HomeSummer In Your NameChapter 39: Dark History

Chapter 39: Dark History

On the way back.

Xiaobai hadn’t been charged for a long time, so the battery was dropping quickly. Fortunately, Binjiang Square wasn’t far from school, so they wouldn’t break down halfway. However, the scooter got slower and slower toward the end, crawling along at just over 10 mph.

A group of middle-aged cyclists, fully equipped, whooshed past them.

The uncles and aunties looked at them curiously, with some even giving friendly greetings.

“Young man, your ride isn’t working well, eh? Not even as good as my bicycle!”

Zhang Shu laughed boldly, “Uncle, you better not run into me when I’m on a bicycle.”

“Hey, how about a race then?”

“Whatever you want! I’ll even give you a one-kilometer head start,” Zhang Shu replied.

“Cocky kid.”

An auntie chuckled and said, “What do you know? You have no sense of romance. Slowing down is young people’s way of being romantic!”

Sheng Xia: …

Zhang Shu gave a short laugh but stayed silent.

The school security guard stopped them, and Zhang Shu brazenly lied: “Taking her for a follow-up check.”

The guard looked at her crutch and leg, recognizing her as the student whom the leadership had mentioned could have parents drive into school to pick her up. He let them pass.

Only after their vehicle disappeared around the corner did he belatedly mutter: “Shouldn’t parents accompany them for follow-up checks? Are these two dating?”

It was still early, and everyone was still in PE class, leaving the classroom empty.

Shortly after, the boys returned first, all sweating profusely. They said the PE teacher was being harsh today, keeping those who didn’t pass the physical test behind for a talk. It was the girls’ turn now.

Hou Junqi and Yang Linyu were probably helping out – they weren’t around.

Qi Xiulei wiped his sweat while asking, “Shu, why did you skip class? The teacher said you’ll have to take it alone next time.”

Zhang Shu didn’t answer, instead suggesting, “Want to go to the school store?”

“Sure! It’s so hot, what’s with this weather? It’s almost December, can it not?”

“I’m coming too.”

“Me me me.”

The suggestion was met with enthusiastic response as a group of boys noisily prepared to leave. Zhang Shu suddenly turned back and asked, “Want anything to drink?”

Though he didn’t specify who he was asking, everyone knew who he was talking to.

Even his voice seemed to have softened.

Sheng Xia was feeling a bit sleepy and dazedly shook her head, “No thanks.”

Zhang Shu smiled and left with several boys who were linking arms and exchanging knowing looks.

“Shu, where’d you go just now?”

“A nap is worth gold~ What do you know!”

“And you do?”

“Of course, he was on a date!”

When the bell rang, the girls finally returned, all looking exhausted and complaining about the PE teacher being merciless.

Xin Xiaohe collapsed into Zhang Shu’s chair as soon as she entered, even though her seat was just one group over.

“I’m dying…” she panted heavily.

Sheng Xia had just been napping on her desk and was now hazily waking up.

Xin Xiaohe used Zhang Shu’s draft notebook to fan herself, “It’s so hot I’m getting sleepy. I want to go to the supermarket for soda. Xia Xia, want to come?”

Sheng Xia checked the time, “Class starts in five minutes.”

Probably not enough time to go and come back.

“You’re right,” Xin Xiaohe said, “Should’ve asked them to bring some back just now.”

Sheng Xia said, “Qi Xiulei and the others just went, why don’t you call them?”

“I don’t have Qi Xiulei’s number. They? Who else went?”

“Well,” Sheng Xia paused before saying, “all the boys went.”

“Why don’t you just say Zhang Shu went too?” Xin Xiaohe immediately understood, “Is his name too hot to say or something?”

At that moment, the person whose name was “too hot to say” appeared at the window holding a can of soda, pausing in his steps when he heard this.

Sheng Xia: …

Meanwhile, Xin Xiaohe, with her back to the window, hadn’t seen him. “Speaking of which, Zhang Shu skipped class. Did you see him?”

Sheng Xia didn’t know how to answer and was about to signal to Xin Xiaohe that Zhang Shu was behind her, but received a warning look from him. She swallowed her words and stammered, “N-no…”

Xin Xiaohe’s eyes suddenly lit up with interest: “Why are you stuttering? I heard from Hou Junqi that he went to find you?”

This…

Sheng Xia felt like she was sitting in a bonfire.

“He didn’t? Huh, more empty talk. Is Brother Shu up for it or not?” Xin Xiaohe continued muttering, noticing Sheng Xia’s evasive gaze. “Haha, I’m just teasing you. Well, I’ll call Zhang Shu then. So, want anything to drink?”

Sheng Xia didn’t know why Zhang Shu wasn’t coming in or what he was planning to do. She shook her head, “I don’t really like soda.”

“Then what do you like?”

“Cucumber juice.”

“I’ll buy some for you after school.”

“There isn’t any left,” Sheng Xia said regretfully. She had tried giving signals with her eyes, but Xin Xiaohe hadn’t noticed. She could only continue, “The owner said it was summer-limited.”

“What’s there to limit about cucumbers?” Xin Xiaohe was bewildered.

Sheng Xia said, “I don’t know.”

Xin Xiaohe: “It’s just artificial scarcity marketing.”

Sheng Xia nodded: “Maybe.”

Xin Xiaohe said: “Then we won’t drink it! So pretentious!”

Sheng Xia said: “Won’t drink it! Pretentious.”

Xin Xiaohe: “Pretentious!”

Sheng Xia: “tious.”

Xin Xiaohe: “in.”

Their conversations always ended up in this gradually fading echo mode.

“Oh whatever, I’m going to make that call,” Xin Xiaohe got up while chattering, when suddenly she screamed, “Zhang Shu what are you doing are you a ghost?!”

Zhang Shu hadn’t managed to hide the smile their childish conversation had provoked. He said, “What’s wrong with you, cursing at me every time you occupy my seat? I’m in a good mood and letting you keep sitting there, and that’s somehow my fault?”

His laughing voice slipped into Sheng Xia’s ears, causing a tingling sensation. She rubbed her earlobe.

“You- when did you get back?!” Xin Xiaohe was speechless, wondering if he had heard all that talk about “empty talk” and such.

Zhang Shu said, “Right when you said my name was too hot to say.”

Xin Xiaohe: …

Sheng Xia: …

Zhang Shu said, “Sorry, can’t help you bring soda anymore. Want what daddy has left?”

Xin Xiaohe: “Get lost!”

Zhang Shu laughed heartily, his teeth neat and bright.

When he laughed, he always pulled up one corner of his mouth first, then casually lifted the other side, looking both mischievous and cool.

But his full smile was different from his slight smile, with less of that cool mischief, like sudden daybreak with youthful energy hitting you in the face.

He went around to the back door and entered the classroom, placing a small cake and yogurt on Sheng Xia’s desk.

Sheng Xia looked up, her eyes questioning.

“You barely ate lunch, aren’t you hungry?” he sat down casually in his seat.

Sheng Xia only then felt the emptiness in her stomach – she was indeed quite hungry.

Sharp-eyed Xin Xiaohe, who had just been shut down, wouldn’t let such an opportunity pass. She gave Sheng Xia a sly look and said to Zhang Shu, “Wow, Brother Shu, tiramisu and Classy yogurt? Rich guy, huh? What business have you been doing to make money lately? Take me with you!”

Sheng Xia’s ears turned red.

Zhang Shu was much more natural about it, giving an indifferent snort, “You want to make money with someone who only talks big? How dare you?”

Xin Xiaohe: …

When it came to verbal sparring, she was no match for Zhang Shu’s skill level – she kept getting hit.

Sheng Xia quietly ate a few bites of tiramisu before the class bell rang, carefully placing the remaining half on the edge of her drawer.

Her mouth was filled with sweetness.

She secretly looked at the price tag – she’d find a chance to pay him back. It must not have been easy for him.

During dinner, the restaurant owner’s wife had prepared a “special meal” for her, which included a glass of cucumber juice.

Although it tasted slightly different from the fruit shop’s version, it was still very refreshing. Sheng Xia’s appetite opened up, and she nearly cleaned her plate at dinner.

When leaving, she hobbled to the counter with her crutch and said “thank you” to the owner’s wife.

The owner’s wife smiled warmly and said quietly, “No need to thank me. In the future, if you want to eat or drink anything, just call me directly. No need for that boy to keep reminding me~”

That boy…

Sheng Xia wasn’t stupid. Connecting it with the day’s conversation, it wasn’t hard to guess. She turned her head – Zhang Shu and Hou Junqi were waiting for her at the door.

In that spark of realization, she suddenly remembered the bowl of brown sugar rice wine from before…

Could it be?

Sheng Xia felt her legs going numb, each step becoming heavy.

“Ate quite a lot, did tonight’s food suits your taste?” When they got closer, Zhang Shu casually asked.

Sheng Xia didn’t answer, slowly walking beside him.

Her mind was in chaos.

Did he know—

If this continued, she would start to misunderstand.

During evening study hall, Sheng Xia redid her incorrect problems, focusing solely on figuring out the next steps of solutions. The entire evening passed quickly.

Wang Lianhua came to pick her up at eleven, as usual, looking somewhat unhappy. Sheng Xia knew tonight probably wouldn’t pass peacefully.

Sure enough, while driving, Wang Lianhua casually said, “Xia Xia, why don’t you ask your homeroom teacher if there are any recommended tutoring institutions? We shouldn’t choose blindly for tutoring, especially at this point…”

“Mom.”

Sheng Xia suddenly interrupted Wang Lianhua, who was slightly surprised. “Hmm? Or do you know which teachers offer private lessons…”

“I don’t need extra tutoring, Mom.”

The car briefly slowed down. Wang Lianhua turned on the interior light and observed Sheng Xia through the rearview mirror. “Last time we agreed, if this time still…”

“I can do it myself,” Sheng Xia rarely opposed Wang Lianhua’s arrangements, but this time, she decided to try, “I think I’ve found the reason.”

Wang Lianhua was surprised, “‘Think’? Isn’t it too risky to say ‘think’ at this point?”

Sheng Xia said, “But isn’t finding a tutor also risky? We only have so much time, and getting a tutor would be like transferring schools again, wouldn’t it?”

Wang Lianhua fell silent, seemingly considering.

She remained silent until they got home, then finally said, “Specifically, how do you plan to improve?”

“Improving scores isn’t something that happens overnight. I need time, and I need space. Although I didn’t do well this time, it exposed some problems, but there was also progress. Unlike before, when I did poorly and didn’t know what was wrong, now I have direction,” Sheng Xia hesitated for a long while before saying, “But as for specifics, I don’t want to talk about a lot of methodologies now, I can only solve the immediate problems first.”

Wang Lianhua was silent for a long time, and the atmosphere in the living room became stagnant.

Finally, Wang Lianhua nodded, “Alright then, Mom chooses to believe in you too. Good luck.”

Sheng Xia looked at her mother in disbelief.

Wang Lianhua patted her head, “Mom has said before, I hope you can share more of your thoughts with me. I like hearing them.”

This… wasn’t originally her idea…

Sheng Xia pressed her lips together and nodded.

The issue she had worried about for so long was resolved just like that, more easily than imagined. Sheng Xia was quite surprised.

Lying in bed before falling asleep, she couldn’t help thinking that perhaps in the past, it wasn’t her mother who had been stubborn, but herself.

Keep it pure.

Whether studying or living, everything should be kept pure.

He was right.

Sheng Xia picked up her phone again and opened QQ, not knowing why she was opening it. Until the time in the upper left corner of the phone jumped to 00:00, because of this small movement on the screen, Sheng Xia came to her senses, realizing she had been staring blankly at “Song Jiang’s” chat window for over five minutes.

What was she doing?

Thinking of someone while looking at something related to them?

When this phrase flashed through her mind, Sheng Xia quickly exited the chat interface, her heart inexplicably speeding up…

At that moment, the homepage [Friend Updates] notified: Song Jiang to visit your profile.

Sheng Xia’s eyes widened, suddenly sitting up straight. The movement pulled at her back, affecting her calf, and causing her to hiss in pain, instantly becoming clear-headed.

She hesitantly clicked on it, and simultaneously, the QQ Space showed: [26 new messages>]

Next to it was his pitch-black avatar.

What had he done?

Sheng Xia didn’t realize she was holding her breath as she clicked in.

“Song Jiang” casually liked my post.

“Song Jiang” lovingly liked my post.

“Song Jiang” energetically liked my post.

He had given her 26 likes.

These were probably all the posts Sheng Xia had made since she started using QQ.

They were mostly “chicken soup for the soul” type posts, especially from elementary and middle school – either pretentiously formal or full of teenage angst, lacking substance, affected, and full of groundless complaints.

“Life is originally dull, only running creates wind.”

“Let’s chase away the wind and snow, spring is coming soon.”

“Peace, joy, and wishes fulfilled.”

“If you are well, it’s a sunny day.”

All these were things that were once extremely popular but now seemed particularly like “tears of the era”!

There were also several reposted poems.

This!

Her space didn’t have many visitors, most would see these kinds of posts and leave out of boredom.

What was he doing?!

Oh god, dark history!

Public execution!

Just kill her!

Sheng Xia wanted to set her space to private, but in her panic, the more urgent she felt, the harder it was to find the setting.

Just when she thought it was over, the homepage popped up another message: [8 new messages>]

Sheng Xia let out a cry to the heavens.

Resignedly clicking to open.

“Song Jiang” commented on your post.

“Song Jiang” commented on your post.

“Song Jiang” commented on your post.

Now she didn’t need to guess, certainly more than 8 messages, he was still commenting on the other end.

Did he think the mockery value of just liking wasn’t enough? He had to comment again? How could he have such evil taste, was he that free?!

His comments were even more nonsensical than her groundless complaints.

“Life is originally dull, only running creates wind.”

—[I’m dizzy.]

“Let’s chase away the wind and snow, spring is coming soon.”

—[Like spring? Nanli University has no spring, thanks.]

“Peace, joy, and wishes fulfilled.”

—[Go to school happily, come home joyfully.]

“If you are well, it’s a sunny day.”

—[You probably don’t take the Thunder God and Lightning Mother seriously.]

While reading, her hand slipped, and she clicked on his avatar. The page flashed, entering his space.

Sheng Xia froze completely. Now, it would leave a record on his end. It was over, there was no way to pretend she hadn’t seen it.

With a wail of “Ah,” Sheng Xia threw her phone aside and grabbed her stuffed animal, burying her entire head in it.

“Ahhhhhhh!”

Why! Why did unfortunate people always have misfortunes come in pairs?

Finally facing it, she picked up her phone again. Since she had already clicked, might as well look.

But—

His space was even more boring than hers, without a single post. She had reason to suspect he had deleted them all – who didn’t have a dark history? Impossible.

There was a photo album though, all game screenshots. She couldn’t understand them and quickly exited.

Almost instantly upon exiting, “Song Jiang” sent a message: “Stalking?”

What kind of weird word choice was this?

Even if it was stalking, he did it first, how dare he accuse others!

In a flash, Sheng Xia remembered something important that might save the current awkward situation.

She sent him a red envelope, then typed: [The afternoon tea expenses today…]

Before she could even send the message after typing it, he had already sent one.

Song Jiang: “What’s this, payment for my critiquing your masterpieces?”

Sheng Xia: …

So annoying ahhhhhhhh!

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