At a fork in the tributary of the Ancheng River, Chen Qing and Wang Yan parted ways. Wang Yan's home was farther; she needed to cross the stone bridge ahead and walk about ten more minutes to get there.
Chen Qing turned left, taking a shorter route, and arrived home after a brief walk. She kicked off her shoes and collapsed wearily onto the sofa.
"You're back?" Chen Shi put down the book he had been reading and glanced at her.
"Yeah," Chen Qing replied with a nod.
"You look exhausted. Seems like you've had a long day. Take a shower and rest early," Chen Shi observed, his tone laced with concern.
"Yeah, I'm pretty tired. We've had seven consecutive days of classes, and there was even a PE session this afternoon," she said, grabbing her clothes as she headed to the bathroom for a shower.
"Oh, by the way," Chen Shi called out, "if you're too tired, skip morning self-study tomorrow. But if you do go, let Cheng Xing know to buy a copy of the Provincial Culture Newspaper on Monday."
"Dad, why do you want Cheng Xing to get that newspaper?" Chen Qing asked curiously, pausing mid-step.
"Don't ask. If you're that curious, get a copy for yourself," Chen Shi replied with a mysterious smile.
"Alright," Chen Qing muttered, shrugging as she left the room.
The next morning, after the morning self-study session, Chen Qing found Cheng Xing in the classroom.
"What's up?" Cheng Xing greeted her with a smile.
"My dad asked you to buy a copy of the Provincial Culture Newspaper on Monday," Chen Qing said.
"Got it," Cheng Xing nodded without hesitation.
"Why does my dad want you to buy it, though?" Chen Qing asked, her curiosity still lingering.
"I don't know either," Cheng Xing admitted with a shrug.
"Are you heading home after this?" she asked, switching topics.
"Yeah, but maybe a bit later. Why?" Cheng Xing replied.
"Oh, nothing. Just asking," Chen Qing said nonchalantly before turning and leaving the classroom.
Cheng Xing packed his books into his bag, noticing that the classroom was almost empty. Only Jiang Luxi remained, deeply engrossed in her work.
He approached her desk quietly, not wanting to disturb her. Jiang Luxi was absorbed in solving a complex math problem, her desk strewn with scratch paper. Although Cheng Xing couldn't make sense of high school-level math, he recognized the difficulty of what she was working on. Her workbook was labeled Olympiad Math Competition—Advanced.
In their senior year, top-performing students could represent their school in competitions, such as the provincial winter competition held every November. This year's competition was unique, with eight provinces participating. Outstanding performers might even catch the attention of prestigious universities and receive direct admissions, bypassing the college entrance exam altogether.
Jiang Luxi was likely preparing for that competition. Given her grades, the school would undoubtedly choose her as a representative. Moreover, winners were awarded scholarships, making the stakes even higher.
Everyone had their quirks when thinking deeply. Some twirled pens, others played with their hair, and a few bit their pens. Jiang Luxi had an unusual habit of tearing off small bits of her scratch paper and chewing them.
Finally, after nearly finishing half a sheet of scratch paper, she solved the problem. Jiang Luxi sighed in relief, setting her pen down and closing her workbook.
"Does it taste good?" Cheng Xing teased, his voice breaking the silence.
"Huh?" Jiang Luxi froze, her cheeks flushing crimson. "What are you talking about? I wasn't eating paper!"
"Oh," Cheng Xing replied, drawing out the sound knowingly.
Jiang Luxi's ears turned red as she avoided his gaze, busying herself with tidying up her desk. She was well aware of her odd habit but tried to avoid doing it around others. Earlier, thinking she was alone, she had unconsciously indulged while tackling the difficult math problem.
"Next time, eat clean paper. Ink isn't exactly hygienic," Cheng Xing added with a mischievous grin.
Jiang Luxi rolled her eyes, refusing to respond. Of course, she knew clean paper was better, but using it felt wasteful.
"Why aren't you going home yet?" she asked, trying to change the subject.
"Aren't you tutoring at my house today?" Cheng Xing replied.
"Yes," Jiang Luxi confirmed.
"Perfect. Let's go together since it's on the way," Cheng Xing suggested.
"Didn't Chen Qing come to find you earlier? Why didn't you leave with her?" Jiang Luxi asked, puzzled. She had overheard someone mention Chen Qing looking for him right after the dismissal bell.
"She did, but who says I have to leave with her just because she asked?" Cheng Xing chuckled.
Jiang Luxi glanced at him but chose not to comment further. After packing up her desk, she bent down to lift a heavy bag of books from the floor.
"Let me," Cheng Xing offered, taking the bag from her.
The bag was filled with over ten books and was noticeably heavy. Together, they headed downstairs, Cheng Xing carrying the bag while Jiang Luxi followed with her bike.
They walked in silence, passing under the shade of sycamore trees as they exited the school gates. Jiang Luxi stopped at a small bun shop nearby, parking her bike to buy buns for one yuan. She handed two buns to Cheng Xing and kept one for herself.
Cheng Xing reached into his pocket to pay, but Jiang Luxi shook her head. "It's on me," she said firmly.
"You've helped me so much already. Without you, I wouldn't have found such a good tutoring job or been able to afford my grandma's medicine. My mom always taught me to repay kindness, but I can't do much right now. Treating you to buns is the least I can do," she said sincerely.
"I didn't help you that much," Cheng Xing said, his tone light. "Whether it was buying band-aids or other small things, you've always paid me back. As for tutoring, I'm benefiting more than you think—I've learned a lot. With your grades, the tutoring fee is a steal."
He paused, then teased, "Besides, didn't you say you didn't want any ties with me? Now that I owe you, doesn't that mean we'll interact more? Isn't that exactly what you wanted to avoid?"
Jiang Luxi glared at him, her cheeks puffing slightly in irritation, but she chose to stay quiet. She took a bite of her bun and started walking, her bike rolling beside her.
Cheng Xing followed, munching on his bun with a faint smile.
"Jiang Luxi, you were the one who helped me first," Cheng Xing said, his voice steady. "It wasn't me who helped you."
Jiang Luxi shook her head lightly, her expression calm. "It's fine. I used to worry about this, but not anymore. I understand your intentions now. You helped me before to provoke Chen Qing. She's already hinted at her feelings for you. If you focus on studying hard, you'll definitely get into a good university next year."
She paused, her tone turning lighter. "By then, both of you will be in college, and dating won't be considered early anymore."
Cheng Xing narrowed his eyes at her. "Is that what you truly believe?"
"Yes," Jiang Luxi said firmly, nodding.
"What if I told you I stopped liking Chen Qing a long time ago?" Cheng Xing asked. "What if I genuinely wanted to help you?"
Jiang Luxi raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Then you're a jerk. You liked her for six years. How could you just stop liking her like that?"
Cheng Xing fell silent, speechless for a moment.
"Sharp-tongued," he muttered under his breath.
Jiang Luxi couldn't help but smile. Seeing him at a loss for words felt strangely satisfying. For days, he had been the one with cutting remarks, and now the tables had turned.
Still, she found herself wondering. Cheng Xing could be harsh at times, but he had never truly hurt anyone, had he? Was she mistaken about him? She clearly remembered seeing him get into fights outside of school. Or was it all just a misunderstanding?
Her thoughts were interrupted as Cheng Xing suddenly walked over to her bike. He swung his leg over and sat down on the seat.
"What are you doing? Why are you on my bike?" Jiang Luxi asked, startled.
"It's been a long time since I've ridden a bike like this," Cheng Xing said casually. "I just want to give it a try."
"Don't break it! This is my only bike," Jiang Luxi exclaimed nervously.
"I won't break it," Cheng Xing reassured her. "Are you getting on or not? If not, I'll just ride off by myself."
Jiang Luxi hesitated for a split second before quickly climbing onto the back seat. "I'm getting on! Don't even think about riding off alone," she said.
This was her only bike, and she wasn't sure if someone like Cheng Xing—who probably hadn't ridden a bike in years—could handle it properly. If he damaged it, she'd have no way to get to school without walking for hours.
Cheng Xing gripped the handlebars and pushed off slowly. It really had been years since he last rode a bike like this. In middle school, his father had bought him a motorcycle, and he'd been enamored with the speed and thrill. Back then, he wasn't afraid of anything, often pushing the limits and hitting dangerous speeds. Thinking about it now, he felt lucky to have survived those reckless days.
The chilly autumn air brushed against his face as he pedaled. He kept the pace slow and steady, savoring the moment. From the corner of his eye, he noticed ducks diving and playing in the nearby An River, their sleek forms disappearing beneath the surface and reappearing meters away.
Jiang Luxi, sitting behind him, was both relieved and surprised. She had expected Cheng Xing to pull some kind of stunt, perhaps to show off or tease her. But instead, he rode carefully, without any sudden brakes or accelerations.
In countless novels and movies, there was always that clichéd scene where the guy suddenly sped up, causing the girl to fall into his arms. Jiang Luxi had mentally prepared herself to jump off if he tried anything. Thankfully, none of that happened.
Though the road to Cheng Xing's house only took about ten minutes to walk, riding a bike made it even quicker.
Cheng Xing, however, wished the ride had lasted longer. The sensation of biking through quiet city alleys, with Jiang Luxi sitting behind him, felt almost dreamlike. But it wasn't a dream—it was real.
When they arrived, Cheng Xing parked the bike and unlocked the door to his house. Jiang Luxi pushed her bike into the yard and carried her bag of books inside.
"What's in that bag?" Cheng Xing asked, eyeing the hefty load.
"My middle and high school notes," Jiang Luxi replied. "English, math, physics, and chemistry. I didn't bring Chinese since you're already good at it. I also reorganized some basic English points for you. You can review them, and if there's anything you don't understand, feel free to ask."
"This sounds like extra tutoring," Cheng Xing teased with a grin. "Should I pay you more?"
"It's fine," Jiang Luxi said, shaking her head. "I've already mastered the material. Helping you doesn't take much time."
Cheng Xing looked at her curiously. "I remember a month ago when I asked to borrow your notes, you would rather have fought me than lend them. Why the change?"
"Back then, I didn't think you were serious about studying," Jiang Luxi admitted. "I was afraid you'd lose them."
"Oh." Cheng Xing nodded, his expression softening. "Thank you," he added sincerely.
Jiang Luxi's notes were invaluable, and she could have easily sold them for a good price. Yet, she was offering them to him for free. Studying her notes alongside his textbooks would undoubtedly speed up his learning. And for anything he couldn't grasp, he could ask her directly. It was a generous gesture, one that Cheng Xing deeply appreciated.
"If you have questions, ask me after school," Jiang Luxi said. "During the day, don't. Too many people will talk, and I hate gossip. If it's urgent, you can ask Chen Qing. She's good at math and will be happy to help."
"Alright. If it's urgent, I'll ask Chen Qing," Cheng Xing replied with a faint smile.
Jiang Luxi glanced at him briefly and said, "Okay."