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Li Kuiyi had lived sixteen years, and for the first time, she felt she might be something of a deviant.
Watching He Youyuan cry in front of her, she didn’t think to reach for a tissue to offer him, didn’t think to say anything to soothe him — instead, she stood there in a kind of transfixed state, quietly appreciating how beautiful he looked when he cried.
For someone that tall, with that insufferable arrogance — how was it that when he cried, he looked so well-behaved, so soft, so pitiable? He seemed to have instantly transformed into a small dog soaked through by the rain.
Li Kuiyi pressed her lips together firmly, reining in the smile that threatened to spill from the corners of her mouth — she wasn’t trying to laugh at him. It was simply that when she encountered something endearing, she couldn’t help but want to soften.
But He Youyuan himself couldn’t take it anymore first. Crying in front of the girl he liked was not a loss of face he could afford. He tugged up the collar of his school jacket to cover most of his face, turned, and pressed his forehead against the wall of the corridor.
What kind of posture was that?
Li Kuiyi truly couldn’t hold back a small smile at that. Then, as if waking from a dream, she reached into her trouser pocket and pulled out a small packet of tissues. She was just about to hold them out to him when she heard footsteps in the corridor.
If someone saw the two of them lingering here together — and He Youyuan looking like he’d been the victim of some injustice — there was no telling what rumors might spread. Li Kuiyi shoved the tissues into He Youyuan’s hand, whispered a quick “stop crying,” and hurried down the stairs.
When she reached the fourth floor, she came face to face with a very striking woman heading up — wearing a dress paired with a light outer jacket, hair swept up, with a certain refined air about her.
Their eyes met briefly. Li Kuiyi felt vaguely that the woman looked familiar.
The woman continued up the stairs. Not long after, Li Kuiyi heard a startled exclamation: “What are you doing here?” Two seconds later, the woman’s voice grew even more incredulous: “You got into a fight — and you cried?”
That must be He Youyuan’s aunt, Li Kuiyi thought. No wonder she’d seemed familiar — there was a slight resemblance between her features and He Youyuan’s.
Back in the classroom, a few classmates glanced over at her, though no one thought anything of it — they assumed she’d been called in by some teacher. He Youyuan seemed to have been brought back to Chen Guoming’s office by his aunt, because it wasn’t until the fourth period of evening self-study that he returned, together with Wang Jianbo, Jiang Jianbin, and Chen Guoming.
At that moment, the history teacher was going over the exam answers with the class. Chen Guoming came in and said he’d only take up two minutes of their time. He had He Youyuan and Wang Jianbo stand at the front of the classroom and make a brief apology before the entire class. Their apologies were simple — both only promised not to fight again, with not a single word about what had caused the fight in the first place. Chen Guoming then addressed the class in a rapid, emphatic speech, stressing that online games, dating, and fighting were the school’s three absolute prohibitions, and that no one was to cross any of them.
And with that, the matter seemed to be put to rest.
Seeing the issue raised with such gravity and then resolved so lightly, classmates began speculating that He Youyuan’s family must have some influence, and the school hadn’t dared to press the matter. This rumor, for a time, spread with considerable embellishment, growing increasingly vivid and detailed.
As Chen Guoming was leaving Class 17, he took Jiang Jianbin aside by the classroom door and said in a low voice: “Keep a close eye on Li Kuiyi and He Youyuan — don’t let those two start dating right under your nose. If you notice anything, step in immediately. Li Kuiyi is our grade’s most promising student. Don’t let that boy ruin things for her.”
Jiang Jianbin nodded repeatedly, promising “absolutely, of course.”
After school, Zhang Chuang’s whole group flooded into Class 17’s classroom to find He Youyuan. Seeing he hadn’t received any serious punishment, they finally relaxed. Once relief set in, endless curiosity followed — Zhou Ce immediately put him in a headlock and demanded he come clean about why he’d gotten into the fight.
He Youyuan couldn’t be bothered, and simply raised his fist: “Ask again and I’ll hit you.”
But Zhang Chuang knew this person well — He Youyuan’s unwillingness to talk almost always had something to do with a girl, just like that time he’d been mistakenly suspected of dating a girl named Zhang Yue, and had kept his mouth shut throughout. So Zhang Chuang let out a click of his tongue and said: “Maybe someone flew into a rage for the sake of his beloved.”
“Who? Which beloved?” Zhou Ce asked eagerly.
Zhang Chuang thought to himself: you’ve got two eyes under those eyebrows — are they just for decoration? It was so obvious. Besides, hadn’t his girlfriend said something to him about it?
But Fang Zhixiao hadn’t actually mentioned anything to Zhou Ce. She felt it was Li Kuiyi’s private matter, and Li Kuiyi certainly wouldn’t want everyone to know.
Fang Zhixiao was in Class 17 at that moment too. Hearing Zhang Chuang say that, unsure whether it was true or not, she cast a glance at Li Kuiyi, who was packing her bag. She thought to herself: tonight, she absolutely had to get the full story out of her.
He Youyuan stood up from his seat, slung his bag over his shoulder, and said to Zhou Ce: “You’re the one I love most — happy now?”
“Ugh.” Zhou Ce made an exaggerated retching motion, clutching his throat.
The whole group filed noisily out. Li Kuiyi linked her arm through Fang Zhixiao’s and joined them — she felt she owed He Youyuan a thanks.
The boys fell into a debate about which fighting moves looked the coolest, while Li Kuiyi complained to Fang Zhixiao that she hadn’t walked home with her in ages. Xia Leyi and Qi Yu had fallen to the back of the group, walking side by side without saying a word.
At the school gates, everyone parted ways and waved goodbye. Fang Zhixiao and Zhou Ce, as the couple they were, naturally lingered a little and went off together to get a late-night snack at a small shop outside the gate. In the end, only Li Kuiyi and He Youyuan were left, walking together in the direction of Zhuangyuan Fu.
He Youyuan wanted to say something to Li Kuiyi. He felt it had been a long time since they’d really spoken. But his mind kept replaying the humiliating scene of crying in front of her earlier, and he was so mortified he could barely bring himself to open his mouth. Several times he parted his lips, only to hold back again.
Why couldn’t she just be the one to start talking?
This person was truly cold, truly heartless. He hadn’t expected warmth from her — but surely she could manage at least the warmth of a single sentence?
Stewing in both frustration and grievance, He Youyuan was walking along when he abruptly sat himself down on the edge of the small flowerbed outside the Zhuangyuan Fu residential area and refused to take another step.
“What’s wrong?” Li Kuiyi turned to look at him, her voice soft.
He Youyuan worked himself up into a sulk, turned his face away, and said flatly: “Don’t mind me.”
Li Kuiyi: “…”
What act was this now?
Well — say thank you first, then figure the rest out.
“Thank you for today — thank you for hitting Wang Jianbo on my behalf.” Li Kuiyi said it sincerely.
For some reason, He Youyuan felt even more aggrieved at that. Still with his face turned away, he said with a certain wounded pique: “No need to thank me. I’m not gentle anyway, I’m not good at studying, and I just happen to be this ridiculously tall — if I’m not hitting people, what else am I supposed to do?”
Li Kuiyi: “…”
Now she was certain — he was throwing a tantrum.
Fine, she’d have to coax him. What other choice was there?
Li Kuiyi resolutely ignored what He Youyuan had just said and asked: “To show my appreciation, how about I treat you to McDonald’s?”
He didn’t move.
McDonald’s won’t do? Li Kuiyi shifted tactics: “Then I’ll buy you a month’s supply of cola?”
“You want me to get diabetes?” he said coolly.
Fair enough, that was far too unhealthy.
So what did he actually like? Give him a basketball, or a box of paints?
But he probably wasn’t short of any of that.
Li Kuiyi felt this person was genuinely difficult. He’d been easy to appease before — what had changed so quickly? She furrowed her brow helplessly, entirely focused on how to coax him, without even stopping to notice how completely unreasonable he was being right now.
Then an idea suddenly came to her: “Then… would you like to walk me home?”
The moment it was out of her mouth, she felt it was wrong. What kind of thanks is walking her home? Li Kuiyi, don’t flatter yourself like that.
She instantly regretted it, quickly looked down, too embarrassed to look at him.
He still said nothing. Li Kuiyi could only steal a glance at him — and then she saw that he had already turned his face back. His eyes, still damp from earlier, were now bright and clear, and he was looking at her with complete, undivided attention — as if to say: “Yes.”
Uh…
He was serious?
“I… I was joking.” Li Kuiyi still felt it wasn’t fair to him, and stumbled over her words.
He Youyuan was completely unprepared. His expression froze, and then it went cold.
He didn’t want to be cold to her. He had promised himself he’d be gentle with her. But she kept teasing him, and his emotions soared and crashed like that — it was miserable.
He simply no longer had the energy to look at her. He turned his head to the side. His throat moved faintly, as if swallowing something in silence.
Seeing him like this, Li Kuiyi knew he was upset. She quickly stepped in front of him, crouched down, and explained rapidly: “He Youyuan, I’m not unwilling to let you walk me home — I just think it’s unfair to you. I’m the one who wants to thank you, so I should be the one giving something. But if you walk me home, you’re the one giving something to me. Can you understand what I mean? I really didn’t mean to take it back — I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry,” she said again, genuinely.
He Youyuan had just resolved to ignore her entirely — but now she was planted right in front of him like a little mushroom, so close, eyes fixed on him, apologizing in that soft, soft voice. He was beginning to crack.
Just as he was wrestling with whether or not to forgive her, she pinched the tip of his little finger and gave it a gentle little shake: “I’m sorry.”
He Youyuan shot to his feet, cursing inwardly.
He couldn’t tell if he was simply too weak-willed, or if she was just too skilled — either way, he couldn’t win against her. No matter what, he always ended up losing to her.
Whatever. He had already made a thorough fool of himself in the corridor today — a little more wouldn’t matter. Thinking this, He Youyuan took a long-legged stride directly toward the direction of Li Kuiyi’s home. As a show of remaining somewhat dignified, he didn’t say it aloud — he didn’t tell her he had forgiven her.
They reached the entrance of the Yujiang Garden residential compound and stopped. The security booth outside was still lit, and from the grass nearby came the soft chirping of autumn insects. Li Kuiyi looked up at He Youyuan, as if she had made up her mind somewhere along the way, and asked: “He Youyuan, would you like me to help tutor you?”
He Youyuan didn’t immediately understand, but once he grasped what she meant, he could barely believe it. He stared at her fixedly, then suddenly asked: “You won’t take it back?”
“I won’t.” Li Kuiyi shook her head.
He Youyuan scratched his head — the surprise still felt too sudden — pinched his ear, rubbed the back of his neck, and then finally said: “Okay.”
“Let’s start next week. The homeroom teacher will probably be watching us closely these next couple of days, so it’s better we keep some distance for now.”
“Okay.”
He Youyuan’s smile rose at the corners of his mouth before he could stop it. She’d said to keep her distance from him — but she had promised to be with him starting next week… for tutoring.
He laughed, then caught himself, realized the smile was far too unguarded, and quickly reined it in. He explained, making up ground: “You know how expensive one-on-one tutoring is outside of school. I’m saving money. That’s why I’m happy.”
“Yes, I know,” Li Kuiyi said. She could see right through him, but said nothing.
He Youyuan’s heart was dancing far too wildly. He couldn’t bear to let Li Kuiyi leave yet, and cast about for something to say: “So… will Teacher Li be very strict in class?”
Li Kuiyi nodded: “Yes.”
“A strict teacher is no good. I much prefer it when you talk to me in that soft voice you used just now.”
Li Kuiyi challenged him: “When was my voice soft just now?”
“When you were apologizing to me, obviously.”
Li Kuiyi denied it: “Impossible. My voice was not soft.”
“It absolutely was.” He Youyuan insisted.
“It absolutely was not!” Li Kuiyi could not imagine herself speaking to He Youyuan in a soft voice. The thought was revolting.
“Yes, you did! You apologized to me exactly like this—” He Youyuan pinched his voice thin and mimicked her, speaking in an exaggeratedly gentle murmur: “He Youyuan, it’s not that I don’t want you to walk me home — I just feel it’s not fair to you…”
“Ahh—” Li Kuiyi clapped both hands over her ears, refusing to hear such a simpering voice.
He Youyuan’s pleasure had by now shifted entirely from making her admit it to simply enjoying the sight of her refusing to admit it. He reached out and caught her by the wrist, prying her hands from her ears, and continued in that thin, mincing voice: “I want to thank you, which means I should be the one doing something for you — if you walk me home, you’re the one doing something for me…”
This person was truly terrible. Li Kuiyi, caught by the wrist and unable to escape, was so furious she couldn’t stop herself from pummeling him.
“I truly didn’t mean to take it back, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”
He Youyuan was still tormenting her. When he reached the third “I’m sorry,” he also pinched her little finger.
Then he extended his little finger and hooked it around hers.
“Li Kuiyi, you are never allowed to take back what you say to me again.” He was suddenly serious, looking into her eyes, every word deliberate. “Pinky promise. Cross my heart. A hundred years, no changing your mind.”