Sang Zhi’s appetite suddenly improved. Holding a bowl, she gulped down the porridge. She declined Sang Rong’s offer to drive her to school, slinging her backpack over her shoulder and planned to take the bus as usual.

As she hurried toward the bus stop, Sang Zhi lowered her head and struggled to find her student bus card in her backpack.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a convenience store nearby and hesitated before walking in.

The convenience store was small, with the refrigerator for drinks positioned by the door. Sang Zhi stared intently at the row of milk bottles, her eyes unblinking, lost in thought.

Seeing her standing there for quite a while, the cashier at the counter couldn’t help but ask, “Child, do you want to buy some milk?”

Normally, Sang Zhi would have ignored such remarks, but at that moment, she inexplicably turned around and pointed to her school uniform. “I’m in middle school now. Please don’t call me that.”

Without waiting for the cashier to respond, Sang Zhi continued, “I’m not buying anything. I just came to take a look.”

After saying goodbye, she left the store and just caught a crowded bus. Sang Zhi quickly boarded, squeezing her way in with the flow of passengers and found a spot to stand.

The bus jolted violently.

Due to the inertia, Sang Zhi stood unsteadily, having to hold onto the hand strap and stand on tiptoe, which was quite tiring. When the bus made a sudden stop, she lurched forward uncontrollably, making her heart sink. But in the next moment, someone grabbed her backpack and pulled her back.

A continuous stream of complaints filled the air.

Sang Zhi stretched out her hand and barely managed to grab a distant pole.

In that moment, she found a brief gap to look back and happened to meet Fu Zhengchu’s gaze.

The boy was about 170 cm tall, a head taller than her. His facial features had yet to fully develop, giving him a soft and youthful appearance. He deliberately put on a mature expression as he asked, “Are you okay?”

Sang Zhi nodded but didn’t respond.

Fu Zhengchu offered her his spot. “You can stand here.”

His height was enough for him to reach the handrail, so Sang Zhi accepted the offer without hesitation, saying, “Thank you.”

Silence.

After a while, Fu Zhengchu blurted out a sentence, “I heard from Yin Zhenru that your parents are being called to school.”

Sang Zhi looked at him, clearly displeased. “Why does she tell you everything?”

“You didn’t go to the bookstore yesterday, so I just asked around.” Fu Zhengchu seemed a bit nervous. “I didn’t mean anything by it. I just wanted to let you know that my parents have been called too.”

Sang Zhi paused in surprise. “Your parents too?”

“Yeah.”

“What’s the reason?”

Fu Zhengchu couldn’t think of a way to answer for a moment, then replied vaguely, “Just not paying attention in class.”

Sang Zhi nodded. “I’m in a similar situation.”

“Why didn’t you pay attention to class?”

“It’s too easy.” Sang Zhi said, “I don’t want to listen.”

“……” Fu Zhengchu scratched his head and said nonchalantly, “I’m the same.”

Sang Zhi looked at him skeptically. “But didn’t you rank at the bottom of the grade in the last exam?”

Sweat trickled down Fu Zhengchu’s forehead. He looked away, gripping the handrail more tightly, but his expression remained calm. “Yeah. The questions were too easy, so I didn’t bother to answer them.”

Seemingly finding his explanation reasonable, Sang Zhi responded with a calm “Oh” and didn’t say anything more.

The atmosphere grew quiet.

So quiet that it became a bit awkward.

Fu Zhengchu cleared his throat and took the initiative to break the silence, “What was your rank in the last exam?”

Sang Zhi replied, “First.”

“……” Fu Zhengchu gritted his teeth, then quickly relaxed, forcing a nonchalant smile. “Alright, I’ll aim for first place next time just for fun.”

Sang Zhi looked him up and down. “You’re aiming for first place?”

Fu Zhengchu nodded, though his confidence seemed to waver. “……Is there a problem?”

“No, just a reminder.” Sang Zhi said dismissively. “With me around, it’s not possible.”

“……”

And so, their situation seemed to inexplicably turn hostile.

Afterward, Fu Zhengchu wasn’t sure what else to say. He had no experience in this area and was too embarrassed to continue pushing the awkward topic, so he fell silent as well.

When the bus reached the stop, Sang Zhi got off first and hurried toward the school.

Fu Zhengchu followed behind her, wracking his brain for a way to salvage the situation. Just as he was at a loss, he ran into a boy he knew. The boy greeted him and naturally hooked his arm around Fu Zhengchu’s shoulder as they walked forward.

The boys’ steps were large and quick and soon surpassed Sang Zhi.

Fu Zhengchu turned around and shouted, “Sang Zhi, I’m heading off first!”

Sang Zhi waved at him dismissively.

The other boy also glanced at Sang Zhi, gave a meaningful “Oh”, and then started chuckling.

Fu Zhengchu gave him a light kick and couldn’t help but glance toward Sang Zhi repeatedly.

“What’s your problem?”

Sang Zhi didn’t pay any attention to what they were saying.

She didn’t catch a single word and was completely uninterested. Her mind was occupied with thoughts regarding the guardian issue and the young man she had seen yesterday.

In the rush of the previous day, with Sang Yan present and Duan Jiaxu only agreeing to come at the last minute, she hadn’t had a chance to explain anything clearly. Sang Zhi didn’t have his contact information and had no idea how to tell him to come at 4:30 in the afternoon.

She didn’t know what time he would arrive.

Preoccupied with her thoughts, Sang Zhi didn’t pay attention in class all day, occasionally glancing out the window towards the school gate. After being criticized by a few teachers, she managed to compose herself somewhat.

The clock on the wall kept ticking.

At exactly 4:20, the class bell rang, signaling the end of the last period.

Assuming that Sang Zhi would be going home with her brother, Yin Zhenru didn’t wait for her. After saying goodbye, she left the classroom.

With nothing else to do, Sang Zhi pulled out a notebook from her drawer and continued drawing. As time passed minute by minute, she looked up at the clock again and realized it was almost 5:00 PM.

In the spacious classroom, she was now the only one left.

She paused.

Duan Jiaxu still hadn’t arrived.

Sang Zhi wasn’t sure if he didn’t know that middle school let out early or if he had simply forgotten about it. She tried to calm herself and continued drawing, but this time she found it impossible to focus, her mind tangled in confusion.

After waiting for another fifteen minutes, Sang Zhi heard the sound of doors from other classrooms being slammed shut. Perhaps it was just her perception, but the silence seemed even more pronounced now than before.

Every small noise she made seemed magnified in the stillness.

The words he said the day before felt like a joke now.

Unable to wait any longer, Sang Zhi abruptly stood up.

The chair scraped loudly against the floor, the sound piercing and sharp. She stopped in place, her eyes slowly reddening. She forced herself to maintain a composed expression and pushed down her feelings of grievance.

“Forget it.”

Sang Zhi stuffed a few books into her backpack, slung it over her shoulder, and headed out.

The dismissal time for the first year of middle school was early, around a little past 4:00. By just after 5:00, the hallway was already empty, with only a few scattered people.

Sang Zhi kept her head down and jogged down the stairs.

Her steps were quick, and she wasn’t paying attention to where she was going, like a headless fly. Suddenly, she collided with a human wall. Sang Zhi stepped back a few paces and muttered an apology.

Without even looking up, she continued on her way.

At the same time, the person she had bumped into spoke up, “Student, do you know how to get to Year 1 Class 1?”

The man’s tone was slightly raised with a naturally drawn-out ending, and his voice carried an indescribable laziness, as if it were close to her ear, with a breathy quality that tickled the heart.

It felt familiar.

Sang Zhi turned around.

Duan Jiaxu stood by the railing, dressed in a white shirt and pants. His bangs were slightly long, covering his eyebrows, and his features were so strikingly beautiful they seemed almost too perfect. He lowered his eyelids and, looking at her face, his lips curved into a small smile. “Sang Zhi.”

Sang Zhi stared at him for a few seconds, then quickly looked down without saying anything.

It was hard to tell if this encounter was an unexpected one or not.

Noticing her red eyes, Duan Jiaxu squatted down to peer at her. “Crying again?”

“……”

He found it amusing. “So scared?”

Sang Zhi pressed her lips tightly together and said nothing.

“Don’t cry, Brother will go take the scolding for you.”

Sang Zhi looked at him.

Duan Jiaxu ruffled the top of her head and asked, “Are we going to the classroom or the office now?”

Sang Zhi didn’t answer his question but instead accused, “Why did you come so late?”

Upon hearing that, Duan Jiaxu raised his eyebrows and replied good-naturedly, “Then what time should I have arrived?”

Sang Zhi spoke stiffly, “Classes are done at 4:20.”

“That early? Brother didn’t know. How about Brother apologize? Will that work?” Duan Jiaxu’s tone was playful like he was teasing a pet, “Let Brother make it up to you.”

Sang Zhi’s mood eased somewhat because of his arrival and she managed to squeeze out a response, “No need.”

It had been some time since school ended.

Worried that the teacher had been waiting too long, Sang Zhi didn’t continue to sulk. “Let’s go.”

“Where to?”

“The office.”

When they reached the first floor, a left turn led them to the teachers’ office.

They stopped about five meters from the door.

Sang Zhi thought for a moment and gave some instructions, “I have quite a bit of experience with this. In a moment, the teacher will keep complaining to you, and you just need to agree with him.”

Duan Jiaxu lazily responded with a hum.

What they were about to do was the most daring and serious thing Sang Zhi had ever done.

She was conspiring with someone to deceive the teacher.

Sang Zhi’s expression was solemn, “And, Brother, try to talk as little as possible. Otherwise, if we get exposed and caught, we’re both finished.”

Duan Jiaxu licked his lips and smiled. “Why does it sound so scary?”

Sang Zhi, very nervous, blustered at him, “You need to be braver.”

“Alright.” Duan Jiaxu chuckled. “I’ll be brave.”

At this time, there were only two teachers left in the office.

One was Chen Mingxu and the other was the homeroom teacher of Class 6, who also taught English to Class 1, surnamed Zhang. Their desks were side by side and Chen Mingxu chatting idly with Teacher Zhang while grading assignments.

Sang Zhi walked over. “Teacher.”

Chen Mingxu looked up. “You’re here?”

Sang Zhi kept her head down. “Yes, my brother is also here.”

Duan Jiaxu stood beside her, not looking as nervous as she did. He spoke openly and calmly, “Hello, Teacher. My name is Sang Yan. I’m Sang Zhi’s brother.”

Initially, Sang Zhi was worried he might be too scared to speak, but she was surprised to hear the name ‘Sang Yan’. He lied so calmly and composedly, his tone steady and confident.

She couldn’t help but glance at him.

Chen Mingxu stood up and said, “I’m Sang Zhi’s homeroom teacher, surnamed Chen. Sorry to trouble you to come here. Please, have a seat.”

Teacher Zhang teased from the side, “How many times has this happened now?”

Chen Mingxu lowered his voice, grumbling, “Aren’t you the same?”

Hearing that, Sang Zhi then noticed there was a fifth person in the office. Fu Zhengchu stood silently in the corner behind the two teachers as if he were invisible.

Their eyes met.

Fu Zhengchu hesitated for a moment, his steps faltering as if he were struggling. Soon, he walked over and stood about two meters away from Sang Zhi, directly in front of Teacher Zhang.

They stood close to each other, and as they were about the same age and both good-looking, it was easy for people to make assumptions.

Duan Jiaxu, sitting on a chair beside Chen Mingxu, observed them with a meaningful look. Then, he beckoned her over. “Come here.”

Sang Zhi obediently went over. “What is it?”

Chen Mingxu was busy looking for some documents and didn’t notice what was happening on their end.

Duan Jiaxu propped his face with one hand and beckoned Sang Zhi closer with his finger.

Sang Zhi hesitated for a few seconds before reluctantly leaning in.

“Kid.” He whispered, his voice low, “Are you in a puppy love?”

At the mention of the first word, Sang Zhi was somewhat displeased. But the following question made her mind go blank for a moment. “What?”

Realizing what he meant, her face immediately turned red, like a small tomato, whether from anger or embarrassment, it was unknown. Worried the teacher might hear, she whispered angrily, “You’re the one in puppy love!”

“Hmm? I wish I could.”

“……”

Duan Jiaxu leaned back in his chair lazily. “But my age doesn’t allow it.”