Chapter 18 : Very happy
“You’re called…?”
“Ah, me?”
She nodded, gaze curiously on her deskmate.
“Jiang Youyou. Jiang as in river, You as in leisurely.”
“Jiang Youyou?”
“Mm.”
“Which school before? Teacher said transfer—from out of town?”
“…Mm, no.”
“Then why…”
“Believe I haven’t attended in ages?”
She smiled lightly; no plan to explain otherwise—straightforward.
Not a secret.
“Haven’t… no way.”
“Parents paid for entry?”
She nodded, lazily flopping onto the desk.
“Most of my life was in hospitals. Stopped school halfway through elementary.”
“Oh…”
Sensing pity in the tone, she could only smile helplessly.
“Sorry, bad memories?”
“No, my mindset’s always good.”
“Okay…”
“Anything inconvenient, just call me. Need something taken… I can help.”
“Really? You’re so kind~”
“No big deal…”
As the girl’s gaze returned to the board, Xu Jiu felt a light relief.
Honestly expected a hard-to-talk-to deskmate; overthought.
Heaven gave pain but compensated with luck elsewhere—balance?
“Mm, no textbooks…”
“Ah? Right, just arrived.”
“Share mine for now. I’ll grab yours after class.”
Seeing her trouble, deskmate was surprisingly thoughtful.
“How embarrassing—won’t it waste your time?”
“No trouble.”
“Okay… thanks.”
Thus, first time sharing a lesson so close with a same-age girl.
New acquaintance, but Jiang Youyou’s friendliness closed the gap.
Xu Jiu felt lost: pity or genuine kindness?
Lesson content was old hat—not fresh, but for exams, she paid attention—review.
First time: a class felt short.
When not obscure, school meant enjoying another life.
Especially seeing classmates frown or slack off—her calm made her more comfortable.
“As expected, school beats home.”
“Carefree studying is nice…”
Except PE—others to the field; she stayed in class.
No relief; envied the freely sweating teens.
She couldn’t even walk normally—let alone run.
Others’ one class steps: her decade’s exercise.
“Sigh…”
“Finding him freely at school… tough.”
“Maybe through others…?”
She pondered, gaze through window to Year 2 building, memory locking on a classroom.
Issue: unprepared to meet past self.
If met—what reason to approach? Confess?
Would he believe?
No proof from future—unless…
“Predict events…”
Eyes sharpened, then shook head.
Help past self: yes.
Reveal identity? Necessary?
Expose or not: little difference.
Better secret or trump card—future use.
“Mm, class over…”
Bell rang; stairs bustled, PE returnees flooded back—including Jiang Youyou.
“Xu Jiu, your water…”
“Thanks. How much—I’ll pay.”
“Three… actually no need. My treat.”
“Can’t. Just met—can’t take advantage.”
She pulled bills Mom gave—embarrassingly, no small ones…
“Uh…”
“Jiang Youyou.”
“Mm?”
“No change… here, hundred upfront for future buys?”
“Eh?”
Girl stunned—didn’t expect such generosity.
“I can break it… or…”
She stopped.
“…Fine.”
“As you said.”
Xu Jiu blanked, then grateful with apology: “Thanks.”
“No issue. I said I’d help.”
“But not to trouble casually. Jiang Youyou, I…”
“Class starting.”
“Fine. I’ll track spending lest I forget.”
Xu Jiu said no more—life not all bad.
“Met an interesting friend.”
First school day: surprised and happy.
Surprised: same as before.
Happy: made a friendly connection.
Why was past campus life oppressive?
Later realized: grades dominated.
Defeat that enemy to enjoy youth’s beauty—not dread each day.
Now, she was happy.