Sunlight dappled through the leaves and onto the grass, the air filled with the earthy fragrance of the soil. The more beautiful the world appeared at this moment, the deeper Zhuang Zi'ang's sorrow became.

Fearing that others might witness his disheveled state, he quickly left the corridor and ran down the stairs towards the sports field. With every stride, tears streamed down his face.

In the northwest corner of the basketball court, the trees grew thick and lush. Several towering ginkgo trees stood bathed in sunlight, their vibrant green leaves bursting with life.

In this secluded corner, Zhuang Zi'ang finally gave in to his grief, releasing all his pent-up emotions. Large teardrops fell onto the soil beneath his feet, and his throat grew hoarse from crying. He couldn't understand why, when he had never done anything wrong, fate was being so cruel to him.

He had always thought that death was something distant and far off. But when it suddenly arrived, it could instantly shatter a person's will.

As he cried, a faint melody drifted to Zhuang Zi'ang's ears, delicate and ethereal. At first, he thought he was hallucinating. But gradually, the tune became clearer, its melody unique and winding, full of twists and turns.

La so so si do si la, so la si si si si la si la so...

Zhuang Zi'ang was certain he had never heard this tune before. The ethereal music flowed like a gentle stream, soothing his heart and gradually easing the bone-deep sadness within him.

He opened his tear-filled eyes and looked at the world, which seemed both real and unreal.

"Hey, aren't you ashamed to be crying like a big baby?" a crisp voice said from above.

Zhuang Zi'ang was startled. Looking up, he saw a girl sitting on a branch of the ginkgo tree. His face instantly flushed crimson. She must have seen his entire embarrassing display.

The girl was very pretty, with an oval face, almond-shaped eyes, and an asymmetrical braid draped over her left shoulder. She wore a pure white blouse paired with a navy blue pleated skirt that reached her calves. On one foot, she wore a spotless white canvas shoe, while the other was bare.

What caught his attention the most was the blooming peach blossom tucked behind her ear. Zhuang Zi'ang had always thought Lin Mushi was beautiful, but compared to this girl, Lin Mushi seemed to pale slightly in comparison.

"Why aren't you in class?" Zhuang Zi'ang asked.

"Shh, keep your voice down," the girl said, placing a finger to her lips. Her fingers were slender and delicate, like finely carved white jade. Her lips were small and rosy, like freshly picked strawberries.

"Hi, my name is Zhuang Zi'ang, from Class 9," Zhuang Zi'ang introduced himself quietly.

"Su Yudiel, from Class 23. You can call me Little Butterfly," the girl replied. Her voice was lovely, like pearls falling onto a jade plate, like raindrops hitting banana leaves, or like a breeze rustling through a wheat field, setting the wind chimes on the eaves tinkling.

Zhuang Zi'ang knew that their grade level was the only one in this part of the school campus, and there were clearly only 22 classes in their grade. The girl's mention of Class 23 was probably a way of keeping her guard up and not revealing her real class.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Su Yudiel dangled her little feet. "Zhuang Zi'ang, can you pick up my shoe for me?"

Following her gaze, Zhuang Zi'ang spotted a white canvas shoe at the foot of the tree. It must have fallen off when she was playfully climbing the tree.

"How did you climb so high, being a girl?" Zhuang Zi'ang picked up the shoe and stood on tiptoe to hand it to her. His gaze couldn't help but linger on her slender calves, delicate as lotus roots, with their soft, smooth curves. What a perfect work of art, he thought.

At that moment, a mischievous thought crossed Zhuang Zi'ang's mind. The girl above him was wearing a skirt. If he just adjusted his line of sight a little...

Of course, he only thought about it; he didn't actually do anything so perverted. As the saying goes, "Of all vices, lewdness is the worst. Judge the act, not the thought, for judging the thought, no one is perfect."

Su Yudiel sat sideways on the branch, trying several times to put on her shoe, but she couldn't quite manage it. Zhuang Zi'ang watched her intently, his heart pounding with worry that she might lose her balance.

"Help me put my shoe on," Su Yudiel suddenly said, dangling her little foot down. At the same time, she tossed the white canvas shoe back to Zhuang Zi'ang.

They had only just met, and this request was a bit forward. But considering her current predicament, it was understandable.

Zhuang Zi'ang hesitated for a moment, swallowed hard, and then reached out to hold her delicate ankle. It was his first time putting a shoe on a girl, and his heart raced, his breathing becoming a little heavy.

With much effort, he finally managed to slip the canvas shoe onto her foot and tied a somewhat clumsy bow.

"You're so clumsy," Su Yudiel teased with a smile.

"You're the clumsy one, climbing so high, and in a skirt too," Zhuang Zi'ang retorted.

Once she had her shoe on, Su Yudiel looked down at the ground. "It's so high. I'm a little scared. Catch me."

Zhuang Zi'ang nodded, held out his arms, and signaled for her to jump.

Su Yudiel took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and leaped. Zhuang Zi'ang caught her in a bridal carry, holding her securely in his arms. Her soft body exuded a faint, sweet fragrance. The scene was like something out of a romantic drama.

Su Yudiel looked up at Zhuang Zi'ang, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Put me down now."

"Oh, right!" Zhuang Zi'ang quickly helped her to her feet.

Their eyes met, and they both smiled. Su Yudiel's bright, clear smile was like warm sunshine, chasing away the gloom and chill in Zhuang Zi'ang's heart.

This girl, who had seemingly fallen from the sky, possessed a mysterious, magical power.

"Why were you hiding here and crying?" Su Yudiel asked curiously.

"I had something sad happen, and I needed to let it out," Zhuang Zi'ang replied, trying to sound nonchalant.

"You're not even ashamed? I had something sad happen to me too, but I didn't cry!" Su Yudiel pouted.

Zhuang Zi'ang smiled wryly but didn't argue. Su Yudiel looked about his age, and with her cheerful demeanor, how could she possibly understand his sorrow?

She was as young and vibrant as the rising sun, just beginning to show its brilliance. He, on the other hand, was like the setting sun, about to crash into the mountains, leaving behind a smear of blood before being swallowed by the encroaching darkness.

The world would become dark and cold. He didn't know where his soul would wander.

The pleasant sound of the dismissal bell echoed across the empty sports field. The lifeless teaching building seemed to come alive again.

It was the end of the fourth period, signaling the start of the joyful lunch break. Classrooms on every floor erupted in a flurry of activity.

Su Yudiel blinked. "If you're unhappy, I'll take you out to play and eat delicious food. Don't cry again without my permission."

Hearing her slightly bossy words, Zhuang Zi'ang found himself nodding in agreement.

The warmth that had been drained from his body seemed to return, brought back by the bright sunshine. Even if he only had three months left to live, each remaining day was worth cherishing.

If life lacked length, he could still make it rich in breadth.

The girl before him seemed like a lively angel, sent to guide him and save his soul.