Zhuang Zi'ang walked into the classroom and saw Lin Mushi eating shengjian bao (生煎包 - pan-fried pork buns, a popular breakfast food in Shanghai). The newly appointed class president, Xie Wenyong, was hovering around her, fawning over her and trying to make small talk.
Sure enough, the school beauty was never short of simps. However, all of Xie Wenyong’s scheming got him nowhere; Lin Mushi wouldn't even give him the time of day.
When Lin Mushi saw Zhuang Zi'ang, she looked a bit embarrassed and felt the need to explain, "Zhuang Zi'ang, I told him I didn't want it, but Xie Wenyong insisted on buying these for me."
Zhuang Zi'ang smiled faintly. "Why are you telling me this?"
Lin Mushi was taken aback. She had felt a compelling need to distance herself from Xie Wenyong the moment she saw Zhuang Zi'ang.
There were times in the past when Lin Mushi would message Zhuang Zi'ang, asking him to bring her breakfast. For some reason, the breakfast Zhuang Zi'ang got her always tasted better than Xie Wenyong's – maybe it was just in her head.
Lin Mushi had a driver who picked her up and dropped her off at school. Earlier, passing the bus stop, she’d seen Zhuang Zi'ang through the car window, holding two cups of soy milk.
Lin Mushi, in her vanity, assumed one was definitely for her. But Zhuang Zi'ang now had only one cup left, and he was drinking it himself.
Was the other for that girl with the peach blossom? A pang of jealousy pricked her heart.
Originally, she and Zhuang Zi'ang were just friends. But now, with a rival threatening her school beauty status, she felt a sense of urgency.
Zhuang Zi'ang had no idea Lin Mushi's mind was racing. He plopped down in his seat and grabbed a magazine from Li Huangxuan's desk.
Li Huangxuan was often late for morning reading, Old Zhang’s classroom-doorway punishment was practically his daily routine.
"Mushi, have some milk. Still warm," Xie Wenyong continued his devoted pursuit.
"Xie Wenyong, please don't buy me breakfast anymore. I'm afraid Zhuang Zi'ang will misunderstand," Lin Mushi frowned delicately.
Xie Wenyong felt like he'd fallen into an ice cave. Snowflakes drifting, the north wind whistling, the world a vast expanse of white... (This is a line from a popular Chinese meme song).
In Lin Mushi's heart, Zhuang Zi'ang had always been the best boy in class. Xie Wenyong was a buffoon, not even fit to be in Zhuang Zi'ang’s shadow.
Especially after seeing Su Yudiel yesterday, Lin Mushi’s competitive spirit flared. She didn't get love, but seeing Zhuang Zi'ang with another girl stung. Her delicate cheeks flushed at the thought.
In class, Zhuang Zi'ang was back to his good-student self. Wu Qiufang, the math teacher, checked on him, remembering his tears on the podium yesterday.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
"Thanks, Ms. Wu, I'm fine," Zhuang Zi'ang said, touched.
Zhang Zhiyuan had kept Zhuang Zi'ang's illness secret, telling Wu Qiufang he’d been emotionally overwhelmed.
At noon, Zhuang Zi'ang and Li Huangxuan went to the cafeteria. He'd considered texting Su Yudiel for lunch, but they’d just seen each other. Didn't want to seem clingy.
The cafeteria buzzed. Zhuang Zi'ang and Li Huangxuan found a corner near the vending machines.
"Dude, you seem distracted," Li Huangxuan mumbled around a mouthful of braised pork.
"Nah, eating seriously here."
Zhuang Zi'ang was eating, but his eyes scanned the crowd, searching. He didn't even notice holding his chopsticks upside down.
Guys know guys. Li Huangxuan knew what was up. He leaned in. "Tell me again, how'd you meet that girl?"
Zhuang Zi'ang recounted it all, from the ginkgo tree to fishing by the river, seeing her onto the No. 19 bus.
"You shared milk tea?" Li Huangxuan's eyes widened.
"Yeah, she insisted. Couldn’t refuse," Zhuang Zi'ang grinned.
"Dude, that's like an indirect kiss! Kissing leads to pregnancy, you know?" Li Huangxuan exclaimed.
"Are you trying to pull my leg? Think I'm a three-year-old?" Zhuang Zi'ang retorted, plopping braised pork into Li Huangxuan's bowl.
Li Huangxuan, the perpetual bachelor, shamelessly pestered Zhuang Zi'ang to describe sharing a milk tea. Sweet? Smooth? Heart racing?
Zhuang Zi'ang ignored him, focusing on his food.
Suddenly, spotless white canvas shoes entered his vision, then two pale, lotus-root-like legs, straight out of a manga.
"Excuse me, classmate, may I sit here?"
A voice as sweet as a songbird, soft and pleasant.
Zhuang Zi'ang looked up, meeting Su Yudiel’s eyes.
Li Huangxuan blurted, "Sit, sit!"
Su Yudiel set down her tray, smoothed her skirt, and sat beside Zhuang Zi'ang. A faint, sweet scent drifted over.
"Hi, I'm Su Yudiel, Zhuang Zi'ang's friend," she introduced herself to Li Huangxuan.
"I… I'm Li Huangxuan, Zhuang Zi'ang's dad—no, friend too." Li Huangxuan, tongue-tied, had never spoken to such a pretty girl.
Utterly hopeless, Zhuang Zi'ang thought. Trips over his own tongue the second a pretty girl shows up.
"Drinks are on me. What'll you have?" Su Yudiel gestured to the vending machine.
"Seriously? Fanta for me!" Li Huangxuan jumped in.
"Coke," Zhuang Zi'ang said. Doctor’s orders against soda were out the window. He wanted "fat-宅 happy water," pure joy in a can.
Drinks bought, Su Yudiel asked Li Huangxuan, "Is Zhuang Zi'ang usually boring?"
Li Huangxuan nodded emphatically. "Relentless study machine. No good at anything else, especially games. Makes me cry, he's so bad."
"Games?" Su Yudiel looked puzzled.
"Terrible. One hero—a fish—and still sucks," Li Huangxuan complained.
"Hey, I'm good! 'Man-Eating Fish of the Canyon'," Zhuang Zi'ang protested, hating to lose face.
"Bragger. More like a dumb, fat fish," Su Yudiel scoffed.
"Little Butterfly, I'll prove it. You’ll see how good I am," Zhuang Zi'ang boasted.
"Little Butterfly?" Li Huangxuan blinked. Days known, and already with the mushy nicknames?
"Butterfly is me, and I am the butterfly," Su Yudiel said, pointing at herself. (Reference to Zhuangzi’s “Butterfly Dream”).
Familiar line. Li Huangxuan suddenly felt like a third wheel.
Lunch done, not even 12:30. Zhuang Zi'ang planned a nap. "Going back to sleep," he said to Su Yudiel. "Want to come along?"
"Huh?" Su Yudiel blushed furiously. Asking like that?
Li Huangxuan just froze, mortified.
So, uh… I’ll just be going?