In the setting sun, four people, brightly and the other two, walked side by side, about half a meter apart.
The quiet air was thick with a lingering hint of afternoon heat.
On the way back to the classroom after lunch.
No one spoke.
Hu Yifan tugged at the sleeve of Liu Ranran's school uniform beside Su Qing and winked at her.
"You want some milk tea?"
Hu Yifan's red hair was blown askew by the wind. He spoke loudly, stopped in his tracks, and looked at Liu Ranran with a wicked smile.
Liu Ranran's face, already red from the start of the meal, instantly turned even redder, and she was completely bewildered.
Confusion shone through her apricot-colored eyes.
"Ah!"
Her mouth parted slightly, and she had to stop. The normally articulate girl felt like something was off in her head.
When had she even mentioned wanting milk tea?
"You want milk tea? I'll treat you. Let's go get some. Brother Sui, you and Su Qing, go to the classroom first. Ranran and I will go get some."
Liu Ranran's wrist was instantly pulled away by Hu Yifan.
She couldn't help but hesitate.
Su Qing froze. She wanted to ask Liu Ranran, but seeing the girl's blushing face and retreating figure, she couldn't help but worry whether Hu Yifan would bully her.
Jiang Sui simply stared at the two wrists touching in the distance. For now, he and Su Qing were walking separately, at least half a meter apart.
They were very distant.
"Jiang Sui, Ranran..."
Su Qing's eyes hesitated.
"Don't worry, he'll be back soon. Hu Yifan can be a bit naughty, but he won't do anything rash. What are you drinking? I'll have them bring it back for you."
Jiang Sui naturally saw that Hu Yifan was simply trying to create an opportunity for them to be together, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
Just then, Su Qing's phone rang with a text message. She took it out and saw it was from Liu Ranran, also asking her what she wanted to drink.
She looked up at Jiang Sui.
"Ranran asked me again if I wanted anything to drink."
Su Qing wasn't really interested in soda or milk tea, so she casually asked Jiang Sui.
"What are you drinking?"
Jiang Sui shook his head, and Su Qing nodded, replying to the text.
She had spoken to him many times today, even asking if he wanted milk tea. Although it was another day without holding hands, Jiang Sui's gloomy mood had improved considerably.
She hadn't noticed, however, that the moment she pulled out her phone from a tree not far away was being recorded, with only her included.
A gentle evening breeze blew, and the campus was filled with hurried students. The dim streetlights made it difficult to discern the comings and goings.
Su Qing followed Jiang Sui, their pace slowing as they walked, one in front and one behind.
Su Qing could vaguely feel the friction of the boy's fingertips.
Su Qing couldn't help but lower her head, bit her lip, and clenched her fists.
"Jiang Sui, we're still at school."
After saying that, she felt a surge of heat in her heart.
"Is it okay if we're not at school?"
The boy's fiery, low voice reached Su Qing's ears, burning her.
Su Qing pursed her lips and said nothing.
A slight flush crept into her face.
After returning to the classroom, the heat lingered around her for a long time.
Zhang Yihan's face darkened as he watched the two of them enter together. He had been in the classroom a long time ago, but after waiting for a long time, he still didn't see Su Qing.
As usual, he went to the second-floor cafeteria where Liu Ranran and Su Qing ate. After eating, he hurried back, a full half-hour away.
Usually, he quickly returned to Su Qing after lunch, while she was working on her homework. This time, she didn't come in until almost study time.
Zhang Yihan touched the book on quantum mechanics in his desk drawer. Thinking of the rumors he'd heard since returning to the classroom, he couldn't help but look at Su Qing with a brick-like gaze.
The girl's palm-sized face, wrapped in a loose, baggy school uniform, practically enveloped her entire being.
Originally, the girl, with her porcelain-skinned complexion and aloof demeanor, had a low profile.
However, recently, rumors of her involvement with the school bully had repeatedly thrust her into the public eye.
This didn't seem like her style.
"Su Qing, do you really know what you're doing?"
Despite his good upbringing, Zhang Yihan, facing the dilemma of being caught, shouldn't have bothered Su Qing or spoken ill of her, but he couldn't help but speak to her.
He clenched his fists nervously as he watched the girl sort through the physics and English papers on her desk.
Of course he knew they'd agreed to have make-up classes together tonight.
He wanted to stop it. His presence at home and school had always been subtle, but it was never invisible, and he always held a prominent position in the group.
He'd been class monitor since childhood, and was incredibly popular and beloved.
Su Qing couldn't understand why the reserved Zhang Yihan had suddenly spoken so disapprovingly of her, especially when he'd mentioned Jiang Sui that afternoon—it was so unexpected.
?
Her eyes, filled with confusion, looked at Zhang Yihan.
Those pure, clear white eyes were innocent, pure and untainted by a speck of dust.
"Su Qing, I... your first priority right now is studying. Often, you need to take care of yourself before you can help others. Otherwise, it's hard to make progress."
As a friendly deskmate, Zhang Yihan couldn't bring himself to say, "You can't get involved with Jiang Sui right now." He clenched his fingers into fists.
Sweat beads formed on his forehead, his face flushed slightly with nervousness, and a pair of eager eyes hidden beneath his glasses.
He suppressed his inner unhappiness and dissatisfaction.
He couldn't believe in his heart that Su Qing was really who everyone said she was, or that she was really with Jiang Sui...
Zhang Yihan's head was pounding.
"If you need help, I can offer it. I've already secured admission, so it won't delay me."
His voice dropped slightly as the room filled with more and more people and the bell rang for self-study class, gradually quieting down.
The urgency in his eyes was undisguised.
"Su Qing, I'm doing this for your own good."
"Third year of high school is incredibly tight."
...
"You know..."
Zhang Yihan was even a bit anxious, his words incoherent.
Su Qing blinked. Time was indeed limited, but her eyes didn't betray any other emotion.
"Thank you, I don't need it right now."
The girl's brows relaxed, and her words, unlike the occasional joking from before, were now distinctly cold.
"I'm doing this for your own good." Those eight words sounded familiar to her...
How unpleasant.