Summer in Your Name - 24

Zhang Shu showed his essay paper, saying, “My essay’s improved by leaps and bounds. Don’t I owe Teacher Sheng a thank-you?”

Sheng Xia glanced at it—47 points.

That was considered high for him. Before this, his essays had always lingered below 45 points, these few points meant a lot.

But what did this have to do with her? Teacher Sheng? She hadn’t tutored him on his essay, had she?

Sheng Xia stayed silent for a long moment. Zhang Shu, growing impatient, said, “Didn't Old Wang say we should learn from each other's strengths and make up for each other's weaknesses? Go tell Old Wang I've done my duty as a classmate, and it’s you who’s not appreciating it.”

This…

When did Teacher Wang ever say that? Anyway, he definitely hadn’t said it to her.

Hou Junqi turned his head, looking at Zhang Shu with keen interest. When did A-Shu become so obedient? And since when did Old Wang use refined idioms like “learn from each other's strengths and make up for each other's weaknesses”?

The surrounding classmates, hearing Zhang Shu’s ‘explanation’, lost their gossiping interest and went back to do their own things.

Sheng Xia let out a breath of relief, “Tomorrow, okay? My family will worry if I get home late.”

Her reason was sincere, her tone gentle, but Zhang Shu suddenly felt like he was the one being unreasonable. Shouldn’t being helpful come with better treatment than this?

He waved a hand. “Fine, whatever. It’s your grades, why should I care?”

Sheng Xia felt a “thank you” stuck in her throat. Facing his impatient expression, she couldn’t bring herself to say it. In the end, she just pressed her lips together, nodded, and left the classroom with her backpack.

What was that forced expression?

Zhang Shu looked away, irritably slapping his essay onto the bookcase.

“A-Shu?” Hou Junqi leaned closer, his eyes gleaming mischievously. “What’s up with you?”

Zhang Shu glanced up, shooting him a ‘none of your business’ look, then lowered his head to continue working on his problems.

Hou Junqi, rebuffed, grinned even wider, muttering, “Interesting, interesting,” only to get whacked on the back of the head with a draft notebook.

---

Late at night, Sheng Xia tossed and turned. She still hadn’t figured out how to report her grades. The school had a parent monitoring system, had Wang Lianhua seen it yet? Thinking of Wang Lianhua’s disappointed expression, torn between scolding and holding back, Sheng Xia turned over again. She opened her eyes, gave up, and played an English listening track to lull herself to sleep.

But it was no use. The English words buzzed in her ears but didn’t sink into her brain.

Sheng Xia knew how hard it was for Wang Lianhua. She wanted her three daughters to succeed, to be independent and strong, to have the ability and courage to fight against fate. But so far, none of them have met her expectations.

Sheng Xia’s grades were decent, but only decent, and her soft personality and lack of assertiveness made her seem spineless.

Wu Qiuxuan, on the other hand, was too strong-willed, but her grades were a mess.

As for Zheng Dongning, just growing up healthy and regaining social skills was already something to be thankful for.

Sheng Xia thought back to her childhood. After school, it was either piano or calligraphy practice, memorizing formulas or ancient poems. Even punishments were tied to studying. If she didn’t play the piano well, she’d have to stand with a posture-correcting board behind her back, facing the TV, reciting classical texts from the screen until she memorized them.

Looking back, it had helped her literary skills, no doubt. But back then, it was nothing but pain.

The wooden board would dig into her arms until they ached, and she’d cry. Wang Lianhua would cry too, holding her and saying, “Mom doesn’t want this either, Xiaxia. You have to be better, or you’ll end up regretting it like I did…”

Choking back sobs, Sheng Xia would say, “Mom, I was wrong. I’ll work hard, don’t cry.”

Sheng Xia picked up her phone and opened her chat with Sheng Mingfeng. A while ago, he’d sent her a thousand yuan, which she didn't accept and sent back.

Sheng Mingfeng had left a message: Focused on studying? Don’t stress too much. Hang out with friends on the weekend to unwind.

Sheng Xia typed a few words, glanced at the time, then gave up. She turned off her phone and sank back into the darkness.

---

The next day’s classes were all about going over test papers, leaving Sheng Xia dizzy and overwhelmed.

During Chinese class, the teacher read Sheng Xia’s essay aloud, using it as an example for analysis. At the end, she said, “Sheng Xia’s essay is very worth studying. Everyone, take a look and analyze it. Zhang Shu, did you learn a lot from the last essay lessons? You did well with your essay this time. Learning it doesn't mean you have to follow her phrasing, that takes time, but the structure, logic, and choice of theme are all worth studying…”

Sheng Xia kept her head down, avoiding everyone’s gazes, when a paper ball suddenly landed on her desk.

She turned. Zhang Shu was propping his cheek on his hand, raising an eyebrow at her.

She opened the note under the desk.

Zhang Shu saw her sneaky, hunched-over movements and smirked—she was practically shouting her guilt.

[Awesome, awesome.] 

There were two bold, flourishing characters on the note.

Sheng Xia frowned.

[Boring] she wrote back.

[Then chat with me?] He tossed another note.

They weren’t desk mates anymore, so tossing notes across the aisle was much more obvious. Sheng Xia didn’t want to reply, but his long legs stretched over, tapping her chair’s crossbar lightly.

She glanced at him. He was staring at the teacher, looking like he was listening intently…

What was with this guy?

She sighed softly and wrote back: [After class.] 

She thought that would end it, but he tossed another note: [Got it.] 

He was so boring!

Sheng Xia crumpled the note and tossed it into her trash bag.

As soon as the bell rang, a few classmates crowded around Sheng Xia’s desk, wanting to see her essay. There was only one copy, so someone asked, “Sheng Xia, do you have your old essays?”

Sheng Xia thought for a moment. “They’re at home.”

“Can you bring them for us to see sometime?”

“Sure,” Sheng Xia replied, a bit embarrassed.

Back at No. 2 High School, her essays had been praised to the skies by teachers, but no classmates had ever been this eager to learn from her. She could write, but analyzing or explaining? She didn’t know where to start.

The crowd dispersed just before the next bell. Lu Youze, sitting diagonally behind her, tapped her shoulder. “Sheng Xia, can I borrow your essay?”

“Sure.”

She picked up the paper to pass it back, but a corner was suddenly grabbed. She looked up to see a smug, handsome face.

Zhang Shu stared at her and said casually, “Didn’t you say we’d talk after class?”

Sheng Xia: …

She glanced at Lu Youze, who gave her an understanding look. “You explain to him first. I’m not in a rush.”

“Thanks,” Sheng Xia said gratefully. Turning to Zhang Shu, her expression returned to normal. “I don’t know how to explain. I just know how to write.”

Zhang Shu frowned. Why did she always look so coerced around him? She wasn’t like that with others just now, all warm and soft.

“Didn’t you do great explaining that speech draft before?” Zhang Shu sat down, facing her.

As classmates passed by the aisle, their line of sight was briefly blocked. Zhang Shu tilted his head, not missing a single shift in her expression.

Sheng Xia said, “You’re quick to pick things up. Why don’t you look at it yourself first?”

She was telling the truth. Last night, she’d glanced at his essay, and it had improved a lot. He’d moved beyond the formulaic five-paragraph, three-point structure, and his wording wasn’t just rote memorization anymore.

She remembered how, in essay class, he’d studied her work for a long time, probably analyzing its logic and structure.

It had to be said, even in a subject like Chinese, which relies heavily on accumulation, he had his own method.

Quick to learn.

That was talent.

“Is that a compliment?” Zhang Shu asked.

Sheng Xia blinked, caught off guard. Was he missing the point? She nodded hesitantly. “Yeah.”

“Alright,” Zhang Shu took her paper, suddenly easygoing. “I’ll look again.”

Sheng Xia sighed inwardly.

He looked at it all day, not returning it even by evening study session, leaving Lu Youze waiting.

Sheng Xia asked, “Are you done?”

Zhang Shu replied, “Still analyzing.”

No choice, then.

After exams, the evening study session was naturally time for Wang Wei’s Brother Heart-to-Heart. Sheng Xia was the first to be called, sparking some whispers in the classroom.

Old Wang seemed especially attentive to this new student.

Sheng Xia felt nervous. She knew what Wang Wei would say but hadn’t figured out how to respond.

Sure enough, Wang Wei started with some preamble, comforting her that it was normal to struggle adjusting to a new school, that minor grade fluctuations were fine, and to keep her mindset steady. Then came the ‘but’—time was tight, and she’d have to adapt to the environment and teachers herself.

Sheng Xia nodded lightly, staying silent.

Wang Wei asked, “What’s the toughest thing you’re facing in your studies? You can tell me.”

Saying ‘nothing’ would be too dismissive. Wang Wei’s words were clichéd, but his concern was genuine. Sheng Xia thought for a moment and said, “A lot of questions are just rephrased versions of the same thing, but I still get them wrong. I don’t know what to do…”

“Alright,” Wang Wei stroked his chin, thinking for a few seconds. “Do you keep a mistake notebook?”

“I do.”

“Bring it to me later. There’s a method to organize mistakes, it’s not just about copying them down.” Wang Wei paused, then added, “Why don’t you ask Zhang Shu? His mistake notebook is excellent. In his second year, he sold copies of it to the stationery shop by the north gate. They were a hot item among your juniors…”

Wang Wei chuckled. “That kid, I don’t even know how to describe him.”

Returning to the point, he said, “His mistake notebook was practically a must-have for every second-years. Sold that well, it’s gotta be good.”

Sheng Xia’s face went pale.

A mistake notebook? He was selling a mistake notebook?

Not… something else?

Wang Wei saw her troubled look and understood. Zhang Shu wasn’t exactly warm with girls. He said earnestly, “Don’t be scared. Helping each other as classmates can sometimes be more effective than asking a teacher. If you don’t understand something, ask him. If he doesn’t help, tell me, and I’ll deal with him!”

“Th-thank you, Teacher.”

“Go on, and send Zhang Shu out to me.”

Sheng Xia returned to her seat, dazed, and softly called, “Zhang Shu…”

Why did she sound so aggrieved?

Zhang Shu looked up, frowning.

“Teacher wants you.”

“Oh.” Zhang Shu gave her a puzzled glance and headed out.

The classroom was used to this routine, but Sheng Xia’s expression sparked curiosity. Nosy classmates started speculating.

“I heard Zhang Shu’s been flirting with Sheng Xia. Is that true?”

“Look at how worried Old Wang is, it seems like it.”

“The top student seed, how could he not be nervous?”

“Poor Sheng Xia, caught in the crossfire.”

“Who’s chasing who? Wasn’t Zhang Shu after Chen Mengyao?”

“Maybe he got tired of her. Isn't the grass greener close to home?”

“Complicated.”

“Interesting.”

Was he selling a mistake notebook?

Could a mistake notebook be worth hundreds of yuan?

This was beyond Sheng Xia’s understanding as a poor student with too much stationery. 

If that was true, she’d completely misunderstood him.

What would he think if he saw that criminal law book?

Speechless, shocked, angry, or would he just toss it aside thinking it was a prank?

She couldn’t imagine. 

Sheng Xia rubbed her forehead, lost in thought.

“Xiaxia, what's wrong? What’d Old Wang say?” Xin Xiaohe asked, noticing her pale face.

Sheng Xia snapped out of it. “N-nothing.”

Seeing Xin Xiaohe’s skeptical look, she added, “He told me to ask Zhang Shu for help.”

“Ohh,” Xin Xiaohe nodded knowingly. “Don’t worry, Zhang Shu’s a bit aloof, but he’s not mean. He’s like that with everyone. If you ask him questions, he’s actually pretty open.”

Realizing she was praising Zhang Shu, Xin Xiaohe stuck out her tongue. “You’ll be fine!”

“Mm.” Sheng Xia nodded.

She’d been so petty, secretly pinning such a label on a classmate.

A wave of guilt she’d never felt before washed over her.

Wang Wei and Zhang Shu talked for a long time. When the bell rang for the end of class, Zhang Shu returned, looking as casual as ever, taking a big gulp of water from his bottle.

Sheng Xia’s eyes drifted from his bobbing Adam’s apple, and she called out, “Zhang Shu.”

He set the bottle down, swallowing as he mumbled, “Hm?”

“I’m sorry,” she said.

Zhang Shu: …?

The classmates around them: ??!!!

---

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