Zhou Sheng leaned against the wall at the entrance of the stairwell, one hand shoved in his pants pocket, the other holding his phone as he looked down at the screen.
In the chat window, the person on the other end replied: Coming down right now.
He sighed and lifted his head. It was 8 AM, and the old neighborhood was already bustling. Elderly residents out for exercise and young mothers pushing strollers for morning sun passed by him frequently. The enticing aroma of steamed buns wafted from the back door of a nearby shop.
This week, the homeroom teacher had released the midterm exam results. Lin Sitian had indeed passed all her subjects. Barely able to contain her joy, she'd promptly made another demand that nearly knocked Zhou Sheng off his feet – she wanted him to reserve both days and one night of the May Day holiday for her. Not just one day, but the entire two days and one night.
And the May Day holiday began precisely four days after she'd said it – today.
Zhou Sheng felt a knot of apprehension in his stomach. For someone like him, who made his own decisions, asking his parents for permission to stay out overnight wasn't difficult. Even a straightforward reason like "hanging out with classmates" was met with relief by his parents, glad their son was finally engaging in age-appropriate social activities.
What made him anxious was what Lin Sitian had in mind.
No. Even if she asks, the answer is no. It's not that I don't want to—wait, I don't want to… Anyway, we're still young. No means no.
However, a promise made was a promise to be kept. That was Zhou Sheng's principle.
Lin Sitian hadn't appeared yet, but voices echoed from the stairwell.
"Grandma, slow down."
"Our Qiaoyu is so thoughtful, knows how to care for me. Look at my Tiantian, she never plays mahjong or chats with me like you do. She's still upstairs fussing over how she looks even though she knows I'm going out. Sigh, if only she could learn a bit from you."
A young man's voice chuckled. "Grandma, Lin Sitian cares about you too. Last time, wasn't it her who booked your acupuncture appointment with me? She said you weren't feeling well those days. And didn't she go with you that weekend?"
"Well, I still think she's not as sensible as you. Wouldn't it be nice if you were my grandson? Failing that, how about you marry Tiantian someday? Become my grandson-in-law?" The elderly woman chuckled heartily, patting the young man's hand.
"Grandma, we're still in high school…" Their conversation reached the landing as they turned the corner. Meng Qiaoyu was supporting a woman in her sixties. Standing on the top step of the first-floor stairs, Meng Qiaoyu's eyes met Zhou Sheng's as the latter looked up.
Both young men paused for a beat upon seeing each other.
Zhou Sheng had heard every word of the preceding conversation. He knew the woman was Lin Sitian's grandmother. But with Lin Sitian absent, Meng Qiaoyu wasn't about to introduce him. Zhou Sheng could only greet her politely when her gaze briefly swept over him.
"Good morning, Grandma."
"Hmm?" Grandma Lin hesitated for a few seconds, not recalling knowing this young man. "You are…?"
"I'm Zhou Sheng, Lin Sitian's classmate." Unsure if Lin Sitian had mentioned their overnight trip to her grandmother, he quickly assessed the situation and opted for a vague explanation. "I'm here to see her about something."
"Oh, oh. Tiantian's upstairs, but she'll be down soon. She's heading out though. Will this delay your business?" As she spoke, Meng Qiaoyu helped her down the last steps, bringing them face-to-face with Zhou Sheng.
Zhou Sheng shook his head, his hand hidden behind his back clenching nervously. Unlike last time, he hadn't anticipated encountering Lin Sitian's guardian. He hadn't brought any gift – it felt terribly impolite. Especially…
His gaze involuntarily flickered towards Meng Qiaoyu.
Before leaving, Grandma Lin patted Meng Qiaoyu's shoulder again, telling him to "take care of Tiantian." Standing beside them, Zhou Sheng felt the words carried an unsettling weight, like entrusting her granddaughter's future. He felt like an extra, a background prop, and the more he thought about it, the more stifled he became.
Once Grandma Lin had departed and only he and Meng Qiaoyu remained at the stairwell entrance, Meng Qiaoyu spoke first. "What are you doing here?"
"I just said." Zhou Sheng wasn't sure what role Meng Qiaoyu was playing today and chose to maintain discretion.
"But we're leaving soon."
"We?"
"Lin Sitian and me."
"..." Zhou Sheng frowned, a flash of confusion crossing his face. Lin Sitian had clearly arranged to meet him today. Why was Meng Qiaoyu involved?
While Zhou Sheng was trying to figure out Meng Qiaoyu, Meng Qiaoyu was sizing him up. This boy looked completely different from the pale, stern face on last week's video call. No glasses, his complexion healthier, and his dark eyes held a calm, inscrutable depth. But undeniably, this rumored top student, the bookish nerd, was strikingly handsome, easily matching Meng Qiaoyu's own looks.
So Meng Qiaoyu cut to the chase. "Do you like Lin Sitian?"
Zhou Sheng had been about to ask where he was taking Lin Sitian. The unexpected question hit him like a fishbone lodged in his throat, making him choke and cough several times.
"Of course not." In Zhou Sheng's understanding, even admitting interest could easily spark rumors, ultimately causing trouble for Lin Sitian. Denial was the safest answer. Whether he felt something or not, it was nobody else's business.
Not only that, Zhou Sheng sternly warned Meng Qiaoyu: "Don't joke about things like that."
No gossip allowed. This was serious and private.
"I was just about to— Oh, finally!" Meng Qiaoyu's peripheral vision caught Lin Sitian standing at the top of the stairs.
Her expression was terrible. Awfully so. Leaning on the banister, she looked down imperiously, but her gaze was fixed on one person only.
Zhou Sheng.
Lin Sitian descended the stairs, a large tote bag slung over her shoulder, clearly packed for the trip.
"Lin Sitian." Zhou Sheng only noticed her when he followed Meng Qiaoyu's gaze, a flicker of his usual calm replaced by slight panic.
Lin Sitian walked straight past him to Meng Qiaoyu's side. "Grandma left?"
"Yeah, she said she needed to get to the market early." Meng Qiaoyu couldn't miss Lin Sitian's deliberate snub of Zhou Sheng. His eyes darted between the two.
Lin Sitian peered towards the neighborhood entrance. "How long ago?"
"About three minutes."
"That should be enough. Let's go." Without a backward glance, Lin Sitian walked past Meng Qiaoyu and strode off.
Zhou Sheng stood rooted to the spot, unable to stop himself from asking, "Where are you going?"
— Who exactly did "we" refer to? Him or him?
Lin Sitian stopped, turned back calmly, and stated, "There's a new attraction opened in the suburbs, Shouxigu Rafting. We're taking the bus from the coach station."
Zhou Sheng couldn't fathom why this bizarre trio of her, him, and Meng Qiaoyu was happening. The question stuck in his throat; asking it outright would reveal he'd expected a trip with just Lin Sitian. He adjusted the strap of his backpack, staring at Lin Sitian, waiting for an explanation she seemed utterly disinterested in providing. She simply strode ahead, leaving the two boys behind.
Her departure was one thing. Meng Qiaoyu, however, trailing behind her, turned his head and shot Zhou Sheng a deliberately provocative smirk.
Zhou Sheng was momentarily speechless. Why does someone who got rejected still put on such a performance?
Arriving at the West Coach Station, they spotted a small group waving enthusiastically at Lin Sitian from the main entrance.
"Tiantian! Over here!" It was Yang Xuelin, also carrying a large backpack. Flanking her were Wang Yue and Li Hailiang. There was also another girl who looked about their age.
"Cui Qian!" Lin Sitian's face lit up with a genuine smile. She rushed forward and gave the girl a fierce hug. "Long time no see!"
The newcomer was Lin Sitian and Yang Xuelin's close friend from middle school. Having gone to different high schools, they'd planned this May Day reunion. The girls, reunited after a year and a half, chatted animatedly, instantly relegating the boys to the sidelines.
"M-M-Monitor." Li Hailiang looked apprehensive upon seeing Zhou Sheng, even though they were off-campus and he hadn't done anything wrong—likely lingering trauma from being caught cheating on quizzes and breaking class rules by Zhou Sheng multiple times.
Wang Yue, in contrast, was much more casual. "Oh? Did our Little Zhou Monitor come with our wuli Little Tiantian?" His smile was loaded with insinuation.
Zhou Sheng frowned slightly, first puzzled by the unusual pronunciation ("wuli"), then finding the term "Little Tiantian" overly familiar.
"Good morning." But he offered no opinion, simply greeting them both.
Meng Qiaoyu tapped Lin Sitian's shoulder, gesturing towards a nearby cluster of people. "Catch you later."
"Okay."
Zhou Sheng watched Meng Qiaoyu peel off and join the other group, then glanced at Lin Sitian, who showed no surprise.
Confusion deepened on his face.
The group proceeded to buy tickets. While queuing, Zhou Sheng ended up at the very back. Lin Sitian chatted with Cui Qian and the others, occasionally sneaking glances at him from the corner of her eye. He stood with his hands shoved in his jacket pockets, head down, watching the heels of the person in front as the line inched forward. He seemed perfectly comfortable in his solitude, unfazed by the lack of conversation around him.
That was how he'd always been. Zhou Sheng was someone who could live entirely in his own world. He didn't need to rely on anyone, nor did anyone need to rely on him. Unaware of the changing seasons around him, unaffected by the shifting likes and dislikes of others.
— She'd foolishly hoped she was the exception.
Lin Sitian pulled her gaze away and boarded the bus with her friends, chatting and laughing.
She took a seat beside Cui Qian, who launched into a detailed account of her life at Fifteenth High. When Zhou Sheng boarded and passed Lin Sitian's row, their eyes met for a fleeting moment. But Lin Sitian quickly looked away, as if that brief glance hadn't registered him at all.
Yang Xuelin ended up sitting next to Zhou Sheng.
"Hey, surprised?" Yang Xuelin settled in, leaning on the back of the seat in front. "I'm surprised too."
Zhou Sheng blinked, turning his clear eyes towards her. "Not really."
"Did you and Tiantian have a fight?" Yang Xuelin lowered her voice conspiratorially, ducking slightly behind the seat back.
Zhou Sheng thought for a long moment. "No."
"Impossible! If you didn't fight, why would she leave the seat next to you empty and practically shove me over here… uh, I mean, bless me with this opportunity?"
"I… don't know." Maybe because I mentioned her to Meng Qiaoyu? Did she find it embarrassing?
Yang Xuelin scrutinized Zhou Sheng with narrowed eyes. She had to admit Lin Sitian had good taste, spotting this uncut jade before his true brilliance was revealed. But for Little Tiantian to be this angry while he remained utterly clueless… This wasn't just a steel-straight guy anymore. This was an ironing board—devoid of humanity, utterly devoid of humanity.
"Well, maybe it's for the best," Yang Xuelin said, subtly nodding towards the front of the bus. Meng Qiaoyu and his group had just boarded and were taking seats right in front of Lin Sitian. "I really think Meng Qiaoyu and Tiantian are quite well-matched. Who knows, with more time together on this trip, maybe their relationship will take a big leap forward…"
Zhou Sheng's lips thinned into a tight line. "She already rejected him."
This was Zhou Sheng, the top student and class monitor, participating in a girl's gossip session for the first time in his life. He hadn't even realized he'd respond.
"You really don't get it," Yang Xuelin countered. "Girls always play hard to get at first. They don't just say yes easily. If something's too easy to get, it won't be cherished. Maybe Tiantian is also testing Meng Qiaoyu. From what I see, Meng Qiaoyu isn't giving up either. If 'nothing unexpected happens'… she might change her mind soon, right?"
"…Oh." Zhou Sheng gave a noncommittal grunt, pulled out his earphones, and shoved them into his ears with an air of indifference.
Yang Xuelin fumed, speechless.
The clear voice reciting a foreign language textbook filled Zhou Sheng's ears. He leaned against the bus window, propping his head on his hand. The scenery along the highway blurred past his deep-set eyes. But in an unguarded moment, unnoticed by anyone, his gaze drifted involuntarily through the gap in the seats ahead, landing on the profile of the girl chatting happily with her friend.
A pang of bitterness, like lemon juice squeezed tightly, dripped, drop by drop, seeping into the depths of his heart.