Chapter 9

Xu Zhilu stared at the message for a long time, her finger rubbing the screen, before she finally replied with one word.

Xu Zhilu: Okay.

After sending the message, she felt a little like laughing.

Wasn’t this a bit petty? She looked at the fresh, glossy fruits by the sink. They looked very good.

She stood in the kitchen for a while longer before finally taking the fruit to her room.

No particular reason.

She just didn’t want to share today’s fruit with anyone else.

Call her petty if you will.

Having eaten her favorite fruit, Xu Zhilu found herself working on her homework much faster than usual that evening.

Once she finished, she tidied up and went to bed.

Just as she turned off the light, she heard the warm and loving voices of the returning party-goers. Every word and sentence was filled with affection and warmth.

She turned over and looked out the window.

She had forgotten to close the curtains when she lay down, and the moonlight boldly streamed in, leaving a pale light on her bed.

Xu Zhilu stared at it for a while, unable to sleep.

After a long time, she helplessly picked up her phone.

As soon as she turned it on, she saw a message from Xin An’an.

Xin An’an: Zhilu, are you asleep?!

Xu Zhilu: Just about to. What’s up?

Xin An’an: There’s a question I can’t solve, waaah.

Xu Zhilu: Send it to me.

Xin An’an: Okay.

Xu Zhilu got out of bed, turned on the desk lamp, and began explaining the problem to Xin An’an.

After helping her with a few problems, Xu Zhilu was exhausted.

But Xin An’an was still energetic and even asked her out for BBQ on the weekend.

Xu Zhilu couldn’t help but smile, thinking she couldn’t avoid this BBQ meal.

By the time she lay back down, an hour had passed.

Xu Zhilu checked the time, set her phone to silent, and finally closed her eyes to sleep.

–

The next day was sunny.

Recently, Xu Zhilu had been waking up early because she biked to school.

When she went downstairs, she saw Aunt Liu busy in the kitchen.

“Zhilu, you’re up.”

“Mm.” Xu Zhilu smiled, “Good morning, Aunt Liu.”

Aunt Liu looked at her with a smile and asked softly, “Are you eating at home or taking it with you to school?”

“No need.” Xu Zhilu said, “I’ve made plans with a classmate to eat outside.”

“Okay.”

Xu Zhilu didn’t linger. She said goodbye to Aunt Liu and grabbed her backpack before leaving.

Mother Xu came downstairs and saw her back.

She frowned and muttered, “She’s not eating breakfast at home again?”

Aunt Liu stayed silent.

Mother Xu sneered, “What a waste of money.”

Aunt Liu could only chuckle and change the subject, “Ma’am, is Jiajia awake?”

Instantly, Mother Xu’s attention shifted.

She shook her head and said softly, “Probably not yet.” She glanced at the kitchen. “Jiajia mentioned wanting to eat Zhajiangmian^[1]is a dish of Chinese origin consisting of thick wheat noodles topped with zhajiang, a fermented soybean-based sauce. last night. Make some for her.”

Aunt Liu nodded with a smile, “Sure.”

Xu Zhilu didn’t know what was happening at home, and even if she did, she wouldn’t care.

Pushing her bike out of the yard, she saw a boy standing under the wall.

Shen Siyan probably hadn’t woken up fully; his eyelids drooped, hands in pockets, leaning lazily against the wall with his long legs crossed, and a bike in front of him.

Hearing the sound, he opened his eyes and looked her way.

Their eyes met.

Xu Zhilu was the first to look away and push her bike forward.

Shen Siyan watched her, raising an eyebrow but saying nothing.

The two walked a few steps, one behind the other, before Xu Zhilu tried to ride away, only to be pulled back.

She frowned and looked back.

Shen Siyan stared at her. “Aren’t you going to say anything?”

Xu Zhilu tugged at his schoolbag and asked angrily, “What did you say?”

Shen Siyan: “…”

He paused for a moment and asked indifferently, “Have you had breakfast?”

“No.”

Xu Zhilu replied expressionlessly, “Anything else?” She pointed out, “I’m meeting An’an at the breakfast shop. If I don’t leave now, I’ll be late.”

Shen Siyan lifted his eyes, “Oh,” and said, “Then let’s go.”

“?”

Xu Zhilu looked at his stance and couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you supposed to be reflecting at home?”

Shen Siyan spread his legs, leaned forward, and gripped both sides of his bicycle. He said calmly, “Oh, I’m just getting some early morning exercise.”

Xu Zhilu: “…”

She couldn’t help but mutter, “Weirdo.”

Without waiting for Shen Siyan to respond, she rode off straight away.

The morning sun was bright, breaking through the clouds.

They headed to school one after the other, passing through the fragrant flowers.

Spring had arrived, and the flowers were blooming.

Xu Zhilu and Xin An’an had arranged to meet at a breakfast shop near the school, famous for its delicious steamed buns.

As she slowed down, she saw Xin An’an and Cheng Song waiting by the roadside.

Xu Zhilu’s eyelid twitched, and she dismounted and walked over.

Cheng Song looked half-awake, with his head drooping.

“Zhilu, Zhilu.”

Xu Zhilu smiled, parked her bike, and ran over, “Have you been waiting long?”

“No, not long.”

Xin An’an smiled brightly, “Hurry, hurry, before it gets crowded.”

Xu Zhilu nodded and went into the shop with her to find a seat.

“Should we sit at a table for two or four?”

Xu Zhilu didn’t hesitate. “Of course, a table for two. Don’t waste space.”

Shen Siyan tugged at her backpack and said, “A table for four.”

Xu Zhilu: “No, a table for two. I don’t want to have breakfast with you guys.”

Shen Siyan looked at her.

Xu Zhilu said without flinching, “It ruins my appetite.”

Shen Siyan choked, realizing she meant seeing him ruin her appetite.

He paused and asked Cheng Song, “Does my face make people lose their appetite?”

Cheng Song, still sleepy, didn’t catch what they were saying. He responded, “Yeah, probably.”

Shen Siyan: “…”

Xin An’an couldn’t help but laugh. “I can assure you, it doesn’t.”

Xu Zhilu glanced at her.

Cheng Song didn’t care about the three of them, found a table for four, and sat down, propping his head up. “Brother Yan, I want two baskets of buns and a bowl of bone broth porridge.”

Xin An’an: “… Are you a pig?”

Cheng Song clicked his tongue, “You don’t understand men.”