Chapter 28: Turning Point (II)

1:40 p.m.

At the entrance of No. 3 High School, Chen Xinya stood by the bus stop in a light white dress, her long hair neatly combed, looking like a solitary narcissus.

She stared at her phone, as if waiting for someone.

She’d been waiting that morning too. Meng Zhi was supposed to be in the same exam hall, but she hadn’t seen him.

She waited until the last minute before reluctantly entering the exam hall.

The afternoon was the same. His phone was still off, messages unanswered. Early arrivals were already being ushered in by teachers.

Is he avoiding me? Chen Xinya zoned out.

The school gate buzzed with people, yet she felt like a drifting lily pad—striking, but unnoticed.

Lost in thought, someone tapped her head.

“Been waiting for me?”

She looked up, startled, to see Meng Zhi’s familiar face. Flustered, she lowered her head. “I… couldn’t reach you. I was worried.”

“I’m fine.”

He didn’t mention the morning, just smiled lightly. “I said I’d get into X University. I keep my word.”

She nodded, lips pursed. “I believe you.”

There was still time. They stood together, flipping through books. Math wasn’t something you could cram for, though, and soon Meng Zhi was on his phone, playing.

Chen Xinya stole glances at his profile, quickly looking away when caught.

“Oh, right.”

He spoke suddenly. “After the exam, you free?”

“Huh?”

Surprised, she murmured, “Of course… why?”

“Didn’t I say I’d tell you who I like after the exam?”

He looked up at the cloudless sky, casual. “There’s a place I want to visit. Come with me.”

Her ears rang with disbelief.

The happiness was so sudden, she wondered if she was dreaming. He’d been distant lately, yet now he was inviting her out.

“Of course.”

Her cheeks flushed with girlish shyness. She nodded softly. “Should I dress up formally?”

“Nah, nothing formal.”

He thought for a moment. “But the prettier, the better.”

“Mm.”

She returned to her book, but her lips kept curling upward, her mind far from the pages.

*

Math was a straightforward subject.

With fixed answers, Meng Zhi, who knew them by heart, felt no pressure. He even deliberately skipped some steps on the last question to drop a few points.

At 5 p.m., he left the exam hall. The midday sun had softened, the sky tinged with a pale hue.

Turning on his phone, he found a flood of messages—Feng Xiyao’s chatter, Lin Yuhan’s cautious concern.

He replied only to Lin Yuhan, ignoring Feng Xiyao’s.

“Meng Zhi.”

Locking his phone, he looked up to see Chen Xinya in her dress, waving lightly.

Her smile was soft yet radiant, standing out even amid the crowded school gate.

Many envied the sight of such a beautiful girl running toward Meng Zhi with a sweet smile.

“Walk home together?”

“Yeah.” He nodded.

Chen Xinya hid her quiet joy, staying close but not too close as they headed home.

Meng Zhi was chattier than usual, sharing exam stories—checking a question three times for three different answers, nearly oversleeping and missing the Chinese exam…

Chen Xinya listened intently. She loved being his listener.

“…But honestly, I’m feeling great about math.”

As the sun set, they reached their neighborhood. Meng Zhi kept talking, Chen Xinya listening, occasionally giggling behind her hand.

Near their building, a figure stepped out from the garden.

“No wonder you didn’t reply. Too busy chatting with your childhood sweetheart.”

“At least say something. Don’t waste my concern.” Feng Xiyao, in her usual T-shirt and shorts, earphones dangling, looked vibrant and anime-like.

Meng Zhi wasn’t surprised, waving her off. “I don’t use my phone during exams. Didn’t see your messages.”

She pouted but didn’t press, turning to ask, “How’d it go? Smooth?”

“Not exactly smooth. Close call.” He scratched his head, feigning frustration. “Overslept this morning, almost missed Chinese.”

“Whoa, that’s rough.”

She stuck out her tongue. “Should’ve let me stay. I’d have been your personal alarm.”

“I’d rather miss Chinese.”

Rolling his eyes, he turned to Chen Xinya. “I’m heading up. Rest well.”

She nodded obediently, like a sweet girlfriend. “You too.”

“What?” Feng Xiyao pouted. “I have to leave too?”

“Let me stay. I’ll make sure you don’t oversleep again.”

“No chance. Go home.” He tapped her forehead. “Or I’m calling your mom.”

Defeated, she sulked but stopped clinging.

After watching Meng Zhi enter the building, Feng Xiyao sighed, turning to leave. But after a few steps, Chen Xinya’s voice stopped her.

“Feng Xiyao, I need to talk.”

“What.” Her tone was flat, not exactly friendly. “We’re not that close.”

Chen Xinya smiled, stepping close to whisper in her ear.

“…He knows it was you.”

Feng Xiyao’s lazy expression froze.

“I saw. He replied to everyone’s messages but yours.”

“You made him angry,” Chen Xinya said softly.

Feng Xiyao stood still, as if paused, before speaking dully, “How do you know?”

Chen Xinya just smiled, silent.

She wouldn’t reveal she’d been monitoring Feng Xiyao—checking her socials, even her purchase history.

Or that she knew about the sleeping pills.

Feng Xiyao stared, then looked up. “But you didn’t warn him.”

“Of course not.”

Chen Xinya’s smile was faint. “If I had, would he have invited me out?”

In that moment, Feng Xiyao felt a chill.

Chen Xinya’s smile was beautiful, almost holy, evoking pure and lovely things.

Yet it hid a depth of calculation that nearly made Feng Xiyao sick.

Never had she loathed a smile so much.

While she stood frozen, Chen Xinya walked home.

“Oh, one more thing.” She paused, turning back. “Don’t use sleeping pills next time. They’re bad for him.”

“You don’t care about him, but I do.”

With that, she left lightly.

Feng Xiyao stood silent, her eyes sinking into the shadows.