In the afternoon, during math class.
Mufeng Su was called upon by the teacher to go up to the blackboard and solve a problem. It was only then that Luoyi Zhao realized her deskmate's academic performance was even better than she had imagined.
At her previous school, she had managed to hold the top rank in their grade year after year. Yet now, staring at the problem the teacher had written on the board, she found herself completely at a loss, without the slightest clue as to how to begin.
What surprised her even more was that this very problem, which had wrung her brain dry with no results, was solved the moment he stepped up and took a glance—he wrote down every single step and the entire train of thought.
The teacher looked at Mufeng Su's solution and broke into a relieved smile.
Finally, a student had managed to solve this problem.
He taught math across three different classes, and not a single student had been able to crack it. Although the question was a bit beyond the standard curriculum, he had wanted to test the true caliber of this year's students.
"You're amazing, deskmate," Luoyi Zhao said, holding back none of her praise and admiration.
Mufeng Su returned to his seat and asked in a low voice, "Did you not know how to solve this? If you don't, I can actually teach you."
Luoyi Zhao nodded vigorously. "Yeah, I really don't know how yet. Could you teach me?"
Upon hearing this, Mufeng Su stood up and shifted his seat a little closer to hers. To make it easier for her to see clearly, he began to explain the problem step by step.
The two of them discussed it with a rapid back-and-forth of questions and answers, and before they knew it, their bodies were leaning closer and closer together.
The moment their arms brushed against each other, the subtle sensation made them instantly pull away, both of their faces turning red.
Mufeng Su gave a light cough. "Do you understand it now?"
After listening to Mufeng Su's line of reasoning, a sudden clarity washed over Luoyi Zhao. The difficult problem that had been plaguing her had been conquered with such ease.
"Mufeng Su, why is your explanation so clear? It's even easier to follow than what the teacher said."
Luoyi Zhao looked quite excited, her cheeks flushed pink.
Mufeng Su's problem-solving logic was exceptionally clear, making it very easy for her to grasp.
The corners of Mufeng Su's mouth curved up slightly.
"Maybe it's because I've done a lot of practice problems. This isn't the first time I've run into this type of question, so I have a bit more experience."
"Then I'll have to trouble you whenever I run into problems I don't know how to solve from now on, deskmate."
Mufeng Su nodded firmly.
"Pfft—"
Having just arrived at the school, Luoyi Zhao hadn't made any friends yet, and Mufeng Su was used to walking alone, so the two of them had agreed to leave the school gates together.
Luoyi Zhao watched the receding figure of Mufeng Su until he completely vanished from sight, and only then did she turn to leave.
"Sweetheart, get in the car, let's go home," Zhao Xijun's voice called out from beside the road not far away.
"Coming!"
Luoyi Zhao trotted over, opened the car door, and slid into the back seat.
Zhao Xijun picked up a package from the front passenger seat and handed it to her.
"Dad, why did you buy cake again? I've been putting on weight lately," Luoyi Zhao said, sounding a bit aggrieved.
"Haha, I happened to pass by a newly opened dessert shop today, so I bought a little for you to try."
Hearing that it was a newly opened shop, Luoyi Zhao instantly grew interested.
Even so, she feigned reluctance as she opened the packaging, took a shallow spoonful into her mouth, and broke into a look of satisfaction.
"Oh right, sweetheart. Are you having any trouble adjusting to the new school? How are you getting along with your classmates?"
Suddenly, Luoyi Zhao thought of the new deskmate she had met today, and a smile unconsciously touched the corners of her mouth.
"Mm—they're all pretty good. My deskmate is a great person, and he's especially good at math. The classmates in my class are also quite warm; I really like the atmosphere here."
Zhao Xijun heard the satisfying reply, but immediately zeroed in on the key detail.
"Your deskmate is great at math? Sweetheart, your math grades aren't bad either—I remember you getting full marks a bunch of times. I've never heard you praise anyone else's studies before."
Luoyi Zhao's pretty face flushed slightly.
"The problem the teacher went over today happened to be one I didn't know how to do either. The teacher said no students in the other classes could answer it either, but my deskmate just glanced at it, went up to the stage, and wrote down all the answers and steps on the blackboard. He's really amazing."
"Agh, why did I eat this whole cake? It's all your fault! I'm not eating anymore, no more..."
"Hahaha, alright, save some room for later when we get back—your mom prepared a lot of your favorite foods."
"By the way, you mustn't tell her about the cake. This is a secret between us father and daughter."
Luoyi Zhao nodded obediently.
Mufeng Su walked down the street, looking up at the sky. Thinking of Luoyi Zhao's youthful, vibrant smile, a faint smile hung on the corners of his lips.
Luoyi Zhao.
A rather nice name.
Before long, Mufeng Su arrived at the vegetable market and happened to see Xu Shuxia preparing to pack up the vegetables displayed on the ground for sale. He quickly strode forward to help pack them away, loading everything onto the tricycle.
"Son, you're here."
Xu Shuxia wiped the sweat from her forehead.
The moment she caught sight of her son, a gratified smile bloomed on her face.
The thing she was most proud of was that her son's academic performance was always first in his grade. He was also exceptionally obedient and sensible, never giving them cause for worry from the time he was little.
This made Xu Shuxia immensely proud as a mother. Looking at her son's resolute face, she felt that all her hard work and sacrifices were worth it.
"Mom, let me pedal. Just sit tight," Mufeng Su said, rushing to take the driver's seat.
Xu Shuxia wanted to refuse, but seeing her son's determined expression, she knew that saying anything would be useless.
"Son, I'll cook for you as soon as we get home. You've had a hard day taking classes."
Mufeng Su stood up and pedaled the tricycle hard.
"Mom, I didn't have a hard time. You and Dad are the ones who have it hard. Just give me a little more time, and I'll make sure you both live a good life."
Xu Shuxia reached out and stroked her son's head.
The family's financial situation was far from well-off. Almost every day, before the sky even grew light, his mother had to get up and head out to sell vegetables, while his father went off to the construction site early every morning to do heavy labor, working extraordinarily hard to keep the household running.
Yet they were also doing everything in their power to create better conditions for Mufeng Su, pouring everything they had into their child.
Fortunately, Mufeng Su had grown sensible early on and never gave his parents cause for worry, which also brought them a great deal of comfort.
Besides, there were only two years left until the college entrance exams. At Mufeng Su's current academic standing, getting into Shuimu or Jingda shouldn't be much of a problem, and there was even a chance he could secure a recommendation spot.
Thinking of what the teacher had told her earlier, Su's mother made up her mind to earn more money over the next two years so that Mufeng Su wouldn't have to worry about them anymore. No matter how bitter or exhausting it was, she had to persist and see him through university.
In truth, Xu Shuxia's stomach had been giving her trouble for a long time, but she had always been too stingy to go to the hospital for a checkup, afraid of spending the money.
Su Muzhou's physical condition was hardly good either. Subjected to such heavy physical labor every day, his body was long past its breaking point, and he looked much older than he had last year.
Mufeng Su had seen all of this in his eyes and secretly vowed to study hard, get into a good university, and start earning money as soon as possible so his parents wouldn't have to suffer through such hardship.
As soon as Su Muzhou arrived home, he saw his wife and son return and said happily that he had gotten his pay today, and the boss had even given him an extra two-hundred-yuan bonus for good performance—tomorrow he'd stew a chicken for their son!
"Dad, there's no need."
Mufeng Su looked at his dust-covered face, a pang of heartache washing over him.
"Dad, go wash your face and get ready for a bath later. I'll go heat up some water for you."
"You got it, son. But I'll heat the water myself—you go study for a bit, and I'll call you when dinner's ready."
"No need, I'll do it. You hurry up and rest."
Whenever Mufeng Su saw his parents' exhausted figures, the wrinkles on his mother's face, and the cracks on his father's hands, he felt utterly useless.
If only he could shoulder some of the financial pressure for them, then they wouldn't have to be so worn out.
Thus, from a very early age, he had decided he needed to learn more knowledge from other fields—especially economics. Although it was the nightmare of countless college students, he felt that perhaps the books could offer him some help.
And so, in his second year of high school, amidst the crushing pressure of high school and the impending college entrance exams, he had actually chosen to study it independently.
Luoyi Zhao returned home, lay on her bed, and closed her eyes to replay her first day at the new school.
She had made a really good deskmate; perhaps the rest of her high school life would be quite interesting after all.
At this thought, she remembered: He took pretty good care of me today. Should I buy him breakfast tomorrow to show my gratitude?