Inside the Yuyang University library, Ji Yu wandered between bookshelves, searching for the textbooks she needed while absentmindedly replying to a call through her earphones.
"Hehe, what's wrong, little sister? Not letting your brother call you anymore? I mean, I usually call to cheer you up, but this time your brother here has actually hit a wall!"
Balancing on her toes in front of the English and French section, Ji Yu pulled down a copy of Yellow Book: CET-6 English. She scanned her library card, then flipped it open. Though she had just passed CET-4, following Mo Yachen's advice to grab this one still left her with a splitting headache.
"Hello? Ji Yu, think about it—after all, we both got into Yuyang, a 211 school! If I fail a class here in Shanghai, wouldn't that be shameful?"
"…You got into Yuyang? I don't believe it."
"Click your tongue, believe it or not, it's true. I've been here a year longer than you, so you'll always have to call me xuezhang. …Fine, fine! Just pretend I did get in, otherwise I don't even know how to continue this conversation."
Ji Yu grabbed another book, Spark English CET-6, then carried it to a round sofa near the window. She flipped through slowly. Across from her, two freshmen had already dozed off on each other's shoulders, lulled by the library's quiet. Thankfully, they weren't snoring.
"My name's Yu Yuan—styled Aotian. I may look like a slacker, but secretly I'm a decent student. My grades? Always a solid pass. But… I skipped military training and broke a few school rules, so they made me repeat freshman year."
Ji Yu turned a page, lips moving silently, clearly ignoring his nonsense.
"This time though, I really failed a course. That stubborn old professor just won't let me pass. It's already December, and I've had to retake it three times!"
"The first time, I thought he just wanted to make an example out of me, so I took it seriously. Failed. The second time, I did the same. Failed again! By the third time, I even brought him a pack of cigarettes. Guess what? He chewed me out and I still failed."
Ji Yu closed her eyes, digesting some new vocabulary, before answering.
"…So? What exactly are you trying to say with all this?"
"Ahem. Since you're so eager—fine, I'll say it. I want you to tutor me in English. Failing English is a nightmare."
"Don't worry, it won't take much of your time. I've already figured out most of the exam pattern. Just… keep me on track for two hours a day, watch me memorize vocab."
"…Who has time to babysit you every day?"
"No worries, we'll video call. I'll recite, you supervise. If I slack off, you scold me. Perfect system, right?"
"So to put it simply…"
Ji Yu snapped her book shut, startling the two boys across from her awake.
"…you just want me to scold you?"
"…What? Haven't you heard the sincerity in my voice? That professor has my life in his hands!"
Ji Yu slid a bookmark into place and switched to Standard Guitar Exam Pieces. She pulled out her notebook and started jotting things down.
"But I refuse."
"Come on! If I fail, won't that embarrass you too? Don't worry—if you supervise me, I promise I'll pass this time. Wait—what?! You refused?!"
Ji Yu copied a page, flipped to the next, unbothered by Yu Yuan's desperate whining in her ear.
"Ji Yu, just help me! Even once a week, okay? I'm so lonely here, no close friends, I can't stay disciplined…"
"Listen, I have dirt on you. If you don't agree, I'll tell Tang Li everything! Then you'll really lose face!"
"You wicked little sister, bullying your xuezhang like this! Too much! I—I hate you!"
Silence.
Finally, Yu Yuan's frustrated voice erupted like static in her ear. Ji Yu had already turned his volume to minimum, but even so, his loud rants pierced through, ruining her peace. To the outside world, she looked like every other student quietly studying—but in her earphones, it was chaos.
Ji Yu frowned. She was used to it by now, though.
A pair of legs—long, slim, wrapped in black stockings—appeared in her vision. Their owner, a girl in a white sweater dress, hair loose over her shoulders, glasses perched on her nose, stood with a frown that made her look both gentle and exasperated. Clearly, she thought the boys had disturbed her. The two freshmen scrambled up, stammered apologies, and hurried away. Ji Yu blinked, a little lost.
The thick book was impossible to finish, so she closed it and prepared to borrow it. In her ears, Yu Yuan's "song" continued. Whether or not he'd really failed four classes, Ji Yu didn't know—but one thing was clear: he didn't have close friends there. That's why he kept calling her.
So she let him rant. At least it made him happy.
But then his voice shifted, suddenly calm again.
"Hehe, I just saw Tang Li. Looks like he's out with his little girlfriend again."
"…Want me to say hi for you?"
"…No."
After a moment of silence, Ji Yu gave up and started packing her bag. She had more important things to do than dwell on Tang Li. She wasn't his anything. His life, his happiness or struggles, weren't hers to touch.
On the other end, Yu Yuan leaned on his balcony railing, watching Gu Yu spin in circles below, laughing as she scattered snowflakes into the air. Tang Li followed behind, trying not to laugh when Gu Yu slipped and fell. She grabbed a handful of snow, rolled a clumsy ball, and hurled it at him.
"Pfft… Gu Yu fell flat on her face. How old is she, still tripping like that?"
As Ji Yu listened to his live commentary, her blue eyes grew hazy.
The campus was quiet in the weekend snow.
Stretching out her hand, she caught a perfect snowflake. It melted instantly on her fingertip, cooling her burning thoughts. Her glasses fogged, the world blurring before her.
"This year… it's snowing in Yuzhou too."