Chapter 10

For high school students, weekends weren’t really a thing—especially in senior year. Most high schools in Jiangzhou dismissed students on Saturday afternoon, and self-study sessions resumed as usual on Sunday night. Students could only go home once a week, stay for a night, and then return to school.

Even so, everyone still looked forward to Saturdays. Even the smallest break was still a break.

As for her situation with Li Jiayue, Zhang Yunyi wanted to resolve it quickly. Without a hint of hesitation, she called her mom and told a little white lie.

“I’m going out to eat with Dai Jia and the others, and we’ll buy some study materials too. You and Dad don’t need to pick me up today—I’ll take the bus home myself.”

“Alright, but don’t stay out too late. Be home before ten, or you’ll be in for it.”

“…” Zhang Yunyi wanted to argue. “Come on, beautiful lady, I already told you we’re going to buy study materials, not playing around.”

But her mother, with her years of experience, simply let out a cold laugh before hanging up.

Zhang Yunyi couldn’t help but sigh. Madam Yin is just as blunt as ever.

Beside her, Dai Jia listened to the conversation without any change in expression, as if she hadn’t just been dragged into it. “Don’t worry. If Auntie calls me, I know how to cover for you.”

Before Zhang Yunyi could express her gratitude, Dai Jia hesitated for a moment before asking, “But what’s up with you and Li Jiayue?”

She had even bumped into them at the movies together during summer break. Weren’t they doing fine back then?

“Nothing much.”

Zhang Yunyi didn’t shy away from taking responsibility. She admitted openly, “He’s a good guy. I just suddenly realized I don’t like him anymore.”

She wouldn’t deny that their relationship had been real in her past life.

But relationships couldn’t be sustained by just one person’s effort. If the feelings weren’t there anymore, forcing it would only hurt both of them.

Dai Jia opened her mouth as if to say something but ultimately just shrugged. “Well, alright then…”

Zhang Yunyi had arranged to meet Li Jiayue at the busiest mall in the area. Right now, it was thriving, packed with people, but ten years later, it would fade into obscurity. She was curious to check it out again—it had been her favorite mall back in high school, a place full of memories.

There was a direct bus to the mall from the station outside the school.

Dai Jia and Xu Shishi were heading in different directions, so Zhang Yunyi boarded the bus alone. Struggling to find space among the crowd, she suddenly spotted Chen Kuo! She quickly squeezed her way to his side. He had his earphones in, standing tall and effortlessly holding onto the overhead strap.

At first, Chen Kuo didn’t notice her—he was lost in his music.

She reached out and poked him. Despite the loud chatter and the music in his ears, her voice somehow cut through.

“Class Rep! What a coincidence—you’re taking this bus too?”

Chen Kuo turned his head, saw her, and his brow twitched slightly. With a sigh, he pulled out one earbud and nodded. “…Yeah.”

“Which stop are you getting off at?”

“Far from here.”

Zhang Yunyi didn’t press further. It wasn’t that she wasn’t curious, but with the bus so packed, talking was inconvenient—you either had to shout or lean in close, and neither option felt right.

As the bus jerked forward and braked suddenly, she swayed back and forth, and after a few stops, she ended up standing even closer to Chen Kuo.

He could clearly feel her leg pressing against him.

Instinctively, he tried to shift to the side, but the person next to him immediately snapped, “Why are you pushing?! There’s no space, damn it!”

Chen Kuo frowned. “Who are you yelling at?”

At the same time, Zhang Yunyi also shot back, “Yeah, who do you think you’re yelling at?”

Both of them froze for a second.

The guy who had complained muttered something under his breath but didn’t say anything else. He knew better than to pick a fight with two people at once.

Chen Kuo turned slightly to glance at Zhang Yunyi. She was gripping the back of a seat for balance. As if sensing his gaze, she looked up and met his eyes, then smiled as if to reassure him. “Just two more stops—then a lot of people will get off.”

Sure enough, after two stops, the bus became noticeably less crowded.

A nearby seat opened up.

Chen Kuo called out to her, blocking others from taking the seat.

Zhang Yunyi swiftly bent down, sliding under his raised arm that was propped against the window, and sat down effortlessly—her movements fluid and quick. She then looked up and grinned at him. Spotting his backpack, which looked quite heavy, she offered, “Class Rep, want me to hold your bag for you?”

“No need.”

Chen Kuo held his phone in one hand, scrolling through it as if he were busy. That was his way of signaling he didn’t want to talk anymore.

Zhang Yunyi got the message and didn’t insist. She took out her own phone and saw a message from Li Jiayue.

[Where are you now? Are you sure you don’t want me to pick you up?]

She quickly typed a reply.

[No need, I’m already on the bus.]

Another stop passed.

The girl sitting by the window beside her suddenly spoke. “Excuse me, I need to get off.”

Zhang Yunyi tucked her legs in and leaned aside to let the girl pass. As soon as the seat was vacated, she nudged Chen Kuo’s backpack strap.

“Quick, Class Rep! A seat opened up—sit down!”

Chen Kuo was caught off guard.

By the time he registered what had happened, he was already sitting down. He blinked in confusion—Wait, what just happened?

Beside him, Zhang Yunyi watched him with a soft smile. Today, she was wearing light-colored frayed denim shorts, revealing her fair and well-proportioned legs. She lightly brushed against his light gray sweatpants.

This left Chen Kuo’s long legs with nowhere to go.

Despite being classmates for so long, this was the first time they had sat together, this close. The music in his earphones kept pounding against his eardrums, making the sudden situation even harder to bear. When the announcement for the next stop started playing, he immediately got up. His sudden movement startled Zhang Yunyi, who had been absentmindedly combing the ends of her hair with her fingers. She looked up at him in confusion, her expressive eyes seemingly asking what was wrong.

Chen Kuo lowered his voice. “This is my stop.”

Zhang Yunyi blinked, raised her hand slightly, and waved. Her eyes curved into a smile. “Bye-bye, see you tomorrow~”

Chen Kuo responded with a quiet “Mm.” The driver stepped on the brakes. He was so distracted that he stumbled, barely managing to grab the overhead handle in time. As soon as the back door opened, he strode off the bus, stepping onto an unfamiliar street. It was a bad time to catch a taxi—every passing cab was occupied. He had no choice but to wait for the next bus.

Lowering his eyes, he sent a message to his friend:

【I’ll be late. If you’re hungry, eat first. Don’t wait for me.】

…

At the McDonald’s on the first floor of the mall, Wang Xuran was completely engrossed in his game, his head lowered in concentration. Suddenly, a figure blocked the light in front of him. Without even looking up, he guessed who it was.

“This round’s almost over. Sit down first.”

Chen Kuo sat across from him with a blank expression. He didn’t urge him to finish quickly, nor did he take out his phone to pass the time.

It wasn’t until Wang Xuran called his name that he snapped back to reality.

“Hungry?” Wang Xuran turned to glance at the pile of burger meals on the table behind him and asked casually, “Are we eating here?”

“Whatever. Anything’s fine.”

Wang Xuran rummaged through his backpack for some coupons, quickly scanning them. None of the deals seemed appealing, and he didn’t like the current toy collection either. Shrugging, he said, “Man, finally a break from school. I’ve had enough of the cafeteria food—I’m gonna puke if I eat it again. Let’s get something better upstairs?”

Chen Kuo didn’t really care what they ate. Lost in thought, he got up and followed Wang Xuran as they left McDonald’s and took the escalator to the upper floor.

Wang Xuran was still thinking about what restaurants were on the fourth floor when he turned to discuss it with Chen Kuo. Seeing his furrowed brows, he found it odd. “Something up with you?”

They had been childhood friends, though they attended different high schools. In terms of college admission rates, their schools were evenly matched, each with its own strengths. Occasionally, they even exchanged study materials.

The escalator rose slowly.

The mall’s bright lights illuminated Chen Kuo’s face, making his absentmindedness all the more obvious. If Fei Shijie had asked, he wouldn’t have said a word—because it involved a girl from his class.

But Wang Xuran was different. He went to another school and could keep a secret.

Chen Kuo remained silent.

This only made Wang Xuran more curious. So, there really was something going on? Still, he didn’t push. If he asked too much and annoyed him, Chen Kuo might clam up completely.

“There’s this person who’s really weird.”

Once they reached the second floor, Chen Kuo lowered his voice and spoke, his tone carrying a hint of frustration. “Keeps talking to me about random stuff.”

That was as much as he was willing to share.

He couldn’t tell his friend that this person seemed to be paying close attention to his preferences—even knowing what brand of milk he drank most often.

“A girl?” Wang Xuran asked.

Though phrased as a question, his tone was certain. Then he frowned. “Wait, that’s nothing new for you, is it?”

Chen Kuo wasn’t an outgoing guy, but he had plenty of qualities that made him attractive to girls. Aside from being quiet and reserved, he had good looks and intelligence—no flaws, nothing to criticize. Plenty of girls had liked him before, and some had even boldly confessed to him in person.

By now, he should be used to handling this kind of situation. So why was he acting like this was the first time a girl had ever shown interest in him?

Chen Kuo pinched the bridge of his nose, his tone laced with helplessness. “She’s in my class.”

“Didn’t Lao Fei say that back in first or second year, there was a girl in your class who gave you chocolates?” So why wasn’t he bothered back then, but now he suddenly seemed so troubled? He could handle it in first year, but now, in third year, he’s at a loss?

If Wang Xuran had been only 10% curious before, now he was at 80%.

Chen Kuo: “…”

After a pause, he explained, “First of all, don’t listen to his nonsense. Second, like I said, we’re classmates—”

The elevator arrived at the fourth floor.

Most of this floor was filled with restaurants. It was a busy Saturday, and many people were waiting in line for a table. A pretty girl sat outside one of the restaurants, holding a colorful menu, carefully deciding what to order. A boy in a black top and jeans walked up to her with a spinning ice cream cone in hand, bending down with a smile as he offered it to her.

Next to them, two backpacks sat on the bench, each with the same plush keychain.

One was a pink pig.

The other was a gray pig.

“So, you’re classmates. And then? Keep going,” Wang Xuran urged, growing impatient. How could he just stop there?

Beside him, Chen Kuo slowly looked away, pausing for a few seconds before saying, “Forget everything I said today.”