Xià Niàn'ān carried two small cakes in one hand and a cup of milk tea in the other. By the time she arrived at the classroom, more than half the people were already there.
She placed the mango-flavored cake on her deskmate's table and the strawberry-flavored one on the desk behind hers. "Here," she said.
Shěn Qīngzé looked up from his book, his face beaming. He took the cake and began to unwrap and eat it. "I knew that only you, Niàn'ān, truly understand me!"
"Are you over it now? This is a romance novel my mother bought for me. You should like it, so I'm giving it to you first," Xià Niàn'ān said as she sat down. She pulled a book with a gaudy cover from her backpack, turned to face Shěn Qīngzé, and handed him the book. "I left your bicycle in the bike rack near the west gate. Thanks for lending me your bicycle last night."
"You really understand me so well. Love you, love you!" Shěn Qīngzé put down his spoon, took the book with one hand, glanced at the cover, and quickly tucked it into his desk drawer. "You can ride my bicycle anytime from now on. If you need anything, just ask, and I'll do anything for you, even to the death!"
Xià Niàn'ān placed her milk tea on Shěn Qīngzé's desk, holding the cup with one hand and propping her chin on the other, as she took a sip.
"By the way, why didn't you stay at his place last night? I heard from Xǔ Jiāxīn that his mother had a guest room ready for you. That was a rare opportunity."
Shěn Qīngzé said, eating his cake, and seemed ready to dish out some gossip.
"I'd be intruding. Huáng Shī seems to like him. Xǔ Jiāxīn even took her to tutoring today. If I didn't know any better, I'd think she was there to stake her claim."
"That tall girl? I thought something was off. She and her friend seemed unreceptive to us that day," Shěn Qīngzé said with surprise, looking as if she wanted to champion the cause. "This Xǔ Jiāxīn is terrible. He's telling you he's committed to you over here, and then he escorts someone else to class. I thought he'd finally seen the light! He deserves to be given the cold shoulder!"
"So, please don't try to set us up anymore. I don't like Xǔ Jiāxīn anymore," Xià Niàn'ān shrugged and spread her hands, her tone calm. "Huáng Shī and I have classes together every week. Let's not make things awkward because of one boy."
Shěn Qīngzé nodded, her gaze falling on a small cake that was the same as hers but a different flavor. She pointed. "While I agree with you giving Xǔ Jiāxīn the cold shoulder, you shouldn't just fixate on one person. If we're going to switch targets, let's find someone better."
Xià Niàn'ān frowned slightly, displeased. "He's great. I don't think he's any worse than Xǔ Jiāxīn. In fact, I feel he's a hundred times better."
"My dear lady, you're being foolish. Xǔ Jiāxīn's grades, looks, and family background are impeccable. He has many friends, a good personality, and he'll be someone you can compare to a novel's male lead when he grows up!"
Shěn Qīngzé's mouth was agape, her eyes wide. "Shěn Qīngzé may look a little better than Xǔ Jiāxīn, but he's gloomy all day, like a wolf cub. I'm afraid to even speak loudly in front of him, lest I anger him and he punches me to death!"
Getting more agitated, she even stood up and demonstrated a punching motion.
Xià Niàn'ān laughed, annoyed. "It's not as exaggerated as you make it sound."
"That's not true. Anyone can see he's a ruthless character. I've read online that people like that have a high probability of domestic violence later on!"
Hearing the words 'domestic violence,' Xià Niàn'ān's expression clearly changed.
Liú Xiáng nudged Shěn Qīngzé's arm. "Eat your cake. You're chattering too loudly."
"You're always meddling. Why don't you say anything when others are talking?"
Shěn Qīngzé pouted, and they both rolled their eyes at each other.
"If you think Xǔ Jiāxīn is so great, you go chase him, and I'll chase Shěn Qīngzé. Let's see who catches him first," Xià Niàn'ān said, looking at Liú Xiáng. Seeing Liú Xiáng's displeased expression, she smirked knowingly.
"I wouldn't dare. If I did that, how would I be any different from those villainous female supporting characters?" Shěn Qīngzé's face changed, and she quickly shook her head. "I just don't want you to be deceived. If you don't like Xǔ Jiāxīn, then I won't say anything more."
"Ring—"
"Class is starting."
Xià Niàn'ān smiled and turned back around.
Shěn Qīngzé walked in right on time, put down his schoolbag, and sat next to her.
"The notes are all ready."
As Xià Niàn'ān took out her test paper, a pair of slender hands reached over and covered it with a book.
She flipped through it and found a note tucked inside. The top of the paper had a message, with a lot of blank space below:
(I received the things you sent me before, but please don't send me any more daily necessities. It causes me trouble.)
Besides him, Yú Yáo and their mother were also at home. It was indeed difficult to explain. Especially if she sent too many things, it would be hard for him to hide them, and if discovered, it might bring unnecessary trouble.
She had indeed been thoughtless before.
She felt a little sad, but then she realized this was seemingly the first time he had passed her a note. Her heart leaped with joy, and she picked up her pen to write, (Then give me your QQ number, and I'll agree).
After being his sister for two lifetimes, their only connection was by phone. There were no other means of contact, but she had secretly seen him communicating with the previous Xià Niàn'ān on QQ before.
As she passed the note back, various outcomes flashed through her mind, making her anxious.
Soon, the note was passed back. A string of numbers was written on it.
Her heart tightened, and her hands trembled slightly. She reached into her schoolbag for her phone, using the desk to shield her actions, and secretly opened QQ. She typed in the numbers and searched.
A QQ account with a black profile picture appeared. She clicked on it. The username was just a period, and the personal introduction read:
[People like me, who are broken, require those who love me to pick up the pieces to love me, which is truly arduous.]
Her eyes dimmed.
When class ended, she glanced at Shěn Qīngzé. Seeing him still looking down and writing something, she rolled her eyes and tugged his sleeve.
He turned to look at her.
"I want to eat this," she said, pointing at the cake.
He took the cake and placed it on her desk. Seeing that she made no move, he unwrapped the packaging again, took out the spoon inside, and offered it to her.
She didn't take it, smiling meaningfully. She took a spoon out of her desk drawer, tore open the packaging, scooped up some cake, and put it in her mouth.
"Mmm..."
The sweet and sour taste stimulated her taste buds. She closed her eyes, appearing to enjoy it. A few seconds later, she opened her eyes, immediately pouting. Biting the spoon, she held the cake with both hands and placed it back on his desk. "It's not good. It's all yours."
Seeing his complex gaze, she found it amusing. She took the spoon, raised her eyebrows at him, and playfully used her tongue to lick the remaining cream from her upper lip into her mouth. The smile in the corner of her eyes grew even wider.
Truly a mischievous imp.