Unrequited love is too lonely.
I am not someone who can endure loneliness.
From the Diary of Su Zaizai, the Little Fairy
In late October, the weather changed rapidly, with rain arriving and departing quickly.
During the period between the end of school and the evening study session, although there were few people in the classroom, it was quite noisy. From a distance, he could hear the clamor in the classroom and the crisp, gentle female voice from the loudspeaker.
Zhang Lurang walked into the classroom.
Before he reached his seat, he noticed a dark red folding umbrella lying conspicuously in the center of the desk, seemingly meant to attract his attention.
Upon picking it up, he found a piece of paper stuck on the umbrella handle, with several layers of transparent tape added for waterproofing.
A sentence was written on it, though somewhat blurred from being rubbed.
But he could still clearly read the words.
Su Zaizai from Class 9, Grade 10, lent to Zhang Lurang fromClass 1, Grade 10.
The word "lend" was printed in a font twice as large as the others.
He lowered his gaze with a neutral expression and placed the umbrella back on the desk. He packed a few books into his bag, slung it over his shoulder, and left the classroom, making sure to take the umbrella with him.
He went up two flights of stairs, turned right, and walked around to the classroom nearest to the Grade 10 office.
Perhaps because it was so close to the office or maybe because there were few people, the classroom was very quiet.
Particularly quiet.
Zhang Lurang saw only one girl inside, sitting near the window on the inside of the row, with large-frame glasses perched on her nose and headphones on, flipping through a book.
Outside the window, the setting sun cast its infinite beauty, filtering through the dense leaves. The fragmented light illuminated the book with a few halos and reflected a pearly glow on the girl's hand.
It was somewhat glaring.
Zhang Lurang's eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke, "Su Zaizai."
She didn't hear him and continued turning the pages without pausing.Zhang Lurang didn't call her again and simply walked in.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone standing beside the desk, and Su Zaizai paused in her reading, instinctively pulling one of her headphones off.
The voice from the loudspeaker came through, the girl's voice melodious and charming.
"In Han Han's *A City* there is a line that goes..."
"Nothing in this world is more than this: to like something in an instant and then spend years questioning why you like it."
Su Zaizai looked up at him.
The boy's lips were pressed straight, his eyes clear and bright without any emotion. His black hair was half wet, making him appear lazy yet pure.
He raised his hand and handed the umbrella to her without saying a word.
Su Zaizai didn't take it and merely stared at him.
Seeing this, Zhang Lurang leaned over and placed the umbrella on her desk before turning to leave.
Su Zaizai hurriedly called out to him, "Zhang Lurang."
The boy paused, turning to look at her.
"Do you recognize me?" Su Zaizai put down her book and picked up the umbrella, shaking it slightly.
Zhang Lurang nodded but did not speak.
It seemed as if something inside Su Zaizai had swelled, making her feel both joyful and uncontrollable. She restrained her anxiety, stood up, and shamelessly asked, "Are you secretly paying attention to me?"
Caught off guard by the question, Zhang Lurang frowned slightly and showed no interest in continuing the conversation, turning his foot toward the door.
She followed him, talking to herself, "I shouldn't have called you out. Don't be mad. Pretend I didn't say that."
Zhang Lurang's lips twitched as he couldn't help but sneer, "Acceleration of two meters per second squared."
It seemed the previous incident had been too extravagant, with loud calls and recitations.
Suddenly, she felt very embarrassed.
But she could handle it.
Moreover, it seemed that what she had done before wasn't in vain;he did remember her a bit.
Su Zaizai blinked and quickly changed the subject, "By the way, that day, I was actually looking for you, not Zhou Xuyin... I was looking for you."
She was not a fickle person! She was very devoted!
"Mm."
So cold, sob sob.
Su Zaizai pressed on, "Aren't you going to ask why I was looking for you?"
"Not interested."
Not interested...
Fine, if he wasn't interested, she wouldn't say anything. Su Zaizai decided to give in.
Let's change the topic.
"Oh, and about the acceleration thing, I didn't not know the unit of acceleration! I just had a brain lapse and thought of the wrong unit," Su Zaizai shamelessly explained.
"Oh."
"Do you know saying 'oh' is a form of cold violence?"
"You used violence against me."
95
"Domestic violence."
Zhang Lurang's footsteps paused as he turned to look at her with a subtle expression.
Su Zaizai calmly corrected herself, "Campus violence, a slip of the tongue."
Zhang Lurang: "..."
After that, one person kept talking while the other remained firmly silent.
But after descending two flights of stairs, Zhang Lurang could not help but speak, his tone slightly heavy: "Why are you following me?"
Just reaching the key class floor, a few more steps and they would be at the back door of the classroom, where the noise from the classroom could be heard. He was carrying the umbrella to return it...
It seemed like guessing wouldn't be too bad.
Su Zaizai innocently blinked, "I'm not following you. I'm going to the reading room."
He didn't say anything more or enter the classroom, turning andcontinuing downstairs.
Looks like she guessed right!
Su Zaizai cheerfully followed.
Although she didn't get a response, Su Zaizai, naturally talkative and thick-skinned, kept talking, making the situation less awkward.
Just as they were about to enter the reading room, Su Zaizai suddenly tugged at his sleeve before quickly letting go.
Zhang Lurang turned his head.
She licked her lips and cautiously explained, "What I said about cold violence was a joke... You should have been able to tell, right?"
He glanced at her and then looked away, saying, "Mm."
Still so cold.
The single word, though brief and seemingly filled with ice, quickly melted the ice in Su Zaizai's heart.
Gentle warmth spread in the air.
The two of them entered the reading room.
Zhang Lurang leisurely walked past a few bookshelves to a desk in the corner.continuing downstairs.
Looks like she guessed right!
Su Zaizai cheerfully followed.
Although she didn't get a response, Su Zaizai, naturally talkative and thick-skinned, kept talking, making the situation less awkward.
Just as they were about to enter the reading room, Su Zaizai suddenly tugged at his sleeve before quickly letting go.
Zhang Lurang turned his head.
She licked her lips and cautiously explained, "What I said about cold violence was a joke... You should have been able to tell, right?"
He glanced at her and then looked away, saying, "Mm."
Still so cold.
The single word, though brief and seemingly filled with ice, quickly melted the ice in Su Zaizai's heart.
Gentle warmth spread in the air.
The two of them entered the reading room.
Zhang Lurang leisurely walked past a few bookshelves to a desk in the corner.
Su Zaizai followed behind him.
There were four empty chairs by that desk.
Zhang Lurang quietly pulled out a chair and sat down. He took out his textbooks and exercise books from his bag and began to work.
Su Zaizai stood in place for a moment before turning and walking toward the door.
Noticing her leaving figure from the corner of his eye, Zhang Lurang paused in his writing, briefly looked up, and soon returned his gaze to his textbook.
He sighed in relief.
...Finally left.
Her lively nature made him unsure how to handle her.
But Su Zaizai wasn't leaving. She had nothing with her, so she couldn't sit next to him and keep staring at him...
Though she really wanted to.
But she still didn't dare to try.
Su Zaizai turned a corner and wandered through the foreign literature section.
Her fingers brushed over the spines of the books, her mind wandering. Unable to find anything she wanted to read, she finally picked out the book *Letter from an Unknown Woman", which wasrecommended by the Chinese teacher.
She carried the book back to the corner.
Two seats across from Zhang Lurang were already occupied, making Su Zaizai a bit disappointed. She had wanted to sit opposite him so she could see his face as soon as she looked up.
Well, she would sit next to him instead.
Closer distance.
Su Zaizai gently pulled out a chair and sat down.
Zhang Lurang, sitting next to her, seemed oblivious, not even moving his eyelids.
Su Zaizai glanced at him before quickly shifting her attention to the book, immersing herself in the story.
The sky outside was a dark red, tinting the clouds a faint pink while faintly revealing the blue backdrop, looking both beautiful and somber.
Zhang Lurang glanced at his watch; it was almost time for the evening study session.
Most people around had already left.
He closed his exercise books and textbooks, stacked them, and put them into his bag before standing up.
Su Zaizai remained motionless, continuing to read quietly.
Her profile was fair and delicate, her features small, her head slightly bowed. The chestnut-colored hair covered part of her face, her rosy lips curved into a small smile.
Her slender, fair fingers turned the pages of the book.
Her usually vibrant and cheerful demeanor had become quite serene.
Zhang Lurang stood in place for a moment, then slightly bent his back and lightly tapped his finger on the desk, quietly reminding, "Study session."
When Su Zaizai looked at him, her eyes were still a bit dazed but soon cleared up as she nodded in acknowledgment.
After speaking, he turned and walked out.
Su Zaizai didn't expect him to wait