Spring was in full bloom. Cherry blossoms adorned South Campus in clusters, painting the school grounds in a sea of pink, with fresh flowers dotting every branch.

After the holiday break, a prefabricated building had been set up on Chunhe Road as a parcel pickup point. Previously, courier drivers would leave packages somewhere along the road and text students to collect them within two hours, which was inconvenient for both parties. Now with the pickup point, students could collect packages any time before 9 PM.

A few days ago, when Xia Xia went to the cafeteria, she saw Xie Huai lingering near the prefab building, chatting with the person in charge. Today when she passed by again, he was already sitting inside, handling packages with practiced ease.

“Brother Huai, have you eaten?” Xia Xia asked.

Xie Huai’s hands were covered in black dust. He wiped them on his pants and replied, “No.”

Xia Xia went to the cafeteria and bought two meals, then sat inside the prefab building to keep Xie Huai company during dinner.

As students finished their classes, people started coming to collect and send packages. Xie Huai had barely taken a few bites before he had to get up to work again. Xia Xia peeled the shrimp in his bowl and arranged them on top of his rice, then moved the green onions and bell peppers he disliked into her bowl.

After the customer sent a package left, Xie Huai was still crouching on the ground wrapping the box with tape. His technique wasn’t very practiced yet, and the parcel looked like a mummy with all the tape.

Xia Xia picked up a piece of shrimp with her chopsticks and held it to his mouth. Xie Huai opened his mouth and ate it.

“What made you decide to do this?” she asked.

Xie Huai said, “I can’t sell things on the street for the rest of my life, can I?”

He looked up at the roughly ten-square-meter prefab building before him, his expression not entirely satisfied. “It’s okay for now, we’ll see how it goes.”

Xia Xia was observant. After eating with Xie Huai several times, she had memorized all of his food preferences. The dishes she got for him were all things he liked.

Xie Huai finished his meal as quickly as possible, then pulled out a preserved fruit wrapped in oil paper from the drawer and unwrapped it, putting it in her mouth. “Is it sweet?”

The preserved fruit had a delicate sweetness, refreshing without being cloying. Xia Xia nodded. “Where did you buy it?”

“A friend from the Software School got it from home, his mom makes them by hand. You can’t buy these in stores.” Xie Huai put all the remaining pieces in her pocket. “As long as you like them.”

Xie Huai’s hand dipped into Xia Xia’s pocket, weighing down her clothes.

He smiled sneakily, like a ten-year-old boy who had stolen candy from home to give to the girl he liked.

When Xia Xia returned to her dorm after lunch classes, Zhao Shanqi was distributing snacks.

She was holding a box of preserved fruits, with twenty more boxes stacked on the floor beside her feet, looking more excessive than a small convenience store.

Xia Xia stared at the preserved fruits in her hands – the same ones Xie Huai had claimed couldn’t be bought in stores – and was taken aback.

Cai Yun said, “You know what, these are pretty good.”

Zhao Shanqi excitedly said, “Right? I bought two boxes for everyone in my family. You should buy some too – they’re healthy, nutritious, and not expensive.”

Cai Yun: “Look how excited you are. It’s not like you’re the one making money, what are you so happy about?”

Zhao Shanqi smiled brightly: “I’m just happy to see him making money.”

Xia Xia opened WeChat. This semester, Xie Huai hadn’t delivered any takeout yet, and she hadn’t opened the group chat messages for a long time.

Last week, Xie Huai had posted several messages in the group – photos of the preserved fruits and a QR code. As soon as he appeared, people started asking when Brother Huai would deliver takeout again, saying they were tired of cafeteria food after these days of school. Some teased him about starting to take on advertisements, asking how much he got paid per ad.

Xie Huai chatted casually for a while, then replied: [The taste is really good, even our Xia Xia says it’s delicious.]

Xia Xia saw this message and quietly glanced at Zhao Shanqi.

Anyone could see that Zhao Shanqi liked Xie Huai, but he had always been lukewarm towards her. At school, except for Xia Xia and Xin Pu, he maintained a distant attitude with everyone. But Zhao Shanqi wasn’t discouraged. Having lived as a privileged young lady for twenty years with everything going her way, when she finally hit this stumbling block with Xie Huai, not only did she not get discouraged, she seemed to enjoy his coldness.

Zhao Shanqi must have seen Xie Huai’s message when she placed her order, and she surely knew about Xia Xia’s close relationship with him, but she had never shown any reaction to it. She never showed jealousy or envy, nor did she come to assert herself in front of Xia Xia.

Then again, Zhao Shanqi had no reason to be jealous.

Xia Xia thought to herself, that there was nothing special between her and Xie Huai – they were just purely big brother and little sister.

She stared at Zhao Shanqi, lost in thought until Zhao Shanqi smiled at her: “Xia Xia, would you like some?”

“No,” Xia Xia shook her head, and then, driven by some territorial instinct, added, “Xie Huai already gave me some.”

The warm breeze was gentle.

Spring was the season that made people lazy and drowsy. At the front of the classroom, the female elective course teacher’s monotonous voice reading from the textbook was making everyone sleepy.

Xie Huai sat by the window in the back row, already asleep.

“For college freshmen, making a well-organized life plan is crucial for our next four years and even our entire life…”

The sun was high, and Xia Xia was also getting drowsy in the sunlight.

She propped her chin on her palm, pretending to listen while her eyes were already closed.

“There are ten minutes left before class ends. Take out a piece of paper and write down your life plans…”

Xia Xia was dozing off when her elbow slipped, and her head hit the desk with a thud.

Xie Huai, who had been sleeping nearby, was startled awake, and the teacher at the podium turned around at the sound.

Xie Huai rubbed his sleepy eyes, still not fully awake.

Xia Xia asked the classmate behind her about the teacher’s assignment, then tore two pieces of paper from her notebook and handed them to Xie Huai.

Xie Huai absent-mindedly picked up his pen and started writing.

Xia Xia said softly, “Shanqi was distributing snacks in the dorm yesterday. She bought a lot of preserved fruits.”

“Miss Zhao is rich, it’s no surprise she can buy as much as she wants.” Xie Huai suddenly became energetic, bent down to pull two boxes from his bag hanging on the desk, and gave them to Xia Xia. “You don’t need to eat hers. I specially asked my friend for some more, keep these for yourself.”

Xie Huai continued, “Don’t give any to Cai Yun, that girl has bad intentions. Don’t give any to Zhao Shanqi either, she has her own. And none for Zhu Ziyu.”

Xia Xia asked, “Why?”

“I don’t like Zhu Ziyu,” Xie Huai said. “She’s always taking you shopping, and I have no one to eat with during my night shifts.”

“Isn’t Yuan Tai helping you?”

“Don’t want to eat with him.” Xie Huai frowned. “He just watches anime on his phone and only responds with silly laughs when I talk to him.”

Xia Xia’s pen doodled on the paper: “Are you still delivering takeout? Ziyu asked me to ask you, she hasn’t had that barbecue rice from North Street in a long time.”

Xie Huai shook his head: “Delivering takeout brings in money too slowly, it’s just hard work for little pay. After paying monthly expenses, there’s barely anything left to save for other things. I’ll go out and explore some options soon. I have so many people in my groups, they’re all potential customers, can’t waste that.”

Xia Xia didn’t ask what he planned to do.

Xie Huai had his considerations and was very prudent. He wouldn’t do business that would put him at a disadvantage.

“You two students who were sleeping and are now chatting,” the teacher walked around the classroom, looking at students’ life plans. “Let me see what you’ve written.”

She took the paper from Xia Xia’s hand, which had no writing on it, just a simple stick figure drawing.

“If your life plan can be drawn, it could be submitted as homework. Your approach is novel – I might even give you an A+,” the teacher said. “But with just a stick figure, how can I understand what it means?”

Xia Xia was embarrassed and took back the paper, folding it into her textbook.

Earlier, while chatting with Xie Huai, her attention had wandered, and somehow she had ended up adding a bracelet to the stick figure’s wrist.

She tore out a new piece of paper and seriously contemplated the question of life planning, a territory she had never ventured into before.

Xia Xia rarely thought about the future before. Her younger days had been too bitter, filled with nothing but heavy coursework and poverty that clung to her like maggots she couldn’t shake off. The future – especially a future she could plan herself – was an extravagant luxury.

It’s like asking a starving person about their dreams – they would surely spit at you, cursing that when they can’t even eat their fill, how could they talk about dreams?

Xia Xia had barely stepped over the poverty line, and this question truly stumped her.

The teacher picked up Xie Huai’s paper – his handwriting was worse than chicken scratch.

The teacher’s expression soured. Xia Xia tilted her head to look and saw the paper was filled with just one character written over and over.

— Money.

In the dormitory.

Zhao Shanqi sighed heavily: “My brother has been spoiled since childhood. He’s such a headache – he drove away three tutors this month. Nobody except my father can control him.”

Cai Yun: “Kids just need a few spanks to behave.”

“Spank him? He’s my dad’s precious darling. The other day when a tutor made him write vocabulary words as punishment, he complained to my dad, and my dad fired the tutor the next day.”

“What we need now is a patient, good-tempered teacher who can handle difficult children,” Zhao Shanqi said. “Preferably a girl – he behaves a bit better around pretty girls. If it’s a male teacher, he has endless tricks to torment them.”

Cai Yun was painting her nails, responding carelessly, “Don’t worry, you’ll definitely find someone.”

She had started dating this semester – a third-year senior who was the current student council president and Jiang Jingzhou’s direct superior.

It was Friday, and she had dolled herself up after a shower for a date.

“Shanqi, I won’t be back tonight. Cover for me during room inspection.”

After Cai Yun left, and with Zhu Ziyu having skipped class yesterday to travel with some online friends, only Xia Xia and Zhao Shanqi remained in the dorm.

Zhao Shanqi sat at her desk writing notes for her major courses, while Xia Xia went downstairs to get her clothes from the washing machine to hang on the balcony. Neither spoke, and the room was as quiet as if it were empty.

The temperature dropped at night, and a light rain pattered against the windows.

Xia Xia was studying English with her headphones on when someone tapped her shoulder. She turned to find Zhao Shanqi standing behind her.

Her temple hair was wet, her T-shirt half-soaked, and she was holding Xia Xia’s freshly hung clothes.

“It’s raining,” she explained with a smile, handing the clothes to Xia Xia. “You were doing listening practice, so I didn’t call out to you.”

Xia Xia quickly said, “Thank you.”

The clothes weren’t dripping anymore. She hung them at her bedhead, while Zhao Shanqi climbed onto her bed and pulled the curtains closed to play with her phone.

The rain grew heavier.

At 10:30 PM, halfway through Xia Xia’s listening practice, the dorm lights suddenly went out.

Her desk lamp was rechargeable but couldn’t be used after the power outage. Zhao Shanqi rolled over in bed and lifted her curtain: “Xia Xia, is it a power outage?”

Xia Xia removed her headphones: “I’ll go ask the dorm manager.”

She went downstairs. The corridor was pitch black, and many girls had gathered at the dorm manager’s office.

The dorm manager spoke in a heavy South City accent: “Power’s out, power’s out, all of you go back and wait.”

Xia Xia returned to find Zhao Shanqi standing in the corridor wearing a pure white nightgown: “When will the power come back?”

Xia Xia said: “The dorm manager says we have to wait until tomorrow.”

She took her washbasin and toothbrush to go clean up. When she returned, Zhao Shanqi was still in the corridor.

There were no lights in the corridor, but many girls were still about, making it quite lively even at 11 PM.

“Shanqi.” Xia Xia called out, “Aren’t you coming in?”

Zhao Shanqi entered, and Xia Xia locked the door. She changed into her pajamas and climbed into bed, planning to play with her phone briefly before sleeping. Suddenly, a bright flash of lightning outside was followed by a thunderclap, and Xia Xia saw a human shadow cast on her light-colored bed curtain. She startled and sat up abruptly.

She opened the curtain to find Zhao Shanqi standing there.

Zhao Shanqi looked like she was about to cry: “I’m afraid of thunder. Xia Xia, can I sleep with you tonight?”

She spoke hesitantly, biting her lower lip.

She knew her relationship with Xia Xia was delicate, and suddenly making such a request was awkward. If she weren’t terrified, she wouldn’t have wanted to trouble Xia Xia of all people.

Xia Xia was stunned for a moment, then moved aside to make room.

Zhao Shanqi climbed up. The dorm bed was small, and even with two petite girls, it was somewhat cramped.

Xia Xia shook out the blanket onto the floor, then gestured for Zhao Shanqi to lie on the inner side.

“I move around in my sleep, and this bed rail isn’t very high,” Xia Xia said with a smile. “I’m afraid I might push you off in the middle of the night, so you should sleep on the inside.”

Zhao Shanqi gave her a grateful look, and they both snuggled under the covers.

Xia Xia put her phone away and closed her eyes, trying to fall asleep.

On the warm spring night, both girls wore only nightgowns.

Their skin was warm and smooth, each with a faint personal scent. The blanket was cozy, and when their hands or feet occasionally brushed against each other, it felt warm and comfortable.

“Would you like to be a tutor?” Zhao Shanqi suddenly asked.

Xia Xia was almost asleep and drowsily woke up at her words.

“I would,” she said, “but it’s hard to find legitimate tutoring jobs. I’ve tried several times before, but they were all scam agencies.”

“If you want to tutor, you could teach my brother,” Zhao Shanqi said. “He’s in seventh grade. Though he’s usually mischievous, he’s gentle with girls. My parents are divorced, my mom’s abroad, and usually, it’s just my dad and the housekeeper at home. My dad is nice.”

Xia Xia thought for a moment: “I better not…”

“Don’t reject me for other reasons unless you don’t want to do it,” Zhao Shanqi said. “I’m not asking you to tutor for personal reasons. You have good grades and a good personality, and I know your background. I’m not trying to patronize you – I need help.”

Her eyes sparkled in the darkness.

Xia Xia felt slightly embarrassed at being seen through: “I’ve never done it before. I’m afraid I won’t do well.”

“That’s okay,” Zhao Shanqi smiled. “As long as you can keep my brother in check and make sure he finishes his homework.”

She snuggled deeper under the covers with a grin: “So it’s settled – come home with me tomorrow.”

Xia Xia agreed.

She had been about to sleep when Zhao Shanqi woke her, and now she couldn’t fall asleep again.

Zhao Shanqi showed no signs of sleepiness.

She lay on her side facing Xia Xia and couldn’t help asking: “I feel like you’ve been especially distant with me since school started. Is it because I’m close to Cai Yun?”

Xia Xia said: “No.”

She indeed wasn’t very close to Zhao Shanqi, maintaining just above a basic roommate relationship, and recently things had become slightly awkward because of Xie Huai.

But Xia Xia’s initial choice to keep her distance from Zhao Shanqi truly wasn’t because of Cai Yun.

Zhao Shanqi and she were different types of people, with contrasting personalities and vastly different backgrounds and life experiences. Even if they became close, they might not have much to talk about. Moreover, during the start of school, Cai Yun often criticized her for being poor behind her back, so getting close to Zhao Shanqi might have seemed like she had ulterior motives.

“Not because of Cai Yun…” Zhao Shanqi murmured, “Then it must be because of Xie Huai?”

Xia Xia remained silent, looking at Zhao Shanqi.

They both understood each other’s feelings, but before tonight, no one had spoken about it.

“Do you find me annoying?” Zhao Shanqi’s voice was very low. “Xie Huai doesn’t like me, but I still chase after him, trying everything I can to create opportunities to be around him, even if it means spending money.”

“But I really can’t help it. I just like Xie Huai.” Zhao Shanqi looked at her seriously and asked, “Do you understand that feeling? Xia Xia, do you like Xie Huai?”