Young man, if you bully girls like this, in your next life you'll turn into a sanitary pad, you scoundrel!

—Little Monster's Diary

Ding Xian was currently in a state of confusion.

She liked him, but was afraid he'd know; she didn't dislike him, but her heart felt constricted. When she saw him say one more word to another girl, her heart would race. How exactly did he see that girl?

And Yang Chunzi, why didn't he talk to her?

Her heart was like a fog, but when he said those words yesterday, it instantly shattered all the mental preparations she had made before.

At least, was she somewhat different in his heart?

But he looked at her and smiled like that, did he really know what she was thinking in his heart?

Outside the door, Jiang Chen, carrying his bag, knocked. "Let's go, play ball?"

"Mm."

Zhou Siyue nodded lightly, slung the bag from the table over his shoulder, and walked out without looking back, leaving a sentence: "Come find me at the court later."

Come find you at the court later—?

Wait.

Why would I look for you?

Suddenly she felt something was off, as if she'd forgotten something. By the time she came to her senses, the young man had already walked towards the court, leisurely carrying the ball and his bag with Jiang Chen and Song Ziqi.

Ding Xian stared blankly at the names of the students on duty on the blackboard—

Currently, duty was assigned by groups of four. Today, it was their last group's turn.

Kong Shadi returned from the restroom. There were only a few students left in the classroom. She asked Ding Xian, who was sprawled on the desk: "Where are they?"

Ding Xian lay weakly on the desk, still not quite recovered from the nightmare of cheating. She pointed out the window, gritting her teeth in anger: "They went to play ball, walked off shoulder-to-shoulder right in front of me."

On the matter of doing duty, Kong Shadi and Ding Xian held different opinions. Kong Shadi actually quite liked helping Song Ziqi with his duty.

She wasn't angry at all, carrying a broom like a fairy wand, dancing gracefully like a little butterfly in the classroom. While sweeping, she hummed a cheerful tune, and also brainwashed Ding Xian:

"Don't you think it's so romantic, his playing ball freely on the court while you help him with duty in the classroom? Think about it from another angle: if Zhou Siyue went to play ball and Yang Chunzi helped him with duty in the classroom, wouldn't your heart feel sour?"

Thinking about it carefully, it really did feel a bit sour.

Kong Shadi: "Anyway, if a girl helped Song Ziqi with duty, I might want to pull her hair."

"Are you a pervert? Did Song Ziqi torture you until you developed a problem?"

Kong Shadi didn't think so at all. This little girl had a straightforward personality, looking at Ding Xian with a smug expression, she tilted her head and said: "I'm happy to."

Then she added: "If you're not happy, then hurry up and make an announcement; how many girls are waiting to take your place?"

Hmph.

That donkey is still liked by so many people?

Quite a lot actually. But in that era, girls who took the initiative were generally few.

Those passing by would secretly peek from outside the classroom; or occasionally during exercises, they would secretly look towards the very end of Class Three's line. Ding Xian and Kong Shadi also overheard people whispering about it when they went to the restroom.

"That Zhou Siyue from Class Three, he's quite handsome."

"Elite Class, especially good at math."

"Last time I saw him in the cafeteria, eating with Jiang Chen from Class Eight, he seemed quite easygoing and not as arrogant as the rumors said, but he's genuinely handsome."

"I heard his dad works at the Planning Bureau..."

Two or three girls chattered on around the washbasin. At that moment, Kong Shadi patted her shoulder and gave her a 'you have a long and difficult road ahead' look.

However, these conversations only ever happened in the restroom. Students from Yansan High School were inherently a bit arrogant. Once they stepped out of that door, no one would belittle themselves to elevate others.

Most of the admiration for Zhou Siyue began with his looks and ended with his looks. When it came to grades, probably no one would admit defeat until the very last moment.

Of course, there were also genuinely bold ones.

That day, for the first time in her life, Ding Xian received a love letter, and it was for someone else. After she and Kong Shadi finished cleaning and locked the door, she turned around and saw a graceful and charming figure standing in the corridor.

The girl was quite beautiful, prettier than both Kong Shadi and Yang Chunzi. She was said to be an art specialist student who danced ballet. Her name had been forgotten, something like You Keke. She was said to be the Class Ten beauty.

Anyway, the selections for class beauty, grade beauty, school beauty, these titles were always decided with magical speed on a certain evening.

That girl wore a knee-length skirt, its hem swaying in the wind, revealing fair, slender ankles.

Ding Xian's first reaction was, 'Isn't she cold?'

It was already October. It had been windy and rainy just a few days ago, but for her, it seemed like a perfectly sunny day. This made Ding Xian, who usually wore school trousers and casual trousers, quite envious.

The girl smiled exceptionally sweetly, "You're Ding Xian, right?"

Kong Shadi was even more alert than her, "Who are you?"

The class beauty maintained her composure, smiling as she looked at Ding Xian: "Could you come over for a moment? I have something I'd like to ask you for help with."

Just as Kong Shadi was about to speak, Ding Xian said "Okay" from behind.

She had a flaw: she couldn't refuse, and even less could she be malicious towards others.

The Class Ten beauty walked to the corridor corner first to wait for her.

Kong Shadi suddenly poked Ding Xian's head, "Are you stupid? Couldn't you have just refused? You must know what she wants, right?"

Ding Xian didn't refute, she just pulled on her bag strap and slowly walked over.

Sure enough, the class beauty handed her a pink letter. She lowered her head and looked at the elegant and lovely handwriting on the envelope—To Zhou Siyue.

A playful smiley face was also drawn next to it.

The class beauty slipped the letter into her hand, then generously patted her shoulder and said: "I'm entrusting this to you. Once it's done, we'll treat you to a meal."

After saying that, she left in a hurry.

Leaving her alone in the corner, gritting her teeth at the letter.

Who are you treating to a meal?

The class beauty's silhouette was light and graceful, like a happy nightingale. Her confident and high-spirited strides seemed to have already sealed Zhou Siyue as her conquest.

Seeing the girl leave, Kong Shadi walked over, snatched the letter from Ding Xian's hand, and weighed it back and forth. "Damn, 'To Zhou Siyue'? How shameless! Does Zhou Siyue even know who she is, just rushing to deliver it like this? I'll tear it up for you."

Having said that, Kong Shadi was about to act.

Ding Xian quickly stopped her, "Don't, that's not very moral."

Kong Shadi scoffed: "Coward, you don't dare. I'll tear it for you. If anything happens, it's on me."

Kong Shadi's loyalty warmed Ding Xian's heart, but out of humanitarianism, she still couldn't bring herself to do it. One side wanted to tear, the other wanted to stop, and as their efforts diverged, with a "rip," it was torn apart, leaving each of them holding half.

Kong Shadi was delighted.

But after all, this wasn't Ding Xian's property. Destroying it without the owner's permission meant: first, she couldn't explain it to that girl; second, she couldn't explain it to Zhou Siyue; and third, it violated her principles of conduct.

Ding Xian grew a little anxious, her voice unconsciously rising as she yelled at Kong Shadi: "Kong Shadi! How could you do this! This isn't mine, I have no right to tear it, and you have even less right! If you do this, how am I supposed to explain it to Zhou Siyue and that girl? What will they think of me?"

Kong Shadi was always used to being free-spirited and didn't take it to heart at all. It was just a trivial matter, and she didn't understand why Ding Xian was so upset with her, so she shouted back: "Explain what? Aren't you worried you don't have enough rivals? Do you know who that person just now was? You Keke! It's only the start of the semester and she's already changed three boyfriends. There's no man she can't get."

She even held up three fingers.

"With Zhou Siyue's level, he's definitely going to fall for her. If you give this to him, what else is it but being foolish? I'm stopping you from being foolish, and you're yelling at me. You really have no conscience."

The two young girls were hot-headed, each with her own way of doing things. Kong Shadi came from a privileged family, was pampered since childhood, and was accustomed to doing as she pleased and being carefree. She never tried to cater to or flatter anyone. To say she didn't understand life would be wrong; in fact, she understood it better than anyone. She carried her own scale in her heart; in her eyes, if she liked something, she had to get it, no matter the means. This was also somewhat related to her father's business.

There was nothing Kong Shadi couldn't get, only things she didn't want. That was Kong Shadi.

Ding Xian, on the other hand, grew up in a more restricted educational environment. Her mother was obsequious, her father timid and weak, and her younger brother pampered and overbearing. She was sensitive, cared deeply about what others thought of her, and even more about what Zhou Siyue thought of her.

If Zhou Siyue were already her boyfriend today, perhaps she would also have torn up the letter like Kong Shadi, or directly returned it to that girl. But she and Zhou Siyue were nothing to each other; she had no right to decide all this for him.

This was the difference between her and Kong Shadi.

In the evening after school, the school corridor was deserted. In the corner by the entrance of Class Three, two girls stood, arguing until their faces were red and necks strained. Both stubbornly turned their heads away, neither willing to yield. Ding Xian snatched back the other half of the letter from Kong Shadi's hand, leaving behind a sentence:

"No matter if it's foolish or not, tearing up someone else's letter is an immoral act!"

After saying that, she thump-thump-thumped down the stairs.

Kong Shadi angrily kicked the wall. On the pristine white wall, a dark shoe print immediately appeared.

Ding Xian arrived at the basketball court.

The boys were playing three-on-three. Zhou Siyue's team had just substituted off. He sat under the basketball hoop, his head covered in sweat, resting with his back hunched and legs spread. His hands rested on his knees, his arm muscles were smooth and layered. His gaze was fixed on the court, and a few faint lines appeared on his forehead as he slightly raised it.

Zhou Siyue watched the ball quietly, occasionally lowering his head to wipe the sweat from his face with the front of his T-shirt. Then he leaned back, hands supporting him from behind, changing his posture. One leg was bent, and his arm muscles were even more prominent due to the strain, unexpectedly strong.

Outside the wire fence, a few girls passed by, pointing towards him, their smiles obvious.

Ding Xian put the torn love letter into her bag and walked over.

She stood behind Zhou Siyue; the scent of male hormones was strong.

Noticing something unusual, Zhou Siyue looked back, then curved his lips into a smile before turning back to watch the court, saying: "Finished cleaning?"

Ding Xian had just argued with Kong Shadi, so her complexion wasn't good, a bit pale. Seeing his nonchalant appearance, she was so angry she just wanted to kick his strong back.

"Why did you ask me to come?"

Her tone was clearly unfriendly.

Zhou Siyue looked back suspiciously, scrutinizing her face under the afterglow of the setting sun, then chuckled: "Did you eat gunpowder?"

'You peacock who attracts all the bees and butterflies.'

Zhou Siyue looked at her, "If you have something to say, say it. Don't think I don't know you're cursing me in your head."

"..."

As soon as he finished speaking, the game there also ended. The boys gathered their things and went back home to their mothers. Zhou Siyue stood up and turned to pick up his bag. A boy behind him called out: "Siyue."

He turned back, squinting his eyes to look, "Hm?"

The boy said: "I'll take the ball back to inflate it, and return it to you tomorrow."

Zhou Siyue: "Okay."

After saying that, he slung his bag over one shoulder and glanced at Ding Xian: "Let's go, I'll walk you home."

Ding Xian looked at him, bewildered.

Zhou Siyue flicked her forehead, "Stupid? Let's go."

After saying that, he just walked off without waiting for her.

Ding Xian grumbled and chased after him.

Behind them, Song Ziqi chased over, shouting at their retreating figures: "Hey, Little Monster, where's Kong Shadi? Why didn't she come? Weren't you two doing duty together?"

As soon as he finished shouting, he saw Kong Shadi standing outside the wire fence, waving at Song Ziqi, "I'm here."

She didn't even look at Ding Xian.

The two walked along rows of poplars towards home.

The twilight stretched the young man's silhouette. He carried his bag slung over one shoulder, the backpack swaying on his back, bumping against his strong back muscles. Occasionally, two leaves drifted down.

Ding Xian called out to him, "Zhou Siyue."

The young man turned back, one hand in his pocket. After an exhilarating and thorough workout, his nerves were fatigued, a moment of relaxation. The setting sun made his silhouette appear even more languid.

"What?"

Ding Xian: "Why did you walk me home today?"

He suddenly smiled, finding it the most ordinary thing: "You helped me with duty, I'll walk you home. What's wrong?"

Oh.

Ding Xian stepped forward, moving into his tall shadow, blocking the light. The young man's face became unusually clear. They were very close. She suddenly noticed his skin was really good. She forcefully pulled her attention back and said softly:

"Then don't walk me home anymore. My helping you with duty counts as thanks for treating me to a movie. Also, the two of us will just be deskmates from now on. Don't be too nice to me; it'll cause unnecessary misunderstandings."

After saying that, she didn't wait for him anymore and quickened her pace forward.