The next morning, Xia Li folded up the umbrella that had dried overnight, carefully smoothing out each page and neatly folding it. Today, Xia Li had bought breakfast outside of school specially for herself. After the morning self-study session, she didn’t join Lin Qingxiao and the others for a meal. As the first wave of students heading to the cafeteria left the classroom, she took her umbrella and went downstairs.
She heard from Class 20 that he should be delivering a script to the foreign teacher’s office.
The excitement she felt all morning about seeing him burst like a balloon “pop” when she learned this.
Xia Li felt a bit unwilling to give the umbrella to someone else and decided to try again another time.
Soon after, Lin Qingxiao returned from the cafeteria, holding a Chinese pancake and soy milk, and sat down on the empty seat next to her.
Lin Qingxiao inserted a straw into the soy milk, “Nie Chuhang’s birthday is next week. Can you help me think of a gift for him?”
“He’s not like Xiao Yulong. Just giving books seems too casual.”
Lin Qingxiao was so scared that she quickly turned her head back and hit the empty seat next to her.
After thinking for a moment, she answered seriously, “Wallet, sneakers, backpack, wristband, stationery bag…”
“Maybe a backpack. Will you come with me to Tianxing Street on Saturday?”
“Sure.”
“He’s going to KTV on his birthday. Are you going?” Lin Qingxiao continued, “I asked Xu Ning, and she said she’s busy that day.”
“…KTV again.”
“There’s nothing else to do. It’s freezing cold. We can’t exactly go to the park.”
In those days before party games like Werewolf, Murder Mystery, and board games became popular, apart from going to KTV, there wasn’t much else to do at high school gatherings.
“Do you need me to come? If you do, I’ll come.”
“Yes, I do.”
At this moment, someone came to find Lin Qingxiao at the door.
It was Lin Qingxiao’s friend from the art class, Ouyang Jing.
Ouyang Jing leaned in and waved at Lin Qingxiao, “Xiaoxiao, can you come out for a moment? I need to talk to you about something.”
Lin Qingxiao said, “Come in.”
“Is it okay?”
“It’s fine. The teacher’s not here.”
Ouyang Jing walked in, sat down on the empty seat in front of Lin Qingxiao, and greeted Xia Li.
As a friend of a friend, Xia Li knew Ouyang Jing, but they hadn’t interacted much.
While eating, Xia Li couldn’t help but size up Ouyang Jing.
She was indeed beautiful and elegant, speaking slowly with the gentle temperament of a TV anchor, which explained why she was always nominated for school flower.
“What’s up?” Lin Qingxiao asked.
Ouyang Jing said, “It’s Nie Chuhang’s birthday…”
“Why, can’t you go?”
“No, no, I was wondering…” Ouyang Jing glanced at Xia Li, seemingly hesitant to mention the presence of a third person, “Is Nie Chuhang acquainted with Yan Sishi?”
“They participated in the physics competition training together, so you could say they know each other.”
“I heard that last time Nie Chuhang asked Yan Sishi out to dinner, and he agreed.”
“…You’re well-informed.”
Ouyang Jing smiled apologetically, “Xiaoxiao, could you ask Nie Chuhang if Yan Sishi could also come to his birthday party?”
Xia Li couldn’t help but glance at Ouyang Jing.
Ouyang Jing also liked Yan Sishi, which Xia Li knew, but dealing with it head-on was another matter entirely.
Lin Qingxiao said, “We can ask, but whether Yan Sishi agrees is hard to say.”
“It’s okay. I’m prepared for that… I envy you guys, being able to perform drama with Class 20.”
“What’s there to envy? Do you envy me for always dealing with Taoshi Yue?”
Ouyang Jing laughed, “By the way, what role is Yan Sishi playing? The lead?”
“He said he’s not interested and doesn’t have time, so he probably won’t.”
“You’re staging ‘The Xi’an Incident,’ right? What a pity. He’d look great in military uniform.”
“…You’re beyond help.”
“What about you, Xiaoxiao?”
“I’m too lazy to act. Maybe I’ll just help the cultural committee with makeup and hair.”
“Do you need my help? I can help with makeup.”
“Don’t you have your own performance to worry about?”
“It’s a solo act. It won’t take up much time.”
“We’ll see how things go then.”
Ouyang Jing was satisfied, stood up, “Well, I’ll leave now. I’ll leave it to you to talk to Nie Chuhang.”
Lin Qingxiao nodded.
Xia Li picked up disposable chopsticks and picked at her noodles, feeling a slight warmth on her cheeks from the steam.
But there was also a faintly sour and cool feeling, like swallowing ice-cold lemonade.
When the first class started, it started raining again outside, and it didn’t stop all morning.
The morning radio gymnastics were canceled, so Xia Li went downstairs again to pick up her umbrella.
Standing at the door of Class 20, she looked inside through the glass window. Yan Sishi was sleeping on his stomach in the third row from the window.
Xia Li hesitated for a moment but didn’t call anyone to wake him up, afraid of disturbing him.
It wasn’t until the last class in the afternoon that Xia Li rushed to the broadcasting station and grabbed her umbrella on the way.
Down the stairs and around the corner, she avoided several students walking toward her and almost collided with someone coming out of Class 20.
Xia Li stopped in her tracks, looked up, and saw Wang Chen and Yan Sishi.
She was so scared that she almost couldn’t speak, and she awkwardly handed over the umbrella, “…Thank you.”
“Do you still need it?” Yan Sishi asked softly.
She was so scared that she could hardly speak, and nervously handed over the umbrella, “…Thank you.”
“Do you still need it?” Yan Sishi asked in a low voice.
When they stood face to face, she noticed he was taller than she had sensed, and she didn’t dare look up at him.
“…No, I brought my own umbrella today.” Only then did Yan Sishi accept it.
Wang Chen stared at her. “Hey, have we met before?”
“…We had dinner together last time at Ju Fu Restaurant,” Xia Li smiled wryly, reminding him again.
“Oh, right.” Wang Chen seemed to recall, “I think I asked you the same question last time.”
“…”
Thanks to Wang Chen, her heart, which had been pounding from nervousness, finally eased. “Are you going to dinner?”
Yan Sishi nodded.
Xia Li stepped back two steps, no longer disturbing them, bid farewell, and went towards the broadcasting station.
She felt great all evening. Even the most boring political class in the evening study session became surprisingly enjoyable.
—
The cast for the play was set, and the lead actors with more scenes began rehearsing tirelessly day and night.
With a tight schedule, there wasn’t much time for rehearsals together. Zhu Xuan insisted everyone should be off-book for the first full-cast rehearsal, aiming not to waste time. Therefore, the first full-cast rehearsal was scheduled two weeks later.
Before that, it was Nie Chu Hang’s birthday.
The KTV for the party wasn’t on Tianxing Street—there was a new one near the Arts and Sciences College of Chuzhou, offering discounts for its grand opening, half the price of other places at different times.
Xia Li met up with Lin Qingxiao and they went together.
When they arrived, the place was already crowded.
Xia Li immediately looked around in the dim lighting for Yan Sishi—she had heard from Lin Qingxiao that he had agreed to come to the party.
But she didn’t see him; instead, she spotted Ouyang Jing.
At that time, most girls didn’t wear makeup, but the girls in the Arts class had the conditions and needs—studying dance, acting, and broadcasting, often participating in various exams, performances, or competitions. When everyone else was plain-faced and tired, they would dress up like those in “Rayli” and “Izoh” magazines.
Ouyang Jing was sitting at the request station, wearing a white turtleneck and a maroon cashmere suspender skirt over it, her slightly curled hair framing her face.
In the sudden brightening of the lights, Xia Li saw her lightly made-up face, looking natural as if the warmth of the indoors had brought it out.
She was really beautiful. Xia Li was momentarily stunned.
Lin Qingxiao walked with Xia Li and said, “Has Yan Sishi not arrived yet?”
Ouyang Jing turned around. “Not yet.”
“You look beautiful today,” Lin Qingxiao complimented.
Ouyang Jing shyly smiled and asked Lin Qingxiao, “Shall we pick a song?”
“I’ll see what’s already been selected,” Lin Qingxiao replied.
Xia Li held a can of cola in her hand, sitting on the long sofa, listening to Lin Qingxiao and Ouyang Jing sing. She was restless, her mind not focused, glancing frequently towards the door.
She wasn’t sure what she was anticipating. Even if Yan Sishi came, she could probably only exchange a few words with him.
It was past eight o’clock, and Yan Sishi still hadn’t shown up.
Ouyang Jing couldn’t sit still anymore and called Nie Chu Hang over, asking if he could call Yan Sishi to check if he was still coming.
“I don’t have his number—does anyone here have it?” Nie Chu Hang asked around, getting shakes of the head in response.
Perhaps Nie Chu Hang, whose subtle feelings were mostly focused on Lin Qingxiao, couldn’t understand the anxiety of others. Instead, he added fuel to the fire, “He’s usually quite solitary, so it’s normal if he suddenly doesn’t show up. He’s closer to Wang Chen in their class.”
Lin Qingxiao glanced at Ouyang Jing, warning him, “Stop talking.”
Nie Chu Hang was a bit puzzled.
Ouyang Jing smiled dimly.
And at that moment, it wasn’t just one person who felt disappointed.
The air in the private room was too stuffy, and Xia Li couldn’t sit still.
Of course, she knew it wasn’t because of the stuffy air.
While Lin Qingxiao and Ouyang Jing sang “If Things Were Different,” Xia Li took her coat and phone, quietly left the room.
Pushing open the door of the KTV downstairs, a blast of cold wind hit her face. Chuzhou had distinct seasons, and winter was cold without compromise.
She shivered, quickly putting on her down jacket and burying her hands in her pockets.
Facing the chilly wind, about to walk forward, she lifted her eyes and saw a figure on the roadside.
Her heart soared.
Xia Li almost exclaimed in surprise.
Looking closely, she confirmed that it was indeed Yan Sishi, then suppressed her excited feelings, walked over, and said, “Yan Sishi.”
He was standing on the roadside, beside a taxi, and turned to look at her upon hearing her voice.
He was dressed in a long black down jacket and black trousers, with a gray hoodie underneath. The dark colors contrasted with his pale skin, and his eyes looked even more profound in the night. He seemed unreachable.
“Just arrived?” Xia Li asked.
“Yeah…”
The taxi driver asked, “Are we going or not?”
Yan Sishi replied, “Not going. Sorry, driver.”
The driver muttered something and stepped on the gas, driving away.
Xia Li didn’t understand. “Are you leaving now? Shouldn’t we at least go up and say hello?”
“I don’t know which private room. I forgot to ask for Nie Chuhang’s contact information,” Yan Sishi explained lightly.
“So, he came but couldn’t find the place, so he’s preparing to go back the way he came?”
Xia Li couldn’t control herself and smiled faintly.
Yan Sishi glanced at her at this moment.
It’s hard to say what meaning could be found in such a casual glance.
Xia Li’s ears instantly turned red, and she hurriedly said, “Shall I take you up?”
Yan Sishi nodded. “Thank you.”
The two turned back and walked.
Xia Li believed that luck might have favored her a little. If she hadn’t impulsively decided to come out for some fresh air, would she have returned disappointed tonight?
She didn’t wear makeup, but she washed her hair before leaving and wore her favorite white sweater and white down jacket. Her fair skin made white the most flattering color for her.
She didn’t want her unshared feelings to be disappointed.
The night was extremely quiet, and even the sound of leaves falling on the ground could be heard clearly.
It was Yan Sishi who broke the silence. His voice seemed to dissipate like white mist in the cold wind. Listening to it, there was always a sense of unreality. “Has everyone arrived?”
Of course, Xia Li knew why there was this sense of unreality. Her heartbeat was almost louder than any sound.
She murmured in agreement.
At the door, Xia Li reached out to open it, but Yan Sishi stepped forward first.
He held the door, gesturing for her to go in first.
Her feet felt weightless, as if sinking.
The moment they entered, she smelled again the snowy scent on him, and his warm breath seemed to be just above her head.
She held her breath for a moment.
In the last glance, she saw the steady grip of his hand holding the door handle, his wrist bones sharply defined.
The KTV was extravagantly decorated, with neon blue and red LED lights all the way from the lobby to the elevator.
Standing side by side with Yan Sishi inside, she felt a surreal feeling. The sudden weightlessness during the ascent made her dizzy, and the air seemed compressed, making it hard to breathe smoothly.
She didn’t dare to turn her head to look at him, her hands sweating in the pocket of her coat, head down, eyes scanning over and over his black Martin boots.
Why was the air so hot?
Finally, the elevator doors opened.
Yan Sishi stepped out first, then gently held the elevator door, waiting for her to come out.
He might be the best-mannered boy she had ever met.
These details were something she hadn’t anticipated, yet he naturally seemed like he should be this way.
But at this moment, she felt a vague sense of loss.
Because his manners, undoubtedly, were the same for everyone.