At four in the afternoon, as the sun began its westward descent, everyone boarded the school bus to head back. The journey was filled with boisterous chatter; after a day of fun, no one felt tired but instead buzzed with excitement. University life offered numerous activities and flexible schedules, free from endless tests.
As they shared their experiences, everyone envisioned their future college days being just as vibrant and colorful.
Lu Xun tilted his head to gaze out the window. Through the faint reflection on the glass, he could see the girl’s serene sleeping profile, peaceful and lovely.
The fading sunset bathed the steadily moving bus in a warm glow, and the surrounding noises seemed to fade away. He stared for a long time, until shouts of “We’re here!” and “Get off!” snapped him back to reality.
Jiang Qiao was deep in sleep, unaware of what she was dreaming about. She smacked her lips softly and mumbled something indistinct.
Lu Xun leaned closer and finally made out her sticky, drowsy voice calling his name: “Lu Xun…His expression froze, the tenderness in his eyes had not yet had time to soften, when he heard her continue: “Dogder.”
Lu Xun: “……………………”
A sharp tap on her forehead jolted Jiang Qiao awake. Dazed, she looked around—who had sneak-attacked her? But there was no one nearby. All she saw was a tall, straight-backed figure stepping off the bus.
Even from behind, he seemed to radiate anger.
Hmm, was it an illusion, or had she accidentally hit herself?
Rubbing her slightly sore forehead, she frowned in confusion and slowly disembarked.
There were no evening self-study sessions that day. Boarding students returned to their dorms, while others gradually headed home.
Near the school gate, an expensive black car parked by the roadside drew a crowd of onlookers. Lu Xun instinctively turned to look.
Jiang Qiao walked over with her backpack. The driver stepped out and opened the door for her. Accepting such meticulous care as a matter of course, she leisurely got into the car.
The black vehicle started up and soon vanished from sight.
“Whoa, that’s Jiang Qiao’s family car?” someone exclaimed in surprise. “I remember it wasn’t this one last time, but it’s always a luxury model.”
“You think ‘Miss Jiang’ is just a nickname? She’s a genuine heiress.”
“Hahaha, true. Anyone who becomes the Jiang family’s son-in-law wouldn’t just skip ten years of hard work—they’d never have to work again in their life…”
Lu Xun listened to the pointed, sarcastic remarks around him, his expression unchanging. His lowered lashes veiled the emotions in his eyes.
For a moment, he recalled the bread they shared that night, the extinguished “candle,” the rose that never wilted, and the gaze that made his breath falter.
Lu Xun couldn’t lie to himself—his heartbeat was far more honest than his rationality.
But the distance between the luxurious villa district and the old, narrow alley was vast. He had walked it and knew how difficult it was.
Young girls often exaggerate and idealize their affections, and Jiang Qiao’s liking was especially ethereal and groundless.
What’s out of reach is the moon in the sky; once obtained, it becomes an ordinary white plate.
Lu Xun knew clearly that if Jiang Qiao got what she wanted, it would mark the beginning of his loss.
He stood at the bustling school gate for a long time, not moving until a teacher called his name.
On New Year’s Day, the first and second-year students prepared performances in advance and celebrated together in the auditorium. Meanwhile, the third-year students, burdened with intense studies, held a simple gathering in their own classroom.
Day students were exempt from participation, while boarding students tried to make the best of it by blowing up balloons and hanging streamers in the classroom, determined to create a festive atmosphere.
Lu Xun, being tall, was tasked with hanging balloons and streamers in high places.
The weather was particularly cold today. He hadn’t checked the forecast and had worn the same clothes as yesterday when he went out. Now his throat felt dry and sore—symptoms of a cold.
Enduring the discomfort, he took the balloons and hung them from the ceiling when someone at the door called out, “Straight-A student, someone’s here to see you!”
Who could be looking for him?
A light, graceful figure flashed through Lu Xun’s mind, and the next second, he was already striding out quickly.
Once outside the teaching building, the chilly night wind snapped him back to reality, and he found his inexplicable anticipation laughable.
On holidays, which student who could go home wouldn’t spend it with their family?
Meanwhile, Jiang Qiao was leaning against a pillar in front of the teaching building, sheltering from the wind.
The Jiang family had few close relatives in her generation, mostly distant relatives trying to curry favor—the kind with barely any connection. They gathered together, exchanging insincere flatteries.
She had managed to slip away from the Jiang family gathering. As she walked, the trees along the road were adorned with festive lights, and happy families passed by, laughing and chatting. The entire city was decorated with lanterns and streamers.
Jiang Qiao suddenly felt bored. She wandered aimlessly, not paying attention to where she was going, and when she looked up, she found herself at the school gate.
The security guard recognized her as a student and let her in.
Standing at the foot of the teaching building, she regretted coming. Just as she was about to turn and leave, a few classmates returning from the school store spotted her and asked curiously why she was back.
Jiang Qiao blurted out, “Looking for someone.”
Her classmates’ faces lit up with understanding. “The straight-A student?”
“I’ll go call him for you!”
Their enthusiasm left Jiang Qiao no chance to refuse.
After waiting a while, she indeed saw Lu Xun coming down.
Truly a young man, so full of vitality—wearing so little on such a cold day, Jiang Qiao mused.
She tucked her small face deeper into her thick down jacket and jogged over.
From afar, Lu Xun saw a round, white ball “rolling” toward him, accompanied by a voice: “Lu Xun…”
When he saw her small face, red from the cold, he froze.
Jiang Qiao…
“What are you—” he started to say, but before he could finish, the white ball unexpectedly crashed into his arms. Lu Xun’s pupils contracted, and his heart skipped a beat.
“……………………”
“So cold, so cold!” Jiang Qiao didn’t notice his awkwardness. Hiding in his embrace, she complained petulantly, “Why are you wearing so little? Aren’t you cold? I’m still cold even with all these layers.”
She burrowed deeper into Lu Xun’s arms, openly taking advantage of the situation. Hmm, she wondered what laundry detergent he used—it smelled so good, much better than perfume.
She made a mental note to ask him later.
The soft, warm bundle had thrown herself at him so abruptly that his chilled body slowly began to warm up. Lu Xun’s hand, raised to push her away, froze mid-air.
After a long moment, he resignedly let it drop to his side. “…Not cold.”
He didn’t push her away? Had he changed?
Jiang Qiao’s small eyes darted around mischievously. She lifted half her face from his chest, her clear, sparkling eyes smiling. “Then you’re amazing~”
Her words sounded almost like flirting.
Lu Xun’s fingers stiffened at his sides. “Don’t talk nonsense.”
“Where’s the nonsense~,” Jiang Qiao said with a grin. “Lu Xun, are you getting shy?”
The more she spoke, the more outrageous it became. Lu Xun made a show of pushing her away. “Shut up.”