Chapter 45

Qin Xiaoxiao glanced at the box Ji Wenchen placed on her desk as soon as he returned. “What’s this?”

“For you.” Ji Wenchen pulled out a chair and sat down. “Pastries.”

Qin Xiaoxiao raised her eyebrows slightly. He went out of the school and even brought back a box of pastries…

The black printed paper box was unusually elegant, though it lacked a logo.

Qin Xiaoxiao opened the box.

Inside, neatly and obediently lay one, two, three, four… six pieces of pastries: some were shaped like plum blossoms in a powdery white hue, and others were light green and round in form, all small and exquisitely crafted.

At this moment, it was the long break between classes, with seventeen minutes remaining before the next lesson.

Qin Xiaoxiao used the small fork that came with the box to pick up a piece of the light green pastry. The outer layer was soft and slightly springy, while the inside was filled with a sweet and juicy fruit filling. It tasted quite good.

She then tried a piece of the powdery white pastry. It was crumbly and delicate, spreading a sweet peach flavor across her palate. Not bad either.

“Thanks, it’s pretty good.”

Qin Xiaoxiao paused for a moment, and out of habit, politely asked, “Do you want some?”

“Mm,” Ji Wenchen’s voice carried a hint of weariness and laziness. “I want the light-colored ones.”

“?” Qin Xiaoxiao’s tongue lightly darted out to lick the corner of her lips. “Should I help you get one?”

“Mm.” Ji Wenchen’s gaze deepened slightly as he noticed her unconscious little gesture.

“…Here, you can do it yourself.” Qin Xiaoxiao handed him the only small fork.

Ji Wenchen didn’t take it. “Help me.”

Qin Xiaoxiao silently stared at him for two seconds, then picked up a piece of the powdery white pastry with the fork… and put it into her own mouth.

Ji Wenchen, who was already prepared to open his mouth: “…”

After finishing the piece of pastry, Qin Xiaoxiao took a tissue to wipe the fork clean, placed it back in the box, and pushed the box onto Ji Wenchen’s desk. “If you want to eat, take it yourself.”

Ji Wenchen’s slender fingers pressed lightly against the box and pushed it back toward her. “I’m not eating anymore.”

He had already eaten plenty at his grandfather’s house. Saying “I want to eat” was just an excuse to get her to feed him…

Hearing a hint of frustration in her deskmate’s tone, Qin Xiaoxiao pressed her lips together, holding back a smile as she closed the box and put it away.

Her stomach was just about full.

Later, back at the dormitory, the remaining three pieces of pastries ended up in the stomachs of Dong Yunfang and Yang Min.

…

It’s often said, “Heavy snow without freezing brings a cold spring.”

This year, during the solar term of Heavy Snow, the temperature in Guangjian City suddenly dropped below 7 degrees overnight. Although there was no snow, for people in the south, this was already considered bone-chilling.

In the morning, Qin Xiaoxiao’s dormitory was filled with wails of despair.

Especially the roommates brushing their teeth and washing their faces, crying out as they were forced to touch the icy, bone-piercing tap water.

After finishing her morning routine, Qin Xiaoxiao felt as though her entire face had temporarily gone numb.

When she arrived at the neighboring dormitory, Yang Min was still wriggling under her blanket.

“Xiao ah… it’s so cold…” Yang Min poked out her head, her hair a messy tangle from sleep, clearly unwilling to get up.

Qin Xiaoxiao paused for a moment. “Then I’ll head out first.”

“Okay, can you grab me a meat bun and some soy milk?”

“Mm.”

The cafeteria was about a third less crowded than usual for this time of day.

Qin Xiaoxiao managed to buy her breakfast and Yang Min’s without having to wait in line. After swiping her card, she found herself impulsively adding, “Auntie, please get me an extra large portion of soup dumplings and soy milk as well.”

It was so cold today; someone was probably sleeping in late.

Consider it a small way to repay him for the pastries.

The lighting was dim, and being a little distracted, Qin Xiaoxiao didn’t notice a puddle of soup on the floor ahead and stepped right onto it.

Her foot slipped, and she tilted to the side—

“Careful!”

Qin Xiaoxiao was steadied by someone from behind and to the side.

Once she regained her balance, she put some distance between herself and the person behind her, turning slightly. “Thank you.”

The one who had helped her turned out to be someone she knew.

“You’re welcome,” Yan Yangcan said with a warm and refined demeanor, his plaid scarf adding to his gentle appearance. “Care to join me at a table for breakfast?”

Qin Xiaoxiao gave a polite smile. “I won’t eat here. I’m heading straight to the classroom.”

“Then I’ll head to the classroom too,” Yan Yangcan replied with a gentle smile.

The two walked side by side through the faintly lit campus, keeping a two-fist distance between them.

After a short while, Yan Yangcan asked, “Which university are you planning to apply to?”

Qin Xiaoxiao replied, “I haven’t decided yet.” In truth, she already had a target university in mind, but there was no need to tell him.

“I see,” Yan Yangcan drew out the last syllable slightly, his tone carrying a hint of regret.

They walked in silence for half the distance.

“X University is pretty good. Xiaoxiao, would you consider it?” he asked.

X University was an established Double First-Class institution, renowned for its picturesque campus and rich cultural atmosphere. Located in the same province as Guangjian City, it wasn’t far from home. It was, in fact, one of Qin Xiaoxiao’s two target universities. However, she didn’t give a direct answer. “It’s a pretty good school,” she said.

“We…” Yan Yangcan’s eyes, as bright and refreshing as a spring, glanced at Qin Xiaoxiao walking beside him. He took a deep breath. “Let’s apply to X University together, shall we?”

Qin Xiaoxiao’s steps faltered slightly. “I haven’t decided yet,” she replied.

If her memory served her correctly, the homeroom teacher had once mentioned in class that Yan Yangcan had achieved excellent results in a high school mathematics competition and was likely planning to pursue independent admission to Z University in the future…

At this moment, there weren’t many people on the road leading to the Will-Strengthening Teaching Building. Those who were there were mostly final-year students either hurrying to their classrooms or wearing headphones while memorizing vocabulary.

“Maybe now…” Yan Yangcan suddenly stepped forward, blocking Qin Xiaoxiao’s path. His hand, holding a plastic bag, tightened slightly. “Maybe now isn’t the best time, Xiaoxiao. But I want to say… that… I…”

“Xiaoxiao!”

A clear, energetic voice from a young boy interrupted the words Yan Yangcan was about to say.

Qin Xiaoxiao took a step back and gave Yan Yangcan a polite smile. “I’ll walk with my cousin. You can go ahead.”

“I…” Yan Yangcan didn’t have the thick skin to insist on tagging along. “Well then, goodbye.”

“Mm.”

“Who was that guy? Did he transfer to your class this semester? What was he talking to you about?”

Feng Maoxing, who had jogged over, glanced at the back of “that guy” with a series of curious questions.

He was wearing a pink athletic hoodie, his sunny and handsome face flushed with red. A fine layer of sweat glistened on his forehead beneath his short hair, and his breathing was slightly labored as he spoke.

Qin Xiaoxiao took a small paper packet from her pocket and pulled out a tissue, handing it to him. “Why are you so sweaty?”

Feng Maoxing accepted the tissue with his left hand, which had its bandage removed just a few days ago, and casually wiped his forehead. “I ran a few laps around the track.” A few strands of hair clung to his temples, making his already fair and energetic face appear even more vibrant.

“Up so early for a morning run?” Qin Xiaoxiao gave him a doubtful sidelong glance. “That doesn’t sound like you.”

Feng Maoxing mumbled awkwardly, “Well, I just want to grow taller and get stronger, you know?”

His height was definitely not short compared to his peers, but… it wasn’t particularly tall either. Boys generally didn’t appear as tall as girls, and with Cousin Xiaoxiao being 167 cm and him standing at 176 cm, when they walked side by side, Feng Maoxing didn’t feel like he was much taller than her. It was something that bothered him a little.

What frustrated Feng Maoxing even more was that during his lurking on the Second High School forum, he came across a heated thread debating who was the most handsome and who deserved the title of “school heartthrob.” His name appeared quite a few times in the comments, but the reason he didn’t make the cut was: “His height isn’t quite up to par.”

To make matters worse, this particular comment received quite a number of likes…

And so, young Feng Maoxing’s pride took a hit, prompting him to resolve to run a few laps on the track every morning and evening.

Today marked the third day of his perseverance.

Qin Xiaoxiao, upon hearing this, encouraged him with the affection of an older sister: “Keep it up, aim to grow taller and stronger.”

“Alright! I’m going to reach 186 cm!”

Qin Xiaoxiao chuckled, then lifted her foot to start walking forward. “Let’s go.”

“You still haven’t told me what was going on with that guy just now! You haven’t answered my question!”

“You asked me three questions. Which one should I answer?”

“I asked three? Then answer all of them!”

“His name is Yan Yangcan. He transferred here this semester. He told me…” Qin Xiaoxiao hesitated for a moment, “that X University is a good school.”

“So it really is that transfer student Yan-whatever-can. He doesn’t even look that good…” The thought that someone might compare Yan-whatever-can’s looks to his own, Feng Maoxing’s, was baffling.

Feng Maoxing snorted. “He’s definitely up to something. Otherwise, why would he go on about how great X University is for no reason?”

“…Maybe.” Even though Qin Xiaoxiao was usually quite dense about such things, after hearing what Yan Yangcan had said earlier and piecing it together with everything since they’d met, she had more or less figured it out.

Feng Maoxing threw his arm over his cousin’s right shoulder from her left side. “Xiaoxiao, let me tell you, you absolutely shouldn’t get involved with him. Even Ji…” Wenchen would be better than him.

Ugh. His cousin was so amazing, no one was good enough for her. Feng Maoxing quickly corrected himself, “No, I mean, during the final year of high school, studying is the most important thing. Xiaoxiao, you’re aiming for a top university, and I believe in you.”

“…” Qin Xiaoxiao felt that her cousin’s words today were a bit all over the place. Perhaps the cold morning run had scrambled his brain…

Feng Maoxing noticed the rather hefty amount of breakfast Qin Xiaoxiao was carrying. “Xiaoxiao, why did you buy so much breakfast?”

“Mm,” Qin Xiaoxiao replied somewhat awkwardly. “One portion is for Yang Min.”

“Can two girls really finish all this?” Feng Maoxing, who often ate with his cousin and had shared meals with Yang Min before, blinked his starry eyes. “This would take two of you to finish, wouldn’t it?”

Since he hadn’t had breakfast, Feng Maoxing casually asked his cousin, “How about sharing half with me?”

Qin Xiaoxiao hesitated. “You didn’t have breakfast?”

“No, I was planning to buy milk and bread at the school store during the break.”

“…Then go buy it at the school store during the break.”

“Huh? Huh? Huh?” Feng Maoxing looked incredulous. “Can’t you share just one portion with me?”

Qin Xiaoxiao avoided his gaze. “It’s cold, and… Yang Min and I have bigger appetites now.”

…

Ji Wenchen entered the classroom just as the first bell for morning reading rang.

He walked to his seat while yawning. 

On the desk sat a portion of soup dumplings and soy milk.

Ji Wenchen pulled out his chair, lazily sat down, opened the plastic bag, and took a bite of the still-warm soup dumplings.

Not bad—Lu Yitao finally did something worthwhile.

Ji Wenchen took out his phone and sent a 66-yuan red envelope to Lu Yitao on WeChat.

“Want some?” Ji Wenchen slightly raised his chin toward Qin Xiaoxiao.

Qin Xiaoxiao, who was flipping through her Essential Classical Poems handbook, raised her eyebrows slightly in a peculiar manner and shook her head. “I’ve already eaten. This is for you.”

The low volume of her second sentence was drowned out by the surrounding chaotic reading voices.

Ji Wenchen, enjoying the delicious warm soy milk, had already eaten three-quarters of the soup dumplings. He couldn’t help but find it a bit odd—his deskmate hadn’t stopped him from eating in class this morning, nor had she reminded him that he should be reading during morning study time.

“Brother Chen, Brother Chen—” Lu Yitao waddled humorously down the aisle, his chubby figure crouched, and stopped by Ji Wenchen’s desk, presenting the items in his hands. “It’s cold today, so I brought you breakfast. Now you don’t need to go to the school store during the break.”

“…?” Ji Wenchen looked at the packaged sandwich and breakfast milk in Lu Yitao’s hands—his usual go-to choices, but…

Was the soup dumplings and soy milk weren’t from Lu Yitao?

Ji Wenchen’s mind worked quickly. It was clear now that the breakfast he had just eaten wasn’t bought by Lu Yitao.

“The breakfast on the desk,” Ji Wenchen tilted his head and asked his deskmate, who always arrived early to the classroom, “Who brought it?”

Ji Wenchen knew that his popularity at school wasn’t exactly stellar. Some people wanted to buddy up with him, while others couldn’t stand him. There were even those who lacked the courage to confront him openly and might resort to underhanded tactics.

It was his own fault for waking up late this morning and rushing to the classroom with his mind still groggy. Seeing the breakfast, he had automatically assumed it was from Lu Yitao, who often enjoyed gifting food, and ate it without a second thought…

“I bought it.”

Ji Wenchen’s tapping fingers—his index and middle finger lightly drumming the desk—paused. “Hmm?”