Chapter 5

Returning to the classroom, Chen Xi was dazed and distracted, unable to focus even during her favorite history lesson.

Her deskmate, curious about the man at the school gate and his relationship with Chen Xi, tried several times to probe for information. But Chen Xi looked so lost and absent-minded that no details could be coaxed out.

After history class ended, the teacher called Chen Xi to the office. The first words were, “You weren’t paying attention during class.”

“As the class representative, you should set an example.”

Chen Xi’s cheeks flushed suddenly, and she lowered her head, too embarrassed to speak.

The history teacher, seeing how much he had always favored Chen Xi as class representative, couldn’t bring himself to reprimand her harshly. Instead, he just told her to take the homework to be distributed.

Feeling relieved, Chen Xi carried the homework and passed by the science class corridor, where a group of boys were chatting idly. One of them deliberately nudged another and loudly shouted, “He Xu, your crush!”

The boy called He Xu was momentarily stunned, then looked back in the direction his deskmate pointed, only to see a slender, fragile figure.

Her deskmate teased He Xu for his dazed look, “Don’t you know how to cherish the goddess? Didn’t you see she’s carrying a whole stack of homework? Why aren’t you helping her?”

At first, Chen Xi didn’t mind the teasing from the science class boys. But as she was about to reach the back door of the science classroom, she heard someone call He Xu’s name along with the comment about the goddess and the homework. Only then did she realize she was one of those being teased.

She did know He Xu.

At the start of the second year, during the opening ceremony, He Xu spoke as a representative of the science students, and Chen Xi for the arts students. Both were called to the principal’s office.

The principal, surnamed Zhou and known for his strictness, was nicknamed “Skinflint Zhou” by the students.

He assigned both Chen Xi and He Xu to write speeches for the ceremony. Chen Xi, who consistently scored around 140 in Chinese, found it easy to write. He Xu, however, struggled with Chinese, especially essays, barely reaching 120 despite his efforts.

After leaving the principal’s office, He Xu shyly asked Chen Xi if she could help revise his speech.

Chen Xi had a face that was easy to talk to, and indeed, she was quite approachable.

At that moment, the slanting sunlight through the corridor bathed Chen Xi, turning her profile and eyelashes golden, strikingly resembling Athena, the Greek goddess. He Xu was captivated on the spot.

“Let me see it when you finish,” Chen Xi’s gentle voice brought him back to reality.

There is no particular reason to like someone during adolescence—perhaps a glance, a well-written essay, an insignificant gesture, or a fleeting moment. These coincidences form the embryo of first love, and with fantasy and imagination, naturally become the “white moonlight” of years to come.

To He Xu, Chen Xi was such a presence.

But love doesn’t distinguish who comes first; whoever admits defeat first loses.

—

That night, Chen Xi lay in her dorm bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Her mind was filled with thoughts of Zhou Yanzhou, who had suddenly appeared at the school gate.

She had many questions.

How did Zhou Yanzhou know she was at Xiping No. 1 High? Why didn’t he just ask her uncle about the missing wallet but went out of his way to ask her, “You didn’t sneak a look at my ID card, did you?”

Recalling Zhou Yanzhou’s expression, Chen Xi suddenly realized it might have been intentional.

She became inexplicably anxious, ashamed of her secret thoughts and clumsy excuses.

After all, someone like Zhou Yanzhou would see right through a high schooler’s mind.

The more Chen Xi thought, the more sleepless she became. She opened her eyes and sighed softly in the dark.

Zhu Qing was still reading a novel. Hearing the movement, she whispered, “Xi Xi, can’t sleep?”

They shared a bunk bed—Chen Xi on top, Zhu Qing below—and Zhu Qing could sense even the slightest sound from above.

Usually, Chen Xi slept soundly once lights were out and made no noise, but tonight she kept shifting, making the bed creak. Zhu Qing had resisted disturbing her but, seeing it was past two and only a few hours until they had to get up, she couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong tonight?”

—

Chen Xi thought she had woken Zhu Qing and apologized, “Did I wake you?”

Zhu Qing turned off her phone, cleared her throat, and said calmly, “No, I’m still reading. Just a few chapters left. The hero and heroine are about to get married, but they haven’t kissed yet. How can the hero stand it?”

Chen Xi was speechless.

Noticing Chen Xi’s silence, Zhu Qing changed the subject, “Are you having insomnia?”

Chen Xi’s mind was in chaos, and she nodded subconsciously.

Zhu Qing pressed on, “Because of the man you saw at the school gate this afternoon?”

Chen Xi hesitated for two seconds, then denied it.

Zhu Qing responded with an “oh” and went on, “That man looked handsome but so unreliable. If I were his girlfriend, I’d be worried every day.”

Chen Xi didn’t understand. “Worried about what?”

In the darkness, Zhu Qing pursed her lips and said gravely, “Of course, worried he’d be chasing after other girls outside, no sense of security.”

“Just looking at his face, you know he’s the kind of guy plenty of girls like. Not to mention, he obviously has money. He drives a luxury car worth millions—I’ve only seen those on TV. In Xiping, fewer than three people own cars like that. Plus, his license plate is from Beijing, so he’s definitely seen the big city life. Why would someone like him stop here in this small town?”

Chen Xi didn’t know if she was tired or speechless. She remained silent for a long while.

After some time, Chen Xi’s voice came out faintly, “I know. I just wanted to try.”

The voice was so quiet only she could hear it, and the only reply was Zhu Qing’s steady breathing.

—

It took Zhou Yanzhou a month to get used to Xiping’s weather.

Since he arrived, it had rained at least four days a week. The humidity was so high that Zhou felt soaked to the bone.

The hotel service was subpar; every time he returned, his bedding felt damp enough to wring water from.

At times like these, Zhou Yanzhou regretted his decision. Why hadn’t he just stayed in Beijing? Why come to such an unfamiliar place with no decent entertainment, just tacky karaoke bars?

The hostesses were all ugly, one worse than the next.

Just as Zhou was about to lose his temper, Jiang Chi called, warmly inviting him to visit Lijiang. Without hesitation, Zhou booked a flight to Kunming for that evening.

Back then, Yunnan’s tourism was far less developed, with many places still under construction.

Jiang Chi’s family was in the tourism business. Growing up immersed in it, Jiang Chi had the entrepreneurial spirit and had rushed ahead to Yunnan to make his mark early. He eventually made a fortune.

This time, he wanted Zhou Yanzhou to join his venture.

As soon as Zhou landed at Changshui Airport, he received a call from his mother, Teacher Meng.

She asked, as usual, “Are you settling in Xiping alright?”

Waiting by the luggage carousel, he watched his suitcase slowly come around while teasing his mother, “Whether I settle or not depends here. You even have time to worry about me? Sometimes I wonder if I’m even your son.”

Meng Qiu lightly scolded, “You little brat, what nonsense are you talking? If you weren’t my son, would I care about you?”

“If it weren’t for Guan Yue doing me so dirty, how could you—”

Mentioning Guan Yue, Zhou’s face darkened. He quickly stopped his mother, “Enough, don’t mention that name. I get a headache just hearing it.”

Just then, the airport announcement called for passengers to Kunming. Meng Qiu immediately asked, “You went to Yunnan? With whom?”

“Your father is still angry. If he knew you weren’t staying in Xiping to work, he’d surely lose it.”

Jiang Chi timed his call perfectly. Zhou didn’t want to argue with his mother, so he said hurriedly, “That’s none of his business. Alright, Mom, I have something urgent. I’ll hang up now.”

—

Without waiting for a response, Zhou Yanzhou ended the call.

He grabbed his luggage and walked toward the exit, answering Jiang Chi’s call.

Jiang Chi was waiting outside and asked when Zhou would come out. He said he had a big surprise ready.

Zhou smirked at the word “surprise,” “Just don’t turn it into a nightmare.”

As Zhou reached the exit, he saw Jiang Chi leading several bodyguards holding a banner that read: “Warmly Welcome Young Master Zhou’s Visit to Kunming.”

To make matters worse, a few musicians were playing suona horns nearby.

Zhou was nearly furious. This was truly a nightmare.

A crowd formed a wide circle, almost blocking the road. Many passersby thought a celebrity was arriving for an event and stood around waiting.

Zhou pretended not to see, dragging his suitcase and ignoring Jiang Chi’s calls.

Only at the parking lot, when Jiang Chi’s driver put his luggage in the trunk, did Zhou kick Jiang Chi with a scowl, “Are you out of your mind?”

Jiang Chi laughed, clutching his stomach. He said he had run all over to get the banner and carefully selected those suona players.

Zhou just found it noisy and closed his eyes to nap in the car, ignoring Jiang Chi.

Seeing Zhou’s low spirits, Jiang Chi suggested, “How about we go somewhere nice? The girls there are all stunning.”

Zhou opened his eyes and glanced sideways, “Changed careers?”

Jiang Chi was puzzled, “What?”

Zhou sneered, “If you didn’t say otherwise, I’d think you worked at the Red Mansion.”

Jiang Chi’s smile froze. Through clenched teeth, he muttered, “Bro, that’s a bit harsh.”

—

It rained again in Xiping. Chen Xi walked through the campus, umbrella in hand, feeling a deep sense of loss.

Early that morning, the homeroom teacher had found her, saying a relative was waiting at the school gate.

Puzzled, Chen Xi stepped outside and spotted the familiar Mercedes. She instinctively thought it was Zhou Yanzhou and walked briskly over, wondering how to greet him.

But the next moment, a stranger emerged from the driver’s seat. Well-dressed and polite, he said, “Miss Chen, hello. I’m Zhou’s secretary, Chen Huai. I’m here today to collect Mr. Zhou’s wallet. Is this a convenient time?”

Since Zhou Yanzhou came to the school to find her, Chen Xi had kept that black wallet with her, waiting for a chance to return it.

She hadn’t expected that it wouldn’t be Zhou who came to retrieve it.

Smiling, she handed over the wallet, repeatedly apologizing.

Chen Huai took the wallet, instinctively opened it, and checked the IDs and counted the cash inside.

His action was so targeted that Chen Xi blushed on the spot, uneasy. “I didn’t touch anything.”

Noticing his overstep, Chen Huai quickly apologized, putting the wallet away. “Mr. Zhou flies to Kunming tonight and urgently needed his ID. I didn’t mean to pry.”

Chen Xi ignored the latter part and repeated, “Flying to Kunming?”

“When will he be back?”

Chen Huai glanced at Chen Xi in surprise but didn’t press further. “That’s Mr. Zhou’s private matter. I can’t disclose it.”

Realizing her mistake, Chen Xi cautiously said, “I just wanted to invite him to dinner, nothing else.”