SW - 36

For a moment, the only sound was Tang Yun’s footsteps crunching on the snow.

Tang Yin coughed. Being caught like this was a bit embarrassing… She glanced at Lu Chi, seeing his conflicted expression, and sighed.

When would he ever be so forward again?

Seeing that his sister hadn’t responded, Tang Yun spoke again. “In-Yin, is this your classmate?”

Tang Yin nodded, picking up the bag from the ground. “Yes, the top student in our grade—Lu Chi.”

Tang Yun’s gaze became even more probing.

Lu Chi: “… “

He couldn’t shake the feeling that Tang Yun’s gaze on him was strange.

Tang Yun scrutinized him for a few moments before saying, “It’s late. Thank you for walking my sister home, Lu Chi.”

Before Lu Chi could respond, Tang Yun continued, “… I imagine your family must be worried about you too. It’s better to head back early—it’s not safe out here in the dark.”

His words were unmistakably dismissive.

Tang Yin sidled up to her brother, dissatisfied. “Brother!”

Tang Yun glared at her. He knew there was more to their relationship than met the eye. This boy seemed aloof and cold—but what kind of person was he really?

Tang Yun reached out to ruffle her hair, straightened her clothes, and draped his arm over her shoulder. “It’s so late. Why don’t we have the driver take you home? What do you think, Lu Chi?”

Lu Chi’s gaze shifted to Tang Yun’s hand on her shoulder, his brows furrowing slightly.

After a moment, he replied, “No… thank you.”

With that, he nodded at Tang Yin and turned to walk away.

Tang Yin swatted Tang Yun’s hand away. “You’re being excessive.”

Watching her chase after Lu Chi, Tang Yun muttered under his breath, “Even putting my arm around my own sister is excessive? And I haven’t even confronted him yet.”

Hadn’t she deliberately introduced him as the top student in her grade just to mock his poor grades?

________________________________________

Tang Yin caught up with him. “Lu Chi.”

Lu Chi stopped and turned to face her.

Perhaps because she had run hastily, her eyelashes fluttered fiercely. Her breath formed a cloud of white mist, softening her features into something ethereal.

“Don’t hold it against my brother—he’s an idiot,” Tang Yin said.

Lu Chi couldn’t help but recall Tang Yun’s earlier expression, and hearing her description, he wondered how her brother might react if he heard it.

“No,” he replied simply.

Tang Yin moved closer. “Shall we continue where we left off with the kiss?”

Lu Chi turned his face away but soon returned it, curling his fingers to tap her forehead lightly. “Focus… on your studies.”

Tang Yin: “… “

This bookworm truly had no sense of romance. Every time he interrupted, he retreated back into his shell.

________________________________________

When Tang Yin returned home, Tang Yun’s eyes remained fixed on her.

She was in a bad mood, especially since his timing had been atrocious. “What are you looking at? I’m naturally beautiful—you staring won’t make me look any better.”

“Did that classmate of yours leave?” Tang Yun asked.

“Unless he planned to stay overnight,” Tang Yin retorted.

Just then, Tang Youwei descended the stairs, noticing his daughter’s fiery demeanor. “What did you do to upset her this time? She’s like this right after coming home.”

Tang Yun exclaimed, “I’m innocent! Who upset her? I just got back and saw her with a boy, so I asked who he was—and now she’s glaring at me nonstop.”

“A boy?” Tang Youwei’s gaze swept over Tang Yin. “Who is it? Don’t tell me you’ve started dating?”

“That would’ve been nice,” Tang Yin muttered.

If they were actually dating, things wouldn’t have turned out like this.

“Well, apparently he’s the top student in her grade.”

“Lu Chi?”

“You know him, Dad?”

Tang Youwei rolled his eyes. “How could I not know? She blocked him outside the boys’ restroom.”

“… Impressive, impressive.” Tang Yun turned to her. “Never thought my little sister would pull something like that.”

“I’ll warn you—if anything inappropriate happens, don’t think you can get away with it. I’ve already reminded the principal,” Tang Youwei said sternly.

Tang Yin called out, “Principal Tang.”

Tang Youwei straightened up. “Calling me ‘Dad’ won’t save you.”

Tang Yun grimaced. “… Can Principal Tang wipe that smirk off his face before saying such things?”

Tang Youwei: “… “

I’m your father!

________________________________________

By the time Lu Chi returned home, it was already past nine o’clock.

The house was pitch black. He softly called out and flipped the switch by the entrance, illuminating the living room.

No one was home.

Lu Chi wandered around the house, checking upstairs as well. Still no one. A faint unease crept over him—where had his mother gone?

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Lu Chi hurried to the entrance. Through the peephole, he saw Mrs. Wang, the neighbor’s housekeeper. She had worked next door for over a decade and was familiar with their family, occasionally exchanging greetings.

“Mrs. Wang, do you—”

Before he could finish, Mrs. Wang interrupted him. “Your mother was taken away by an ambulance earlier this evening. Hurry to the hospital—I heard it’s the First Hospital!”

Lu Chi’s pupils contracted. Without waiting to respond, he grabbed his phone and rushed out the door.

As soon as he unlocked his phone, he saw several missed calls.

Outside the gate, Mrs. Wang was still waiting. Seeing him, she added, “I went out to buy groceries this evening and saw a man and a woman leaving your house. Not long after, the ambulance arrived.”

A man and a woman?

The faces of Lu Yueming and that woman flashed through Lu Chi’s mind, his expression darkening. He waved at Mrs. Wang and dashed out.

Mrs. Wang sighed where she stood.

What kind of situation was this? The household had fallen into such disarray—his father was always away, his mother frequently hospitalized. Even she felt exhausted just looking at it.

Poor Lu Chi, such a good child caught in all this mess.

Lu Chi got out of the car, panting as he rushed up the stairs.

Pushing open the hospital room door, the first thing he saw was Wang Ziyan’s pale face, staring blankly at the IV drip.

Seeing him enter, some of Wang Ziyan’s unease dissipated.

Now, her only ally was her son. She thought back to how she used to have her parents’ support, but now, she had nothing.

Lu Chi adjusted her pillow and blanket behind her, his gaze landing on a small wound on her face. His brows furrowed, a thousand words on the tip of his tongue, yet he remained silent.

Wang Ziyan suddenly spoke, “Chi Chi, do you think I’ve done something wrong?”

Lu Chi’s lips moved, but he didn’t know how to respond.

Wang Ziyan turned her head back to the IV drip. The slow-moving medicine flowed through the tube into her body, eventually disappearing.

Her thoughts drifted to what had happened earlier that afternoon.

Qiu Hua had used Chi Chi as leverage, and in a fit of anger, they had fought. With Lu Yueming siding with Qiu Hua, naturally, she had come out worse. It was like an old wound reopening.

She had never mentioned it, but back then, the amount of alcohol she had forced him to drink wasn’t excessive. Wasn’t it his own desires that drove him to her bed?

Qiu Hua hadn’t known, and Lu Yueming had manipulated her like a puppet.

Lu Chi’s voice broke through her thoughts: “Divorce?”

This question seemed to have been asked countless times before, each time consisting of only a few words.

A myriad of thoughts raced through Wang Ziyan’s mind as she met Lu Chi’s eyes—eyes that were inherited from Lu Yueming.

After a long while, she finally spoke, “… Wait until winter break, then we’ll divorce.”

She didn’t want to sign the divorce agreement. Perhaps a court battle would make her feel better.

The room fell silent. Wang Ziyan looked at her son again. Her usually cold and distant eyes seemed to soften slightly, tinged with a faint smile.

Due to the cold weather, the school’s return date was postponed until Monday.

Lu Chi stayed by his mother’s side all night in the hospital room. The next day, he returned directly to school.

As the weather grew colder, most students had donned their down jackets upon returning to school. Only a few still prioritized style over warmth.

The formation of the Zero Class had begun, and the top thirty students from the school were moving into it.

A crowd from Class Fourteen surrounded Tang Yin, chattering excitedly.

Yu Chun chimed in, “Sis Yin, if you leave, no one will explain problems to me anymore.”

Tang Yin shot him a glance. “You mean there’ll be no homework to copy, right?”

Yu Chun shifted uncomfortably, raising a delicate finger. “Oh, Sis Yin, don’t burst my bubble.”

“Ugh, I can’t take it!” Several boys nearby couldn’t hold back any longer, dragging him out and pummeling him.

“As the saying goes, ‘Those close to water get the moonlight first,’” Su Kexi said, sucking on a lollipop. “I heard the Zero Class allows free seating. You must grab the seat next to Lu Chi. Who knows if Zhao Ruyin will cause trouble.”

Though she didn’t know the details of what had happened, she occasionally picked up on hints.

With that, she leaned closer to Tang Yin. “Boss, good luck.”

“Move aside.” Tang Yin pushed her away disdainfully. “Your face is rubbing against mine.”

“Go away! I have a small face.” Su Kexi swung her palm. “If you do this again, we’re done!”

Tang Yin focused on packing her books.

The newly established Zero Class was located on the fifth floor, adjacent to the repeater class. Their desks and chairs were directly moved there to save time.

After a moment, Su Kexi returned from outside, holding two cups of water.

“Here, honey water,” she handed one over. “A beauty-enhancing elixir. Starting today, I’m drinking it every day to blind Lu Yu with my brilliance.”

Tang Yin: “… You’ve already blinded him.”

“Tang Yin, your words are getting sharper. Be careful that Lu Chi doesn’t see your true colors and stop liking you,” Su Kexi wailed dramatically.

Ignoring her, Tang Yin took the honey water. The overly sweet taste of the first sip nearly made her spit it out.

Is honey water always like this? Did Su Kexi add pounds of honey?

Watching Su Kexi finish hers in seconds, Tang Yin became suspicious. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to drink it all—it wasn’t much, thankfully.

The sickly sweet taste filled her mouth.

Tang Yin felt she might never experience anything sweeter in her life.

A large shadow fell across the window. Tang Yin pulled it open to find Lu Chi standing outside.

He was wearing his glasses again, his reserved demeanor set against the empty, snow-covered background, exquisite like an elegant painting.

She asked, “Why are you here?”

Lu Chi’s gaze dropped downward.

Following his line of sight, Tang Yin suddenly understood. “You’re helping me move my desk?”

Lu Chi nodded, his thin lips pressed together, exuding an air of restrained elegance akin to a noble vampire.

“All right,” Tang Yin smiled, squinting slightly.

Lu Chi’s gaze swept over the surrounding crowd. The boys quickly stepped aside, watching silently.

The back door of Class Fourteen was open, and Lu Chi walked straight in.

The heavy stacks of books and reference materials had already been packed to the side. Moving the desk and chair was relatively easy. Lu Chi picked them up and exited the classroom.

Tang Yin followed, carrying a stack of books.

The students of Class Fourteen crowded around the windows, several heads squeezed into the small space, watching the two walking side by side outside.

“Am I seeing things?”

“… When did this happen?”

“The legendary untouchable flower has been plucked?”

In the classroom, a boy sat behind them, secretly pulling out his phone. “I told you guys last time I saw the two of them shopping together, but none of you believed me.”

He had personally witnessed Lu Chi and Yin Jie playing the claw machine.

And who would have thought Lu Chi was so skilled at it! He had seen the look of admiration in Yin Jie’s eyes… Being good at studies was one thing, but excelling at this too? What chance did ordinary people have…

Several heads whipped around, their gazes locking onto his phone. Seconds later, the phone was in their hands.

The photo album was a mess, but the most recent picture was zoomed in.

It showed Tang Yin and Lu Chi standing in front of the claw machine.

The crowd interrogated, “Why is there only one picture?”

“Oh, I was afraid Yin Jie would catch me. I snapped one and ran…”

… What use are you!

While climbing the stairs, both slowed their pace.

Tang Yin carried a stack of books, while Lu Chi carried the desk and chair. Neither found it easy, and neither spoke, enveloped in silence.

“Look at us,” Tang Yin said. “Do we look like the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl?”

Lu Chi: “… “

Whether they resembled the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, he didn’t know, but they certainly looked like two laborers.

When they reached the fifth floor, Tang Yin suddenly spoke, “Last night… My dad had high praise for you.”

“Principal Tang?” Lu Chi hesitated.

“If he heard you calling him that, he’d be thrilled,” Tang Yin smirked.

Lu Chi thought back to the image of Principal Tang he had seen before—plump and stern-looking—but it seemed different from the way Tang Yin described him.

His impression of Tang Yin’s father came mostly from major school ceremonies. Most of the time, he couldn’t even see him during flag-raising ceremonies since he stood at the very back.

The only close encounter was during the transfer process. Principal Tang had been smiling then, similar to other principals.

He didn’t seem the type for vanity… No wonder he had such a lively daughter…

“My dad is so vain,” Tang Yin, unaware of his thoughts, revealed. “Whenever he’s angry, if my mom calls him ‘Principal Tang,’ he bursts into laughter immediately.”

Lu Chi knew this vanity wasn’t the same as others’. Unconsciously, a faint, beautiful smile appeared on his lips.

Tang Yin, sharp-eyed, noticed. “You should smile more often. You look good when you smile.”

But Lu Chi’s smile disappeared quickly.

She thought for a moment, then grinned widely, revealing a set of small, delicate white teeth. She tapped them lightly with her nails. “I drank honey water today. It was so sweet it made my teeth sticky.”

Lu Chi stared at her porcelain-white teeth, puzzled.

What did these two things have to do with each other?

Tang Yin added, “Your smile… is sweeter than the honey water I drank today.”