic came suddenly. Dong Xi’s hand had just touched the rim of the coffee cup. Looked at Luo Xin. Unhurriedly asked: “Him and me?”

Luo Xin drew in a breath. Smiled while making eye contact with others. Looked back here: “Don’t pretend. Senior Zhang chasing you—everyone knows.”

Leaning closer: “Last time I even saw on your neck…”

“It was an allergy.”

Dong Xi interrupted with this light tone. Luo Xin understood. Asked: “So he still hasn’t caught you?”

“What’s your view of Senior Zhang?”

Lin Hui interjected.

“Good person.” Dong Xi answered.

“Done for,” Luo Xin immediately picked up in a Northeast accent. “Done for, done for. One good person card issued, directly eliminated. But that’s also good. This way my psychological burden is lightened a lot.”

“Psychological burden?” Dong Xi looked at her.

“Yeah, otherwise organizing this gathering today—how sorry to Senior Zhang? Wouldn’t that be sending him a rival?”

Luo Xin seemed to have said too much. Lin Hui coughed. Dong Xi still looked at them.

Shen Chenque sucked up a pearl from her takeout milk tea, belatedly looking at Lin Hui.

Luo Xin also looked at Lin Hui.

“You haven’t told her yet?”

Lin Hui didn’t respond. Dong Xi asked: “Tell me what?”

Luo Xin was now somewhat embarrassed: “So it was being kept secret.”

Pushed Lin Hui: “Why didn’t you coordinate with me beforehand?”

“It’s like this,” Lin Hui spoke. She lightly tapped the cup rim with an iron spoon. After the atmosphere quieted, looked at Dong Xi. “My friend actually wants to meet you. I think he’s pretty good. Luo Xin and Chenque have both eaten with him.”

“Right right, we’ve met. That guy treated us several times.” Shen Chenque picked up.

“But I was afraid you’d refuse. So I wanted to use helping Luo Xin as a pretext to let you naturally interact with my friend. Basically still afraid you wouldn’t come. You normally don’t really like group activities…”

Lin Hui was speaking. Dong Xi’s gaze gradually passed Lin Hui, paying attention to the corridor outside the coffee shop door. A male student’s figure was slowly passing by the glass wall. His profile was blocked by decorations stuck on the glass wall. Sometimes clear, sometimes blurred.

“Moreover, he’s not saying he wants to chase you without having seen you. He’s had a brief encounter with you. These days contacting me was also to discuss how to see you in a way that wouldn’t make you feel abrupt. He said you’ve always been unforgettable to him.”

The coffee shop door was pulled open. When the male student entered, the bell on the door dinged.

Dong Xi saw him.

Seeing him at the same time, those scenes of neon lights and wine suddenly flashed through her head. Her ears were again squeezed with the jarring electronic music and commotion sounds from that time. And that male student gripping her hand, picking at her palm—that disgusting touch sensation. She averted her gaze, picked up her bag and stood. Lin Hui, who hadn’t finished speaking, looked up at her: “Dong Xi?”

“I need to go to the library to look up some materials. Urgent. I’m leaving first.” Without hesitation, circled out of the seat. Added another sentence: “Don’t tell him where I am.”

Dong Xi left through the back door of the coffee shop kitchen. Didn’t directly encounter Lu Feng. Lin Hui followed her for a few steps, kept calling her, trying to keep her. Until she resolutely walked out the back door did she finally give up completely. Sighed.

Later she really went to the library.

But Lin Hui still told Lu Feng her whereabouts.

Friday afternoon time period. The library had fewer students than usual. Large patches of seats in the lobby reading area were empty. 40% occupancy rate. Sparse population. Dong Xi moved between shelves of art books. Fingers gently brushing past book spines one by one. Selected one or two books. Stacked them on the commemorative album. Held them in her arms.

The phone in her bag rang.

A girl picking books in the next aisle looked at her. She nodded apologetically. Took out her phone from her bag. Flipped the silent mode switch on the side of the device. When looking at the screen again, saw a message from an unfamiliar number.

—I don’t like reading books, but I like watching you read books.

Finger joints suddenly lacked strength. The books fell toward the floor at once. The girl in the next aisle shushed her. She crouched down to pick up the books. The phone screen lit up again. A new message jumped out.

—Be careful.

At this moment of complete silence, fingers paused 2cm from the book pages. Body stiffened in place. Back of neck somewhat cold.

Two seconds later, with the neighboring girl’s help, picked up the books. The girl softly asked if she wasn’t feeling well. She shook her head. Turned and walked in the aisle between bookshelves. Through the gaps between books, looked toward the lobby reading area.

Lu Feng was there.

He really was there. Silently arrived. While gazing toward her area, he pulled out a chair near the entrance. Sat down. Both elbows on the table. Between his hands he spun his phone. Ready to send another message at any time. His glasses had a reflection. Shining from afar. Making one’s heart panic.

Lin Hui not only told Lu Feng her whereabouts, but also gave him contact information.

Steps retreated backward a few steps. She walked toward the depths of the corridor. Passed several bookshelves. Again through the gaps between aisles looked over there. Lu Feng’s gaze still looked at this area. Patient. Confident. He lowered his head to press his phone. Not long after, Dong Xi’s phone screen lit up.

—I’m waiting for you.

After he sent this message, he placed his phone on the table. Both arms resting on the chair back. An appearance of waiting by the stump for a rabbit.

Dong Xi was somewhat flustered.

Breathing also not smooth. Absentmindedly leaned against the shelf. Holding books. Fingers picking at book spines. Pondering. Hesitating. Until she saw two girls passing through the corridor.

They were seniors from the same department.

Participated in the same club. Had a few encounters and exchanged a few words. At that moment her heart had some foundation. Wanted to go with the seniors.

She walked toward them. The two seniors were chatting in low voices. They were looking together at a certain direction. Too focused. Didn’t hear the movement behind.

When Dong Xi was three steps from them, they were about to leave.

The extended hand didn’t have time to pat their shoulders. They walked toward the reading area. Their figures exposed within Lu Feng’s line of sight. Dong Xi’s steps came to an abrupt halt. When the seniors left, they leaked some light. Some white daylight from the front windows originally blocked by their figures. This light shining directly into eyes made her squint slightly. After a moment’s daze, her vision cleared again. Then she saw a person.

Saw at this moment, sitting at the reading area by the window position, a familiar old acquaintance.

Hadn’t realized she’d been breathing the same air in the same space with him all along. Slightly stunned. Jin Yiken sat in the second position from the end of that row of long tables. His posture was at an angle. Adjacent to the window. Legs crossed. A book on his knees. On his right side was a pen. The pen slowly wrote words.

On that row of long tables besides him, there was no one else.

Dong Xi instinctively walked toward him.

Walking. Walked out of the book collection area. At that moment seemed to forget the previous moment’s panic. Leaving the bookshelf’s cover. Eyes fixed looking there. The two seniors discovered her. Softly called her. She didn’t respond.

Jin Yiken didn’t notice her.

On his table were laid two or three physics books. While reading the book on his knees, methodically writing the thing on his right. The previous moment clearly still in others’ gossip stirring up the entire Physics Department and Art College with restlessness. At this moment like a youth only interested in studies. Quiet. Fully concentrated. Undisturbed.

Until Dong Xi came to one meter in front of his table did he raise his head.

Lazily swept a glance. Didn’t linger. Half a second later had a reaction. Raised his head a second time. Gaze fell back on her.

A feeling came toward Dong Xi like an overwhelming tide. Couldn’t distinguish whether it was having loved or resented. Or an indescribable jealousy. She could think of every scene when dating him. Remember all the rumors between him and Long Qi. Also remember every sentence in Long Qi’s mouth about him. Psychological capacity nearly exceeded. But Jin Yiken was too experienced. He could bestow fervent passion on people or eternal damnation. No matter how obscure the past, he could turn it into something light and breezy. He was also reacting. Also analyzing this moment’s emotional index. But he was clearly calm and unhurried. He handled this matter like solving the first easy question on a math test.

“Long time no see.” He said.

Dong Xi didn’t respond quickly.

The two seniors were watching her. From a distance of over a dozen meters, Lu Feng’s gaze also stared at her. Because she was exposed under his line of sight, this staring was even more undisguised and unbridled.

Five seconds later, she finally spoke: “Came back for her?”

Jin Yiken similarly didn’t answer quickly.

His pen spun in his hand. His head tilted. Glanced behind her.

Gaze returned to her as if nothing happened. Answered: “Yes.”

“How long will you stay?”

“Not decided.”

“Are you doing well abroad?”

“Fairly used to it.”

After three rounds of dialogue in question-and-answer mode, Dong Xi nodded.

The two were like the most ordinary old classmates. Not a trace of emotional entanglement. Everything under control. She stopped at the right point. Preparing to leave when he said: “Dong Xi.”

She turned her head.

“Planning to read?”

She looked at the books in her arms. Slightly nodded.

“Sit across from me and read.”

Jin Yiken was still that lazy appearance.

Three legs of the wooden chair were off the ground. One on the ground leisurely turning. He sat as if on a swivel chair. Raised his chin. Indicating for her to take a seat across the table.

At that moment somewhat understood.

Lu Feng’s gaze still followed from behind. Burning and terrifying. She placed the commemorative album and two books on the table. Took a seat. Just sat down when the phone screen received a new message.

—Who is the man across from you?

Jin Yiken continued researching his physics course. Because Dong Xi didn’t reply, Lu Feng sent ten identical messages in succession. The screen lit up frequently. After half a second’s hesitation, Dong Xi turned the phone over. Gently moved it toward Jin Yiken. He glanced at it. Dong Xi said: “I don’t know him.”

He seemed to have known early on.

Without any expression. Attention still returned to the coursework: “Do you have reliable male friends?”

“Classmates?”

“Send him a message. Have him come pick you up. Before that, stay with me here.”

His pen unhurriedly划 across the book pages, writing. Simply too lazy to cast a second glance toward Lu Feng. But gave Dong Xi a second sentence: “Don’t worry. Before your friend comes, I won’t leave.”

Like a reassurance pill. Stabilizing a heart that had been faintly growing worried since just now. At this moment approaching four o’clock. Still an hour and a half before Zhaohua Hall’s celebration event opening. Jin Yiken looked at his physics books. The sky gradually took on evening twilight colors. The library’s fluorescent lights lit up in rows at the scheduled time. Dong Xi sent Zhang Muyi a message.

During the waiting process, he didn’t speak to her. He wasn’t interested in Lu Feng’s origins. As if just helping in passing. His phone screen often lit up. Sometimes, he spent more time replying to messages than reading.

“You’ll also go tonight, right?” This was the only thing Dong Xi asked.

Jin Yiken knew what she was asking about. His hand was still replying to messages. Didn’t move his mouth. Nodded.

The aura on his body had obvious changes compared to high school. Not flamboyant. Not unruly. Still bad. But wrapped in a taciturn and restrained manner. Giving people the illusion of maturity.

Zhang Muyi arrived three quarters of an hour later.

He didn’t know the reason. Dong Xi only had him come to the library. He rushed back from off-campus. After coming to the lobby reading area, quickly found people. At the same time saw Jin Yiken across.

Jin Yiken also saw him.

The two seemed familiar. In Jin Yiken’s eyes was a second of contemplation. Zhang Muyi directly asked: “Yo, you two know each other?”

“High school classmates.” Dong Xi answered.

Jin Yiken didn’t say anything else. The time approached five o’clock. Outside the window the sky had deepened. Since people came, he started packing things. Zhang Muyi asked Dong Xi what happened. While she was considering how to say it, Jin Yiken had already shouldered his bag and circled around the table. On the table remained only her two art books.

“Leaving first.”

Zhang Muyi nodded goodbye to him. Dong Xi’s gaze passed Zhang Muyi, following his departing back.

When he left, he did something.

At that moment Lu Feng still perseveringly sat there, staring at Dong Xi. When Jin Yiken passed him, he knocked on the table surface with his knuckles. Lu Feng caught off guard raised his head. Then his chest was patted by Jin Yiken with deep meaning. He continued walking toward the main entrance. Lu Feng seemed to receive some hint with slight warning and provocation. Looked back at him. After casting another glance toward Dong Xi, stood up and followed him out.

Dong Xi was breathing.

Zhang Muyi still obliviously asked about her situation. She only listened. Didn’t answer. Five minutes later, Lu Feng’s message came.

—Won’t disturb you again in the future. Sorry.

What happened outside the door was unknown. But her heart was clear this was the real favor Jin Yiken actually rendered to help her. She deleted all messages from this number. Zhang Muyi helped her finish collecting the books. Said: “I’ll send you home?”

She looked at him.

Because of being suddenly gazed at, Zhang Muyi’s expression was somewhat nervous. Asked: “What?”

“Nothing.”

After walking two steps, her pace stopped again. Turned to look at Zhang Muyi: “Senior.”

“Mm?”

Fluorescent lights shone directly down. Bright and dazzling. On the library’s huge glass windows were the two people’s reflections. Dong Xi’s chest rose and fell lightly.

“You’re chasing me, right?”

Zhang Muyi was lightly stunned.

Dong Xi watched the expression changes on his face. Asked again: “You sincerely like me?”

A showdown thus unfolded without warning. Few people remained in the lobby reading area. Forming a strong contrast with the bustling Zhaohua Hall several streets away. There the people were about to explode. Shouting approaching hoarseness. Here the atmosphere approached deathly silence.

“I,” Zhang Muyi said, “do like you.”

Dong Xi listened to this confession without showing emotion. Zhang Muyi’s Adam’s apple trembled slightly. Standing posture slightly stiff. Continued saying: “Since you asked, I’ll be frank. Actually from the first time I saw you I liked you. All subsequent behavior was to pursue you.”

Dong Xi withdrew her gaze.

He smiled awkwardly: “Didn’t mean to have you actively ask. Because your vigilance is very strong. Not easy to accept others. So currently just want to accompany you. Be good to you. Other words even if spoken two or three years later would be fine. If you don’t have this aspect of intention, I could never say it either. Dong Xi, I truly just want to be good to you.”

Fingers picked at the bag strap. After a slight breath, gazed at him again.

“You don’t need to give me a reply,” Zhang Muyi extended his hand toward her in a stopping gesture. “Just let me continue staying by your side in the capacity of a senior. I won’t…”

“Let’s get a room.”

Dong Xi interrupted him.