And so, as she longed and longed, Monday arrived. Ding Xian woke up early, washed her face thoroughly, combed her hair, changed into clean clothes she had just washed, and, biting into a steamed bun, set off from home.

Ye Wanxian chased after her, asking if she wanted to take another bun.

She didn't look back, waving her hand, her steps light.

She had never looked forward to going to school so much.

She arrived early. There were only a few people in the classroom, and Deng Wanwan hadn't arrived yet.

Ding Xian sat in her original seat, took out her English book, and silently began to memorize vocabulary.

The sky was clear and blue, and classmates gradually arrived. Ding Xian covered her ears and loudly recited words.

Liu Xiaofeng came in with his backpack and voluntarily said to her, "You look good today, very energetic."

Ding Xian suddenly remembered how he had spoken up for her that day and almost got into an argument with He Xingwen. So, she flashed him a big smile and said sweetly, "Thank you, Liu Xiaofeng. I didn't get a chance to thank you after that day. I really appreciate it."

This sudden thank you made Liu Xiaofeng a little flustered. He shyly scratched the back of his head and said, "It's nothing, He Xingwen was in the wrong anyway. I would have helped anyone else too. You... don't need to take it too much to heart."

"Seriously, thank you," Ding Xian said sincerely.

Liu Xiaofeng was thoroughly embarrassed, waving his hand and saying, "You don't have to be too—"

Ding Xian was just about to smile when a figure passed by her eyes. The hair on her head was messed up again, and she heard a nonchalant voice in her ear: "Move the desk."

'You're getting handier and handier with that!'

Her next thought was, 'Good thing I washed my hair this morning.'

The words of politeness were swallowed back by Liu Xiaofeng. Looking at Zhou Siyue's retreating back, he said in surprise, "You're moving back again?"

Ding Xian stood up, put her books into the desk, and said goodbye to Liu Xiaofeng.

Liu Xiaofeng said hesitantly, "Alright then, but don't switch seats randomly next time. Good thing Old Ban isn't paying attention these days."

Ding Xian patted his shoulder, gave a serious nod, and bid farewell like a knight: "Farewell, young man. Come visit when you have time."

Liu Xiaofeng was amused by her, and stood up. "I'll help you, this desk is quite heavy."

Kong Shadi also stood up and rushed over to join the helping team.

Song Ziqi watched the three of them, leaning back and resting his arm on Zhou Siyue's desk. He said, "I think that kid Liu Xiaofeng has impure thoughts."

Zhou Siyue was writing the test paper he had forgotten on Friday, scribbling down a few problems quickly. He took a moment to glance up, then lowered his head and said casually while writing, "You're the only one in this class with impure thoughts."

Song Ziqi glared at him. "Then tell me, why did you help Little Monster change seats, and why did you agree to play with us and Deng Wanwan?"

Zhou Siyue: "Didn't you agree?"

Song Ziqi scoffed. "Don't take me for a fool. I agreed, but why did you go?"

Young Master Zhou lazily rolled his eyes. "Fine, I'm annoyed by Deng Wanwan. She has endless questions every day."

Song Ziqi: "Second question, why didn't you agree to Kong Shadi's request to let me sit with you?"

Young Master Zhou suddenly put down his test paper, a narrow glint flashing in his eyes. He leaned back, resting his arms across his chest, slouching against the chair back. Bathed in the morning sun, his smile was like a clear river:

"Alright, you switch with her, and I'll sit with you."

"No way, sitting next to you requires too much courage."

"Then that's that."

Zhou Siyue was too lazy to argue further with him and went back to writing his test paper.

After Ding Xian finished moving the desk, she thanked Liu Xiaofeng repeatedly. Liu Xiaofeng waved his hand hurriedly, his face flushed, and left.

Kong Shadi took a small doll from her backpack and placed it on Ding Xian's desk. "Xianxian, this is for you."

Ding Xian looked at it while tidying her books, confused. "What is this?"

Kong Shadi glanced hesitantly at Zhou Siyue, then quickly said, "Your deskmate caught it. He told me to give it to you."

With that, she quickly turned back.

Ding Xian was stunned. She turned to look at Zhou Siyue next to her as if she had seen a ghost.

Young Master Zhou was only focused on writing problems, not even raising his head. He curled the corner of his lips and said, "Don't be shy, I just caught it casually."

Ding Xian's gaze scanned back and forth over the doll. "Why are you giving it to me?"

Young Master Zhou still didn't look up. He chuckled softly as he stared at the test paper, his pen not stopping, and said quite sincerely, "Don't overthink it. Kong Shadi has one, Song Yijin has one. I just thought I'd give you one too."

...

'So, you think you're an emperor? Everyone in your Imperial Concubines of the Three Palaces and Six Courtyards has to hold your love's number tag and wait for your summons, is that it?'

"Aren't you afraid they'll fight if you give out so many?"

...

Young Master Zhou stopped writing, looked up at her, and burst out laughing.

Even Song Ziqi, in front, couldn't help but turn around and say, "Little Monster, what are you thinking? Kong Shadi's was given by me, and Yijin's was given by Jiang Chen. Deng Wanwan wanted one, but Zhou Siyue didn't even give her one."

Ding Xian's face flushed crimson.

After a long while, she quietly said, "Why didn't you give one to Deng Wanwan? Actually, I don't mind..."

Zhou Siyue glanced at her sideways. "You don't want it?"

'I want it.'

Zhou Siyue raised an eyebrow, stretched out his long arm, and made to take it back. "Then give it back to me."

"I want it, I want it, I want it!"

Ding Xian quickly lunged over and pressed down on his hand, accidentally pressing it directly against her soft chest. The boy's arm, firm and powerful from years of playing basketball, felt like grabbing a hot wooden stake.

Hard and full of vital energy.

She could even feel the prominent, bulging veins on his arm.

She usually observed his hands to be slender and clean, but he was still a man after all.

The scene froze. The wind rustled the window, creaking. Outside, the cicadas were almost silent. The two of them, in the noisy classroom, stared blankly at each other.