Then, Class 6 watched as Zhang Shu came in, and Wang Wei called Sheng Xia out.

This sequence…

Why was it the same as last time?

Could there be something between these two?

When Sheng Xia returned to the classroom, her face was somewhat stiff. Xin Xiaohe asked, “What’s wrong?”

“The teacher asked me to… help edit Zhang Shu’s speech.”

“Huh?” Xin Xiaohe realized, “Oh, the flag-raising ceremony speech. Zhang Shu’s first in class, so it should be him speaking. Maybe Teacher Wang’s worried his draft might embarrass our class.”

Sheng Xia nodded: “That’s what the teacher said.”

Xin Xiaohe: “It’s just editing, shouldn’t be hard for you.”

Editing wasn’t really difficult, but…

Seeing her hesitation, Xin Xiaohe asked softly: “Why do I feel like you’re so afraid of Zhang Shu?”

Sheng Xia looked up.

It wasn’t fear, it was just that criminal law book – still unresolved, hanging over her head like a sword.

Xin Xiaohe patted her hand, “Don’t worry, just wait for him to beg you. If the speech goes badly, he’s the one who’ll be embarrassed.”

Beg her?

His face wasn’t exactly made for begging.

Sheng Xia didn’t know what to say, so she just nodded.

…

Before the official start of school, senior-year students got three days off. Boarding students could go home to relax and adjust their mindset before fully committing to their studies.

But in reality, nobody relaxed, because the blackboard was filled with homework “suggestions.”

Sheng Xia was packing her bag, checking against the list on the blackboard to find the right workbooks to take home.

Someone tapped the chair’s crossbar. She turned around.

Zhang Shu had his long legs dominating the aisle, resting his chin on his hand as he looked at her, asking, “Free during the break?”

Sheng Xia didn’t understand his intention, replying: “Have to do practice papers.”

“Any parts you don’t understand?” Zhang Shu’s tone was like bestowing grace, “I can explain them to you.”

Curious glances came from nearby classmates. Sheng Xia felt uncomfortable, “No need, I’ll ask you after we return from break.”

She wouldn’t ask – better to wait for the evening study hall and ask the teacher. She just wasn’t good at refusing people’s goodwill.

Zhang Shu looked knowing, “Didn’t Old Wang ask you to edit my speech? I’ll help you with problems in return – don’t need it?”

Put that way, the onlookers lost interest, their expressions awkward.

Sheng Xia had heard that his explanations were very clear. From a student’s perspective, sometimes he explained things more simply than teachers.

“Have you finished writing it?” she asked.

Zhang Shu: “Wrote the opening, should finish tonight. Are you free tomorrow?”

Sheng Xia hesitated, “Can we edit after returning from break?”

Zhang Shu’s voice rose slightly, “What do you think? After break it needs to go to Fu Jie, and the flag ceremony is the next day. Where’s the time to edit then?”

True.

Sheng Xia silently sighed, “I’m going to study at Yifang Bookstore with a friend tomorrow. If you’re free, you can find me there.”

Having Tao Zhizhi there would be better than being alone.

“Alright, add my QQ to keep in touch.”

“…Okay.”

That night before bed, Sheng Xia received a message from Zhang Shu.

“What time tomorrow?”

His profile picture was plain, just a blob of ink like a black hole. It looked perpetually offline, so his sudden message startled Sheng Xia.

She replied: “We usually go at 10 AM and return home at 5 PM. You can come whenever you’re free.”

He sent an emoji, then quickly recalled it, leaving just “OK.”

Though it flashed by quickly, Sheng Xia saw it – that emoji was an ugly panda head with a pinky finger raised, labeled with the letters “OjbK.”

OK is OK, but what were those extra letters in the middle?

Sheng Xia thought for a moment and decided to tell Tao Zhizhi first.

Sure enough, she received several rows of exclamation marks: “!!!!!!!!!! Should I not come? Am I interrupting your date?”

What date?

Sheng Xia explained the whole story about editing the speech. Tao Zhizhi also replied with “OjbK,” adding: “I understand completely.”

She understood everything, but Sheng Xia didn’t.

Sheng Xia: “What’s OjbK?”

Tao Zhizhi: “Uh… not important, just means OK.”

Sheng Xia remembered something and asked: “Then what’s ‘wujibayu’? I think that’s how it’s pronounced.”

Tao Zhizhi: “Red hot and hazy hazy – who told you that?”

Sheng Xia: “Zhang Shu.”

Tao Zhizhi: “Uh… good phrase, but not suitable for you. Just don’t use it.”

Sheng Xia: … They’re so trendy?

Sheng Xia returned to the main interface, seeing Zhang Shu’s nickname was just one English letter: S.

She clicked on his profile to edit the note, typed “Zhang Shu,” and then remembered the “Shu” character he had written on her arm. Still annoyed, she deleted it with rapid taps. After thinking, she typed two characters: Song Jiang.

The name of such a great hero – she was being too generous.

Sheng Xia was still unsatisfied but couldn’t think of anything more suitable. Deciding not to waste brain cells on this issue, she chose to turn off the lights and sleep.

The next day, Tao Zhizhi arrived even earlier than Sheng Xia – usually Sheng Xia had to wait over an hour for her.

Although Tao Zhizhi no longer had expectations about Zhang Shu’s “handsomeness,” she still wanted to see what this academic god looked like.

But by noon, after they’d already eaten lunch at the store, Zhang Shu still hadn’t shown up. Tao Zhizhi even humanely saved him a slice of pizza.

After lunch, Tao Zhizhi stopped doing practice problems, read some manga, and then fell asleep on the table.

Sheng Xia was working on a set of math simulation questions that Wang Lianhua had just bought for her.

Just as she finished the multiple choice questions, a shadow fell across the table. She looked up to see the young man standing at the table with a bag slung over one shoulder, looking at the table with only two chairs. He raised his eyebrows, “Where should I sit?”

Hearing this, Tao Zhizhi stirred from her sleep, rubbing her eyes as she looked up…

In the halo of light appeared an exquisite face with a cold expression, eyebrows slightly raised.

Just standing there motionless, his whole being exuded an air of arrogance and nonchalance.

Casual yet cocky.

She was dumbfounded, rubbing her eyes again, looking up at the young man who still managed to look handsome even from this deadly angle, then looking at her best friend…

Sheng Xia introduced them: “This is my classmate, Zhang Shu; this is my friend, Tao Zhizhi.”

Zhang Shu nodded: “Hello.”

Tao Zhizhi: …

Holy crap, when did Sheng Xia go blind?