School is out.
Students leave the campus one after another.
Luoyi Zhao was originally working on some math problems, but seeing Mufeng Su about to leave and not wanting to stay behind in the classroom alone, she stands up and decides to go outside with him to catch some fresh air.
It is a good chance to unwind and break free from a whole day of intense studying.
Passing by the school gate, Luoyi Zhao notices an old vendor outside selling traditional candied hawthorns on a stick.
She runs over and says something to the school guard, who surprisingly lets her out. She comes back with two skewers of candied hawthorns.
When Mufeng Su returns and sees the candied hawthorns in Luoyi Zhao's hand, his first thought is that just a moment ago during dinner, she had claimed she was trying to lose weight.
If Luoyi Zhao had any idea what was going through Mufeng Su's mind right then, she probably would have been furious with embarrassment.
"Look at these candied hawthorns I just bought at the gate! It's been so long since I've had these. Here—I bought one for you too. It's super sweet."
Luoyi Zhao flashes a sweet smile, holding out a skewer to Mufeng Su as if expecting a reward.
Before Mufeng Su can even react, the skewer is already in his hand.
"Thank you, Luoyi."
He takes a closer look at the candied fruit in his hand.
"It really has been many years since I last had one of these."
Hearing Mufeng Su murmur to himself, Luoyi Zhao feels a sudden pang of sorrow.
He has never had candied hawthorns?
Thinking back to what happened in the cafeteria yesterday, and how at lunch today he had clearly ordered just enough for himself, she wonders how anyone could have grown up without ever eating candied hawthorns.
Mufeng Su takes the skewer from Luoyi Zhao's hand, carefully peels off the wrapping, and takes a tentative bite.
It tastes just like the ones from the past—very sweet.
Like a child who has just been given a piece of candy, Mufeng Su sincerely praises its sweetness.
It is not that Su Muzhou and the others refused to give Mufeng Su allowance money; rather, out of a reluctance to waste anything, he spends every last bit of his meager allowance on books.
"How are you getting home, Luoyi?"
"My dad is driving to pick me up. He should be here any minute."
Hearing her answer, the light in Mufeng Su's eyes dims.
Mufeng Su looks back at her one last time. "Well... see you tomorrow. I'm heading out first. Bye-bye."
Mufeng Su mounts a somewhat rusty bicycle, which creaks loudly with every turn of the wheels as he rides down the street.
"Goodbye, desk-mate, see you tomorrow."
Luoyi Zhao waves her little hand toward the direction where Mufeng Su is leaving.
"What are you looking at, Luoyi? Get in the car, let's go home. Your mom made a lot of delicious food, so make sure you eat plenty later."
Luoyi Zhao glances back at the candied hawthorn cart, recalling what Mufeng Su had said just moments ago.
"Dad, do you know that some people even forget what candied hawthorns taste like?"
Zhao Xijun is utterly baffled by this, yet he notices that his daughter seems a bit off, her spirits somewhat low.
"What's wrong with my little princess? Did something unpleasant happen at school today?"
His daughter is the princess he has doted on since childhood, the apple of his eye; he cannot bear for her to suffer even the slightest grievance.
Luoyi Zhao forces herself to compose her emotions, squeezing a faint smile onto her lips.
"Nothing's wrong. Let's hurry home, Mom must be getting worried waiting."
About twenty minutes later.
"Luoyi's back! Go wash your hands and get ready to eat. Are you tired from school? Was studying hard today?"
Lin Na steps out of the kitchen, greeting her affectionately while taking her daughter's backpack to place it on the sofa.
Luoyi Zhao grew up in a loving family environment where both parents doted on her immensely, and her privileged background has meant she has never had to worry about trivial matters.
Looking at the lavish spread on the table, Luoyi Zhao thinks of the person who had looked so happy eating a candied hawthorn today, and a bitter knot twists in her chest. The delicacies before her suddenly lose all appeal.
After eating just a few bites:
"Mom, I'm done. I ate too much at lunch today so I'm not very hungry. I'm going back to my room to do my homework."
Zhao Xijun looks at Lin Na and says, "Honey, have you noticed our daughter acting strange today? It's like she ran into something upsetting."
Watching Luoyi Zhao's retreating figure heading upstairs, Lin Na replies, "It's fine, I'll go talk to her in a bit. Since I made all this food and our daughter doesn't have an appetite, you can finish up the rest for me. If you can't finish it, you're washing the dishes yourself."
Zhao Xijun looks down at the extravagant dinner before him and rubs his belly. How on earth is he supposed to finish all of this?
Zhao Xijun has zero backbone in front of his wife.
He always insists to outsiders that this is called mutual respect.
Lying in bed with her eyes closed, Luoyi Zhao's mind is completely filled with the image of Mufeng Su.
What is wrong with me? Why do I keep thinking about him?
Oh well, I forgot to add him on QQ. Whatever, I'll just ask him at school tomorrow.
Upon returning home, Mufeng Su suddenly remembers that during the opening ceremony tomorrow morning, he is supposed to go up on stage and give a speech, presumably sharing his study experiences.
Since it is not his first time on stage, he simply doesn't bother preparing a draft. He is already accustomed to such occasions. Mufeng Su possesses a maturity and perseverance rare for someone his age; otherwise, he could never have firmly secured the top spot in his grade.
After finishing his review of all his subjects—having actually self-studied the entire senior year curriculum well in advance—Mufeng Su still wishes to push himself to do even better.
He puts down his textbooks and pulls another book on economics from his drawer. Ever since he first opened a book on the subject, he has been deeply fascinated by it.
On one hand, he genuinely needs to find a way to make money to change his current situation; on the other hand, perhaps top students simply think differently from ordinary people.
Dear reader, there is still more to this chapter; please click the next page to continue reading, the rest is even more exciting!
Top students love studying; for ordinary people like us, books are our enemies, and studying diligently is the hardest fortress we have to conquer.
Early the next morning, Mufeng Su arrives at school even earlier than usual, planning to preview today's lessons first thing.
Since the opening ceremony starts at eight o'clock, the only way he can carve out time for previewing is by coming to school much earlier.
Deeply engrossed in his reading, Mufeng Su fails to notice that Luoyi Zhao has already arrived at the classroom.
I clearly came very early today, yet he arrived even earlier than me. And he didn't even notice me—am I invisible?
Watching Mufeng Su study with such intense focus, Luoyi Zhao cannot help but sigh. It seems that in his eyes, books still hold a greater temptation than she does.
Pulling a bag of bread from her backpack, she waves it in front of him. Mufeng Su finally notices that his pretty desk-mate is sitting right beside him, quietly watching him.
"M-Morning, Luoyi." Mufeng Su's expression turns somewhat awkward and embarrassed.
He genuinely hadn't noticed that she had already arrived.
Luoyi Zhao doesn't mind in the least and hands the bread over to him.
"Hurry up and eat. Coming this early, you probably haven't had breakfast yet, right?"
Seeing the bread she is offering, Mufeng Su doesn't refuse this time. He had left in such a rush today that he truly forgot to bring breakfast, and in truth, his stomach had started protesting long ago.
As he tears open the package, an appetizing aroma fills the air, instantly whetting his appetite. With one hand holding the bread, his other hand keeps turning the pages of his book.
Luoyi Zhao chides, "How can you read while eating? Stop reading for a second and finish your food first."
With that, she takes out a bottle of milk and hands it to him.
Mufeng Su opens his mouth to speak, but suddenly chokes on a crumb of bread.
"Cough, cough."
Flustered, Luoyi Zhao hastily opens the carton of milk for him. He takes a large gulp and finally manages to swallow.
"Thanks, Luoyi."
Receiving breakfast two days in a row makes Mufeng Su feel a bit embarrassed, and he wonders how he can possibly repay her kindness.
"Mm-hm, just eat first."
Luoyi Zhao takes out her study materials to preview as well, yet her gaze keeps drifting involuntarily toward him.
There has never been any shortage of boys pursuing Luoyi Zhao, including many who are handsome and excel academically, but Luoyi Zhao has never taken any of them to heart.
Mufeng Su is undoubtedly an exception. He is different from all the rest.