The cicadas of summer buzzed noisily in the plane trees, casting mottled patches of light and shadow through the classroom windows. I sat by the window in the classroom, turning my head to look at Su Qing beside me. She was lowering her head, her slender fingers holding a pen as she wrote and sketched on a draft paper. Her loose hair fell down, concealing half of her delicate face.
That was the year we were in our second year of high school, when Su Qing and I became desk mates. From the very first moment I saw her, I was captivated by her gentle and tranquil temperament. She was a boarding student, while my home was right near the school. As a day student, I could feel the warmth of home every day, yet I looked forward even more to the time I spent with her at school.
During a break in our chatting one day, she casually remarked, "The school breakfast is really terrible. It's the same every day, I'm already tired of it." It was such an offhand remark, but I took it to heart. From then on, every single morning, I would deliberately take a detour to that breakfast shop she might like, buying a piping hot breakfast. The soy milk had to be sweet, the steamed buns had to be fresh pork-filled, paired with a boiled egg. When I placed the breakfast on her desk, she would always look surprised and touched, her bright eyes looking at me as she repeatedly expressed her thanks. On the surface, I acted as if it were no big deal, smiling as I said, "I just happened to pass by and bought…
Chapter 178