Summer in Your Name - 39
Return Journey
Xiaobai hadn’t been charged in a while, and its battery drained quickly. Fortunately, Binjiang Park wasn’t far from school, so it didn’t die halfway, though it slowed to a crawl, inching along at a tortoise-like ten kilometers per hour.
A group of fully geared middle-aged cyclists zoomed past them with gusto.
The uncles and aunties glanced at them curiously, some even waving enthusiastically.
“Young man, that scooter of yours is no good! My bicycle’s better than that!” one called out.
Zhang Shu grinned boldly. “Uncle, you wouldn’t stand a chance if I were on a bike.”
“Hey, is that a challenge?” the man shot back.
“Any way you want it! I’ll even give you a one-kilometer head start,” Zhang Shu replied.
“Kid’s got some nerves.”
An auntie chuckled. “What do you know? Slowing down is the romance of youth!”
Sheng Xia: …
Zhang Shu let out a short laugh but said nothing.
At the school gate, the security guard stopped them. Zhang Shu lied without missing a beat: “Took her for a check-up.”
The guard glanced at Sheng Xia’s crutches and leg, recognizing her as the student the principal had mentioned, the one whose parents could drive into school to pick her up. He waved them through.
It wasn’t until the scooter’s tail disappeared around the corner that the guard muttered to himself, “A check-up? Shouldn’t a parent be with her? Are these kids in puppy love?”
---
It was still early, and everyone was at PE class, leaving the classroom empty.
Soon, the boys trickled back, drenched in sweat, complaining that the PE teacher had gone hardcore today, lecturing anyone who didn’t pass the fitness test. Now it was the girls’ turn.
Hou Junqi and Yang Linyu were probably helping out, as they were nowhere to be seen.
Qi Xiulei, wiping sweat, asked, “A-Shu, why’d you skip class? Teacher says you’re on your own for the next one.”
Zhang Shu didn’t answer, instead suggesting, “Wanna hit the snack shop?”
“Hell yeah! It’s so hot, what is this weather? It’s almost December!” one boy groaned.
“Count me in.”
“Me too!”
A chorus of agreement followed, the group of boys noisily prepared to head out. Zhang Shu suddenly turned back and asked, “Want anything to drink?”
No name was mentioned, but everyone knew who he was talking to.
His voice seemed to soften just a touch.
Sheng Xia, feeling sleepy, shook her head groggily. “No, thanks.”
Zhang Shu smiled, then was dragged off by the boys, their eyes teasing as they slung their arms around him.
“Where’d you just go, Shu?”
“Lunch break’s worth its weight in gold~ You wouldn’t get it!”
“And you do?”
“Duh, he was on a date!”
When the bell rang, the girls finally returned, looking exhausted and grumbling about the merciless PE teacher.
Xin Xiaohe burst through the door and flopped onto Zhang Shu’s chair even though her own seat was just one row over.
“I’m dying…” she panted.
Sheng Xia, who’d been napping on her desk, stirred awake, still half-dazed.
Xin Xiaohe fanned herself with Zhang Shu’s draft notebook. “It’s so hot, I’m sleepy. I’m hitting the snack shop for a soda. Xiaxia, do you want anything?”
Sheng Xia glanced at the clock. “Class starts in five minutes.”
Probably not enough time to go and come back, right?
“You’re right,” Xin Xiaohe said. “Should’ve asked them to grab something.”
Sheng Xia suggested, “Qi Xiulei and the others just went. Why don’t you call them?”
“I don’t have Qi Xiulei’s number. Them? Who else went?”
“Well…” Sheng Xia paused. “All the boys.”
“Just say Zhang Shu went too, why don’t you?” Xin Xiaohe grinned knowingly. “Is his name cursed?”
At that moment, the very person whose name was ‘cursed’ appeared at the window, holding a can of soda, pausing mid-step as he overheard.
Sheng Xia: …
Unaware of him behind her, Xin Xiaohe continued, “Speaking of, Zhang Shu skipped class. Did you see him?”
Sheng Xia didn’t know how to respond. She was about to gesture that Zhang Shu was right there, but his warning glance stopped her. She stammered, “N-no…”
Xin Xiaohe’s eyes lit up with mischief. “Why’re you stuttering? I heard from Hou Junqi that he went looking for you!”
This—
Sheng Xia felt like she was sitting in a bonfire.
“He didn't? Hmph, all talk, no action. Can Brother Shu even do it?” Xin Xiaohe muttered, then noticed Sheng Xia’s evasive eyes. “Okay, okay, I’ll stop teasing. I’m calling Zhang Shu. You want anything to drink?”
Sheng Xia had no idea why Zhang Shu wasn’t coming in. She shook her head. “I don’t really like soda.”
“Then what do you like?”
“Cucumber juice.”
“I’ll grab you some after school.”
“They don’t have it anymore,” Sheng Xia said regretfully. She’d tried signaling Xin Xiaohe, but her friend didn’t notice, so she continued, “The shop owner said it’s summer limited.”
“Cucumber juice is a seasonal thing?” Xin Xiaohe rolled her eyes.
Sheng Xia: "I don't know."
Xin Xiaohe: "It's probably just hunger marketing.”
Sheng Xia nodded. “Probably.”
Xin Xiaohe: “Then forget it! So pretentious!”
Sheng Xia echoed, “Yeah, forget it! Pretentious.”
Xin Xiaohe: “Pretentious!”
Sheng Xia: “Tentious.”
Xin Xiaohe: “Ous.”
Their conversation devolved into a playful echo, fading into a repeater mode.
“Ugh, that's it, I’m calling them,” Xin Xiaohe said, standing up, only to yelp, “Zhang Shu, what the hell, are you a ghost?!”
Zhang Shu hadn’t quite wiped the amused grin from their silly, childish banter off his face. “What’s your deal? You steal my seat every time and then yell at me. I’m in a good mood, so I let you keep sitting there, and I’m the bad guy?”
His laughing voice slipped into Sheng Xia’s ears, sending a tingly shiver through her. She rubbed her earlobe.
“When did you get back?!” Xin Xiaohe groaned, hoping he hadn’t overheard her’ ‘all talk’ jab.
Zhang Shu smirked. “Right when you said my name was cursed.”
Xin Xiaohe: …
Sheng Xia: …
Zhang Shu: “Sorry, couldn’t grab you a soda. Want the rest of mine?”
Xin Xiaohe: “Get lost!”
Zhang Shu laughed, his neat, white teeth flashing.
His smile always started with one corner of his mouth, the other side catching up lazily, equal parts roguish and cocky.
But his full, toothy grin was different from his usual smirk—less roguish, more like a burst of sunlight, brimming with youthful energy.
Zhang Shu strolled in through the back door, placing a small cake and a yogurt on Sheng Xia’s desk.
She looked up, her eyes questioning.
"You didn't eat much during lunch. Aren't you hungry?" He said casually as he took his seat.
Sheng Xia suddenly realized her stomach was indeed empty, and she was starving.
Xin Xiaohe, sharp as ever, wasn’t about to let this slide after being roasted. She shot Sheng Xia a sly look and said to Zhang Shu, “Well, well, Brother Shu, tiramisu and Kashi yogurt? Big spender! What business are you running lately? Hook me up!”
Sheng Xia’s ears burned.
Zhang Shu, unfazed, snorted lightly. “You ask someone who’s all talk to help you make money? Bold move.”
Xin Xiaohe: …
When it came to verbal sparring, Xin Xiaohe was no match for Zhang Shu’s relentless comebacks.
Sheng Xia quietly ate a few bites of the tiramisu. When the bell rang, she carefully tucked the rest into her desk drawer.
Her mouth was sweet.
She sneaked a peek at the price tag, planning to pay him back later. He wasn’t exactly rolling in money.
At dinner, the Afternoon Care’s boss lady had prepared a ‘special stove’ meal for her, including a cup of cucumber juice.
It wasn’t quite the same as the fruit shop’s, but it was refreshing, and Sheng Xia’s appetite surged, nearly cleaning her plate.
As she left, she hobbled to the counter on her crutches to thank the boss lady.
The boss lady smiled warmly. “No need to thank me. Just call me directly if you want anything to eat or drink. No need for that kid to keep nagging me~”
That kid…
Sheng Xia was not that clueless. Piecing together the day’s conversations, it wasn’t hard to guess. She turned to see Zhang Shu and Hou Junqi waiting for her at the door.
Suddenly, she recalled that bowl of brown sugar sticky rice soup from before…
Could it be?
Sheng Xia felt her legs go numb, each step heavy.
“You ate a lot tonight. Was the dinner good?” Zhang Shu asked casually as she approached.
Sheng Xia didn’t answer, walking slowly beside him.
Her mind was a mess.
Did he know—
If he kept this up, she might really start to misunderstand.
---
During evening study, Sheng Xia redid her mistake, completely focused, thinking only of the next step to solve each problem. The night flew by.
As usual, Wang Lianhua came to pick her up at eleven. Her mother’s face looked grim, and Sheng Xia knew the night wouldn’t pass peacefully.
Sure enough, on the drive home, Wang Lianhua brought up casually, “Xiaxia, why don’t you ask your homeroom teacher if they recommend any tutoring centers? We can’t just blindly pick one, especially at this stage…”
“Mom.”
Sheng Xia interrupted, surprising Wang Lianhua. “Hm? Or do you know a teacher offering private lessons?”
“I don’t need tutoring, Mom.”
The car slowed for a moment. Wang Lianhua turned on the interior light, glancing at Sheng Xia through the rearview mirror. “We agreed last time, if this time still didn’t…”
“I can do it myself,” Sheng Xia said, rarely pushing back against her mother’s plans. But this time, she wanted to try. “I think I’ve figured out the problem.”
Wang Lianhua was visibly surprised. “You think? At this stage, isn’t that too risky?”
Sheng Xia replied, “But isn't finding a tutor just as risky? There’s only so much time. Getting a tutor is like transferring schools all over again.”
Wang Lianhua fell silent, seemingly deep in thought.
The silence stretched until they reached home. Finally, Wang Lianhua said, “So, specifically, how do you plan to improve?”
“Improving grades isn’t instant. I need time and space. I didn't do well in this exam, but it exposed my weaknesses as well as my progress. Unlike before, when I didn’t even know what was wrong. I have a direction now,” Sheng Xia hesitated, then added, “As for specifics, I don’t want to get into methods right now. I just want to tackle what’s in front of me.”
Wang Lianhua didn’t speak for a long time, the living room heavy with tension.
Finally, she nodded. “Alright, I’ll trust you. Keep it up.”
Sheng Xia looked at her mother in disbelief.
Wang Lianhua patted her head. “I’ve told you, I want you to share your thoughts with me more. I love hearing them.”
This… wasn’t originally her thoughts.
Sheng Xia pressed her lips together and nodded.
A problem that had weighed on her for so long was resolved just like that, easier than she’d imagined. She was stunned.
Lying in bed before sleep, Sheng Xia couldn’t help but think that maybe the one stuck in a rut all this time wasn’t her mother, it was her.
Be simpler.
In studying, in life—be simpler.
He was right.
Sheng Xia picked up her phone and opened QQ without knowing why. Only when the time in the top left corner flipped to 00:00, triggering the screen to flicker, did she snap out of it. She’d been staring at Song Jiang’s chat window for over five minutes.
What is she doing?
Thinking of him through objects?
As this thought flashed through her mind. Sheng Xia quickly closed the chat window, feeling her heart racing inexplicably…
Just then, a notification popped up on her QQ homepage: Song Jiang visited your space.
Sheng Xia’s eyes widened. She sat up straight, pulling at her back and leg, “Hiss—” The pain snapped her awake.
Hesitantly, she clicked into her QQ space. At the top showed: [26 new notifications >]
Next to it was his dark profile picture.
What had he done?
Sheng Xia didn’t realize she was holding her breath as she clicked in.
“Song Jiang” coolly liked your post.
“Song Jiang” lovingly liked your post.
“Song Jiang” enthusiastically liked your post.
…
He’d liked all 26 of her posts.
These were every QQ post she’d ever made.
Mostly ‘inspirational’ quotes from her elementary and middle school days, either overly poetic or dripping with cringe-worthy teenage angst—No substance, full of pretentious, melodramatic nonsense.
“Life is dull, only by running can you feel the breeze.”
“Go chase away the snowstorm; spring’s almost here.”
“Peace and joy, may your wishes come true.”
“If you’re well, it’s a sunny day.”
…
All clichés that were trendy back then, now painfully dated ‘tears of the era’!
There were even a few reposted poems.
This!
Her space didn’t get many visitors. Most people would just exit after seeing these posts.
What was he doing?!
Oh god, her dark history!
Public humiliation!
Just kill her now!
Sheng Xia scrambled to lock her space but, in her panic, couldn’t find the setting.
She thought that was the end of it, but then another notification popped up: [8 new notifications >]
Sheng Xia let out a silent scream.
Resigned, she clicked.
“Song Jiang” commented on your post.
“Song Jiang” commented on your post.
“Song Jiang” commented on your post.
…
She didn’t need to guess—there were definitely more than eight. He was still commenting away.
Wasn’t liking them enough mockery? Did he have to comment, too? Did he have nothing better to do?!
His comments were even more absurd than her melodramatic posts.
“Life is dull, only by running can you feel the breeze.”
—[I got dizzy.]
“Go chase away the snowstorm; spring’s almost here.”
—[Really like spring? Nanli has no spring, thanks.]
“Peace and joy, may your wishes come true.”
—[Like, happy at school, happy back home.]
“If you’re well, it’s a sunny day.”
—[You don't respect the thunder gods, do you?]
…
As she read, her hand slipped, clicking his avatar. The page flashed to his Q.Q space.
Sheng Xia froze. Now she’d left a visit record on his space. No way to pretend she hadn’t seen it.
“Ah!” she wailed, threw her phone, grabbed a stuffed animal, and buried her face in it.
“Arghhh!”
Why?! Why did bad luck always pile on?
But reality couldn't be avoided. She reached for her phone again, since she'd already entered, might as well take a look.
But—
His space was even more boring than hers. Not a single status update. She half-suspected he’d deleted everything on the spot. Who didn’t have a dark history? No way he was that clean.
His photo album was full of game screenshots she didn’t understand. She quickly clicked exit.
The moment she exited, Song Jiang messaged: “Stalking?”
What kind of weird phrasing was that?!
If anyone was stalking, it was him first! How dare he play the victim?
In a flash, Sheng Xia remembered something that might salvage the awkwardness.
She sent him a red packet and typed: [For this afternoon’s snack…]
But before she could hit send, he messaged again.
Song Jiang: “What’s this, Payment for my critique of your masterpieces?"
Sheng Xia: …
So annoying ahhhhhhh!
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