The next morning, Li Wenqian began her new routine.
Since junior high school, she had grown accustomed to going to and from school with Zhou Rui. It was an unspoken ritual: every day started with her waiting for him at the community gate. On the rare occasions when one of them was sick, they would go separately, but this time, the separation felt deliberate and jarring.
Her mother, Li Huihua, bustled down the stairs unusually early. For years, she had relied on Zhou Rui to take care of the school runs and hadn't needed to be up at this hour.
"Mom will walk you to school for the next couple of days," she declared as they exited the building. "But after that, you'll have to manage on your own. If it's too late at night, I'll come pick you up."
Though Li Wenqian often seemed scatterbrained and overly sheltered by Zhou Rui, she wasn't entirely helpless. Still, the county's public security left much to be desired. It wasn't unusual for parents to pick up their daughters after dark. For years, Zhou Rui had handled this duty for her, but now it seemed like her mother had decided to intervene.
But it wasn't just concern for safety driving Li Huihua's actions. Her real purpose was to monitor her daughter and ensure she didn't sneak off to see Zhou Rui.
In truth, Li Huihua had mixed feelings about Zhou Rui. She trusted him—after all, she had entrusted her daughter's safety to him for years. But romance was a different matter, especially with the looming college entrance exams.
Zhou Rui and Li Wenqian were worlds apart in academics, and it was unlikely they'd attend the same university, let alone live in the same city. Their relationship, in her eyes, should end naturally here, with high school.
When they reached the school gates, Li Wenqian looked around but didn't spot Zhou Rui. Disappointment crept over her. He hadn't even replied to her texts the night before, leaving her restless and annoyed.
"Mom, you don't have to walk me to school. I'm old enough to go alone. This is so embarrassing!" she protested.
Li Huihua shot her a knowing look.
"What's embarrassing about it? Zhou Rui can escort you, but I can't?"
Her mother's tone silenced her. Sensing that her supervision might need an extension, Li Huihua made a mental note to adjust her schedule accordingly.
Once her mother left, Li Wenqian wandered through the school gates, her mushroom-shaped haircut bobbing with every step. She scanned the crowd, hoping to see Zhou Rui, eager to ask about the previous night's unanswered texts and to share the chaotic thoughts that had filled her mind.
Suddenly, a striking figure passed by her.
The girl was tall, nearly half a head taller than her, with a slender frame and an upright posture. Her elegant profile and fashionable schoolbag exuded confidence, and she carried herself with an air of effortless grace.
Li Wenqian stared, momentarily stunned.
"Who is she? Is there such a beautiful girl in Qinghe No. 1 Middle School?"
Compared to the girl's poised, model-like presence, Li Wenqian's mushroom haircut made her feel juvenile. It wasn't that she was short—at 166 cm, she was taller than most girls her age—but the difference in their aura was glaring.
Jealousy flickered in her heart.
As she stood there, whispers from nearby students reached her ears.
"Did you hear what happened yesterday? The Class 7 homeroom teacher was furious. Apparently, someone was caught in a relationship!"
"Are you serious? Right before the college entrance exams? Who got caught?"
"That Zhou Rui from Class 7. The one who's not good at studying."
Li Wenqian's ears burned.
How could the news spread so fast?!
She had thought it was just a misunderstanding between their mothers. How had it become a school-wide rumor?
Her first instinct was to run over and deny it, to shout, "No, we're not in a relationship!" But before she could act, the students continued:
"Who's the girl?"
"I heard it's the new transfer student. That really pretty one who just walked in."
"Wow, Zhou Rui really knows how to score big!"
Li Wenqian froze in place.
What?!
Her brain felt like it had short-circuited. Zhou Rui and… that girl? How did this misunderstanding even happen?
---
Meanwhile, Zhou Rui had no idea his name was spreading like wildfire across campus. He was at a barber shop, changing his hairstyle.
With some extra money in hand, he decided it was time to deal with the overgrown, misshapen mess on his head that had been bothering him for weeks. Most boys around him looked just as unkempt, but Zhou Rui figured it was worth the effort to stand out.
Early in the morning, he found a small alleyway salon run by an older lady.
"You're here so early for a haircut?" she asked, sweeping hair clippings off the floor.
"It's for school. I thought it'd be easier to manage if I cleaned it up a bit."
"Want me to give you a buzz cut? Simple and quick."
Zhou Rui quickly shook his head. "No, can you add some style to it?"
He showed her a photo on his phone—a sleek, sporty short hairstyle he'd found online.
The lady squinted at the image. "Isn't this Hu Bin? That famous model?"
Zhou Rui smiled. He'd specifically chosen this hairstyle because it looked sharp yet adhered to school regulations.
The lady hesitated. "Your phone's pretty fancy. Alright, let's give it a shot!"
Twenty minutes later, Zhou Rui stared at himself in the mirror.
His thick sideburns were neatly shaved, creating clean, sharp lines. The top of his head had been trimmed into a sporty yet elegant crew cut, leaving his bright eyes fully visible. The broken ends around the back and forehead were carefully cleaned up, giving his hair a polished, professional look.
Though the style wasn't a perfect match for the photo, it came impressively close—especially for just 10 yuan.
Even the barber looked impressed.
"Young man, you clean up well! Your girlfriend is going to be so jealous."
Zhou Rui chuckled. "I don't have a girlfriend, Auntie."
"Then why are you calling me Auntie? Call me Sister!"
Zhou Rui laughed but didn't respond, instead paying her the discounted 8 yuan fee and walking to school with newfound confidence.
As he entered campus, a few students who were almost late stopped to stare at him.
"Is that… Zhou Rui?"
"What happened? How is he so handsome all of a sudden?"
Even the security guard at the gate scrutinized him but couldn't find a single fault with his compliant haircut.
When Zhou Rui finally stepped into the classroom, the students of Class 7 erupted into murmurs.
"Zhou Rui?! Is that really him?"
"How did he get this haircut? It's totally within the rules, but it looks so good!"
Several girls couldn't help but steal glances at him, their faces flushed with surprise.
Even Han Zinyin, his deskmate, blinked in disbelief as Zhou Rui approached his seat.
Zhou Rui smirked and quipped, "Are you going to let me sit down, or are you planning to keep staring all day?"
Snapping out of her daze, Han Zinyin quickly moved aside, muttering, "Sorry, sorry."
Zhou Rui's new look had officially caused a stir.