Zhou Tingzhao had spent nearly two hours selecting the books at the bookstore, but the hand cord was a split-second decision.

A middle-aged auntie had a small roadside flower stand that sold not only flowers but also these small woven cords.

Upon seeing the flowers, Zhou Tingzhao wanted to give them to her. Seeing the little red cord, he also wanted to give it to her. As he hesitated to leave, the vendor called out to him: “Buy one for your girlfriend.”

And so he bought it.

The next day, when they met again, Zhou Tingzhao instinctively looked at her wrist.

She had been obedient, not removing it since he had put it on her last night. The red color peeked out intermittently from her wrist, partially hidden by her school uniform sleeve. Zhou Tingzhao’s mood immediately improved.

The third-year students’ morning exercise during the long break had been canceled. The half-hour was used instead for unified English listening practice. Before the listening exercise began, the broadcasting station first announced a notice.

Sang Ru didn’t pay attention to the content, distracted by the male announcer’s voice. Resting her chin on her hand, she muttered softly: “His voice sounds quite nice.”

Zhou Tingzhao was looking at the listening comprehension questions when he heard this comment. He paused, saying flatly: “Is that so?”

Sang Ru glanced at him: “Yes, it is.”

Zhou Tingzhao fell silent, as if seriously preparing for the listening exercise.

Sang Ru suddenly placed her hand over his notebook, revealing the red cord he had tied on her wrist, and asked: “Does it look good?”

“It looks good.”

“It’s loose. Help me tighten it a bit.”

“Okay.” Zhou Tingzhao put down his pen, untied it, and retied it properly.

Little liar, it wasn’t lost at all.

Sang Ru not only told lies without blinking but also said provocative things just as easily.

“Your voice sounds even better,” Sang Ru suddenly said, turning her palm upward as she spoke, curling her fingers to hook his. “Say something so I can hear it.”

Zhou Tingzhao’s heart trembled, but he pretended to be calm, allowing her to play with his fingers: “What should I say?”

Sang Ru thought for a moment, then said: “Can you recite love poems?”

“Which one would you like to hear?”

Sang Ru didn’t have time to make her request as the prelude to the English listening exercise started playing over the loudspeaker.

She withdrew her hand back to her territory, behaving properly, and said softly, “I’ll tell you next time.”

She might have forgotten most high school subjects, including English, but having worked at an advertising company for so long, her listening and speaking skills were still quite good.

Sang Ru had developed a habit of comparing every type of exercise with Zhou Tingzhao. In the past, she had also done this, but then it was a private comparison. Now it was open and aboveboard. In the past, when she lost, she would doubt herself and then dislike him. Now, when she lost, her skin had grown thicker; she could even make excuses that she wasn’t fully prepared, and Zhou Tingzhao never contradicted her.

Fortunately, this time she had the upper hand. She got all the answers correct while Zhou Tingzhao missed one question.

“I won.”

Like a little peacock, even the end of her voice lifted.

Zhou Tingzhao went along with it and praised her: “Yes, you won.”

After the listening exercise, there were still a few minutes before class began. Teacher Zheng called both of them outside the classroom.

“Tomorrow, our school and the neighboring No. 3 Middle School will observe each other’s teaching methods. You two will come with me and the academic director to attend several open classes.”

“How long will we be gone?” Sang Ru asked.

“Most of the day.”

Zhou Tingzhao: “What time do we leave?”

Teacher Zheng said, “Come to school as usual first. I’ll call you when it’s time to leave, probably around 9 o’clock.”

“Okay.”

As Teacher Zheng was about to leave, Sang Ru finally asked: “Can I not go?”

“That’s fine if you don’t go,” Teacher Zheng considered for a moment, probably thinking about a suitable replacement, and after a while said, “Then Xue Lu can go with Zhou Tingzhao.”

Sang Ru: “I’ll go.”

Then she heard Zhou Tingzhao’s muffled laugh.

When it was mealtime, the teacher rarely dragged on the class. As soon as “class dismissed” was announced, the classroom emptied with just a few students remaining.

Zhou Tingzhao stood up but noticed that Sang Ru had already put her head down to nap.

He sat back down and, afraid of startling her, asked softly: “Are you feeling unwell?”

Sang Ru lifted her head and shook it: “There are too many people. I don’t want to line up. I’ll go later.”

Zhou Tingzhao was silent for a moment, then said: “Would you like to… come home with me?”

Sang Ru remembered that Zhou Tingzhao’s parents were teachers at the school, but she didn’t know that their family usually lived in the faculty dormitory building behind the school.

She followed Zhou Tingzhao into the house. The home was very clean, everything neat and orderly, giving the same impression as Zhou Tingzhao himself—refreshing and well-organized.

“Have a seat first,” Zhou Tingzhao said as he headed toward the kitchen. “Is egg fried rice okay? It’s quicker.”

“Sure.” Sang Ru didn’t sit down but followed him.

“Any foods you avoid?” Zhou Tingzhao casually picked up an apron, held it in his hand, then suddenly stopped, oddly wondering if it would be strange to wear this in front of her.

“None,” Sang Ru saw him freeze and poked his waist, saying, “Why aren’t you putting it on?”

Zhou Tingzhao snapped back to reality and put on the apron. Immediately afterward, his body stiffened.

Her hands had encircled his waist, not embracing him but a sort of subtle exploration. Her fingers slid from his abdomen to his side, spreading a fine tingling sensation from where she touched.

But that subtle touch quickly disappeared. His waist tightened as a butterfly knot formed at the back.

“All tied up.”

It was already becoming difficult to bear. Zhou Tingzhao suddenly wasn’t sure if bringing her home had been the right decision or not.