Chapter 44: "Haha, Maybe We Should Just Forget It"

Unlike others who ran for fitness, Chen Shian’s running path was neither straight, wide, nor safe.
Except for staying out of traffic, he darted along sidewalks, dashed through alleys, leapt over dead ends and obstacles—no corner was off-limits.
He set off from his apartment complex as the center, spiraling outward in ever-widening loops, gradually expanding his territory; what he saw and heard along the way mapped the city in his mind with vivid precision.
Occasionally, an early riser would spot this young man weaving through the streets, watching him deftly scale a three-meter-high dead-end wall—leaving them gaping in amazement.
Was this parkour?
A hidden master in the crowd! Even so-and-so wouldn’t be able to cross that wall so easily—especially with shards of glass set on top! How did he do it?
In this city crowded with buildings, as dense as a forest, few could keep pace with Shian’s intense half-hour of parkour.
When time was almost up, he finally stopped exploring outward and turned back toward his neighborhood.
He didn’t take the main road, but slipped through the alleys he’d just explored, moving with the familiarity of a long-time resident, twisting and turning until he was back at the gate.
“Back from your run, Xiao Chen?” the security guard greeted him.
“Yes, I’ll run again another day. Time to get ready for class,” he replied.
“Ha, you ran half an hour and barely broke a sweat. Did you even get any exercise?” the guard laughed.
“Not bad. It’s nearly autumn, the mornings are much cooler.”
Shian chatted as he walked, and the black cat that had accompanied him on his rounds hopped over the wall and slipped back inside.
Shian took the stairs, while the cat, as if walking on a flat surface, sprinted straight up the vertical stairwell wall, leaping lightly onto the ninth-floor balcony at the top.
Before long, Shian opened the door and entered his apartment.
It was 5:45 a.m.
He washed up quickly and, as he had the day before, made a simple bowl of egg noodles.
He poured some noodles for Fat Ink, giving the cat half an egg as well.
After eating, he changed into another clean school uniform, put on his shoes, picked up his backpack, and prepared to leave.
“If you’re hungry, eat your cat food. Don’t go around scamming others for snacks.”
“Meow…”
Scam for food? After eating, I could catch a mouse for someone—what’s wrong with that…
If only city mice weren’t so unappetizing, Ink wouldn’t mind doing some charity work for everyone.
At 6:10, Shian headed out.
He’d agreed to meet Wen Zhixia at the intersection at 6:15, and he was always punctual.
Leaving the complex, he walked toward the school, and soon spotted Wen Zhixia in the distance.
Just like yesterday, the girl had a backpack over both shoulders, holding a cup of soy milk in one hand and a bulging bag of breakfast in the other.
The sun was already rising, casting light on her drowsy figure. She leaned against a lamppost, lips pursed around a straw, head drooping—on closer look, she was actually dozing off with her eyes closed…
Perhaps she was too sleepy, or maybe Shian walked too quietly, but she didn’t wake until his voice startled her like an alarm clock.
“Morning, little Zhi.”
“Daoist! When did you get here?”
Still groggy, she jumped at his voice, squeezing the soy milk so hard it squirted out of the straw, spilling all over her hand.
“Ah, ah, ah… It’s everywhere!”
Seeing her flustered, Shian couldn’t help but laugh. “What are you doing, falling asleep standing up?”
“Help me out, quick!”
…
Shian had no choice but to take her soy milk and the big breakfast bag, freeing her to dig out tissues and wipe her hand.
“I’m so tired! Aren’t you? I feel like I’ve died and come back.”
“…Died and come back?”
“If I get out of bed, I die. If I go back to bed, I revive.”
Shian laughed—he’d never heard that idiom used this way!

“You got home even earlier than I did—did you sleep late?”
“It was ten by the time I got home, then after a shower it was almost ten-thirty. My aunt made soup, and by the time I finished eating it was eleven… Oh! It’s your fault!”
“How’s it my fault?”
“You wanted to study English, right? I spent last night organizing all the grammar points you’ll need for junior high English, didn’t get to sleep until midnight!”
Shian blinked, realizing he’d played a part in making her stay up.
As she spoke, Zhixia swung her backpack around, unzipped it, and pulled out a stack of A4-printed notes.
It was a collection of essential grammar points for junior high English, compiled and printed based on her own experience.
“Here—for you~”
“Thank you.”
Shian received the notes with sincere gratitude.
Learning English boils down to three essentials: intonation, vocabulary, and grammar.
Intonation is the soul of language, directly affecting listening and speaking skills. Often, it’s not a lack of vocabulary that keeps people from understanding spoken English, but a difference in pronunciation—British, American, Chinese, Japanese English—they’re all technically English, but sometimes you simply can’t make out what someone from another country is saying.
Vocabulary needs no elaboration; it’s the bricks and mortar of language.
Grammar is crucial for reading and writing, organizing logical sentence structure and eliminating ambiguity. In everyday conversation, people rarely notice grammar in their native tongue, but in foreign language study—especially in written exams—it’s vital.
Shian had excellent word memory and, with the reading pen from Teacher Ye, could practice listening and speaking; grammar was the only area he lacked.
Zhixia’s grammar notes were just what he needed.
“Zhi, you’re so kind.”
His straightforward thanks made her blush.
“It’s nothing! I was making a set for my cousin anyway, and just made an extra copy for you.”
“Still, thank you.”
“No biggie~”
Though she’d been working on the notes for a while, it was because Shian needed them that she’d stayed up to finish them last night.
The girl was warm-hearted, but not unconditionally so; she didn’t want much in return—just a sincere thank you like Shian’s was enough to satisfy her.
“So if you’re this tired, how will you manage in class?”
“I’ll just grab a coffee in the classroom.”
She eyed him again. “What time did you get up?”
“Five o’clock.”
“Five!!”
“Yeah, I usually get up at five.”
She was stunned. When they first met, he said he’d gotten up at five, walked two hours through the mountains, then taken a bus for an hour—she thought it was a one-time thing, but it turned out five o’clock was his norm?
“You’re like Iron Man! How are you not tired at all?”
“I can meditate a bit, or press some acupoints to refresh myself.”
“You don’t just fall asleep while meditating?”
“You could try it.”
“How do you do it?”
Zhixia was curious, so Shian taught her how to press certain acupoints—like Hegu, Zan Zhu, Neiguan—to boost alertness.
“Haha… I don’t feel any different.”
“Your technique is wrong—and you’re not focused enough.”
Seeing her clumsy attempts, Shian said, “Want me to help? You can see how it feels.”
“Sure! Go ahead, you make it sound so effective…”
“Alright, stand still.”
“Standing at attention!”

Zhixia didn’t think much of it, but seeing his hands still occupied with breakfast and soy milk, she took them all back to free his hands.
The two stood by the sidewalk on their way to school.
Shian stepped in front of her.
Zhixia suddenly felt nervous.
Before she could say, “Haha, maybe let’s not,” Shian said, “Close your eyes.”
“Oh…”
She obediently closed her eyes.
If anything, her heart pounded even harder once her eyes were shut.
“…Don’t squeeze your eyes so tight. Relax a bit.”
“Okay…”
But how could she possibly relax!
Just as she was about to say, “Haha, maybe let’s not,” two fingers, warm and gentle, brushed aside her bangs.
His fingertips landed on the Zan Zhu points at the crease of her brows, not pressing painfully, but bringing a pleasant, aching sensation that spread across her brow bone like a cool stream easing her taut nerves.
Zhixia’s lips trembled, but the words wouldn’t come out.
This was the first time in her life she’d ever felt something so strange.
His fingers seemed almost magical, steady and light, massaging in slow circles—the warmth and pressure seeped through her skin, pinpointing the very source of her tension.
The comfort held her in place; her once-thundering heart felt soothed, and even her breath slowed.
“Relax. Tilt your head up a little.”
“Mm…”
Shian’s voice blended with the feeling of his fingertips, and the next moment, his thumbs moved to her temples, the other fingers resting on her head.
This time, the pressure was a bit stronger, rhythmic, as if unwinding a tightened spring.
At first, Zhixia felt a dull ache, but within seconds, it melted into a gentle warmth, spreading from her temples to the crown of her head, then down her neck—her stiff shoulders slowly relaxed.
The fog of exhaustion from lack of sleep vanished; her furrowed brow smoothed, and the faint scent of laundry detergent from his uniform mingled with the comfort from his touch, forming a calm, peaceful air.
“Feeling better?”
Shian slowed his movements, ending with a gentle press at her temples, then withdrew his hands.
…
Zhixia stood motionless for a moment before slowly opening her eyes.
Her vision was clear, the ache behind her eyes gone, her mind swept clean of drowsy haze, light and alert.
“How do you feel?” he asked.
“I’m really not sleepy anymore!”
She stared at his clean fingers, incredulous. “H-How did you do that? Why is it so different when you do it? I’m really not tired at all!”
“I have magic powers. You don’t, so of course it’s different.”
“I don’t believe you! Tell me, did you hide something from me when you were teaching?”
“Come on, let’s get going, or we’ll be late for class.”
“…Let’s go!!”