Chapter 39

By midmorning the next day, the whole school, and even a few other schools, had heard about it:
The top student and campus heartthrob, Qiu Li, was wearing a bright red watch.
Chat groups buzzed with speculation; the school’s forum had entire threads devoted to it.
The cold, untouchable genius of Yanwen Academy wearing something that flashy? It just didn’t add up.
Theories multiplied like wildfire.
The most popular one?
His girlfriend gave it to him.
And once that rumor dropped, the wails of heartbreak were endless, but the likes and agreements kept rising, faster and faster.
Because honestly, who else could make a guy as cool and distant as Qiu Li wear something so dazzlingly bold?
The conclusion was unanimous across campus: the top student has fallen in love.
And that realization was enough to ruin an entire morning’s worth of classes for half the school’s girls.
Neither Yan Xiao nor Qiu Li ever checked the school forums. Especially now, Yan Xiao wasn’t interested in anything except studying. If you really had to name one distraction in her life, it was Qiu Li. Everything else was just background noise.
But even if they didn’t care about gossip, the people around them did, especially Zhou Hang.
At first, Zhou Hang had been genuinely inspired by his two overachieving friends. Watching them throw themselves so single-mindedly into their studies had lit a fire in him too. He’d vowed to focus, to narrow the gap.
Unfortunately, his deskmate was the type who liked to stick their nose into everything.
And when Qiu Li walked into class that morning with that brilliant red watch on his wrist, it was impossible not to notice. The color was so vivid it practically shouted for attention. Zhou Hang saw it right away, of course, but after getting roasted by his friend a few days ago, he forced himself to stay silent.
Until his deskmate pulled out their phone and showed him the forum threads full of speculation.
By the third period break, Zhou Hang couldn’t take it anymore. He glanced over and saw Qiu Li sitting there, staring absently at the watch instead of doing questions. Gritting his teeth, Zhou Hang scooted over.
“Hey”
He tried to sound casual, but Qiu Li didn’t even twitch. Not a glance. Not even an eyelid flicker.
Zhou Hang: “…”
Scratching his head, he tried again. “That’s a really nice watch”
Finally, Qiu Li gave him a reaction, he looked up, eyes bright as starlight, and nodded. “Mm.”
Zhou Hang: “…”
God, he really likes that watch.
Pressing on, he said, “Where’d you get it? It’s gorgeous. I’ve never seen anything like it!”
Qiu Li replied evenly, “Yan Xiao gave it to me.”
Zhou Hang froze.
Wait, what?
What do you mean, ‘Yan Xiao gave it to you’?
He’d been preparing to fish for the truth, to circle the topic until Qiu Li slipped, but his friend had just said it outright.
Wasn’t this supposed to go differently?
Shouldn’t the genius act aloof, or say something vague and mysterious, make him guess?
Why was he handing out the real answer so easily,
and why did he look so smug about it?!
Zhou Hang bit his lip, refusing to admit how jealous he suddenly felt. After a long moment, he managed, “Ah, so Xiao-xiao gave it to you, huh? I knew it! No wonder it looks so good, she’s got impeccable taste!”
He gave a dramatic thumbs-up.
Qiu Li’s lips curved faintly. “Mm.”
Zhou Hang: “…”
He stared at the watch a while longer, then muttered, “What brand is it? I might get one too, it’s seriously nice.”
“Can’t,” Qiu Li said lightly. “It’s custom.”
Zhou Hang: “…”
Fine. Rich people’s world. Whatever.
He was about to go sulk back to his seat when Qiu Li, in an unusually good mood, added, “If you like it, I’ll give you one after the college entrance exam. Something similar.”
Not the same, of course. This one was unique, hers, made only for him.
Zhou Hang’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
Qiu Li nodded, patient and calm.
Instantly, Zhou Hang brightened like a sunflower after a storm. He leaned closer, whispering excitedly, “You know, I guessed it this morning, the second I saw that watch, I knew Xiao-xiao must’ve given it to you! You have no idea, the forums are going wild! Everyone’s wondering where it came from. Most people think you’re dating her, that it’s a gift from your girlfriend! Hahaha, some girls are actually crying! Should I make a post saying you’re not dating, that it’s not from your girlfriend? Imagine how fast that thread would blow up, I could just…”
He stopped mid-sentence.
Because Qiu Li was staring at him, brows drawn tight, eyes sharp. “What did you just say?”
Zhou Hang blinked. “I, I said, what if I make a post saying-”
“Not that part,” Qiu Li cut him off, voice cool.
Zhou Hang, confused, tried to recall his exact words, repeating them from memory.
The moment he said “a gift from your girlfriend”, Qiu Li’s brows furrowed deeper, his perfect face taut with some unreadable emotion.
Zhou Hang, terrified, mistook it for anger. “No, no, don’t take it seriously! They’re all just talking nonsense! You’re not mad, right? It’s just wild rumors. Everyone knows you and Xiao-xiao are like brother and sister, no one could ever understand how pure your bond is! It’s all”
Qiu Li shot him a glacial look. “Shut up.”
Zhou Hang immediately zipped his lips, literally miming the motion, then scurried back to his seat like a chastised puppy, sitting bolt upright and burying himself in a test paper.
Watching his rigid back, Qiu Li narrowed his eyes, the chill on his face deepening.
High IQ, low EQ. Honestly, it was a miracle Zhou Hang hadn’t been punched yet, clearly divine protection.
After a while, Qiu Li gave an irritated sigh and tore his gaze away from him.
Then his eyes returned to the watch on his wrist.
In the sunlight, the glass shimmered in seven colors. He stared at it for a long moment, and the tension in his features slowly eased.
Girlfriend’s gift, huh?
He actually liked that idea.
Liked it so much his chest felt warm and full, his lips curving upward no matter how hard he tried to hide it.
That silly, unstoppable smile wouldn’t leave his face.
Of course, she was still young, focused entirely on her studies. He couldn’t distract her before the exams. But afterward…
Afterward still wouldn’t be right, she’d still be a bit young then too.
But that was fine. They’d be at the same university. He could wait.
For the first time in his life, Qiu Li couldn’t wait to grow up.
Not even when he’d been beaten bloody by Qiu Zhan as a kid and sworn to get strong enough to fight back had he ever wanted it this badly.
Staring at the red watch, he brushed his thumb lightly across the glass and whispered in his heart: Hurry up and grow up.
[Ding! 966 points!]
Meanwhile, Yan Xiao, who had just opened the carton of chocolate milk he’d secretly left for her, paused mid-sip.
“… Ha.”

Author’s Note:
Qiu Li: I have a dream (#^.^#)
Yan Xiao: What a coincidence, so do I ╭(╯^╰)╮