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Psst! We're moving!
The gasps behind her grew louder and louder, and for some reason, Lin Zhan found herself getting excited along with them.
Her heart pounded fiercely in her chest.
One surprise after another unfolded around her.
Hope’s Light wasn’t just Shen Xi—he was only one classroom away from her.
And today, the person she admired truly was Chonggao’s Hope’s Light.
He was about to save the day by introducing the art museum without any preparation.
It was like opening a treasure chest.
You stop because of the chest’s dazzling exterior, your heart trembling with fear that it might be empty—but then you discover it contains a rare treasure, shimmering brilliantly.
The stark contrast delivered an unprecedented sense of surprise to Lin Zhan.
Lin Zhan tugged on Zheng Yi Mian’s arm, blinked, and whispered loudly yet proudly, “Shen Xi is Hope’s Light!”
“I know,” Zheng Yi Mian said, rubbing her wrist where Lin Zhan had gripped it too tightly.
Lin Zhan: “If you knew, why didn’t you tell me?”
Zheng Yi Mian: “…”
“Lin Zhan,” Sun Hong tried to calm her down, “Can we use our brains here? It’s obvious Zheng Yi Mian only just found out. Look at your reaction—it’s easy to guess.”
Lin Zhan: “…”
Sun Hong: “Didn’t I tell you to check out Shen Xi? But no, you refused. Who was it just now who said Shen Xi had nothing to do with her?”
Lin Zhan immediately denied it: “It definitely wasn’t me.”
Sun Hong chuckled mischievously: “Your reaction just now perfectly illustrated the saying—saying no with your mouth but being honest with your body.”
///
“Got it? The principal gave me these key points, and the rest is up to you. No problem, right, Shen Xi?”
Shen Xi was reading the key points on the note while Zhang Ze, standing behind him, grinned and answered for him.
“Don’t worry, he often goes to the art museum. Explaining is a piece of cake for him.”
After finishing reading the note, Shen Xi tucked it away and nodded.
“No problem. Shall we go now?”
The buzz-cut boy hurriedly said, “You’re ready already? Great, let’s head over early and wait.”
Behind him, the girls blushed, and the bolder ones spoke up first: “Good luck, Shen Xi!”
More cheers followed.
They took pride in supporting him.
Zhang Ze curled his fingers, rubbed his nose with his knuckles, patted Shen Xi’s shoulder, and leaned close to whisper in his ear: “Good luck, Shen Xi.”
Shen Xi glanced sideways: “...Get lost.”
“Alright, I’ll leave you here,” Zhang Ze said, patting his shoulder again. “I’m heading back to class.”
Shen Xi nodded in acknowledgment: “Make sure no one leaves random stuff for me.”
Zhang Ze: “I’ll try.”
How could he, a guy, stop those crazy girls?
The buzz-cut boy sighed.
...Sigh, when will I ever be as popular as Shen Xi?
Shen Xi walked forward, pocketed the note, and silently memorized the key points. When he looked up, he saw the sign for Class Three, Grade Two.
He remembered the stalker from earlier.
When their eyes met, there was a hint of surprise, followed by a spark of recognition. That mischievous glint faded from her eyes, leaving behind seven parts bewilderment.
It was kind of amusing.
///
The crowd parted slightly, creating a small gap.
Shen Xi, dressed in his school uniform, emerged through the opening.
Lin Zhan quickly lowered her head and tugged on Zheng Yi Mian’s sleeve: “Shen Xi’s coming out… Shen Xi’s coming out…”
Zheng Yi Mian raised her head in surprise, exchanging glances with Sun Hong.
Zheng Yi Mian: What’s she doing?
Sun Hong: Not sure, maybe acting shy?
Zheng Yi Mian: Shy? Are you sure Lin Zhan knows how to be shy?
Sun Hong: Scary, could this be the legendary moe gap?
Zheng Yi Mian shook her head as she watched Lin Zhan, who almost never blushed, turn red from her ears all the way to her cheeks.
Lin Zhan kept her head down, her entire face flushed as if steaming.
After Shen Xi passed, Zheng Yi Mian patted her cheek: “Let’s go.”
Sun Hong turned to Lin Zhan, his tone incredulous: “Not to say anything… but what’s going on with you?”
Lin Zhan raised her hand to rub her cheek: “I don’t know. I feel like something’s off with me today.”
There was an instinct driving her—an instinct to go to him—but his sudden proximity left her so flustered she didn’t know what to do.
It was far beyond her control.
Like a moth drawn to a flame, but instinctively retreating the moment it touched the scorching fire.
///
Class Three finished lining up and set off for the art museum with Huang Chen.
On the way, Lin Zhan didn’t mention anything, but Sun Hong, who understood her, asked Huang Chen: “Teacher, isn’t someone from our school giving a presentation at the museum today?”
Huang Chen: “I think so, Li Cheng, right?”
“The plan changed,” the class monitor said. “It’s Shen Xi now.”
“Shen Xi?” Huang Chen said. “This kid is great—good grades, polite, and strong communication skills.”
A sweet feeling welled up in Lin Zhan’s heart, and she felt a small sense of pride.
Right, this is the person I’ve set my sights on.
Sun Hong: “Can we go listen to the presentation?”
Huang Chen: “If you find it, sure, but I’m not sure which floor they’re on. When you find them, don’t make noise, keep it down.”
Sun Hong: “Got it, teacher.”
The group soon arrived at the museum, and Huang Chen dismissed everyone on the first floor.
“Don’t make noise, and meet back here in an hour and a half. Alright, free time.”
///
For Lin Zhan, free time wasn’t just about admiring paintings.
The museum lighting was dim, and each exhibition hall had a clear theme. Most of the artists’ works were familiar to Lin Zhan.
Seeing those paintings leap out of the screen, meticulously framed and presented before her, amplified the sense of awe.
But her mind was occupied with more than just that.
As she stared at the artwork, she heard Sun Hong ask: “Lin Zhan, I think this painting’s level of abstraction is similar to mine. Does that mean I have the potential to become a master?”
Experts see the details; amateurs enjoy the spectacle.
Sun Hong had been forced by his family to study art and had little appreciation for it.
Zheng Yi Mian: “Their abstraction has concrete content. It may look inaccurate, but the key elements—the pelvis, the forms—are well-executed.”
Sun Hong pointed to a life drawing on the wall: “Forget it, I’m better off looking at this kind of thing.”
Lin Zhan: “...Whatever makes you happy.”
After browsing the first-floor exhibition halls, the group headed upstairs. Lin Zhan chatted casually with Zheng Yi Mian.
“Do you think Shen Xi will be upstairs?”
“Who knows,” Zheng Yi Mian said. “Besides, he just passed by you earlier. Forget it, I won’t say anything more—I understand.”
Lin Zhan was like this—you stay still, she moves; you remain quiet, she teases; you speak, she flirts.
But the moment you respond, her confidence crumbles, and she retreats sheepishly to her original position.
In other words—she dared to tease but couldn’t handle the consequences.
A paper tiger, all bark and no bite.
Lin Zhan coughed lightly: “That wasn’t part of my plan… You know, whenever something unexpected happens, I get flustered…”
“So, I made a decision just now.”
Zheng Yi Mian looked at her solemn expression and asked: “What decision?”
Lin Zhan: “To let Shen Xi surprise me more often and train my mental fortitude.”
Zheng Yi Mian: “...”
Sun Hong misunderstood, awkwardly saying: “Let Shen Xi surprise you? That kind of surprise… doesn’t seem appropriate.”
Lin Zhan: “Anyone who thinks dirty can go jump off a cliff.”
Sun Hong looked aggrieved: “Qi Lijie’s not here, so you guys bully me.”
Qi Lijie was close friends with Sun Hong, but he’d been dealing with family matters and couldn’t come to school recently, so Sun Hong hung out with Lin Zhan and the others.
“You should be glad he’s not here,” Zheng Yi Mian teased. “If he were, it’d be both Lin Zhan and him ganging up on you.”
Sun Hong: “...Still laughing. The elevator’s here.”
///
They stepped out of the elevator laughing and chatting, arriving at the second-to-last exhibition hall on the third floor. Lin Zhan spotted the camera.
She whispered: “It’s probably in here. Let’s go take a look.”
They crept in like thieves.
She wanted him to see her, but she also feared he’d see her too soon.
Inside the spacious exhibition hall, a clear male voice was giving a presentation.
His voice matched his demeanor—Shen Xi’s tone was like a spring hidden in a mountain ravine, gentle and refreshing. Unaffected by the harsh sun, each word fell like pearls onto a jade plate, ringing out melodiously.
His diction was crisp, carrying a distant coldness.
Yet it was surprisingly pleasant to listen to.
Lin Zhan pulled Zheng Yi Mian closer to hear more clearly.
“Oil painter Zheng Yun is a leading figure in contemporary Chinese hyperrealism. His greatest characteristic is extreme realism. Take this bamboo basket, for instance—even the frayed edges are meticulously painted. His works are incredibly detailed, almost indistinguishable from photographs…”
Lin Zhan only caught a snippet of this. Then, steadying herself against the wall, she tiptoed to catch a glimpse of the man standing in front of the painting.
He exuded the composure of someone accustomed to grand occasions and a clear mastery of his abilities.
This aura was fatally attractive to Lin Zhan.
She focused on the hand pointing at the frame.
The lighting bathed his fingers in a flowing glow, and the light reflected off the transparent frame danced brightly at his fingertips.
Even the curve of his protruding ulna was strikingly beautiful.
After finishing his explanation, Shen Xi invited everyone to quietly appreciate the artwork. As he lowered his hand, he felt a piercing gaze.
He locked eyes with those shimmering pupils.
The amber-colored irises of the girl sparkled with highlights, like countless stars crushed and scattered across her eyes.
Soon, those eyes disappeared into the throng of people.
He felt a fleeting sense of loss and furrowed his brow slightly.
///
Lin Zhan clutched her chest, bowing over as if narrowly escaping danger, panting heavily.
That was close—I almost got seen.
Zheng Yi Mian teased her: “What, love at first sight?”
“Not love at first sight,” Lin Zhan said, calming her nerves, her voice tinged with melancholy but also a faint smile. “It’s every sight that makes me fall deeper.”
///
They didn’t browse for long before Huang Chen’s designated meeting time arrived.
Reluctantly, Lin Zhan waved goodbye to Shen Xi, glancing back three times with every step she took.
No matter, she had the advantage of proximity. From now on, she could see Shen Xi every day.
She wasn’t worried about not having enough chances to look at him.
She wasn’t worried about not… eventually winning him over.
A small plan began to take shape in her mind.
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