Sweet Kiss - Chapter 7.1

Bai Tingzhou didn’t know what Li Yansui had gone through after he transferred schools, but from Song Wannin’s description, he could tell that things hadn’t been easy for her.

He absentmindedly twirled the pen in his hand, lost in thought.

When the class bell rang, Bai Tingzhou instinctively looked toward the door of the classroom across from him. That’s when he saw a familiar figure.

Li Yansui’s long hair was tied up in a neat bun. She wore a simple school uniform, her slender frame seeming out of place in this school. And yet, she still had an undeniable charm that made her stand out.

But despite being only sixteen, her back carried a certain loneliness.

Bai Tingzhou suddenly recalled a post he had seen on the Sage Forum.

It was a gossip thread about recent school rumors, and there was a small section about Li Yansui. It said something along the lines of how she was cursed—anyone who got close to her would be met with misfortune…

He knew it was just baseless speculation, but it still made him angry. Just as he was about to investigate who had posted it, the thread mysteriously disappeared without a trace. Later, when he asked someone to look into it, he found out that the person who had both posted and deleted it was none other than Li Yansui herself.

For some reason, as he read that thread, a memory surfaced in his mind—one from their trip to the planetarium. Li Yansui had casually said, “Zhouzhou-ge, don’t get too close to me, or you might end up unlucky.”

At the time, he had laughed it off, thinking she was just joking. But after seeing that post, he began to wonder if she had actually meant it.

Bai Tingzhou had always found Li Yansui a little strange. Ever since they first met as kids in the park downstairs, she had stuck to him like glue, no matter how much he tried to shake her off. It reminded him of a stray cat he had once fed—give it a little food, and it would never leave.

But over time, he started noticing something odd about her.

It seemed like she had a group of friends at every stage of life, but if you looked closer, she never truly got close to anyone. Some of those so-called “good friends” didn’t even have her contact information.

It was as if, aside from her aunt and Bai Tingzhou, she had no one else in her life.

And then, he transferred schools, leaving her behind.

Li Yansui seemed to sense someone watching her. She turned her head and looked in his direction.

The moment their eyes met, Bai Tingzhou felt a strange nostalgia. The Li Yansui he remembered was bright and lively, like a little sun fairy, always full of energy and hope. But now, she seemed much quieter, her gaze carrying emotions he couldn’t quite understand.

When did she change?

Bai Tingzhou didn’t have an answer to that question.

On the other side, Li Yansui had just left Lin Ai’s office when she felt a burning gaze on her.

She turned around and saw Bai Tingzhou. Her eyes immediately lit up, and she was about to wave hello—only for him to quickly look away.

She hesitated, then awkwardly lowered her hand.

He must be shy, she thought.

As for why she had been in the office, it all started after school last night.

Her plan had been simple: eat dinner, then finish the test papers her teacher had given her. But unexpectedly, Bai Tingzhou had taken her to the Bai family’s house for the evening. By the time she remembered the test papers, it was already morning, just as she was coming back from the rooftop.

So, she had rushed to finish them before class and asked Lin Ai and the subject teachers to grade them for her.

Before going to the office, she had been a little nervous—something she wasn’t used to feeling.

After all, she had just transferred to Hengshan First High and wasn’t familiar with the school’s rules. She didn’t know what kind of person Lin Ai was and worried that skipping morning study might leave a bad impression.

Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door. When she heard “Come in,” she pushed it open and stepped inside.

Fortunately, Lin Ai didn’t say much.

But just as she was about to leave, Lin Ai suddenly called out, “Wait a moment. Come here.”

Li Yansui was puzzled but did as she was told, standing in front of the desk.

Did she get caught skipping morning class?

But to her surprise, Lin Ai simply stood up, placed a hand on her forehead, and smiled gently.

“The girls told me you had a headache and went to the infirmary this morning,” Lin Ai said. “Are you feeling better now?”

Li Yansui was momentarily stunned by those words.

The warmth on her forehead was real, yet the feeling itself was unfamiliar. She blinked in disbelief before nodding. “I feel much better now. Thank you for your concern, teacher,” she said, her voice carrying a hint of unspoken grievance.

Hearing that, Lin Ai relaxed and smiled, ruffling her hair. “Remember to cover up at night. Don’t get cold. You can go now.”

Li Yansui obediently nodded before turning to leave the office. When she returned to her seat, she subconsciously placed a hand over the spot Lin Ai had touched.

The feeling from earlier was strange. If she had to describe it, it felt… like a mother’s touch.

Lunchtime passed in the blink of an eye.

When Bai Tingzhou woke up from his nap, the classroom was still completely dark. The curtains were drawn tightly, blocking out even the smallest sliver of light. It was silent—everyone was still sound asleep at their desks.

He squinted sleepily and shifted his gaze to the clock on the wall.

12:30 PM.

He rubbed his sore neck and stretched before habitually glancing to the side—only to find an empty seat.

No need to guess where Qi Jinyang had gone.

Ever since seeing Bai Tingzhou’s note this morning, Qi Jinyang had been buzzing with excitement like a hyperactive monkey.

The moment the bell rang for the fourth-period break—before the teacher even finished speaking—his feet had already stepped out of his seat, as if he had been preparing for this exact moment.

Bai Tingzhou shook his head and pulled out his phone, planning to watch a movie. But as soon as he unlocked it, three unread messages popped up.

The bright screen made him squint. When his eyes finally adjusted, he realized the messages were from Li Yansui—sent thirty minutes ago.

[Pear Image.jpg]

Pear: [Look! I got this from a junior!]

Pear: [They took such a handsome photo of you! ≧∇≦]

The photo was taken in the business lounge from an angle slightly ahead of him, capturing only the side profiles of him and Song Wannin.

Dressed in a white shirt, Bai Tingzhou stood under the sunlight, looking almost ethereal—like a deity untouched by the mundane world. His deep-set eyes, high nose bridge, and slightly upturned lips formed a faint, indifferent smile. He stood tall and straight, exuding an air of elegance and nobility, like a pine tree in the wind. Every movement carried a natural grace.

But because of the distance, the image was blurry. Even Bai Tingzhou himself could only barely recognize his own face.

His lips twitched. Was he really that good-looking?

Just as he was lost in thought, his phone screen lit up again.

Pear: [Why aren’t you replying? T^T]

Still groggy from sleep, Bai Tingzhou’s right hand was numb, so he awkwardly used his left hand to tap out a response, sending the messages one by one.

Boat: [This guy is really handsome.]

Boat: [Which junior?]

Boat: [Handsome.]

Boat: [I wasn’t ignoring you, just woke up. T^T]

Li Yansui’s reply came quickly.

Pear: [Not telling you!]

Pear: [Self-praising much?]

Pear: [Are you copying me?]

Bai Tingzhou stared at her message, the corners of his lips lifting involuntarily.

Boat: [Mm, copying you.]

Not long after he sent the message, Li Yansui posted on her Moments.

Caption: Handsome guy.

The photo she had just sent him was now posted on her Moments.

Most of the likes and comments came from their old classmates at Shengzhe.

The most common comment was: Blessings.

Bai Tingzhou stared at it for a while before silently giving it a like.

Just as he tapped the screen, a message popped up.

Pear: [Let’s have hot pot tonight!]

Bai Tingzhou moved his fingers and typed a simple reply: Okay.