Friday.
"Whoosh—"
After drawing the curtains and pushing open the window, the wind that greeted him was stiflingly hot. After all, it was nearing the end of the semester, and the temperature kept climbing relentlessly. Ye Shuang stretched his stiff shoulders slightly before letting out a yawn.
Glancing at the time, he withdrew his gaze and got up to pick up Bai Yuyou from Class A.
Today was Friday, which meant the weekend—and the meeting with Aunt Xian—was approaching. Yesterday, he had sent Bai Yuyou’s hair to Chen’s Mother, but there were no results yet. Ye Shuang hadn’t called to ask, mainly because he wasn’t ready to hear the answer just yet.
Humans were always contradictory. He wanted Bai Yuyou to find her biological parents, yet he feared she might be hurt if she resisted the idea. The more time he spent with her, the less he wanted her to suffer any more pain.
"So… humans are always contradictory," Ye Shuang sighed inwardly. He reached into his pocket, deftly opened a small box, and took out a piece of candy—his movements as smooth as if he were pulling out a cigarette and lighter.
Just like with Chen Qin. Even though he knew she would likely be his future wife, the familiarity between them made the thought of undressing her someday feel strangely awkward and conflicting.
Ye Shuang neatly hung up his white coat, then glanced at the corner where An Shiyu lay asleep on a bed, clearly skipping work. He didn’t lock the door, merely closing it behind him and flipping the sign on the Third Infirmary to [Doctor Out].
Haizhu City, being a southern metropolis, often saw people wearing short sleeves even during Lunar New Year. As a result, cicadas made their appearance earlier than in other provinces. The moment Ye Shuang stepped out of the infirmary, their shrill cries filled the air—a relentless announcement of summer’s arrival.
His footsteps unhurried, he made his way toward Class A.
"Hey, let’s go check it out."
"Check what out?"
"The soccer team captain’s about to confess to some girl from Class 3A—Bai Yuyou, I think? She’s crazy pretty."
"Class A? Isn’t that the class with the tiny backpack girl?"
"Dunno, but let’s go see for ourselves."
A group of students chatted as they quickened their pace, their voices catching Ye Shuang’s attention. He glanced at them before following along.
By the time he reached Class A, a crowd had already gathered outside the door, murmuring excitedly as they watched the scene unfold.
A tall, handsome boy stood with a confident smile, facing Bai Yuyou and Tang Keke. Despite the audience, Bai Yuyou remained expressionless, while Tang Keke fidgeted nervously beside her.
It was worth noting that Yinshan Academy didn’t discourage romance. As the school board famously put it—[Young love is the most beautiful thing, second only to sports tights after a workout].
Though the statement carried a slightly pervy undertone, it was surprisingly popular among the students.
"Bai Yuyou, can I get your number?" the boy said with a charming grin. "I’ve liked you for a while now."
The moment he spoke, the crowd erupted into cheers.
"Get together!"
"Get together!"
"Get together!"
Ye Shuang lingered at the edge of the crowd, choosing to observe. People loved drama—they didn’t care whether the boy and Bai Yuyou even knew each other. They just wanted to see what they imagined, using their voices to pressure the situation.
What would Bai Yuyou do?
Learning to say no was part of growing up.
But…
What if she didn’t refuse?
Ye Shuang shook off the thought and stayed in the shadows, watching.
"We… don’t know each other," Bai Yuyou said softly, her cool demeanor sending hearts racing among the onlookers.
Damn, since when did Class A have such a pretty girl?
Unfazed, the boy flashed what he thought was a dazzling smile. "Yuyou, can you hold out your hand?"
Bai Yuyou hesitated but complied.
In a flash, the boy produced a rose like a magician. "Now, do we know each other?"
"Whoa!" The crowd gasped.
Bai Yuyou examined the rose for a few seconds, but her mind was elsewhere:
Would Ye Shuang… like flowers?
The boy smirked. This trick had worked on plenty of girls before. The aloof ones were always the easiest to crack.
"Now… you hold out your hand," Bai Yuyou suddenly said.
The boy’s eyes lit up. Was she about to place her hand in his?
One touch, and it’d be a done deal.
Heart pounding, he extended his palm. "Yeah, I’m ready."
Then, he felt paper instead of skin.
"Huh?"
Before he could react, Bai Yuyou had pressed a bill into his hand.
"Thank you… for the rose. But no… to the number."
With that, she walked past him, Tang Keke in tow, leaving the boy frozen in place.
"Uh…" He stared blankly at the money.
Just then, Bai Yuyou stopped and turned back, her expression brightening.
Was she playing hard to get?
The boy grinned and spread his arms wide.
But instead of embracing him, Bai Yuyou dashed into the crowd—straight into a man’s arms—and handed him the rose.
The crowd collectively short-circuited.
What just happened?
Ye Shuang instinctively wrapped an arm around Bai Yuyou’s waist. Meeting the stunned gazes around them, he smiled warmly.
"Show’s over. This is my girl."
Some recognized him as the parent who’d caused a scene before, while others remembered him from the Third Infirmary. Without another word, he led Bai Yuyou and Tang Keke away.
The boy, still standing with his arms outstretched like a tragic hero, caught the tail end of their conversation:
"Next time, don’t pay a hundred for a rose. Five bucks is enough."
"Oh…"
"Big Brother, what’s for dinner tonight?"
"Let me think…"
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