The shouting and cursing continued without end, even growing more intense by the moment.
Zhou Zhi took a deep breath, unconsciously tugging at the corner of her mouth as she threw off the covers and sat up.
“Zhou Zhi, don’t be impulsive.”
A reminder came from some roommate in the darkness, but soon another spoke up.
“Just bear with it, they’re hard to deal with.”
“Tell the teacher tomorrow…”
Zhou Zhi stood in the darkness, an unfamiliar warmth flowing through her heart.
Like spring water trickling through dry, cracked crevices—vanishing without a trace, yet leaving behind the fragrance of flowers.
The girl let out a soft hum, responding to no one in particular.
The noise outside continued, and Wu Ya’s expression grew increasingly ferocious.
At first, it had been to satisfy Gu Wan, but now she was genuinely venting her own anger.
Why, why, why…
Why did they get good grades, why were they pretty, why did their families have money and power…
While she had nothing. Here she was, throwing her weight around and breaking the rules, and in the end, she’d have to clean up her own mess.
“Slap!”
The dormitory door, which had remained shut, was thrown open.
The girl with loose, flowing hair stood at the threshold, her loose nightgown revealing prominent collarbones—fair and smooth.
“You…”
Wu Ya hadn’t expected the seemingly fragile girl to have the nerve to open the door.
What she hadn’t expected even more was still to come.
“Splash!”
A large basin of cold water poured down, drenching Wu Ya and Zhao Zhenzhen from head to toe.
Dripping beads of water fell from their hair tips onto the floor. Soaked through, they looked like chickens caught in the rain.
Drowned rats.
Gone was the earlier noise and arrogance—both of them looked more pathetic than the other.
“You’re asking for it!” Wu Ya’s eyes turned red as she felt unprecedented humiliation.
She was always the one who bullied and tormented others—how dare someone splash water on her!
Her raised hand never got the chance to fall, as warm water splashed across Wu Ya’s face again.
“Calm now?”
Zhou Zhi released her grip on Wu Ya’s hand, her voice calm and indifferent, utterly unruffled.
As if she hadn’t been the one cursed at for nearly ten minutes, as if she hadn’t been the one throwing the water.
Water dripped down Wu Ya’s face, and she could barely open her eyes.
Zhao Zhenzhen, who had been playing along with Wu Ya’s act, frantically pulled a soaking wet tissue from her pocket and handed it to Wu Ya.
Furious!
Wu Ya gritted her teeth, feeling her face burn with heat and shame.
They saw it—everyone must have seen her looking this pathetic.
Her entire body trembled, yet the girl before her showed not a single flicker of expression.
Their gazes collided, and Wu Ya was the first to retreat. She hastily looked away and took a half-step back.
She was still afraid of meeting those eyes—beneath them seemed to lurk a man-eating beast, enough to make anyone tremble.
A faint scoff seemed to drift through the air.
Zhou Zhi rubbed the dampness on her fingertips and said coldly, “I’m a good student.”
So this was where it ended. She wouldn’t pursue it further.
The dormitory door closed shut, and the hallway fell silent—nothing but the drip-drip of water, the earlier commotion gone.
The onlookers dispersed to sleep.
The high-intensity studying had left them physically and mentally exhausted, and no one forgot they had to be up at five-thirty the next morning for morning reading.
This little episode meant nothing in the fast-paced life of senior year.
But after tonight, everyone understood—even the most beautiful flower has sharp thorns.
“Wu Ya…” Zhao Zhenzhen hesitated for a moment, glancing at Wu Ya.
Should they continue?
Wu Ya let out a cold snort and headed back to the dormitory.
Her wrist, which had been gripped moments ago, throbbed faintly.
She wasn’t willing to let it go just like that.
Wait… once she figured out what exactly the relationship between this Zhou Zhi and Ji Xuanxu was.
She would definitely find a chance to get back at her twice over!
After the start of senior year, relaxing and aspirational classes like music and art were all cancelled.
The only one that remained was P.E.
Before class began, the P.E. monitor had already called for all the students to line up outside and head to the track.
Zhou Zhi was the new arrival, so she consciously stood at the very back.
September still carried the lingering swelter of summer—a scorching sun, a steaming track.
Zhou Zhi suddenly recalled her first day transferring here. She had stood in the classroom, watching a silver-haired youth run lap after lap around the track.
Bathed in sunlight, wild and unrestrained, pouring out the vigor of their youth.
Yearning.
Perhaps her true longing for campus life had begun at that very moment.
Zhou Zhi’s mind began to drift, her feet moving mechanically after the students ahead of her, until a flash of silver entered her field of vision.
“Hey, Ji-ge!” Song Jun waved frantically toward Class Three’s formation, a delighted expression on his face.
The sudden shout drew quite a few glances.
Gu Wan raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at her lips.
Wu Ya quickly looked over as well. She watched Ji Xuanxu, then subtly shifted her gaze to Zhou Zhi, trying to pick up any trace of a connection between the two.
But… there was nothing.
Ji Xuanxu didn’t even spare a single glance in their direction.
Wu Ya felt a secret thrill.
Liang Muye’s movements were almost in sync with Wu Ya’s.
What exactly was the relationship between Zhou Zhi and Ji Xuanxu?
Hard to tell, but it was definitely more than ordinary—otherwise, Ji Xuanxu wouldn’t have listened to Zhou Zhi in the middle of his rage.
And Zhou Zhi wouldn’t have cleaned up his mess for him.
Could it be… siblings!
Liang Muye was startled by his own speculation, his gaze snapping onto Zhou Zhi’s face.
Secret scandals of wealthy families weren’t out of the question—after all, word had it that high society was a mess. Maybe she was even an illegitimate daughter?
Meanwhile, Zhou Zhi, who had been the first to spot Ji Xuanxu, had already averted her eyes.
Xu Yao was equally delighted, waving back at Song Jun.
Having his good brother in the same P.E. class was exhilarating—they could play basketball together.
“Hey, where’s Ji-ge going?” Xu Yao turned around, only to see Ji Xuanxu already breaking away from the formation.
Ji Xuanxu didn’t look back, his voice lazy: “Too hot. Getting water.”
She couldn’t control her gaze.
On the track, there were many classes in session.
Cicadas chirped in waves, and the heat rolled through on the wind, surging in all directions.
Quite a few people were standing in the shade of the trees.
Gu Wan had grabbed two bottles of water, scanning for Ji Xuanxu’s figure.
Taking this opportunity, Wu Ya sidled up to Song Jun and whispered, “Do you know what the relationship between that Zhou Zhi and Ji Xuanxu is?”
In the entire Class Two, the only one with a special connection to Ji Xuanxu was Song Jun.
Song Jun scratched his head: “Huh? Is there some relationship?”
Zhou Zhi had only transferred to the school less than two weeks ago—how could there be any relationship?
But…
Remembering what had happened in that alley that day, Song Jun lowered his voice: “Ji-ge probably really dislikes her.”
Everyone knew Wu Ya and Gu Wan were inseparable. He knew exactly what she was after by prying into this.
Saying that should put Gu Wan’s mind at ease!
Besides, what he said wasn’t a lie—he had overheard their conversation that day.
Brother Ji told Zhou Zhi to stay away from him, which was clearly a sign of dislike, wasn’t it?
Wu Ya nodded, a hint of smugness rising in her eyes.
So that day had just been a coincidence, and there was nothing between the two of them. She had no reason to fear offending Ji Xuanxu.
The humiliation from last night, she would repay twofold.