Chapter 1: Arrival in Qingcheng
On the main road in the city center, a taxi drove under the shade of the plane trees, their leaves scattered by the wind with a soft whooshing.
Inside the car, the driver’s gaze fell on the girl in the rearview mirror.
“Young lady, are you a student at Yishi High School?”
“…”
Qin Qing, who had been staring out the window in a daze, blinked and brought her attention back inside the car.
The denial is almost on the tip of my tongue, she thought, but swallowed it back. Qin Qing glanced down at the unfamiliar Yishi High School uniform she wore and sighed with a touch of resignation.
“I just transferred here. I’m getting familiar with the place today.”
“Ah, that’s still impressive. Yishi is a prestigious school in the province.”
The driver said this, but seeing that the girl in the backseat only responded with a soft “Mm,” not wanting to continue the conversation, he didn’t say more.
Driving past students whose laughter filled the air, the taxi stopped at the parking area of Yishi High School with a screech.
The petite girl pushed open the door and stepped out.
It was noon, around twelve o’clock. Most students had already left after school, with only a few stragglers remaining.
Qin Qing adjusted her baseball cap and walked to the large pine tree outside the school.
She took out her phone and, following Mrs. Qin’s instructions, dialed a number.
【Hello, Mr. Sun? ?? Yes, I’m Qin Qing. I’ve arrived outside the school.】
【…All right, I’ll wait for you here.】
After hanging up, Qin Qing exhaled.
Good, the notoriously strict head teacher at Yishi isn’t as terrifying as the rumors suggested, she thought.
After waiting, feeling bored, Qin Qing lowered her gaze to her round-toed leather shoes.
A few seconds later, a soft smile appeared on her face.
No matter what, as the most famous private school in Qingcheng, Yishi High School’s uniforms were much more attractive than those at No. 3 High, she mused.
With a small suit jacket over a blouse and a plaid skirt paired with leather shoes, even if students wore uniforms every day, they probably wouldn’t mind.
Just as Qin Qing thought this, she glanced up and saw two boys walking out of the school, wearing shirts and loose jeans.
They weren’t wearing uniforms.
One had dyed yellow hair.
Qin Qing was stunned.
Is Yishi’s school culture really this free and open, even though it’s a middle school?
She looked around; except for these two, every other student wore a uniform and tie.
While Qin Qing was lost in thought, the two boys exited the school gate and headed in her direction, stopping nearby.
The boy with black hair stood, checked his watch, and turned to ask, “Does Yu-ge have sothing going on this noon?”
The yellow-haired boy responded, “Don’t you know? As soon as the monthly exam results ca out, Old Fu made a habit of keeping Yu-ge in the office for criticism and education.”
“Oh…”
The black-haired boy nodded, paused for two seconds, then chuckled and raised his eyebrows at the yellow-haired boy. “I thought Qi Lulu still hadn’t given up and had dragged Yu-ge to the small grove.”
“It’s strange,” the yellow-haired boy frowned, “Qi Lulu’s pretty, has a good figure, and most importantly, she’s got a fiery temper. What part of her does Yu-ge not like?”
The other boy shook his head. “If it were , I wouldn’t like her either—if you got involved with her, you’d soon find yourself in a whole field of grass.”
“You wouldn’t like her?”
The yellow-haired boy sneered at his companion. “You’re probably not even worthy of being a piece of cow dung in that field.”
“Damn it, Zhao Zirui! I’m going to shut that big mouth of yours!”
The black-haired boy exploded, about to chase him, but a voice nearby stopped him—
“Li Xiang! What are you up to again?”
The two boys stopped tussling and turned to the newcor.
“Oh, it’s Mr. Sun—” Li Xiang grinned, bowed with Zhao Zirui, and greeted, “Good health to you, Mr. Sun!”
“…”
Sun Xing’s mouth twitched. “Why aren’t you two wearing your uniforms again?”
“But we are!”
Li Xiang looked like he had suffered great injustice, lifting his shirt. “It’s definitely Yishi quality. If you don’t believe , I’ll take it off and show you; the label’s still inside!”
As he spoke, Li Xiang made as if to undress on the street.
Qin Qing, watching, was startled and reflexively stepped back.
Her heel hit an empty can, making a clank. Sun Xing and the two boys turned toward her.
Realizing what happened, Qin Qing saw Sun Xing frowning at her. Assuming he didn’t recognize her, she took off her baseball cap and greeted him.
“Mr. Sun.”
“…”
The two boys’ eyes lit up.
Under the tree’s shade stood a petite girl in a middle school uniform, her plaid skirt accentuating her slim waist. She was fair-skinned, with a small, bright-eyed face, rosy lips, and delicate features, as if drawn by a fine pen.
She had seed startled earlier, and now, as she looked at them, there was innocence in her eyes, her cheeks tinged pink.
“Oh, it’s Qin Qing.” Sun Xing recognized her, his expression softened, and he smiled. “Co on, I’ll take you to your horoom teacher.”
Qin Qing nodded, put her baseball cap back on, and walked to Sun Xing.
Sun Xing glanced up, his smile fading, and glared at the two boys. “I’ll deal with you two later.”
With that, Sun Xing turned and walked away, Qin Qing following.
As they entered the school gates, Sun Xing advised Qin Qing, “In the future, when you see students not wearing uniforms, stay away—they’re troublemakers who bully classmates.”
Qin Qing recalled the conversation she overheard about a certain girl, and her cheeks reddened.
Yes, it’s best to keep my distance…
She nodded seriously.
“Mm.”
Outside the school gate, under the pine tree, the two boys were silent.
“Damn, she’s so cute—” Li Xiang exclaid, smacking the yellow-haired boy. “I’ve fallen in love at first sight!”
Zhao Zirui winced, then glared at Li Xiang. “You fall in love at first sight every day and forget it after seven seconds—you’re like a goldfish!”
“…Damn it, Zhao Zirui, I’m going to rip that big mouth of yours off!”
Just as Li Xiang was about to pounce, his phone buzzed with a ding.
Li Xiang took it out, glanced at it, and frowned.
【Yu-ge said Old Fu doesn’t plan on letting him go anyti soon, so we should go ahead without him.】
Zhao Zirui frowned too. “No. 3 High has been plotting against him lately. You should send a text to Yu-ge and let him know.”
“All right,” Li Xiang agreed, typing a text. 【No. 3 High’s new leader doesn’t even know their own na. Those idiots don’t know their place. If Yu-ge didn’t want to avoid trouble, I’d take a few guys and give them a beating. ??】
When Qin Qing finished familiarizing herself with the new environnt and left Yishi High School, it was twelve-thirty.
Fulin Garden, where Grandma Lin lived, wasn’t far from Yishi, so Qin Qing decided to walk instead of calling a taxi.
But halfway there, Qin Qing regretted her decision.
This is my first ti walking this route, and I didn’t expect problems. Now… I’m a bit lost, she admitted to herself.
Qin Qing hesitated and stopped.
She looked at the alley ahead, then at another nearby. After wavering, she couldn’t decide which to take.
After much debate, Qin Qing decided to call Grandma Lin.
But after listening to “Für Elise” for forty-five seconds, no one picked up.
Given how hard of hearing Grandma Lin is, she probably isn’t wearing her hearing aid again…
Qin Qing pouted, then tried calling Mrs. Qin instead.
This ti, it didn’t ring for forty-five seconds—the number was off.
She’s in a eting again…
Qin Qing wrinkled her nose, squatted next to a convenience store by the alley, and looked at the corgi sunbathing in front of her.
It seed to enjoy itself more than she did.
Qin Qing sighed.
“Shorty, which alley do you think I should take to get to Fulin Garden?”
“…”
The corgi’s ears twitched as it looked at Qin Qing, but realizing she held no food, it lay back down, shifting to point its tail and round bottom at her.
Qin Qing wasn’t discouraged. She teased the dog, “Little Short Legs, if I let you lead the way, would I only get ho by noon tomorrow?”
This ti, the corgi didn’t react.
But a low chuckle ca from above.
Qin Qing had been so absorbed in her “conversation” with the corgi that she hadn’t noticed soone exit the convenience store.
When she heard the laugh, her face reddened. She looked up.
On the steps stood a boy in Yishi High School’s high school uniform.
Though it was the standard suit jacket, shirt, and trousers, they accentuated his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs. Off-campus, his blazer was unbuttoned, his tie loosened, giving a lazy, casual appearance.
His sharp, handso features included high cheekbones and a straight nose. A cigarette dangled from his lips, with a faint, amused curve.
His deep, black eyes fixed on Qin Qing with a half-smile.
“That way,” the boy said, pointing his long fingers toward the alley ahead.
Qin Qing froze.
He heard my entire conversation with the corgi…
I just lost all the face I accumulated in three years of middle school, she thought, mortified.
“Thank you, senior.”
Qin Qing didn’t linger. She turned and walked toward the alley.
After a short distance, she noticed steady footsteps behind her.
She stopped, turned, her gaze wary.
Perhaps her gaze was too sharp, because the person behind paused, lifting his eyes from the phone in his left hand.
After a second, the boy seed to understand, a slight smile on his thin lips. “We’re just heading the sa way.”
It was the boy who gave her directions.
“…”
Qin Qing turned away, embarrassed, her ears warm. She quickened her pace.
As she exited the alley, Qin Qing glanced around and noticed rough-looking young n leaning against the walls at the entrance.
The nearest shot gave her a hostile look, but seeing her middle school uniform’s blue bow tie, he withdrew his gaze.
Qin Qing felt uneasy and, after ten ters, stopped.
She turned back.
The young n at the alley entrance had ford a semicircle, surrounding the boy who had been behind her.
Qin Qing’s heart tightened.
Could these be the students Mr. Sun warned about—those who don’t wear uniforms and bully classmates?
Qin Qing clenched her hands, wanting to leave, but after a few steps, her pace slowed and stopped.
I was just helped by soone, and now I’m about to run away. That doesn’t seem right, she thought.
Qin Qing stood, her small face scrunched in thought.
A taxi drove by, and Qin Qing’s eyes lit up. She waved it down.
The taxi pulled over, and Qin Qing opened the back door, addressing the driver politely.
“Uncle, could you wait for half a minute? I need to get my brother. I’ll pay double the waiting fare, no matter where we go afterward.”
The driver agreed.
Qin Qing left the door open, placed a hand over her racing heart to calm down, and ran toward the alley.
The young n glared nacingly, while the surrounded boy stood with a cigarette between his lips, smiling lazily, hands in his pockets.
His nonchalant attitude angered the young n more. The leader gritted his teeth. “So you’re Wen Yufeng—”
“Brother!”
A sweet voice called out. The young n and the boy paused, turning toward the voice.
A slender, pretty girl slipped between the young n and ran to the boy.
She barely reached his shoulder.
Realizing the height difference, Qin Qing’s smile faltered, but she looked up, smiling sweetly, her eyes curving into crescents. She tugged his arm and shook it—
“Brother, Mom and Dad are waiting in the car. We’re going to be late for lunch.”
Qin Qing blinked at the boy.
She turned and waved toward the roadside—
“Dad, we’re over here.”
The young n instinctively looked toward the road—
But I saw only an open taxi door.
When they looked away, Qin Qing tightened her grip on the boy’s arm, dragging him through a gap between two young n and running past them.
By the ti the young n realized, the two were several ters away.
“What are you standing around for?! Stop them!” the leader shouted, furious.
The young n gave chase.
Luckily, the road wasn’t far. Qin Qing pushed the boy into the car, jumped in, and slamd the door shut with a bang.
“Uncle, drive quickly!”
The driver floored the gas pedal with a vroom.
The angry young n chased for a dozen ters before being left behind.
Inside the car, Qin Qing turned from her sprawled position on the backseat and exhaled, sitting down with lingering fear.
“…‘Brother’?”
The boy beside her spoke, his voice teasing, low, and pleasant.
Qin Qing rembered the person next to her.
Before she could respond, her phone rang with a ring from her uniform pocket.
Qin Qing glanced at the caller ID, stunned, then answered, “Manxue?”
As the call connected, a loud voice exploded
【Xiaoqing, I heard you’re transferring to Yishi High School?! ??】
The volu drew the attention of the driver and the boy, but Qin Qing was used to Lin Manxue’s loud voice. She moved the phone to the other side, nodding apologetically to the boy.
Then she refocused.
【…It was my parents’ decision. Mrs. Qin will be working out of the province next month, so they want
to live with Grandma Lin. If I don’t transfer, it’ll be too far from her house.】
【Your grandma’s place… Oh, is that the nice estate, Fulin Garden?】
【Yeah. Yishi is closer to Fulin Garden, so Mrs. Qin wants
to transfer to the middle school there and then move to the high school.】
【…Yishi High School?】
Lin Manxue’s voice rose again.
【Yeah, why?】
【Then you might get to et that ridiculously handso school bully from No. 1 High!】
The boy beside Qin Qing paused.
His smile carried mockery as he looked at her.
【…‘Ridiculously handso’?】
Oblivious, Qin Qing laughed, her eyes curving softly.
【Lin Manxue, if our language teacher heard that phrase, she’d hit you.】
【That’s because you haven’t seen him—he’s so handso! Compared to him, the heartthrob of No. 3 High is nothing but dust…】
Lin Manxue hesitated before adding, 【But I heard he smokes, fights, skips class, hangs out at bars, and is bad at studying. He hands in blank papers during exams.】
Qin Qing smiled. 【Is this hearsay?】
【No, at least the part about fighting is true! A group from No. 3 High tried to corner him, and he beat them all up. So were in the hospital for two weeks! It’s their fault for picking a fight—just thinking about it is satisfying, hahaha…】
Qin Qing teased, 【You sound so happy. Do you like him?】
【How could I?!】
Lin Manxue’s laughter stopped, and she bristled, but added sheepishly, 【Even though he is handso, I heard he’s had several girlfriends. Who knows if that’s true… Anyway, Qin Qing, you should stay away from him.】
【Don’t worry. How would I cross paths with him?】
The boy raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into an amused smile.
Unaware, Qin Qing glanced out the window, seeing Fulin Garden nearing. She responded quickly.
【I’m about to get off, so let’s talk later.】
After hanging up, Qin Qing spoke to the driver, “Uncle, please stop at the entrance of Fulin Garden.”
The driver hit the brakes with a screech, and the car stopped after a few ters.
Qin Qing pulled out a twenty-yuan bill, placed it next to the boy, and got out.
Before closing the door, she paused. The thrill of her “rescue mission” lingered, and an idea popped into her head.
It’s not like I’ll see him again, right?
Reassured, Qin Qing leaned against the car door and flashed a sweet smile at the boy, her voice soft—
“I’m heading ho now. See you tonight, ‘brother’!”
With that, Qin Qing shut the door with a thud and ran off.
Inside the car, the driver gave the boy a strange look. “Where are you headed?”
The boy, Wen Yufeng, withdrew his gaze, his expression lazy as see you tonight echoed in his mind.
“Back to where I got in.”
“Are you two ssing with ?”
The driver grumbled, but a cold glance from the boy made him shrink back and look for a place to turn around.
Soon, the car stopped with a screech, and Wen Yufeng paid and got out.
Zhao Zirui and the others, waiting by the roadside, hurried over.
“Yu-ge, didn’t you say those guys from No. 3 High were here to block you? How co we didn’t see them?”
“…”
The girl’s sweet smile flashed through Wen Yufeng’s mind.
“There was a mix-up. I got ‘rescued’ by a middle school girl.”
Li Xiang’s eyes lit up, and he nudged closer, chuckling—
“Yu-ge, don’t tell
you’ve taken a liking to a middle school girl?”
“…Get lost.”
After a pause, Wen Yufeng glanced at the twenty-yuan note in his hand.
A glimr shone in his deep black eyes.
His lips curved into a faint smile as he looked at his friends.
“You’re interested in middle school girls? Do you think I’m as much of a beast as you?”
Author’s Note
Years later, recalling their first encounter:
Wen Yufeng: My face hurts from the embarrassnt.
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