Sometimes, I feel like I'm unlucky.
But in reality, I've actually been more blessed with luck.
-From "Su Zai Zai's Little Fairy Diary"
Su Zai Zai couldn't help but let out a laugh.
The dormitory had already quieted down.
The other three were studying under small lamps, but they weren't disturbed by her.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Su Zai Zai quickly stifled her laughter. She bit her lip, trying to hold it in. She poked at the voice message again and, after listening to it several times, held it down to save it.
She tossed her phone aside and buried her head under the covers.
Silently giggling.
After a while.
Su Zai Zai reached for her phone again and started typing on the screen.
Su Zai Zai: Hey.
Su Zai Zai: Are you mad?
Su Zai Zai: If you're mad, just say so. Otherwise, with the screen between us...
Su Zai Zai: The incredibly beautiful President Su won't notice.
On the other end, after seeing her message.
Zhang Lu Rang opened the floor-to-ceiling window and walked back into his dormitory.
He sat cross-legged on the bed, thinking for a while.
Then, hesitating, he typed "Hmm."
But before sending it, he quickly deleted it.
He typed again: No, just studying.
The next day, after school in the afternoon.
Ye Zhen Xin turned down her roommate's invitation to eat together.
Seeing that most of the students had already left the classroom for dinner, she stood up.
She walked towards the fifth floor.
Turned right and entered the office.
The homeroom teacher, who was just getting ready to go out for dinner, raised an eyebrow when he saw her and smiled, "What's up?"
Ye Zhen Xin stood in place and glanced around.
After confirming that there were no familiar students nearby, she spoke up.
"Teacher, Zhang Lu Rang and Su Zai Zai from Class Nine are dating."
After the evening study bell rang.
The homeroom teacher of Class Nine walked into the classroom and brought up a few matters.
"I mentioned this last week, the education bureau will come for an inspection tomorrow. Boys... well, most of you have already gotten your haircuts. Girls, remember to tie your hair up tomorrow."
Su Zai Zai twirled the ends of her hair around her finger, spinning it in circles.
She kept her head down, writing with a pen in her other hand.
It wasn't clear if she was even listening to the teacher.
"The students on duty today, make sure to mop the floor." Thehomeroom teacher thought for a moment and continued, "Tomorrow, wear your school uniforms properly. Don't mix them with your formal clothes. If you get caught, you're done for."
Finally, he added a pointed remark.
"And remember, you're still so young. Focus on your studies and don't think about other things. There will be plenty of time for that later. There's no need to rush now."
Hearing this, Su Zai Zai finally looked up.
Her gaze met the homeroom teacher's directly.
She was momentarily stunned, staring into his eyes without looking away.
It was the teacher who eventually averted his gaze.
Jiang Jia, sitting next to her, suddenly leaned over.
In a low voice, she asked, "Hey, do you think the homeroom teacher was talking about you?"
Su Zai Zai hesitated for a moment, "No way..."
"You and Zhang Lu Rang are that obvious?"
"Why are you saying it like we're actually together?" Su Zai Zai was baffled.
"...I think it's pretty close."
Upon hearing this, Su Zai Zai's eyes widened, looking as if she'd been wronged.
"There's no way! When I talk to him, we're at least a meter apart. If that counts as being together, I... I might as well die."
Jiang Jia: "..."
"You don't know how uptight the great beauty is. If I even say something remotely flirty, he gets mad immediately."
Jiang Jia didn't believe her at all: "It can't be that bad..."
"Of course it is! Like the day before yesterday, I accidentally called him 'big brother,' and he got so mad he blocked me."
Su Zai Zai was totally scared: "So, physical contact? Honestly, I don't have the guts."
Su Zai Zai came to a conclusion: "He's like a chaste and virtuous lady."
After saying that, she realized something wasn't quite right and immediately corrected herself.
"No, a chaste and virtuous Rang."
Jiang Jia twitched at the corner of her mouth: "...Let's just get back to our homework."
***
The next morning.
Su Zai Zai, still drowsy, slipped on her slippers and walked out to the balcony to freshen up.
The sky outside was just beginning to lighten.
The air was damp and cold, with the wind howling.
Su Zai Zai woke up immediately, shivering as she brushed her teeth.
After washing up, she casually ran her fingers through her hair.
With a quick twist, she tied it up.
Su Zai Zai walked back into the dormitory and closed the floor-to-ceiling window.
Seeing Xiao Yu about to go out to the balcony to wash up, she reminded her.
"Put on a jacket before you go out, it's cold."
Jiang Jia had just come out of the bathroom and glanced at her.
Then she pointed at Su Zai Zai's hair and said, "You should redo your hair, it's a mess."
Hearing this, Su Zai Zai picked up a mirror from the cabinet and took a look.
"Not at all, it's got volume. Perfect."
Su Zai Zai, feeling playful, started talking nonsense: "Don't be fooled by how I look. Every strand of my hair has been carefully adjusted and styled. You can't just change their position casually."
"...Haha." So much chatter so early in the morning.
"Messing with it will bring a curse."
Jiang Jia ignored her and went to the balcony to wash up.
Afterward, Su Zai Zai also turned around and went into the bathroom to change into her school uniform.
When she came out, Jiang Jia was almost done getting ready.
The two of them left the dorm together.
At 6:30 AM, there were still very few people in the cafeteria.
Most had already gotten their breakfast and found a seat, with hardly anyone queuing at the windows.
Su Zai Zai walked up to one of the windows and ordered two pieces of bread.
She found a seat and sat down.
Before long, Jiang Jia also came over.
Su Zai Zai looked at the noodles in Jiang Jia's bowl and sighed, "I suddenly feel like having noodles too."
Jiang Jia glanced at her, "Do you want to switch with me?"
"No need." She took a bite of her bread, "Bread is fine too."
Jiang Jia didn't say anything more, bowing her head to eat her breakfast.
A minute later.
"This bread is so dry..."
"It's really hard to swallow."
"How does the cafeteria even manage to make bread like this? It's unbelievable."
"I feel like I'm going to die of thirst."
Jiang Jia couldn't hold back anymore: "If you talked less, you might last a little longer."
Su Zai Zai immediately went quiet.
Jiang Jia thought for a moment and then said, "Should I go get you a bottle of milk?"
Su Zai Zai shook her head, still chewing on her bread.
Half a minute later.
She glanced at the window where drinks were sold and finally spoke up.
"There are too many people. By the time you get back, I'll have finished eating. Alright, don't talk to me. Don't tempt me to talk; I want to live a bit longer."
Just as Jiang Jia was about to say something, she suddenly noticed that the person sitting behind Su Zai Zai had stood up.
Carrying a shoulder bag and holding a tray in one hand, he walked out of the cafeteria.
Jiang Jia tilted her head slightly and said, "Isn't that your handsome guy?"
Upon hearing this, Su Zai Zai turned around and took a quick glance.
Then she quickly turned her head back.
"He was sitting right behind me?"
"Yeah."
"Hmph."
"...What are you doing?"
Su Zai Zai analyzed sadly, "If he had sat down before me, I would have noticed him. But I didn't, which means he arrived after me.
From that angle, he definitely saw me, but he didn't say hello."
"...Maybe he didn't recognize you from behind."
"Impossible!" Su Zai Zai refused to admit it, "So, I'm saying he's a very cold person."
Jiang Jia was a bit speechless: "Does your handsome guy know that you keep badmouthing him like this?"
"When did I?" Su Zai Zai said innocently.
"This doesn't count; lots of people know about this."
Jiang Jia continued eating her noodles, mumbling indistinctly, "Really?"
"Of course, why wouldn't I talk about something everyone knows!"
"Zhang Lu Rang really is cold. Sometimes I just want to go up and hit him. If it weren't for him..."
Before Su Zai Zai could finish her sentence, a well-defined hand suddenly appeared in front of her.
Fair, slender, and strong.
He casually placed a bottle of milk in front of Su Zai Zai.
Then he turned and left.
Without even looking up, Su Zai Zai could recognize the owner of that hand.
Moreover... she didn't dare to look up.
Jiang Jia finished her noodles and then looked up.
Noticing Su Zai Zai's stunned expression and the extra bottle of milk on the table, she asked in confusion, "What happened?"
"Have you ever experienced despair?" she whispered.
"Huh?"
Su Zai Zai didn't say anything more.
She really hadn't expected Zhang Lu Rang to come back, let alone bring her a bottle of milk.
Looking at the milk on the table, Su Zai Zai reached out and touched it.
It was warm.
This brand seemed to be only available at the small shop.
Come to think of it, he really did leave quickly...
Su Zai Zai, as if trying to avoid facing reality, kept thinking about other things.
She sighed.
Inserting a straw into the bottle, she took a sip.
She felt like her luck wasn't good at all.
Every time she badmouthed him, she always got caught.
The School-Wide Exercise Break
The students from each class lined up outside their classrooms and made their way to the sports field.
A few girls hurriedly borrowed rubber bands from others, quickly tying up their hair in a rush.
The sun was already out.
The temperature wasn't scorching, just pleasantly warm.
It cast a golden glow on Su Zai Zai as she stood, making her shine.
Because of her height, Su Zai Zai stood at the end of the girls' line.
Her hair was naturally chestnut brown.
In the sunlight, the color became even more pronounced.
The music for the exercise routine began.
Su Zai Zai had just made her first move when someone pulled herout of the line.
Before she could react, a loud voice accused her.
"Who told you to dye your hair?"
Su Zai Zai was stunned and turned to see who it was.
It was the head of the first-year students.
She pointed at her own hair and softly explained, "I didn't dye it. It's naturally like this."
He frowned, not listening to her explanation at all.
"Go back this week and dye it back to black."
"I really didn't dye it," Su Zai Zai explained again.
The head's temper flared, and his voice grew louder and sharper, "Every student I catch says it's natural. Do you think I'm that easy to fool? You can't even come up with a different excuse?"
Su Zai Zai stopped talking.
The teacher had already made up his mind.
No matter what she said, he wouldn't believe her.
Seeing that she was no longer arguing, the head's expression softened a bit.
He pointed towards the teaching building and said, "Go back to theclassroom. The education bureau's inspectors are coming today. Don't come out here and embarrass yourself. Make sure to dye your hair by the weekend."
Su Zai Zai looked at him and, with a cold expression, said, "I'll go back to the classroom, but I won't dye my hair black."
"You..."
"Why should I suffer the consequences because you don't believe me?" Her temper flared as well, and she spoke firmly, "I've told you I didn't dye it, so I didn't dye it."
He wasn't reasonable at all, quickly shifting the topic to something else.
"Who allowed you to speak to a teacher like that?"
Su Zai Zai didn't want to engage with him any further: "If you don't respect me, why should I respect you?"
With that, she turned and walked towards the teaching building.
Before long, the head saw someone else walking by.
He quickly called out, "Hey! Where are you going?!"
Zhang Lu Rang turned and replied coldly, "To dye my hair."
Su Zai Zai hadn't made it to the teaching building when someone grabbed her by the elbow.
Instinctively, she turned to look.
Seeing it was Zhang Lu Rang, her first reaction was.
"Rang Rang, I didn't curse you this morning."
Zhang Lu Rang: "..."
Her second reaction.
"Aren't you doing the exercise routine? Where are you going?"
Zhang Lu Rang didn't respond, just looked into her eyes.
Su Zai Zai thought for a moment and asked, "Did you hear what the head said?"
He nodded.
The voice had been too loud, so he had looked over.
That's when he saw her.
He was too far away to hear what she was saying.
He only caught the words "dyed hair" from the teacher.
Su Zai Zai didn't care about others' opinions, but she did care about his.
She anxiously explained, "Don't listen to him. I didn't dye my hair."
Zhang Lu Rang nodded again.
Su Zai Zai sighed in relief and started lecturing him.
"Rang Rang, let me tell you, in situations like this, you mustn't be afraid. Usually, if you act tougher than them, they won't dare say much. They're just typical bullies who pick on the weak."
"..." He thought...
"He wouldn't listen to reason and acted like shouting made him right. It's so frustrating."
"..." She might cry.
"I'm not afraid of him. He wouldn't dare hit me. If he did, my dad would be the first to take him down."
"At most, he'll call my parents. My mom could easily tear him apart."
"Either way, he'll lose."
Zhang Lu Rang suddenly found it amusing.
He wanted to pat her head; it looked so fluffy, soft, and cute.
After venting, Su Zai Zai's anger subsided.
She remembered the milk from this morning and smiled, her eyes curving.
"Rang Rang, you bought me milk this morning."
"Mm," he responded softly.
"How should I repay you?" Su Zai Zai pondered.
"...No need."
"I'll give you all my assets."
"I get it, you probably think it's too little."
As they walked into the teaching building, Su Zai Zai suddenly realized.
"So why did you come back?"
"..." He thought she understood.
"Did they also accuse you of dyeing your hair? Even though your hair is so black?"
Zhang Lu Rang was about to deny it.
Su Zai Zai continued, full of sympathy, "You're worse off than me."
"..." Forget it.
They reached the third floor.
Zhang Lu Rang was about to enter the classroom when Su Zai Zaisuddenly tugged on his shirt.
With a serious yet shameless expression, she said, "I really didn't curse you this morning."
Zhang Lu Rang wanted to tell her he had heard everything.
Before he could speak, Su Zai Zai defended herself confidently, "I hadn't finished what I was saying. The next part was, 'if it weren't for your good looks.' The first part was just to set up for that."
"So my main purpose was to compliment you." Her eyes were full of sincerity.
Zhang Lu Rang really wondered just how thick her skin could be.
After a moment of silence, he said, "...Go back."
Su Zai Zai returned to class and did her homework for a while before Jiang Jia came back.
She quickly moved closer and asked, "You didn't cry, did you?"
Su Zai Zai was speechless: "Why would I cry over something like this..."
Jiang Jia breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good."
After a while.
She asked, "Did Zhang Lu Rang come to find you just now?"
Thinking about it, Su Zai Zai became unhappy again, "Yeah, the head even accused him of dyeing his hair? Ugh, ridiculous."
"No," Jiang Jia lowered her voice, "I heard the boys in the back row say that he was the one who claimed he dyed his hair."
Su Zai Zai: "...How is that possible."
"Maybe they heard wrong." Jiang Jia didn't insist.
Su Zai Zai was stunned.
She thought, if it was true.
Then she was, after all, quite lucky.
Not long after the evening study bell rang.
Su Zai Zai was called to the office by the homeroom teacher.
She thought it was about the hair incident and didn't think much of it.
Su Zai Zai pushed open the office door and walked in.
Immediately, she saw Zhang Lu Rang standing in front of the English teacher and the homeroom teacher.
Their eyes met.
Su Zai Zai felt a tightness in her chest.
She could guess that the teachers were suspecting the two of them of being in an early relationship.
Even though they really weren't, Su Zai Zai still panicked.
Because no matter what happened.
She didn't want Zhang Lu Rang to be dragged into it.