When Zhou Wan returned home, grandmother was already asleep.
Back in her room, her notebook lay open on the desk, showing the names she had written yesterday: “Guo Xiangling” and “Lu Xixiao.”
She sat at her desk, eyes lowered, staring at these two names.
A line connected them.
What if—
What if she and Lu Xixiao got together?
Then Lu’s father would probably be furious and wouldn’t be able to be with Guo Xiangling anymore.
This thought suddenly popped into Zhou Wan’s mind.
She was self-aware enough to know that Lu Xixiao had never taken any of his girlfriends seriously, and even if she managed to be with him, she wouldn’t be the exception.
But perhaps that was better.
Just being together would be enough.
Just being together, letting Lu’s father know, would be enough.
Just briefly taking advantage of Lu Xixiao’s carefree nature.
It wouldn’t hurt anyone.
Zhou Wan never imagined she would have such dark thoughts one day, but at this moment, she couldn’t control these ideas.
Like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, they spread through her heart.
She looked up at herself in the mirror.
The room was dark, with the desk lamp casting a fuzzy circle of light around her. Her soft black hair fell across her chest, and her skin was fair and delicate, with a small face, petite lips and nose, and clear, round doe eyes like black grapes.
Zhou Wan had been beautiful since childhood, always receiving compliments from those around her.
But her beauty was more pure and clean, different from the girls around Lu Xixiao, who were mostly bright and bold.
Zhou Wan wasn’t sure if she could do it.
But at least—
Now Lu Xixiao knew her name.
*
September brought the fragrance of osmanthus flowers, enveloping the entire school in their sweet scent.
Gu Meng picked many osmanthus flowers, put them in a bag, and made a sachet for Zhou Wan.
By the time the small flowers in the sachet had all withered, the school’s sports meet arrived.
The opening ceremony included each class carrying placards in a parade, and Zhou Wan was chosen to be her class’s placard bearer.
All the female placard bearers had to wear uniform clothing, replacing the loose, thick school uniforms with white fitted t-shirts and pleated skirts, exuding youthful charm.
When Gu Meng saw her emerge in the new outfit, she exclaimed, “Wan-wan! Whoever designed our school uniforms should be struck by lightning! You look amazing in this short skirt!”
Though there were safety shorts underneath, the pleated skirt only reached just above mid-thigh.
Zhou Wan felt uncomfortable with the length, tugging at the hem, trying to pull it lower.
Gu Meng grabbed her hand: “Stop pulling, it’s supposed to be like that.”
“I’m worried it might show too much when I walk and the skirt moves.”
Gu Meng laughed, “It won’t! First off, you’re wearing safety shorts so nothing can show, and besides, the school wouldn’t give you super short skirts—this is just a normal short skirt, it won’t reveal anything.”
The sports meet had lifted many students’ spirits.
The field was bustling with noise early in the morning.
After the principal’s speech ended, each class formed their squares for the entrance ceremony.
Zhou Wan was in Class 1, holding the “Class 2-1” placard at the front, with Class 7 beside them.
Lu Xixiao was in Class 7.
Among the twenty-second-year classes, Class 7 had the worst grades and was the most chaotic. Their formation was messy, and their placard bearer hadn’t arrived yet.
Zhou Wan glanced back.
Lu Xixiao stood at the back with his friends, not wearing the school uniform, a cigarette between his fingers, smiling casually.
The sunlight fell on him, making his skin appear even whiter. He seemed to have just had a haircut, with his sideburns trimmed short, revealing his clean profile completely, casting sharp shadows that emphasized his cold demeanor and casual attitude.
At that moment, there was a girl beside him, sitting on the flower bed, looking up and actively trying to talk to him.
Zhou Wan recognized this girl somewhat—she was the arts and cultural committee member from the liberal arts class, not from Class 7.
The surroundings were chaotic, with summer sunlight breaking through the dense leaves, casting scattered spots of light on them, gleaming with a faint golden glow. The girl smiled brilliantly, reaching out her hand to say something to Lu Xixiao, probably asking for help getting up.
Lu Xixiao kept his head still, only lowering his gaze to look down at her, pulling his lips into a slight smile: “Can’t get up by yourself?”
“My leg fell asleep,” the girl said with a laugh.
Lu Xixiao flicked his cigarette ash, still not moving.