Before Pei Xingche could gather his thoughts, the girl moved again.
She pulled a small carton of yogurt from her school uniform jacket pocket, carefully twisted off the lid, and began to drink.
It seemed to taste wonderful—she was so happy her eyes squinted into crescents, her little feet swinging back and forth.
Was it really that good?
Even Pei Xingche, who had never had much desire for food or drinks, felt a twinge of craving.
Finally, the girl nervously scanned her surroundings once more. This time she nearly spotted Pei Xingche, but for some reason, he instinctively dodged behind the wall with surprising speed.
She can’t find me.
That was his only thought.
As for the reason—no one could say.
After confirming no one was around, the girl cast aside all caution. She stuck out her pink tongue and carefully licked the yogurt lid.
Still not satisfied, she turned the carton upside down against her lips, tilting her chin high. Her thick, jet-black hair cascaded down naturally as she parted her lips and extended her tongue to lick the carton.
Pei Xingche: …
Is it really that good?
His throat bobbed. Perhaps it was from standing too long under the scorching sun—he felt parched.
The carton was emptied again and again, her tongue reaching its limit. Finally, she let go. But as the carton pulled away, her little pink tongue didn’t retract.
Instead, it was laid bare, exposed to the sunlight, the air, and Pei Xingche’s eyes.
Pei Xingche’s gaze darkened.
An abnormal restlessness and excitement battered his reason. He swallowed hard, his throat burning as if it were on fire.
Fine.
He had to admit it.
He was stirred by her beauty.
He was shallow and hypocritical.
He was a pervert.
The outcome of this chance encounter—this so-called love at first sight—was that the girl finished her yogurt and left, while the boy stood rooted to the spot like he was being punished, lost in a daze.
He was reflecting. He was also agonizing.
Pei Xingche had always considered himself an upright gentleman—not necessarily noble and pure as jade, but at least virtuous in morals, intellect, physique, aesthetics, and labor.
Who would have thought that just one extra glance at a pretty girl would reveal the truth: he was a pervert at heart.
Sigh.
He was a guy who didn’t smoke or drink, and he was virtuous in all five aspects. What was wrong with having a little lust?
No problem. Absolutely no problem.
Pei Xingche quickly rationalized it in his mind, kicked at the fallen leaves by his feet, and turned to leave.
But he hadn’t taken more than a few steps before he turned back.
He walked to the bench where the girl had sat, leaned over, and peered into the trash can at the yogurt carton.
Mm, walnut yogurt.
It looked pretty good.
Later, Pei Xingche went out of his way to buy that exact yogurt. How to put it—the taste was mediocre. He had no idea why that girl was so obsessed with it.
And later still.
Pei Xingche learned that such a mediocre yogurt was the price of that girl’s lunch.
Actually, after that moment, he hadn’t intended to pursue the girl.
After all, he had always been the one being pursued. Why would he ever take the initiative?
But gradually, he learned her name was Yun Xiang.
His gaze slowly ceased to belong to him, unable to stop following her.
The girl seemed somewhat withdrawn. She walked slowly, often keeping her head down and shrinking into corners like a little snail.
Her baggy school uniform was like her protective shell. She hid inside it, not wanting anyone to notice her.
But Pei Xingche noticed.
He noticed her beautiful, pure features—like his future wife—and even more, he noticed her impossibly adorable ways.
The way she walked, pinched her sleeves, ate, rubbed her hands, and spaced out—everything was unbearably cute.
How could the boy of that time have known that when his gaze began to follow someone, when he found someone adorable even when she did nothing at all, that was the beginning of his complete downfall?
Perhaps subconsciously he did know, but emotion forced reason to indulge it all.
He allowed himself to sink, willingly drowning in this bittersweet secret crush.
She invaded his dreams and his emotions.
Seeing her walk too close to other boys made him uncontrollably angry and restless;
Seeing her rather go hungry than give up her yogurt made him genuinely ache and ache for her.
He wanted her to live better, wanted her to see him, wanted her to smile at him, and wanted…
To kiss her.
Just like in his dreams.
He wanted to kiss her right now too.
The boy’s dark eyes stared unblinkingly at the girl’s slightly parted lips and her increasingly flushed cheeks, lost in fantasy.
Yet he had no energy to wonder why Yun Xiang’s face was growing redder and redder.
Yun Xiang pressed her lips together and finally stumbled her way through reciting the poem.
A poem she had recited fairly smoothly before was now a complete disaster.
As for the reason…
Of course, it was because a pervert was sitting next to her, and she could hear the pervert’s inner voice.
[My wife’s lips are so soft, I want to kiss them so bad! Wuwuwu, when can I get a kiss?]
[Ah, bro wants to kiss you so badly (writhing) (rolling intensely) (rubbing hands like a fly)]
[Actually, I don’t need to kiss right now—can I at least touch? Just touch her face once, mm, or her hand, her hand works too (shy puppy)]
Yun Xiang: …
“I’m done reciting.” She couldn’t help but interrupt Pei Xingche’s train of thought.
[That fast?]
Bro, class is already over.
I’m already the slowest one, Yun Xiang grumbled inwardly.
[Can I say I didn’t hear clearly and ask her to recite it again? That way I can openly stare at my wife.]
Yun Xiang: ? Get lost, will you?
Unbearable. Choosing Pei Xingche as her deskmate really was a mistake.
Pei Xingche cleared his throat and said in a low voice, “You recited very well.”
?
Were you even listening?
The boy finally withdrew his gaze and glanced at his watch, while Little Ala on his head still squinted, staring at Yun Xiang with a clingy, sticky look.
What are you looking at?
Looking all day long—what’s there to see?
The girl’s thoughts were tangled, rising and falling, her heartbeat pulsing again and again.
She didn’t even realize that ever since she became Pei Xingche’s deskmate, her inner monologue had grown considerably.
Of course, all of this was because Pei Xingche’s inner voice was too outrageous.
Yun Xiang bit her lip, the heat on her cheeks still not subsiding.
She stood up sideways, and Pei Xingche immediately stood up as well to give her space.
Yun Xiang let out a breath, her fingers fumbling with her sleeve, and quickly walked to the restroom.
Turning on the faucet, icy water ran over her fingertips. She cupped her hands together, scooped up cold water, and patted it onto her face.
Trying to cool herself down with physical methods.
Just then, their class’s English teacher happened to walk into the restroom. Seeing Yun Xiang patting her face with cold water, she nodded approvingly and praised, “Not bad. If you’re feeling sleepy, patting your face with cold water will wake you up a lot.”
“G-Good morning, Teacher.”
Yun Xiang turned around, a little dazed. Her brows and eyes were still beaded with water droplets, her round doe eyes sparkling and clear, now veiled with a layer of confusion. She looked adorably silly, yet stunningly beautiful.
Like a lotus rising from water—pure and lovely.
A girl like this, in school, if some boys were unfortunate enough to encounter her, they’d probably end up nursing a secret crush for years.
Han Yue was amused by her own imagination, her gaze softening as she looked at Yun Xiang. She pulled out a tissue and handed it to her, speaking gently, “Wipe your face.”
Yun Xiang was momentarily startled, then took the tissue and said in a small voice, “Thank you.”