Summer in Your Name - 58

Sheng Xia thought she would cry her heart out or toss and turn all night, but she didn’t.  

When she got home, she began reviewing her drafts, meticulously sorting them until she finally resigned herself to the truth—they indeed were too scattered. Her reading was broad, mostly works by lesser-known poets, some so obscure they were hard to categorize.  

She reread them one by one, trying to find some common thread. Before she knew it, it was already past midnight. She played a meditation track and fell into a deep sleep.  

The relentless pace of senior year left no room for wallowing in sadness. After the seat reshuffle, Sheng Xia barely had any interactions with Zhang Shu. Everyone in class was sharp enough to notice that this “class couple” seemed to have hit a dead end, so no one teased or cheered them on anymore. It was as if things had reverted to the start of the school year.

  

Sheng Xia only noticed over the weekend that she received a ton of Q.Q messages  

Since deleting that post, she hadn’t opened Q.Q. It was only because she needed to make plans with Tao Zhizhi that she logged back in.

  

The messages were all from the same person, an unmarked ‘new friend’—that yellow-haired guy.

  

He started with a barrage of questions, like whether she had a boyfriend, super direct. When she didn’t reply, he dialed it back but still persisted with daily good mornings and good nights messages.  

Sheng Xia had dealt with pursuers like this back in middle school.  

She replied politely: “Thanks for the greetings. I’m super busy with studies and rarely check this. You don’t need to message me anymore.”

That seemed to quiet things down, and Sheng Xia thought the matter was settled.  

Then, Monday morning during the reading period, a yellow-haired guy showed up at Class 6’s door.

The young man stood at the doorway, scanning the room. Hearing whispers around her, Sheng Xia looked up. Yellow Hair spotted her, breaking into a wide grin. He waved at her, then handed a paper bag to a classmate by the door, saying, “Please give this to Sheng Xia, thanks.”

 

His voice wasn’t loud, but half the classroom could hear it.

Not to mention Zhang Shu, who had just moved to the first desk of the second row.  

Yellow Hair left without making a big show, like he knew how to play it cool and take it slow.

  

The classmate by the door turned, only to freeze under Zhang Shu’s icy glare, torn: Should I… deliver this or not?!  

In the end, the classmate mustered the courage to weave through to the back of the third row and hand the bag to Sheng Xia before scurrying away like they’d just ditched a hot potato.  

Her desk mate, Li Shiyi, winked and teased, “Whoa, what’s this? Breakfast? Who’s he, Sheng Xia?”  

Sheng Xia was mortified. Under everyone’s stares, she mumbled, “I don’t know.”

  

"An anonymous admirer? I’m jealous!”  

The paper bag held a plastic box with a paper sleeve, revealing delicate Cantonese-style breakfast treats inside. 

Sheng Xia had eaten already and wasn’t hungry, so she set it aside.

During break, she checked her phone and, sure enough, saw a message from Yellow Hair: “Alright, I won’t message you. I’ll come find you instead.”

 

Sheng Xia: …What kind of logic is that?  

She replied: “Classmate, please don’t come to my classroom. It’s really troubling me. I’m going to delete you, sorry.”  

After sending that, she hit delete friend.

---  

School had just started, and there was already PE class. Still haunted by memories of basketball from last year, Sheng Xia now faced volleyball—a sport just as intense.

Back in sophomore year, Affiliated High School had organized a class volleyball league, so almost everyone in Class 6 knew how to play.

Without warming up, The teacher split them into groups and had them start matches right away.

They drew lots for teams, three boys and three girls per group, named their teams, and matched opponents by the first letter of the team names.

Sheng Xia ended up in the same group as Hou Junqi—quite a coincidence. He proudly decided their team name: Team Glory to Our Ancestors

The boys thought it was epic. The girls just offered strained smiles.

Whatever, boys will be boys—always a bit chuunibyou¹.

(¹: Middle school syndrome. Exaggerated, dramatic behavior often seen in teens who act overly cool or unique.) 

While waiting for their opponents, Yellow Hair appeared again by the field.  

This time, the guy was carrying a bag of drinks; mineral water, Pulse, C100, yogurt, iced tea, you name it. A full assortment. 

Everyone knew what he was here for.  

He smiled and waved at Sheng Xia but didn’t approach, sitting under a tree to wait.  

Whispers rippled across the field.  

Sheng Xia’s face burned red under the blazing sun.

With a quiet sigh, she walked over.  

Yellow Hair handed her the bag. “Don’t be mad. I’m here to apologize. I won’t do it again. Can you add me back?”  

Sheng Xia said, “No need to go to all this trouble, classmate. I… understand your intentions, but I’m preparing to study abroad. Please don’t bother me anymore.”

Yellow Hair probably didn’t expect someone who looked so soft to be so direct.  

After a pause, he said, "Alright, then just of me as a moon saved in your phone². I won’t come again. Here, take these, I didn’t know what you liked, so I got a bit of everything."  

(²: He's asking her to keep him added on QQ—comparing himself to a moon, a distant but constant present. Basically saying,”You don't have to engage with me, but let me exist in your world from afar.”)

“You take them back,” Sheng Xia refused.  

“If you don’t, I’ll keep coming,” Yellow Hair insisted. 

Defeated, Sheng Xia accepted the bag and returned to the field.  

Yellow Hair called after her, “Check Q.Q!”  

Sheng Xia didn't respond, letting out another sigh without realizing it.  

She placed the bag by the court. Her teammates teased, “Xiaxia, this guy’s thoughtful! Six bottles, perfect for us!”

Sheng Xia thought about the wasted breakfast from earlier and said, “Why don’t we share them?”

  

The group didn't hold back. They first asked which one she wanted before picking their own. 

Sheng Xia, a bit irritated, said, “Mineral water, I guess.”  

  

As everyone picked their drinks, only one bottle of iced tea was left. Hou Junqi reached for it without thinking—then caught sight of his best friend’s glare from across the field. His hand shook, and the iced tea hit the ground, fizzing white foam.

It was like watching someone meet their untimely end.

"Don’t talk to strangers, do you hear me?! You even dare to drink water from strangers, people like you wouldn’t last half an episode in a drama!” Hou Junqi grumbled loudly, his voice booming, deliberately roaring so the whole field could hear.

 

Laughter erupted all around.

Finally, the opponents were announced. Sheng Xia saw the person standing on the opposite side and froze.  

What kind of cursed fate is this?  

Zhang Shu stood there, wearing a basketball jersey over his T-shirt, basketball shorts below, and on his knees, were the kneepads she had given him—now slightly worn out.  

Sunlight filtered through his tousled hair, casting fragmented shadows over his eyes, softening the sharp edge of his gaze with a gentle filter.

Otherwise, winter would have already settled in around him.

She looked away.  

The teacher came over to explain the rules. When he read out the team name, the field burst into laughter. Only Sheng Xia froze like a snowman in winter.  

Team Glory to Our Ancestors vs. Early Love Inspection Team.

Zhang Shu’s team was called—Early Love, Inspection, Group?  

This class had no shortage of chuunibyou.  

Sheng Xia knew how to play volleyball, but her serve wasn't great—she always hit the net. It wasn’t a foul, but it could be frustrating.  

When she hit the net for the third time, a warning glare shot her way.  

Zhang Shu caught the ball effortlessly and said coldly, "Don’t challenge my tolerance over and over again.”

The atmosphere turned tense.  

Zhang Shu swords were a little too harsh. Unless he meant something else, not about volleyball. 

Sheng Xia froze. It was the first time he’d looked directly at her since the match started.

  

Through the sparse net, his cold aura hit her like a wave.  

“I…” She dodged his piercing gaze.

  

Hou Junqi stepped in to smooth things over. “Little Sheng Xia, stop serving. Move to the front!”

  

She went to the front row, now standing right across from him, separated only by the net.  

His stare practically stabbed through her.

The halftime whistle was like a lifeline. Sheng Xia quickly fled to the shade under a tree to cool off.  

She saw Xin Xiaohe running towards her but stopped halfway, her eyes fixed on the other side of the field.

Following her gaze, Sheng Xia saw Zhang Shu holding a bottle of mineral water, walking her way.

  

She was the only person in this direction.  

Xin Xiaohe blinked and turned away.  

Zhang Shu, with his long legs, reached her in a few steps, towering over her with one hand on his hip.  

He didn't say a word.  

Sheng Xia, tired from the exercise, her mind wasn't working at normal speed.

She just stared back at him.

  

A breeze passed, bringing with it a hint of coolness.

Neither noticed the gaze coming from all directions.  

Zhang Shu spoke first. "You’re so gullible. How’re you gonna survive abroad without being cheated?"    

Coming back to her senses, Sheng Xia realized how vulnerable she was in this position. She dusted herself off and stood up, slightly annoyed and retorted, “You don’t need to worry about me.”

Zhang Shu unscrewed the mineral water and offered it to her.

  

Sheng Xia wasn’t used to this almost gentlemanly gesture, so unlike his attitude today.

  

She reached for it, but he pulled it back, tilted his head, and chugged it down. His Adam’s apple bobbed rapidly. Drops of water, or maybe sweat, trickling down his lean neck.

Sheng Xia quickly looked away.

And just as quickly, she put aside her self-indulgent thoughts.

 

Zhang Shu wiped his mouth and glanced at her. "I tested it for poison. Don’t just drink anyone’s water.”  

Huh?  

Sheng Xia didn’t catch on at first, then noticed the mineral water she’d left by the court was gone.  

  

Was that the bottle Yellow Hair gave her?  

He’d nearly finished it. Just testing?  

She stared at him, full of doubt  

Zhang Shu glanced at the empty bottle, unfazed. “Finished it. My bad.”

  

With a flick, he tossed the bottle into a trash can a few meters away in one smooth arc.

Clang—clean and precise.  

There wasn't even a trace of embarrassment on his face.  

Then he said, "Don’t look at me like I took advantage of you. I’ll buy you a new one. Wait here."  

He jogged off to the dorm supermarket.

Before the second half started, Zhang Shu returned. Sheng Xia took his “replacement” water—not the same brand as before, but a trendy one with viral quotes printed on it, recently gone big online. 

She’d never bought it before. They were overpriced and didn't taste good.

She glanced at the bottle’s text: The wise don’t fall in love.  

Sheng Xia: "…"  

A cool breeze blew, and she didn’t know how to stop her wandering thoughts.  

---  

That night, Sheng Xia lay in bed, tossing and turning again. Next week, the agency will start intensive classes every evening. She could no longer attend evening self-study at school, she wasn't able to present a reason not to to her father. 

Lu Youze messaged her, saying he was taking a long leave and asked if she wanted to join him. He'd already been skipping evening study lately.

Sheng Xia asked: “During the day?”  

Lu Youze: "Yeah. Classes at night, self-study during the day to review."  

Sheng Xia: "Let me think about it some more."  

Think. Some more.  

In the dark, she pictured the boy tilting his head back to drink, as if swallowing all his frustration and anger, like that would make them disappear.  

But… he was the one who gave up first.  

Why say things like “don’t challenge my tolerance”?  

  

Why…  

She sighed silently and opened the ‘Meditation Space' again. 

She was growing more dependent on it, relying on it for a good night’s sleep.

It wasn’t just sleep aids anymore. The deep meditation guided her to ease anxiety.  

This episode’s intro read: Busy urban life has led people to create rules, living and working by them, orderly and structured, but it also traps us in a cycle of constraints. Try stepping outside the framework, thinking from another perspective. It might be a good way to break through bottlenecks and relieve anxiety.

A gentle female voice came through. Sheng Xia closed her eyes, relaxing.  

“Now, imagine your problem as a polyhedron. The side you can’t break through—stop looking at it. Turn to another side. Picture a door. You’re standing in front of it. Push it open. See if there’s something you’ve overlooked, something that might go against your usual framework, something small, maybe insignificant. Think, could it have a purpose you’ve missed? If not, close the door, and move to another side…” 

Sheng Xia felt like she was floating, her dense manuscripts swirling around her. She placed them one by one inside the polyhedron…  

In the end, what remained were those hard-to-categorize, lesser-known pieces.  

There were over twenty of them.  

That many?  

"Think—could they have a purpose you’ve missed?"  

Sheng Xia’s eyes snapped open.

---

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