Addicted to You - Chapter 1

At Beicheng High-Speed Rail Station, the large electronic screen displayed the words “Welcome to Beicheng.” In this bustling metal shell filled with unfamiliar smells, Xu Yu stood still, clutching a yellowed leather suitcase. People came and went through the exit; a few men wore impatient expressions after the long journey, cursing in dialects she couldn’t understand.

Not far away, a gaudily dressed woman walked toward her.

“Oh my, our little Yu has grown up so much. Let Mama take a good look at you.”
The woman pulled her into a spin, wrinkling the clothes she was wearing.

Xu Yu didn’t show any emotion, staring at the woman in front of her like a stranger.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Luo Jie linked arms with her and they walked out of the station. They didn’t look like mother and daughter—more like “sisters” with a big age gap.

“I heard what happened back home. Now that you’re in Beicheng, just focus on your studies. Don’t dwell on the past.” They waited for the bus at the stop. People were chatting around them, but Xu Yu didn’t take in a single word.

On the empty road, a luxurious van temporarily shut the woman up when it pulled up in front of them. The door didn’t open right away. The woman beside her let go and leaned over to look. Xu Yu made no comment on her behavior.

As she glanced at the back seat, she saw who the van belonged to.

It was a man—or more precisely, a boy. Sitting beside him was a girl.

She didn’t know what the girl said, but the boy smiled slightly and pinched the girl’s cheek. It looked sweet.

The moment he let go, his gaze met Xu Yu’s. Just for a second. She looked away.

Before they could get off the van, her bus arrived behind it. She boarded and perfectly avoided them.

First day at the new school—in the office, cold air from the air conditioner hit her directly. Luo Jie was speaking to someone seated, spouting things even she probably didn’t believe. Xu Yu stared blankly out the window, watching a cicada about to shed its skin—only to be blown off by a strong gust of wind. A failed attempt at rebirth. She looked away and focused on the tea cup in front of the seated person. Steam curled above it, contrasting the cold air.

At some point, a new person entered the fifty-square-meter room. Her attention shifted from the tea to him.

The boy wore a black T-shirt with an English logo on the chest, matching black jeans, and trendy sneakers. In Nanjing, dressing like that would seem cheap, but on him—it didn’t.

“Lao Wang, I’ve got something this afternoon. I’m taking the day off.” His tone was casual—more like announcing than requesting.

“Got something to do, or just going out to play?”

He answered honestly, “Going out to play.”

The person didn’t reply right away. After a few seconds: “Take the new student to class first. We’ll talk about your time off later.”

With that, Luo Jie was sent to the academic office. The room was left with only two people.

The boy looked her up and down, making her uncomfortable—physically and mentally.

Then, without a word, he walked out. Xu Yu followed.

Elite schools really were different. Everything smelled like money. Her eyes scanned her surroundings.

The two of them walked one after the other toward the last classroom on the second floor. A group of students approached from the other direction. The one in the lead came up.

“A Heng, how’s the leave request going?”

The one called A Heng stood in front of her and said, “When have I ever failed?”

“Awesome!” The other boy praised him, then looked at Xu Yu and asked, “Who’s this?”

“New student.”

Xu Yu looked between the two boys, but neither returned a smile.

The other boy bumped A Heng on the shoulder, grinning suggestively, “Oh, new student.” The tone made her frown.

The boy gave him a look, then turned to her. “Class 11 is the last room. You can head in.”

She followed his directions but was stopped just as she started walking.

“Wait.”

He looked at her thoughtfully, then asked, “Have we met somewhere before?”

Expressionless, she replied, “No.”

His friend teased, “Dude, that pick-up line is so lame. Who do you think you are, Jia Baoyu?”

Zhou Yiheng looked at her with suspicion. “At the train station, really no memory?”

Her eye twitched. She remembered the van. But she pretended to be indifferent. “You’re mistaken.” And she walked past them toward the classroom.

After she left, Guan Xiao tugged on his sleeve. “The train station—really? You two have met?”

Zhou Yiheng smiled. “Maybe I was wrong.”

There were forty desks in the classroom, but always a few were empty.

On her first day, her deskmate Song Yuan filled her in on every bit of school gossip—from which teachers were dating to the school prince and princess’s height differences.

“There are two people you must avoid at this school.”

Xu Yu looked at her curiously.

Song Yuan explained, “First, our class’s Zhou Yiheng. Total player. Avoid. Second, Lin Qi from Class 3—won’t date anyone but flirts with everyone. Also avoid.”

She didn’t recall the second name. But the first… she remembered hearing it from the homeroom teacher that morning—Zhou Yiheng.

When the bell rang, the classroom emptied. The two girls packed up slowly.

As Xu Yu bent down to get her books, Song Yuan asked, “Why did you transfer to Beicheng? Don’t they have good schools in downtown Nanjing?”

Xu Yu paused slightly and replied, “I wanted a change of environment.”

“True. I hear it’s super stressful over there.”

“Mm.” She zipped up her bag.

“Have you ever dated anyone?” Song Yuan tilted her head curiously.

Xu Yu looked at her, paused for two seconds, then replied, “No.” And walked out.

Song Yuan chased after her. “Sorry! I didn’t mean to pry. I was just curious. No offense.”

Xu Yu slowed down. They walked side by side. “It’s fine,” she said evenly.

Her words made Song Yuan very happy. She clung to her all the way to the bus stop before saying goodbye.

By the time she got back to her rented apartment, it was nearly 6 p.m. She inserted the key but didn’t turn it yet—inside, voices could be heard.

“You should head back. I’ll come see you tomorrow.”

“I really don’t want to leave you.”

“……”

She was used to scenes like this after half a month of living here. She went ahead and turned the key.

The people inside reacted. When the door opened, only Luo Jie was visible. Xu Yu gave her a glance and walked toward her room.

“Xiao Yu, I might not be home next month. I left some money on the table—take care of yourself.” Luo Jie called after her.

Xu Yu didn’t respond. She opened her door and closed it behind her in one fluid motion.

More footsteps came from outside. She pulled the blanket over her head. It felt more peaceful.

Only half a month here, and she already wanted to go back. She missed her grandma.

In her dreams, faces appeared—those who scolded her, accused her. Then the person she trusted most showed up, but even they didn’t take her side. In the end, she jumped off the school building.

Xu Yu jolted awake.

The dream was too vivid. She actually thought the fall was real.

She checked the clock—5 a.m. No desire to go back to sleep. She grabbed a clean uniform and headed to the bathroom.

Morning traffic was a mess. Xu Yu got off one stop before the school.

The road leading to campus was packed. More and more students got off early.

Most walked in groups. Only she walked alone, looking out of place.

Someone came up beside her. She thought it was another solo walker and didn’t pay attention—until he spoke.

“Morning, new classmate~”

Xu Yu looked over and saw him in the same school uniform. He wasn’t wearing his casual outfit from the office anymore.

She didn’t greet him and kept walking.

He seemed determined to walk with her and stayed by her side. “We really didn’t meet at the station?”

“No.” Same answer.

“Really? Think carefully.”

Of course she remembered. But what would it matter?

“I really think we met.” He smiled.

Xu Yu stopped and glared a little, mimicking what his friend had said: “Your pick-up lines are really low-level.” And she left him standing there.

Zhou Yiheng chuckled and nodded, watching her walk away with interest.

Guan Xiao caught up, breathless. “I swear, you’re the only person who insists on getting off early.”

“Traffic’s hell. A few more steps won’t kill me.” He slowed down.

“You never cared about being late before. Why now?”

He smiled. “There’s a new girl in class. Gotta protect my seat.”

They didn’t see each other often, but every time they did, Zhou Yiheng would repeat the same question.

One time, Song Yuan overheard and asked what was going on. Xu Yu casually lied, “I saw him getting dumped.”

By the end of that afternoon, the rumor had spread like wildfire. Song Yuan swore she hadn’t told anyone—but Xu Yu didn’t really care.

When Guan Xiao heard, he laughed hard. “Didn’t think you would get dumped!”

Zhou Yiheng just replied, “You really believe that?”

“Why not? People saw it happen.”

He said nothing. It was dumb. But he knew exactly who spread the rumor.

The next day after school, Xu Yu was the last to leave class—and bumped into Zhou Yiheng at the door.

She stepped back to let him in, but he didn’t move.

She walked forward. He mirrored her—on purpose.

“You’re the one who started the rumor, weren’t you?” he asked.

Xu Yu played dumb. “What rumor?”

“Don’t pretend. It was you at the train station.”

She stayed silent.

Before he could say anything else, she looked at him with wide, innocent eyes and said, “I’m sorry.”

The sudden shift caught him off guard. Zhou Yiheng stood frozen.

Xu Yu took the chance and left.

By the time he recovered, she was already crossing the track field. He stood in the corridor, looking down at her figure, and laughed at himself.