Until dinner.
Gu Wanxin’s excitement was still going strong, mainly because Zhu Huaiqian kept teasing her from time to time.
She was both clumsy and eager to play, yet she insisted on sitting right across from Zhu Huaiqian.
Zhu Zhixi had no choice but to sit face-to-face with Gu Qishen.
Normally, when Zhu Zhixi and Gu Wanxin were together, they would chatter nonstop, their conversations lively and endless.
Zhu Huaiqian couldn’t understand how a high school student and an elementary school student could have so much to talk about.
Today, only Gu Wanxin was the one laughing heartily.
Zhu Zhixi kept her head down, eating quietly.
When the stray hairs on her forehead were gently brushed back, Zhu Zhixi instinctively looked up, her lips curving slightly. “Aunt Jia.”
Gu Qishen’s mother, Lin Weijia, had followed in her father’s footsteps—a strong, capable woman. Her features weren’t particularly beautiful but carried an air of grace and dignity.
Gu Qishen took more after his father, Gu Zhenqi—refined, handsome, and charming in appearance.
The two were a union of a poor young man and a wealthy young woman. Gu Zhenqi had a knack for business and was hardworking, gradually becoming a key figure in the company. Lin Weijia then shifted some of her focus to the family.
“Xibao, why is your face so pale and bloodless? Is the pressure of senior year getting to you?”
“Even your hair feels thinner than before.”
Lin Weijia genuinely adored Zhu Zhixi—beautiful and thoughtful, she had always wished for a daughter.
Zhu Zhixi smiled. “I’m fine, no pressure at all.”
Lin Weijia hummed in acknowledgment, comforting her. “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Like your parents, I just want you to stay healthy and do your best in your studies. In the future, you and Wanwan won’t need to earn a lot of money—we and your parents can support you both. Besides, there are these two troublemakers here.”
Zhu Huaiqian immediately chimed in. “Exactly, Aunt Jia. I’m sure Zhu Zhixi isn’t stressed. She’s firmly holding onto her spot in the bottom three—no one’s competing with her for it.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you in the future. Just be nicer to me from now on.”
His tone was arrogant as he patted Gu Qishen’s shoulder and sighed. “Ah Shen, we’re really unlucky. Zhu Zhixi and Gu Wanxin are like two money-devouring monsters.”
“I’m not afraid of them asking for money—I’m afraid they won’t ask.” Gu Qishen’s lips curved slightly, clearly teasing. Zhu Zhixi hadn’t spoken to him all day.
Zhu Zhixi lowered her eyes. “I don’t need anyone to support me.”
The slight curve of Gu Qishen’s lips gradually straightened.
“I don’t need anyone either. I have my New Year’s money to support myself.” Gu Wanxin’s little voice carried a hint of stubbornness.
Zhu Huaiqian let out an exaggerated “Oh.” “Little Wanwan is so rich. How about sharing some with your brother?”
Gu Wanxin: “No way. You’re the one who called me and Xibao money-devouring monsters.”
Her little voice made several people laugh.
Zhu Zhixi wore her hair in a low ponytail, half-revealing her full, fair forehead, with a few stray strands falling by her ears.
From Gu Qishen’s perspective, the girl’s face was small and pale, her eyelashes thick and long, her nose bridge elegantly defined, and her lips slightly upturned. Dressed in her blue-and-white school uniform, her eyes curved into a gentle smile.
Soft and radiant.
Zhu Zhixi looked up with a smile, her gaze meeting Gu Qishen’s.
Today, Zhu Zhixi had been avoiding him. This straightforward eye contact made Gu Qishen sigh softly. He leaned forward, resting his chin on the table, his clean, sharp features exposed under the light. His gaze was direct, tinged with a hint of grievance.
He was subtly seeking reconciliation.
In the past, Gu Qishen would do this too. Whenever Zhu Zhixi was upset and refused to look at him, he would stare at her intently.
Those beautiful, affectionate eyes—perhaps they looked at everyone with the same tenderness.
Not just her.
Zhu Zhixi actively averted her gaze.
After dinner.
Zhu Huaiqian said Zhao Moran had organized a gathering for them to hang out together.
Gu Qishen didn’t speak or agree, just lifted his eyelids to glance at Zhu Zhixi.
Zhu Zhixi ignored his gaze. “I’m going back to do my homework.”
The tension between the two of them made Zhu Huaiqian the most uncomfortable, like a monkey with its butt on fire—fidgeting and restless.
“There’s no class tomorrow, you can do it then.”
Zhu Zhixi pushed him away. “I want to work hard and compete for fourth-to-last place. Don’t hold me back from improving.”
Gu Qishen’s eyelids drooped again as he sat on the sofa, looking lazy and weary.
“You’re really not going?” Zhu Huaiqian watched Zhu Zhixi walk out without looking back.
This girl was really holding a grudge this time.
Zhu Huaiqian thought Zhu Zhixi was angry and that studying was just an excuse she’d come up with on the spot.
But Zhu Zhixi had no choice—how could she compare to high school students with the richest knowledge reserves?
Having graduated nearly ten years ago, her mind was now empty. Back then, her grades had been average—at the bottom of the Advanced Class and in the middle of the regular class.
After the start of senior year, the pace was dialed up to the max: targeted training, improvement, review, mock exams—one round after another.
Zhu Zhixi ranked last in her first monthly exam.
Thinking about next week’s Weekly Test gave her a headache. She could already foresee the outcome.
Two last-place finishes, and if there was a third, she’d have to pack her desk and leave.
It was really embarrassing.
The Advanced Class’s elimination system meant that three consecutive last-place finishes would get you kicked out—though after two, the homeroom teacher would usually have a routine talk with you.
Zhu Zhixi was starting from the basics, reading her textbooks while memorizing chemical reaction principles and formulas, along with physics and math. After so many years apart, they felt unfamiliar, and she was afraid she’d forget everything as soon as she put pen to paper.
Zhu Huaiqian was annoyed. Gu Qishen said he was going to help Gu Wanxin with her homework and wouldn’t go out.
That left him as the odd one out, unable to enjoy anything.
So he washed a bunch of grapes, carried the plate into Zhu Zhixi’s room, pushed aside a stack of books, and sat directly on the desk, one leg swinging.
“Xixi.”
“Xibao.”
“Want to take a break? Balance work and rest.”
Zhu Zhixi just found him noisy. “Leave the fruit and get out.”
Zhu Huaiqian clicked his tongue, thinking she was just in a bad mood. He turned her face toward him, examining it from all angles. “You do look a bit pale. Want to go to the hospital for a checkup tomorrow?”
Zhu Zhixi slapped his hand away. “No need.”
Zhu Huaiqian: “My heart hurt really badly for a while this afternoon. Did you feel anything?”
Though he wouldn’t admit to twin telepathy, the two of them had always gotten sick together since childhood.
Zhu Zhixi’s expression stiffened slightly. “No, I didn’t stay up all night playing games. If your heart hurts, be careful of sudden death.”
Zhu Huaiqian kicked her chair leg. “Don’t curse me. Your brother plans to live to at least eighty-eight.”
“Ah Shen and Qiao Baifei are just desk mates. Don’t be angry, okay? I’ll switch seats with him tomorrow, alright?” Zhu Huaiqian didn’t want to see the two of them in a cold war.
It was so awkward.
Since childhood, Zhu Zhixi had always had a place by Gu Qishen’s side—fixed, favored. So, whenever a girl appeared around Gu Qishen, Zhu Zhixi would feel somewhat alert.
When it came to Gu Qishen, because she liked him, she felt jealous, possessive.
Her heart inexplicably tightened. Her future with Gu Qishen had already been decided long ago.
“I don’t care.”
Zhu Zhixi popped a grape into her mouth. It was juicy but a bit sour, making her cheeks ache with acidity.
“From now on, Gu Qishen is Gu Qishen, and Zhu Zhixi is Zhu Zhixi.”
The soft, muffled voice wasn't loud, drifting out from the quiet room. Gu Qishen thought it must be his exceptional hearing—otherwise, how could he hear so clearly when the staircase was quite far from the room?
The milk swirling at his fingertips paused slightly.
From the room came Zhu Huaiqian's chuckling. He scratched his ear, clearly unconvinced: "I've heard that line so many times it's worn thin. Zhu Zhixi, who was it that secretly wrote in their diary about liki—"
"Really."
Zhu Zhixi lifted her slender, pale neck, her voice trembling slightly: "From now on, I won't like him anymore."