Summer didn't want to stay at the volunteer camp with Henry and the others, listening to their laughter and banter. She guessed Logan had probably gone back to the school, so she decided to head there too, carrying her bag.
When she arrived at the school gate, she found it locked.
The lock had only one key, which Logan had taken after locking up the school.
Standing outside the gate, Summer felt puzzled. If Logan wasn't at the school, where could he have gone?
After thinking for a while, she figured he might be at the riverside plot they were given.
With this in mind, Summer turned and headed to the village office.
She borrowed a sickle and hoe from the office and made her way to the riverside plot.
As she approached, she saw a familiar figure working in the plot from a distance—Logan had indeed gone there!
With a smile on her face, Summer jogged up to the plot and greeted him cheerfully, "You're here to weed too?"
Logan looked back at her without any hint of enthusiasm and quickly turned away, his tone brusque. "Why are you everywhere?"
Ignoring his harsh attitude, Summer took off her bag and placed it on the ground. "Well, since my plot is right next to yours, I'm here to weed and plant vegetables too."
Logan didn't respond, focusing on his work.
Summer, having something to do, also got busy with her plot.
She planned to plant vegetables she liked, such as tomatoes, spinach, chives, peppers, and cucumbers. They grew quickly and could be used for cooking soon.
While weeding, Summer thought about her plans. Although meat was scarce, she could buy a few hens from the market. Once they grew up and started laying eggs, she would have fresh eggs to eat and possibly sell the excess to the cooperative for money.
Despite the village's encouragement to raise pigs, Summer didn't plan to. It was challenging for families, and even more so for her alone. Caring for a pig required time and effort, and she had teaching responsibilities that didn't leave much room for extensive side projects.
While contemplating her future plans, Summer noticed the sun's position and decided it was time to head back to the school.
Their main job was teaching, and they could only work on their side plots in their spare time.
Logan went to the river to wash his hands and prepare to leave.
Summer quickly followed suit, washing her hands and gathering her tools before heading back to the school along the riverside path.
The sun shone on the riverbank, casting the shadows of Logan and Summer, one tall and one short, onto the sparkling water.
Summer, not wanting to look at Logan's stern face, kept a small distance behind him. She figured staying within his magnetic field's range was enough.
When they returned to the village, they returned the tools to the office before going to the school to rest for a while.
Children started arriving at the sound of the preparatory bell, signaling the start of the afternoon classes.
The children were adjusting to their new school life, and Summer was adapting to her new role as a teacher.
After another half-day of classes, hearing "Teacher Tang" frequently made Summer feel more like a real teacher.
The afternoon flew by, and soon the dismissal bell rang.
Except for the students assigned to cleaning duty, the other children lined up and headed home.
Summer and Logan were the last to leave the school again.
After locking the gate, Logan didn't head back to the camp for dinner and rest. Instead, he returned to the riverside plot to continue working on his land.
Watching him from the corner of her eye, Summer also headed to her plot.
At the riverbank, they worked in their respective plots, pulling weeds and revealing the yellow soil.
After clearing the remaining weeds, Logan finished his work for the day.
Seeing the sun setting, Summer also wrapped up and walked back to the camp with Logan.
As they walked along the riverbank path, Summer kept the same distance as earlier.
Logan's shadow fell at her feet, and Summer amused herself by stepping on it.
Just as she was getting into it, the shadow stopped.
Confused, Summer looked up to see Logan had stopped and turned to face her.
Standing against the light, his face was in shadow, making his expression hard to read.
Summer quickly stepped back, saying, "Sorry."
Logan's silence and intense gaze made her uneasy.
The spring breeze, carrying the scent of soil and grass, blew softly across their faces.
The scene—sunset, fields, river, and a girl following him, stepping on his shadow—should have been idyllic. But Logan felt inexplicably irritated.
Not speaking, Logan's stare made Summer feel a chill down her spine, and she stepped back again.
Just as she wondered what he was up to, Logan turned and continued walking.
Summer sighed. "..."
He was so unpredictable.
She pondered over him for a moment before relaxing and continuing to walk.
***
Once classes became the main part of daily life, days started to blend together.
In the following days, a new routine developed.
Every day, Summer and Logan followed a similar pattern: waking up together, washing up, making breakfast, going to school, and working on their plots in the afternoon and evening.
They cleared weeds, removed roots, and cleaned the soil of rocks and debris, preparing it for planting.
Once accustomed to this routine, days seemed to pass quickly.
Five or six days went by without notice.
On Saturday morning, Summer followed her usual routine.
But today was different because both she and Logan had finished preparing their plots. With no seeds to plant yet, there was no need to work on the plots.
After breakfast, they headed to the school.
Summer caught up with Logan and, after some hesitation, asked, "Are you going to the market for seeds tomorrow?"
Logan turned to her and asked, "Why? Do you want to go with me?"
Summer smiled, "If you're okay with it, I think it'd be nice to go together."
Logan smiled back but said nothing.
Summer took it as agreement and didn't press further.
With the fresh morning air and rising sun, it was hard not to feel good.
Walking beside Logan, Summer felt lighthearted.
Arriving at the school, Logan took out the key and unlocked the gate.
It was still early, and no students had arrived yet.
The quiet, small campus felt peaceful as Summer followed Logan into the office.
She planned to check the day's schedule, but as she stepped inside, Logan suddenly grabbed her arm.
Startled, Summer hadn't time to react before Logan shut the door and cornered her against the wall.
Caught off guard, Summer was frightened by Logan's sudden action.
Seeing his intense expression, she instinctively shrank back, her breathing tightening.
Unsure of what she had done to anger him, she stammered, "I... I wasn't following you..."
Logan's eyes bore into hers. "Do you think I'm stupid?"
He could tell if someone was genuinely working with him or trying to get close. Since enrollment ended, they hadn't needed to work together as much. Yet Summer hadn't kept her distance.
It seemed she was always around him, though not overtly seeking his attention.
Logan wondered if she was using him as a substitute for Henry, rationalizing her feelings but not emotionally detached.
He couldn't tolerate being used as Henry's stand-in.