When Qianye saw her composition had been photocopied, all she cared about was whether Han Chao would get it and whether he would seriously take a look. Then she guessed that one line, “I love you, but it has nothing to do with you.”

Sometimes, she felt completely exhausted from being tormented by her meticulous love. She didn’t care about many things, so the few things she did care about became particularly important—important enough to become an obsession. Otherwise, what else did she have?

After the results came out, Qianye, who was usually quiet, suddenly jumped to fifth place in the grade and became the top in Class 3. The teacher praised her. However, Han Chao was still first in the grade. It turned out that excellence and brilliance were different. After school, Qianye intentionally looked at the bulletin board. Her name was four places away from Han Chao’s, but much closer than last time.

The dramatic midterm exams came to an end, and as usual, Qianye went home with Zhao Nanzhuo. At the dinner table, when Zhou Wen heard that Qianye had placed fifth in the grade, she said to Zhao Nanzhuo, “You should learn more from Qianye. She’s both obedient and smart. If only she were my biological daughter.”

Qianye wasn’t unaffected, but some things were hard to say. It was as if anything she said would sound unreal.

“Zhou Ran is really good, brother.” After dinner, Qianye surprisingly sent Zhao Nanzhuo a message. Zhao Nanzhuo looked at the screen of his phone and wished he could erase the word “brother.”

“Some things aren’t about whether they’re good or not.”

Qianye sighed and didn’t say anything more. Suddenly, her phone rang. Zhao Nanzhuo called her directly. Qianye thought to herself, the two of them were under the same roof—it was a bargain for China Mobile.

“What is it?”

“Let’s go for a walk.”

Before Qianye could reply, Zhao Nanzhuo was already at her bedroom door. The two of them casually strolled outside. They wandered around aimlessly, eventually looping back to the area near the school, where they ran into his classmate. Zhao Nanzhuo greeted the person and then said to Qianye, “Did you see? That girl just now likes my deskmate Han Chao. But there are a lot of girls who like him…”

“Ah, oh.” Qianye felt a mixture of sadness and joy in her heart. So many people loved him, which showed how outstanding he was, yet he chose no one, so she hadn’t truly failed. Qianye couldn’t help but admire her own “A-Q” spirit.

“Are you cold?” They walked along a riverside road near the school, where the night lights sparkled and the wind wasn’t small. “If you’re cold, put your hand in my pocket.”

“I’m fine, no need.” Qianye turned her head, avoiding his gaze.

“I’m your brother, what’s with the politeness?” Saying this, Zhao Nanzhuo casually put her hand into his pocket. He deeply despised the title “brother,” but he had no choice but to use it in order to be close to Qianye. Otherwise, what else was there between them?

They walked like this all the way back, and when they reached a slightly warmer place, Qianye immediately pulled her hand out. She didn’t notice that, in that instant, the countless lights reflected in Zhao Nanzhuo’s eyes, which were filled with a sense of loss.