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He’s not aloof at all,
He just doesn’t talk much.
——From Su Zaizai’s Little Fairy Diary
On Tuesday afternoon, Su Zaizai went to the reading room as usual.
To her surprise, she didn’t run into Zhang Lurang.
Su Zaizai panicked.
Had he gotten upset?
She hadn’t said anything particularly offensive—just mentioned, in front of him, that he had only gotten three cloze test questions right…
Maybe top students had stronger egos…
But then she remembered how he had retaliated by calling her an idiot after she called him one. That showed he could be a bit petty.
Still, she couldn’t just ask him why he wasn’t going to the reading room anymore—that would make her intentions too obvious!
If she wanted to win him over, she couldn’t come up with an excuse to do so either.
No matter what…
…she might as well try to probe a little.
After the morning exercises on Wednesday, she immediately ran back to the classroom, grabbed her water bottle, and rushed to the third floor.
Over time, she had figured out Zhang Lurang’s daily routine.
It was as regular as clockwork.
First and third periods after class: bathroom. Second period after class: refill water. First period in the afternoon: fill his water bottle. Second period in the afternoon: bathroom. After school: go to the cafeteria to eat, then head back to the dorm to shower. Afterward, return to the classroom to grab his books and head to the reading room to study. First break during evening study: refill water. Second break: bathroom.
Sure enough, as soon as she reached the third floor, she saw Zhang Lurang walking out of the classroom with his water bottle.
Su Zaizai quickly followed behind him and lined up.
After some internal struggle, she finally gritted her teeth and called out: “Zhang Lurang.”
Zhang Lurang ignored her, not even turning his head.
Su Zaizai grew anxious, scratching her head and ears, unsure of what to say.
In her panic, the words slipped out before she could think: “Oh yeah, have you been memorizing English vocabulary?”
The person in front of her fell even more silent.
Su Zaizai immediately realized her mistake.
No! That wasn’t what she meant to say!
She absolutely didn’t mean to humiliate him again…
Wait, she had never intended to humiliate him in the first place!
While she was still trying to figure out how to salvage the situation, the person in front finished filling his water bottle.
Zhang Lurang turned his head slightly and gave a muffled response: “…Mhm.”
At that moment, the taut string in her mind snapped, fireworks exploded in her brain, scattering dazzling sparks that left her dizzy and disoriented.
Su Zaizai stood frozen for a long while.
Only when someone behind her impatiently urged her did she snap back to reality.
She apologized hastily and, without even filling her own water bottle, walked back in a daze.
Just now… had the handsome man admitted that he was memorizing vocabulary?
Had he started because of what she said…?
It probably wasn’t her imagination, right…?
Oh my god.
Su Zaizai stopped in her tracks, steadying herself against the wall as she regulated her breathing.
She was so excited she felt like she might explode.
________________________________________
After school that afternoon, Su Zaizai eagerly rushed to the reading room.
Still no sign of Zhang Lurang.
She began to feel confused—she couldn’t understand the handsome man’s thoughts at all.
…So why wasn’t he coming?!
Hadn’t he already shown some goodwill toward her earlier today?!
She needed to find out, or she wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight.
Su Zaizai forced herself to come up with a reason to see him.
After the last evening study session, she headed straight to the advanced class.
At this hour, there were still over ten students studying in the classroom. Su Zaizai waited outside for a while.
More than ten minutes later, only Zhang Lurang remained in the classroom.
Su Zaizai took a deep breath and walked in.
After hesitating briefly, she sat down in the seat in front of him and turned to look at him.
Hearing the sound, Zhang Lurang instinctively raised his head.
He clearly hadn’t expected it to be her. He froze for a moment, looking somewhat adorable in his bewilderment.
Soon, however, he reverted to his usual aloof and indifferent demeanor.
“Uh, it’s so hot—I came in to cool off in the air conditioning,” Su Zaizai said awkwardly, her excuse as transparent as daylight.
Zhang Lurang: “…”
The classroom instantly returned to silence.
After a while, Su Zaizai, feigning nonchalance as if she were just casually asking, opened her mouth: “By the way, why didn’t you go to the reading room today?”
“Rehearsing for the program.” He didn’t even raise his eyes, replying indifferently.
Oh.
Su Zaizai let out a sigh of relief.
Glancing at the workbook on his desk, Su Zaizai blinked and said: “You’re doing English? Let me teach you.”
“No need.” He closed the workbook and set it aside.
As if she had anticipated this response, Su Zaizai quickly pulled out her physics workbook, flipped to a page, and pointed at a problem: “Then explain this one to me.”
Zhang Lurang raised his eyes, instinctively touching the back of his neck, and softly replied: “I don’t know how.”
“You don’t know? If you don’t ask, how will you ever learn?” Su Zaizai scolded him with a furrowed brow, then immediately switched gears: “Let me explain it to you.”
“…”
He had truly never met anyone with thicker skin than her.
Su Zaizai pulled out a pen and a sheet of scratch paper, beginning her halting explanation: “Uh, since this question says uniform motion, then… uh… so the average speed…”
Zhang Lurang couldn’t endure listening to her for long.
Riddled with errors, nonsensical, and completely clueless about physics—this was unbearable.
Lips pressed tightly together, he picked up the pen and directly wrote out a concise solution process on her scratch paper.
Su Zaizai picked it up and examined it. Though he had written very little, it was simple and clear, and after a brief moment of thought, she understood it.
Su Zaizai put on an expression of gratitude: “I get it now! Thank you!”
Zhang Lurang nodded but said nothing.
“I’ll teach you English to repay you.”
“…No need.”
“Then how about I repay you in another way?”
“…” Zhang Lurang paused in silence before saying, “Go ahead.”
Su Zaizai’s eyes crinkled happily as she flipped to the page he had been working on earlier: “This question?”
“Mhm.” He responded dismissively.
After receiving his answer, Su Zaizai glanced at the question and began explaining fluently: “In this question, because ‘not only’ is at the beginning of the sentence, the sentence requires partial inversion. Therefore, we can eliminate options A and B…”
After finishing, seeing no reaction from him, Su Zaizai asked curiously: “Hey, did you understand this question?”
“Mhm.” He continued his perfunctory response.
“Then explain it back to me.”
“…”
“You don’t understand?” Su Zaizai tilted her head and continued: “Then I’ll explain it again.”
“…”
“Because ‘not only’ is at the beginning of the sentence, the sentence requires partial inversion. Do you know what inversion means? Blah blah blah… Do you understand this time?”
“…Mhm.”
“Then explain it back to me.”
“…”
“Still don’t understand? Then I’ll explain it again.”
Unable to bear it any longer, Zhang Lurang finally relented, opening his mouth reluctantly: “Because ‘not only’ is at the beginning of the sentence, the sentence requires partial inversion. Additionally, based on the word ‘went,’ we know it’s in the past tense, so the answer is D.”
Su Zaizai clapped excitedly, grinning: “Did I explain it well or what? Simple, clear, easy to understand.”
“…” He really didn’t want to talk to her anymore.
“Don’t think my grades are bad,” Su Zaizai shamelessly defended herself upon seeing his reaction. “I’m only bad at physics, chemistry, and math. My scores in politics, history, and geography add up to over 250!”
Zhang Lurang rarely spoke up to counter her: “I’m only bad at English.”
“…Oh.” Su Zaizai still wasn’t willing to give up and pressed further: “Then how many points did you get in politics, history, and geography combined on your last monthly exam?”
Seeing that he had no intention of answering, Su Zaizai glanced at the bulletin board and walked over to look at the score sheet.
Her eyes widened, shining like stars: “Lurang, you’re amazing! Aside from English, you’re completely balanced in all subjects!”
Zhang Lurang paused for a moment, then asked: “What did you call me?”
Su Zaizai: “…Ah, Zhang Lurang.”
Zhang Lurang stared at her for a while, then silently began packing up his things.
Su Zaizai also placed her physics workbook back into her bag and casually asked: “So, are you planning to choose arts or sciences?”
Zhang Lurang’s goal was clear: “Sciences.”
Su Zaizai: “….”
Sciences, huh.
She didn’t dwell on it for long and continued asking: “By the way, what event are you participating in tomorrow?”
“One hundred meters.”
“Should I bring you water?”
This made Zhang Lurang raise his eyes slightly, his brows lifting faintly as if he found it amusing: “I might be racing against someone from your class.”
Su Zaizai thought about it and realized it wouldn’t be appropriate: “That’s true. Then I won’t bring water.”
“Mhm.” He lazily stuffed his books into his bag and gave a casual reply.
“How about I secretly bring it to you?”
“No need.”
“Then I’ll do it openly.” Su Zaizai grinned mischievously.
“…”
Zhang Lurang stood up and began closing the windows that hadn’t been shut in the classroom.
“Are you leaving? Let’s go together.”
“…”
Along the way, Zhang Lurang remained silent.
Su Zaizai chattered away beside him.
Gradually, Zhang Lurang quickened his pace.
Soon, they reached the girls’ dormitory area.
Zhang Lurang let out a breath of relief and continued walking forward, his steps noticeably slowing down.
Su Zaizai stood rooted in place and called out to him: “Zhang Lurang.”
He stopped and turned around to look at her.
Silver moonlight spilled down, casting swaying shadows of the trees.
Behind Su Zaizai was the bright light of the lamp. Backlit, half of her face was covered in shadow.
But her eyes shone even brighter against the darkness.
She smiled, her eyes curving like crescent moons in the sky, sparkling and translucent.
“Good luck in tomorrow’s race,” she said.
Zhang Lurang lowered his eyelids, as if contemplating something.
After a moment, he lifted his gaze.
His eyes were clear, and from his throat came a calm, composed question.
“Do you like me?”
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