Chapter 7, Sunny Days

Hearing a shout from behind, he hurriedly turned around and saw her running over, out of breath, half-bent as she rummaged through her backpack. After a while, she finally looked up, wiped the sweat from her nose, and said, "I almost forgot—here, for you." She handed him a small white plastic bag.

Lying in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep, it felt as if she were still participating in a competition, her heart pounding fiercely. A myriad of indescribable emotions surged within her, a mix of joy and worry, excitement intertwined with an inescapable fear. The alternating sensations of cold and warmth left the young girl feeling bewildered. Ultimately, being young and prone to sleepiness, after an hour of restless turning, she finally collapsed onto her pillow, drifting into a hazy slumber.

Zhong Yue followed behind at a leisurely pace, watching her calmly say: "Wasn't it said that the light was broken? Let me take you to the bottom of the stairs." She suddenly became reserved, smiling as she shook her head: "It's fine, I'm quite familiar with it."

With a startled exclamation, she awoke from her daze, only then realizing what he had just said, and hurriedly shook her head to indicate that it was unnecessary. Zhong Yue had already placed his hand under the bottom of the backpack, weighed it, and smiled, saying: "It feels like carrying a camel on my back—no problem, I'll take it since my hands are empty anyway." She could only let him slide the backpack off her shoulder.

She said angrily, "This road doesn't belong to your Han family, so why do you care where I go! Don't follow me!" Han Zhang, infuriated, replied, "Be careful, there might be a ghost following you!" He turned around and went back to the bookstore.

She immediately shook her head: "Want to sleep at my place! No way—my home is not a hotel, paying would be more appropriate." Upon hearing this, Zhong Yue said: "I am on the way with you, I can take you inside."

She thought she still needed to give him the medicine, so she nodded, and the two of them went out together

The two individuals stood so close that they were almost face to face, and after the intimate contact they had just shared, both felt a bit embarrassed. Zhong Yue then said, "Well, you can sit and watch; it will be more comfortable." As he spoke, he was about to leave

Everyone was astonished, and they all said: "Did Old Xu take the wrong medicine today? There is only one question left, yet he actually did not extend the class time—" Once Xu the Demon gets into the groove of teaching, he has been known to extend the class by an hour, leaving everyone nearly starving. Today, however, this is not typical of his style

He Ruchu suddenly felt nervous, her hands instinctively clasped behind her back, either glancing around or staring at her own toes, not daring to lift her head to look at Zhong Yue, who was just a step away. She felt inexplicably embarrassed. Seeing her bowing her head in silence, revealing a section of her snow-white neck, in the thick night, there was a sense of slightly tipsy intoxication. After a while, he said: "Is your backpack heavy? I can help you carry it."

Zhong Yue smiled as he watched everyone enjoying their meal, standing up to greet Han Zhang: "You should eat more too." He displayed quite the host's demeanor. Han Zhang leaned back in his chair and said, "Speaking of which, I also received some money; shouldn't I treat everyone?" Upon hearing this, someone immediately started to cheer, insisting that he should treat. A free dinner was something no one would refuse.

Han Zhang hurriedly called out to her: "Where are you going if you are not going home?"

Since the sports meeting, Lin Danyun has frequently visited Class Zero, sometimes looking for Han Zhang and other times seeking a conversation with He Ruchu. As a result, he has become well acquainted with the group in Class Zero, and somehow, he even managed to get hold of the key to the Class Zero classroom, becoming a regular visitor. He often stays with He Ruchu, Zhong Yue, Han Zhang, and the others to do homework together

Zhong Yue, with keen eyes and quick hands, reached out to support the bookshelf while also pulling her into his embrace. Everyone heard the commotion and turned to look this way; her face flushed instantly, and she turned her head away, unable to meet anyone's gaze. Zhong Yue quickly stepped back, discreetly lowering his hand, and forced himself to remain calm as he said: "I called you just now, but you didn't respond for quite a while—" In truth, he had been quite flustered himself just moments ago.

Dad, why are you still awake so late? Where is Mom?" He casually tossed his backpack aside and went to the kitchen to get a drink

She called out to him: "Why did you come down to find me?" Zhong Yue secretly blamed himself and then remembered the purpose of his visit. "Oh, it's like this—Han Zhang and Lin Danyun are almost done picking, urging you to hurry and buy so we can go back to eat. Are you—hungry?" He had been concerned about her saying she was hungry, so he finished selecting the books early to allow her to return home for dinner sooner.

Zhong Yue went downstairs and saw her still standing there. Afraid of dirtying the new books in the bookstore, she used a tissue to cushion her hand, not even changing her posture. Having stood behind her for a long time without making a sound, completely lost in thought, he leaned closer and quietly said: "Aren't you tired standing like this? Why not sit inside and read?" As he spoke, he pointed to the sofa in the corner.

Lin Danyun was impressed by the comprehensive knowledge points at the beginning of each chapter in Wang Xiyang's book, and said, "I can finish that book before starting this one." Zhong Yue smiled and replied, "That works too." Knowing that she usually never procrastinates on her assignments, it seemed unrealistic for her to complete two reference books in a row, but he chose not to say anything.

Zhong Yue originally intended to say that she had medicinal wine and that it was unnecessary—before she could even open her mouth, the person had already gone far away. Upon opening the bag, she recognized that one of the items was from a very famous brand. Thus, she carefully tied the bag tightly and made her way back through the hazy night. It was the early days of the lunar month, and a slender new moon hung faintly and sparsely among the branches.

He Ruchu stood by the stairs, watching them whispering and laughing joyfully— the way the two of them smiled was truly striking, yet she felt no inclination to cheer for them. She turned her head and stared blankly out the window— Lin Danyun clearly told herself that she liked Zhong Yue, but what about Zhong Yue? What could he possibly think? It is probably hard for anyone not to like a beautiful girl like Lin Danyun.

During the award ceremony, Xu Motou first praised everyone for their active and enterprising spirit in the sports meeting, and then said: "In this competition, our class Zero scored a total of 12.5 points, which is a very good result. I was quite surprised when I heard it and found it hard to believe. Han Zhang performed well as the team leader, which deserves commendation; Yuan Lin scored 0.5 points in the shot put, which is quite good, let's give him a round of applause for encouragement; and then there's He Ruchu, although she did not place, participation is what matters, and as a girl, having this spirit is something everyone should learn from; and then there's Zhong Yue—" At this point, he paused, emphasized his tone, extended his thumb, and simply said: "Well done!" He then took out half of the class fund and distributed it to the participants according to their ranking as a form of encouragement. Zhong Yue alone took the majority, prompting someone to jokingly say he should treat everyone. He immediately laughed and suggested treating everyone to the newly opened dumpling shop across the street from the school for a late-night snack. Everyone cheered loudly and rushed out of the classroom.

Zhong Yue paused for a moment and then handed her the backpack. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and smiled, saying, "Then I will take my leave—" as she lowered her head and brushed past him on his right side. He watched her enter the small gate of the community before turning around and leaving.

Zhong Yue walked over, carefully flipped through the book, and said softly: "This book is edited by Wang Xiyang. Although it covers a comprehensive range of knowledge points, it is somewhat difficult; that one is a supplementary book, and I think you can start with that one first." He knew that Lin Danyun's foundation was not very strong, and Wang Xiyang's book would probably be too much for her.

Because there was a half-day off on Sunday afternoon, Lin Danyun said she wanted to go to the bookstore with them to buy reference materials. The last class in the morning was taught by Teacher Xu, and just after finishing the last question, the class bell rang. Teacher Xu paused with the chalk in hand on the blackboard, turned around and threw half a piece of chalk into the box, clapped his hands and said: "That's enough, we'll talk about it next time. Class dismissed"

Because the new Harry Potter has arrived, He Ru initially stood in front of the round table, unwilling to leave. If he bought it home, his mother would surely say: "What time is it, and you still have the mood to read these frivolous books!" Not to mention confiscation, he would probably have to endure a good lecture. He could only flip through it in the bookstore first, skimming through it at a glance.

Her body indeed felt much lighter, and as she tried to run a few steps quickly, she felt as light as a swallow, her mood soaring along with it. She glanced back at him, uttering a couple of "hmms," hesitating to say something but ultimately not expressing it, so she could only smile shyly and skip away. Upon reaching the entrance of the community, she stopped and turned back to wait for him.

Han Zhang urged her several times, but seeing that she merely responded affirmatively without any sign of leaving, and had completely immersed herself in her books, a few of them went upstairs first. There, they found a variety of reference materials, a true mountain of books and a sea of questions, endless and boundless.

It is truly late at night, and there is not a single passerby on the road, only the footsteps of two people, one light and one heavy. The low trees on both sides of the road are adorned with colorful lanterns in celebration of National Day, which have not yet been taken down. They flicker and emit a seven-colored glow, illuminating the faces of the people, making their features appear hazy and indistinct, as if seen through gauze or mist, creating a kind of ethereal beauty. The two walk side by side in the tranquil night, suddenly at a loss for words. After pondering for a long time, they still cannot find a suitable topic, and thus remain silent all the way.

A few people went to the "Knowledge Bookstore" on a nearby street. This bookstore has a total of three floors and is even more popular than the Xinhua Bookstore. Ascending the narrow staircase, the facade appears unremarkable, but upon turning inside, one is greeted with a sense of unexpected spaciousness and enlightenment. The place is crowded with customers browsing for books, most of whom are students from the nearby No. 1 and No. 2 High Schools.

Han Zhang waved his hand in front of her, and seeing her unresponsive like a wooden person, he said: "What are you thinking about all day? You've been so absent-minded and lost lately." His words jolted her awake; had she really been so absent-minded and lost all the time? How could that be?

Everyone else puts their books in the classroom, at most taking one or two back home to review. Only she, undeterred by the burden, carries a dozen or twenty books to and from school every day, and it is a miracle that her back has not bent under the weight. Han Zhang once scolded her for being foolish, but she nonchalantly replied that she was used to it, having carried them this way since childhood, continuing to roam the school with her large backpack.

Everyone listened, chattering and discussing, all pleased that there would be no more extended classes in the future. At that time, happiness was so simple

Zhong Yue and Lin Dan Yun came down and saw him alone, both asked: "What about Chu?" Han Zhang replied irritably: "Who knows! I don't know who offended her, she looks like she's eaten dynamite, and just walked away alone." The three parted ways at the bookstore entrance and dispersed.

Father He looked at his excited daughter, gently stroking her hair and said, "Then you should learn from others—alright, it's already late at night, wash up quickly and go to bed. Be careful not to oversleep tomorrow, or you'll be late for class and end up crying again." She made a funny face and skipped up the stairs.

Seeing that she did not respond, he gently poked her: "Hey, He Ruchu—" It was both infuriating and amusing, how could someone be so captivating? She was completely entranced. She dazedly looked up, and after a while, her eyes finally focused. Unconsciously, she took a step back and stepped on Zhong Yue's foot, which brought her back to reality. She hurriedly moved aside, only to bump into a nearby bookshelf.

Han Zhang impatiently said, "He Ru, you still refuse to admit that you are dawdling!" Lin Danyun also said, "Zhong Yue, why are you taking so long? I am still waiting for you to give me a reference. Is this book any good?" As she spoke, she pointed to a book on the shelf and compared it with the one in her hand

Because He Ruchu mentioned that she was a bit hungry, Lin Danyun asked, "Are you still going to the bookstore?" She was hesitating when Han Zhang pushed her along, saying, "We agreed to go to the bookstore first, and it's not far. You won't eat later, will you?" She turned around, grumbling, "I know, why are you pushing me? Can't I walk by myself?"

A group of people was making a lot of noise and commotion, continuing until half past eleven. Someone mentioned that they had to attend early self-study the next day, so everyone decided to leave. Since He Ruchu said it was too late, and unfortunately the streetlights in the community were broken, she felt a bit scared. Han Zhang then said, "Shall I walk you home? Or better yet, I could just stay over at your place for the night—after all, when my parents were on business trips, I often went to your house to hang out."

A classmate said, "Perhaps he is in a hurry due to some urgent matter." Han Zhang, standing nearby, laughed and said, "Not at all, that's completely not the case. Last time, during the unified teacher assessment survey conducted by the entire school, someone complained that Old Xu extended the class too long. Because he lives far away, he didn't even have time to go home for a meal and had to take the afternoon exam on an empty stomach. That night, he returned home, suffered from a stomachache, and even had to go to the hospital. The school noticed this and vaguely mentioned the matter during the regular teacher meeting held every Monday evening. Therefore, Old Xu recognized his mistake and is likely to avoid extending classes in the future." After saying this, he sighed, "Old Xu is truly a good comrade"

A few female classmates left early because they lived far away and had someone coming to pick them up late at night. Only He Ruchu and another girl stayed to attend what everyone jokingly called the "celebration feast." The two girls huddled in a corner of the room, watching about twenty boys devour food like wolves. A mountain of dumplings was brought to the table, and within a minute, it was completely wiped out, leaving no dishes to wash, shining clean. The owner simply stopped stacking plates and brought the steel pot directly to the table, allowing them to grab from it while hurriedly cooking more dumplings.

She hurriedly said, "I am leaving first—" and did not look back at Zhong Yue and Lin Danyun, descending the stairs alone. Han Zhang quickly greeted the two, saying that they were leaving first, pointing to himself and He Ruchu. He caught up and said, "What do you mean by just leaving like that? You are such a strange person."

He rushed home in a daze, completely unaware that the streetlight was broken. He felt nothing in the pitch darkness beneath his feet, only a sensation of heat throughout his body and a dry mouth. As soon as he stepped out of the elevator, the door to his home was already opened from the inside, and his father poked his head out, reproaching him: "Why are you so late coming back?"

She lowered her head, uttered a couple of "ohs," and softly murmured, "I was momentarily entranced—"

She exclaimed, "A classmate is treating us to a late-night snack; he won an award at the sports meet, and everyone is going—Dad, let me tell you, there is a classmate in our class named Zhong Yue, who is incredibly talented; he excels at everything and does everything the best. Both the teachers and classmates really like him."

The girl covered her mouth and laughed, saying: "They really can eat a lot—" He Ruchu frowned and replied: "They are just like those released from prison; how can they be the favored children of 'Shanglin No. 1 High School'—" The girl probably couldn't understand how boys could eat so much—

She explained: "These are medicines for treating bruises. The small box is for topical application, while the large box is for oral consumption. Both come with instructions, so you can read them yourself when you get back—I'm leaving now." Without waiting for a response, she stuffed them into his hands and turned to run away. Before reaching the iron gate, she looked back and waved her hand at him.

Father He patted her head and said: "Do you know it's late and you haven't come home! Where did you go after class? Your mother is feeling a bit unwell and has gone to bed." When Father He returned home, it was already 11 o'clock. Seeing that his daughter had not yet returned, he was quite worried, so he waited downstairs.

She went upstairs with him, laughing as she said, "I don't feel hungry now; perhaps I've had my fill from reading." Zhong Yue asked her, "Aren't you going to read anymore?" She shook her head. He then said, "Since you like it so much, why not just buy it to take home?" She then explained the reason to him, including the incident with the comic last time. He listened with a smile, remaining silent, the smile lines at the corners of his eyes and lips soft as a gentle breeze.

She said with a displeased expression, "What if I am being sarcastic? It’s none of your business. Why are you following me?" Han Zhang shouted, "Hey, you’re getting a bit too arrogant. Whose road is this? Can’t I walk here?" She ignored him and went in the opposite direction