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Lin Zhan felt like she was about to suffocate.
Though she wasn’t usually one to be afraid, the atmosphere was just too perfectly set—every little detail made it seem like someone was about to explode, searching for a scapegoat to vent their anger.
Lin Zhan suspected she might be that unlucky scapegoat.
Shen Xi was standing right beside her. Was he really going to publicly interrogate her in front of the entire Chonggao High faculty and student body, asking, ”Lin Zhan, what is that on your ankle?”
Guilt made her nervous. She had broken school rules, and the enforcer just happened to be the person she liked.
So, with great unease, she subtly twisted her ankle and tried to tuck it back slightly.
It was an instinctive attempt to hide.
Shen Xi first glanced at Lin Zhan, then swept his gaze over the rest of the class before speaking in an utterly casual tone:
“Class 3-2—ten points.”
His words were crisp, slightly low in pitch.
Lin Zhan: …Huh???
What the hell??
Stunned, she looked up and met Shen Xi’s indifferent gaze—just for a second—before he turned away and headed toward Class 2.
Left standing there in a daze, Lin Zhan felt like she’d been sucked into a whirlpool, sinking inch by inch with no way out.
Wasn’t this just blatant lying with his eyes wide open?
She looked down at her ankle again.
Behind her, Zhang Ze burst into laughter, breaking the oppressive tension on the field.
A council member asked, “What did the chairman just say?”
Zhang Ze said solemnly, “Ten points. Did you hear that?”
The member: “Yeah, ten points. That’s correct, right? Shouldn’t it be full marks?”
Zhang Ze: “…Never mind. Pretend I’m just laughing for no reason.”
Once the inspection was finally over, the ruthless enforcers retreated to the student council office.
Zhang Ze kept his head down, shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter.
Shen Xi shot him a look. “What’s so funny?”
Zhang Ze immediately straightened his face into seriousness.
Another member chimed in, “Yeah, I’ve been wondering—you started laughing at Class 3-2 and never stopped. What, is there something special about them?”
Zhang Ze’s tone was loaded with meaning. “Not for me.”
Shen Xi tapped the record book, offering what could barely pass as an explanation: “One person wearing an accessory can be overlooked. The other classes exceeded the limit.”
Zhang Ze nodded sagely. “I know. For just one person, it’s optional whether to deduct points.”
But you chose not to.
________________________________________
During the break after third period, Shen Xi was writing when someone suddenly called his name.
“Shen Xi, someone’s looking for you.”
A girl with delicate features and a faint beauty mark under her eye stood at the classroom door, waving at him.
Shen Xi felt a strange sensation in his chest, like someone had cracked open a soda—fizz bubbling up his throat, expanding.
Lin Zhan stood at the doorway, holding a small box.
Steadying himself, Shen Xi walked over.
“What is it?”
Lin Zhan shook the pink box in her hand and said softly, “A thank-you gift.”
Shen Xi’s gaze fell on the overly girly packaging. “…For what?”
Lin Zhan playfully clasped her hands together in mock gratitude. “For saving me from two hours of lecturing by my homeroom teacher—and possibly my dad finding out.”
Shen Xi frowned. “The points were—”
“I know,” Lin Zhan cut in with a knowing smile, then shoved the box into his hand. “Make sure to eat it, okay? I’ll head back now.”
What does she know…
Shen Xi looked down at the little box in his hand, tied with a ribbon.
Some of his classmates started teasing.
His deskmate elbowed the loudest one. “You wanna die? You’re daring to tease Shen Xi?”
Zhang Ze, passing by, smirked. “It’s fine. This is the one person you can tease about.”
Shen Xi returned to his seat, mentally preparing himself before opening the box.
Inside was a macaron.
A light pink, perfectly shaped macaron.
Tucked neatly on top was a small card.
“Today’s girly heart is pink—Lin Zhan.”
Zhang Ze, back at his seat, tried to peek at the card, but Shen Xi swiftly flipped it face-down on the desk.
Zhang Ze pouted. “…I want a macaron too.”
Shen Xi said coolly, “Buy your own.”
Zhang Ze pointed an accusing finger. “You’ve changed. You weren’t like this before. You used to let me eat anything girls gave you!”
Shen Xi: “Lin Zhan is a guy.”
Zhang Ze: …Has it really come to this? Denying her gender just to protect your snacks?
________________________________________
The next day, Lin Zhan bought another macaron but got stuck on the signature.
She asked Zheng Yimian, “What should I write this time?”
Zheng Yimian, scrolling through Weibo, came across a post about Xu Zhimo’s quirky sign-offs and handed her phone over. “Look at Xu Zhimo’s signatures—they’re so cute. Why not use one of these?”
Lin Zhan snapped her fingers. “Perfect.”
Perhaps it was the chain of recent events that made Lin Zhan realize—could her relationship with Shen Xi be progressing?
The macarons were both thanks and a test.
She wanted to see how far she could push before Shen Xi got annoyed.
The next day, Shen Xi found another small box—this time light blue—waiting for him in class.
The card inside had a new signature:
—Zhanzhan.
On the third day, the fourth day… the signatures grew increasingly… affectionate?
Day 3: —Your Zhan.
Day 4: —Your adorable Zhan.
Day 5: —Your soft and sweet Zhan.
Day 6: —Your precious Zhan.
…
On the seventh day, just before delivering the gift, Lin Zhan saw Shen Xi talking to a girl at the classroom door.
Immediately, she revised the card and presented a mint-green macaron.
When Shen Xi opened it, the card read:
Feeling a bit green today—Your most beloved Zhan.
Shen Xi flattened the card and tucked it between the pages of his book.
________________________________________
As soon as he got home, Ye Qian called out to him, “Go rest for a bit. Dinner’s almost ready. Oh, and you’re starting evening self-study soon, right? Second semester of sophomore year?”
Shen Xi took off his shoes, washed his hands, then answered, “Yeah. Saturday classes are starting too.”
Ye Qian repeated her usual reminders: “Your workload’s only going to get heavier. Make sure to take breaks.”
Shen Xi nodded. “I will. I’m going to my room.”
Inside, he opened his book and carefully retrieved the card.
After a moment’s thought, he placed it in his drawer.
In the corner, seven little cards were stacked neatly, edges perfectly aligned.
Earlier, Zhang Ze had asked him, “Do you actually like Lin Zhan a little?”
Recalling the inexplicable distraction he felt during her performance, the liveliness in her eyes—
Shen Xi shook his head.
He didn’t know himself.
For the first time, he began questioning—was he really… starting to develop feelings?
His phone buzzed with a message from Lin Zhan: [Home yet?]
Looking at the familiar name, Shen Xi paused before typing: [Yeah.]
Lin Zhan: [You might not see me for a few days. Don’t miss me too much.]
Shen Xi: [Where are you going?]
Lin Zhan: [Another competition.]
She added a crying emoji.
Shen Xi: [I heard you can’t sleep before competitions?]
Lin Zhan: [Yeah. It’s in two days, and I’m already feeling it.]
Shen Xi: [Did the things I sent you before not help?]
Lin Zhan: [A little. The sleep mask helps too… but not much.]
He asked: [Where’s the competition?]
Lin Zhan: [Pretty far—City C.]
Not wanting to dwell on the competition, she changed the subject: [Did you like today’s macaron?]
The moment she mentioned it, Shen Xi remembered the outrageous signature.
Zhang Ze had laughed about it for an entire class period.
Shen Xi: [What was with the signature on the card?]
Lin Zhan: …
So he had noticed.
Lin Zhan: [I didn’t think you’d see the card, haha.]
To save herself, she quickly dug up the Weibo post about Xu Zhimo’s sign-offs and sent them to Shen Xi.
[Pic][Pic][Pic][Pic]
[The signature wasn’t my idea—it was Xu Zhimo’s! Don’t blame me!]
Shen Xi opened the images and found a collection of Xu Zhimo’s flamboyant sign-offs:
Your husband, Mo.
Your dear Mo.
Your “foolish husband” Mo.
Mo Mo.
Mo Mo kisses you.
Mo’s kiss.
Mo Mo’s loving kiss.
Mo’s passionate kiss.
Your most beloved Mo Mo.
Shen Xi: …
Lin Zhan: [See? I was way more reserved than him. There were so many I didn’t even use…]
Like Your dear Zhan, Zhan’s kiss, Zhan’s passionate kiss…
Though she had the guts to think about it, she’d never actually dare to write those.
Lin Zhan indulged in a little fantasy, just for herself.
When Shen Xi didn’t reply for a while, she went to sketch for a bit. By the time she finished, she finally saw his message.
[Hm.]
She waited twenty minutes… for a single ”Hm”???
She thought he might say something surprising or sweet…
Lin Zhan: [Weren’t you supposed to praise me?]
The message flew into Shen Xi’s inbox.
As eager as her heart.
Shen Xi read it, then, after a pause, tapped his reply.
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