CS - 2

Lin Zhe Xia knew that Chi Yao wasn’t exactly the most sociable person, but she hadn’t expected him to be this bad at acting human.

For a moment, she was at a loss for words.

Finally, she managed to squeeze out a polite greeting: “When did you get back?”

Fresh from his shower, Chi Yao’s voice carried a lazy, sleepy tone.

Still, it couldn’t mask the youthful timbre of his voice:

“Half an hour ago.”

“So,” Lin Zhe Xia said, trying to sound indignant, “after all this time apart, is this really how you talk to me the moment you come back? Is this appropriate?”

“What’s inappropriate about it?”

Lin Zhe Xia accused, “Is that even something a normal person would say?”

“I don’t speak like a normal person,” Chi Yao lifted his eyelids slightly, feigning mild surprise. “And yet, you seem to understand me just fine.”

“…”

“It seems you’re quite talented with languages,” he continued mockingly. “Next time that golden retriever downstairs barks randomly, come over and help me figure out what it’s trying to say.”

“……”

At this point, the conversation had reached a dead end.

If they continued, she’d probably end up not being considered human either.

Fortunately, Lin Zhe Xia had strong adaptability skills—after all, she’d known this guy for years.

Slowly, she said, “Let me ask you a question, and you have to answer honestly.”

As she spoke, Chi Yao had already walked past her, opening the fridge and pulling out a can of soda.

The soda fizzed with cold condensation.

He held the can with one hand, three knuckles gripping it firmly, then curled his index finger into the tab’s gap and popped it open effortlessly. Almost simultaneously, he let out a single word: “Ask.”

“If I punch you right now, what are my chances of winning?”

“One out of ten.”

“Explain,” Lin Zhe Xia perked up, eager for details. “Tell me more.”

Chi Yao casually draped his arm over her shoulder as if embracing her, but in reality, he was gently pushing her toward the door. Before she knew it, she was shoved outside. He looked down at her with half-lidded eyes and said coolly, “Turn around, go home, turn off the lights, and try dreaming about me tonight.”

To top it off, he added with a smirk, “Goodnight.”

After returning home, taking a bath, and lying in bed, Lin Zhe Xia tossed and turned for a long while.

She still felt angry, so she opened the chat window with “Chi Dog” and sent a barrage of violent emojis to vent.

-[Beat you up]

-[Smash your head]

-[Swing a 10-meter blade wildly]

-[Bam!]

……

Finally, mimicking Chi Yao’s earlier tone, she sent a cold, sarcastic message: “Goodnight.”

After sending it, she quickly drifted off to sleep.

She wasn’t someone who usually carried grudges overnight, which was probably why she had managed to maintain a friendship with someone like Chi Yao for so many years.

When she woke up the next morning, she was back to her usual self.

In the group chat called “Nanxiang Squad,” she messaged everyone in the morning, asking if they wanted to go to Chi Yao’s place to watch a movie together. Biting into a fried dough stick, she replied with a simple “Sure.”

The area where they lived was called “Nanxiang.”

Nanxiang was the name of the street outside their residential complex.

There weren’t many people in the group.

The reason it was called “Nanxiang Squad” was because Lin Zhe Xia had once suggested using the street name instead of the residential complex name, arguing that it sounded much cooler and gave off a “street boss” vibe.

—This childish suggestion from elementary school had been approved back then and never changed, lasting until now.

“Mom, I’m going to Chi Yao’s place later,” Lin Zhe Xia said. “We’re organizing an activity today.”

Across the table, Lin He and Uncle Wei were having breakfast.

Lin He knew that this group of kids hung out often, so she didn’t say much, only asking, “Chi Yao’s back?”

The three of them sat together.

Lin Zhe Xia spoke more calmly than usual: “Yeah, he came back last night.”

Uncle Wei kindly chimed in, “Perfect. I just bought a watermelon yesterday. Take it over when you go, and everyone can share it.”

Lin Zhe Xia took a sip of soy milk, finished eating, and got up to pack her things: “Thanks, Uncle Wei.”

Just as she was about to leave, Lin He handed her something heavier than the watermelon.

“Your vacation homework,” Lin He hastily gathered the stack of assignments from Lin Zhe Xia’s room. “Take it with you and do it whenever you have free time. Don’t forget today’s work because you’re playing too late.”

Lin Zhe Xia stared at the pile of homework that had tortured her for days.

Reluctantly, she muttered, “Isn’t this a bit… awkward?”

“What’s awkward about it?”

“If I bring my homework,” Lin Zhe Xia imagined how Chi Yao would mock her, “it’ll be so embarrassing.”

She tried to persuade Lin He: “Think about it. It’s like bringing a parent along on a trip—it’s just not appropriate.”

The final response she got…

Was the sharp, decisive slam of the door as Lin He closed it behind her.

________________________________________

This impromptu gathering was organized on short notice, and Lin Zhe Xia was the first to arrive.

She lived closest to Chi Yao.

A few minutes later, Chi Yao opened the door for her. He looked like he had just woken up.

His hair was messy, but in a way that seemed deliberately styled with his hands.

The air conditioning was set low, and a wave of cold air greeted her as soon as she stepped inside.

He glanced lazily at the items in her hands, took the watermelon from her, and before he could say anything, Lin Zhe Xia preemptively declared, “See this stack of homework? This is who I am—a true lover of learning.”

“Even when I’m out having fun, I don’t forget to study.”

“…”

Chi Yao responded with a nonchalant “Oh.”

“I’m going to write twenty pages while we play today,” Lin Zhe Xia held up the stack of homework, trying her best to appear calm and collected. “This is my attitude toward studying.”

“Not bad.”

When Lin Zhe Xia heard this, she instinctively knew it wasn’t that simple.

Sure enough, Chi Yao followed up with, “Considering you barely made it into Second High, it’s good to show some effort.”

Did he think…

That scoring ninety points above the cutoff line made him superior?

Lin Zhe Xia clenched her teeth in frustration.

Of course, she couldn’t say these words out loud.

……

Because scoring ninety points above the cutoff line was pretty impressive.

“You’re amazing, so smart,” Lin Zhe Xia muttered under her breath as she followed him into the house. “Why’d you even apply to Second High?”

Soon, everyone arrived.

Five people in total filled up the large central sofa.

Da Zhuang was the first to walk in. Contrary to his nickname, he wasn’t particularly muscular—in fact, he was quite slim, with single eyelids and a rugged, boyish appearance.

Everyone usually addressed each other as “brothers.” After greeting “Brother Yao,” Da Zhuang turned to Lin Zhe Xia and said, “Studying, huh, Summer Bro? That’s not like you.”

“This pile of snacks suits you better.”

“…”

What did he mean by “suit”?

This pile of snacks was hers to begin with—she had simply forgotten to take it home.

Lin Zhe Xia didn’t join the crowd squished on the sofa. Instead, she curled up alone in a large bean bag chair, spreading her homework across her lap. She raised an eyebrow: “So talkative today, huh? Want to help lighten my load?”

With that one sentence, everyone fell silent, no longer daring to tease her about her homework.

The group huddled together to pick a movie.

After much deliberation, they settled on an action-packed gunfight film: “This one’s great—intense and exciting. Perfect. Summer Bro won’t mind either; she’s definitely into thrilling stuff too.”

Afterward, someone got up to turn off the lights.

The movie’s intro began to play.

Lin Zhe Xia quickly finished the problem she had been working on, and when she looked up, she saw Chi Yao walking over with several chilled cans of soda.

As he walked into the living room, the blue glow of the projector illuminated him.

His sharp features already carried an aggressive charm, but now, bathed in the cold light, he exuded an air of arrogant superiority.

After tossing the sodas to the others, Chi Yao walked over to Lin Zhe Xia.

Then, the sofa beside her sank slightly as he sat down.

Lin Zhe Xia didn’t want to squeeze next to him, though there was plenty of space: “Can’t you sit somewhere else?”

Chi Yao coolly asked, “Is this your house?”

“…”

Finally, he held up the soda in his hand and asked, “Want some?”

“Yes.”

Lin Zhe Xia was about to instinctively say “Thank you,” but before the word left her lips, the hand holding the soda suddenly retracted, and his clear but perpetually weary voice rang out again: “…Where should I sit?”

Lin Zhe Xia gritted her teeth, thinking to herself how petty he still was.

She surrendered, saying cooperatively, “Sit wherever you want. Right here is… perfect.”

Satisfied with her answer, Chi Yao let go and handed her the soda.

For now, Lin Zhe Xia didn’t plan to drink it.

She was almost done with the problem she had been working on, having memorized the conditions already. In the dark, she lowered her head and continued scribbling calculations in her notebook.

After the movie started, the first scene showed the protagonist trapped in a cave, with the lighting dimming significantly.

The sound effects were jarring and intense, making it very stimulating.

Not wanting to miss the opening plot, she hastily finished her calculations and circled option “C.”

She wasn’t picky about movies and enjoyed a wide variety of genres. As the gunfight unfolded, she became an enthusiastic commentator, throwing out random predictions: “This guy just set a death flag—he’ll definitely die in ten minutes.”

“He’s dead. Me, Lin, the prophet.”

“I see this guy’s fate written all over his face. He’s not far from death either.”

Another ten minutes passed.

Lin Zhe Xia continued rambling:

“…I’ve been waiting forever. How is he still alive?”

Chi Yao rarely spoke while watching movies, giving off an air of quiet focus.

He wasn’t a talkative person to begin with, and even when he teased her, it always came off as condescending.

Now, in the dim light, his figure was partially obscured, with only faint outlines visible. He was still wearing the same black T-shirt from last night, but his legs were too long to stretch comfortably, so he bent them slightly. He wore black ripped jeans, and his arms rested casually on his knees.

But Lin Zhe Xia didn’t need him to respond. After all, whether or not her commentary received replies didn’t matter.

She could monologue all she wanted.

By default, she assumed Chi Yao was fully focused on the movie and didn’t want to waste energy on her.

Midway through, she finally felt thirsty.

By now, the soda had been sitting out for a while and wasn’t as cold anymore.

As she picked it up, she suddenly recalled the scene from last night when Chi Yao had opened a soda can with one hand.

Opening a soda can with one hand.

It looked kinda cool.

…

Could she pull it off too?

Lin Zhe Xia imitated Chi Yao’s movements from last night, attempting to open the can with one hand. But her strength was lacking, and she wasn’t quite sure of the technique. Try as she might, she couldn’t get the hang of it.

…

She… clearly… couldn’t do it.

Belatedly, she realized how embarrassing her failed attempt was.

Thankfully, everyone was engrossed in the movie, and no one seemed to notice her fumbling.

Just as she was about to give up and pretend nothing had happened, a hand suddenly reached over from beside her. That hand covered hers, which was on the verge of letting go, and with three fingers gripping the soda can, guided her index finger into the correct position under the tab.

The knuckles of that hand were noticeably more pronounced than hers, and with a firm press, he lent her some of his strength.

“Pop.”

The ring pull caught on her index finger’s joint.

She had successfully opened the soda can.

A faint “hiss” of bubbles escaped, accompanied by a subtle lemon scent that wafted out.

“You’ve got the IQ…” Chi Yao said as he withdrew his hand, “…for maybe three textbooks’ worth of work.”