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Chapter 1

Ouyang Xiao said, "Song Jing, I'm telling you this very seriously, don't you want to catch up with me? I'm waiting for you to come after me."

The person with an extremely high sense of self-esteem left those words behind and turned away, heading straight for the other end of the stairs without even glancing at the person he had spoken to.

Song Jing stood frozen in the shadows.

He only blurted out, "Ouyang Xiao, I think what they're saying about you liking me is true."

Ouyang Xiao swayed, turned around with a cold face, forced a disdainful sneer at the corner of her mouth, and squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth: "I really hate you!"

Song Jing's face slowly turned as pale as paper.

***

She would always remember that little boy, his head slightly tilted, a dazzling, pure white smile spreading across his face. Her heart softened instantly, filled with tenderness and affection. Song Jing had never told anyone that that little boy embodied all her childhood dreams. She only wanted, yes, all she wanted was for Song Jing's name to be next to Ouyang Xiao's, no matter when or where.

Sixth grade in elementary school, 1998.

1997 and 1999 were both extraordinary years. People who were usually reserved beamed with joy, and so 1998, in between, also began to be filled with jubilation, with favorable weather, peace, and prosperity. No one cared whether it was 1997 or 1999; people's happiness in 1998 was a joyful anticipation and an excitement at the prospect of happiness.

September 1st, the first day of registration for new students, was sunny turning cloudy and then turning to showers. Song Jing and Li Yueling, soaked to the bone, ran towards the toilet nearly a hundred meters from their dormitory, screaming and running, their faces beaming with unrestrained joy. The young girls were carefree. Unaware that in the nearby teaching building, a short boy was watching them with envious longing, his fingers gripping and releasing the black umbrella handle, finally pulling it along and running into the rain.

"Jing, Jing! That person is so strange, he has an umbrella but doesn't use it!" Li Yueling was standing downstairs in the teaching building, trying to shake the water droplets off her hair, when she saw this scene.

Song Jing, tugging at her soaked clothes, was annoyed—it was certainly refreshing to get caught in the rain in summer, but what about her clothes? Frowning and lost in her own worries, she only glanced up briefly when she heard Li Yueling's words: "He probably has too many clothes!" Song Jing had only brought one set of clothes with her. The school in the countryside had nowhere to shower, and while she could take her clothes to the well in the village down the mountain, the problem was she didn't even have soap! It was infuriating!

"Oh." Li Yueling turned her head, the rain still pouring down. "A-Jing, let's hurry back to the dormitory!"

"Yes, catching a cold is really serious."

"That's true." His tone became serious.

The second day of September was cloudy turning to showers, with a wind force of level three, making it exceptionally cool and pleasant, which also lifted people's spirits. The teacher walked into the classroom with a smile, gave a brief self-introduction, and opened his books to begin the lesson, but then stopped, looked up, and stared sharply at the students who were sitting neatly and upright.

"I know you're not little kids anymore, and the boys and girls are starting to understand things..." She deliberately dragged out her words, glancing at the students' faces before continuing, "But the school has clear rules: boys and girls can't get too close, and inappropriate relationships are absolutely forbidden!" She smiled slightly, her expression calm, her tone stern, "I know that every year there are some disobedient students who try to do things that contradict teachers and parents, but I don't want that to happen in my class... If you find out, call your parents immediately. Whether it's expulsion, a transfer, or something else, you'll have to decide for yourself!"

The audience below the podium was completely silent; no one dared to speak.

The teacher seemed very satisfied with the result, a smug look appearing in her smile.

"Is everything alright?!"

"No!" Neatly arranged.

"That's good. The most important task for students is to study... Now let's turn to page five. Today's lesson is on classical poetry. Let's have one student recite a poem they know first..."

The relaxed atmosphere brought by the rain vanished completely; you could hear a pin drop in the classroom. Finally, the first class ended, and as soon as the teacher left, Li Yueling grabbed Song Jing by the back of her collar: "Jing, Jing, I have something to ask you!"

Today is September 2nd. It started raining not long after class began. The wind blew and the rain fell, the fresh scent of leaves wafted in the air, and the raindrops pattered on the leaves and eaves, making a tinkling sound like a piano. Then the wind picked up, and the leaves and grass danced and rustled.

Song Jing turned around, but her mind was still on the book.

Sixth grade is a time that's neither too young nor too old, yet it's already a crucial turning point in life. Scoring above a certain mark on the exams will get you into a top middle school in the city, guaranteeing a good university and a bright future. So, sixth grade is the time to study hard, Song Jing thought, when she heard Li Yueling say, "Have you noticed him?"

Huh? Pulling himself out of his reverie, Song Jing looked around blankly. Who?

Seeing Song Jing looking around, Li Yueling couldn't help but chuckle: "That boy next to you! He keeps looking at you, during class, and even when you go somewhere else after class, he keeps staring at you! And... when the teacher asks a question, if you raise your hand, he raises his too, and as soon as you put your hand down, he puts his down immediately, as if he's following your movements! Hey! Jing, does he know you?"

"Huh?" Song Jing turned her head. Just then, the boy also turned his head. His eyes were bright, his smile clear, and he was indescribably handsome. A round face, big eyes, and bright red lips—he was as cute as a doll. Seeing Song Jing turn to look at him, the boy gave her a sly smile, a smile that held a hint of slyness and unexpected charm. Song Jing blinked, slowly turned back, and shook her head at Li Yueling's eager face: "I don't know him."

Li Yueling rolled her eyes at the sky: "Does he know you?" What kind of answer is that, Ah Jing! But you can't blame her. She's only a ten-year-old girl. She doesn't realize that she's doing many attention-grabbing things without any self-awareness.

Song Jing curled her lip: "Shouldn't you ask him if he knows me?"

"Never mind." Li Yueling slumped onto the table, looking rather nervous. "Um, I'm telling you, Jing, does he have feelings for you?"

"What do you mean?" Song Jing asked innocently.

Don't blame her for saying something so jarring; in sixth grade, Song Jing is only ten years old. Her classmates, like Li Yueling, are all a year or two older than her, the oldest being seventeen this year. Compared to them, Song Jing is not only younger, but also, aside from studying, practically immature.

"That's exactly what I mean!" Li Yueling smiled mysteriously and whispered in his ear.

Song Jing shook his head: "I don't understand what you mean!"

Li Yueling protested, "Uh, Song Jing, are you playing games with me?!"

"Playing fancy moves? I can't do that, what is it then?"

"Why are you so infuriating!" Li Yueling said angrily, then gave her a helpless shove. "Alright, good student, go study!"

"Oh." Has she become stupid?

Life has many episodes, but the main theme remains unchanged. Song Jing has always believed this. Focusing on studying and studying again is her entire life. She never thought of changing it, but the trajectory quietly changed, heading in an unknown direction. She was stunned, but ultimately faced her destiny.

One week later.

That noon, there were only a few scattered people in the classroom. Song Jing was sitting behind her desk, writing in her notebook, "Last night there was a heavy rain, and the sycamore tree wept all night in front of the window." Suddenly, a shadow fell over her, and a green shirt appeared in front of her.

"Song Jing!" The person called her name affectionately, with a voice as clear as birdsong. She had a face as delicate as a flower, and a bright smile that radiated from the depths of her heart without any pretense, as radiant as the sun.

Song Jing looked up in surprise: "Who are you?"

"I am Zhen Liang, Zhen Liang from Class 1, Grade 6."

Song Jing's class is Class 2 of Grade 6, next to Class 4, but separated from Class 1 by a large teacher's office—this arrangement is said to be for the students to study better and for the management to be more convenient.

"May I sit next to you?" Zhen Liang asked, already sitting down and turning to examine Song Jing closely. He had an ordinary face, single-eyelid eyes, a smooth forehead and cheeks, neatly trimmed bangs, and short, jet-black hair that barely reached below his ears. It was indeed very black, even shimmering with a strange sheen as he moved, but from a distance, it looked as ridiculous as if he'd accidentally put a watermelon rind on his head.

For some reason, Song Jing panicked. She hurriedly put away the notebook she had only written one line on, forcing a smile: "You...you want to see me?" Even if there's nothing wrong, you can't just stare at her like that, okay? It's so weird that even the back of her neck feels cold, like all the hairs there are standing on end! Song Jing thought to herself, trying hard to ignore that strange gaze.

Zhen Liang smiled, as if the murderous look in Song Jing's eyes was just his imagination: "What do you think of Ouyang Xiao?"

Huh?

Song Jing's forced smile froze for a moment. Her fingers circled several times under the table before she finally mustered the courage to ask, "Is there a problem?"

Zhen Liang smiled like an angel: "I just wanted to know."

What does that have to do with Song Jing?

Muttering to herself, Song Jing forced a smile: "Actually...actually I haven't spoken to Ouyang Xiao, so..." She scratched her hair sheepishly, "If you want to know what kind of person Ouyang Xiao is, you can ask...um, him!" She pointed to the seat Zhen Liang had just passed, "Look! He's right next to you."

Zhen Liang didn't turn around, but just murmured, "None of you have spoken... so how could someone say he likes you? And..."

Song Jing wasn't deaf; being so close, she naturally heard Zhen Liang's mutterings, which weren't loud or quiet. She stared wide-eyed in astonishment at the person behind Zhen Liang. The boy, seemingly oblivious to the commotion, was engrossed in his homework, his thin lips pressed tightly together, his fingers constantly scribbling and drawing. Then, upon solving the problem, a beautiful smile appeared on his face.

"Ah Jing, shall we go outside to talk?" The beautiful girl tugged at Song Jing's sleeve.

Huh? When did the topic shift to this direction?

The corridor faces the vast terraced fields. In September, the busy farming season has passed, leaving only bare fields, which unconsciously evoke a sense of desolation.

"Don't you like Ouyang Xiao?" Once they were in a secluded spot, Zhen Liang asked bluntly.

"Huh?!" Song Jing looked at her innocently. "What?"

Is it because of the age gap between her and her that there's a generation gap? Or is it because she's not speaking Mandarin that she can't understand her?

"So... what are your feelings for Ouyang Xiao?" Zhen Liang asked in a different way.

"Feeling? What feeling?"

She's just a child, okay? Speak to her in a way she can understand!

Zhen Liang sighed and reached out to stroke Song Jing's shiny black hair: "Don't you know? They're all saying you like Ouyang Xiao!"

Huh?! Can she explain herself first?

Song Jing stammered, "Y-yes..."

“I know you’ve never spoken to him, but you can still like someone even if you’ve never spoken to them!” Zhen Liang continued knowingly.

"No, no..." That's not how it is! Song Jing screamed inwardly.

"And I like him too! I've liked him since I first saw him when I was a child..." Zhen Liang sighed softly.

Oh, so it's you who likes him! What does that have to do with her!

Song Jing wrinkled her nose in annoyance, deciding it was best not to speak at this moment.

“You have no idea how much I adore him. When he came to our village with his father when I was seven…” Zhen Liang gazed into the distance, mesmerized. “He was so clever. No matter how difficult the problem, it was like a joke to him. Puzzles, toy guns—he could always take them apart and put them back together quickly. And… sometimes he would tell us very, very interesting and wonderful stories… His father was very busy and rarely home, so he lived with his grandfather… Unlike us, who didn’t understand anything, he helped his grandfather with chores…” Zhen Liang smiled, as if golden light rose from behind her, pure and holy. “He was a role model for all the children in our village…”

Song Jing interjected, "What about his mother?" Why wasn't his mother mentioned at all?

Zhen Liang suddenly turned grim: "Don't mention that woman!!!"

Song Jing flinched: "Why?"

"You can't mention it, that's all!" Zhen Liang glared at her fiercely.

Song Jing pursed her lips: "Fine, don't mention it then."

"Let me tell you something!" Zhen Liang grabbed Song Jing's hand, "I know you don't like Ouyang Xiao anymore, so you can't like him in the future either!"

Song Jing looked at her, puzzled.

"Because he's the person I like, you absolutely, absolutely cannot like him! Understand?" Zhen Liang changed to a smiling expression, very kind, so kind that it was chilling.

So Song Jing hurriedly agreed, "Okay!" In fact, she herself didn't quite understand what she had agreed to, and was completely confused.

Zhen Liang smiled slightly.

She turned her head slightly. Ouyang Xiao, who had been sitting next to her studying diligently, had put down his pen. His face was gloomy, and his once delicate and cute baby face now looked somewhat frightening, except for his solemn expression. He then moved his chair back, stood up, and walked outside, leaving the chair swaying on its own.

She smiled even brighter and grasped Song Jing's hand tightly: "Then that's settled! I have to go back to the classroom, you should go back to your studies too! Thank you! They were right, you really are a wonderful person. It's so kind of you that you're not angry at all for my clumsiness! Jing!"

Song Jing stared blankly as Zhen Liang walked away, scratched his head, thought for a moment, and finally walked slowly back to the classroom with his hands behind his back.

What exactly did Zhen Liang say from beginning to end?!

Song Jing was too embarrassed to ask this question aloud. However, she was quite clear about one thing, and thus wrote the following in her notebook: "Such an elegant woman, with her hair piled high in a bun, wearing a sleeveless, light green cheongsam embroidered with delicate white flowers on her shoulders and waist, stood beneath a tree blooming with pure white gardenias, gazing at the azure yet damp sky. Suddenly, a call came from inside the house, and she gently turned around, revealing a dignified and beautiful smile to the newcomer." After writing this, Song Jing was incredibly pleased with herself, but soon her raised eyebrows drooped, and she almost pouted, reluctantly adding at the end: "That's someone Song Jing could never become, alas!"

"What do you mean, 'impossible to become'?! Can't you pretend? Didn't you tell me that a lie repeated a thousand times becomes the truth? If you pretend to be a lady for a long time, you'll eventually become a real lady, won't you?" Li Yueling stood with her hands on her hips, raised her eyebrows, and loudly reasoned.

That's not how you use that phrase, is it?

Song Jing lamented inwardly, "When did I ever meet such a strange older sister?!"

Round eyes, a round face, a round figure, and long, brownish hair that looked like it belonged to someone suffering from malnutrition—that's Li Yueling. Three years older than Song Jing, they'd been in the same class since first grade, either sitting next to each other or as deskmates—a truly complicated relationship. Perhaps because they were so close, although they didn't get along in many ways, their friendship was exceptionally strong. On important matters, Li Yueling usually listened to Song Jing, while on minor matters, Song Jing naturally listened to Li Yueling. They'd never argued in all this time, a miracle for two children still barely grown up.

I should have known better than to tell her about Zhen Liang looking for her, and I shouldn't have shown her what she wrote!

Song Jing thought to himself in a huff, "But... Xiaoyue, you speak so philosophically!" Although it was a bit incongruous.

Li Yueling proudly tossed her hair: "Of course! Who am I! I'm the famous Li Yueling!" As soon as she finished speaking, her eyebrows furrowed, and she grabbed Song Jing's arm and shook it up and down. "Jing! Come with me to the toilet! I'm so scared to be alone. There aren't even any lights there, it's pitch black. What if something dirty comes out?"

Song Jing said in a serious tone: "We live in a scientific age. There's nothing dirty about it. It's just psychological."