Summer in Your Name - 36

The morning carried a hint of coolness, a small nod from Nanli to the arrival of autumn.

Sheng Xia wore a white cotton dress with a pale yellow cardigan layered over it, the wide dress hem concealing the plaster cast on her left leg. Her right foot sported a single white low-top canvas shoe. She looked simple yet gentle, like a blooming French Tulip.

Leaning on crutches, she exuded the fragile beauty of an ailing heroine, delicate and poignant.  

Wang Lianhua could only drive up to the main road near Class 1. Sheng Xia hobbled through the long corridor, from Class 1 to Class 6, her crutch tapping softly. Heads turned in unison as she passed each classroom, synchronized like a flock of geese.

As soon as she entered the classroom, eyes lit up—Sheng Xia was wearing a dress for the first time.

Unlike the flashy outfit she’d worn at the school sports festival, this dress was as plain as could be, without a single embellishment or even a defined waistline. Yet it was strikingly eye-catching.

The person who made the dress shine.

Classmates swarmed around Sheng Xia, asking after her with concern. Wang Lianhua, reassured, finally left her daughter.

Sheng Xia glanced back at her mother’s retreating figure, noticing nothing unusual. But today, Wang Lianhua was distinctly different.

She had ironed the dress early in the morning, laying it out for Sheng Xia to choose which one to wear.

A rare gesture.

As Sheng Xia pondered this while responding to her classmates’ concerns, a clear female voice rang out from the corridor: “Zhang Shu!”

The voice was pleasant, everyone instinctively turned to look.

At the classroom door, Zhang Shu was intercepted by Chen Mengyao.

“Something up?” Zhang Shu asked, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a food container.

Chen Mengyao glanced at it. “What’s that?”

Zhang Shu lifted it slightly. “To feed the cat.” He looked at her, his eyes signaling: What are you doing here? 

Cat food?

Chen Mengyao: “Do you think I'm stupid, that big a container? What kind of giant cat eats so much?”

But she didn’t dwell on it, tugging at his sleeve. “Come talk.”

Zhang Shu’s gaze flickered toward the classroom. As he turned, he subtly shrugged his shoulder, causing Chen Mengyao’s hand to slip off. She let it drop naturally.

The two stood where Wang Wei held his ‘Brother Heart-to-Heart’ talks, speaking with their backs to the classroom.

Chen Mengyao got straight to the point. “Because of my art exam prep, I’ve fallen way behind on academics. Last month’s exam was a disaster, and I don’t know how this one’s gonna go. I’ve got zero confidence. At this rate, forget Heyan or Dongzhou, I won’t even make it into Nanli University…”

She paused, looking up at Zhang Shu, who raised an eyebrow slightly. “And?”

And? Wasn’t it obvious?

“So, my mom wants to get me into a tutoring class, but my schedule’s all over the place. Group tutoring won’t work, I’d need one-on-one sessions. I figured, why not ask you? You explain things better than those teachers…”

“How much you paying me?” Zhang Shu interrupted her.

Chen Mengyao froze.

“Oh?” Zhang Shu stepped back, sizing her up with a smirk. “Not planning to pay?”

“I mean…” Chen Mengyao frowned. Truthfully, she’d thought maybe treating him to a meal or two would suffice, but since he’d brought it up, she backtracked. “We’re still discussing, aren't we?”

Inside the classroom, classmates watched the two whisper back and forth, unable to make out what they were talking about.

“Chen Mengyao’s been super attentive to Zhang Shu lately, huh?”

“Feeling the pressure, maybe?”

“I heard for her birthday, Zhang Shu gave her a really expensive necklace. They’re not together yet?”

“Ahem!” The speaker caught themselves, glancing at Sheng Xia awkwardly before shutting up.

With that, the crowd around Sheng Xia dispersed after a few more words of concern, then scattered like birds. 

As the crowd around her dispersed, Sheng Xia's view opened up. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the well-matched pair in the corridor.

Just then, Zhang Shu seemed to hear something funny, stepping back and turning to face Chen Mengyao and, by extension, the classroom.

His gaze casually swept the room, locking onto Sheng Xia’s curious eyes.

He tilted his head, raised an eyebrow, and flashed her a slight smirk.

Sheng Xia’s head snapped down.

What was that look? She wasn’t spying on them, she’d just glanced over! How did he catch her?

Chen Mengyao noticed his expression, like he was teasing some small animal, and followed his gaze. The flash of pale yellow stood out sharply. When she looked back, Zhang Shu’s face was blank again.

Chen Mengyao: "Then you name your price. I just think it’d be easier to coordinate timewise with you.”

“You mean I should be at your beck and call?” Zhang Shu’s tone was light, no anger, just his usual lazy drawl. “That’s gonna cost extra. You said I’m better than those one-on-one tutors, so shouldn’t I charge more? Go find out their rates, then we’ll talk.”

His businesslike attitude left Chen Mengyao embarrassed. “A-Shu, when did you become like this?”

Zhang Shu frowned. “Haven’t I always been like this? You should know best. Weren't you the one who started the rumors about me being stingy?”

That’s not what she meant.

But his ‘always been like this’ wasn’t wrong either. He’d always had this carefree, cocky attitude. She used to find it charmingly arrogant, their banter feeling close and fun.

Now, though, every word stung.

Chen Mengyao’s hands felt cold.

It wasn’t him who’d changed—it was her.

Zhang Shu’s eyes kept drifting toward the classroom, he caught something that made his gaze cold. “Alright, that’s it. Just find a tutoring class. They’re professionals. No need to bother me. I’m busy too, you know.”

Chen Mengyao: …

Inside the classroom, Sheng Xia had just pulled out her English test paper when Lu Youze approached from behind. “How long did the doctor say for the cast?”

Sheng Xia remembered she’d tossed her phone aside after replying to ‘Song Jiang’ last night and forgotten to check his messages.

Feeling a bit guilty, she said softly, “Probably over seven weeks.”

Lu Youze: "That's quite a while. If you need any help, just let me know. We live close by, after all.”

“Mm. Thanks.” 

“No need to be so polite, it feels like we’re strangers,” Lu Youze chuckled. “Is your family driving you every day? What about lunch and dinner?”

"Um—" Sheng Xia was about to answer when a cold voice came from behind her.

“No need for Young Master Lu to worry about that,” Zhang Shu said, placing the food container on Sheng Xia’s desk and sitting beside her. He gestured at the container. “Try it?”

The last two words were directed at Sheng Xia.

From the corner of her eye, Sheng Xia noticed the curious glances from her classmates.

Lu Youze’s grip on his pen tightened, but he said nothing.

Sheng Xia hesitated. Should she accept his ‘feeding' in front of everyone?

‘Dreams come true’, but last night’s flutter was gone, replaced by a touch of awkwardness.

Zhang Shu couldn’t stand her pitiful look. 

She’d agreed so eagerly last night, now she acted like his food was poisoned?

He opened the container. “My sister made it. Top quality, guaranteed.”

Their classmates’ eyes gleamed with amusement.

Ignoring them, Zhang Shu extended his hand in a ‘here you go’ gesture, “My sister said it’s to make it up for you.”

So it was an apology.

This was okay.

“It’s fine, it wasn’t on purpose,” Sheng Xia said softly. “I accept, but no need to bring it again next time.”

Zhang Shu replied, “My sister said, until you’re healed.”

Huh?

Sheng Xia: “I have breakfast at home." 

Zhang Shu shrugged. “My sister said eat less of that and have mine.”

Sheng Xia: …

Classmates: …

My sister this, my sister that—his sister must be exhausted covering for him.

No surprise there. Don’t expect the cocky king to suddenly turn soft.

The soup was bone broth, filtered clean, no trace of grease. The wontons were shrimp-filled, fresh and savory.

But why were some of these wontons big and others small? Some perfectly shaped, others… a bit ugly. Honestly, not quite up to Zhang Sujin’s usual standard.

Sheng Xia felt weird eating in the classroom, but with Zhang Shu propped on his elbow, staring like he wouldn’t budge until she finished, she had no choice but to dig in.

She was already full, though. After a few bites, she looked at him helplessly. “I… can’t eat anymore.”

Zhang Shu seemed to snap out of a daze, his eyebrow twitching. “Oh? Alright, no big deal. You eat like a cat anyway, I didn’t expect you to finish.”

Sheng Xia nodded. Then she saw him take the container, grab a plastic spoon from the side, and started eating the wontons himself…

Xin Xiaohe was floored. Eating from the same bowl?

The down-and-out scholar hadn’t crumbled, he was fighting harder, bold as ever!

Sheng Xia froze, her peripheral vision scanning the room. No one seemed to notice. She lowered her head and pinched her temples.

At noon, Sheng Xia was ‘escorted’ to lunch by Zhang Shu and Hou Junqi.

Two tall guys flanked her like bodyguards, with a limping girl on crutches in the middle, they turned every head in the corridor at a 200% rate.

“You guys ahead, don’t wait for me. I’m too slow,” Sheng Xia said, pausing to politely decline their escort.

Zhang Shu glanced at her face, glowing white in the sunlight.

The pale yellow cardigan made her look even fairer. Her slender ankle peeked out under the dress, the canvas shoe’s laces loosely tied…

“You think people won’t stare if you walk alone?” Zhang Shu said, amused.

Sheng Xia faltered, about to respond, when the boy suddenly crouched in front of her. She looked down and saw his fluffy hair, the whorl gleaming black in the sunlight.

Then her foot tightened, he was tying her shoelace!

Hou Junqi grinned teasingly. “Well, damn, that’s some top-tier service!”

The stares weren’t just glances now—people lingered, some so distracted they bumped into others, both sides apologizing as they went.

The corridor buzzed with commotion.

Sheng Xia's face turned bright red. 

Zhang Shu stood, dusting his hands, pleased with his neat bow. Still nonchalant, he said, “If we don’t wait for you, you’ll trip on those laces and face-plant.”

Sheng Xia: …

Hou Junqi: If A-Shu didn’t open his mouth, things would go so much smoother.

Sheng Xia said nothing, deciding the best strategy was to escape. She quickened her pace.

“No rush, no one’s stealing your food!” Zhang Shu called.

Ugh, so annoying.

She’d already said she'd forgiven him, he didn’t need to do all this!

Lunch was on the second floor, and Sheng Xia hadn’t mastered climbing stairs with crutches. She hesitated at the steps.

“Made up your mind?” Zhang Shu asked. “I help you up, or are you gonna levitate up there with your mind?"

Sheng Xia pursed her lips, her eyes shimmering as she looked at him.

Zhang Shu didn’t care what her little head was overthinking. He gave her options: “Me or Hou Junqi?”

Hou Junqi waved it off. “No, no, I’m all fat, my arms are weak.”

Today was Saturday, they had been delayed along the way, so now there weren't many people around.

Sheng Xia balanced on one leg, handed her crutch to Hou Junqi, and looked at Zhang Shu. “Trouble you, then.”

She gripped the railing with one hand while Zhang Shu supported the other.

But how was she supposed to climb the step? Hop up?

As she hesitated, an impatient sigh came. “God, such a hassle!”

Before she could react, Sheng Xia was lifted in the air!

Zhang Shu had scooped her up in his arms.

Her hands instinctively grabbed his arm. In a few long strides, he reached the landing, carefully avoiding the railing to protect her leg, then turned and kept climbing upward.

Taking two steps at a time.

“Whoa!” Hou Junqi trailed behind, practically skipping.

“You!” Sheng Xia stared at his taut jawline.

Words of protest formed but didn’t come out. He set her down gently, looking at her. “What? You take too long, the food will be cold.”

Wasn’t he the one who said there was no rush, no one was stealing her food?

Sheng Xia looked around. They were already on the second floor.

That was fast.

Even with two good legs, she couldn’t climb that quickly.

Today, he’d brought breakfast and fetched her water during breaks. Hou Junqi was right, he was providing full-on service.

She couldn’t muster any complaints, it’d seem like she was reading too much into it.

All that was left was her heart pounding wildly.

Caught up in these thoughts, it made her look a little wronged.

Zhang Shu crossed his arms, letting out a ‘tch’ of helplessness, then softened his tone. “Alright, I’m not blaming you.”

Hou Junqi rolled his eyes, brushing past the two of them, muttering, “Can’t watch this.”

---

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