Xie Huai crouched beside the flower bed outside the cafeteria. During lunch hour, people streamed in and out of the dining hall, but he alone wasn’t eating. Instead, he held an old-fashioned popsicle bought from the supermarket between his teeth, its white smoke still rising, bits of ice crackling and falling as he took a bite.

From a distance, Xia Xia watched him, thinking he looked like an abandoned puppy sadly gnawing on a bone by the roadside.

She jogged over and tried to return his earphones.

Xie Huai didn’t take them, just raised his eyes to stare at her with his pitch-black pupils.

“Thank you,” Xia Xia said softly. “Has your anger from this morning subsided? Now that you’ve given me your earphones, you probably won’t pass CET-4.”

Xie Huai bit down on the popsicle stick: “Don’t try to act pitiful with me.”

Xia Xia didn’t go to eat either, instead sitting beside him lazily sunbathing.

Xie Huai said: “In a few months, you’ll be able to run far away. There won’t be anyone called Xie Huai at Ocean University to bully you, force you to call him brother, make you cry, and be so mean to you.”

Xia Xia quietly replied: “You haven’t been mean to me.”

Xie Huai spat out the stick in his mouth: “Your scheme succeeded, are you happy now?”

He was listless, deeply regretting giving Xia Xia his earphones earlier, giving her the chance to leave him behind.

The girl’s expression remained unruffled, showing no sign of sadness about their impending separation. The calmer she appeared, the more uncomfortable he felt.

“Only half succeeded,” Xia Xia stretched out her fair arm and said seemingly out of nowhere, “Brother Huai, pinch me.”

Her skin was transparently white, like fine porcelain catching Xie Huai’s eye. He didn’t want to pinch her; rather, he wanted to hold her down and bite her.

“Do whatever you want, as long as it hurts enough to make me cry.”

Xie Huai: “…”

“What kind of special fetish is this?”

Xia Xia raised her arm slightly higher: “Biting is fine too.”

Xie Huai grabbed her delicate wrist and brought it to his mouth.

He opened his mouth, and Xia Xia tensed up, anticipating the coming pain.

Xie Huai’s teeth grazed her skin lightly, his eyes falling on the delicate texture of her smooth skin as a sweet milky fragrance entered his nostrils.

Xie Huai didn’t bite down; the warm touch of his lips against her skin made him pause.

His current action was more like kissing Xia Xia’s arm.

Xie Huai released her hand and turned his face away: “Won’t bite, you stink.”

Xia Xia: “…”

“I don’t stink,” she said plaintively. “I just showered last night and even used sea salt milk-scented body lotion. Smell again.”

Xie Huai lifted her arm and sniffed again: “Still stinks. Is it the body lotion? Which brand did you use?”

Xia Xia told him the brand, and Xie Huai made an exaggerated “Oh.”

He picked up his backpack: “I’m leaving. Take care of yourself, and let me know when you hear anything.”

He walked around the flower bed, bag strap hanging diagonally across one shoulder, and looked back.

Xia Xia was skeptically sniffing herself, her nose wrinkled and brows furrowed in confusion: “Where do I stink?”

Xie Huai smiled slightly. He entered the supermarket and wandered through the aisle selling body wash.

The sea salt milk scent Xia Xia used was on the bottom shelf, in a light blue oval bottle. Xie Huai opened the cap and smelled it – identical to Xia Xia’s scent.

He casually replaced the cap and went to the checkout counter.

The summer afternoon breeze brushed past, and Xia Xia still sat in the same spot.

She plucked a mint leaf from the grass, crushed it between her fingers, and held it under her nose. The sharp scent made her eyes turn red.

Xie Huai stood behind a pillar at the supermarket, watching as Xia Xia shook her head and threw away the mint, seemingly unsatisfied. She darted into the cafeteria and grabbed a handful of onions from the mala tang seasoning station before rushing back out.

In broad daylight, she stood by the roadside, rubbing onion juice around her eyes.

Xie Huai: “…”

Xia Xia sneezed several times, the onion’s pungent smell irritating her nose as tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.

Her small face was covered in tears as she walked back to the dormitory, crying all the way.

Cai Yun saw her return crying and feigned surprise: “My, what’s wrong with Xia Xia?”

Xia Xia was sobbing too hard to speak, lying face-down on the desk wailing.

Zhu Ziyu said: “Something’s wrong with her earphones, she had to guess all the listening sections. She probably won’t pass CET-4.”

Cai Yun smiled insincerely: “What’s there to cry about? If you fail, just retake it next year. It’s not a big deal.”

“Easy for you to say,” Zhu Ziyu glared at her. “Don’t you know that without passing CET-4, you can’t apply for the exchange student program? No matter how good Xia Xia’s grades are in her major courses, she’s lost her chance at this exchange opportunity.”

Cai Yun shrugged: “Nothing can be done about that. Who told her to have such bad luck?”

Xia Xia secretly peeked through a gap in her arms and gave Zhu Ziyu a thumbs up from beneath.

Zhu Ziyu’s acting became increasingly convincing: “I shouldn’t have told you. All you do is mock others, you don’t have an ounce of sympathy!”

Cai Yun smirked, put in her earphones, and climbed onto her bed to watch Korean dramas.

A week before the final exams, Xia Xia started receiving flowers.

One bouquet every day, always fresh rose buds from the flower market covered in morning dew, wrapped in brown kraft paper – beautiful but not gaudy.

The flower shop’s delivery person would leave them downstairs and leave, and Xia Xia didn’t know who sent them.

It was the first time in her life receiving flowers, and she couldn’t bear to throw them away, so she used empty yogurt glass bottles as vases.

Xia Xia called Zhao Yilei: “Brother Lei, did you buy me flowers?”

Zhao Yilei: “My dear, I haven’t even paid this month’s mortgage yet. How could I afford to buy you flowers when I can barely afford to eat?”

Xia Xia went to ask Liang Yuantai: “Yuan Tai, did you send me flowers?”

Liang Yuantai smiled foolishly, bent down to pick a white wildflower, and tucked it in her hair: “Xia Xia, do you like flowers? I’ll give you one now.”

On her way back, Xia Xia met Jiang Jingzhou and asked him too.

Jiang Jingzhou smiled: “Why don’t you ask Xie Huai?”

Xia Xia’s eyes rolled craftily: “I won’t ask him.”

She deliberately asked all of Xie Huai’s friends, and within a few days, Xie Huai knew about Xia Xia receiving flowers.

After finishing the last major exam and leaving the examination room, someone grabbed Xia Xia’s collar from behind.

Xie Huai moved in front of her and asked with feigned casualness: “I heard someone’s been sending you flowers?”

“Yes,” Xia Xia drawled, gesturing with her hands. “One bouquet every day, this big. My arms almost break carrying them upstairs.”

She looked exasperated: “Have to trim the stems, change the water, and even add nutrient solution to extend their blooming period. It’s so much work, my hands ache every day.”

“Is that so?” Xie Huai said, “Let me massage them for you.”

His grip was strong, making Xia Xia yelp: “It hurts! Let go of me, you stupid idiot!”

Xie Huai: “Who are you calling…”

“I’m getting cocky,” Xia Xia said. “I’m getting cocky, so what can you do about it? Are you going to mess with me? Come on if you dare, I’d love for you to mess with me, don’t chicken out now.”

Xie Huai: “…”

Xia Xia had already figured out Xie Huai’s temperament, knowing that no matter how fierce his words, how prickly his attitude, or how much he threatened her, he wouldn’t hurt her.

Now she not only wasn’t afraid of him, she dared to provoke him to his face.

Xie Huai was about to burst a blood vessel from anger. He grabbed her backpack strap: “Who sent them? Are you going to tell me or not?”

Xia Xia said smugly: “None of your business.”

She knocked away Xie Huai’s hand, ignored his stormy expression, and walked away.

As soon as the final exams ended, Zhao Shanqi flew to Japan.

On the day Zhao Shanqi left, among the flowers delivered downstairs was a handwritten card. The fountain pen strokes were strong and fluid, clearly written by someone who had practiced calligraphy.

The card contained only one sentence:

— Beauty like flowers beyond clouded heights.

Xia Xia inhaled the roses’ fragrance, removed the wilted flowers from the previous days from the vase, and inserted the fresh ones.

She glanced at the card and casually tossed it into the trash bin.

Xia Xia didn’t go home for summer break, instead renting a single room in the university town.

She interviewed for a position as a holiday teacher at a tutoring center, teaching math and English to middle school students Monday through Friday, and tutoring Zhao Shijie on weekends.

Her rented place was well-decorated, with two bedrooms and a living room, fully furnished with all appliances. Since it was summer break, the student couple who previously lived there had moved out to go home. The landlord was looking for temporary tenants and offered a very low price – only three hundred yuan per month.

The landlord showed her in: “The secondary bedroom is yours. A male student is renting the master bedroom next door. WiFi and property management are free, utilities are split. The bathroom is shared. That guy usually isn’t home and returns very late. Remember to lock the door when you shower or use the toilet.”

Xia Xia asked: “Is he easy to get along with?”

“He looks cool and doesn’t talk much,” the landlord said. “But he just moved in too, maybe things will get better after you’ve lived together for a while.”

After the landlord left, Xia Xia organized her things and lay on her small bed playing with her phone.

The apartment wasn’t big but had good soundproofing. From the twentieth-floor balcony, she could see Mirror Lake in the distance, its green waters gleaming golden in the sunlight.

Xia Xia idly logged into the academic system. Final grades hadn’t been posted yet – she wouldn’t know if she could go to Ocean University until the end of the month.

She opened WeChat. She hadn’t messaged Xie Huai in a long time; his chat window had been pushed far down. She browsed through his Moments – he rarely posted, and when he did, it was just advertisements or shared links.

She wanted to talk to Xie Huai but didn’t know how to start, so she put her phone away.

Near finals, Xie Huai had been especially busy. Xin Pu said that while everyone else was studying for exams, Xie Huai would go out doing who knows what, only returning just before the dormitory curfew. Xia Xia originally thought he was handling advertising work, but he hadn’t been active in the WeChat group for a long time.

Her alarm went off, reminding her she had to tutor Zhao Shijie in the afternoon.

Xia Xia went to use the bathroom and had an accident while flushing.

Xia Xia had never clogged a toilet before. She froze for a moment, trying to use the plunger nearby, but having grown up using communal toilets in apartment buildings with timed flushing, while she was skilled at other household tasks, she had no experience unclogging toilets.

She only made things worse and had to close the toilet lid and call the landlord.

The landlord said cheerfully: “The toilet has always been problematic. Find a plumber to clean it – there’s a number under the coffee table.”

Xia Xia was embarrassed: “…But I have to go tutoring this afternoon and don’t have time. You’re not far away – could you come let them in?”

The landlord agreed immediately.

Xia Xia: “Please hurry. I’m worried it might affect my neighbor when he comes back to use the bathroom.”

Landlord: “Leave it to me, I’ll have it fixed before 2 PM.”

Xia Xia sighed in relief and left to take the subway.

The English class ended at 7 PM, and Zhao Jinsung asked Xia Xia to stay for dinner.

Xia Xia initially didn’t want to, but since Zhao Shijie’s sister had left and no one would play with him, he pestered until she stayed. Being a playful child, he ran upstairs to play computer games after eating, leaving Xia Xia and Zhao Jinsung alone in the dining room.

The dining room chandelier cast a soft light. Xia Xia no longer showed the cheerful demeanor she had with Zhao Shijie in the afternoon; she appeared constrained and silent in front of Zhao Jinsung.

Zhao Jinsung asked: “Is the food not to your taste?”

Tonight the housekeeper had made Yunnan cuisine – the steamed chicken was too oily, the pickled vegetables too sour, and the fish mint too pungent. Xia Xia preferred milder flavors and ate very little.

Zhao Jinsung: “Shall we open a bottle of wine?”

“I should go. It’s not safe in university town late at night when there are fewer people around.”

“I’ll drive you back.”

“No need to trouble yourself,” Xia Xia picked up her bag. “I can take the subway.”

“You don’t have to rush off.” Zhao Jinsung smiled. “Shanqi is in Japan with her mother, her room is empty. Since you’re coming back tomorrow anyway, why not stay here tonight? If you don’t like Shanqi’s room, we have many guest rooms.”

“I’m not comfortable sleeping at other people’s homes. Thank you for the offer.”

Xia Xia stopped at the doorway.

She turned back. Zhao Jinsung hadn’t moved; he sat in his chair studying her, his gaze full of deep interest.

“Uncle Zhao,” Xia Xia’s voice was soft, “thank you for the flowers, but they’re quite expensive. Please don’t send any more.”

Zhao Jinsung: “If I remember correctly, I didn’t leave my name on the flower shop’s customer information form.”

“Before there were only flowers. The cards started after Shanqi left – you were worried she might recognize your handwriting, right?” Xia Xia lowered her eyes. “I’ve been in your study. There’s calligraphy hanging on the wall. Your handwriting is beautiful and quite distinctive.”

The girl analyzed calmly, neither servile nor overbearing.

She stood straight, the line from her swan-like neck to her shoulders smooth and delicate.

Zhao Jinsung’s smile deepened: “Did you read what was on the card?”

“Yes.”

“Where is the card?” he asked.

Xia Xia thought for a moment: “I threw it away.”

Outside the complex was a night market, bustling and noisy in the evening, filled with enticing aromas.

Tempted by the smells, Xia Xia couldn’t resist buying some barbecue and milk tea to take home. Although her first year of university had been tough, she had managed to save some money. Not only could she afford three meals a day, but she could occasionally treat herself to snacks and late-night food.

Xia Xia entered the apartment to find it completely dark, with a pair of men’s sneakers at the entrance.

She felt her way into the living room, knowing her neighbor had returned.

It was almost eleven o’clock. The lights being off meant he was probably asleep. She had planned to watch variety shows while eating her barbecue in the living room but now could only eat quietly in her room.

Afraid of waking him, she tiptoed carefully toward her room.

As she passed through the hallway between the two bedrooms, the opposite door suddenly opened.

A human figure leaned against the doorframe.

“Listen, bro,” an impatient young man’s voice rang out in the darkness. “Didn’t anyone teach you at home to flush after taking a dump? I don’t care what you’re like normally, but if we’re sharing this place and you leave your shit floating in the toilet again so I can’t use the bathroom, watch out or I’ll mess you up.”

Xia Xia: “………..”

After a long silence, she asked: “How do you know I’m a ‘bro’?”

“Have you ever seen a woman who could take such a massive…”

The voice stopped abruptly.

Xie Huai flipped on the light switch and stared at Xia Xia standing outside the door.

He froze.

Xia Xia’s face was expressionless: “Well, now you’ve met a woman who can take such a massive dump.”

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

Brother Huai: A woman who can… take such a massive dump is quite cute.

Xia Xia: Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing? Help me, help me, help me—