Chapter 3

After that, Chen Huaixu, quite out of character, actually started attending classes.

Later, I heard he was planning to apply to a domestic Film Academy.

So every day, he pestered me for intensive tutoring.

I was the class’s all-round ace in every subject except geography, where I was rock bottom.

Chen Huaixu teased me, “Qi An, your geography score isn’t even as high as our homeroom teacher’s age.”

Of course, he had every right to tease me. Maybe because he’d traveled abroad since he was young, seeing mountains and rivers, his geography was exceptionally good.

But I was born with no sense of direction, unable to tell north from south, only left from right.

“Subtropical high-pressure belt.”

He pointed at my test paper and couldn’t help but sigh:

“Qi An Classmate, this is a giveaway question.”

I was ashamed. “I really can’t…”

He always called me Qi An Classmate, drawing out the ending. My usually quiet personality, because of his breezy presence, began to flicker with a faint, uncertain hope.

At that time, there were quite a few couples secretly dating in our class. Of course, many girls at school liked Chen Huaixu.

I heard that Lin Qing, the School Belle from the neighboring class, had known him since childhood. On the eve of graduation, I overheard their conversation in the corridor outside the classroom.

“Chen Huaixu, there’s a rumor you like your deskmate, is that true?”

“It’s not a rumor. I do like her.”

“Why do you like her?”

“She’s obedient, sweet, and a great student. Why wouldn’t I like her?”

“To be honest, I think Qi An is a bit plain.”

“Her plainness is just enough to bury you.”

In that instant, because of Chen Huaixu, I suddenly felt my youth had gained color.

At the pre-graduation oath-taking ceremony, many people went on stage to shout out their goals and dreams.

Chen Huaixu suddenly strode onto the stage, grabbed the microphone, and looked straight at me through the crowd, shouting:

“Qi An Classmate, can I copy your college entrance exam preferences?”

My face flushed red under all those gazes, and the crowd erupted in laughter.

The principal impatiently chased him off the stage.

“Are you out of your mind, Chen Huaixu? Can someone with three hundred points and someone with six hundred points apply for the same school?”

He insisted, “I can get four hundred now.”

After working hard, his grades really did improve a lot – at his best, he could reach five hundred.

May 21st, sixteen days before the college entrance exam.

After evening self-study, while walking along the path on the playground, he quietly called me over and pulled out a tiny cake from his pocket.

“Happy birthday, Qi An Classmate.”

I was shocked and moved.

“This was all I could get, hope it’s okay. Hurry and make a wish.”

He then fished out a lighter from his pocket and pressed it gently. A small, flickering flame appeared.

“Chen Huaixu, you… you’ve been secretly smoking?”

I couldn’t help but glare at him. He frowned, a bit anxious.

“Hey, keep your voice down. Can you focus on what’s important? Hurry and make a wish.”

He urged me in a low voice. Just as I was about to make a wish, the voice of the discipline director rang out from afar.

“Which student is smoking over there?”

Frightened, I quickly blew out the lighter, and Chen Huaixu grabbed my hand and we ran.

In the end, the two of us were out of breath, exchanging smiles.

The night breeze was gentle, brushing against our faces.

In that moment when our eyes met, it felt as if my heart skipped a beat.

His voice was low and husky:

“Qi An Classmate, shall we apply to a university in Beijing together?”

Blushing, I nodded, “Okay.”