Xu Fangfei’s face heated up. She quickly pulled her right hand back, lowered her head, and said softly, “I got scratched by a steel scouring pad while washing dishes at noon. I saw that the wound wasn’t serious, so I didn’t do anything about it.”
Zheng Xiye looked at her for a moment, then handed her the remaining adhesive bandages and said, “For the next few days, try not to let your finger get wet. When you go to sleep at night, peel the bandage off and let the wound air out.”
Looking at the box of bandages held between his large fingers, Xu Fangfei hesitated for two seconds before taking it with both hands. At the same time, a warm feeling welled up in her heart.
From childhood to now, aside from her mother and her grandfather, there were very few people who paid such close attention to her or cared about her like this.
“Thank you.” She curved her lips slightly, very gently. After a brief pause, her bright eyes quietly glanced sideways again, and she asked, “When did you notice that my hand was injured?”
Zheng Xiye said, “From the time you got into the car until now, you touched the pad of your thumb four times in total.”
Xu Fangfei widened her eyes slightly in astonishment.
Zheng Xiye continued, “People instinctively touch parts of their body that feel uncomfortable. This kind of psychology comes from animals’ primitive instincts. It’s called the scratching response.”
Xu Fangfei: “……”
Xu Fangfei looked at him in surprise, staring wide-eyed. “You actually understand psychology?”
“I only know a little, just the surface,” Zheng Xiye said. As he spoke, his gaze drifted lightly away from her and returned to the road. He restarted the engine and drove on.
Xu Fangfei tilted her head and asked again, “Why do you know these things?”
In her ingrained understanding, people like them, street toughs and hoodlums, were mostly uneducated, from poor family backgrounds, lacking proper guidance from family and school while growing up. They skipped classes, got into fights, and did not like studying. When they grew up, they naturally could not find decent, respectable jobs, so they went down the wrong path, taking risks and living on the edge, making money by gambling with their lives.
But this man named Zheng Xiye was a bit of an exception. From time to time, he kept overturning her understanding of what a “bad person” was.
On the other side, Zheng Xiye held the steering wheel with both hands. After hearing her question, he answered casually, “I read it in books.”
“You like reading?” Because she was genuinely curious and surprised, Xu Fangfei could not help following up with another question.
She was a typical southern girl. Even her tone when she spoke carried a softness, gentle and lingering like a warm breeze, brushing past one’s ear and soaking in without a sound.
Zheng Xiye rarely interacted with girls. Occasionally, when he inadvertently heard those women in Jiang Zhi’ang’s room speaking in sweet, coquettish voices, pestering Jiang Zhi’ang to buy them perfume or lipstick, he felt nothing in particular, at most thinking they were a bit noisy.
But now, listening to Xu Fangfei ask one question after another, chirping like a little oriole, he did not feel the slightest impatience.
He answered patiently, “When I’ve got nothing to do, I just read casually.”
Xu Fangfei blinked. “Then what kind of books do you usually read? Psychology?”
“The books I read are all bought from night market stalls. Two yuan a copy. A mixed bag of everything,” Zheng Xiye replied.
So that was it.
Xu Fangfei understood. She nodded, then her lips curved upward into a faint smile. “My homeroom teacher says that reading is a process of learning and increasing knowledge. Liking to read is a very good habit.”
Hearing this, Zheng Xiye’s expression tightened slightly. He then turned his face to look at her, raising an eyebrow lightly, his tone ambiguous. “Are you praising me, top student?”
Xu Fangfei froze. The color in her cheeks deepened faintly, her expression awkward and hesitant. After a moment, she said softly, “I guess so.”
Zheng Xiye curled his lips into a smile. Looking at the girl’s rosy, tender cheeks, he said casually, “Then I should thank you.”
Xu Fangfei stumbled over her words and replied stiffly, “You’re welcome.”
The two of them chatted back and forth in this haphazard way. Before long, they arrived at their destination. The black SUV drove through the gate of Lingcheng Cultural Palace, the steering wheel turning as it parked in the open-air lot.
Lingcheng was not large, with only three administrative districts in total. The municipal cultural palace was the city’s only large-scale cultural venue, capable of hosting artistic performances, film screenings, and exhibitions. Built in the 1990s and covering over eight thousand square meters, it had undergone two renovations, but overall still looked somewhat old.
After Zheng Xiye parked and turned off the engine, Xu Fangfei pushed open the car door and stepped out. She lifted her head and looked at the two-story building in front of her.
At the entrance of the cultural palace stood a rectangular display stand. On the left side of the promotional image was a lifestyle photo of a young woman: a sky as blue and clean as if washed, an endless green grassland, and the girl, dressed in a pure white long dress, standing in the sunlight with her eyes closed, her expression devout, as if kissing the wind.
On the right side were several stylized artistic fonts, perfectly integrated into the photograph, reading: “Personal Art Exhibition of Renowned Young Painter Song Yu, Lingcheng Station.”
The exhibition’s title was “The Wind and I.”
Xu Fangfei was drawn in by the photo. She walked a few steps closer and gazed at the blue sky and grassland in the image, lost in thought.
Suddenly, Zheng Xiye’s voice sounded behind her. “What’s wrong?”
Xu Fangfei snapped back to herself and turned to look at him. “Is this girl your friend’s daughter?”
Zheng Xiye nodded. “Yes.”
There was genuine admiration in Xu Fangfei’s eyes. “She’s so young and already a painter, and even holding a solo exhibition. That’s amazing.”
Zheng Xiye said calmly, “My friend and his wife are both in the arts. Growing up in that environment, it’s easier to get started.”
Xu Fangfei’s gaze returned to the scenery in the photo. Longing flickered in her eyes as she said softly, “So this is what the grasslands look like.”
Zheng Xiye watched her silently without speaking.
“I remember when I turned seven, my birthday wish was to see the grasslands,” Xu Fangfei’s gaze went momentarily unfocused as she said quietly. “Back then, my dad said that after I finished the college entrance exam, he would take Mom and me to the northern Wind City.”
Zheng Xiye still did not speak.
At that moment, a staff member noticed the two of them standing in front of the display and walked over to ask, “Hello, are you here to see the exhibition?”
Zheng Xiye nodded and handed over the tickets.
The staff member took the tickets, lowered their head to check them, then smiled and made a welcoming gesture. “Sir, miss, please follow me. Ticket inspection and entry are this way.”
*
Lingcheng’s overall development lagged behind. Most citizens’ lives were still focused on basic subsistence, and their pursuit of spiritual and cultural fulfillment was far behind that of first- and second-tier cities. Although Song Yu was a well-known young painter who had won numerous awards both domestically and internationally, many people in Lingcheng had never even heard of this great artist’s name.
Therefore, even though it was a weekend, there were very few people coming to see the exhibition. The entire gallery hall was empty, with almost only staff members and a handful of scattered visitors.
Xu Fangfei and Zheng Xiye were two of those few.
Upon entering the exhibition hall, the first thing that caught Xu Fangfei’s eye was Song Yu’s personal introduction.
Xu Fangfei stopped, carefully read through it, then continued forward to begin viewing the displayed artworks.
To be honest, she did not understand painting, nor did she possess an innate artistic sensibility. She could not discern the artist’s state of mind or intent through a painting’s composition and colors, nor could she, like those rich young ladies in television dramas, speak eloquently in front of a painting, expounding at length.
But even so, Xu Fangfei still viewed the exhibition very attentively.
Song Yu was a realist painter. Most of her works focused on landscapes and figures. Among the exhibited paintings were farmers picking up rice stalks in the fields, fishermen casting nets on stormy seas, as well as simple mountains and rivers, grasses and trees, flowers and natural fragrances.
As Xu Fangfei looked at these paintings, in a daze, it felt as though she could see a vast, rich, and colorful world beyond Xiwang Street No. 9 Courtyard.
From beginning to end, Zheng Xiye quietly stayed by Xu Fangfei’s side.
When she stopped, he stopped.
When she walked, he walked.
By the time they reached the last row of paintings, Xu Fangfei seemed to belatedly realize something. She stopped, hesitated slightly, then turned to look at the man behind her.
She looked a little awkward. After a brief pause, she asked softly, “Isn’t it very boring for you to look at this exhibition with me?”
Zheng Xiye stared straight at her and asked in return, “Why do you say that?”
“I don’t understand oil paintings at all.” The girl’s fair hands clenched nervously at the hem of her clothes. “Looking at these paintings, I can’t even offer a single opinion. There’s nothing I can talk about with you. We’ve been inside for over an hour now. Don’t you think this is a waste of your time?”
“I’ve seen a lot of realistic paintings. This painter’s skill is decent,” Zheng Xiye said calmly. “If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask me.”
Xu Fangfei was slightly startled, both by his understanding of oil painting and by his patience with her.
Zheng Xiye had both hands in his pockets. With his eyes lowered, he continued, “But I’ve never been very interested in art since I was young. If you had refused me yesterday, I would’ve given these two tickets to someone else.”
For some reason, after hearing this, Xu Fangfei suddenly felt a tightness in her chest, as if an unfamiliar current had surged through her, throwing her breathing slightly off.
She lowered her head and stayed silent for a long while before finally gathering the courage to ask softly, “Then why did you want to bring me here?”
Zheng Xiye didn’t answer directly. He only asked, “Do you like these paintings?”
Xu Fangfei nodded slowly and seriously.
Receiving this answer, Zheng Xiye tugged lightly at the corner of his mouth without drawing attention to it. “Then this past hour has been very meaningful.”
Xu Fangfei didn’t have time to think deeply about his words. Her lips moved a few times as she said, “You still haven’t answered me. Why did you want to bring me to this exhibition?”
Zheng Xiye paused briefly, then said, “Because I could guess that you’d like these paintings.”
Xu Fangfei’s gaze flickered. She lifted her eyes in surprise and looked at him, her expression puzzled.
Zheng Xiye turned his head and slowly swept his gaze across the vast exhibition hall, across all the paintings hanging on the walls. “This painter’s work can be summed up in eight words: all kinds of lives, all things in the world.”
Finally, that deep, dark gaze returned to Xu Fangfei.
“After seeing these paintings, you’ll believe even more firmly that although life is hard, the future is worth looking forward to.” He bent slightly at the waist, leaning closer to her, lazily raising his brows with a faint smile. “Little cub, the sunlight is bright, the world is beautiful. Give yourself more choices. Your future is full of hope and limitless possibilities.”
*
Holidays always pass in a blur. In the blink of an eye, it was the end of August.
With the start of Grade 12, the pressure of the college entrance exam came crashing in like a flood. It impacted not only the Grade 12 students, but also their parents and the teachers of each class. In order to improve university admission rates, the principal specifically held two meetings, demanding that all Grade 12 teachers unite and increase students’ workload and pressure.
The principal was a big leader. With just a few words, the directive was issued. But how exactly to implement this “increased workload and pressure” gave the Grade 12 director quite a headache. After mulling it over several times, he finally slapped his thigh and came up with two measures.
The first measure was to have Grade 12 start school one week earlier, helping students enter the review and sprint phase in advance.
The second measure was to pass the principal’s “increase workload and pressure” directive down to each class, allowing each homeroom teacher to come up with their own solutions based on their class’s actual situation and ensure it was implemented.
After the two notices were issued, the grade director sat in his office, took a sip of tea, lifted a hand to touch his shiny forehead, and felt that he was truly clever.
*
“Hey! Have you heard? The principal wants to increase workload and pressure for Grade 12!”
“Increase workload and pressure? What does that mean?”
“I don’t know exactly what it means, but it definitely won’t be anything good.”
“Damn it. Starting school a week early is already annoying enough. If they pull some more nonsense, I don’t even want to study anymore. It’s not like I’ll get into college anyway!”
“Jiang Yuan, isn’t your brother a contractor in Yuncheng? Why don’t we all just quit school? We’re already eighteen. Let’s go to Yuncheng and make money with your brother?”
“That’s a good idea. I’ll call my brother tonight! I’m telling you, you’ve never been to Yuncheng. You have no idea what the outside world is like. Yuncheng is a first-tier city, super prosperous! The streets are full of beauties. Guess how much the bags those women carry cost? Tens of thousands each!”
…
During the long break, several boys who had skipped the exercise period sat in the back of the classroom bragging. Each of them was animated, getting more and more excited, as if they could fly to Yuncheng and strike it rich the very next day.
Xu Fangfei and Yang Lu had just come back from the restroom. The two chatted as they entered the classroom through the back door.
As they passed those boys, Yang Lu suddenly cried out, “Ah!”
Xu Fangfei turned to look at her. “What’s wrong?”
Yang Lu didn’t answer. She covered the back of her head, turned around angrily, and shouted, “Who just pulled my hair?”
The group of hooligan-like boys raised their hands high, grinning shamelessly at Yang Lu. One of them deliberately tried to tease her. He jumped up, quickly tugged her ponytail again, then bolted toward the hallway outside.
“Jiang Yuan, are you asking to die? Stop right there!” Yang Lu was furious. She grabbed an English book at random and chased after him.
Xu Fangfei smiled and shook her head. She returned to her seat alone and lifted her eyes to look at the blackboard.
The timetable said that the next class was physics.
So she took out her textbook and exercise book and quietly read and worked on problems.
She had just finished writing a multiple-choice question when a shadow suddenly fell over her, partially blocking the light above her head. Her pen paused, and she lifted her head in confusion.
“Xu Fangfei.”
The boy who spoke was tall, wearing a clean and neatly pressed school uniform shirt, with rimless glasses on his nose. His features were refined and well-defined, and his smile was gentle and elegant. He gave off a very comfortable feeling, like sunlight in March, warm and restrained, with a perfect sense of measure. He asked her, “Do you have time right now?”
Xu Fangfei recognized him. It was Zhao Shuyi, their class monitor, a top student well known throughout the school for both academic excellence and good conduct.
Xu Fangfei set down her pen. “What’s the matter?”
Zhao Shuyi’s handsome face kept its gentle smile as he said warmly, “Teacher Yang said that the Grade 12 workload is heavy, so she wants to implement an ‘increased-load plan’ for the top ten students in the class. She asked me to organize everyone to complete one set of high-difficulty college entrance examination mock questions each week. After evening self-study, I’ll uniformly release the answers, collect the wrong questions, and have the teacher explain them the next day.”
“Oh.” Xu Fangfei understood.
“You’ve ranked in the top ten of the class in every exam, so you also need to participate in this plan.” Zhao Shuyi looked steadily at her as he spoke, placing a set of mock exam papers from his hand onto Xu Fangfei’s desk. “These are this week’s questions. Do them when you have time. Start with English. The answers will be released after the evening self-study tomorrow.”
Xu Fangfei took the papers. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Zhao Shuyi gave her another smile, then turned and left.
Yang Lu had just finished dealing with Jiang Yuan and returned. Seeing this scene, two little flames of gossip instantly lit up in her eyes. She leaned close to Xu Fangfei and asked in a low voice, “What did Zhao Shuyi want with you?”
Xu Fangfei lifted the stack of mock exam papers in her hand, utterly helpless. “Delivering hard labor.”
Yang Lu’s eyes widened. She took the heavy stack of papers, weighed them in her hands, and frowned. “So many papers. How long will it take you to finish all this?”
“Within this week.” Xu Fangfei sighed, collapsing her upper body onto the desk, her voice weak. “And there’ll be a set every week from now on.”
Yang Lu’s brow furrowed even tighter. “The whole class?”
Xu Fangfei covered her face. “The top ten.”
“Thank goodness my grades are terrible.” Yang Lu patted her chest with lingering fear. Seeing Xu Fangfei’s utterly lifeless expression, she drew a cross in the air for her and comforted her. “It’s fine. Worst case, you work yourself to death. Eighteen years later, you’ll be a good hero again.”
Xu Fangfei: “.”
The top ten students were all the class’s best performers, with high standards for themselves. Tired as they were, mentally exhausted as they were, the papers still had to be done. After all, no one wanted to fall behind or be overtaken.
The next evening after self-study, everyone took out their papers, each one filled from top to bottom.
After Zhao Shuyi finished checking everyone’s papers, he ticked the box labeled “Week One Mock Exam Completion” in his notebook, then announced the correct answers.
Xu Fangfei listened carefully while correcting her work with a red pen.
After reading out the standard answer to the final question, Zhao Shuyi looked up at everyone and asked, “Which questions need special explanation?”
Everyone immediately started talking at once, reporting their mistakes.
Zhao Shuyi recorded every single one without missing anything.
Grade 12 evening self-study already ended late, and releasing the answers took even more time. By the time Xu Fangfei packed her bag and stood up from her seat, the clock on the classroom wall showed that it was already nine o’clock at night.
Suddenly, the phone in her pocket vibrated.
Xu Fangfei answered the call. “Hello, Mom.”
“You said yesterday that the top ten students have to do mock exams and listen to explanations after evening self-study. It’s already nine. Are you done yet?” Qiao Huilan asked.
“Just finished.” Xu Fangfei pushed her chair back under the desk.
Qiao Huilan continued on the phone, “I’m setting up a mourning hall outside, so I can’t come pick you up. Be careful on your way home. It’d be best if you walk with a classmate, understand?”
“Okay.” After hanging up, Xu Fangfei put away her phone. As she turned around, a tall, slender figure appeared in front of her.
Xu Fangfei paused, then spoke half a second later. “Zhao Shuyi, are you looking for me?”
Zhao Shuyi held a gentle smile on his lips and asked, “Xu Fangfei, do you live on Xiwang Street?”
Xu Fangfei answered, “Yes. Why?”
“My home is in the same direction as yours,” Zhao Shuyi said. “My father is picking me up by car today. Since it’s on the way anyway, I can give you a ride.”
Xu Fangfei originally wanted to politely refuse Zhao Shuyi’s kindness, but then she thought about it again. They were classmates after all. Catching a ride together should not be a big deal.
So she nodded and accepted with a smile. “Then I’ll trouble you.”
*
Zhao Shuyi’s parents were both intellectuals. In their early years, they devoted themselves wholeheartedly to studying, burying their heads in books, and passed the college entrance examination to leave Lingcheng, attending universities in major cities. After graduation, the two ambitious young people felt a deep attachment to their hometown and resolutely gave up high-paying jobs in big cities to return to Lingcheng.
Now, Father Zhao and Mother Zhao both worked at the Lingcheng Planning Bureau.
Xu Fangfei learned all this when she was catching a ride, as Father Zhao casually mentioned it to her.
After finishing the story of his and his wife’s youthful achievements, Father Zhao suddenly changed the subject and said casually, “By the way, Xu Fangfei, I’ve seen your mother a few times before when I attended Shuyi’s parent-teacher meetings. How come I’ve never seen your father?”
Xu Fangfei’s expression changed slightly when she heard this. Her lips moved as she was about to answer, but Zhao Shuyi beside her spoke up first, cutting in before Father Zhao could continue. He said, “Dad, Xu Fangfei’s home is just ahead. You can stop at the intersection.”
Father Zhao pulled the car over.
Xu Fangfei smiled politely. “Thank you, Uncle Zhao. Sorry to trouble you and Zhao Shuyi today.”
“Oh, come on. You and Shuyi are classmates. Helping each other is only right. Why thank us?” Father Zhao was the kind of person who grew tall but not thoughtful. After speaking, he cheerfully instructed Zhao Shuyi, “Son, get out of the car and walk Xu Fangfei upstairs. She’s a girl, and it’s not very safe this late at night.”
“No, no, no, there’s really no need.” Xu Fangfei hurriedly waved her hands. “Uncle Zhao, I’m already very grateful that you brought me back. My home is just ahead. It’s only a short distance. I can go back by myself.”
“You have to send her. Shuyi, get out of the car.”
In the end, unable to withstand Father Zhao’s enthusiasm, Xu Fangfei had no choice but to let Zhao Shuyi get out of the car and accompany her toward the gate of No. 9 Courtyard.
On the way, Zhao Shuyi turned his head to look at the obedient, gentle profile of the girl beside him. Feeling a little embarrassed, he said, “Xu Fangfei, my dad didn’t mean to ask you that earlier. He didn’t have any bad intentions. He just doesn’t really understand your family’s specific situation. I’m sorry.”
Xu Fangfei shook her head and curved her lips at Zhao Shuyi. “You don’t need to apologize. It’s nothing.”
Looking at Xu Fangfei’s delicate features, Zhao Shuyi’s throat tightened slightly, and his palms felt a little warm. He wanted to say something more, but hesitated, stopping himself.
In the small city of August, the night was stingy, domineeringly enveloping the clouds and the moon. The boy and girl walked along the curb, streetlights casting warm orange light that gently wrapped around their figures. One was clean-cut and refined, the other gentle and beautiful. Both wore spotless school uniforms, looking incomparably well-matched and harmonious.
This was the scene that suddenly crashed into Zheng Xiye’s line of sight.
With a dull bang, Zheng Xiye, with a cigarette clenched between his teeth, flung the car door shut behind him and coldly stared at the golden boy and jade-like girl walking slowly toward him, feeling inexplicably irritated.
The displeasure came out of nowhere, yet surged overwhelmingly.
Zheng Xiye narrowed his eyes, stubbed out the cigarette, and leaned back against the car door to wait. Before long, the outlines of the boy and girl arrived within his field of vision.
When they were only about two meters away, he suddenly spoke, his tone casual and unhurried. “What a coincidence.”
…Huh?
Hearing this familiar voice, Xu Fangfei, who had been walking with her head lowered, froze noticeably, then abruptly lifted her head.
Sure enough, she saw that unexpected face, cold and decadent, with a faint trace of hostility hidden at the corners of his eyes and brows, his expression openly declaring, “I’m not in a good mood right now.”
Her steps halted, and Xu Fangfei stood there in shock.
After the art exhibition, she had not seen him for several days. She had not expected to run into him like this tonight.
Then she looked at Zhao Shuyi beside her. Faced with the young man who suddenly spoke up, his eyes showed surprise, no less than hers.
After a few seconds of astonishment, Zhao Shuyi frowned, his gaze turning alert and guarded. By instinct, he wanted to reach out and pull Xu Fangfei behind him.
But before he could move, the man who looked like trouble spoke again.
His eyes fixed straight on Xu Fangfei. His chin shifted slightly, and there was no emotion in his words. “Your classmate?”
Xu Fangfei nodded.
This left Class Monitor Zhao completely confused.
He had originally thought the man meant trouble, either to rob or to harm. But it turned out Xu Fangfei actually knew this tough-looking man?
Just as the outstanding student stared at Zheng Xiye with suspicion for a few seconds, Zheng Xiye’s gaze finally shifted back to him coolly. With an expressionless face, he said, “Thank you for bringing Feifei home.”
Zhao Shuyi: “……”
That authoritative tone and posture, combined with the overwhelming presence that seemed to clear all life within ten miles, truly stunned Zhao Shuyi. On impulse, he replied without thinking, “Y-you’re welcome.”
Zheng Xiye then looked at Xu Fangfei again, his tone softening. “Go home. Say goodbye to your classmate.”
“Mm.”
Xu Fangfei was still a little dazed. Hearing this, she obediently nodded, said “goodbye” to Zhao Shuyi, and then followed Zheng Xiye away.
Zhao Shuyi was left standing there alone, looking utterly bewildered.
*
The night was deep. A sudden breeze swept through, bringing coolness and waking the old roadside trees. Dark green leaves swayed gently, rustling softly.
After walking a few steps, Zheng Xiye’s gaze drifted involuntarily to his side.
The girl wore her school uniform neatly and properly, a small backpack on her back, her little head slightly lowered. Her face and neck were pale and fair, obedient to an almost unbelievable degree.
Zheng Xiye asked, “Why were you getting out of school so late today?”
Xu Fangfei answered honestly. “It’s Grade 12 now. The teacher requires the top ten students in the class to proactively increase their workload. We have to do mock exam questions, and after evening self-study, we compare answers and listen to explanations.”
After a brief pause, she softly added, “Zhao Shuyi said his home is in the same direction as mine, so he gave me a ride.”
Zheng Xiye frowned. “Zhao Shuyi?”
Xu Fangfei said, “The classmate from just now. His name is Zhao Shuyi. He’s our class monitor, and he was first in the grade in our last final exam. His grades are very good, and he often helps his classmates.”
After hearing this, Zheng Xiye responded with a cold “Oh.”
After introducing Class Monitor Zhao Shuyi, Xu Fangfei thought of today’s English mock exam. Zhao Shuyi had nearly gotten full marks. A trace of admiration and envy welled up in her heart, and she murmured thoughtfully, “Zhao Shuyi has a really strong language sense. His logical thinking and spatial imagination are also amazing. Just in math, English, and physics alone, he can already pull ahead of me. No wonder he can rank first.”
As soon as her words fell, Zheng Xiye suddenly spoke beside her, his tone light and indifferent. “Is getting first place that hard?”
Xu Fangfei: ???
She turned her head and looked at him with an utterly incredulous and shocked expression.
At the same time, Zheng Xiye also turned his head, eyelids drooping as he looked at her. Without any expression, he said, “When I was in high school, I ranked first in the grade on every single exam.”
Xu Fangfei: “……”
The expression on Xu Fangfei’s face instantly became hard to describe.
The two stared at each other, wide-eyed.
After about three seconds of silent staring, Zheng Xiye suddenly saw the delicate girl in front of him quietly lift her slender neck and look up at the sky.
Then she said, “Do you see it?”
Zheng Xiye was puzzled and followed her gaze upward. The night was as dark as ink, a pitch-black canopy of sky, with nothing to see.
“See what?”
“Tonight, there are lots of cows flying in the sky[1]The phrase “cows flying in the sky” comes from the Chinese idiom 吹牛 (chuī niú), which literally means “to blow cows” but idiomatically means to boast or exaggerate. The joke here plays … Continue reading jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_1541047_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_1541047_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });.”
Zheng Xiye: ?
The girl asked again, “Do you know why?”
Zheng Xiye replied, “Why?”
The girl then looked back at him solemnly and said with deep emphasis, “Because there’s someone called Zheng Xiye on the ground, blowing really hard.”
Zheng Xiye: “…”
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