The first time Xue Min saw Xiang Yu was in the small grove behind one of the school building. He often came to this grassy slope alone to lie down for a while, as few people usually came here. That day, just as he lay down, he heard an sulky girl's voice, seemingly murmuring to herself. He turned and saw her. She was petite, with a ponytail, her features soft and gentle. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the trees, illuminating her face. She was beautiful, with a serene kind of beauty. He watched as she took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a puff, only to be choked by it and start coughing continuously. He stood up and asked if she was okay, but she was startled, instinctively throwing the cigarette to the ground and stomping it out. She then covered her face with her arm, saying, "I'm fine, I'm fine," before quickly picking up the cigarette butt and running away. Xue Min watched her run swiftly back into the teaching building, appear in the corridor on the second floor, and enter the classroom of Class 4, Grade 8.
Xue Min was in the high school , in the second year, three grades above Xiang Yu. He was well-known in the school for his good looks, excellent academic performance, and as the broadcaster of the school's radio station, making him very popular among the younger and older female students. If you want to find out someone's name, you certainly can, especially in the same school. Xue Min used his duty as an excuse to visit Xiang Yu's class. While the students were doing eye exercises, Xue Min walked around the rows, seemingly checking if they were doing it seriously. Then, he stopped by Xiang Yu's seat and looked at the name on her textbook, "Xiang Yu." Xue Min repeated the name twice in his mind. Her handwriting was elegant and beautiful, indeed reflecting her personality.
Xue Min encountered Xiang Yu several times in the corridors, on the playground, and on the road, but each time, Xiang Yu didn't even spare him a glance. She indeed was like what people said, never initiating conversations with anyone. She always walked with her eyes straight ahead, seemingly deep in thought, paying no attention to the people and things around her. This only piqued Xue Min's interest even more. Growing up, he had always been the center of attention, and this was almost the first time in his life that someone had ignored him so completely. Xue Min sometimes passed by Xiang Yu's classroom and would watch her. Xiang Yu would be leaning on her desk, talking to the boy next to her, smiling brightly, looking completely different from usual. Her face was so animated, her eyes curved, even her hair seemed to be dancing.
In the school's broadcasting station, Xue Min heard classmates discussing Xiang Yu, "Do you know that girl in the middle school ?" "Which one?" "The one who's very aloof and doesn't talk to people." "Oh, Xiang Yu. They say she's quite special. Except for her deskmate Lu Heng, she hardly talks to anyone. What about her?" "She got called to the teacher's office because of her deskmate, and was told not to fall in love early." "Puppy love? She likes her deskmate? That boy is on our school's soccer team." "Oh yeah, it's obvious. Besides her deskmate, who else does she get close to?" "That's true. Such a beautiful girl." "You don't know, she told the teacher she'd handle her own matters and that both she and Lu Heng could get into our high school, so the teacher didn't need to worry." "Wow, the girl is impressive." Xue Min sat listening on the side, feeling a strange, uncomfortable sensation in his heart. He just felt very, very uncomfortable.