On Sunday afternoon’s break, Sheng Xia received a call from Brother Li, saying that since Teachers’ Day was approaching, Sheng Mingfeng had prepared gifts for her teachers and asked when would be convenient to deliver them.
Sheng Xia had no patience or fondness for such social obligations, and refused: “No need, the class is giving teachers gifts together.”
Sheng Xia rarely refused Sheng Mingfeng’s arrangements, so this response left Li Xu at a loss.
Shortly after hanging up, Sheng Mingfeng called.
“Do you feel the teachers are dedicated? How about we arrange a meal together, and invite all your subject teachers?”
Sheng Xia silently sighed, “The teachers are all great, but time is tight, they probably won’t have time for meals.”
“Oh…” Sheng Mingfeng pondered, “Alright then, you focus on studying, Dad will take care of everything else.”
“Actually…” You don’t need to do these things.
“What is it?” Sheng Mingfeng cut in, “If there are problems, you should bring them up right away. There are many things your kids don’t understand.”
“Nothing.”
“Really nothing?”
“Mm.”
“Well then, I heard you have monthly exams coming up. You just transferred, it’s normal if you’re not adjusted yet. Don’t worry too much about grades, don’t always listen to your mom, and push yourself too hard, understand?”
“Mm.”
After hanging up, Sheng Xia turned off her phone and put it in the drawer, packed her bag, changed into her uniform, and headed to school early for self-study.
She didn’t know when it started, but sitting at her desk in her room, she could no longer concentrate fully.
At school, at the bookstore, in public spaces that weren’t her own, she could focus better instead.
After aimlessly riding her bike around for a while, the weather was too hot, so Sheng Xia stopped wandering and turned into campus through the south gate.
Passing by the lecture hall, she found the usually quiet dome unusually lively. The exterior of the lecture hall was all mirrors, and now groups of people were practicing in front of them.
The affiliated school had a gala every year for Teachers’ Day, which served both as a Teachers’ Day celebration and a welcome party for new students. The main performers were first-year students, with second and third years contributing a few programs.
Sheng Xia unexpectedly spotted a familiar figure among the crowd, even though his black T-shirt was so dark and inconspicuous.
Zhang Shu sat on the ground, hands propped behind him. Probably because of the heat, he had rolled up his jeans slightly. His sneakers swayed back and forth making him look even more relaxed. His face was motionless, intently watching a girl in the center of the crowd.
The girl was dancing in front of the mirror, her tied-up T-shirt revealing a slender waist. Under her denim shorts, a pair of long legs were dazzlingly white. Her chestnut curls swung with her movements as she kept flipping them back…
Sheng Xia couldn’t see her face clearly but knew she was beautiful.
Very beautiful.
Probably the school beauty who was the female lead in that big melodramatic love triangle story Xin Xiaohe mentioned.
Sheng Xia twisted the handlebar and accelerated past the lecture hall.
…
Chen Mengyao was out of breath and dripping with sweat from dancing. “Take ten minutes, then we’ll start rehearsing from the second section,” she instructed, walking to the side to rest, standing right in front of Zhang Shu, looking at him with displeasure and resignation.
He came to watch her practice empty-handed. She wasn’t expecting milk tea, juice, or soda, but not even a bottle of water.
A junior boy nearby handed her a bottle of Pocari Sweat, “Mengyao, want some water?”
Chen Mengyao took it and handed it to Zhang Shu.
He was still sitting on the ground as before, while she stood above him. At this angle her legs looked long and straight – she had done camera training, she knew very well.
But Zhang Shu’s gaze wasn’t on her legs.
He was turning his head to look at the trees by the road, looking once, turning back, then turning to look again.
Chen Mengyao followed his line of sight, only seeing a lush green camphor tree-lined avenue, the road surface bleached white by the sun, empty of people.
“What are you looking at? More beautiful than me?”
Zhang Shu raised his head, dusted off his hands, and stood up, looking suspiciously at the Pocari Sweat she was offering, “I don’t want it.”
Chen Mengyao just wanted to roll her eyes – would someone please take away this handsome but destined-to-die-alone monk? Even if he were as handsome as Pan An she wouldn’t want him. “Help! Me! Open! It!”
Zhang Shu gave a light laugh as he took it, easily twisting it open while running his mouth: “Weren’t you just dancing with plenty of strength?”
Chen Mengyao wanted to pour the Pocari Sweat over his head!
“Can you not grow a mouth?”
Zhang Shu didn’t engage, handed the water back to her, and took out his phone to check the time, “I’m leaving first.”
Chen Mengyao called after him: “We haven’t gotten to the singing part yet, who’s going to guide us if you leave?”
“You, the all-around superstar.”
“Fine, you might as well not have come,” Chen Mengyao sometimes really couldn’t understand Zhang Shu, his hot and cold act was too refined, wasn’t it about enough?
“Shu-ge,” she called him again, “Will you give me flowers at the performance in a few days?”
Somehow, she was getting a bit impatient.
During these two years, she had many performances and received many flowers, but that bunch of peonies Zhang Shu gave her at the freshman welcome party remained the brightest in her memory.
Back then they had just finished military training. Zhang Shu only showed his face during the parade formations but had already attracted plenty of attention. His popularity wasn’t less than now, and girls often discussed him during late-night dorm talks.