CS - 58

Lin Zhexia’s first official day of classes had arrived.

As freshmen, their major courses were all large lecture classes held in tiered classrooms where two or three classes would merge together. Although her dorm was crowded with people, no one shared the same major as her. So after eating breakfast with Chi Yao at the cafeteria, she headed to the lecture hall with her textbooks.

She found a less crowded area to sit and opened her textbook while waiting for the teacher to arrive. Her mind drifted back to the breakfast she’d just shared with Chi Yao.

This morning’s breakfast felt strange.

For the first time as college students, they sat face-to-face in the bustling school cafeteria. Lin Zhexia ordered a basket of xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) as usual, and Chi Yao also ordered some. But he didn’t eat much. After finishing hers, Lin Zhexia instinctively reached over to steal his.

After yesterday, the sense of unfamiliarity between them caused by their separation had greatly diminished.

As she stole bites, she glanced at his expression. “Aren’t you mad?”

Chi Yao had no classes this morning, so he calmly replied, “Why would I be mad?”

“I’m stealing your food. You used to scold me for this.”

“…”

Chi Yao had already finished most of his meal. He leaned back slightly, ignoring the curious glances around them, and said, “What, do you feel uncomfortable if I don’t scold you?”

“…” Lin Zhexia swallowed her words. “That’s not what I meant.”

She added, “I’m not some weirdo who likes being scolded.”

Chi Yao didn’t say anything further.

While waiting for her to finish eating, he subtly pushed the basket of dumplings closer to her side.

…

Chi Yao had truly changed somewhat.

Lin Zhexia stared at her textbook, lost in thought.

But why?

The person who once loved acting like a dog had suddenly started behaving like a human.

She couldn’t figure it out.

Finally, she wondered: Could it be that over a year of hardship had made him grow up?

Just as she was lost in her thoughts, a shadow passed through her peripheral vision. Then, someone sat down in the empty seat to her left.

Lin Zhexia turned to look and saw a boy wearing glasses, with a refined and delicate appearance.

When the boy noticed her looking, he greeted her warmly. “Hello, Lin.”

“…”

“Hi,” Lin Zhexia responded, then realized something was off. “How do you know my surname is Lin?”

The boy didn’t directly answer. Instead, he said, “I just know.”

Then, he enthusiastically introduced himself. “My name is Fang Huai. Nice to meet you.”

Lin Zhexia wasn’t used to such forward and warm personalities. She quietly contemplated whether it was possible to change seats, but she didn’t know anyone else in the class, and the boy hadn’t said anything strange. Suddenly switching seats would make things awkward for both of them.

So she nodded in acknowledgment and lowered her head to continue reading.

The teacher for the first period was slow to arrive.

Five minutes into class, the teacher still hadn’t shown up.

Fang Huai joked, “Maybe it’s because the campus is so big that they’re late.”

Lin Zhexia still didn’t know what to say. Sensing her nervousness, Fang Huai smiled. “You don’t need to be afraid. I’m in the same class as you. Yesterday during freshman registration, I happened to stand behind you and accidentally saw your name and major.”

Lin Zhexia: “Oh.”

So that was how it was.

Lin Zhexia thought about the confession wall Lan Xiaoxue had mentioned last night and wondered if this might be the same person.

Before the teacher entered the classroom, Fang Huai hesitated nervously but finally mustered the courage to ask, “… Since we’re in the same class, can we add each other as friends? I won’t bother you often. I just want to exchange contact information so we can discuss academic issues later.”

Lin Zhexia didn’t really want to add him.

Her phone call with Chi Yao last night had left such a deep impression that she instinctively blurted out, “I don’t have a phone.”

“I’m from a low-income family.”

“…”

“This phone—I borrowed it from a good friend.”

“…”

After she spoke, Fang Huai fell silent alongside her.

An eerie silence filled the air.

Lin Zhexia consoled herself. Since things were already awkward, she might as well let the awkwardness intensify.

In the end, Fang Huai chuckled and smoothed things over. “It’s fine. You’re quite humorous.”

At that moment, the teacher walked in, interrupting the chatter among the students. “Sorry, everyone. My shared bike broke down on the way, so I had to walk across two campuses…”

No one expected such an excuse.

The entire class burst into laughter.

It was precisely this relaxed atmosphere that highlighted the difference between university and high school.

Lin Zhexia lowered her head and secretly tapped on Chi Yao’s WeChat profile picture to vent her embarrassment.

She sent him a set of violent beating emojis.

Chi Yao: ?

Lin Zhexia: Nothing.

Lin Zhexia: My fists were itching, so I casually punched you.

In the past, Chi Yao would’ve definitely retorted with sarcasm.

But after their reunion following their separation, his attitude toward her had softened. This time, he replied, “Oh, are you done hitting me? Do you want to punch me some more?”

Lin Zhexia: …

His reaction left her unsure of how to respond.

After a while, Chi Yao sent her four words as a reminder: Focus on the class.

Not yet officially in class, Lin Zhexia couldn’t help but share with him like before: Class hasn’t started yet, and our teacher is late. You’ll never guess the reason—he’s actually late because of a shared bike.

• Seems like he’s a natural comedian.

• University classes are like this. They feel much more relaxed than in high school. Back then, Old Xu was always strict.

The more she talked, the more she wanted to vent. Eventually, without thinking too much, she even shared the incident with Fang Huai.

• Oh, right. There’s a strange guy sitting next to me. I feel a bit awkward.

• During the next class, I’ll find an excuse to switch seats.

• I’ve decided to tell him that the feng shui of this seat might be bad—it could affect my studies.

After sending the message, she put away her phone and began focusing on the lecture.

The morning classes were long, with two large sessions combined, separated by a twenty-minute break.

During this break, just as Lin Zhexia was preparing to tell Fang Huai, “The feng shui of this seat isn’t good,” she received a message in the dorm group chat.

Lan Xiaoxue: My pen ran out of ink 😭😭😭

Lan Xiaoxue: I’m in A08. Can someone close by help me out?

Lin Zhexia’s class was in A12, which was very close—same building, different floor.

She replied: I’ll come.

Lan Xiaoxue: Thank you so much! I owe you one.

Lin Zhexia sighed in relief as she slipped out of the classroom with her phone and pen. If Lan Xiaoxue hadn’t asked for help in the group chat, she would’ve had to stay in the classroom and face Fang Huai or muster the courage to bring up the feng shui topic.

The art students’ classroom was noisier than theirs. She had assumed Lan Xiaoxue’s green hair would stand out in the crowd, but when she stood at the entrance of their classroom, she saw every color of hair imaginable, along with some eccentric outfits.

Lan Xiaoxue’s striking green hair had been completely overshadowed.

She couldn’t help but remark, “Your classroom… has so much personality.”

Lan Xiaoxue: I think so too. When I dyed my hair before graduation, my mom scolded me, saying, “Who dyes their hair like you?” Today, I sent her a photo and told her I’m actually being low-key. She was speechless.

“…”

After handing over the pen, Lin Zhexia chatted with Lan Xiaoxue outside the classroom for over ten minutes. When she returned to her own class, she noticed something odd as she approached the door.

—This odd feeling stemmed from the fact that someone was sitting in her seat next to Fang Huai.

Someone she knew all too well.

He was tall, wearing a silver earring, and casually flipping through a book in her seat. The entire classroom seemed quieter because of his presence.

The quietest person was Fang Huai.

Fang Huai had planned to use the break to get closer to Lin Zhexia and chat more. He hadn’t expected this girl to leave as soon as class ended, nor did he expect someone to walk in shortly after she left and confidently take her seat.

“You… Are you in the wrong place?” Fang Huai was taken aback. “You’re probably not in our major, right?”

The person gave him a dismissive glance and replied in a tone that suggested he didn’t want to engage. “I’m not in the wrong place.”

Fang Huai: “Do you know her?”

The person: “More than just knowing her.”

Fang Huai mulled over the words “more than just knowing.” They carried many layers of meaning.

“May I ask, what’s your relationship with her?” he ventured.

The person didn’t speak but instead tilted his chin slightly. He wore a thin black windbreaker, exuding an air of distance. Then, seemingly casually, he pulled something out of his pocket.

Fang Huai looked closely—it was a photograph.

The photo was old but well-preserved.

In it, he and Lin Zhexia were leaning close together. Lin Zhexia held a cotton candy, and his hand formed a gesture above her head.

Then, this person, who seemed so distant, deliberately explained the origin of the photo: “This was taken during high school.”

Fang Huai was dumbfounded.

And this person even handed the topic over to him: “I think it turned out well. What do you think?”

Fang Huai: “I think…”

He couldn’t process it.

Fang Huai decided to change the subject: “Were you two already… you know, in high school?”

The person neither confirmed nor denied.

Fang Huai felt awkward: “I understand now. Sorry, man. I didn’t know. I thought she was single.”

But what he didn’t expect was that this person’s slightly arrogant display wasn’t over yet.

He pulled another item from his pocket.

It was red, small, and resembled the kind of blessing charm one might receive at a temple.

“This was also from high school,” Chi Yao said indifferently. “I went to a competition.”

“She was worried about me.”

“…”

Fang Huai thought to himself: That’s enough.

No need to continue.

He fully understood the situation now.

Afterward, the two sat quietly side by side, neither saying a word until Lin Zhexia pushed open the classroom door and entered.

Lin Zhexia: “?”

“What are you doing here?” she said as she approached Chi Yao. “… Don’t you have no classes today?”

Chi Yao had already put the items away, maintaining his indifferent demeanor. “Just passing by. Thought I’d come see you.”

Lin Zhexia: “You call this passing by? Were you taking a stroll in the teaching building?”

“…”

Chi Yao countered: “Does the school have a rule against strolling in the teaching building?”

Lin Zhexia: “Well, no. If you want to do something strange, no one’s stopping you.”

Her tone when talking to Chi Yao was unmistakably intimate. Even though they only exchanged a few words, it was clear that others couldn’t interject.

“We’ll have class soon,” Lin Zhexia finally said. “You should go stroll in another building.”

Chi Yao didn’t plan to stay any longer.

He stood up and made room for Lin Zhexia.

Before leaving, whether intentionally or unintentionally, he lightly pressed his hand on top of her head. “I’m going.”

Lin Zhexia froze for a moment.

After he left, Fang Huai cleared his throat and suddenly announced he was changing seats. “Lin, I’ll move to the side.”

Lin Zhexia: “Huh?”

Before leaving, Fang Huai awkwardly added, “Sorry for disturbing earlier. I didn’t know you had a boyfriend.”

“…”

She had what?

A boyfriend???

“When did I…” Her words trailed off as she thought of the person who had just left.

Was it Chi Yao again?

Lin Zhexia didn’t know where things had gone wrong.

In high school, no matter how close they were, everyone assumed they were just good friends.

But now, within less than a day of starting university, two people already thought he was her boyfriend.

Was it because relationships weren’t allowed in high school?

Or was it because, after turning eighteen and growing up, even the closest friendships could be misunderstood?

With these questions in mind, Lin Zhexia finished her morning classes.

She diligently took notes, packed her textbooks, and carried two books as she followed the flow of students out of the classroom. Still lost in thought about the events during the break, she didn’t notice someone waiting for her by the classroom door.

Until a hand reached out from the side and pulled her out of the crowd. She looked up and saw Chi Yao’s face. “… Why are you still here?”

She was baffled. “Can you seriously stroll around this building for that long?”

Chi Yao: “I was waiting for you.”

He paused subtly after saying this. “… Waiting for you to go eat with He Yang.”

Lin Zhexia: “Oh.”

They had all passed the exam together, and since they were so close now, it made sense to have a meal together.

“Did you talk to him?”

“Yesterday.”

Lin Zhexia, holding her textbooks, followed him downstairs. “Should we eat near Lian University or go to Normal University? Or maybe somewhere outside? My roommate said there are lots of places to eat around the university town…”

Before she finished speaking, Chi Yao, who had already reached the bottom of the stairs ahead of her, stood there with his hands in his pockets, watching her from below.

Outside the stairwell, bright sunlight poured in.

The entire staircase was illuminated.

Just like countless times before, he called her name:

“Lin Zhexia.”

Standing on the steps under his gaze, Lin Zhexia felt a bit nervous. “What?”

Chi Yao usually spoke in either a casual, indifferent tone or an annoyingly cocky one. Rarely did he seem like he wanted to say something but couldn’t quite bring himself to say it.

It was precisely this unusual demeanor that made it impossible for Lin Zhexia to guess what he wanted to say.

So she repeated, “Why did you call me?”

Chi Yao, unusually, averted his eyes and spoke without daring to meet hers. In a cold yet ambiguous tone, he said, “… Stay away from other guys.”