Chapter 37

Shen Yi waited outside until he got a text confirming that Su Xiaoxiao had made it home safely. Only then did he relax and send a message to Shen Hua.
Shen Hua was in the middle of washing her hair when her phone chimed. Guessing it was Shen Yi, she quickly rinsed her hands, wiped her face, and grabbed the phone from the sink.
Sure enough, it was him.
Shen Yi: Xiaoxiao’s home safe.
Shen Hua: Thanks! You should head back too.
Shen Yi: Mm. Get some rest. Good night.
Shen Hua: You too, good night~
As she typed the last message, shampoo dripped down her forehead into her eyes, but she was too busy replying to care. When she finally sent it, she squinted and hurried back under the shower to rinse it off.
…
There were over twenty classes in their grade, so the basketball tournament lasted for a whole month. Two days later, Class 1 was up against Class 4.
During dinner, Shen Hua asked, “Xiaoxiao, are we going to watch the game again?”
She only asked because it was obvious Su Xiaoxiao and Jin Qishan were still not talking. From yesterday morning until now, not a single word had passed between them.
Before, they’d always eaten lunch and dinner together. Now, nothing.
Su Xiaoxiao pretended to focus on her homework. “I still have a few problems left. If you want to go, go ahead.”
Shen Hua smiled faintly and took out her own workbook. “Then I’ll stay too. Let’s do them together.”

On the court, Jin Qishan scanned the crowd, but Su Xiaoxiao wasn’t there.
He’d already guessed she wouldn’t come to cheer him on, but seeing it confirmed still stung.
Frustration and restlessness boiled inside him, and he poured it all into the game.
The players from Class 4 had heard rumors about how aggressive Jin Qishan could be, but only now did they realize, this wasn’t basketball. It was a battlefield.
He tore through their defense like a storm, leaving them gasping.
The crowd went wild, their shouts echoing across campus, the excitement carried by the wind all the way to the classroom.
Su Xiaoxiao, unable to focus on her math problems, finally stood up. “It’s a bit stuffy. I’ll go get some air.”
“Mm,” Shen Hua murmured, not looking up from her work.
From the corridor, the court was perfectly visible. Su Xiaoxiao didn’t know how long she stood there watching, until the game ended and the crowd began to disperse.
Then she turned and left.
Just like that, she and Jin Qishan became strangers.
No, worse than strangers.
Zhang Dongshan and Shen Hua had both tried to get them to make up, but neither budged. Neither spoke about what had happened.
And so, days turned into weeks. Two months passed in silence.
Then came finals, known unofficially as the “streaming exam,” since next semester, students would be divided into arts and science tracks based on their grades.
Shen Hua asked, “Xiaoxiao, are you going for arts or science?”
“Science,” Su Xiaoxiao said without hesitation.
Shen blinked. “Really? I thought you’d pick arts.”
“Why?”
“Well, your Chinese grades are amazing.”
“But I hate memorizing,” Su Xiaoxiao laughed. “I’d rather solve problems.”
“Fair.” Shen nodded, jotting it down on a slip of paper: Xiaoxiao - Science. Then she tore it off and passed it to Zhang Dongshan behind her.

Five days after the final exams ended, report cards and the new class lists were released.
Su Xiaoxiao arrived early that morning. The classroom was empty.
Soon, their homeroom teacher, Cao Feng, came in too. He said he had family matters to deal with and would need to leave early. He handed Su Xiaoxiao the grade sheets and new class lists.
“Announce the holiday reminders for me, alright? Teacher Chen from Class 7 will drop by later to give out the winter homework.”
And then he rushed off.
Students began trickling in one by one.
When most of the class had arrived, Su Xiaoxiao walked to the podium, setting the report cards and lists down. “Mr. Cao had to leave early. The grades and class assignments are here, if you want to see, come up and check.”
The words were barely out of her mouth before everyone swarmed the podium.
Before she could step away, Su Xiaoxiao was trapped in the middle of the crowd.
There was no escape, she just stood there, squeezed against the desk.
At first, everyone behaved, leaning in to look without pushing.
Then suddenly, she felt pressure against her back, someone leaning hard against her.
Probably someone trying to see better, she thought, not paying much attention.
But the weight kept increasing until she was nearly bent over the desk.
How many people are leaning on me? Five? Six? What is this, human Jenga?
Her arms trembled, struggling to keep herself upright. She opened her mouth to tell the person behind her to move.
Turning her head slightly, she froze.
Right there, practically on her shoulder, was a greasy head of hair.
“Ah!” she screamed.
The man’s head snapped up, revealing a pockmarked face, a stubby upturned nose, and thick, red, sausage-like lips, all just inches from hers.
“Ah! Get away from me!” Su Xiaoxiao cried out, on the verge of tears.
Duan Hao had her pinned against the podium, his weight trapping her completely.
She braced both hands on the desk, but she couldn’t move, couldn’t even pull away.
Just when panic swallowed her whole, the pressure on her back suddenly vanished.
She turned her head just in time to see Jin Qishan grabbing Duan Hao by the collar and yanking him aside with a violent jerk.
Jin Qishan stood with his back to her, shoulders tight, fists clenched so hard the muscles in his arms trembled.
Duan Hao stumbled but didn’t back down, jutting his chin out. “What’s your…”
Before he could finish, Jin Qishan’s fist slammed into his face.
The blow landed hard. Duan Hao staggered backward several steps, nearly falling.
Jin Qishan didn’t stop, he stepped forward and punched him again.
Duan Hao barely had time to regain his balance before another hit sent him sprawling to the floor.
Before anyone could react, Jin Qishan was already on top of him, raising his fist for another strike.
Duan Hao, terrified, screamed and squeezed his eyes shut, but the next punch never came.
Instead, Su Xiaoxiao’s voice rang out: “Jin Qishan!”
When Duan Hao opened his eyes, trembling, he saw Su Xiaoxiao clinging to Jin Qishan’s arm.
Everyone knew Su Xiaoxiao and Jin Qishan hadn’t spoken in months, Duan Hao knew it too.
Seeing her stop him now, Duan Hao’s heart leapt. He thought she was protecting him, could it be she still cared?
“Don’t hit him,” Su Xiaoxiao said, shaking her head. “He’s not worth dirtying your hands.”
Honestly, even she wouldn’t want to touch Duan Hao. He disgusted her.
But what worried her most was Jin Qishan losing control and getting himself punished.
Jin Qishan was still fuming, barely hearing her. But she was holding his arm so tightly that he couldn’t bring himself to shove her away.
With a sharp exhale, he released Duan Hao, stood up, and stepped back.
Seeing that, Su Xiaoxiao slowly let go of him.
Jin Qishan glared down at Duan Hao, kicked him hard in the side, and stormed out the front door, slamming it behind him.
For a few seconds, the classroom was dead silent.
Everyone had been crowded around the front looking at the grades list when they’d heard Su Xiaoxiao’s scream, then turned to see Duan Hao behind her, and Jin Qishan suddenly charging in to beat him senseless.
To call it a fight was generous, it had been a one-sided beating.
Now, as Jin Qishan’s footsteps faded down the hall, Duan Hao pushed himself up, spitting curses. “What the hell! Hitting people gets you written up, right? I swear, I’ll get that bastard Jin Qishan expelled…”
Before he could finish, Su Xiaoxiao grabbed the chalk box off the podium and flung it straight at his face. “Who are you talking about, huh? Don’t you have any shame? You know exactly what you just did. You think you can get Jin Qishan punished? Fine! Let’s see who gets expelled first, you or him.”
She marched right up to him, eyes blazing. “Didn’t you listen to the dean at the flag ceremony? You harassed a girl. You touched me without consent. And now you’re trying to play the victim? Please. Jin Qishan should be commended for what he did, that’s called standing up for what’s right.”
Her voice rose, clear and cold. “Let’s see if the school takes your side, or mine.”
Truthfully, Su Xiaoxiao’s heart was pounding. There were no cameras in the classroom, no proof. Aside from Jin Qishan, no one had seen exactly what happened.
The last boy expelled for harassment had left a trail of love letters, messages, and even stalked a girl home. Only then was there enough evidence to act.
But Duan Hao? He was one of only a few kids from his rural village to get into this school. His parents bragged about him everywhere, they’d never live it down if he got expelled.
If that happened, they’d probably beat him within an inch of his life.
Duan Hao’s head drooped, fear flickering in his eyes.
Su Xiaoxiao didn’t waste another look on him. She needed to find Jin Qishan, she had no idea where he’d gone.
“Zhang Dongshan!” she called as she ran to the back. “When the Class 7 teacher comes for the winter homework, go with someone to pick it up. I’ll be back soon.”
Zhang Dongshan nodded. “Got it.”
Outside, the wind howled through the bare branches, creaking them like old doors.
Su Xiaoxiao pulled her turtleneck higher over her chin, scanning the campus. Where could he have gone?
She’d checked the bike shed, his bicycle was still there, meaning he hadn’t left.
But the school wasn’t that big.
Then it hit her. The track field!
Yes, he’d once told her that whenever he was upset, he’d go for a run to clear his head.
Her heart raced as she sprinted toward the field.
And sure enough, there he was, sitting alone on top of the ping-pong table, hood pulled up, legs swinging lazily in the cold wind.
A smile tugged at her lips. Idiot. Sitting out here in this weather just makes it worse.
As she approached, she noticed his right hand resting on his knee, knuckles red and swollen.
Su Xiaoxiao crouched down in front of him, voice soft. “Does it hurt?”
His chest tightened. “Yeah.”
The hand hurt, but the heart hurt more.
Hearing that, Su Xiaoxiao nearly teared up. It was the first real conversation they’d had in over two months.