The night sky was clear and starry. At the bus stop, only the chirping of cicadas remained, and the dim yellow light scattered in patches on the ground.
With the evening breeze brushing past her ears, Liang Zhiyi’s heartbeat completely faltered as she heard Pei Chen’s clear and firm voice admit something for the first time. The warmth on her cheeks quickly spread to her heart.
He had liked her for a long time…
The girl’s mind went blank, momentarily speechless. After a while, her logical thinking finally resumed, and she asked curiously:
“How long ago… was it?”
Pei Chen looked down and said, “It’s hard to pinpoint such feelings clearly, but if I had to say when it became most apparent to me, it would be after the basketball game at school. That night you accompanied me to the bookstore where I was working part-time. You told me then that you wanted to wait for me to go home together.”
Before that, he had heard others mocking his relationship with Liang Zhiyi, which led him to struggle intensely between reason and emotion.
That night, he saw her asleep on the desk under the warm light, her face soft and gentle, like the only lighthouse in a deep ocean, warm like light. Since his parents’ divorce, the only person who cared about him and said they would wait for him was Pei Yongxia, and Liang Zhiyi was the second.
Hearing this, the girl felt a wave of sweetness in her heart and pretended to be disappointed: “So you only liked me then? I had been pursuing you for so long by that time.”
The boy, speechless, explained, “No.”
“From the beginning, you were special to me.”
He lowered his voice, fully expressing the restrained feelings he had kept inside:
“Our first meeting was the night before the new school year. We bumped into each other at the hotel entrance. You were wearing such a beautiful dress, looking like a princess. I could hardly imagine that the next day, at school, I would run into you again, and not only that, you would be sitting next to me.”
That night, he worked hard to supplement his family’s income, while the scent of gardenias on her seemed like a fresh breeze that dispelled his fatigue, stunningly entering his world.
“Actually, I started paying attention to you from the military training period. I never thought you would like me. Our backgrounds are so different; we come from entirely different worlds. So whenever I felt even a little bit of affection for you, my rationality would suppress it. But later, I realized—I couldn’t control it.”
Liang Zhiyi’s eyes glinted with a hint of mischief: “Couldn’t control it?”
He curled his lips into a slight smile, lowered his gaze to meet hers, and spoke in a hoarse voice: “Hmm, then why don’t you teach me how to control not liking you? I really can’t.”
The girl’s cheeks turned crimson at his words.
“Zhiyi, actually, I had already liked you a lot during the basketball game period, but I always felt I was not worthy of you. And that night, on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, when you came to find me, my mother happened to be at my place for my birthday.”
He paused, lowered his eyes, his throat dry: “I wanted to take you away, to a more affluent life. But based on my current situation, I felt I didn’t deserve…”
The girl’s eyes reddened slightly, and she interrupted him with a pained expression: “Pei Chen, you don’t have to say more. I actually heard everything that night at the door. I knew.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have avoided you and said we were not suited for each other.” Just thinking about the tears on the phone that night made him feel a deep sense of guilt.
She shook her head, her nose feeling a bit sour: “Pei Chen, I did blame you for that night, but I understand you now. I’m just sad that you didn’t understand me at all. You didn’t know that I really didn’t care about these…”
The disparity in family background, his flawed leg, the poverty-stricken family—it didn’t matter to her.
“I know. That’s why, after you transferred to another city, Xuan Xia and Ji Fei’er scolded me. They mentioned the knee pads incident, and I realized you liked me even more than I had imagined.”
“When you left Lincheng, I couldn’t contact you at all. When I went to Old Lin’s noodle shop and heard from Uncle Lin that you had been there, I really, really wanted to see you. So, I couldn’t help but go to W Province to find you.”
Seeing her working at the bookstore that day and hearing Liang Tongzhou say she wasn’t afraid of living an ordinary life with him had profoundly shocked him.
At that moment, he realized that not everyone in this world, like his mother, would give him up for money.
The girl, hearing this, pretended to be angry and questioned him: “Oh, but you came looking for me and still wouldn’t see me.”
“No,” he explained anxiously, “I was so guilty that I didn’t dare to disturb you again. I just wanted to see you once. I sent the message on Saturday morning, so there was plenty of time before Monday.”
“But doesn’t it only take five hours by train?”
He lowered his lashes, “I only had enough money for a regular train, which takes nearly three hours.”
She suddenly fell silent, feeling a pang of sadness.
How could this person be so naive, taking such a long train ride just to see her…
“Later, Uncle Lin also told me to cherish the present and the person in front of me. So I regret giving up on you. I will work hard to overcome our differences, and there may still be rumors, but nothing is more important than wanting to be with you.”
Liang Zhiyi’s heart was deeply moved.
“Zhiyi, from now on I won’t let you feel like you’re always chasing after me. I will never back down again.”
He curved his lips into a smile and gently nodded.
He looked at her and asked softly:
“Zhiyi, do you forgive me?”
“Mm.”
“Then are we…”
The girl’s tone shifted as she mumbled, “Well, even though I forgive you, I haven’t agreed to be with you.”
Pei Chen was stunned, his heart tightening suddenly.
Who would have expected that after pursuing him back then, it would now be him asking if they could be together?
“So, what would it take for you to agree?” he asked softly.
She smiled, “Let’s see how you perform. I’ll need to test you every day.” She wanted to enjoy the process of being pursued a bit more and wouldn’t make it easy for him.
Seeing the smile on her face, Pei Chen agreed willingly, “Okay.”
After all, he had rejected her twice before. Now, he was ready to pursue her until she was willingly with him.
After their conversation, Pei Chen said, “Let me take you there.”
He had actually planned to take the bus himself and leave, but he was determined to accompany her.
After a while, when the bus arrived, Pei Chen got on with her.
The girl looked out at the flashing neon lights and chatted with Pei Chen about her recent exams, her chatter like a little sparrow. He looked at her, his eyes full of tender smiles.
Being with her was like a luxury for him.
When the bus reached the stop, he walked with her to the entrance of the residential area, wanting to ensure she got home safely before leaving.
At the entrance, as they said their goodbyes, Pei Chen asked:
“So, are you free tomorrow?”
“What’s up?”
“I’d like to invite you out. Where would you like to go? I’ll go with you.” Now that exams were over and she was back in Lincheng, he wanted to be with her every day.
The girl smiled, “Pei Chen, are you so free now? It used to be so hard to make plans with you.”
He pressed his lips together, stepped closer, and whispered in her ear, “It won’t be like that anymore.”
She subtly curved her lips into a smile, “I’ll contact you once I think of something.”
“Alright, goodbye.”
She turned and walked toward the residential area.
After a while, she glanced back and saw him still watching her from the same spot, feeling a sweet, bubbly sensation in her heart.
His words “I like you” still echoed in her mind. Not pretending to be reserved, she held her face in her hands, her eyes crescent-shaped with a smile: “As expected, I’m so cute, how could he not like me?”
Liang Zhiyi happily went home, and as she walked upstairs, she ran into Zhong Xinrou coming out of the bedroom. The sweet smile on her face was immediately noticed by Zhong Xinrou.
“Mom…”
Her mother, clearly understanding what was happening, smiled and said, “Did you just come back from hanging out?”
“Yes, since exams are finally over, of course I had to go out.”
“I’m not saying you can’t have fun, but was Pei Chen there too?”
The girl hesitated for a moment, then nodded and asked eagerly, “Mom, can I contact Pei Chen now?”
Zhong Xinrou patted her head and smiled, “Did you think your dad and I didn’t know you were out with Pei Chen tonight? If we didn’t approve, we’d have stopped you long ago. Now that exams are over, we won’t interfere with you and Pei Chen, but there’s one thing—be mindful of boundaries, don’t cross the line.”
The girl nodded, her face slightly flushed.
What boundaries? They haven’t even really started yet…
“By the way, Mom, do you remember when Pei Chen came to deliver something on New Year’s Eve? Who handled the delivery?”
The time had passed too long, and Zhong Xinrou didn’t remember clearly. She called the housekeepers, and they all said they didn’t handle the delivery. It seemed to have been taken by an Aunt Zhao from the family.
“Aunt Zhao has been away visiting her hometown for a few days. We’ll have to wait until she returns to ask her.”
Liang Zhiyi shook her head, setting aside her curiosity for now. “I’ll ask Aunt Zhao when she’s back.”
After the exams, the next day Liang Zhiyi and Pei Chen went shopping at the mall, enjoying a particularly sweet atmosphere between them.
Having spent so many comforting and pleasant moments together, every second felt like it was being etched into their hearts. Time seemed to pass too quickly.
After a few days of fun, the school notified all students about their estimated scores. Liang Zhiyi called the head teacher to ask if she could come to the class, and the teacher agreed.
The next morning, Liang Zhiyi had the driver drop her off, while Pei Chen took the subway. As she arrived at the station, she saw Pei Chen already waiting.
She jogged over and said, “I’m late! Did you wait long?”
Pei Chen, with a gentle expression, reached out to ruffle her hair and said, “It’s alright. Want to have breakfast?”
Liang Zhiyi felt a warm sensation from his gentle teasing, shaking her head, “I slept in this morning, but I still have time to eat.”
“I’ll buy it for you.”
Pei Chen handed her a sandwich he had bought, and Liang Zhiyi took it, placing it in her canvas bag. “I’ll eat it when I get to class.”
“And a cup of yogurt.”
She took the yogurt and put it in her bag as well. Pei Chen said, “There’s one more thing.”
Surprised, she reached out, only to find the warm, broad palm of the boy firmly holding her hand. The girl was momentarily stunned, feeling an electric jolt through her palm that spread throughout her body.
The boy took a step closer, lowered his eyes, and spoke in a deep voice, “Just hold my hand for a while, okay?”
The last time they had held hands was quite some time ago.
With Pei Chen leading, though it was a question, his strong presence still stirred her heart.
She had always thought Pei Chen was reserved and would be more passive in relationships. However, spending time with him these days revealed that, despite his tenderness and affection, he often took the lead in their relationship.
Liang Zhiyi actually didn’t like holding hands as it made her feel too controlled, yet Pei Chen’s occasional assertiveness was endearing.
Embarrassed, she nodded, and Pei Chen’s lips curled into a smile as he led her toward the school. As they walked, she felt his fingers intertwine with hers.
Her heart raced.
As they got closer to the school, more students appeared, and passersby occasionally glanced their way. Liang Zhiyi gently shook his hand and asked with a slight pout, “How long do you plan to hold my hand?”
“How about until we get to the classroom?”
Liang Zhiyi’s eyes widened in surprise.
“No, that’s not allowed…”
What if a teacher mistakes them for being in a relationship? Even though the exams were over, it would still be quite embarrassing.
Pei Chen’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “Then let’s just hold hands until we reach the school gate.”
This guy was really bold…
As they reached the school gate, many people had already seen them. Once inside the school, he let go of her hand. They walked to the classroom, entering one after the other. The students in the class immediately became lively upon seeing them:
“Hey, class monitor, is this your ‘ocean’ you’re bringing along?”
The nickname “ocean” had become a joke, and Liang Zhiyi, being teased, eventually laughed and greeted everyone. Her friends, including the bespectacled girl and others she used to get along with, came over excitedly. “Ah, Zhizhi, long time no see!”
She happily caught up with them. After a while, she turned and saw Pei Chen sitting at the last desk in the third row, his lips curved in a smile as he watched her approach.
She sat down next to him. The summer breeze and sunlight streamed in, and Liang Zhiyi looked out at the clear blue sky before turning her gaze back to him.
Pei Chen met her eyes, and for a moment, it felt like a dream. Memories of their past in the classroom replayed in her mind like scenes from a movie.
Leaning on the desk, Liang Zhiyi gazed at Pei Chen, lightly tugging at his shirt with her fingers, and smiled brightly. “Pei Chen, do you think we’re especially destined to be together?”
Pei Chen smiled softly, his hand firmly holding hers under the table.
At the start of their second school year, she had asked him once.
At first, he didn’t believe it, but now he had to admit, “Yes, we’re especially destined.”
It felt like fate—Liang Zhiyi was meant to come to Lincheng No. 1 High School, to Class 9 of the second year, and to be by Pei Chen’s side.
When Pei Chen and Liang Zhiyi went to school to estimate their scores, many in the grade noticed that they had reconnected. There was a lot of gossip about whether they were back together, but after much speculation, the answer finally came from Pei Chen himself:
“I’m still chasing her.”
This answer quickly spread, and everyone commented on how sweet this “dog food” was. Who would have thought that Pei Chen, so cold and pursued by so many girls, would one day be unable to win over the person he liked?
Everyone used to say that Liang Zhiyi was under his control, but now they realized that the one truly under control was Pei Chen!
These past few days, Liang Zhiyi met with Pei Chen every day. He was relentless in his pursuit, and she found herself barely able to resist.