An Earlier Meeting - Chapter 7

Chapter 7

That evening, Huang Xiaozhi came home and tossed her heavy schoolbag onto the soft sofa before heading straight to her room.

Wei Qingwen came home a little late tonight; she’d been swamped with work lately.

After resting for a bit, Huang Xiaozhi felt sticky all over.

The air conditioner in the exam room had broken down today, and the suffocating heat was unbearable. It was a miracle she had even managed to finish the test. She decided to go take a quick shower.

When she came out, she was only wearing a cool slip dress. Her long, wet hair was draped over her shoulders. She checked her phone—it was still early.

The “whooshing” sound of the hairdryer started.

Huang Xiaozhi hated blow-drying her hair, but sleeping with wet hair would give her a headache, so drying it was the fastest way.

The annoying noise made her frown in frustration.

Just as her hair was half-dry, the doorbell rang.

Huang Xiaozhi’s heart skipped a beat. That’s not right. Old Wei wouldn’t be home this early.

She walked to the door, stood on her tiptoes, and peered through the peephole.

A girl was standing outside. Her figure looked a little familiar.

Ah, okay. She knew who it was immediately.

Huang Xiaozhi grabbed a thin jacket, put it on to cover the straps of her dress, and opened the door, a natural smile on her face. “Hey there. Can I help you with something?”

Yu Wen, standing outside, still wore her signature pigtails, but her hair was now clean and smooth, without the sweat from her run earlier. She had clearly washed up.

Her black-rimmed glasses were also securely on her nose. She looked like she had taken great care to tidy herself up for the visit.

Yu Wen’s head was slightly bowed. She seemed hesitant to meet Huang Xiaozhi’s eyes. Her voice was thin. “Hi, my name is Yu Wen. I made some home-cooked food and wanted to bring it over for you to try.” With that, she held out a small, floral-printed thermos bag.

Huang Xiaozhi looked at the bag, a little surprised. “Oh? Why are you suddenly bringing us food?”

“Auntie Wei helped me out again the other day, and I’ve been wanting to thank her. You’re Auntie Wei’s daughter, right?” Yu Wen said, finally looking up and meeting Huang Xiaozhi’s eyes through her glasses. Then she adjusted the frames, as if it were a crucial prop.

“Oh? She did? Well, I won’t be shy then!” Huang Xiaozhi cheerfully took the thermos bag. It was a little heavy and still warm. “But I have some ‘bad news.’ Old Wei is working late tonight, so she won’t be back for dinner. Have you… eaten yet?”

The girl outside seemed unprepared for the question. Her fingers instinctively gripped the corner of her clothes, looking a little flustered. “You… you’re asking me? Actually… I haven’t eaten yet…” Though she had snacked on a bun before coming.

Huang Xiaozhi opened the door wider and stepped aside. “Perfect! Come on in and eat with me, Yu Wen. It’s no fun eating alone.”

“Huh?… Okay.” Yu Wen hesitated for a moment, then nodded and agreed.

The door quietly closed, shutting out the rest of the world. Only the two of them remained inside.

As Yu Wen stepped into the bright apartment, she was greeted by a warm feeling full of “life.”

Every detail—the blanket draped casually on the sofa, the open magazine on the coffee table, the vibrant green plants in the corner—exuded life and energy. It was completely different from her own apartment, which felt as cold as a show flat.

This was a truly warm and happy home.

She cautiously sat down at the dining table, watching Huang Xiaozhi efficiently open the thermos bag. Inside were two dishes and a soup in divided compartments, and the aroma filled the air.

Huang Xiaozhi went to the kitchen to get a clean bowl and a pair of chopsticks. She divided half the food and pushed it toward Yu Wen.

“Thank you,” Yu Wen said softly, taking the bowl and chopsticks.

She looked at Huang Xiaozhi and suddenly remembered that the other girl had naturally said her name earlier. She couldn’t help but ask, “How did you… how did you know my name?” Her voice held a hint of subtle curiosity.

Huang Xiaozhi was picking up a piece of tempting braised pork. She looked up, her tone of voice completely nonchalant. “Huh? Your name? Yu Wen? Isn’t that something everyone in the school knows? You’re the top student!” she said, putting the pork in her mouth and squinting her eyes in satisfaction.

Yu Wen gently poked at the rice in her bowl with her chopsticks. Her voice was muffled. “I thought… not many people would notice me.”

“Huh?” Huang Xiaozhi almost choked on her rice. She put down her chopsticks, looking disbelieving. “Not many people notice you? Come on! You’re the god-level student who’s number one by a huge margin! Who in our grade doesn’t know the name Yu Wen? Every time there’s a big exam, your name is at the very top, shining brightly!”

How could anyone ignore the halo of the top student?

Yu Wen lowered her head slightly. The corners of her lips curled up in an almost imperceptible, yet very real, smile.

Although it was faint, the subtle embarrassment and a hint of small pleasure at being called out for her “low-key” behavior still showed through.

Huang Xiaozhi happened to catch the fleeting smile. Her inner self immediately let out a little cheer—the image of a good girl in her mind became even more solid! She even had a sudden thought: This girl could try other styles, like… a more dashing one? She inexplicably felt an urge to style Yu Wen’s clothes! Tsk, tsk, that’s not like me. The two of them had only just officially spoken today.

Yu Wen ate slowly, chewing each bite carefully. The only sounds in the quiet atmosphere were the gentle clinking of their bowls and chopsticks.

She suddenly looked up, staring at Huang Xiaozhi through her glasses, and clearly said her name. “Huang Xiaozhi.”

“Hm?” Huang Xiaozhi was drinking her soup and was taken aback by the sudden address. “Me? You know me?” she asked instinctively, and a mouthful of soup went down the wrong pipe. “Cough, cough, cough…” She immediately started coughing, her face turning red.

Yu Wen was startled. She frantically pulled out a tissue and handed it to her, her face filled with genuine worry and panic. “Did you choke? Are you okay? I’ll go get you some water!” she said, about to get up.

Huang Xiaozhi waved her hands repeatedly and finally managed to stop coughing, her voice still a little hoarse. “No… no, it’s fine. Cough… no need for water. I just need a moment.”

Yu Wen probably guessed why Huang Xiaozhi had choked—her sudden mention of her name. She sat back down and explained, “That day… I went to the school notice board to look at the last monthly exam ranking. I saw your name and score there. It was very impressive. You were near the top.” Her tone was genuinely affirming.

“Cough… compared to you?” Huang Xiaozhi got her breath back and asked jokingly, using the tissue to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes.

Yu Wen was stunned for a moment, then she gave a faint smile. Her eyes behind the glasses curved. “You’ll surpass me. Keep it up.” Her tone was very certain, as if she were stating a fact that was about to happen.

“I’ll take your word for it. I hope that day really comes,” Huang Xiaozhi replied with a laugh.

They finished their meal quickly. Huang Xiaozhi took the initiative to clear the dishes and even carefully washed Yu Wen’s thermos container.

Yu Wen stood at the kitchen door watching. She wanted to say something, but in the end, she didn’t.

On the way to walk Yu Wen back, they walked side by side, and the atmosphere was a little strange.

They didn’t seem to have much in common. Huang Xiaozhi would ask a question, and Yu Wen would give a brief answer. Or Yu Wen would say something, and Huang Xiaozhi would respond, and then the conversation would stop.

Yu Wen seemed to have a talent for ending a conversation quickly, and Huang Xiaozhi… well, she was just as good at it.

They soon reached Yu Wen’s doorstep. Huang Xiaozhi stopped, ready to say goodbye, but Yu Wen suddenly turned around and called out to her.

“Huang Xiaozhi…” Her voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet hallway, with a hint of subtle nervousness and expectation. “…Can I be your friend?”

Huang Xiaozhi turned back, looking at Yu Wen who stood at the intersection of light and shadow at her door.

The light from the streetlamp outlined her slender figure.

Maybe it was the dinner they had together tonight that made Huang Xiaozhi lower her guard. Maybe it was the hint of loneliness in Yu Wen’s eyes that moved her. A thoughtless question slipped out. “Don’t you have any friends?” As soon as the words left her mouth, Huang Xiaozhi regretted them. They sounded so hurtful, like she was rubbing salt in a wound.

But words spoken are like water poured out; you can’t take them back.

They had switched places. Huang Xiaozhi was now standing in the light, and Yu Wen was in the shadows of the doorway. They looked at each other from a few steps away.

Yu Wen clearly hadn’t expected such a direct question from Huang Xiaozhi. After a brief moment of shock, a slightly bitter but frank smile appeared on her face, and she answered clearly, “No.”

Hearing the answer, Huang Xiaozhi raised her eyebrows. The regret she felt was instantly replaced by a feeling of “I knew it,” mixed with an indescribable emotion.

She took a few steps forward and naturally raised her hand to pat Yu Wen’s shoulder. The gesture was a little boyish and easy-going. “Okay, friends! I got it. I’m leaving now, see you!” With that, she turned briskly, waved her hand, and her figure quickly disappeared around the corner of the stairs.

Yu Wen stood rooted to the spot, feeling as if a lingering warmth and force were still on her shoulder where she had been patted.

As Huang Xiaozhi approached and left, her body had been stiff for those few seconds, as if bound by invisible ropes.

It wasn’t until Huang Xiaozhi’s figure had vanished that she slowly and deeply took a breath.

“Okay, see you.” She said softly to the empty hallway.

…

In reality, this seemingly chance visit was all part of Yu Wen’s plan.

Earlier that morning, she had subtly asked Wei Qingwen via WeChat to confirm she would be working late tonight, leaving Huang Xiaozhi alone at home.

Returning to her still-dim and cold apartment, Yu Wen locked the door behind her, leaned against the icy door, and let out a long sigh.

She walked to her desk, her hands on the edge, and looked at the single, lonely lamp. She shook her head with a smile.

Right now, her face held none of the deliberately created docile and timid look she wore at school. Her eyes were calm and deep.

Although Huang Xiaozhi hadn’t explicitly said, “Okay, let’s be friends,” she hadn’t refused, and she had even patted her on the shoulder… So, Yu Wen would take that as a silent agreement.

She raised her hands and efficiently untied the hair ties from her pigtails. Her smooth, long hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall.

Then, she took off her signature black-rimmed glasses.

Without the glasses, her eyes were clearly revealed—they were beautiful but had a detached look, making her seem like a completely different person.

She had indeed put a lot of effort into getting ready before knocking on Huang Xiaozhi’s door.

Thinking back, she felt her performance as “the introverted, reclusive straight-A student Yu Wen” had been a success. At least, she hadn’t let anything slip.

Then a new question came to her mind: tomorrow afternoon, as one of the top five representatives in her grade, she had to give a short speech in front of the entire school.

What kind of image should she present?

Now that she was considered a “friend” of Huang Xiaozhi, it would be strange to keep up the meek, head-down act… Never mind. Yu Wen decided in her heart that she would just maintain the current status quo.

If her persona broke because of this, then so be it.

A fake identity was not more important than getting closer to Huang Xiaozhi.

That stunning, fleeting glimpse had been enough to set the course for the rest of her life.

Summer, a season that belonged to youth.

The cicadas’ chirping had faded, but the scorching heat still lingered, as if the true height of summer was only just beginning.

And this would also be their summer.

…

Yu Zhong Campus

The sunlight on the Yu Zhong campus was blindingly white.

This time, Yu Wen was ready. She knew Huang Xiaozhi would pass by here.

She had already aimed her small camera at the classroom window and was waiting with bated breath.

Sure enough, that familiar figure didn’t disappoint her.

Huang Xiaozhi was walking along the tree-lined path in front of the school building, carrying her backpack. Her eyes casually scanned the windows and happened to meet Yu Wen’s raised lens.

It was a beautiful moment. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dancing spots of light on her face.

The first time, Huang Xiaozhi had accidentally wandered into Yu Wen’s frame, only leaving a blurry side profile.

But this time, she clearly saw the camera and the person behind it.

“Click.” The crisp sound of the shutter rang out.

Yu Wen lowered her head to look at the screen, and a satisfied smile curved her lips.

Huang Xiaozhi, outside the window, had clearly caught the sound as well. Her steps faltered slightly, and she looked back with a hint of confusion.

Huang Xiaozhi’s morning walk was prompted by a desire to see what Yu Wen was doing, and she stumbled upon her with a camera pointed out the window.

She looked back three times for every step she took, her eyes following Yu Wen as she looked down at the camera. Her heart was being scratched by a kitten—what treasure was hidden inside that camera?

She would never have guessed that Yu Wen was specifically waiting for her.

She just assumed she had accidentally walked into someone’s photo of a landscape.

She admitted she wasn’t bad-looking, but she wasn’t so pretty that people would take candid shots of her, right? As everyone knew, she, Huang Xiaozhi, was always low-key.

Well… mostly.

…

As soon as she entered the classroom, a wave of noise hit her. Tang Yuan’s loud voice echoed through the air like a noisy cicada.

The exam was over, and the grades were being released one after another. Tang Yuan, naturally being the first to know, was now “equally roasting” everyone in the class with her spittle flying everywhere, and even the class president wasn’t spared.

It looked like everyone was sitting up straight and listening to her “analysis,” but their eyes were vacant, and their minds had already drifted far away. Did they care? Students who could get into a top school like Yu Zhong, especially those in the second-best class, how much could they really care about a school exam grade? They couldn’t do that badly.

Of course, in Tang Yuan’s mouth, this grade was a matter of life and death for their future, an abstract exaggeration that gave everyone a headache.

The school had indeed put a lot of effort into this exam.

They had invited many famous teachers from other schools to proctor and grade the papers (of course, favors had to be returned).

The ranking was the most important thing. It was said that the principal had stayed up for who knows how many nights for this sophomore year list, even dreaming about the rankings, as if they were directly related to the school’s glory.

Perhaps, he really wanted to lock in a few future “talents” in their sophomore year to bring honor to the school.

The principal’s voice finally boomed through the campus over the broadcast, calling for all the students to gather downstairs. The high school department was the first to have its awards ceremony; the middle school would have to wait.

…

Su Li and Huang Xiaozhi walked side by side in the crowded hallway, moving slowly with the crowd.

“How do you feel? Do you think you can get into the top five?” Huang Xiaozhi nudged Su Li with her elbow.

Su Li thought about it. The questions weren’t that difficult for her yesterday. Getting into the top five shouldn’t be a problem. But she was used to manipulating her scores so she wouldn’t stand out, as that would bring unnecessary trouble. “Fifty-fifty,” she said vaguely, then asked back, “What about you?”

“Same as you, fifty-fifty,” Huang Xiaozhi shrugged, looking relaxed. She turned to Su Li with a mischievous smile. “But I’m looking forward to seeing what Cherry (Su Li’s nickname) looks like on stage receiving an award. Of course, I’m looking forward to seeing myself, too.”

Su Li was amused by her. “Alright, we’ll stand up there together then.”

Zone B was almost entirely high school students, who were now rushing down the stairs like a flood released from a dam.

Waiting in line? That was a thing of the past. It was a waste of time.

Huang Xiaozhi and Su Li stayed at the back, letting the impatient students rush ahead.

Yu Wen was even further back. Through the bobbing heads, she could see the tops of Huang Xiaozhi and another girl’s (Su Li’s) heads.

Huang Xiaozhi had just walked past her and seemed to have not noticed her at all. A slight ripple went through Yu Wen’s heart. Maybe I should have kept the “invisible” persona? Never mind. It’s too late to think about it now.

Yu Zhong students were known for their distinct personalities. There were beautiful and handsome people everywhere, each with their own unique charm and free spirit.

The freshman class also had hidden talents. The scores of the top five were very close.

Unlike the sophomore year, where there was a huge, discouraging gap between Yu Wen and the person who came in second place.

The awards ceremony only gave awards to the top ten in the grade. The top five, however, had to go up on stage and give a short, impromptu speech.

The morning breeze was still gentle, with a hint of coolness, dispelling some of the stuffiness.

…

The entire awards ceremony for the freshmen felt like it lasted for a century.

Huang Xiaozhi stood on her tiptoes, trying to find Yu Wen’s figure among the moving heads. She looked at several girls with pigtails, but none of them were her. She wondered: Did she take the day off today?

Just as she was about to give up, she lowered her head. Yu Wen, who was two rows away, happened to turn her head and her gaze precisely found the lowered head of Huang Xiaozhi.

Unfortunately, Huang Xiaozhi missed it.