During the tutoring period, they had one day off on weekends.

Sheng Mingfeng finally found time in his busy schedule to take his three daughters out for dinner.

Sheng Xia hadn’t expected Zou Weiping to be there too.

“Greet her,” Sheng Mingfeng said.

No one expected Zheng Dongning to utter a word, as she rarely spoke.

Wu Qiuxuan had a fierce temper – she glared at Zou Weiping before heading straight to the innermost seat in the private room.

Wang Lianhua always said Wu Qiuxuan was most like her of the three daughters, which was why Sheng Mingfeng didn’t love Wu Qiuxuan, while Sheng Xia was most like Sheng Mingfeng, so he favored her.

“Auntie Zou.” Sheng Xia nodded slightly.

Zou Weiping’s eyes were gentle as she smiled, “Sit down, your father ordered many of your favorites.”

Just as the dishes were served, Sheng Mingfeng’s first words were directed at Wu Qiuxuan: “You’re in ninth grade now, with that temper of yours, you’ll have a hard time when you board at high school!”

Wu Qiuxuan was dismissive: “If I go to the affiliated school, I won’t need to board.”

Sheng Mingfeng snorted coldly: “With your grades, you’re dreaming of the affiliated school unless you study day and night this year!”

“Can’t you just get me in? Why do I need to study?”

In these words, not just Sheng Mingfeng but also Zou Weiping’s expression changed dramatically.

“Who taught you that?” Sheng Mingfeng’s voice deepened, “Huh? Did your mother teach you that?”

Wu Qiuxuan hated it most when Sheng Mingfeng criticized her mother in front of Zou Weiping. She shot up, “Stop slandering my mom!”

Zou Weiping patted Sheng Mingfeng, then went to Wu Qiuxuan’s side, putting an arm around her shoulders and speaking softly: “Qiuxuan, that’s not what your father meant. He cares about you all. Today he was supposed to go to the district office…”

“Stop acting nice,” Wu Qiuxuan shrugged off Zou Weiping’s hand, not appreciating the gesture. She sneered, “If he cared about us, why did he bring you?”

Zou Weiping’s hand hung in the air, her expression awkward.

“Wu Qiuxuan!” Just as Sheng Mingfeng was about to slam the table and stand up, Sheng Xia’s cold hand covered his clenched fist. “Dad…”

She also tugged at Wu Qiuxuan’s hand, “Qiuxuan…”

Wu Qiuxuan looked down, “Sister!”

Sheng Xia shook her head slightly, signaling her not to cause trouble. At home, Wu Qiuxuan only listened to Sheng Xia’s words occasionally. Now Wu Qiuxuan suppressed her temper and sat down angrily.

Zou Weiping returned to her seat.

Sheng Xia changed the subject: “Dad, next month is Ningning’s birthday. She looks forward to your gift every year – what are you planning to give her this year?”

How could Sheng Mingfeng not understand Sheng Xia’s intention? He changed to a gentle tone and turned to ask: “Ningning, what do you want? Dad will buy you anything!”

Zheng Dongning pressed her lips together, just staring expectantly at Sheng Mingfeng, still not speaking.

Knowing he wouldn’t get an answer, Sheng Mingfeng turned to ask Zou Weiping, “What do you think we should give her this year? Ningning’s nine now, she’s growing up.”

“Hmm…” Zou Weiping rested her chin in her hand, “We need to think carefully about this.”

“Ten.”

A childish voice spoke up.

The whole table fell silent.

Even Sheng Xia looked over in surprise.

Wang Lianhua had said Ningning’s condition had worsened recently – she probably hadn’t spoken a word for almost half a month.

Zheng Dongning’s chubby lips moved again, emphasizing: “I’m ten years old.”

Wu Qiuxuan was drinking soup with her head down. Hearing this, she snorted and muttered: “Can’t believe he even got that wrong, speechless.”

The mocking tone was especially harsh in the silent private room.

Even Sheng Xia lowered her head now, unconsciously sighing.

Sheng Mingfeng was unusually stunned – this man who navigated official circles was left speechless by his youngest daughter.

Zou Weiping tried to smooth things over: “Ten is a full decade, we need to think carefully about the gift. Don’t ask Ningning – picking it yourself shows more thoughtfulness.”

“I’ll choose it personally,” Sheng Mingfeng agreed.

Such a beginning determined that the atmosphere wouldn’t improve much later. The conversation centered only around the safest person: Sheng Xia.

Sheng Mingfeng asked, and Sheng Xia answered.

“The affiliated school is different,” Sheng Mingfeng concluded. “Study hard, let me know if you need anything – or tell your auntie, it’s the same. Don’t push yourself too hard though, don’t listen to your mom’s nagging. You’re in adolescence – happy learning is most important.”

Zou Weiping chimed in: “Yes, Xia Xia, right now the biggest things at home are your college entrance exam and Qiuxuan’s high school entrance exam. Call me if you need anything.”

Wu Qiuxuan muttered softly: “Ha!”

Sheng Mingfeng glanced at her, whether in helplessness or exasperation was unclear. Too tired to criticize her further, he just said to Sheng Xia: “Why don’t you use the phone I gave you? I can never reach you.”

Sheng Xia wanted to say she didn’t need such an expensive phone, but seeing the expectation in Sheng Mingfeng’s eyes, she swallowed her words and nodded: “I thought the affiliated school didn’t allow phones before. I’ll carry it from now on.”

Sheng Mingfeng nodded with satisfaction: “Keep me updated more about your life and studies.”

“Okay.”

After dinner, Brother Li drove them home, handing over three large shopping bags when they got out – from the logos, they were from clothing brands.

One bag each, containing dresses made of fine fabric, not cheap.

Wu Qiuxuan asked: “From Dad?”

Brother Li nodded.

“That woman must have bought them, right? I don’t believe Dad would go shopping for clothes for us.”

Brother Li scratched his head.

Wu Qiuxuan’s lips curved up, “Might as well take what’s free.”

The three carried their shopping bags home. Wang Lianhua was on duty and not home today.

Wu Qiuxuan tried on her new dress and helped Zheng Dongning into hers too – the sizes fit well.

They went to Sheng Xia’s room, only to find her folding the new clothes into her wardrobe before turning to her desk to study.

“Sister, aren’t you going to try yours on?”

Sheng Xia turned around, saying calmly: “The size looks right, no need to try it on. I still have homework to do.”

Wu Qiuxuan left with her little sister, no longer disturbing Sheng Xia.

She looked down at her dress.

This wasn’t the first time that women had bought them clothes. Thinking carefully, her sister seemed to have never worn any of them.

Sheng Xia rarely wore dresses, because Wang Lianhua only ever bought them sportswear.

When she was Qiuxuan’s age and just developing a sense of “beauty,” she would occasionally envy her classmates’ pretty dresses, while sportswear was loose and baggy, the same styles over and over, nothing special.

Once during summer break when she stayed at Sheng Mingfeng’s for a few days, she came back wearing a dress he had bought her.

Back then Sheng Mingfeng wasn’t as busy as now – after every exam he would take her to the aquarium, and amusement park, buy her snacks Wang Lianhua wouldn’t allow, let her play games Wang Lianhua said girls shouldn’t play, buy her dresses Wang Lianhua wouldn’t let her wear.

Childhood “happiness” wasn’t mixed with so many emotions and values. Sheng Xia’s few happy memories all came from those brief days spent with Sheng Mingfeng.

The dress wasn’t particularly striking, the length was conservative, only showing half her calves, but whether it was Sheng Xia’s imagination or not, many people turned to look at her along the way.

In the elevator she met the neighbor from across the hall, they went up together, and each went to their door.

But just as the door was closing, the neighbor turned back and gave Sheng Xia a look up and down, intentionally or not.

Just one look, without malice, but Sheng Xia felt completely uncomfortable.

Wang Lianhua inside had seen this too. She snorted “hmph” and said coolly: “Stay out a few days and learn to dress up. I must be making you suffer too much here.”

Sheng Xia cried under her blanket all night.

In the middle of the night, Wang Lianhua lifted the blanket to wipe her tears. Not knowing how to face her mother, she pretended to be asleep.

Wang Lianhua’s sighs were as heavy as muffled thunder. She sat by the bed mumbling, telling her daughter about her hardships over the years, choking up as she apologized, “You don’t know how much attention teenage girls attract. Mom’s not stopping you from being pretty, it’s just that our home has no men…”

Four women living together, no male presence, not enough deterrent force. Wang Lianhua was cautious to a fault, her way of protecting them seemed so powerless.

Sheng Xia slowly sat up and held Wang Lianhua’s hand. Wang Lianhua hugged her back, mother and daughter crying together.

…

The first thing before Monday morning reading was moving seats.

They moved every Monday – one column right, one row back.

The rightmost single column moved to the far left.

Sheng Xia became the first desk in that single column, directly facing the classroom’s front door.

She was separated from Xin Xiaohe, but only by one aisle.

Lu Youze was originally at the first desk, now sitting behind Xin Xiaohe, diagonally behind Sheng Xia to the left.

Zhang Shu moved to the first desk of the first column in the first group, the northernmost part of the classroom.

Sheng Xia was at the southernmost end, finally feeling much more at ease.

The days of holding someone else’s secret had been so nerve-wracking.

But thinking about moving again next week, when she would be Zhang Shu’s deskmate, she started feeling anxious again.

She just hoped this week would last longer.

However, being at the first desk by the door wasn’t pleasant. During breaks, there was constant traffic, and vigorous youths walking with a swagger, she could smell several different body odors, especially in the afternoon when everyone was sweating profusely – each person passing brought a waft of the stink that made her dizzy.

Some boys liked to jump up and grab the doorframe when entering, pretending to dunk, the landing often startling Sheng Xia.

Some girls would friendly greet her as a new classmate when passing by, and she had trouble keeping up with all the responses.

So during breaks, she was either getting water or going to the bathroom.

During the long break, she couldn’t avoid it – the time was too long and she didn’t like wandering around outside, so she could only bury herself in homework.

“Sheng Xia, how are you adjusting to the affiliated school?” Lu Youze chatted with her across the aisle.

Sheng Xia said: “It’s quite good, just that the class pace is a bit fast and I can’t finish the homework.”

Lu Youze comforted her: “The homework assignments are just for reference, not mandatory. Don’t stress too much.”

“Mm.”

Based on seating, Lu Youze should have ranked around fifteen or sixteen at the end of last semester. Sheng Xia wanted to know what level that represented and if she could reach it, so she asked: “What about you? How much homework can you finish? Can you complete it all?”

Lu Youze paused, not answering directly: “Only a minority can finish all the homework.”

Sheng Xia wasn’t good at pressing further, so she just pressed her lips together and nodded.

Another breeze passed her desk, bringing a fresh scent like sun-dried grass.

A voice came: “It’s not a minority that can finish the homework, it’s Zhang Shu.”

The voice was deep but the tone arrogant.

Sheng Xia turned her head.

Zhang Shu and Hou Junqi were walking in from outside one after another. Hou Junqi was laughing hard: “Hahahahaha awesome!”

It was Zhang Shu who had spoken. Holding a can of soda, he walked past the podium toward his seat without stopping, glancing back at Sheng Xia’s direction as he spoke – more accurately, glancing at Lu Youze.

A casual, provocative, disdainful look.

Rhyming while praising himself – what an arrogant person.

Lu Youze showed no intention of confrontation, his face showing slight restraint and embarrassment.

Seeing this, Sheng Xia turned back to her homework, staying away from the sparks flying between rivals.

Friday evening study was supervised by Wang Wei. He had a habit during evening study of having heart-to-heart talks with a few students, calling it “Heart-to-Heart Brother Time.” Sheng Xia couldn’t help but smile when she first heard this.

Despite Wang Wei’s old-fashioned style and unremarkable looks, he was only in his early thirties and single. He said himself, “Science stipulates you can only be called uncle or auntie when you’re more than sixteen years older. I’m not even thirty-five yet, so you have to call me brother.”

As for which scientific regulation stated this, it was unknown.

As a transfer student, Sheng Xia became the first talk subject this semester.

The opening was all “Are you adjusting” “Any difficulties” and such. Sheng Xia wasn’t talkative, just saying everything was fine.

Wang Wei got to the point: “Your mother said your physics and chemistry foundations aren’t very good. Are you finding classes difficult lately?”

Sheng Xia nodded honestly, adding: “Math is hard to keep up with too.”

Wang Wei said: “Your Chinese and English scores are quite good, should be good in all liberal arts subjects, right? Why didn’t you choose liberal arts back then?”

Back then, Wang Lianhua had decided for her. Science majors had more career options and better employment prospects. In Wang Lianhua’s stereotypical view, only those who couldn’t handle science would study liberal arts – it was a last resort, which meant they weren’t smart. And Wang Lianhua herself was a liberal arts student.

“Family’s opinion.”

Wang Wei wasn’t surprised by this answer. Such an obedient child rarely had much choice in decisions. “The teacher just wants to understand the situation. Now that you’ve chosen science, let’s study hard. A year is neither long nor short, but it can change many things – it’s all up to you.”

Sheng Xia nodded: “Mm, thank you, teacher.”

“What are you thanking me for?” Wang Wei was amused by this girl’s obedient manner. “Next week when seats change, you’ll be Zhang Shu’s deskmate. Zhang Shu has very strong learning abilities – you should observe and learn from him, ask questions.”

Sheng Xia just nodded slightly again, but was thinking: this week had passed so quickly, what was meant to come had come.

Who knew if someone so smart had a good memory – would he hold grudges?

Wang Wei interpreted her hesitant expression differently though, and smiled: “He may not seem warm, but he explains everything when classmates ask him questions, don’t worry about that.”

“Mm.”

“Good, you can go back in now. Please ask Zhang Shu to come over.”