I hurriedly tried to explain to her, but Xia Xue just walked away, swapping Liu Zihong back in. I couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time, knowing that Xia Xue was quite willful, and if you liked someone, you naturally accepted their flaws. But I still planned to appease her later; so, I lowered my head and continued writing the analysis of Shakespeare's works for Taozi. Many of the notes were things I had told Taozi before, and as I wrote, scenes of our lively conversations kept flashing in my mind.

Honestly, I was indeed quite happy with Xia Xue. This girl, who had given me courage and strength, was someone I could never forget. But Taozi could be said to be my true confidante. We shared common interests and had endless conversations together.

I kept writing and writing in my notebook, not paying attention to the lessons all day. When I got to the analysis of "Romeo and Juliet," I remembered how I had compared myself and Taozi to that couple. Although it was just sweet talk to win Taozi over at the time, thinking about it now still made me feel a bit sad.

During break time, I went to the homeroom teacher to get a transfer application form. The homeroom teacher was quite surprised, but I didn't bother explaining too much and just told him it was my family's decision. The teacher had no choice but to give me the form and asked for parental opinions. I thought I would need Yu Chengfei's help with this.

I went to find Yu Chengfei at the vocational school and got him to sign a bunch of opinions for me at the internet cafe, even leaving his phone number in the comments section. Old Zhang proudly said, "In case your homeroom teacher doesn't believe you, leave him a number to call!"

I took the transfer application form back to school and sat down to continue writing the analysis of Shakespeare's works. It was a busy day for me.

While I was busy with all this, Xia Xue didn't come to talk to me proactively. She was probably waiting for me to comfort her. I really wanted to go and comfort her, but I had a pile of things to do, especially finishing the analysis of Shakespeare's works for Taozi. If I didn't finish it today, the guilt would only grow. Since I didn't go to comfort Xia Xue, and Xia Xue didn't come to find me, we entered a vicious cycle of ignoring each other.

The classmates looked at me with speechless expressions again. They probably admired me by now. When it was time for evening self-study to end, I finally finished writing and rubbed my sore wrist. Of course, I didn't analyze all of Shakespeare's works; I could spend my whole life doing that. I just analyzed some representative works, which would be enough for Taozi to read for a long time. Seeing that I had finished, Xia Xue walked over with a sour tone and said, "Finished already?"

I chuckled, "Yes, I'm finished. Didn't you ask me to comfort Taozi? This is to comfort her. Don't worry, after tonight, we can be together properly."

Although Xia Xue was willful, she was also sensible. She nodded, "Okay, go ahead. I'll wait for you in the classroom."

"Don't wait for me," I said, "It's late. You should go home."

"No," Xia Xue said, "I have a boyfriend now, why should I go home alone? You have to take me home."

I thought it was fine; I could spend some more time with Xia Xue, so I happily said, "Okay, wait for me." Then, I rushed out and went to Taozi's classroom.

As soon as I arrived at Taozi's classroom, I saw her walking towards me. I quickly intercepted her path, feeling embarrassed, and called out softly, "Taozi."

As soon as Taozi saw me, she immediately tried to avoid me and walk around me. I blocked her path again and said in a low voice, "Taozi, please give me a chance to explain."

Taozi didn't listen and tried to push me away, but her strength was so weak that she couldn't move me at all. I stood at the door, blocking her way out. The other students in her class couldn't leave either, so they all crowded around the door. I felt embarrassed, but since I was the one who had done wrong, I stubbornly refused to leave.

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Seeing this, Taozi turned back and returned to her seat. At least I could sit down and explain now.

I walked over, intending to sit next to her, but unexpectedly, Taozi suddenly stood up and slapped me hard.

"Wang Hao, you're a jerk!"

I was completely taken aback by how timid Taozi usually was, yet she could suddenly be so fierce. Her slap left me speechless.

I stared at her foolishly for a while before saying, "Taozi, go ahead and hit me if it makes you feel better."

Taozi didn't hit me again, but tears streamed down her face.

Feeling heartbroken, I placed the notebook on the desk and said, "Taozi, I spent the whole day writing this analysis of Shakespeare's works for you. I apologize here. I'm sorry for using you. I wanted to use you to provoke Xia Xue, but I didn't expect..."

Upon hearing this, Taozi angrily threw the notebook to the ground and said fiercely, "Wang Hao, get out! I don't want to see you anymore."

Tears flowed down Taozi's face like a mountain spring, unstoppable.

Without saying a word, I bent down, picked up the notebook, brushed off the dust, and placed it back on Taozi's desk.

"Taozi, I'm sorry. This is all I can do. I'm sorry," I said, then turned and left, feeling like my heart was both tough and sore.

I don't dislike Taozi, but Xia Xue is the girl I love the most. I'm not like Su Xiaobai, unwilling to have so many girlfriends. I can't handle so many girlfriends, so I can only be wholeheartedly good to one person.

Back in class, there weren't many people left, and Xia Xue was still waiting for me. As I walked over, Xia Xue jumped up, "Did Taozi hit you?"

I suddenly felt the burning sensation on my face, probably with a bright red palm print on it. I quickly rubbed my face and chuckled, "No, she didn't."

"How could Taozi do that?" Xia Xue said indignantly. "I need to talk to her!"

"Ah, don't bother," I quickly grabbed Xia Xue. "Let's go home quickly. It's late. Let's not stir up trouble. I finally settled this matter. Ah, come on, let's go home."

Xia Xue calmed down, sighed, packed up her books, and prepared to go home. I escorted her out of the school gate and walked towards her home. Naturally, I carried her school bag for her, and Xia Xue was as happy as a little butterfly. I was also very happy, at least on the surface, though I was still thinking about Taozi's tears. I wondered how that girl was doing now; she probably resented me deeply.

Xia Xue didn't live far from the school, just two blocks away. When we reached Xia Xue's building, I waved to her and said, "Well, go back now."

"Is that it?" Xia Xue blinked her eyelashes cutely.

"What else?" I looked at her in confusion.

"Hmph, blockhead," Xia Xue said, but she still showed no intention of going upstairs, still smiling at me.

Suddenly, I understood and placed my hand on her hair, gently leaning in for a kiss.

Xia Xue didn't refuse, and our lips met, kissing each other. It was my first kiss, and it felt so wonderful!

After the kiss, Xia Xue giggled, waved at me, and turned to go upstairs. I watched her back, feeling even more infatuated.

Looking up at the lights in the corridor, I gradually left reluctantly. Along the way, recalling the kiss just now felt like a dream. Xia Xue, such a beautiful girl, was actually my girlfriend, which made me incredibly happy.

Unable to contain my excitement, I ran along the street. Young people always have boundless energy. Just as I ran past a block, I suddenly saw a familiar figure standing under the streetlight—Taozi! Taozi was a boarding student, so she didn't go back to the dormitory after evening self-study. What was she doing outside the campus?

Puzzled, I walked over, and Taozi was also looking at me. As I approached, tears welled up in Taozi's eyes again. I noticed she was holding a notebook, precisely the analysis of Shakespeare's works I wrote for her. She was a girl, standing alone on the street in the middle of the night, holding a notebook like this, which made my heart ache. "Taozi, what are you doing here?" I stood in front of her.

As I asked, Taozi's tears flowed even more vigorously.

Seeing her like this made my heart ache, so I reached out to hug her. But Taozi stepped back and shook her head, saying, "Wang Hao, you have a girlfriend now, you still love someone else, you can't hug me."

I realized she was right and withdrew my hand, asking, "Why are you not going back to the dormitory at this hour? What are you doing here?"

Taozi cried as she said, "I wanted to go back to the dormitory, but I happened to see you sending Xia Xue home. Then, I don't know why, but I followed you... halfway through, I realized it was wrong, why did I follow? So I stopped. But I didn't want to go back, I thought you would come back after sending Xia Xue, so I waited for you here."

Listening to her, I was deeply moved. Taozi was no less than Xia Xue in any aspect. But love is strange; if I had met Taozi first, the outcome might have been completely different. But Xia Xue had already left a deep mark on my mind, which I couldn't erase.

"Wang Hao, does it still hurt?" Taozi looked at my face.

I shook my head. "If you still want to hit me, go ahead and hit me again."

Taozi lowered her head, indicating she wouldn't hit me again.

"Let's go, I'll walk you back." I reached out and took Taozi's arm, and together we walked back to the school.

Perhaps because I was by her side, Taozi gradually stopped crying.

"I read some of the contents of the notebook. Wang Hao, you wrote really well, your analysis of Shakespeare is very insightful," Taozi said.