In the empty afternoon bookstore, soft French music played through the speakers.

Sunlight streamed through the windows, creating a halo around the young girl.

Hearing footsteps, she slowly looked up, her eyes like clear pools of spring water.

“Ah Shu…”

She called to him, her voice light and gentle like dandelion seeds floating across a wilderness.

“Ah Shu…” she gazed at him, slowly standing up, “I’ve been stuck on this problem for a while, could you help explain it to me?”

Zhang Shu walked closer. As the halo dissipated, the girl’s face and figure became clear before him. Her skin was white as porcelain and smooth as jade.

He lowered his head to look at the problem but saw the test paper was filled with the girl’s beautiful handwriting, page after page, completely covered.

He looked up, but before he could speak, the girl playfully threw herself into his arms, “I was wrong, I was wrong, Ah Shu can punish me.”

The girl’s lips were as soft as cream puffs – it felt like kissing clouds.

He trapped her between the desk and his chest, barely restraining himself from breaking her waist as his forearm tensed against the desktop.

“Ah Shu, Ah Shu…”

“Ah Shu, Ah Shu…”

…

Zhang Shu woke with a muffled groan.

His forehead was covered in fine sweat. Looking down, sure enough, there was a bulge in his summer blanket, slightly damp.

Zhang Shu held his head, cursing: “Fuck!”

He checked the time – 6 AM.

Where did that afternoon sunlight come from?

It was like fucking heaven on earth.

Zhang Shu got up to shower. Under the showerhead, the young man’s shoulders were broad, his forearms toned. He swept back his bangs, tilting his head to let the cold water wash over his flushed face.

How many times was this now?

Every time he touched her, the nights would be filled with sweet dreams. At first, he couldn’t see her face, only hear her voice. Later he could see her face but she was fully clothed. This time…

But he hadn’t even touched her this time?

The young man couldn’t help cursing “fuck” again in his heart!

Was this all Zhang Shu amounted to?

Before, when watching Hou Junqi’s treasures, he never had such lasting effects.

Hou Junqi even mocked him for being inadequate.

But he didn’t feel much – it was somewhat interesting at first, but it all looked the same after a while. He couldn’t even remember faces, forgetting them immediately, unlike Hou Junqi who could identify who was who just by looking at certain body parts.

Was this something that got addictive once you started? It was making him irritable.

Zhang Shu walked out of the bathroom toweling his hair, and ran right into Zhang Sujin leaning against the wall with crossed arms.

“Shit, sis, what are you doing so early in the morning!”

Zhang Sujin looked at the young man’s increasingly handsome features and sturdy shoulders, “My Ah Shu has grown up.”

Zhang Shu paused in drying his hair, eyeing his sister suspiciously, “What are you doing, being creepy?”

Zhang Sujin said: “What are you doing taking a shower so early? Didn’t you just shower last night?”

“Hot.” Zhang Shu walked past her, flicking water droplets from his hair.

Zhang Sujin watched the youth who now stood a head taller than her, her expression teasing as she pressed on: “Your room’s AC is set to 16 degrees and you’re hot?”

“Mind your own business, want me to pay you for utilities?” The youth came out of his room wearing his class uniform.

“Tsk tsk,” Zhang Sujin sighed, “Looking so handsome in any old rag, worthy of being Zhang Shu!”

The youth smiled proudly and boldly, “Look whose brother I am.”

Then, realizing he was wearing something he designed himself, he changed his tune, “No, this isn’t just any old rag! Look carefully at this pattern, isn’t it artist quality?”

Zhang Sujin laughed, poking his forehead.

“Don’t you not need to prep ingredients today? Why are you up so early?” Zhang Shu asked.

“To make you breakfast! Didn’t expect someone to be up earlier than the rooster. Didn’t have time to make anything,” Zhang Sujin went to the kitchen and brought out two bowls of wontons, “These are frozen ones, make do.”

Zhang Shu swung his long legs over the dining chair, eating contentedly as he mumbled: “On days you don’t need to prep ingredients, just rest. No need to make me breakfast, I can grab something quick outside.”

Zhang Sujin raised an eyebrow: “Oh? Now you know how to care for your sister? Why so gentle lately?”

Zhang Shu: “Take it or leave it.”

Zhang Sujin said: “You won’t find a girlfriend being like this!”

Zhang Shu gave his sister a “what’s wrong with you” look, “Other parents worry about their kids dating too early, why are you like this?”

Always probing in every conversation.

“Early dating is only discouraged because most people lack judgment and can’t protect girls,” Zhang Sujin smiled, “But I think Ah Shu has his judgment and can protect girls. Didn’t you figure out on your own that brown sugar helps with period pain?”

“That’s just common sense!” Zhang Shu lowered his head awkwardly, adding, “Don’t worry about it.”

“But you!” Zhang Shu finished eating and looked up at Zhang Sujin, “Don’t you go on dates on weekends?”

Zhang Sujin cleared the dishes, saying: “Going in a bit.”

Zhang Shu raised his eyebrows, patting Zhang Sujin’s shoulder in a very good mood, “My sister can be taught! Go ahead, but must be home by 10 PM.”

Zhang Sujin: …

Zhang Shu was about to leave with his backpack when Zhang Sujin called out again: “Zhang Shu.”

Zhang Shu’s back stiffened – using his full name meant trouble. He turned back, “What?”

“If you start dating someone, remember to tell me, no, you must tell me,” Zhang Sujin’s expression was persistent and serious, “Sister has very important things to tell you.”

Under that gaze, Zhang Shu couldn’t make any witty remarks. After two seconds of silence, he responded: “Got it.”

…

Sunday afternoon, Class 6 practiced their entrance formation wearing their class uniforms.

The uniforms were a bright yellow, very bold. The design was artistic lettering by Zhang Shu spelling “SIX”, with a hidden Q-version portrait of Wang Wei – a chubby face with a few crooked hairs on top, quite resembling him. The overall style was cute but not childish, somewhat trendy, and everyone was very satisfied.

The formation required holding banners. Class 6’s banner read: “You have your poetry and paintings, I have my mountains and gardens, though they’re pirated.”

Below was printed the Q-version portrait of Wang Wei that Zhang Shu designed.

It seems all sports meets were the same – teasing the homeroom teacher was always the main theme.

Sheng Xia thought they would need to practice for days, but they only walked one round before heading back. Xin Xiaohe said the school’s sports meet opening ceremony was very casual, with no need for neat formations since the class uniforms made it clear who was who, and no need for rehearsals since everyone would just make noise passing the main stage anyway.

So Sheng Xia didn’t need to practice holding the sign either, she could just walk casually too.

This was how a sports meet should be – relaxed, enjoying the sports.

The sports meet was Wednesday through Friday, with the opening ceremony on Wednesday morning. Sheng Xia arrived at school at 6 AM as usual and did some English listening practice until Fu Jie came to get her.

Fu Jie laid out her makeup box on the office desk. Looking at the dazzling array of bottles and jars and brushes that looked similar but slightly different, Sheng Xia hesitantly asked: “Teacher, will we use all of these?”

That would take until the year of the monkey!

“Of course not,” Fu Jie said, “But almost.”

Sheng Xia: …

She sat in Fu Jie’s chair while Fu Jie stood to do her makeup. Sheng Xia felt a bit embarrassed, “Teacher, should I go get a chair from the classroom?”

“No no no, don’t bother, I can’t sit still anyway.”

So Sheng Xia watched as Fu Jie’s hands kept switching between various tools waving before her eyes.

“So nice, youth is good, doesn’t cake up at all.”

“So nice, these eyebrows barely need shaping.”

“So nice, this nose doesn’t even need contouring, just some highlight.”

“Nice, these lashes don’t need falsies.”

“So nice, you don’t tear up with the inner corner liner.”

…

The desk clock went from 6:40 to 7:55, and Fu Jie finally finished the last step. She held Sheng Xia’s chin, turning it left and right, her eyes dancing with satisfaction, “Perfect, quick, go change and do your hair.”

Huh? It’s not over?

“Go downstairs and call someone up to help carry your formal dress and things to the field,” Fu Jie instructed, “I’ll clean up first.”

“Okay.”

The school had arranged rooms under the main stage for the goddesses to do makeup and change. This prevented them from walking around in formal wear.

Sheng Xia felt something on her face, tight and uncomfortable.

She kept her head down as she came to the classroom, wanting to call Xin Xiaohe, but she wasn’t in her seat. Sheng Xia peered in through the back door.

“Wow, Sheng Xia!”

Someone saw her and exclaimed softly, making almost everyone turn to look.

“So pretty…”

“Like a celebrity!”

“We’re going to win today.”

“That’s Sheng Xia…”

Sheng Xia was a bit dazed. She could tell from everyone’s eyes that they were admiring, amazed. She felt her palms growing warm, her cheeks flushing. She didn’t know how she looked now – she remembered not being very suited for makeup, the stage makeup she wore before always looked strange, making her not look like herself, so she hadn’t had high hopes…

While she was in a daze, a casual voice came from behind, “What are you doing blocking the door?”

Sheng Xia was holding onto the doorframe. She turned her head, meeting Zhang Shu’s impatient eyes.

She moved aside, explaining: “I’m looking for Xiaohe.”

Their eyes met, and Zhang Shu, who had just made it to class on time, froze in place, his previously relaxed expression showing slight stupefaction.

In that moment of eye contact, silence fell.

Sheng Xia’s mascara-coated lashes fluttered frequently as she looked up at him.

As the clock went from 8:00 to 8:01, Zhang Shu’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he looked up and away toward the classroom, where Xin Xiaohe wasn’t.

The whole class was turning to look at their class’s face for today.

Zhang Shu asked: “What do you need her for?”

His voice was a bit tight.

At this distance and angle, she saw his Adam’s apple again, like a weapon, making her heart skip. She also looked away, lowering her head to say: “I wanted to ask Xiaohe to help carry some things.”

Zhang Shu cleared his throat, “The formal dress?”

How did he know again? Sheng Xia nodded, “Mm.”

“Come on, I’ll help you carry it.” He threw his backpack on the last window seat, not caring whose seat it was, and turned toward the stairs.

Sheng Xia pressed her lips together, stepping forward to follow.

In the classroom, the students looked at each other with meaningful smiles on their faces, whispering in small groups.

“They must be dating, with that dynamic, or I’ll eat chalk!”

“They look kind of good together!!”

“Doesn’t Zhang Shu like Chen Mengyao?”

“That’s ancient history, Zhang Shu’s been flirting with Sheng Xia for ages.”

“Really?”

“Didn’t everyone see the note?”

“Against Zhang Shu, Sheng Xia is like a little white rabbit!”

“Beautiful looks and personality, who wouldn’t change their heart?”

“So pretty so pretty I’m jealous of beauties but not goddesses, I can handle this!”

“Zhang Shu’s look just now was scary, he was about to drool.”

…

When Fu Jie saw it was Zhang Shu coming to help, she raised her eyebrows, her eyes full of mirth: “Since we have a gentleman here, you can carry everything yourself. Sheng Xia don’t do any work, if you sweat your makeup won’t be beautiful anymore.”

Sheng Xia was slightly embarrassed – that wasn’t necessary.

Zhang Shu also raised his eyebrows slightly, nodding, “Fine.”

He bent down to stack the small boxes on top of the big box, picking them all up at once, “Where to?”

“The field! Sheng Xia, you lead him there,” Fu Jie looked up, “Then put on your dress first, don’t touch anything else, I’ll do your hair when I finish cleaning up.”

Sheng Xia nodded.

The two went downstairs one after another, passing by Class 6’s corridor one after another, hearing an uproar from the classroom.

Sheng Xia walked a bit faster, Zhang Shu pretended not to notice, following at an unhurried pace as they crossed the garden to the field.

The field was filled with fluttering colored flags and crowds of people.

The opening ceremony was at 9, but the first and second years had come early. The field was playing lively warm-up music, everyone wearing their class uniforms, dyeing the track and turf in a riot of colors.

The field was an international standard size, quite a walk just to circle to the main stage, not to mention going down the stairs.

Sheng Xia looked back, “Is it hard to carry? Let me take the small ones?”

As soon as she finished speaking, walking backward she almost missed a step…

“Be careful!” Zhang Shu nearly let go of the boxes to catch her, but seeing she had steadied herself, he sighed, scolding her harshly with an exasperated look, “You mud Buddha, watch where you’re going!”

Sheng Xia patted her chest, focusing on her steps, no longer offering to help.

This was embarrassing.

Whether because of Sheng Xia’s makeup, or because of Zhang Shu’s face that had gone viral at the flag-raising ceremony, they drew quite a few looks as they crossed the track.

Sheng Xia even saw someone with a camera filming them, wearing a school reporter badge.

She somewhat regretted letting Zhang Shu help.

Finally circling to the back of the main stage, Sheng Xia checked the room numbers.

Hou Junqi had brought her here on Sunday – Class 1-10 of the third years were all assigned to Room 105.

Room 105’s door was wide open, with faint laughter coming from inside.

“We’re here,” Sheng Xia turned around, taking three small boxes from his arms, “So you can enter more easily.”

Zhang Shu’s lips curved, “Not bad, at least you know to give notice first. The mud Buddha has her cultivation.”

Sheng Xia: …

Sheng Xia went in first to look, seeing other male students inside before turning back to call Zhang Shu, “You can come in.”

The people inside had noticed the movement at the door, all turning to look as a perfect pair entered.

They truly could be called a perfect pair, the word “matching” might as well be carved on their foreheads.

They wore the same class uniforms – if not for being at the sports meet, they would be mistaken for couple outfits.

Zhang Shu – everyone in the third year knew him, his romantic rumors could fill enough novels to circle the school three times, and the rumored female lead was the school beauty, who was currently changing into her formal dress in the partition inside.

But who was this beauty beside him?