1st September 2015
“Zhixu, do you want another packet of milk?”
“No, I’m full.” Xia Zhixu laced up his shoes, swung his backpack over his shoulder, and said, “Dad, Mom, I’m leaving.”
His mother put down the milk and trotted towards Xia Zhixu. Despite being only fifteen, he had already started smoking and was a head taller than her. She pinned the school badge that Xia Zhixu had left on the table to his left chest, “Look at you, you almost forgot about this. How can you be so careless on the first day of school?”
His father lowered the newspaper, “Should I drive you there?”
Xia Zhixu smiled and hugged his mother, stretched his neck and shouted to his father sitting at the dining table, “No need, I’ll take the bus. Bye!”
The weather in September was hard to describe. The hottest part of summer was over, but it had not yet fully entered the cooler autumn weather. It was the awkward but precious transition between the two seasons, just like his teenage self.
The bus stop was just across the street from his house. The summer uniform of Jingjian Middle School was very simple and clean. The white short sleeved shirt and black trousers made Xia Zhixu very satisfied. He had thought that it would be some strangely coloured polo shirt and shorts. When he received the school uniform, he was a little surprised, but it also seemed to fit the style of this school.
Lazily walking to the bus stop, he saw several office workers standing next to the stop sign, looking very anxious. Xia Zhixu sat on the bench, looking in the direction of the distant bus and waiting for bus 729.
The number of people at the bus stop gradually increased, and there were several girls wearing school uniforms of different schools. The dark blue uniforms and skirts were very long, covering their knees. There were also some young elementary school students, holding their unfinished breakfast in their hands and talking loudly.
Xia Zhixu stretched out his long legs and glanced boredly at the watch on his wrist.
7:39AM.
It’s still early. He probably wouldn’t be late.
He looked up again.
A new figure appeared in his sight, just like himself, dressed in the uniform of Jingjian Middle School.
From the back, he looked so thin, just like the small saplings he planted in his grandmother’s yard last year, standing straight, but instilling a sense of uneasiness, as if the wind could uproot them.
It’s very strange. This person was clearly standing here, at this noisy and humane bus stop, but an invisible thin barrier seemed to be separating him from everything outside, making him seem distant and aloof.
Just like when he went to an amusement park as a child, and the performer blew out a huge bubble that could completely enclose a person inside, shining brightly in the sunlight.
Xia Zhixu tilted his head out of curiosity towards his fellow student and wanted to see the person’s face.
If he was heading to school at this time, he must be a freshman like him.
“729 is coming.”
Xia Zhixu only noticed when he heard someone say it. He scrambled from the seat. The entrance of the bus, which had only just stopped, was already crowded. He could only stand back and wait, and eventually managed to board the bus.
After boarding, Xia Zhixu kept his student pass in the side pocket of his bag. Immediately after, he was squeezed by the crowd to the middle of the bus. The whole bus was like a huge can of sardine. Everyone was packed together and it was impossible to move. He turned his head and looked around, seeing a white shirt that was identical to his in the dense crowd.
That colorful bubble was still there, wrapping that person inside.
Among the swaying figures, Xia Zhixu could barely make out his profile and noticed that he seemed to be injured, with his left arm suspended in plaster.
[Arriving at Nanjing Road. Please take your personal belongings with you…]
The crowd loosened a bit, and Xia Zhixu watched many passengers leave the carriage. He also began squeezing his way through to the back, “Sorry, please make way, excuse me…”
He made it to the other boy as planned.
Xia Zhixu reached out and grabbed the handle above his head. The car started moving, but he accidentally bumped into the boy next to him. He quickly apologized, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
The student from the same school who was hit didn’t even lift his head. His only movable hand grabbed the nearby pillar and, with his eyes on the window, shook his head.
Xia Zhixu lowered his head slightly and quietly looked at the person beside him. He kept his head slightly lowered, almost expressionless, with bandages beside his mouth, on his left cheekbones, on his neck, as well as on his forehead.
Was he beaten up? Why did he have so many injuries?
However, he was very good-looking, handsome and only slightly shorter than himself. His skin was very fair, and one could almost see pale blue blood vessels through the clear skin of his eyelids. His lashes were illuminated by the sun, casting long shadows that flickered across his cheeks.
Xia Zhixu’s gaze moved down the straight bridge of his nose and landed on his lips, which were very light in color.
It seemed impolite to stare at someone’s mouth at the first meeting.
Xia Zhixu, who realised this problem, tilted his head and his eyes flickered.
It’s just curiosity at work. He comforted himself in this way.
The bus kept shaking, besides, the public transportation in this city was famous for being driven fiercely. It often felt like the drivers thought they were driving go-karts.
The bus braked suddenly, and the boy collided with Xia Zhixu.
It wasn’t a problem, he was mostly worried about that boy’s arm. Xia Zhixu helped steady him and asked, “Are you alright?”
The lips he had been staring at opened and said, “… Apologies.”
His voice was very nice too.
Like the sound of spring water surging.
This strange metaphor was very roast-worthy. After all, he was not very interested in literature and everything he wrote turned out to be boring or crude.
Still a bit worried, he couldn’t help but take a few more glances. The boy’s hair color was completely different from his own, it was light brown, which appeared brighter in sunlight. His hair looked soft and would probably feel nice to touch.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
But his complexion was really not very good, a bit pale, and his grip on the pillar was also very tight, with his bones turning white.
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He turned around and struggled to squeeze to the door of the bus. No matter what this feeling was, he should get off the bus now.
As the station announcement sounded, the bus door was pulled open, and Xia Zhixu walked out with his bag on his back in a mixed mood. For some reason, his footsteps unconsciously slowed down again, as if waiting for someone. He wanted to turn back.
But he didn’t.
He should get to the classroom earlier to meet his new classmates.
Just as he convinced himself and took the first brisk step, the fabric on his back was grabbed by someone.
Xia Zhixu instinctively turned around, but didn’t see anyone. Looking down again, He saw someone squatting behind him. It was that person.
The one who was enveloped in a colourful bubble.
He heard the faintpopping sound of the illusionary bubble popping.
“What’s wrong?” he asked anxiously, squatting down to help him up, taking care to avoid the injured shoulder. “Are you unwell? Motionsick?”
The boy’s face was very pale, his lips were also very pale, and his head was covered in fine beads of sweat. He couldn’t even lift his head.
For some reason, Xia Zhixu began to get anxious, “Please say something!?”
“Do you have… any candy?” He grabbed Xia Zhixu’s arm, as if looking for a support point.
“Candy? I don’t have any candy, will milk do…?” Xia Zhixu was a bit confused. He instinctively reached out to touch the side of his backpack, which made him realize that he didn’t bring milk today, and couldn’t help but feel a little frustrated.
The boy frowned and shook his head weakly.
Xia Zhixu looked around and found the snack bar at the school gate. “Wait here, I’ll go there and buy it quickly.” He quickly stood up and ran over, looking back several times to see him still squatting there alone.
Out of breath, he ran to the entrance of the snack bar and said, “One, one pack of candy!”
“Which candy?” The boss sitting inside lazily slurping noodles didn’t even look up.
“Any,” Xia Zhixu was panting, “just not bubblegum.”
The boss put his chopsticks away, reached out a hand and pushed the round container filled with lollipops on the glass cabinet. “Here, take your pick.”
Xia Zhixu quickly picked one without even looking and was about to leave when the boss shouted, “Hey, you didn’t pay!”
He was so anxious that he almost forgot to pay. Xia Zhixu quickly turned back and reached around in his pocket for a while. He only had a hundred bill, so he handed it to him and said, “Could you please find the change quickly? Thank you.”
“What’s the rush?” The boss glanced at the old clock on the wall, “It’s still early. You must be a freshman, right? Don’t rush. There’s no self-study in the morning on the first day.”
Xia Zhixu watched as he carefully scrutinized the one hundred yuan bill, twirled it with his index finger and thumb, and then slowly opened the drawer. He drew out the change one by one, and carefully counted it again one by one.
After what felt like a century, “Here, count it again yourself, if it’s wrong…”
“Thank you,” Xia Zhixu quickly grabbed the stack of old banknotes and ran away.
The boss looked at his back and shook his head, “What’s wrong with the children now?”
Xia Zhixu ran back to the bus stop, only to find that the boy who had been squatting here was missing. His heart sank and he spun around several times, looking frantically. Many students wearing the same school uniform were walking towards the school gate, but not a single one was him.
He held the lollipop tightly, his palm and back covered in a layer of sweat.
Sticky and anxious.
A huge sense of loss overwhelmed him, and he couldn’t tell if it was because he wasn’t able to be of help. Anyway, he felt uncomfortable and looked down at the candy in his hand. He reluctantly opened the packaging and stuffed the lollipop into his mouth.
So sour.
What flavour is this…?
He glanced at the package and saw the bright image of a lemon printed on it.
Rolling the paper into a ball and throwing it into the trash can at the school gate, he looked up at the school gate and followed the crowd into it.
This school was one of the best high schools in the local area, renowned for its beautiful environment and rigorous academic style. In this city that valued basic education, many parents were eager to send their children here.
Xia Zhixu walked down the marble steps of the school entrance and saw the newly renovated square, as well as the magnificent new teaching building amidst the shadows of the trees.
“Xia Zhixu!”
Hearing someone call his name, he turned around to see his old classmate, Chen Fang. Seeing that he had trimmed his hair as short as possible, Xia Zhixu could not help laughing out loud, “You look like you just stepped out of a prison cell.
Chen Fang gave him a push and said, “You’re too much. What about you? Weren’t you supposed to get a haircut? Your hair is way too long.” He grabbed Xia Zhixu’s hair and said, “You should have cut at least this much more.”
Xia Zhixu clapped his hand and said, “No way, the discipline committee member who checked us at the school gate just now didn’t say there was anything wrong with my hair.”
“Aiya, with that face of yours, there’ll be girls chasing you even if you shave your head,” Chen Fang sighed, “Heavens, please don’t put us in the same class.”
Xia Zhixu gave him a side glance, “Why?”
Chen Fang rolled his eyes, “I can’t believe you’re asking that! For all three years of junior high, every girl I liked has confessed to you. My fate has been terrible, but nevermind that. Even during my summer vacation, my mom’s always nagging at me!”
He wagged his finger in imitation of his mother and knocked on Xia Zhixu’s shoulder, “Look at yourself, you’re always playing with Xia Zhixu, why can’t you learn from him? He scored the top ten in the city, but how many points did you score? He’s got a gold medal from the olympiad, plays the basketball. He’s even handsome, but what about you! Tsk, tsk, tsk, what should I do…”
Handsome…
Xia Zhixu smiled widely with his eyes closed. The lollipop was still in his mouth, so his words were not very clear, “Just because of that, you don’t want to be in the same class anymore?”
Chen Fang bumped his shoulder, “Just kidding. How could I? We’re best buddies.”
A crane in a flock of chickens.
That’s the description everyone attached to Xia Zhixu.
Despite that, he had an outgoing and sunny personality that made it impossible for anyone to feel jealous. Instead, they’re attracted to his charm and want to become his friends.
Walking to the notice board below the freshman classroom building, Chen Fang pushed his way to the front, but Xia Zhixu didn’t want to push, so he stood behind and watched. The list of freshmen, their classes, and the specific class locations was pinned on the notice board.
With his height, Xia Zhixu was able to see the board despite standing at the back. His eyes swept across the board and found his name under class 1-13. It was at the top of the list, so it was easy to see.
“Zhixu! We’re really in the same class!” Chen Fang pushed his way back out of the crowd excitedly, “Let’s go, let’s go! We’re on the fourth floor.”
How lucky! Xia Zhixu grinned happily as he was dragged upstairs by his giddy friend.
The classroom is not much different from what he imagined, but slightly larger than the classroom in junior high school. Chen Fang’s idol baggage was quite heavy. Before entering, he even tidied his shirt, and Xia Zhixu followed behind, laughing at his actions.
There were already many people in the classroom, some clustered together, probably old classmates who had known one another since junior high school.
“Ai, look, there’s a good looking one.”
“Oh my god, so handsome…”
Xia Zhixu had become accustomed to this kind of gaze, and his smile narrowed a little to a polite one. He followed Chen Fang and randomly found a seat to sit down.
As the classroom slowly filled up, Xia Zhixu and Chen Fang chatted away. Only when they heard someone say the teacher had come did they stop and look up.
The teacher was a slender and elegant man with a pair of glasses. He seemed to be in his twenties, and his expression was rather gentle.
He looked like a language teacher, thought Xia Zhixu. His lollipop was not even half finished, but he bit down on it to break it into smaller pieces and held the empty stick in his hand.
“Good morning everyone, I’m your homeroom teacher, Zhang Zhengxin.” He wrote his name on the blackboard. Some students murmured that his name was funny.
Mr. Zhang smiled and said, “It might sound funny, but it has its source.” He then turned back to the black boarad and wrote a phrase.
Those who want to cultivate their body must first correct their mind.
“This is a sentence from the Book of Rites.” Zhang Zhengxin looked at them and said, “It’s also my expectation for everyone. The primary purpose for everyone to come to Jingjian Middle School is of course to learn, and I won’t elaborate on this point. But in my opinion, the more important thing is to learn how to be an upright person.” He lowered his head and looked at the roster. “Okay, without further ado, let’s arrange your seats.” He looked up and squinted his eyes, “Let’s… go with this.”
The students were made to leave the classroom, split according to gender, then line up according to their heights. Like this, two rows were formed.
“From the two of you, go in in pairs.
The pair at the front looked at each other, a little embarrassed, and took their seats.
What a strange teacher, specially arranging the boys and girls to sit together. Isn’t he afraid that they’d begin dating? Xia Zhixu looked at the girl next to him, who happened to be looking at him shyly. He had to smile at her and then turn his head to look at the scenery outside the corridor.
The sour candy pieces were still in his mouth, making his cheeks uncomfortable.
Xia Zhixu waited as the line in front of him got shorter, until he was standing at the front. He took a step forward, stepping up to Zhang Zhengxin.
“Okay, next…”
Zhang Zhengxin put his hand on Xia Zhixu’s shoulder.
“Teacher…”
A familiar voice appeared, and Xia Zhixu suddenly felt tense for no reason. He looked around and saw that person walking over behind Zhang Zhengxin.
It’s really him.
His originally lazy heart suddenly gave a fierce beat, as if it had been poked by something, which even made him feel strange.
“Sorry… I’m late because something happened earlier.”
His voice was very low and light, full of apology.
“No worries,” Zhang Zhengxin took in his injuries and smiled gently, “Then…” He glanced at Xia Zhixu, “You can just go in ahead of him.”
Xia Zhixu’s eyes followed that boy into the classroom.
“You’re up next, go in with her.”
Xia Zhixu did so, not even paying the excited girl with him any mind.
They sat down pair by pair in an S-shaped manner. That boy was sitting in the innermost position in the fifth row.
So Xia Zhixu naturally sat at the innermost position on the sixth row, right behind him.
Xia Zhixu’s mood inexplicably improved, even the lemon candy in his mouth, that hadn’t fully melted, suddenly became sweet.
Is this the fate that adults like to talk about?
He really wants to be his friend.
“Okay, now everyone has their seats.” Zhang Zhengxin pushed his glasses up his nose, “For our first class together, we’ll get to know each other. Please introduce yourself when it’s your turn. You can say anything you like, as long as it helps us know you better.”
Suddenly, he felt his arm poked. Xia Zhixu turned his face and saw the girl next to him give him a piece of chewing gum.
Xia Zhixu grinned at her and opened his mouth, pointing at the candy in his mouth.
It was a very polite refusal.
He began to regret. If he had not eaten the lollipop, could he now give it to the person in front of him as a greeting?
That person was not surprised at all to see him again.
He couldn’t help sighing.
“En… Hi everyone, I’m Zhou Xiaoxiao, from…”
“I’m Yang Zifeng, I like playing soccer…”
“My name in Li Ming…”
His classmates went up one by one, introduced themselves, then went back to their seats. Xia Zhixu rested his cheek on his palm and pretended to be paying attention, but his mind was not on the podium at all..
Until the person in the front seat slowly stood up. There was not much space between their seats. Xia Zhixu panicked and dragged his desk back to make it smoother for him to leave.
His gaze was not under his own control, sticking to that person on its own, following him every step to the front.
He stood on the podium and turned around, his left hand hanging on his chest, unable to move, his chin slightly retracted. His pupils were very light in color, as if people with fair skin usually have light pupils. He gaze seemed to be out of focus, giving him an air of indifference.
“Please introduce yourself,” Zhang Zhengxin smiled encouragingly.
When he opened his mouth, the bandage near his mouth was also pulled up slightly. “My name is Xu Qichen.”
Xu Qichen? Like his classmates, Xia Zhixu also wondered which characters his name was written with.
Zhang Zhengxin heard their murmuring and asked gently, “That’s a very special name. Which characters? Why don’t you write it on the blackboard?”
Xu Qichen hesitated for a moment, but ultimately reached out with his movable right hand, picked up a piece of chalk, and turned around to write his name on the blackboard.
His handwriting was beautiful, Xia Zhixu thought.
Zhang Zhengxin nodded approvingly and said, “It’s a great name. Who named you? What does it mean?”
Xu Qichen raised his hand just as he put it down and slowly wrote a line next to the name.
Huaiyi in awe, offer Qichen.
The students began murmuring amongst themselves again. After all, this line was even more obscure and difficult than his name itself.
“Woud you like to explain this line to the class?”
Xu Qichen faced them and said softly, “It’s a line from a poem from the book of songs ‘Lu Song, Pan Shui’. It means the Huaiyi people have been enlightened, and to express their sincerity, they offer their greatest treasures.”
Zhang Zhengxin nodded and smiled, “The name goes very well with your surname, and you even taught your classmates a poem. Very good.”
Xu Qichen looked down, put the chalk pack on the table, and walked back.
Xia Zhixu’s eyes still followed him, watching the light dance over him as he got off the podium and back to his seat.
His gaze wandered to the blackboard, looking at the poem he had just written, silently reciting those three words in his heart.
Xu Qichen.
The treasure promised to me by the heavens.
Is that the meaning behind his name?
“Next, uhm… The handsome one who’s daydreaming.”
His tablemate pushed him, and Xia Zhixu came back to himself. He stood up, “Is it my turn already?”
His classmates laughed out loud and the atmosphere immediately became lively.
Xia Zhixu walked up with a smile, picked up the chalk and wrote his name in a large and easy manner. His strokes flowed smoothly, aligning with Xu Qichen’s name.
“Hi everyone, I’m Xia Zhixu. My name might not be as elegant as classmate Xu’s, but it also has its origin.”
Zhang Zhengxin was very happy, “What well-read parents all of you have! Please tell us about it.”
Xia Zhixu grinned widely, revealing his sharp incisors, “I was born on 21st May, the beginning of summer. My mother really likes Li Qingzhao, who wrote a line like this: Through the thick willow smoke and grumbling plume flute, one knows a moment of spring.” He wrote this line beside his name and smiled, “This ‘one knows a moment of spring’ indicates the beginning of spring when the weather has not warmed. I was born in the beginning of summer, and my surname is ‘Xia’, so my mother named me Xia Zhixu.”
His gaze passed over the other people in the classroom and met the brown pupils by the window. It was only for an instant, but his heart skipped a beat.
Just like missing a beat on the piano. From then on, everything went downhill.
Wow, their names are really fated.
Thank you for the update.
Downhill? 🙁
Thanks for the chapter <3
(｡’▽’｡)♡
Thanks for the update
pls dont make me cry
….ahhhhhh….so he was the one who actually fell first…?…im so excited to know the entire story from xie zhixu perspective too…
xia…*