《Three Months Left to Live, Please Let Me Die Peacefully》 The Final Three Months
"Dr. Chen, are there any foods I should avoid with my condition?" "I can give up hot pot, barbecue, bubble tea, and soda, starting now. No problem." "I can also start going to bed early and waking up early. No more late nights." Zhuang Zi''ang looked earnestly at his attending physician, Dr. Chen Dexiu. He had a sinking feeling that his health was in serious trouble. Dr. Chen, in his fifties, had a receding hairline and thick, gold-rimmed glasses. Behind him, a wall adorned with countless silk banners attested to his medical expertise and high moral character. "No, you can eat whatever you want." This seemingly simple statement hit Zhuang Zi''ang like a bolt from the blue, deafening him with its implications. Dr. Chen handed him a diagnosis report filled with dense medical jargon. In layman''s terms, it spelled out a death sentence: an incurable disease with no hope of recovery. "Dr. Chen, how much time do I have left?" Zhuang Zi''ang''s voice trembled, fear of death gripping his heart. "Three months at most. Try to stay positive. Everyone has to face this day eventually," Dr. Chen sighed, a hint of resignation in his voice. As a doctor, he had witnessed countless life-and-death situations and thought he had become numb to them. Yet, seeing such a young life about to be extinguished still pained him deeply. In the face of disease, life seemed so fragile. Clutching the diagnosis report, Zhuang Zi''ang left the hospital in a daze. His mind was blank as he wandered aimlessly down the street, bumping into several shared bicycles along the way. At eighteen, in the vibrant season of blooming peach blossoms, his life was already counting down. Three months, ninety days, two thousand one hundred and sixty hours... Dr. Chen said three months, but in reality, it could be even less. In the blink of an eye, he would have to bid farewell to this world, a reality he was far from prepared for. Tears silently streamed down his face. An overwhelming wave of sadness and regret filled his chest, leaving him at a loss for how to express it. Outside the hospital, there was a wholesale market. Zhuang Zi''ang noticed a clothing store displaying a variety of cheap, colorful clothes. A loudspeaker outside blared about a clearance sale, promoting bargain prices. His clothes still carried the pungent smell of hospital disinfectant, and he felt an urgent need to take them off and throw them away. It was as if doing so would sever his ties to the hospital and perhaps slow down the relentless march of death. But it was nothing more than a pathetic attempt at self-deception. "Hey, how much for that shirt?" Zhuang Zi''ang pointed to a gaudily colored floral shirt. It was a riot of colors, like a spilled paint palette. In the hospital, everything was a sterile, sickly white. He now desperately craved more color in his life. "Thirty yuan," the shop owner replied, hesitantly adding, "But I don''t think this style suits you, kid." Zhuang Zi''ang pulled out his money. "It''s fine. I like it." The garish floral shirt clashed horribly with his refined demeanor, making him look like a child playing dress-up in adult clothes. Next, Zhuang Zi''ang went to a bookstore and bought a complete set of The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, a classic martial arts novel. The five hefty volumes felt heavy in his hands. He stopped by a bubble tea shop and ordered a taro boba, a new spring special.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Back at school, Zhuang Zi''ang was stopped by the security guard at the gate. Although the school didn''t have a strict uniform policy, they still frowned upon outlandish attire. And Zhuang Zi''ang''s floral shirt was certainly an eyesore. Only after presenting his student ID and a doctor''s note signed by his homeroom teacher, and after the guard made a call to confirm, was he allowed to enter. "Kids these days, dressing like hoodlums. What''s the world coming to?" As Zhuang Zi''ang walked through the school gates, he heard the security guard''s sigh behind him, a wave of sadness washing over him. The guard didn''t know that this "hoodlum" student had been ranked first in his grade for two years running and was a city-recognized model student and outstanding student leader. But to Zhuang Zi''ang, all those accolades were now meaningless. In three months, everything about him would vanish like smoke. It was during the break between classes, and the playground was a cacophony of noise. Outside Class 9''s classroom, a few students were chasing each other around. When Zhuang Zi''ang, looking like a flamboyant rooster, walked into the classroom, he instantly became the center of attention. "What the hell? Why is he dressed like that?" "If the Dean of Students sees him, it''s a 3,000-word essay for sure." "Zhuang Zi''ang took yesterday off for a doctor''s appointment. Judging by his outfit, he must be seriously ill!" ... Ignoring his classmates'' bewildered stares, Zhuang Zi''ang walked straight to his seat, took a deep breath, and handed the taro boba to the girl sitting in front of him. "Mu Shi, I''m sorry I stood you up yesterday. I bought you bubble tea as an apology." Lin Mushi, the school''s reigning beauty, had captivating phoenix eyes and skin as fair as milk. She was every bit the pampered princess. Girls like her were always surrounded by admirers, but she treated most boys with indifference. Only towards Zhuang Zi''ang did she show a softer side. Sitting close to each other day in and day out, they had formed a pure and precious friendship. Lin Mushi had asked Zhuang Zi''ang to go see a newly released movie with her yesterday, but he had to reschedule because of his doctor''s appointment. "Why didn''t you reply to my messages?" Lin Mushi demanded. Zhuang Zi''ang pulled out his phone and saw several unread messages, three of which were from Lin Mushi. "Zhuang Zi''ang, I heard from Li Huangxuan that you took a day off to go to the hospital." "Are you okay? We can see the movie another time." "If you don''t reply, I''m going to ignore you." Despite the caring nature of her messages, there was a hint of her usual playful arrogance in them. Zhuang Zi''ang''s nose stung, and he nearly broke down in tears. He tried his best to suppress his sorrow. "Mu Shi, I''m fine. If you drink this bubble tea, it means you forgive me, okay?" Lin Mushi, after a moment of hesitation, took a sip of the bubble tea, her phoenix eyes fixed on him. The drink was smooth, sweet, and refreshing. "I''m only drinking this because I''m thirsty. It doesn''t mean I forgive you." Zhuang Zi''ang forced a bitter smile, the effort visible on his face. Just then, a tall, lanky boy walked in and plopped down in the seat next to Zhuang Zi''ang, his voice loud and boisterous. "Son, what the hell are you wearing? Are you trying to get yourself killed by Old Zhang?" Li Huangxuan, Zhuang Zi''ang''s deskmate and best friend, jokingly referred to each other as father and son. When he saw Zhuang Zi''ang''s floral shirt, he thought he was seeing things. Zhuang Zi''ang, the class president and model student, was always well-behaved and followed the rules. He was the teacher''s most trusted student. Yet today, he was breaking all the rules by wearing such bizarre clothes. "Son, I went to the hospital and felt like a change of pace," Zhuang Zi''ang explained, trying to sound casual. "Not bad, good taste. Now, if you add a big gold chain around your neck, you''ll really have the look down," Li Huangxuan teased with a laugh. "Here, this is for you." Zhuang Zi''ang placed the set of The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils heavily on Li Huangxuan''s desk. Li Huangxuan was a huge martial arts fan and often snuck in some light reading during class. He was overjoyed to receive this gift. He slung an arm around Zhuang Zi''ang''s shoulders. "Son, you''re so thoughtful. Did you win the lottery or something?" Zhuang Zi''ang came up with a lame excuse. "Well, your birthday is in eight months, right?" Lin Mushi burst out laughing, her ample chest heaving with mirth. Looking at his two dearest friends, Zhuang Zi''ang screamed silently in his heart: I''m going to miss you both so much!
Chapter 2: The Lonely Child After receiving his terminal diagnosis, Zhuang Zi''ang was at a loss about who to tell. Most people would naturally think of their parents first, but his situation was a bit...complicated. His father, Zhuang Wenzhao, and his mother, Xu Hui, had divorced when Zhuang Zi''ang was only five. Most professions in this world required training and exams before one could practice. For example, you needed a driver''s license to drive, and a teaching certificate to teach. But to become a parent? No exam required. A moment of passion, a single accident, and a new life was brought into the world. Few people ever considered whether that child actually wanted to come. Zhuang Zi''ang''s childhood was far from happy. From as far back as he could remember, his parents fought constantly. The furniture was often overturned, and the floor was littered with shards of glass and broken porcelain. Finally, on one otherwise ordinary day, they decided to call it quits for good. During the divorce negotiations, Zhuang Wenzhao initially didn''t even want custody of Zhuang Zi''ang. He felt that having a child would hinder his chances of remarriage. Only after his grandparents intervened, citing the need to carry on the family line, was Zhuang Zi''ang allowed to stay in the family home. A year later, Zhuang Wenzhao brought home a heavily made-up woman. Two years after that, they had a son of their own. In fairy tales, children with stepmothers always had a miserable life. While reality wasn''t quite so dramatic, Zhuang Zi''ang constantly felt like he had to walk on eggshells and be mindful of others'' moods. Even though it was his own home, he often felt like an unwelcome guest. His mother, Xu Hui, never remarried. Her job as a train attendant kept her constantly on the move, and she was only home once every week or two. She rented a small apartment near the school, and Zhuang Zi''ang would sometimes stay there when he didn''t want to go home. Gradually, he became even more of an outsider in his own family. His parents were both at work, and Zhuang Zi''ang didn''t want to disturb them. He went to a quiet corner of the balcony, hesitated for a long time, then dialed a landline number. The phone rang for a while before someone finally picked up. A frail voice answered, "Hello, who is this?" Tears welled up in Zhuang Zi''ang''s eyes. "Grandpa, it''s me, Zi''ang. I miss you." Zhuang Jianguo''s voice immediately brightened. "Zi''ang! Grandpa misses you too!" He then called out loudly for his wife to come and listen to their grandson on the phone. Zhuang Zi''ang rarely felt any familial warmth. Only during summer and winter breaks, when he visited his grandparents in the countryside, did he find some much-needed solace in the company of these two loving elders. "Grandpa, Grandma, I''ll come see you this weekend," Zhuang Zi''ang said, trying to keep his voice steady. "No need, your studies are important now. Don''t worry about us. Just come back during summer break," Zhuang Jianguo replied with a chuckle. "Okay... Okay, Grandpa, Grandma, take care of yourselves. I have to go to class now," Zhuang Zi''ang quickly made an excuse to hang up. He was on the verge of breaking down in tears. He simply couldn''t bring himself to tell his beloved grandparents about the devastating news. How heartbroken would they be when that day finally arrived? The school bell rang, signaling the start of class. Zhuang Zi''ang wiped away his tears and tried to compose himself before returning to his seat. He attempted to lose himself in the sea of knowledge and forget his sorrow.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. The class schedule was written on the far right side of the blackboard. Up next were two consecutive math classes. "The Exterminator Nun" Wu Qiufang strode to the podium, her textbook in hand. Math class had a remarkable soporific effect. Within five minutes, more than half the class was dozing off. Li Huangxuan, seizing the opportunity while Wu Qiufang was writing on the board, stealthily pulled out his copy of The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils. He randomly flipped to a classic scene: "The Eighteen Riders of Yan Cloud, charging like tigers, raising a whirlwind of dust." "Dude, are you crazy? Reading a novel in Exterminator Nun''s class?" Zhuang Zi''ang whispered, trying to warn his deskmate. But Li Huangxuan was determined to live dangerously. The flashing swords and heroic deeds of the martial arts world were far more captivating than mathematical formulas. Zhuang Zi''ang, the ever-diligent student, sat upright and tried to focus. But unlike before, he could only see Ms. Wu''s lips moving; he couldn''t hear a word she was saying. It felt as if the warmth of life was slowly draining from his body. "Master Murong, Master Zhuang, Old Freak Ding, come at me all three of you. What does Xiao Feng have to fear?" Li Huangxuan was just getting to the good part when he suddenly felt a murderous aura wash over him. He looked up and met Wu Qiufang''s piercing gaze. "Li Huangxuan, come up to the board and solve this problem." Teachers, standing at the front of the class, often had a clear view of all the students'' little shenanigans. Wu Qiufang was known for her strict teaching style and had zero tolerance for any tomfoolery. Li Huangxuan reluctantly dragged himself to the front, chalk in hand. He stared at the cryptic symbols on the board as if he were petrified, unable to move. This kind of problem was beyond anyone''s ability, except maybe those emotionless study machines. Wu Qiufang''s face turned ashen. "With your math grades, you have the nerve to read novels in class? You''re sitting right next to Zhuang Zi''ang, why don''t you learn a thing or two from him?" Li Huangxuan mumbled, "He''s the one who bought me the novel!" "Confiscated. And you, stand at the back of the class for the rest of the period," Wu Qiufang scolded. Then, her tone softened. "Zhuang Zi''ang, come up and solve this problem. Show everyone how it''s done." Zhuang Zi''ang, the academic superstar, consistently scored near-perfect marks in math. Solving a problem of this difficulty should have been a piece of cake for him. But when he heard his name, Zhuang Zi''ang seemed to freeze, as if his soul had drifted off somewhere and was suddenly yanked back. He stood at the board but remained frozen, unable to write. His mind was consumed by the diagnosis report, or rather, his death warrant. The once-familiar numbers and symbols now seemed utterly foreign. "Zhuang Zi''ang, what''s wrong?" Wu Qiufang asked, surprised. "Ms. Wu, I don''t know how to do it," Zhuang Zi''ang choked out, his voice thick with emotion. "What do you mean, you don''t know?" Wu Qiufang knew Zhuang Zi''ang well. This level of math problem was definitely within his capabilities. She had called on him to solve it as a way to indirectly reprimand Li Huangxuan, but her plan had backfired. Zhuang Zi''ang''s shoulders began to tremble, and the piece of chalk fell from his hand. Tears welled up in his eyes, threatening to spill over. He was engulfed by an overwhelming wave of sadness, like a lonely, lost child. Wu Qiufang''s heart ached at the sight. She had an urge to embrace him. The other students, bewildered, started whispering among themselves. "There''s no way Zhuang Zi''ang can''t solve this problem. What''s going on?" "Only a top student would get so upset over a math problem that he''d cry." "Hey Mu Shi, did he confess to you and you rejected him or something?" ... Lin Mushi stared at Zhuang Zi''ang''s back, her beautiful eyes wide with concern. A sudden pang of anxiety shot through her. In all their time as friends, she had never seen him so distraught. He was definitely hiding something. "Zhuang Zi''ang, it''s okay. Go back to your seat," Wu Qiufang said softly. "Ms. Wu, may I go to the restroom?" Zhuang Zi''ang asked, his voice choked with sobs. Wu Qiufang sighed softly and nodded in understanding. Teachers always had a soft spot for their best students. Once he was out of the classroom and in the hallway, Zhuang Zi''ang could no longer contain his emotions. He broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. Every teacher, every classmate ¨C he cherished them all deeply. In just three months, they would be separated by the veil of death, never to meet again. Chapter 3: First Time Putting on a Girls Shoe Sunlight dappled through the leaves and onto the grass, the air filled with the earthy fragrance of the soil. The more beautiful the world appeared at this moment, the deeper Zhuang Zi''ang''s sorrow became. Fearing that others might witness his disheveled state, he quickly left the corridor and ran down the stairs towards the sports field. With every stride, tears streamed down his face. In the northwest corner of the basketball court, the trees grew thick and lush. Several towering ginkgo trees stood bathed in sunlight, their vibrant green leaves bursting with life. In this secluded corner, Zhuang Zi''ang finally gave in to his grief, releasing all his pent-up emotions. Large teardrops fell onto the soil beneath his feet, and his throat grew hoarse from crying. He couldn''t understand why, when he had never done anything wrong, fate was being so cruel to him. He had always thought that death was something distant and far off. But when it suddenly arrived, it could instantly shatter a person''s will. As he cried, a faint melody drifted to Zhuang Zi''ang''s ears, delicate and ethereal. At first, he thought he was hallucinating. But gradually, the tune became clearer, its melody unique and winding, full of twists and turns. La so so si do si la, so la si si si si la si la so... Zhuang Zi''ang was certain he had never heard this tune before. The ethereal music flowed like a gentle stream, soothing his heart and gradually easing the bone-deep sadness within him. He opened his tear-filled eyes and looked at the world, which seemed both real and unreal. "Hey, aren''t you ashamed to be crying like a big baby?" a crisp voice said from above. Zhuang Zi''ang was startled. Looking up, he saw a girl sitting on a branch of the ginkgo tree. His face instantly flushed crimson. She must have seen his entire embarrassing display. The girl was very pretty, with an oval face, almond-shaped eyes, and an asymmetrical braid draped over her left shoulder. She wore a pure white blouse paired with a navy blue pleated skirt that reached her calves. On one foot, she wore a spotless white canvas shoe, while the other was bare. What caught his attention the most was the blooming peach blossom tucked behind her ear. Zhuang Zi''ang had always thought Lin Mushi was beautiful, but compared to this girl, Lin Mushi seemed to pale slightly in comparison. "Why aren''t you in class?" Zhuang Zi''ang asked. "Shh, keep your voice down," the girl said, placing a finger to her lips. Her fingers were slender and delicate, like finely carved white jade. Her lips were small and rosy, like freshly picked strawberries. "Hi, my name is Zhuang Zi''ang, from Class 9," Zhuang Zi''ang introduced himself quietly. "Su Yudiel, from Class 23. You can call me Little Butterfly," the girl replied. Her voice was lovely, like pearls falling onto a jade plate, like raindrops hitting banana leaves, or like a breeze rustling through a wheat field, setting the wind chimes on the eaves tinkling. Zhuang Zi''ang knew that their grade level was the only one in this part of the school campus, and there were clearly only 22 classes in their grade. The girl''s mention of Class 23 was probably a way of keeping her guard up and not revealing her real class.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Su Yudiel dangled her little feet. "Zhuang Zi''ang, can you pick up my shoe for me?" Following her gaze, Zhuang Zi''ang spotted a white canvas shoe at the foot of the tree. It must have fallen off when she was playfully climbing the tree. "How did you climb so high, being a girl?" Zhuang Zi''ang picked up the shoe and stood on tiptoe to hand it to her. His gaze couldn''t help but linger on her slender calves, delicate as lotus roots, with their soft, smooth curves. What a perfect work of art, he thought. At that moment, a mischievous thought crossed Zhuang Zi''ang''s mind. The girl above him was wearing a skirt. If he just adjusted his line of sight a little... Of course, he only thought about it; he didn''t actually do anything so perverted. As the saying goes, "Of all vices, lewdness is the worst. Judge the act, not the thought, for judging the thought, no one is perfect." Su Yudiel sat sideways on the branch, trying several times to put on her shoe, but she couldn''t quite manage it. Zhuang Zi''ang watched her intently, his heart pounding with worry that she might lose her balance. "Help me put my shoe on," Su Yudiel suddenly said, dangling her little foot down. At the same time, she tossed the white canvas shoe back to Zhuang Zi''ang. They had only just met, and this request was a bit forward. But considering her current predicament, it was understandable. Zhuang Zi''ang hesitated for a moment, swallowed hard, and then reached out to hold her delicate ankle. It was his first time putting a shoe on a girl, and his heart raced, his breathing becoming a little heavy. With much effort, he finally managed to slip the canvas shoe onto her foot and tied a somewhat clumsy bow. "You''re so clumsy," Su Yudiel teased with a smile. "You''re the clumsy one, climbing so high, and in a skirt too," Zhuang Zi''ang retorted. Once she had her shoe on, Su Yudiel looked down at the ground. "It''s so high. I''m a little scared. Catch me." Zhuang Zi''ang nodded, held out his arms, and signaled for her to jump. Su Yudiel took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and leaped. Zhuang Zi''ang caught her in a bridal carry, holding her securely in his arms. Her soft body exuded a faint, sweet fragrance. The scene was like something out of a romantic drama. Su Yudiel looked up at Zhuang Zi''ang, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Put me down now." "Oh, right!" Zhuang Zi''ang quickly helped her to her feet. Their eyes met, and they both smiled. Su Yudiel''s bright, clear smile was like warm sunshine, chasing away the gloom and chill in Zhuang Zi''ang''s heart. This girl, who had seemingly fallen from the sky, possessed a mysterious, magical power. "Why were you hiding here and crying?" Su Yudiel asked curiously. "I had something sad happen, and I needed to let it out," Zhuang Zi''ang replied, trying to sound nonchalant. "You''re not even ashamed? I had something sad happen to me too, but I didn''t cry!" Su Yudiel pouted. Zhuang Zi''ang smiled wryly but didn''t argue. Su Yudiel looked about his age, and with her cheerful demeanor, how could she possibly understand his sorrow? She was as young and vibrant as the rising sun, just beginning to show its brilliance. He, on the other hand, was like the setting sun, about to crash into the mountains, leaving behind a smear of blood before being swallowed by the encroaching darkness. The world would become dark and cold. He didn''t know where his soul would wander. The pleasant sound of the dismissal bell echoed across the empty sports field. The lifeless teaching building seemed to come alive again. It was the end of the fourth period, signaling the start of the joyful lunch break. Classrooms on every floor erupted in a flurry of activity. Su Yudiel blinked. "If you''re unhappy, I''ll take you out to play and eat delicious food. Don''t cry again without my permission." Hearing her slightly bossy words, Zhuang Zi''ang found himself nodding in agreement. The warmth that had been drained from his body seemed to return, brought back by the bright sunshine. Even if he only had three months left to live, each remaining day was worth cherishing. If life lacked length, he could still make it rich in breadth. The girl before him seemed like a lively angel, sent to guide him and save his soul. Chapter 4: Love and Food Are the Two Things One Should Never Fail Zhuang Zi¡¯ang and the newly acquainted Su Yudiel walked side by side down the busy street. The midday rush after school always brought this area to life, with food vendors lining both sides of the road. Aromas of various snacks and dishes mingled in the warm air. Having just gone through a wave of intense emotions, Zhuang Zi¡¯ang was finally calming down enough to feel his growing hunger. He turned to Su Yudiel. ¡°Why did you skip class?¡± Su Yudiel gazed at him with an innocent expression. ¡°I didn¡¯t skip class. I went to pick ginkgo leaves.¡± ¡°But it was clearly during class time,¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang said, skeptical. ¡°Why weren¡¯t you in your classroom?¡± She smiled. ¡°We had P.E. (physical education).¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang fell silent. He had been so overwhelmed by sadness earlier that he hadn¡¯t noticed whether there were students doing P.E. on the sports field. All he remembered was how quiet it had been beneath the ginkgo trees. ¡°So then,¡± Su Yudiel asked, ¡°why did you skip class?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang replied, sounding defensive. ¡°I asked the teacher for leave. I just didn¡¯t want anyone to see me crying.¡± He had thought he¡¯d hidden himself well, and it stung to realize someone had witnessed everything¡ªand from up in a tree, no less. Su Yudiel looked momentarily puzzled but then, as though struck by a whim, declared, ¡°Let me take you to get something delicious. It¡¯ll cheer you up.¡± Her idea of ¡°something delicious¡± turned out to be fried potatoes¡ªtruly a gift from nature that can serve as either a staple or a vegetable, with countless ways to cook them. The vendor cut the potatoes into small chunks and fried them until golden brown, then dusted them with salt and pepper, cumin powder, chili powder, chopped green onions, and white sesame seeds. The result was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. A self-proclaimed foodie, Su Yudiel insisted the potatoes needed extra chili for a proper kick, and asked the vendor to add more. ¡°Zhuang Zi¡¯ang, wait here a second while I buy some cola. Coke or Pepsi?¡± ¡°Coke.¡± Everyone knows that Coke is fizzier, while Pepsi is sweeter. After all that emotional stress, Zhuang Zi¡¯ang felt like he could use more fizz right now. A few minutes later, the two of them sat on the edge of a marble step, sharing a batch of the spicy fried potatoes. The vendor had gone heavy on the chili, leaving Zhuang Zi¡¯ang¡¯s tongue almost numb. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead. Su Yudiel looked no better off; her face was flushed from the spice, and she chugged her ice-cold Coke in big gulps. ¡°Tell me your sad story,¡± she said suddenly, batting her bright eyes. ¡°It¡¯ll make me happy!¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Are you trying to rub salt in my wound?¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang asked with a wry expression. ¡°No, no,¡± she said, chewing on her straw. ¡°Sometimes, when you talk about what makes you sad, it starts to feel less sad.¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang turned, studying her gentle profile. She seemed so harmless and trusting that he hesitated only briefly before speaking. ¡°When I was twelve, I¡¯d just graduated from elementary school. One night during summer vacation, my dad said the whole family would go to the seaside. I¡¯d never seen the ocean before, so I was too excited to sleep. I stayed up all night packing¡­¡± ¡°Wow, your dad sounds great. I¡¯ve never seen the ocean either,¡± Su Yudiel said, her eyes shining with anticipation. ¡°But when I woke up the next morning, I found out the three of them had already left. My dad¡¯s idea of a ¡®whole family trip¡¯ didn¡¯t include me.¡± A dull hurt flickered across Zhuang Zi¡¯ang¡¯s eyes. ¡°¡­Oh,¡± Su Yudiel murmured. The mood turned awkward, and she groped for the right words to comfort him. In the end, she simply offered him a piece of potato with her bamboo skewer. ¡°Want to try mine?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t they exactly the same?¡± he asked, taken aback. ¡°It¡¯s different because I¡¯m feeding you,¡± she said, her eyes as clear as water after a spring rain. Zhuang Zi¡¯ang let her feed him a spicy, chili-laced potato chunk. It tasted as hot as ever, but something in his heart felt surprisingly sweet. ¡°When I turned fourteen, I scored first in the entire grade. The school held a parent-teacher meeting, and the teachers wanted my parents to share their child-raising experience. But my dad told my mom to go, and my mom told my dad to go¡­ In the end, neither of them showed up,¡± he continued, tears threatening to fill his eyes again. That afternoon was one of the most humiliating moments of his life. On his desk lay a stack of near-perfect test papers, but no one took any notice. He was practically glowing with academic success but had no family members there to celebrate with him¡ªjust a child the world seemed to have abandoned. Having gone so long without his parents¡¯ love, he had slipped into a silent despair. Even now, with his serious illness, he didn¡¯t know whether to tell his father or his mother first. He had never confided this sorrow to anyone, yet he felt he could trust this girl he had just met. ¡°Zhuang Zi¡¯ang, you¡¯ve got a nosebleed! Sorry, I guess I had them put in way too much chili.¡± Alarmed, Su Yudiel hurriedly pulled out a pack of tissues. She cupped the back of his head and gently dabbed the warm blood away. Zhuang Zi¡¯ang sensed a comforting warmth, as though it were seeping from her fingertips and driving away the tension in his heart. Once the bleeding stopped, he explained, ¡°Thanks¡­ But I¡¯ve been getting nosebleeds on and off for the past six months. It¡¯s not the chili¡¯s fault.¡± Nodding, Su Yudiel rummaged in her pocket and took out some cash, setting aside just enough for bus fare before pressing the rest into his hand. Her voice was soft but earnest. ¡°I¡¯ll save a bit to get home, and you can use the rest to buy more food. I eat like crazy whenever I¡¯m upset. After I¡¯ve had my fill of good food, I don¡¯t feel so bad anymore.¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang chuckled. ¡°They say love and food are the two things one should never betray. But I¡¯m a guy¡ªlet me be the one to treat you.¡± ¡°No way. Today, I¡¯m treating you. Next time I¡¯m sad, you can treat me.¡± She pursed her lips in an adorable show of resolve. ¡°All right, fine. I¡¯m not known for being polite, so if you insist¡­¡± He grinned. They finished the potatoes and Coke, then continued on their quest to satisfy their appetites. Su Yudiel practically hopped with every step, the hem of her skirt swaying, like a little butterfly dancing from place to place. The moment she spotted something appealing, she stopped, drooling in anticipation¡ªa true snack enthusiast. They wandered from stall to stall¡ªlamb skewers (y¨¢ng r¨°u chu¨¤n), hand-held pancakes (sh¨¯u zhu¨¡ b¨«ng), oden (gu¨¡n d¨­ng zh¨³, a Japanese-style stew), and spicy malatang (m¨¢ l¨¤ t¨¤ng, a Sichuan-style spicy hot pot). When Su Yudiel finally ran out of money, Zhuang Zi¡¯ang bought her a strawberry milk tea. He was already too full to drink anything else himself. ¡°Wow, Zhuang Zi¡¯ang, this is so good!¡± she exclaimed, taking an exaggeratedly satisfied slurp. ¡°Keep it down,¡± he teased. ¡°Don¡¯t sound so impressed¡ªlike you¡¯ve never tried decent milk tea before.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s really great. Want a taste?¡± She held the cup out toward him. ¡°How exactly am I supposed to¡ª¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang stopped mid-sentence when he saw the straw, covered in her teeth marks. Even if it weren¡¯t, they¡¯d only met an hour ago; sharing one straw seemed too intimate. As if performing a magic trick, she pulled a brand-new straw from behind her back. ¡°I asked for an extra one when I got the Coke.¡± She popped the extra straw in. ¡°Here, have a sip.¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang locked eyes with her for a moment, then gave in and took a drink. The sweet, creamy flavor spread across his tongue, leaving a lingering taste of comfort. Though it was just an ordinary strawberry milk tea, it somehow felt more special than ever. Drinking from the same cup with two straws was usually a couple¡¯s thing. He couldn¡¯t tell if she was being deliberately forward or just naturally carefree. He considered himself decent-looking, but hardly enough to inspire love at first sight¡ªso maybe she really was that innocently bold. ¡°Zhuang Zi¡¯ang,¡± she said, ¡°we¡¯re friends now, right?¡± ¡°Of course. You¡¯re my first friend since I got here,¡± he replied. Su Yudiel nodded seriously, though her words made Zhuang Zi¡¯ang wonder: What did she mean by ¡®first friend¡¯? Chapter 5: Just Be Happy in Life The sky was clear, with white clouds drifting lazily. Zhuang Zi''ang and his new friend, Su Yudiel, had filled their stomachs with snacks, which served as their lunch. They sat on a bench in the shopping mall, basking in the afternoon sun. The gentle breeze played with Su Yudiel''s navy blue pleated skirt, revealing her slender, fair calves. Her feet swayed back and forth, a sign of her restless energy. "Zhuang Zi''ang, are you going back to school this afternoon?" Su Yudiel asked, gazing up at the sky. "No," Zhuang Zi''ang replied decisively. The rebellious spirit within him had been awakened, and he planned to skip the rest of the afternoon classes. After being a good kid for over a decade, he could finally indulge himself. Being with a good friend was much more fun than being in school. For the first time in his life, he experienced this kind of joy, and it felt incredibly exhilarating. "Then where shall we go this afternoon?" Su Yudiel leaned closer to Zhuang Zi''ang. Her faint, sweet fragrance wafted towards him. Without realizing it, the two had gone from strangers to using "we." Zhuang Zi''ang thought for a moment and then asked, "Do you like fishing?" Su Yudiel wrinkled her brow and shook her head repeatedly. "No, I''ve never caught a single fish." "Then I''ll take you to the river to fish. I''m an expert," Zhuang Zi''ang boasted. Every summer vacation, he would stay in the countryside for a while and go fishing with his grandfather. It was a leisurely and enjoyable pastime. In truth, he was far from an expert. The number of fish he had caught in his entire life could be counted on one hand. "Alright then, you have to catch a big, fat fish for me," Su Yudiel said, a charming smile curving her lips. Without further ado, Zhuang Zi''ang went to a fishing tackle shop and spent over a hundred yuan on a cheap fishing rod. In the past, he might have balked at the price, but now, if he didn''t spend it, he wouldn''t have another chance. Passing by a convenience store, Su Yudiel tugged at Zhuang Zi''ang''s sleeve. "Let''s buy some more snacks. We can eat them by the river." "Are you a reincarnated hungry ghost?" Zhuang Zi''ang asked, exasperated. Su Yudiel looked at the convenience store''s glass window with a pitiful expression. "Just a few snacks, please? Pretty please?" Zhuang Zi''ang surrendered. "Fine, fine, whatever you want." "Yay, go buy them quickly!" Su Yudiel exclaimed, as happy as a child. Zhuang Zi''ang entered the store and randomly grabbed some nuts, beef jerky, cookies, and other snacks from the shelves. Since they had just met, he had no idea what this girl liked to eat. There was a small bookstore next to the convenience store. When Zhuang Zi''ang came out, he found Su Yudiel scrolling through her phone, reading silly jokes, and laughing uncontrollably to herself. "Wow, you''re into some deep stuff," Zhuang Zi''ang teased. Su Yudiel could tell he was being sarcastic but didn''t mind. "Life is about being happy. Why does it have to be so deep?" "You''re right. The more knowledge you have doesn''t necessarily make you happier," Zhuang Zi''ang agreed. "Exactly. Scientists, thinkers, philosophers ¨C they all die in the end," Su Yudiel said casually. As a young person, she seemed to have no taboo about the word "death."Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Zhuang Zi''ang was taken aback at first, then said to himself, "Yeah, I''m going to die too." The school was built on a hill, and at the foot of the hill was a river that flowed through the city. The green water flowed gently, its surface rippling. The afternoon sun shone down, reflecting off the river in shimmering golden sparkles. Zhuang Zi''ang baited his hook, cast the line with a flourish, and then sat cross-legged on the cobblestones by the river, like Jiang Taigong fishing by the Wei River, calm and composed. Suddenly, a burst of silvery laughter broke his concentration. "Keep your voice down. You''ll scare away my fish," he complained. "Sorry, this joke is too funny. Come look," Su Yudiel said, holding her phone out to Zhuang Zi''ang. "Me, a person of such depth, reading these childish jokes with you?" Zhuang Zi''ang said with feigned disdain. "Just take a look!" Su Yudiel pleaded with a pout. Zhuang Zi''ang glanced at the phone perfunctorily. But those two glances led him down a path of no return. "Hahahahaha..." Before they knew it, their heads were close together, reading silly jokes and laughing like fools. Su Yudiel had a very low threshold for humor. Even the most ordinary jokes could make her laugh until her stomach hurt. Zhuang Zi''ang usually considered himself to have a high threshold for humor, but he couldn''t help but be infected by the girl''s laughter. Afraid that laughing too loudly would disturb the fish in the water, he tried to stifle his laughter, which was quite a struggle. "Zhuang Zi''ang, take out your snacks. I want to eat," Su Yudiel requested. Zhuang Zi''ang took out the plastic bag. "There are nuts, cookies, and beef jerky. What do you want?" "You choose for me. I like them all." Foodies are not picky eaters. Zhuang Zi''ang randomly grabbed a pack of cookies and handed it to her. Su Yudiel tore open the package and eagerly took a bite. "So crispy! You should have one too." "I''m so full, I can''t eat anymore," Zhuang Zi''ang drawled. Su Yudiel directly shoved a cookie into his mouth and said, "So fussy." The cookie was crispy and sweet, but it wasn''t as sweet as the girl''s smile. Zhuang Zi''ang completely forgot about his self-proclaimed status as a fishing expert and ended up reading jokes with Su Yudiel the whole time. They even went back and read them a second time after finishing, like two fools seeking the purest form of joy. Only when their necks became too stiff to continue did he finally stop and stretch. Suddenly remembering his original purpose, he lifted the fishing rod, only to find that the bait had long since been eaten clean. Time flowed like petals falling from a flower, and the shadows on the ground grew longer and longer. In the past, Zhuang Zi''ang found the afternoon hours in class to be particularly grueling. But today, from noon until sunset, it felt like the blink of an eye. The setting sun cast a golden glow on the faces of the young man and woman. "I need to catch the 6:10 bus home," Su Yudiel said, stretching. "I haven''t even caught a fish yet," Zhuang Zi''ang mumbled. "You look like a big, fat fish yourself, all silly," Su Yudiel teased. They left the riverbank and walked up the long stone steps back to the snack street. Passing by a dessert shop, Su Yudiel stopped again, staring at the beautiful cakes in the window. "Don''t tell me you''re hungry again?" Zhuang Zi''ang asked, surprised. "No, no. You said your relationship with your family isn''t good. Why not buy them a cake? Eating sweets brings happiness," Su Yudiel said, her eyes filled with sincerity. If someone else had made this suggestion, Zhuang Zi''ang would have rejected it outright. Over a decade of emotional estrangement couldn''t be mended with a small cake. But when he met Su Yudiel''s gaze, he couldn''t bring himself to say no. This girl genuinely wanted to help him repair his relationship with his family. She believed that the warmth of human nature could overcome the coldness of the world. In the end, at Su Yudiel''s suggestion, Zhuang Zi''ang bought a strawberry cake. It was a bit pricey, and he felt a pang of regret as he paid for it. They walked to the bus stop at the school gate, and the No. 19 bus arrived just in time. "Goodbye, Zhuang Zi''ang," Su Yudiel said, waving. Then she hopped onto the bus. "Goodbye, my friend," Zhuang Zi''ang said, waving back. But his voice was so soft that only he could hear it. What an interesting girl. Oh, crap, I forgot to get her phone number. The bus gradually moved away, eventually disappearing into the flow of traffic. Chapter 6: Peeking at Happiness Night fell, and the city lights gleamed brightly, illuminating the dark sky. Carrying a strawberry cake, Zhuang Zi¡¯ang made his way to the apartment complex where his mother, Xu Hui, rented a small place. Gazing up at the countless lit windows, he felt not a trace of warmth in his heart. Because none of those lights was lit for him. Just as he reached the stairwell, he ran into his mother hurrying downstairs, dragging a suitcase. In her early forties, Xu Hui looked especially tired from working on trains and constantly traveling to make ends meet. ¡°Zi¡¯ang, I have something urgent. Get yourself some dinner, or go back home,¡± she said in a rush. The ¡°home¡± Xu Hui referred to was the place where his father, Zhuang Wenzhao, lived. Legally, Zhuang Zi¡¯ang was still under his father¡¯s custody. ¡°Mom, are you in such a hurry? Can¡¯t you spare a few minutes to share this cake with me?¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang asked, eyes filled with hope. ¡°I don¡¯t have time. Next time,¡± Xu Hui replied, checking her watch. ¡°Not even a few minutes?¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang tried again. ¡°No. You¡¯re eighteen now¡ªan adult. You need to be more sensible,¡± Xu Hui said, then turned and walked away without looking back. Watching her go, Zhuang Zi¡¯ang¡¯s eyes brimmed with loneliness and resignation. Telling her about his predicament wouldn¡¯t change anything; it would only make her worry and grieve sooner. Once everything was settled, she would still have to return to her hectic work schedule. Xu Hui had a divorced male colleague at work who had been pursuing her for some time. Without Zhuang Zi¡¯ang in the picture, she might have even fewer worries, giving her a better chance to find happiness again¡ªperhaps someone who could care for her in her later years. I¡¯m eighteen¡ªa grown-up. Is that sensible enough? After a brief internal struggle, Zhuang Zi¡¯ang decided to head to his father¡¯s home. He couldn¡¯t bear this burden alone. People often say a father¡¯s love is like a mountain¡ªsomething you can lean on when it truly matters. He set off once more, strawberry cake in hand, traveling across half the city. A chilly evening wind made him shiver. Stepping out of the elevator, Zhuang Zi¡¯ang noticed the front door was slightly ajar, a warm yellow glow spilling out from the living room. ¡°Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you¡­¡± A cheerful birthday tune echoed inside. Only then did Zhuang Zi¡¯ang remember that today was his younger brother Zhuang Yuhang¡¯s birthday. In their rural hometown, birthdays were often observed according to the lunar calendar. At school, however, both teachers and students usually tracked the solar (Gregorian) calendar and weekdays instead. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Zhuang Zi¡¯ang and Zhuang Yuhang were years apart; their bond was weak, more like a concubine¡¯s son and a legitimate son in ancient times. In previous years, if Zhuang Zi¡¯ang happened to be around on Yuhang¡¯s birthday, he would join the meal; if not, it was no big deal. Here in this house, he¡¯d always felt like an outsider. From within, Yuhang¡¯s voice rose: ¡°Dad, Mom, I hope our family of three can be happy and that you¡¯ll celebrate my birthday with me every year.¡± Sure enough, in their eyes, this family consisted of just three people. Qin Shulan (Zhuang Zi¡¯ang¡¯s stepmother) asked, ¡°Honey, should we call Zi¡¯ang to see if he¡¯s coming?¡± Zhuang Wenzhao replied casually, ¡°No need. He¡¯s probably with his mom. If he wants to come back, he knows how.¡± The three of them cheerfully shared the birthday cake, their laughter like knives stabbing at Zhuang Zi¡¯ang¡¯s heart. In that moment, he felt utterly superfluous. Seeing his father so immersed in the joy of a happy family moment, could he really be so callous as to confront him with a terminal diagnosis now? If he disappeared from the world, the family of three would finally be complete¡ªno more thorn pricking them from time to time. Zhuang Zi¡¯ang¡¯s heart sank into a gray fog. He was about to leave when the door swung open and Qin Shulan, his stepmother, caught sight of him standing there, awkward and uncertain. ¡°Zi¡¯ang, you¡¯re back! Why not come in?¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang froze, like a thief caught red-handed peeking at someone else¡¯s happiness. Head lowered, he walked inside, quietly greeting his father. Zhuang Wenzhao acknowledged him with a lukewarm grunt. Each time Zhuang Zi¡¯ang crossed this threshold, he felt on edge, like walking on thin ice. On the dining table was a large, exquisitely decorated cake piled high with fruit and chocolate. Compared to that, the small strawberry cake in his hands seemed pitifully cheap¡ªhardly worth presenting. Zhuang Wenzhao said in a low voice, ¡°Today is Yuhang¡¯s birthday. Wash up and join us for some cake.¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang sensed the air grow heavy, as if the atmosphere had turned oppressive. His presence had shattered what had been a harmonious family celebration. He mumbled, ¡°You go ahead. I just need something from my room,¡± then hurried down the hall to his bedroom, shutting the door behind him so he could finally breathe again. To justify his excuse, he rummaged in a drawer until he found an old bamboo flute¡ªa prize he had won in a childhood music competition. He hadn¡¯t touched it in years; he was undoubtedly rusty by now. A short while later, Yuhang knocked on the door. ¡°Mom and Dad asked me to bring you some cake,¡± he said. Taking a deep breath, Zhuang Zi¡¯ang opened the door and forced a stiff smile. ¡°Thanks, Yuhang. Happy birthday.¡± Yuhang slid into the room, eyes flicking to the strawberry cake. A look of disdain crossed his face. Spoiled from a young age and not sharing the same mother, he harbored little affection for Zhuang Zi¡¯ang. In his mind, Zhuang Zi¡¯ang was just a nerd with good grades. ¡°You really didn¡¯t need to come back. You don¡¯t like it here, and I don¡¯t like it when you come,¡± Yuhang said bluntly, annoyed at Zhuang Zi¡¯ang for disrupting their cozy family of three. ¡°I¡¯ll leave, then,¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang said, clutching the cake and bamboo flute as he fled from the bedroom. Seeing this, Qin Shulan feigned concern. ¡°Zi¡¯ang, where are you going at this hour?¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang halted, turned to stare at his father, and said, ¡°Dad, my studies are pretty intense right now. It¡¯s easier to stay at my mom¡¯s place. After three months, will you come pick me up, bring me home?¡± Zhuang Wenzhao looked momentarily startled, finding his son¡¯s tone oddly grave. Three months from now¡ªwouldn¡¯t that coincide with graduation? ¡°It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t come,¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang added softly, disappointment flickering in his eyes. He then rushed out the door. The elevator doors slid shut, and tears welled up in Zhuang Zi¡¯ang¡¯s eyes. He envied Yuhang so much. He had parents, but it felt like he didn¡¯t. Even this crushing misfortune was his alone, with no one to share it with. Once he exited the apartment complex, perhaps the emotional upheaval triggered the illness lurking in his body. Warm blood began trickling from his nose, staining the gray pavement at his feet. The bright red drops matched the crimson tassel at the end of his bamboo flute. In three months, I probably won¡¯t be in this world anymore. Whether anyone comes to bring me ¡°home¡± doesn¡¯t really matter. Wherever my ashes end up, or if they¡¯re scattered to the wind¡ªit makes no difference. Life is so bitter¡ªthere¡¯s likely no next life, anyway. Clutching the bamboo flute, Zhuang Zi¡¯ang wandered aimlessly along the dark streets, tissues unable to stem the flow of his nosebleed. He suddenly remembered that earlier in the day, he¡¯d had a nosebleed when he was with Su Yudiel. Back then, she¡¯d simply cupped the back of his head, her warm fingertips somehow stopping the bleeding with ease. Thinking of her bright, smiling face brought a faint spark of warmth to his cold and lonely heart. Chapter 7: A Real Man Doesnt Easily Shed Tears Don''t ask me where I come from. My hometown is far away. Why do I wander? Wandering far away. Wandering! ... A dessert shop on the street was playing the old song "Olive Tree," released over forty years ago. The lyrics resonated with Zhuang Zi''ang, who felt like a homeless wanderer himself. Neither his father''s nor his mother''s place could be called home; they were merely places to stay. He didn''t want to go back to his mother''s two-bedroom apartment and face the lonely night alone. Fortunately, he still had a friend he could rely on. "Son, I''ve run away from home. Can you take me in for the night?" Zhuang Zi''ang called Li Huangxuan. "Of course, I''ll come down and get you," Li Huangxuan readily agreed. Zhuang Zi''ang smiled. This "son" was not raised in vain. If he were no longer in this world, Li Huangxuan would probably be very sad. "What happened to you?" Downstairs in the apartment complex, Li Huangxuan saw Zhuang Zi''ang''s face covered in blood and was filled with concern. "It''s nothing, just a bit of a heatstroke," Zhuang Zi''ang replied casually. "You need to take care of yourself. I''m still counting on you to take care of me in my old age," Li Huangxuan joked. True friends feel uncomfortable if they don''t get a verbal jab in. In more modern terms, they were each other''s "adopted father". Zhuang Zi''ang was in a somber mood and didn''t respond to his joke. Li Huangxuan''s home was a place Zhuang Zi''ang had visited many times before, each time with a sense of envy. His friend''s parents were loving, and the home was filled with warmth and laughter. It was a stark contrast to his own home, where he could only retreat to his room and face four cold walls. "Mom, Zhuang Zi''ang is sleeping over tonight. He hasn''t had dinner yet," Li Huangxuan called out to his mother, Fan Ling, as soon as he entered the apartment. "He hasn''t eaten this late? I''ll make him some noodles," Fan Ling replied from the kitchen. "Thank you, Auntie," Zhuang Zi''ang said, his nose stinging at the sound of her gentle voice. If only he had such a gentle mother! Xu Hui was always so busy making a living that she had little energy left to nurture their mother-son relationship. Li Huangxuan''s father, Li Tianyun, came out and saw the blood around Zhuang Zi''ang''s nose and mouth. He looked alarmed and asked with concern what had happened. He told his son to get some ice and called Zhuang Zi''ang over. "Come here, let me put some ice on it to prevent further bleeding." "Thank you, Uncle," Zhuang Zi''ang bowed. Li Tianyun applied ice to Zhuang Zi''ang''s forehead and the back of his neck, then patiently cleaned the blood with a wet towel, sighing with concern. "You kids need to take care of yourselves at school. If you''re not feeling well, tell your teachers and parents. Don''t try to tough it out on your own." This sentence caused Zhuang Zi''ang to break down completely. He had such a huge problem, and he could only bear it alone, with no one to rely on. Just now, facing his indifferent father, Zhuang Zi''ang had managed to hold back his tears. But now, seeing Li Huangxuan''s kind parents, he could no longer hold back. Tears streamed down his face, and his body shook with sobs. Li Tianyun pulled him into a hug. "There, there, don''t cry." Leaning on his uncle''s warm embrace, Zhuang Zi''ang tried to control his emotions. He repeated to himself over and over, A real man doesn''t easily shed tears. I can''t cry, I can''t cry... "Xiao Zhuang, come and eat your noodles!" Fan Ling called out softly. Two fried eggs were placed on top of the steaming noodles. Li Huangxuan''s family knew about Zhuang Zi''ang''s family situation. To avoid making him feel sad, they were very considerate and didn''t ask any probing questions. Instead, they chatted with him about everyday things at school. "Our Huangxuan is so lucky to have you as a friend."Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. "Yeah, how are you so amazing? How do you always get first place?" "If you were our son, we would be so happy." ... Zhuang Zi''ang looked up. "Auntie, are you serious? Do you really wish you had a son like me?" "Of course! Parents would be proud to have a son like you," Fan Ling replied without hesitation. "Ahem..." Li Tianyun coughed twice, giving his wife a look. Fan Ling realized she had misspoken and touched a sore spot for Zhuang Zi''ang. Such an outstanding son, yet treated like a ping-pong ball, batted back and forth between his parents. After finishing the noodles, Li Huangxuan took Zhuang Zi''ang to his bedroom. He had his eye on the delicate strawberry cake from the moment he saw it. "Dude, you brought a gift! I won''t be polite then." Li Huangxuan excitedly cut the small cake in half and handed a piece to Zhuang Zi''ang. Zhuang Zi''ang felt a pang of guilt. He wanted to say that the cake wasn''t originally for him, but he couldn''t bring himself to say it. Suddenly, he felt something cold on his cheek. Li Huangxuan had smeared a dollop of cream on him, laughing loudly. "What are you daydreaming about?" "You dare to ambush me!" Zhuang Zi''ang retaliated, grabbing his piece of cake and smearing it on Li Huangxuan''s face. Li Huangxuan dodged, laughing heartily. The two chased each other around the room like two playful children. Zhuang Zi''ang''s inner stress was momentarily released. Only with Li Huangxuan could he forget that he was supposed to be a grown-up, that he was supposed to be understanding. After they tired themselves out, they lay sprawled on the bed. Panting, Li Huangxuan asked, "Dude, where did you run off to this afternoon?" "I didn''t want to go to class, so I went fishing by the river," Zhuang Zi''ang answered truthfully. "What? The goody-two-shoes Zhuang Zi''ang skipped class?" Li Huangxuan found it hard to believe. "Yeah, I''ve been a good kid for over a decade. I''m a little tired of it," Zhuang Zi''ang said meaningfully. Then he added, "I met a girl under the ginkgo trees on the sports field. She''s even prettier than Lin Mushi. We hung out all day." "You''re dreaming. There''s no girl in our school prettier than Lin Mushi," Li Huangxuan said skeptically. Hearing Li Huangxuan''s doubt, Zhuang Zi''ang was stunned. It was like a splash of cold water, waking him up. If Lin Mushi was the school beauty, and there was a girl named Su Yudiel who was even prettier, how could he have never heard of her? Could her name be fake too? Or maybe she wasn''t from their school? Seeing that Zhuang Zi''ang was silent, Li Huangxuan asked again, "Which class is that girl in?" Zhuang Zi''ang stammered, "She said she''s in Class 23." "What a load of bull," Li Huangxuan shook his head, convinced that Zhuang Zi''ang was hallucinating. He took out his phone and waved it. "It''s still early. Want to play a round?" Zhuang Zi''ang frowned. "Aren''t you afraid I''ll drag you down?" "Just play support. Watch me carry you," Li Huangxuan said confidently. "My only support hero is a fish." As a model student, Zhuang Zi''ang rarely played games, so he was pretty bad. But he had already skipped class today, so playing a game wasn''t a big deal. "TiMi!" They both opened up Honor of Kings. Li Huangxuan was Diamond III, and Zhuang Zi''ang was Platinum IV, so they could barely queue together. "Fish" is another name for the support hero Zhuang Zhou. As one of the heroes known for being easy to "mix" with (meaning to play without much skill and still win), it''s suitable for newbies to use to climb the ranks. "A bunch of people fighting in someone''s dream. Is that fun?" Li Huangxuan and Zhuang Zi''ang began their joyful duo queue journey. "Hey, why is your Zhuang Zhou using Purify?" "To remove debuffs. Can''t I?" "Ult, use your ult! Why aren''t you using your ult when Lu Bu jumps in?" "Sorry, I have Purify for myself. I forgot about you guys." First game, a narrow defeat. Second game, a close loss. Third game, carried to defeat. ... They played until Li Huangxuan dropped to Diamond IV and Zhuang Zi''ang dropped to Gold I, and they could no longer queue together. "Your Zhuang Zhou is really good. Don''t play it next time," Li Huangxuan threw his phone aside. "Oh!" Zhuang Zi''ang thought he was being praised. It was getting late. Time for bed! The real world is too harsh. It''s better to dream. Everything is possible in dreams. The beautiful long sleep deserves a song. La la la la la... Chapter 8: The Unrepayable Debt of a Teachers Kindness "In the northern darkness, there is a fish, and its name is Kun. The Kun is so big, no one knows how many thousands of miles it measures..." During the morning reading session the next day, Li Huangxuan loudly recited the classical text. Zhuang Zi''ang, on the other hand, unfolded a piece of paper and quietly began writing a letter of self-criticism. He had enjoyed his moment of freedom yesterday, but when you do something wrong, you should accept the consequences. Sure enough, before the class ended, the homeroom teacher, Zhang Zhiyuan, arrived. "Zhuang Zi''ang, come with me to the office." The teachers'' office was very quiet, with only two or three teachers hunched over their desks, preparing lessons. Zhang Zhiyuan unscrewed his thermos and took a sip of his goji berry tea. Before he could even speak, Zhuang Zi''ang proactively handed him the letter of self-criticism. A full thousand words, freshly written, the ink still wet. The writing was eloquent, filled with literary quotations. "Zhuang Zi''ang, do you even know what you''re doing? Where did you run off to yesterday afternoon?" Zhang Zhiyuan slammed his hand on the desk. "I''m sorry, Mr. Zhang. I know I was wrong," Zhuang Zi''ang admitted sincerely. "You are the most outstanding student in the entire grade, and now you''ve done something so outrageous. As your homeroom teacher, I am deeply disappointed." "Your actions are not only irresponsible to yourself but also to your parents and teachers. You''ve set a terrible example for your classmates." "Don''t think that writing a letter of self-criticism will make everything okay. I don''t think you''ve realized the severity of your mistake." ... Zhang Zhiyuan lectured Zhuang Zi''ang, his words sharp and to the point. He was strict because he cared. He didn''t want the best student in his class to go astray. Although he was being scolded, Zhuang Zi''ang felt a sense of relief. He could clearly feel his teacher''s concern and care for him. It''s a pity he might not be able to repay this kindness from his teacher. Finally, when Zhang Zhiyuan tired himself out and started drinking his tea again, Zhuang Zi''ang found an opening to speak. Since he couldn''t confide in his parents for the time being, his homeroom teacher became the best person to talk to. At this point, the other teachers had also left. The office was left with only the two of them, teacher and student. "Mr. Zhang, I took a sick leave the day before yesterday. You were the one who approved my leave request," Zhuang Zi''ang said, his eyes reddening. Zhang Zhiyuan''s brow furrowed. "Is there something wrong with your health?" "Mr. Zhang, you are the teacher I respect the most. I don''t want to hide anything from you. I have a very serious illness," Zhuang Zi''ang said, his lower lip trembling violently. "What... what do you mean?" Zhang Zhiyuan sensed that something was wrong. Zhuang Zi''ang steadied himself, then took out the diagnosis report from his pocket, unfolded it, and placed it in front of Zhang Zhiyuan. Zhang Zhiyuan quickly scanned the report, and his expression changed drastically, as if a bolt of lightning had struck beside his ear.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. "No, this must be a misdiagnosis. Zhuang Zi''ang, don''t worry. I''ll take you for another check-up. There must be a mistake." Zhuang Zi''ang shook his head. "Mr. Zhang, it''s not a misdiagnosis. I''ve been having nosebleeds for the past six months." "How could this happen? You''re only eighteen!" Zhang Zhiyuan found it hard to accept. Although everyone faces death eventually, for this young man, that should have been a distant event. He had a whole vibrant life ahead of him that he hadn''t yet experienced. "Mr. Zhang, I don''t want to be pitied or treated with sympathy. I just want to live out my remaining time as I please," Zhuang Zi''ang pleaded. "What do your parents say? Are they still letting you go to school?" Zhang Zhiyuan asked, his tone filled with sorrow. "I want to be with my teachers and classmates." Compared to his parents, Zhuang Zi''ang felt closer to his teachers and classmates. He didn''t say directly that he only had three months left. And he definitely couldn''t tell his teacher that he was hiding such a big thing from his family. As the homeroom teacher, Zhang Zhiyuan knew that Zhuang Zi''ang''s family situation was complicated. He couldn''t even fathom how such a troubled family could produce such an outstanding child, one who could face life and death with such composure. Zhuang Zi''ang bowed deeply to Zhang Zhiyuan. "Mr. Zhang, I know I was wrong about yesterday. It won''t happen again." Zhang Zhiyuan''s nose stung. "It''s okay, I''m not blaming you. If you don''t feel like attending class, you can come to me for a leave request." He could understand that Zhuang Zi''ang, having grown up in such an environment, must have suppressed a lot of negative emotions. When faced with a life-or-death situation, it was only natural to want to release those emotions. He, as the homeroom teacher, hadn''t shown enough concern for his student. If he had discovered Zhuang Zi''ang''s condition earlier and gotten him proper treatment, would there have been a chance for a turnaround? "Mr. Zhang, I don''t want to be the class president anymore. Please choose another student." "Alright. You need to relax and not put any pressure on yourself. Cooperate with the doctor''s treatment. Don''t give up until the very end." Zhang Zhiyuan could only offer these words of comfort, even though he himself didn''t believe them. Zhuang Zi''ang picked up the diagnosis report from the desk, carefully folded it, and put it back in his pocket. His movements were slow, as if he were performing some kind of ritual. "Zhuang Zi''ang, continue attending classes for now. If you experience any discomfort, let me know immediately," Zhang Zhiyuan said, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He understood Zhuang Zi''ang''s desire, as the top student in the grade, to complete his studies and leave no regrets in his youth. But his duty as a teacher also filled him with deep self-reproach and worry. "Thank you, Mr. Zhang. I might have to disappoint you in the end," Zhuang Zi''ang said, tears welling up in his eyes. He bowed to Zhang Zhiyuan again. "No, you''ve always been the student I''m most proud of," Zhang Zhiyuan choked out. Such an outstanding student, always bringing honor to the class and the school. He would undoubtedly have become a remarkable individual with great achievements after entering society. What a pity, such talent was being cut short. Suppressing his sadness, Zhuang Zi''ang remembered something and asked Zhang Zhiyuan for confirmation, "Mr. Zhang, our grade only has 22 classes, right?" Zhang Zhiyuan was puzzled. "Of course. Why do you ask?" "I met a girl yesterday who said she was in Class 23." "Don''t let your mind wander. Go back to class now!" Zhang Zhiyuan assumed that Zhuang Zi''ang was asking such strange questions because of the shock he had just received. He tried to remain calm and not make the atmosphere too heavy with sorrow, trying to treat Zhuang Zi''ang as normally as possible. Just as Zhuang Zi''ang himself had requested, not pitying him or treating him with sympathy was the greatest respect he could show him. Zhuang Zi''ang bowed deeply to Zhang Zhiyuan again and then, with heavy steps, left the teachers'' office. Zhang Zhiyuan watched him walk away, and only then did his long-suppressed emotions erupt. He slammed his fist on the desk, his right hand clenched tightly. The man in his forties cried, his eyes red and swollen. Not just the best student in the class, but any eighteen-year-old facing such an unfair twist of fate would evoke tears from anyone. After leaving the office, Zhuang Zi''ang didn''t go directly back to Class 9. Instead, he walked up the stairs, all the way to the fifth floor. He confirmed with his own eyes that Class 22 was the last one. Beyond that were only empty classrooms. Little Butterfly (One last reminder for Su Yudiel£¬Yudiel means Butterfly in the Rain, nickname), who are you really? Where did you come from? Chapter 9: The Most Precious Friendship The second class of the morning was followed by a twenty-minute break, which used to be for morning exercises. However, the school, considering the students'' heavy workload, had essentially canceled the morning exercises, allowing the students this time to relax. Lin Mushi, sitting in the front row, turned around and asked with concern, "Zhuang Zi''ang, why did you cry during math class yesterday? And why didn''t you come to class in the afternoon?" Zhuang Zi''ang answered vaguely, "I was in a bad mood, so I wanted to do something to make myself happy!" "You''re the class president and the top student in the grade. You should set a good example for your classmates. What you did was completely out of line," Lin Mushi said, pouting. She couldn''t understand why he had changed so much after just one sick day. The old Zhuang Zi''ang would never have done such a thing. Even if he was in a bad mood, he would at most do a set of practice tests to torture his brain cells. As a good friend, Lin Mushi was worried that he was going down a path of self-destruction. She felt a sense of helplessness, like she was watching someone she cared about make poor choices, but unable to stop them. Li Huangxuan guessed that Zhuang Zi''ang was probably upset about his family situation and, afraid that Lin Mushi''s words were too harsh, interjected, "Mushi, don''t worry about it. My ''son'' had a lot of fun skipping class yesterday. He did what I''ve always wanted to do but didn''t dare." Lin Mushi glared at Li Huangxuan. "He''s been led astray by you." Li Huangxuan retorted, "What does it have to do with me? He said it himself. He met a girl yesterday who''s even prettier than you, and they hung out all day." Zhuang Zi''ang quickly tried to cover Li Huangxuan''s mouth, but it was too late. This big mouth, how could he just blurt out anything? "Zhuang Zi''ang, you''re not learning good things. Are you trying to get a girlfriend?" Lin Mushi demanded, her beautiful phoenix eyes widening. "No, no, we just met yesterday," Zhuang Zi''ang denied repeatedly. Most students in the school were well-behaved. Although they had beautiful dreams about love, few dared to put them into action. Lin Mushi, the school''s reigning beauty, was used to being praised. Now, hearing that there was a girl even prettier than her, she felt a little uncomfortable. Li Huangxuan, a blunt guy, couldn''t stand Lin Mushi''s sometimes-arrogant princess attitude and always deliberately tried to provoke her. The two bickered back and forth in front of Zhuang Zi''ang. "You''re such a hopeless straight guy. You''ll be single forever." "Don''t think that just because you''re pretty, you can say whatever you want. I''d rather be single than be with you." "Li Huangxuan, go to hell!" "The fortune teller said I have a tough life. Everyone else will die before me." ... Lin Mushi suddenly reached out and pinched Li Huangxuan''s arm hard, making him wince in pain. These girls were so unreasonable. When they couldn''t win an argument, they resorted to violence. Watching the two playfully bickering, Zhuang Zi''ang felt a surge of sadness in his heart. Such lovely classmates, but in three months, he would never see them again. Their most precious friendship would be forever frozen at eighteen. When the two finally quieted down, Zhuang Zi''ang spoke, "Son, you''re a guy. Be more generous and give in to Mushi more in the future." Li Huangxuan touched his forehead. "Did you take the wrong medicine? I‘» her every day, and you never said anything before." "Mushi, I apologize on his behalf. You know he always speaks without thinking," Zhuang Zi''ang said, a hint of sadness in his eyes.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. "Zhuang Zi''ang, I also think you''re acting weird. Why are you being so polite all of a sudden?" Lin Mushi asked suspiciously. Her earlier words still rankled her, and she continued to probe, "Did you really meet a girl who''s prettier than me?" "Well, beauty is subjective, so I can''t really say," Zhuang Zi''ang hedged. "My ''son'' is handsome and has good grades. His girlfriend will definitely be the prettiest too. I don''t think you have much of a chance," Li Huangxuan added fuel to the fire, deliberately trying to irritate Lin Mushi. Because of Zhuang Zi''ang and Lin Mushi''s close friendship, there were always rumors circulating in the class about them. In reality, they were just good friends, with no romantic feelings between them. But now, with Li Huangxuan''s meddling, Lin Mushi felt a strange sense of loss, as if she had just been dumped. To save face, she smiled disdainfully. "I don''t believe your nonsense. You''re clearly infatuated with me and are just playing hard to get." Lin Mushi was very confident in her looks. There was definitely no girl prettier than her in the entire East Campus. The boys were just saying these things to provoke her competitive spirit, such a childish trick. "Mushi, I advise you to be more humble. There''s always someone better out there!" Zhuang Zi''ang was very confident in Little Butterfly''s looks. "Zhuang Zi''ang, are you in love with me? You''re just saying these things to provoke me. You two are in cahoots," Lin Mushi said, staring at the two of them with a look that suggested she had seen through their act. "Are you that narcissistic? With my looks, there are plenty of girls at school who have a crush on me," Zhuang Zi''ang joked along with her. "Zhuang Zi''ang, aren''t you afraid you''ll trip over your own tongue?" a sarcastic voice interjected from the side. Zhuang Zi''ang looked up and saw that the speaker was Xie Wenyong. He was the vice class president of Class 9 and had always been overshadowed by Zhuang Zi''ang, the class president. He was also secretly in love with Lin Mushi, but Lin Mushi always favored Zhuang Zi''ang. So, from time to time, Xie Wenyong would try to put Zhuang Zi''ang down. In the past, for the sake of class unity, Zhuang Zi''ang always tolerated it. But now, he didn''t feel like holding back anymore, so he retorted, "When we elected the class president, didn''t everyone vote based on looks? That''s why I''m the president and you''re the vice president." Lin Mushi and Li Huangxuan burst out laughing. Zhuang Zi''ang was indeed much more handsome than Xie Wenyong, but it was a bit much for him to say it himself. Xie Wenyong retorted, "You only became class president because of your good grades. You''re just a bookworm. In terms of overall ability, how can you compare to me?" "So, you want to be class president?" Zhuang Zi''ang asked, looking him in the eye. "If you weren''t so good at sucking up to the teachers, I would have been class president long ago," Xie Wenyong said angrily. "If you want to be class president, go apply to Mr. Zhang. I quit," Zhuang Zi''ang said casually. "Tch, do you really think you can just give it up?" Xie Wenyong didn''t believe him, thinking Zhuang Zi''ang was just teasing him. Zhuang Zi''ang said meaningfully, "Have you heard the story of Hui Shi being the prime minister of Liang?" A phoenix-like bird set out from the Southern Sea to fly to the Northern Sea. It would not perch on any tree but the phoenix tree, nor eat any fruit but that of the bamboo, nor drink from any spring but the sweetest. Now a kite, having got a rotten mouse, and seeing the phoenix-like bird pass by, looked up and screeched at it. The position of class president, which Xie Wenyong coveted, was no different from a rotten mouse in Zhuang Zi''ang''s eyes. "You''re really full of yourself," Xie Wenyong sneered. "Xie Wenyong, what does our conversation with Zhuang Zi''ang have to do with you?" Lin Mushi said, displeased. "Mushi, you''re so nice to Zhuang Zi''ang. Are you afraid he''ll be snatched away by that prettier girl?" Li Huangxuan teased again. "Are you crazy? Mushi is the school beauty. How could there be a girl prettier than her?" Xie Wenyong laughed even more boisterously. Just then, a student came back from the restroom and called out to Zhuang Zi''ang, "There''s a girl outside looking for you." Zhuang Zi''ang looked out the window, and his breath caught in his throat. The girl outside the window was wearing a pure white blouse paired with a navy blue pleated skirt and spotless white canvas shoes. What caught everyone''s attention the most was the blooming peach blossom tucked behind her ear. Her smile was more beautiful than the flower. Zhuang Zi''ang stood up abruptly and rushed out, parting the crowd. The classroom instantly erupted in a buzz of conversation. "Who is that girl? She''s so pretty!" "There really is a girl in our school prettier than Lin Mushi." "Xie Wenyong just got slapped in the face, hard." ... Lin Mushi stared at Zhuang Zi''ang''s retreating figure, her expression filled with grievance. Men are all pigs. Chapter 10: Friends Should Tell the Truth Zhuang Zi''ang rushed to the corridor outside the classroom in a few quick strides. "Why are you here?" Su Yudiel pulled out a tube of medicine from behind her back. "This is for you. The doctor said it can treat nosebleeds." Zhuang Zi''ang reached out and took it. It was an ordinary tube of hemostatic medicine. He knew, of course, that this medicine wouldn''t cure his illness. But he still smiled faintly. "Thank you." "It''s still early before class starts. Do you want to go sit over there with me?" Su Yudiel pointed to a nearby flower bed. "Sure." Zhuang Zi''ang nodded immediately. The flower bed was filled with calla lilies, hyacinths, wisteria, and other flowers, a riot of colors in full bloom. Several butterflies flitted and lingered among the blossoms. Su Yudiel smoothed her skirt and sat down gracefully on the edge of the flower bed. "Did your parents like the strawberry cake from yesterday?" At her question, Zhuang Zi''ang''s heart clenched. He couldn''t bring himself to say that the delicate strawberry cake had been utterly overshadowed by Zhuang Yuhang''s huge birthday cake. Nor could he admit that his homecoming had been far from pleasant. This innocent and naive girl surely believed that the world was full of beauty. So, he decided to tell a white lie. "Thank you for the idea. My little brother loved the cake. He ate it with cream all over his face." "My dad was very happy too. He asked about my studies, and when he found out I got first place again, he gave me a big hug." "My stepmom made a big table full of delicious food and kept putting food on my plate, praising me for being smart and sensible." ... A gentle breeze rustled by, carrying the faint fragrance of flowers. Su Yudiel sat with her arms around her knees, her head slightly tilted, her bright eyes blinking as she listened quietly to Zhuang Zi''ang''s story. The sounds of basketball on the court, the noise from the teaching building, and the chirping of birds in the trees seemed to fade away. The whole world seemed to consist only of the two of them and the colorful flowers behind them. Zhuang Zi''ang had imagined this scene countless times in his dreams. He thought he could tell the lie flawlessly, but his heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly. The smile he forced onto his lips was stiff and unnatural. He had always been a good kid and was, of course, not good at lying. "Zhuang Zi''ang, you''re a big dummy," Su Yudiel suddenly said. "Why are you calling me that?" Zhuang Zi''ang was taken aback. "You''re lying to me. Friends should tell each other the truth," Su Yudiel said, gently biting her lower lip. "I''m sorry..." Zhuang Zi''ang apologized in a low, husky voice. Truth was often cruel. He didn''t want to burden his friend with his sadness. "Zhuang Zi''ang, are you still very sad?" Su Yudiel asked softly. Zhuang Zi''ang nodded, then shook his head. "Then after school at noon, I''ll take you to eat something delicious again. Wait for me here."If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. "Huh? Okay!" Class was about to start. Su Yudiel stood up, waved goodbye to Zhuang Zi''ang, and then skipped away. The bright peach blossom bobbed up and down in his line of sight. In the blink of an eye, the girl''s figure disappeared into the crowd. Zhuang Zi''ang held the tube of medicine in his hand, its surface still warm. Back in the classroom, Li Huangxuan immediately sidled up to him. "Dude, who was that girl?" Zhuang Zi''ang replied, "I told you last night. She''s the girl I met under the ginkgo tree. You didn''t believe me then." "I believe you now. No wonder you skipped class for her." Li Huangxuan raised his voice deliberately. "Compared to that girl, Lin Mushi is really just average." Lin Mushi had been eavesdropping on their conversation with one ear pricked up. She turned around and gave Li Huangxuan a murderous glare. Then she looked deeply at Zhuang Zi''ang, her feelings incredibly complex. It seemed she was actually feeling a little bit jealous. Zhuang Zi''ang was handsome, had good grades, and was gentle. Such a good boy was hard to find. The bell rang, signaling the start of class. This period was Chinese, taught by their homeroom teacher, Zhang Zhiyuan. After the students stood up and greeted him, he waved his hand for them to sit down. "Before we start class, I have an announcement to make. Zhuang Zi''ang has resigned from his position as class president this morning, and I have approved it." The students immediately started whispering among themselves. "He actually resigned? No one in our class is more suitable to be class president than him." "Yeah, Zhuang Zi''ang has done a lot for everyone these past two years." "To be honest, he''s always been the pride of our class." ... Xie Wenyong was particularly shocked. He had thought Zhuang Zi''ang''s talk of resigning earlier was just a joke. He didn''t expect it to be true. Did he really consider the coveted position of class president to be nothing more than a rotten mouse? Zhang Zhiyuan said emotionally, "Classmates, let''s give a round of applause to thank Zhuang Zi''ang for his contributions to the class." Led by him, thunderous applause filled the classroom. Zhuang Zi''ang looked around at the familiar faces, a feeling of immense reluctance welling up in his heart. In three months, he would never see them again. His classmates were all so lovely. He was grateful for their companionship during his youth. With the class president''s resignation, it was only natural for the vice president to take over. Xie Wenyong got his wish and became the class president, but he didn''t feel happy at all. He only got what Zhuang Zi''ang didn''t want. His jealousy made him feel a bit twisted. Zhuang Zi''ang didn''t care about other people''s reactions. He began to think intently about what to eat for lunch. School let out at twelve o''clock and resumed at two-thirty, with the time in between for lunch and a nap. During this time, students could come and go freely; there was no restriction. Finally, the bell rang at twelve o''clock, signaling the start of the lunch rush. Li Huangxuan patted Zhuang Zi''ang''s shoulder. "Dude, are we still eating in the cafeteria today?" "I have something to do. Find someone else!" Zhuang Zi''ang looked out the window at the flower bed. "What do you have to do? Don''t we usually eat lunch together?" Li Huangxuan was puzzled. "I''ll explain later. I have to go." Zhuang Zi''ang hurriedly packed his bag and rushed out of the classroom. Li Huangxuan stared with wide eyes, feeling a sense of abandonment. It wasn''t until he saw Zhuang Zi''ang waiting by the flower bed for the girl with the peach blossom in her hair that his lungs nearly exploded with anger. "Damn, prioritizing girls over friends. What a beast!" When Zhuang Zi''ang saw Su Yudiel, his smile brightened. He tentatively asked, "Which floor is your classroom on? You came down pretty quickly." "The fifth floor. I ran down because I wanted to see you," Su Yudiel said, slightly out of breath. A spark flickered in Zhuang Zi''ang''s eyes. Am I worthy of someone running to meet me? "What do you want to eat? I can treat you to anything," Zhuang Zi''ang offered. "Let''s have mini hot pot. It has so many different dishes." When it came to food, Su Yudiel looked like she was about to drool. "Won''t you smell like hot pot if you eat it at noon?" "Why worry so much? Just eat what you want!" This girl was really carefree. Being with her made him feel much more cheerful. She was so beautiful, yet she didn''t act like a quiet, elegant lady at all. She skipped when she walked and chattered non-stop, like a happy little butterfly. Chapter 11: The Joy of Moving The spicy mini hot pot that Su Yudiel wanted to eat was delicious and inexpensive, making it very popular among students. Each person had their own small pot, about twenty centimeters in diameter, heated on an induction cooker. The bright red broth boiled and bubbled in the pot, looking very appetizing. Su Yudiel held the menu, constantly checking off items, muttering to herself, "Beef, tripe, thousand-layer tripe, lotus root, potato, enoki mushrooms, duck blood, shrimp dumplings, luncheon meat, sticky rice cakes, tangyuan, pineapple cakes..." "Can you eat all that?" Zhuang Zi''ang asked, concerned. "I have a big appetite. Besides, you''re here too, aren''t you?" Su Yudiel mumbled, her head down, focused on the menu. Zhuang Zi''ang quietly sipped his lemon tea, not daring to say another word. As a guy, it would be embarrassing if he couldn''t eat as much as a girl. Before long, the waiter brought their dishes. Su Yudiel evenly divided each dish into two portions, putting them into their respective pots. Then she asked, "Coke or Pepsi?" Zhuang Zi''ang replied, "Coke." Su Yudiel waved to the waiter and asked for two cans of ice-cold Coke. The dark brown cola was poured into glasses, creating a layer of fine bubbles. Su Yudiel raised her glass and clinked it against Zhuang Zi''ang''s. "Zhuang Zi''ang, I wish you to forget all your troubles and be happy every day." Zhuang Zi''ang was touched. "Little Butterfly, thank you." The carbon dioxide-filled Coke went down his throat, causing a slight tingling sensation. Su Yudiel placed the first piece of cooked beef into Zhuang Zi''ang''s bowl, and then she began to eat with gusto, offering commentary like a food critic as she ate. "The duck intestines are supposed to be dipped seven times up and eight times down. These are a bit overcooked." "The seaweed is too salty. It should have been rinsed a few more times." "The beef balls weren''t pounded enough. They''re not bouncy enough." ... Her little mouth seemed to never stop, always needing to say something. Zhuang Zi''ang pulled out a tissue and handed it to her. "You have some oil on your mouth." Su Yudiel took it and wiped her mouth haphazardly. "Thanks." Generally, pretty girls are very conscious of their image. But Su Yudiel, despite her stunningly beautiful face, seemed to relish the simple pleasures of life. A girl like her easily made people feel comfortable and was truly likable. "Little Butterfly, why are you always so happy?" Zhuang Zi''ang asked. "Being happy is a day, and being unhappy is also a day. Why not be happy every day?" Su Yudiel asked with a smile. Zhuang Zi''ang nodded silently. It made sense, and he couldn''t refute it. If he continued to dwell on yesterday''s sadness, he would be the one at a disadvantage. "By the way, do you have a nickname?" Su Yudiel asked curiously. Zhuang Zi''ang shook his head, bewildered. His classmates either called him "Class President" or his full name. Only Li Huangxuan called him "son."The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. "Son" probably didn''t count as a nickname, right? "Then I''ll call you Big Dummy," Su Yudiel said whileäÌing some tripe. "Why? That sounds awful," Zhuang Zi''ang protested. "Because you lied to me this morning, and you did it so poorly," Su Yudiel said, still dwelling on it. Zhuang Zi''ang thought to himself, I''ve been ranked first in the entire grade for two years in a row. If that''s considered dumb, what are the other students? The mini hot pot meal lasted about forty minutes. After fishing out the last piece of potato from the bottom of the pot and popping it into her mouth, Su Yudiel looked satisfied. Zhuang Zi''ang signaled the waiter for the bill. Su Yudiel hurriedly said, "I said I wanted to eat mini hot pot, so let me pay." Zhuang Zi''ang smiled. "I''ll treat you this time. You can treat me next time." "Okay then!" Su Yudiel agreed. Without realizing it, they had made plans for another time. It was around one o''clock in the afternoon when they left the mini hot pot restaurant. Zhuang Zi''ang planned to go to his mother''s two-bedroom apartment to tidy up and clean, as he would be living there long-term from now on. When Su Yudiel heard this, she insisted on going with him, saying she wanted to help him with the chores. When they were opening the door, the neighbor next door, an older woman, happened to come out. Zhuang Zi''ang had seen her a few times before and politely greeted her. "Oh, you have a girlfriend now?" The neighbor''s eyes lit up when she saw the beautiful Su Yudiel. "No, she''s a friend," Zhuang Zi''ang quickly explained, feeling a bit embarrassed. "It''s okay, no need to hide it from me. It''s normal for young people to be dating," the neighbor said with the tone of someone who had seen it all. Su Yudiel''s face turned red at her words. Although she usually chattered non-stop, she was like a clam at a time like this, not knowing how to explain. The apartment was a bit old, but it had good lighting. Xu Hui only stayed there for a few days each month. Sometimes, when she was too busy, she would just spend the night at a hotel near the train station. There wasn''t much furniture in the apartment, making it feel particularly spacious. There were also no plants, giving it a lifeless atmosphere. Zhuang Zi''ang said to Su Yudiel, "Little Butterfly, for these three months, if you want to hang out, you can come here." Su Yudiel blinked her big, watery eyes. "What about after three months?" "We''ll see then!" Zhuang Zi''ang evaded the question, his eyes dimming. He figured he would probably be in the hospital by then. Not many people in this world would be sad because of his departure. Su Yudiel''s lips curved into a smile. "If you make me unhappy, I won''t come hang out with you." Zhuang Zi''ang blurted out, "I won''t." The next three months would undoubtedly be filled with loneliness and suffering, and his body would endure immense pain from his illness. He didn''t want his dying life to lose this precious splash of color. Su Yudiel, despite her pretty appearance, was a capable worker and probably did a lot of chores at home. The two worked together, and before long, they had transformed the small apartment, making it feel much more warm and inviting. While taking out the trash, they also went to a nearby supermarket to buy some daily necessities. Zhuang Zi''ang specifically bought a tear-off calendar, the kind where you tear off a sheet each day. He weighed it in his hand. Ninety days were just a thin stack of paper. These flimsy sheets of paper were the countdown to his life. While they were checking out, Su Yudiel didn''t want to wait in line, so she went outside to wait for Zhuang Zi''ang. When Zhuang Zi''ang came out, he found her holding a round glass fishbowl with some pebbles and aquatic plants inside. Two red goldfish were swimming happily inside. "Zhuang Zi''ang, this is my gift to you. Congratulations on your move." "Why are you giving me two fish? I can barely take care of myself," Zhuang Zi''ang mumbled. "I made you miss out on catching fish yesterday, so this is to make up for it. And to add some life to your new home. Promise me, don''t let them die," Su Yudiel said seriously. "Don''t let them die?" Zhuang Zi''ang was taken aback. "I mean these two fish. If you let them die, I''ll never forgive you," Su Yudiel said, shaking her fist. Zhuang Zi''ang looked deeply into Su Yudiel''s eyes, as if trying to see into her soul. It was a joyful thing to be friends with a girl like her. But why did he have to meet her when his life was about to end? Little Butterfly, if only I had met you sooner! Chapter 12: Beyond Cure "Though love may break your heart, blame no one, For beauty graced our meeting''s flame. Though tears may fall, and wounds run deep, and heart to ashes turn, Still, no regrets we''ll keep..." Humming this cheerful tune, a song older than herself, Su Yudiel walked happily beside Zhuang Zi''ang on the way back to school. Infected by her optimism, Zhuang Zi''ang seemed to have forgotten his worries for the moment. The tree-lined campus avenue was filled with the faint scent of peach blossoms. "Little Butterfly, give me your phone number. I can call you next time I want to find you." It took Zhuang Zi''ang a while to work up the nerve to ask for her contact information. Su Yudiel seemed to have been expecting this for a long time. She immediately reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone, a delicate and compact phone that gleamed with a faint blue light in the sunlight. They happily exchanged contact information. With the emotional groundwork laid over the past two days, there wasn''t a hint of awkwardness. Su Yudiel reminded him, "Contact me during the day. I don''t use my phone at night." "You only ever read those silly jokes of yours, why not at night too?" Zhuang Zi''ang laughed. "How dare you make fun of me? Unlike you boys, who only know how to play video games," Su Yudiel feigned annoyance and playfully yanked Zhuang Zi''ang''s shirt. The two chased each other down the tree-lined path, their laughter echoing through the air and spilling onto the lush green grass on either side. Class 9''s classroom was on the second floor. The two parted ways at the corner of the stairwell. "Goodbye, Little Butterfly. I''ll text you." "Okay, I might not check my phone when I''m busy, but I''ll definitely reply when I see it." Zhuang Zi''ang watched Su Yudiel go upstairs before heading towards his classroom. Halfway there, he suddenly turned around and took a few steps back up the stairs, wanting to see which class Little Butterfly actually belonged to. The third floor, the fourth floor, the fifth floor... but he couldn''t find the girl anywhere. Did she walk that fast? Zhuang Zi''ang patted the handrail, dejectedly walking back down the stairs. They were friends now, but she still wouldn''t tell him her real class. Did she still not trust him? The afternoon classes dragged on. Most of the students were drowsy and listless. Zhuang Zi''ang remembered that yesterday afternoon, when he was fishing with Little Butterfly by the river, time had flown by. Was this the legendary theory of relativity in action? The last class finally ended promptly at six o''clock. Zhang Zhiyuan entered the classroom and beckoned, "Zhuang Zi''ang, come with me." Zhuang Zi''ang quickly packed his bag and followed him. After they had walked a good distance from the classroom, he carefully asked, "Mr. Zhang, where are we going?" Zhang Zhiyuan said sternly, "To the hospital. I need to see your attending physician in person and have a talk with him." "Is that really necessary? Dr. Chen is very busy," Zhuang Zi''ang instinctively refused. He feared the smell of disinfectant in the hospital and the sight of doctors in their white coats. The walls of a hospital had heard more earnest prayers than the walls of any temple. It was a place of too many partings, where life and death were separated by a thin line.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Zhang Zhiyuan was determined. He wouldn''t give up any chance to save Zhuang Zi''ang. Even if it was truly a hopeless situation, he needed to hear it from the doctor''s own mouth. He arrived at the parking lot, started his old Buick, and told Zhuang Zi''ang to get in. As they passed the bus stop at the school gate, the No. 19 bus happened to be pulling in. Zhuang Zi''ang, sitting in the passenger seat, craned his neck, trying to find that sprig of peach blossom in the crowd. Unfortunately, he was disappointed. Perhaps there were too many people waiting for the bus, or perhaps Zhang Zhiyuan was driving too fast. He couldn''t see Little Butterfly. At the Central Hospital, Zhuang Zi''ang led Zhang Zhiyuan to Chen Dexiu''s office. Chen Dexiu adjusted his glasses, shook hands with Zhang Zhiyuan, and his expression turned grave. Zhang Zhiyuan introduced himself, "Hello, I''m Zhuang Zi''ang''s homeroom teacher. I''ve come to learn more about his condition." "You are truly a dedicated and responsible teacher," Chen Dexiu said, his eyes filled with admiration. "I heard from Zhuang Zi''ang that you are also a very dedicated and responsible doctor. Is there really no hope?" Zhang Zhiyuan pleaded earnestly. The two then discussed Zhuang Zi''ang''s condition. Chen Dexiu, a meticulous and skilled doctor, used a lot of professional medical jargon, essentially conveying the same eight words: the illness was terminal, beyond any hope of recovery. The last spark of hope in Zhang Zhiyuan''s eyes quietly died out. Sadness washed over him like a tidal wave. "He''s only eighteen. Why did this happen?" "I had a girl with the same illness before. She was even younger!" Chen Dexiu sighed. While they were talking, Zhuang Zi''ang sat quietly to the side, as if the topic of their conversation had nothing to do with him. It had been two days, and he had gradually emerged from the initial shock and sadness, accepting his reality with a sense of resignation. He thought about his classmates. What would they be like when they were old? Gray hair, missing teeth, age spots, a shaky gait. He wouldn''t have those worries. I, Zhuang Zi''ang, will forever be eighteen. When they left the hospital, Zhang Zhiyuan''s mood was particularly heavy. He didn''t speak for a long time. "Mr. Zhang, don''t be so glum. Cheer up," Zhuang Zi''ang said lightly, trying to comfort his homeroom teacher in Little Butterfly''s tone. No matter what, it was better to live each day happily. "Zhuang Zi''ang, is there anything you want to eat or drink?" Zhang Zhiyuan asked, his voice filled with sorrow. "I don''t want to be pitied or treated with sympathy," Zhuang Zi''ang said. "No, that''s not what I meant," Zhang Zhiyuan quickly explained. "Just drop me off at the school gate, and then go home early to be with your wife and children," Zhuang Zi''ang said generously. Though he really wanted to mooch off Mr. Zhang for a meal, he had eaten a lot at the mini hot pot during lunch. It was better to eat simply at night and not overburden his stomach. At the school gate, Zhuang Zi''ang said goodbye to Zhang Zhiyuan and went home alone. He stopped by a food stall and bought a simple hot dog fried rice. When he got home, he noticed that the owner, for the sake of easy identification, had written the words "dog food" on the takeout container. He instantly lost his appetite. Following his doctor''s instructions, Zhuang Zi''ang took a handful of colorful pills. He had some doubts about whether these pills were actually useful. Would taking them let him live for three months, and not taking them only ninety days? He picked up the fish food and fed the two goldfish. It was once widely believed that fish only had a seven-second memory. If only he were a fish, he could forget all his sadness and just swim around carefree. Next to the fishbowl was a bamboo flute with a bright red tassel. This was the only thing Zhuang Zi''ang had brought from his father''s house. He had learned to play the flute for a while when he was younger, but he had gradually neglected it due to his busy studies. Now, when he picked it up again, even playing the simplest tune, "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," sounded like a strangled cat. Suddenly, a melody popped into his head. It was the music he had heard yesterday when he met Su Yudiel. It was very unfamiliar, pleasant to the ear, yet a bit strange. La so so si do si la, so la si si si si la si la so... Zhuang Zi''ang tried to play it a few times, but it didn''t sound like a proper tune. He finally gave up in frustration. Night had already fallen. If he continued to play, the neighbors would probably come knocking on his door. Chapter 13: Qing Tuan and Soy Milk Zhuang Zi''ang held his phone, editing a message to the contact labeled "Little Butterfly." He typed, deleted, retyped, and tweaked. Finally, he settled on a sentence: "What do you want for breakfast tomorrow? I''ll bring it." After another moment of deliberation, ensuring it didn''t sound too forward, he finally mustered the courage to press send. He waited and waited, but no reply came. Zhuang Zi''ang decided to wash a basin and started mopping the floor. The apartment had been thoroughly cleaned just yesterday, but the waiting was agonizing. If he didn''t find something to distract himself, he¡¯d go crazy. Ten minutes later, Zhuang Zi''ang eagerly grabbed his phone, but still no reply from Su Yudiel. What could she be so busy with, even at night? He stared at the screen for a dozen seconds, then finally bit the bullet and made a call. "Sorry, the number you have dialed is out of service. Please try again later." Normally, when Zhuang Zi''ang heard this automated message, he would hang up immediately. This time, however, he listened to the English part as well. What is this, the Stone Age? Are there still places with no signal? Was she a cavewoman living in the mountains or something? Zhuang Zi''ang pushed open the window, and a cool night breeze greeted him. A crescent moon hung high in the sky. He had finally done what he had wanted to do ten years ago: run away from home for good. He no longer had to walk on eggshells, no longer had to be on edge. He could do whatever he wanted, see whomever he wanted. He was about to die, yet it felt as if he had just started to live. Even if it was only for three months, he could still live life to the fullest. Looking at the bright moon, Zhuang Zi''ang suddenly got a craving for a "drink" and poured himself a glass of cola. His reflection in the window was clean-cut and dashing. "Congratulations, Zhuang Zi''ang. Cheers!" Zhuang Zi''ang clinked his glass against his reflection and downed the cola in one gulp. That night, in this humble little home, he slept soundly. He dreamed of becoming a butterfly, flitting his wings joyfully, flying over famous mountains and rivers, drinking in all the beauty life had to offer. Early the next morning, the first rays of sunlight slanted through the window. With a ding, Zhuang Zi''ang was jolted awake. He reached for his phone under his pillow and saw Su Yudiel''s reply. He instantly became wide awake. "I made qingtuan myself. Want some?" (Qingtuan - traditional Chinese sweet dumplings made with glutinous rice and plant juice.) Zhuang Zi''ang immediately typed back: "Sure! Then I''ll buy drinks. Milk or soy milk?" "Soy milk. Wait for me at the bus stop," Su Yudiel replied instantly this time. Zhuang Zi''ang jumped out of bed and went to the bathroom for a hot shower. He liked to shower in the morning because he could wash his hair at the same time, saving time. He never wore that gaudy floral shirt again. Yesterday, at the supermarket, he had bought a few discounted spring outfits. He picked out a light blue jacket and paired it with black casual pants. This was more in line with his usual good-student image.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. As he left the apartment, he tore off a page from the calendar. It felt as if his life had become tangible, each sheet being torn away by his own hand. Coming downstairs, Zhuang Zi''ang saw his neighbor doing her morning exercises and greeted her, "Good morning, sister." The neighbor smiled. "Off to school, Xiao Zhuang? Didn''t that girl stay over last night?" "Please don''t tease, sister. She''s just a friend." "Alright, young people should date. Bring her over to visit more often." Su Yudiel was beautiful, well-behaved, and so cheerful. The neighbor had taken a liking to her after seeing her just once. Seeing Zhuang Zi''ang and Su Yudiel together reminded her of her own youthful school days. She didn''t know that this young man was now facing the end of his life. At the breakfast shop, Zhuang Zi''ang ordered two cups of soy milk - one red date and one black sesame. He didn''t know which flavor Su Yudiel preferred, so he''d let her choose, and he''d drink the other. He arrived at the bus stop and waited for about ten minutes before the No. 19 bus finally pulled up. The doors opened, and students brimming with youthful smiles streamed out. Walking at the very back was an exceptionally beautiful girl. She was still in the same outfit: white blouse, blue skirt, white canvas shoes, and a sprig of peach blossom tucked behind her ear. Zhuang Zi''ang found it a bit strange. It had been three days, and she was always in the same clothes. White clothes should get dirty easily. But her blouse and shoes were always spotless. "Little Butterfly!" Zhuang Zi''ang called out. "Zhuang Zi''ang, I''m sorry. Have you been waiting long?" Su Yudiel asked, blinking her big, watery eyes. "No, I just got here. See, the soy milk is still warm," Zhuang Zi''ang smiled. Actually, it had been a bit hot from the shop, but after ten minutes, it was now just right. The two walked into school together and went to the same flower bed from yesterday. The hyacinths and wisteria were still covered in morning dew, glistening in the sunlight. Su Yudiel was carrying a black shoulder bag today. She took out a greaseproof paper bag, and a delicious aroma wafted out. Inside were green-colored snacks - qingtuan. Zhuang Zi''ang picked one up and took a bite. Red bean paste filling, sweet but not too much. "Wow, these are beautiful and delicious. Did you really make these yourself?" Su Yudiel nodded. "Of course, I learned from my grandma." "You''re so skilled. These qingtuan are so pretty," Zhuang Zi''ang praised sincerely. "Mugwort can reduce internal heat and dampness. Eat more, and you definitely won''t have nosebleeds," Su Yudiel said, sipping her red date soy milk. (Mugwort, or Artemisia vulgaris, is used in traditional Chinese medicine and believed to help with heat and dampness, though not scientifically proven for nosebleeds.) "What? You made these specifically for me?" Zhuang Zi''ang was surprised. "Of course. These are such a pain to make. You have to pick fresh, tender mugwort, mash it, mix it with the dough, steam it, then add the filling. I woke up so early today," Su Yudiel said, covering her mouth as she yawned. Zhuang Zi''ang''s heart warmed. He never expected someone to go to so much trouble for him. It was a pity these qingtuan wouldn''t cure his nosebleeds. "Little Butterfly, I''m fine. Don''t go to so much trouble for me in the future." Su Yudiel shook her head stubbornly. "No way. We''re friends. Friends should care about each other." Zhuang Zi''ang silently chewed on the qingtuan, a jumble of emotions welled up in his heart. God, are you playing a joke on me? Why send someone like her into my life when I''m about to die? "Oh, right, Zhuang Zi''ang, I''m sorry. I can''t use my phone at night, so I only saw your message this morning," Su Yudiel suddenly remembered and apologized. "It''s okay. I knew you''d reply when you saw it," Zhuang Zi''ang said softly. "Class is starting soon. Thanks for the soy milk, see you!" Su Yudiel waved the cup in her hand and walked briskly up the stairs, disappearing around the corner in two or three steps. Zhuang Zi''ang remained standing by the flower bed, silently watching the direction she¡¯d gone. He''d been standing in the shadow of the building, but now the sun was rising, and the shadow receded. Warm sunlight spilled down, illuminating him completely. Chapter 14: Kissing Can Lead to Pregnancy Zhuang Zi''ang walked into the classroom and saw Lin Mushi eating shengjian bao (Éú¼å°ü - pan-fried pork buns, a popular breakfast food in Shanghai). The newly appointed class president, Xie Wenyong, was hovering around her, fawning over her and trying to make small talk. Sure enough, the school beauty was never short of simps. However, all of Xie Wenyong¡¯s scheming got him nowhere; Lin Mushi wouldn''t even give him the time of day. When Lin Mushi saw Zhuang Zi''ang, she looked a bit embarrassed and felt the need to explain, "Zhuang Zi''ang, I told him I didn''t want it, but Xie Wenyong insisted on buying these for me." Zhuang Zi''ang smiled faintly. "Why are you telling me this?" Lin Mushi was taken aback. She had felt a compelling need to distance herself from Xie Wenyong the moment she saw Zhuang Zi''ang. There were times in the past when Lin Mushi would message Zhuang Zi''ang, asking him to bring her breakfast. For some reason, the breakfast Zhuang Zi''ang got her always tasted better than Xie Wenyong''s ¨C maybe it was just in her head. Lin Mushi had a driver who picked her up and dropped her off at school. Earlier, passing the bus stop, she¡¯d seen Zhuang Zi''ang through the car window, holding two cups of soy milk. Lin Mushi, in her vanity, assumed one was definitely for her. But Zhuang Zi''ang now had only one cup left, and he was drinking it himself. Was the other for that girl with the peach blossom? A pang of jealousy pricked her heart. Originally, she and Zhuang Zi''ang were just friends. But now, with a rival threatening her school beauty status, she felt a sense of urgency. Zhuang Zi''ang had no idea Lin Mushi''s mind was racing. He plopped down in his seat and grabbed a magazine from Li Huangxuan''s desk. Li Huangxuan was often late for morning reading, Old Zhang¡¯s classroom-doorway punishment was practically his daily routine. "Mushi, have some milk. Still warm," Xie Wenyong continued his devoted pursuit. "Xie Wenyong, please don''t buy me breakfast anymore. I''m afraid Zhuang Zi''ang will misunderstand," Lin Mushi frowned delicately. Xie Wenyong felt like he''d fallen into an ice cave. Snowflakes drifting, the north wind whistling, the world a vast expanse of white... (This is a line from a popular Chinese meme song). In Lin Mushi''s heart, Zhuang Zi''ang had always been the best boy in class. Xie Wenyong was a buffoon, not even fit to be in Zhuang Zi''ang¡¯s shadow. Especially after seeing Su Yudiel yesterday, Lin Mushi¡¯s competitive spirit flared. She didn''t get love, but seeing Zhuang Zi''ang with another girl stung. Her delicate cheeks flushed at the thought. In class, Zhuang Zi''ang was back to his good-student self. Wu Qiufang, the math teacher, checked on him, remembering his tears on the podium yesterday.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. "Thanks, Ms. Wu, I''m fine," Zhuang Zi''ang said, touched. Zhang Zhiyuan had kept Zhuang Zi''ang''s illness secret, telling Wu Qiufang he¡¯d been emotionally overwhelmed. At noon, Zhuang Zi''ang and Li Huangxuan went to the cafeteria. He''d considered texting Su Yudiel for lunch, but they¡¯d just seen each other. Didn''t want to seem clingy. The cafeteria buzzed. Zhuang Zi''ang and Li Huangxuan found a corner near the vending machines. "Dude, you seem distracted," Li Huangxuan mumbled around a mouthful of braised pork. "Nah, eating seriously here." Zhuang Zi''ang was eating, but his eyes scanned the crowd, searching. He didn''t even notice holding his chopsticks upside down. Guys know guys. Li Huangxuan knew what was up. He leaned in. "Tell me again, how''d you meet that girl?" Zhuang Zi''ang recounted it all, from the ginkgo tree to fishing by the river, seeing her onto the No. 19 bus. "You shared milk tea?" Li Huangxuan''s eyes widened. "Yeah, she insisted. Couldn¡¯t refuse," Zhuang Zi''ang grinned. "Dude, that''s like an indirect kiss! Kissing leads to pregnancy, you know?" Li Huangxuan exclaimed. "Are you trying to pull my leg? Think I''m a three-year-old?" Zhuang Zi''ang retorted, plopping braised pork into Li Huangxuan''s bowl. Li Huangxuan, the perpetual bachelor, shamelessly pestered Zhuang Zi''ang to describe sharing a milk tea. Sweet? Smooth? Heart racing? Zhuang Zi''ang ignored him, focusing on his food. Suddenly, spotless white canvas shoes entered his vision, then two pale, lotus-root-like legs, straight out of a manga. "Excuse me, classmate, may I sit here?" A voice as sweet as a songbird, soft and pleasant. Zhuang Zi''ang looked up, meeting Su Yudiel¡¯s eyes. Li Huangxuan blurted, "Sit, sit!" Su Yudiel set down her tray, smoothed her skirt, and sat beside Zhuang Zi''ang. A faint, sweet scent drifted over. "Hi, I''m Su Yudiel, Zhuang Zi''ang''s friend," she introduced herself to Li Huangxuan. "I¡­ I''m Li Huangxuan, Zhuang Zi''ang''s dad¡ªno, friend too." Li Huangxuan, tongue-tied, had never spoken to such a pretty girl. Utterly hopeless, Zhuang Zi''ang thought. Trips over his own tongue the second a pretty girl shows up. "Drinks are on me. What''ll you have?" Su Yudiel gestured to the vending machine. "Seriously? Fanta for me!" Li Huangxuan jumped in. "Coke," Zhuang Zi''ang said. Doctor¡¯s orders against soda were out the window. He wanted "fat-Õ¬ happy water," pure joy in a can. Drinks bought, Su Yudiel asked Li Huangxuan, "Is Zhuang Zi''ang usually boring?" Li Huangxuan nodded emphatically. "Relentless study machine. No good at anything else, especially games. Makes me cry, he''s so bad." "Games?" Su Yudiel looked puzzled. "Terrible. One hero¡ªa fish¡ªand still sucks," Li Huangxuan complained. "Hey, I''m good! ''Man-Eating Fish of the Canyon''," Zhuang Zi''ang protested, hating to lose face. "Bragger. More like a dumb, fat fish," Su Yudiel scoffed. "Little Butterfly, I''ll prove it. You¡¯ll see how good I am," Zhuang Zi''ang boasted. "Little Butterfly?" Li Huangxuan blinked. Days known, and already with the mushy nicknames? "Butterfly is me, and I am the butterfly," Su Yudiel said, pointing at herself. (Reference to Zhuangzi¡¯s ¡°Butterfly Dream¡±). Familiar line. Li Huangxuan suddenly felt like a third wheel. Lunch done, not even 12:30. Zhuang Zi''ang planned a nap. "Going back to sleep," he said to Su Yudiel. "Want to come along?" "Huh?" Su Yudiel blushed furiously. Asking like that? Li Huangxuan just froze, mortified. So, uh¡­ I¡¯ll just be going? Chapter 15: Are You Sick in the Head? Li Huangxuan, always so clueless, just had to tag along with Zhuang Zi¡¯ang for their afternoon nap. Su Yudiel said her goodbyes and headed back to class. Zhuang Zi¡¯ang shot Li Huangxuan a look that could kill. You little pest, I swear, I might just have to get rid of you. This two-bedroom apartment Xu Hui rented was a place Zhuang Zi¡¯ang had brought Li Huangxuan to before. But this time, it was much tidier, and a real treat for the eyes. Two little goldfish darting around in the fishbowl added a lively touch to the place. ¡°This is awesome, man. I wish I could move out and live on my own.¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang rolled his eyes. ¡°Is your 180-square-meter duplex not good enough for you? I mean, it¡¯s practically a mansion!¡± Li Huangxuan chuckled. ¡°Gotta love freedom, man!¡± This kid¡¯s got it made and doesn''t even know it. Zhuang Zi¡¯ang thought. If I had his kind of happy family, why would I ever run away from home? Shoes off, they flopped onto the bed side-by-side, staring up at the blank white ceiling. Sleep wasn''t coming yet, so they started shooting the breeze. ¡°Dude, Su Yudiel is seriously hot. You going after her?¡± Li Huangxuan, the gossip king, couldn¡¯t resist asking. ¡°What are you talking about? We¡¯ve only known each other like, three days,¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang instantly denied. ¡°A girl like that? Dude, it¡¯s love at first sight material. What are you playing at?¡± Li Huangxuan called him out, no mercy. This animal, Zhuang Zi¡¯ang, perked right up the second he saw Su Yudiel. Animal Planet would call it mating season, plain and simple. They were just chilling, and then bam, this question hits Zhuang Zi¡¯ang right in the gut, that familiar pang of hurt. His voice dropped low. ¡°I¡¯m not going after her. I¡¯m not worthy.¡± A guy with three months left on the clock? What right did he have to chase after some girl? All he¡¯d do is mess her up. He wasn¡¯t even in the running for love anymore. Li Huangxuan was totally confused by Zhuang Zi¡¯ang¡¯s sudden downer mood. He shoved Zhuang Zi¡¯ang playfully. ¡°You¡¯re not gonna chase after a girl that cute? Are you sick in the head?¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang just kept staring at the ceiling, a sad smile creeping onto his face. ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯m sick.¡± Li Huangxuan didn¡¯t catch the real meaning behind it. Just figured Zhuang Zi¡¯ang¡¯s brain was playing tricks on him, or maybe he was just too shy to admit he was totally crushing on her. Silence hung in the air for a bit. Then Zhuang Zi¡¯ang suddenly asked, ¡°Hey man, if we¡­ you know¡­ if we don¡¯t see each other again, will you miss me?¡± ¡°Miss you? Like a hole in the head! The farther you are, the better. I¡¯m green with envy, man. You¡¯re good-looking, smart as hell, makes me look like absolute garbage.¡± Li Huangxuan launched into a classic rant. ¡°Seriously, I¡¯m an idiot for being buddies with the top brain in school. My parents are always throwing you in my face, ¡®Why can¡¯t you be more like Zhuang Zi¡¯ang?¡¯ blah blah blah.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so annoying, you know that? If you just disappeared off the face of the earth, I¡¯d buy a string of firecrackers and throw a party!¡± ¡­ Zhuang Zi¡¯ang turned slightly away, a single tear escaping and soaking into the pillow. Memories flickered in his mind, like old home movies.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. First day of school, that¡¯s when he and Li Huangxuan clicked, became ¡°father and son¡± in jest, just like that. This dude was all big and goofy, no hidden agendas, always a bit simple-minded, never seemed to have a sad day in his life. And he really did treat Zhuang Zi¡¯ang like his own ¡°son.¡± When Zhuang Zi¡¯ang was class monitor, Li Huangxuan was his biggest cheerleader. Always jumped in to help with class stuff, made Zhuang Zi¡¯ang¡¯s job way easier. When romance rumors circulated about Zhuang Zi¡¯ang and Lin Mushi, he was all over it, trying to clear things up. Said Lin Mushi was actually head-over-heels for him, and then got chased around the ping-pong table by the school beauty for like, a million laps. Whenever his family cooked up something amazing, Zhuang Zi¡¯ang was always invited over. Even Li Tianyun and Fan Ling joked they were raising two sons. Li Huangxuan finally ran out of steam, eyelids getting heavy. Zhuang Zi¡¯ang heard him start to snore and turned to look at his friend¡¯s face. Growing up in that kind of family¡­ lucky he¡¯d bumped into a bro like this. Otherwise, looking back on his youth would be nothing but a bitter taste. Dude, promise me, when I¡¯m gone, don¡¯t be too bummed out, okay? Do like you said, buy some firecrackers, set ¡®em off, send me out with a bang. And hey, if you ever see the end of ¡®Detective Conan¡¯ ¨C you know that anime that¡¯s been going on forever? ¨C burn a copy for me. And hey, when I¡¯m gone, celebrate with some firecrackers, okay? Up there, I¡¯ll be watching over you, making sure you¡¯re safe and sound, always. Heart heavy, Zhuang Zi¡¯ang couldn''t drift off. Half-awake, half-dreaming, he heard the alarm go off. Li Huangxuan next to him was out cold, drool dribbling down his cheek. Zhuang Zi¡¯ang kicked him hard, sending him tumbling out of bed. ¡°You just messed up my new sheet! I¡¯ll break all three of your legs!¡± Li Huangxuan bounced right back up, pounced on the bed, and they were wrestling again. ¡°You ungrateful brat, trying to off your own father?!¡± Just another day in the simple, happy life of teenage boys. Walking to school, Li Huangxuan was like a hyperactive kid, air-balling imaginary hoops, kicking pebbles down the sidewalk. Zhuang Zi¡¯ang pointed at a ginkgo tree lining the street. ¡°Think you can reach that leaf?¡± Li Huangxuan sniffed, all confidence. ¡°If I grab it, what do I get?¡± ¡°Street cred,¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang grinned. Those two words? That was the ultimate praise in guy-speak. Worth risking life and limb for. Li Huangxuan backed up a few steps, took a running leap, and snatched a big ginkgo leaf right off the branch. Ginkgo trees, ancient as time, only grow in China. Makes you realize how tiny humans are, dust in the wind. Spring and summer, ginkgo leaves are green. Fall hits, they turn gold, fluttering in the breeze like golden butterflies. For Zhuang Zi¡¯ang, ginkgos now meant something extra special. He¡¯d never forget that jaw-dropping moment, first meeting Su Yudiel under a ginkgo tree. ¡°How awesome is your dad?¡± Li Huangxuan puffed out his chest, handing over the leaf. ¡°These leaves are way prettier when they turn yellow in the fall, though.¡± ¡°Yeah, fall¡¯s ages away¡­ doubt I¡¯ll even be around to see it,¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang mumbled, more to himself than anyone. Li Huangxuan frowned. Zhuang Zi¡¯ang had been acting a bit off lately. But then again, makes sense, right? If he was friends with a girl that gorgeous, and things were maybe heating up¡­ he¡¯d probably be acting weird too. Just comes with the territory. Third period that afternoon, ten minutes in. Zhang Zhiyuan showed up at the door, mumbled an apology to the teacher, and called Zhuang Zi¡¯ang out to the hallway. Classmates were all whispering, heads tilted. Old Zhang had been pulling Zhuang Zi¡¯ang out of class way too much lately. And he wasn¡¯t even class monitor anymore! ¡°Mr. Zhang, you keep calling me out like this, people are starting to look at me funny,¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang complained in the hallway. Zhang Zhiyuan just shrugged. ¡°Can¡¯t help it. Dude, your dad¡¯s here.¡± ¡°My dad? What¡¯s he doing here?¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang was stunned. Since Zhuang Zi¡¯ang started at this school, Zhuang Wenzhao had only shown up once ¨C registration day, first day. Stayed for half an hour, got a company call, and bailed. Ever since then, end of term, start of term, parent-teacher night, you name it, always some excuse. Sometimes he wouldn¡¯t even bother with an excuse, just straight up say, ¡°You¡¯re not a little kid anymore. You still need me to hold your hand?¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang could only manage a bitter smile. When I was a kid, I didn''t see you picking me up and dropping me off! Chapter 16: Not Going Back During this time, all the teachers were in their classrooms teaching, and the office was empty. Zhang Zhiyuan walked Zhuang Zi''ang to the door. "Your dad doesn''t look too happy. I''ll be right outside. Call me if you need anything." Zhuang Zi''ang nodded. "Okay, thank you, Mr. Zhang." With a deep breath, he pushed open the door. Zhuang Wenzhao was sitting in Zhang Zhiyuan''s chair, his face heavy with seriousness. Qin Shulan stood to the side with her arms crossed. "Dad, what are you doing here?" Zhuang Zi''ang asked, his face blank. "Zi''ang, stop acting childish. I''m here to take you home," Zhuang Wenzhao said, his face stern. He had already talked to his ex-wife. With the Gaokao coming up and the heavy study load, living alone without anyone to look after him wasn''t a long-term solution. "Dad, I''m fine. I don''t want to go home," Zhuang Zi''ang said calmly. I ran away to give you back your happy little family. Isn''t that what you wanted? Why do we have to go back and make things awkward for everyone? Qin Shulan chimed in, "Zi''ang, I spoke to Yuhang. He admitted he said some things he shouldn''t have. You''re the older brother, be understanding and don''t hold it against him." It sounded like an apology, but it was still clearly biased. She easily glossed over her own son''s mistakes, while always expecting Zhuang Zi''ang to be the bigger person. Zhuang Zi''ang was sick of hearing it. He''d heard similar things his whole life. But what could he expect? She wasn''t his mother, after all. They were just forced together as a family because of Zhuang Wenzhao. Maintaining a surface harmony for over a decade was already a feat. "Auntie Qin," Zhuang Zi''ang said, "if you have the time, you should discipline Yuhang more. I heard his grades are terrible at school, and he''s quite badly behaved." He''d bottled these words up for so long, and finally, he could say them without holding back. Zhuang Yuhang had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, showered with endless love from his parents. Being spoiled like that, it was inevitable he''d be willful. Whenever Zhuang Zi''ang saw his younger brother''s carefree childhood, he felt a pang of sadness and injustice, and he wanted to cry. "I know," Qin Shulan replied stiffly, a flash of displeasure in her eyes. How dare he badmouth her precious son to her face? Sensing his wife''s mood, Zhuang Wenzhao became even harsher. "You should worry about yourself first. Yuhang''s affairs are none of your business." "You shouldn''t speak to Auntie Qin in that tone. Apologize to her right now." "You don''t even know how to respect your elders. What have you learned in school?" ... This barrage of reprimands instantly escalated the tension. The air between the three of them seemed to solidify. Zhuang Zi''ang''s heart turned colder and colder. Why is it that when you brought a woman home and forced me to call her ''Auntie,'' she instantly became my elder? She''s got absolutely nothing to do with me. This home, I was here first, and yet I''m the one who''s pushed out, treated like an outsider. For over ten years, Zhuang Zi''ang had been suppressing himself, enduring everything. With only three months left, couldn''t he finally indulge himself a little? "Dad, if you''re here to argue with me, you can leave now. This is a school, not your personal stage to throw your weight around," Zhuang Zi''ang said, his eyes like ice.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "You''re coming home with me today. Your grandfather heard you''re planning not to come back for three months and got so worked up his old condition flared up. Look at all the trouble you''re causing the family!" Zhuang Wenzhao scolded. Zhuang Zi''ang felt even more disappointed. "I knew it. So Grandpa''s forcing you to drag me back. Otherwise, you probably wouldn''t even remember where my school is." "One word: are you coming back or not?" Zhuang Wenzhao demanded loudly. "Not going back," Zhuang Zi''ang said resolutely. He''d finally escaped that suffocating home. Why would he be stupid enough to go back? He knew perfectly well that deep down, neither Qin Shulan nor Zhuang Yuhang wanted him there. They probably wished he''d stay away forever and not be an eyesore. Zhuang Zi''ang''s defiance made Zhuang Wenzhao lose face. He glanced around, as if looking for something to grab, muttering curses under his breath. "You''re getting out of hand! You think I can''t handle you?" Zhuang Zi''ang showed no fear. "Dad, just leave. You''re embarrassing yourself." When Zhuang Zi''ang was five, shortly after Zhuang Wenzhao divorced Xu Hui, he was in a terrible mood and often drank heavily. He''d come home drunk and drag Zhuang Zi''ang out of bed while he was still sleeping, finding any excuse to beat and berate him. He''d curse him for looking like his mother, which infuriated him. He''d curse him for having a mouth to feed, which cost money. Later, when Zhuang Wenzhao started dating Qin Shulan, he hid the fact that he had a son. He sent Zhuang Zi''ang to the countryside to be raised by his grandparents, where he attended kindergarten in the village for half a year. It was only later when Grandpa Zhuang Jianguo insisted on bringing Zhuang Zi''ang back to the city for a better education that Zhuang Wenzhao reluctantly agreed. Qin Shulan, his stepmother, didn''t say anything to his face, but the occasional look of disdain in her eyes betrayed her true feelings. And it made sense ¨C in her eyes, she had no blood relation to Zhuang Zi''ang, so why should she pretend to be a loving mother? After Zhuang Yuhang was born, Zhuang Zi''ang''s place in the family became even more precarious. Fortunately, with a "happy family," Zhuang Wenzhao''s temper improved a lot, and he stopped resorting to physical violence. But the father-son bond only grew weaker. Zhuang Wenzhao was nominally Zhuang Zi''ang''s guardian, but it was really his grandparents in the countryside who raised him. They''d regularly transfer living expenses to Zhuang Wenzhao''s account, and he''d pass the money on to Zhuang Zi''ang. Being the middleman, Zhuang Wenzhao often skimmed a little off the top to buy snacks or toys for his younger son, Zhuang Yuhang. Zhuang Zi''ang had always been submissive, but today he was unusually rebellious. Zhuang Wenzhao felt his authority challenged, and he was livid. Even at school, he looked like he wanted to roll up his sleeves and start hitting him. "Stop it!" Zhang Zhiyuan rushed in just in time. Zhuang Wenzhao glared at Zhang Zhiyuan, fuming. "What kind of school are you running here? Turning students into this? He''s grown rebellious bones, that''s what!" "You''ve never even bothered to show up for a parent-teacher conference. Of course, you wouldn''t know what kind of education your child is getting here," Zhang Zhiyuan shot back, equally furious. He''d been standing outside the door, and while eavesdropping wasn''t polite, the father and son were arguing so loudly he couldn''t help but overhear. He was shocked that Zhuang Zi''ang hadn''t told his own father about his terminal illness. How utterly despairing must he be? "I think you''re about to ruin him!" Zhuang Wenzhao yelled. "Fine, then I''ll show you today what kind of student we''ve made of your child!" Zhang Zhiyuan snapped back, losing his temper too. He yanked open a drawer and pulled out a thick stack of files ¨C transcripts from all the exams over the past two years. "See for yourself!" Zhang Zhiyuan slammed the transcripts down in front of Zhuang Wenzhao, sending up a cloud of dust. Zhuang Wenzhao waved his hand dismissively, then picked up the first transcript ¨C the entrance exam from two years ago. On the first line, Zhuang Zi''ang''s name jumped out. Total Score: 689. Class Rank: 1. Grade Rank: 1. Next, he picked up the second one, from the first monthly exam. Zhuang Zi''ang was still at the top. The third was the midterm exam, the fourth was another monthly exam, the fifth was the final exam... After looking through all the transcripts, Zhuang Wenzhao''s eyes were filled with disbelief. Without exception, Zhuang Zi''ang''s name was nailed to the first line, immovable. He knew Zhuang Zi''ang got good grades, didn''t need parental supervision, but he''d had no idea he was this exceptional. Qin Shulan, standing beside him, had also looked through all the transcripts. She murmured, "Is it really that hard to be ranked first in the grade at your school?" Zhang Zhiyuan looked at her like she was an idiot. "There are 22 classes in the grade, over a thousand students. What do you think?" Zhuang Zi''ang, you really are amazing. To grow up in such a suffocating environment and still be this outstanding. Heaven is truly unfair to you. Chapter 17: Dont Ever Come Back Over a thousand students in the whole grade, yet he¡¯d been holding onto that number one spot for two years straight. How mind-bogglingly hard that was, Zhuang Wenzhao probably couldn''t even fathom. His own youngest, Zhuang Yuhang, was just in elementary school, in a class of maybe forty kids. One glance at Yuhang¡¯s report card ranking and you pretty much knew how many were in his class. ¡°Mr. Zhuang, you''ve never once shown up for parent-teacher meetings, but you know, a lot of parents in our class actually want to meet you,¡± Zhang Zhiyuan said, his voice low. ¡°Meet me?¡± Zhuang Wenzhao blinked, taken aback. ¡°What for?¡± ¡°They want to pick your brain, figure out how you raise such an exceptional kid.¡± Zhang Zhiyuan managed a wry smile. The irony stung. Zhuang Wenzhao¡¯s face went through a whole spectrum of awkward colors. He was suddenly tongue-tied, no comeback ready. Truth was, when it came to Zhuang Zi¡¯ang¡¯s upbringing, his approach had always been hands-off, bordering on neglect. He just knew Zi¡¯ang always aced his grades, breezing into the top schools city-wide without needing a nudge from him. ¡°Mr. Zhuang, if that¡¯s not enough to convince you, I can show you some photos.¡± Zhang Zhiyuan pulled out his phone, flipped to a special album, and handed it over. It was a collection of award-winning snapshots of Zhuang Zi¡¯ang from countless competitions over the last couple of years. He¡¯d brought glory not just to himself, but to the class, the school. Yet, at every awards ceremony, not a single family member was there to cheer him on. ¡°Other kids, they get a third-place ribbon and their parents are all over them with hugs and ¡®attaboys¡¯,¡± Zhang Zhiyuan recounted. ¡°But Zi¡¯ang? Every time he snagged first place, he¡¯d just stand there alone on that stage, eyes glued to everyone else getting cheered on, green with envy.¡± ¡°Pretty much the only constant by his side has been yours truly, his homeroom teacher.¡± Zhang Zhiyuan¡¯s heartfelt words hit Zhuang Wenzhao like a punch to the gut. He was speechless, forced to admit, at least to himself, that he¡¯d seriously dropped the ball with Zhuang Zi¡¯ang, failing spectacularly as a father. Zhuang Zi¡¯ang was doing his damnedest to keep it together, but his eyes were rimming red. Wasn''t family love supposed to be a given? Why was it that the things others got without even trying, he had to bleed for, and still came up empty? No matter how brilliant Zhuang Zi¡¯ang was, deep down, he was just like any other kid, craving that parental love. He yearned to be praised, hugged tight, enveloped in endless affection. But Zhuang Wenzhao and Xu Hui, they¡¯d let him down, over and over. Until finally, he¡¯d had to face the brutal truth: he was never going to be their pride and joy. A heavy silence hung in the office. Finally, Zhuang Wenzhao cleared his throat, embarrassment still thick in his voice. ¡°Look, Teacher, even if Zi¡¯ang gets good grades, that¡¯s still no excuse for talking back to his parents.¡± ¡°Zhuang Zi¡¯ang is usually as meek as a lamb. There has to be a reason he blew up like this today. Don¡¯t you even know?¡± Zhang Zhiyuan blurted out, anger flashing in his eyes. ¡°Mr. Zhang!¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang cut him off sharply, a pleading look in his eyes as he shook his head, begging him to stop. His eyes were welling up, and he¡¯d bitten his lower lip so hard it was bleeding. ¡°Zi¡¯ang¡­¡± Zhang Zhiyuan¡¯s own eyes stung, his voice catching in his throat. Zi¡¯ang was desperate to keep his secret under wraps. If Zhuang Wenzhao ever found out the truth, he¡¯d be drowning in guilt and regret in a heartbeat, tripping over himself to shower Zi¡¯ang with love and attention, trying to patch up a decade-plus of fatherly absence. But that wouldn''t be love, just guilt in disguise. He refused to gamble with his life, his dignity, just to score some cheap imitation of love.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Zhang Zhiyuan, seeing the raw plea in Zi¡¯ang¡¯s eyes, had no choice but to back down, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles cracked. Qin Shulan glanced at her phone, then leaned in to whisper to Zhuang Wenzhao, ¡°Yuhang¡¯s about to get out of school. We need to go pick him up.¡± Zhuang Wenzhao¡¯s eyes were still locked on Zhuang Zi¡¯ang. ¡°I¡¯m asking you one last time, are you coming home or not?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m good at Mom¡¯s place.¡± Zi¡¯ang¡¯s voice was firm, no give in it. ¡°Fine! If you¡¯re not coming back today, then don¡¯t you dare come back. Ever!¡± Zhuang Wenzhao spat out, slamming his chair back and storming out of the office. Qin Shulan scurried after him, worried sick about keeping Zhuang Yuhang waiting. Backlit by the doorway, Zhuang Zi¡¯ang watched his father¡¯s retreating back, then called out, his voice cracking, ¡°Dad¡­ having me as your son, have you really never felt a single moment of pride?¡± Zhuang Wenzhao froze, but didn¡¯t turn, didn¡¯t answer. In his stubborn mind, fathers just didn¡¯t apologize to their sons, period. ¡°Never mind, just leave!¡± The last flicker of hope died in Zhuang Zi¡¯ang¡¯s eyes. ¡°If you never loved me, why even bother bringing me into this world?¡± Zhuang Wenzhao hesitated for a beat, then resolutely marched on. Zi¡¯ang was eighteen, after all, old enough to fend for himself. He¡¯d sulk for a bit, then come crawling back, tail between his legs. That¡¯s how it always went. In the office, only Zhang Zhiyuan and Zhuang Zi¡¯ang remained. The tension in the air seemed to just¡­ vanish. ¡°Zi¡¯ang, don¡¯t let it get to you. There are tons of people out there who care, you know? Like me, like Li Huangxuan and Lin Mushi. Focus on us, okay?¡± Zhang Zhiyuan said softly, trying to comfort him. ¡°Mr. Zhang, thank you.¡± Zi¡¯ang bit down hard on his lip, jaw trembling, fighting back the tears threatening to spill. He was trying so damn hard to keep it together. But behind the tough act he put on for his dad, he was still just a kid, raw and fragile inside. Zhang Zhiyuan asked gently, ¡°Are you really not going to tell your dad about¡­ this whole thing?¡± Zi¡¯ang choked back a sob. ¡°I just¡­ I just want to keep a little bit of dignity.¡± Zhang Zhiyuan nodded sympathetically, understanding dawning in his eyes. But teacher instincts kicked in. For now, Zi¡¯ang seemed¡­ okay-ish. He could keep up with the treatment, like the doctor said. But if things took a turn for the worse, he¡¯d have to loop in the parents, no question. ¡°Mr. Zhang, could I skip classes this afternoon? Brain¡¯s fried anyway, not like I could focus on anything right now.¡± ¡°Yeah, man, here¡¯s a pass. Go chill, clear your head.¡± Leaving the office, Zhuang Zi¡¯ang was adrift, walking without a destination, feeling utterly lost. He wandered past a classroom, music drifting out ¨C some ancient oldie the class was belting out. Little, little child, did you cry today? Have all your friends gone away, leaving you with lingering loneliness? Beautiful child, did you cry today? Did you get your beautiful clothes dirty, but have no one to confide in? Ping! His phone buzzed with a message from his pocket. Butterfly: Zhuang Zi¡¯ang, feeling down again? Zi¡¯ang fired back a text in a heartbeat: How¡¯d you guess? Skipping afternoon classes. Butterfly: Meet me outside the ginkgo tree. Hopping the wall to come hang. Zi¡¯ang glanced towards the northwest corner of the basketball court ¨C deserted. The towering ginkgo swayed gently in the breeze. Clutching the leave pass from Zhang Zhiyuan, he walked out the school gates, then went the long way around, circling back to the outside of the wall. He spotted her in the distance ¨C Su Yudiel perched on the wall, little white sneakers dangling playfully. ¡°That wall¡¯s huge! How¡¯d you get up there?¡± Zi¡¯ang asked, genuinely curious. ¡°¡®Borrowed¡¯ a ladder from the equipment room,¡± Su Yudiel chirped with a grin. Zi¡¯ang was completely baffled. A girl, a total school beauty, lugging a ladder across the field in broad daylight? Wouldn''t security have a field day with that? ¡°Hey, daydreamer! Ready to catch me?¡± Su Yudiel called out, jolting him back to reality. ¡°Oh! Right!¡± Zi¡¯ang quickly held out his arms, motioning for her to jump. Su Yudiel launched herself off the wall, landing perfectly in Zhuang Zi¡¯ang¡¯s arms. Light as a feather, holding her was effortless. Gazing down at that flawless face, impossibly delicate, Zi¡¯ang¡¯s breath hitched, heart hammering in his chest. ¡°Just gonna keep holding me there, huh?¡± Su Yudiel¡¯s cheeks were rosy, a playful smirk dancing on her lips. Zi¡¯ang snapped to attention, hastily setting her down, face flushing crimson. The spring breeze danced around them, ruffling her hair, and stirring something new, something fluttery, in the young man¡¯s heart. Chapter 18: I Give You Permission to Cry ¡°Little Butterfly, ditching class again? Aren¡¯t you worried about your teacher?¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang and Su Yudiel strolled side-by-side down the snack street, each munching on a skewer of fish balls. When Su Yudiel ate, her cheeks puffed out like a cute little pufferfish. ¡°Nope,¡± she chirped, cheeks still bulging. ¡°Got a leave slip.¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang scoffed. ¡°Yeah, right. Do you take me for a three-year-old?¡± Su Yudiel swung off her shoulder bag, unzipped it, and produced a whole stack of leave slips. They were already signed by the homeroom teacher, but the date lines were blank. Meaning Su Yudiel could just fill in the date whenever she felt like skipping out. ¡°Seriously?¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang¡¯s eyes widened. He squinted at the scribbled signature, but couldn''t decipher a single character. This was what other people¡¯s teachers were like? ¡°Wait a sec ¨C if you¡¯ve got leave slips, why the wall-climbing routine?¡± ¡°Faster this way,¡± she mumbled around a fish ball, ¡°and we get to hit up all the good eats.¡± Su Yudiel¡¯s foodie logic left Zhuang Zi¡¯ang speechless. He still couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that there was something mysterious, something unreadable about this girl. He switched gears. ¡°So, how¡¯d you guess I was feeling down?¡± Su Yudiel popped her head up, index finger extended, and bopped Zhuang Zi¡¯ang lightly on the chest. Tiptoeing closer, she whispered conspiratorially in his ear, ¡°¡¯Cause we¡¯re friends, duh! Telepathic connection, you know?¡± The warm puff of air on his neck sent a tingle down his spine. Telepathic connection? Seriously? That¡¯s a pretty lame excuse. ¡°Come on,¡± Su Yudiel said, grabbing Zhuang Zi¡¯ang¡¯s wrist and tugging him off the snack street and down a long set of stone steps. The winding river stretched out before them, like a sleeping dragon. The water flowed east, silent and steady, willows swaying softly on the banks. They crossed a wide patch of green grass and reached the pebbled riverbank. These seemingly plain pebbles had been smoothed and rounded by the relentless river current, colliding and grinding against each other for millions of years. Human life, a fleeting century, felt insignificant in comparison. Like that old saying went: ¡°Human life in this world is like a white colt flashing past a crack ¨C gone in a blink.¡± In the grand sweep of history, three months or a hundred years, what difference did it really make? Both vanished in the blink of an eye. Closer to the water, they could hear the gentle lapping of the current against the bank. A cool breeze ruffled their hair and clothes. Su Yudiel kicked off her shoes and socks, revealing delicate, jade-like feet, and stepped gingerly onto the smooth pebbles. The river water rose, swirling around her ankles. White spray splashed, dampening the hem of her navy blue skirt. ¡°Take off your shoes, come on in!¡± Su Yudiel called, beckoning him. ¡°Should we really be playing in the water right now? Class and all?¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang hesitated. ¡°Have you always been such a rule-follower?¡± Su Yudiel challenged, a playful glint in her eyes.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Her words hit home. Yeah, you¡¯re right. Why should I always play by the rules? He quickly shed his shoes, rolled up his pant legs, and carefully picked his way across the pebbles to join Su Yudiel. The cool river water, rushing around his ankles, felt amazing. Su Yudiel cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled towards the river, ¡°Zhuang Zi¡¯ang is such a dork!¡± The sound bounced off the bridge arches, echoing back to them. ¡°Zhuang Zi¡¯ang is such a dork¡­ such a dork¡­ a dork¡­¡± Su Yudiel burst into laughter, her laughter like silver bells, her smile radiant. ¡°Hey! Why are you giving me grief again?¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang grumbled, pretending to be annoyed. ¡°¡¯Cause you¡¯re always so glum, torturing yourself! Total dork move!¡± Su Yudiel pouted her cherry-red lips. Zhuang Zi¡¯ang, not to be outdone, mimicked her, yelling at the river, ¡°Little Butterfly is a silly goose!¡± ¡°Little Butterfly is a silly goose¡­ silly goose¡­ goose¡­¡± The echoes from the bridge layered on top of each other. Su Yudiel just grinned wider, her beautiful almond eyes crinkling into crescent moons. Then she shouted again, her voice ringing out, ¡°Zhuang Zi¡¯ang, be happy every day!¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang turned to watch Little Butterfly, her perfect profile outlined against the sunlight, a wave of sorrow washing over him. He was totally falling for this girl. Knowing it was wrong, knowing it was pointless, but he was helpless to pull himself away. How was he going to face the looming goodbye in three months? Noticing Zhuang Zi¡¯ang¡¯s silence, Su Yudiel glanced up and saw his eyes glistening with tears. ¡°Hey,¡± she said softly, ¡°it¡¯s okay to cry, you know.¡± That was it. Something inside Zhuang Zi¡¯ang just snapped. All the pent-up sadness and hurt just flooded him. Big tears streamed down his face, splashing into the river, creating silent ripples. Not wanting Little Butterfly to see him in such a mess, Zhuang Zi¡¯ang bent over, fighting to stay silent, but quiet sobs still escaped him, his whole body shaking. Su Yudiel reached out, gently stroking his back, trying to comfort him. Before she knew it, her own eyes were brimming with tears. ¡°Little Butterfly, why are you crying?¡± he choked out. ¡°We¡¯re good friends,¡± she sniffled. ¡°Seeing you sad¡­ makes me sad too.¡± He¡¯d thought there was nothing left to lose in this cold world. But right now, a huge wave of longing washed over him. Why? Why did I have to meet you now, when I¡¯m terminally ill? Zhuang Zi¡¯ang forced himself to stop crying and reached out, gently wiping away the crystal teardrops on Little Butterfly¡¯s cheeks. Like the most precious gems. ¡°Little Butterfly,¡± he said, his voice still thick with emotion, ¡°I¡¯m not sad anymore. Promise me you won¡¯t cry, okay?¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Su Yudiel sobbed. ¡°Let the river wash away all your sadness. Be happy every day from now on, okay?¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang knelt down and splashed cool river water on his face, letting the endless flow carry away his tears. Just then, a larger wave surged in, the water rising higher, reaching Su Yudiel¡¯s calves. With a little yelp, she hiked up her skirt with both hands, scrambling backwards. ¡°Careful, the stones are slippery, don¡¯t wipe out,¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang warned quickly. ¡°Carry me up!¡± Su Yudiel said, looking a little flustered. Without a second thought, Zhuang Zi¡¯ang reached down and swept her up in a bridal carry. He was getting to be a pro at this by now, wasn¡¯t he? Setting her down on the grass, Su Yudiel perched, resting her bare feet on Zhuang Zi¡¯ang¡¯s legs to dry. He wasn¡¯t really a guy with a foot fetish, he told himself, but he still couldn''t help but steal glances at her fair, delicate feet. ¡°Zhuang Zi¡¯ang,¡± Su Yudiel said, a blush creeping up her cheeks, ¡°why do you keep staring at my feet?¡± ¡°Huh? No I¡¯m not! Looking at the grass!¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang stubbornly denied. ¡°Uh-huh. Seven times now.¡± ¡°Nonsense! My gaze has to land somewhere!¡± Busted, Zhuang Zi¡¯ang turned his head away, staring up at the drifting clouds, his cheeks warming. ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯m not mad,¡± Su Yudiel said, a hint of a smile in her voice. ¡°Shoe service, please.¡± ¡°Put ¡®em on yourself. It¡¯s not like you don¡¯t have hands,¡± Zhuang Zi¡¯ang teased back. ¡°Hmph, stingy,¡± she pouted, but her eyes were sparkling. Chapter 19: Pinky Promise Zhuang Zi''ang and Su Yudiel sat on the grass, dreamily gazing at the sky, wishing they could drift like the clouds. Occasionally, a few butterflies would flutter by. "I wish I were a little butterfly," Su Yudiel mused, "so I could fly to the other side of the river and see what the scenery''s like over there." "We could fly a kite and let it see for us," Zhuang Zi''ang suggested with a smile. "Good idea! You''re so smart," Su Yudiel said, delighted. "You just called me dumb," Zhuang Zi''ang retorted. "So, should I go buy a kite now?" Su Yudiel glanced at the sun''s position and shook her head. "It''s too late today. I have to catch the bus home soon." "Can''t you go back a little later?" Zhuang Zi''ang asked, a bit disappointed. "No, I have to catch that bus." From Su Yudiel''s tone, it sounded like her family was quite strict. Which made sense, it wasn''t safe for a girl to be out too late. "Little Butterfly, tomorrow''s Saturday, no school. Let''s come here and fly a kite!" Zhuang Zi''ang then suggested. "Okay, let''s meet at Xishan Park tomorrow morning," Su Yudiel readily agreed. (Î÷ɽ¹«Ô° - Xishan Park, literally "West Mountain Park") The sun was getting redder, hanging low over the western hills. Suddenly, a ringtone broke the peaceful quiet. Zhuang Zi''ang glanced at his phone, "Mom" was on the screen. He stared at it for a few seconds before sliding to answer. "Mom, you should be at work. How do you have time to call?" Xu Hui''s voice came through, "I heard you and your dad had a fight?" Zhuang Zi''ang hesitated for a moment. "I don''t want to go back to that house. I''ll just stay at your place, wait till you get back." Xu Hui sighed, trying to reason with him patiently. "Zi''ang, your father and I getting divorced has hurt you a lot. Try to understand your dad better, get along with your aunt and your little brother. Don¡¯t make it harder for your dad, okay? I know I¡¯m not a good mom, I never have time for you¡­" Zhuang Zi''ang cut her off, "Mom, how''s it going with that colleague of yours?" Xu Hui was taken aback. "Why are you asking about that, honey?" Zhuang Zi''ang choked up a little, "Just¡­ find someone who¡¯ll take good care of you. Don''t work yourself to death." Xu Hui chuckled, "When you grow up, you can take care of me!" Zhuang Zi''ang¡¯s heart ached. I won''t grow up. Xu Hui, not catching the sadness in his voice, just comforted him a bit more before hanging up in a hurry. "Little Butterfly," Zhuang Zi''ang asked the girl beside him, "Your mom''s really good to you, right?" She was always so happy, she must come from a really happy family. Parents who cherished her like a treasure.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Su Yudiel nodded. "Yeah, my mom''s the best. I miss her every day. I just want to jump into her arms." The words sounded sweet, but something felt a little¡­ off. Zhuang Zi''ang and Su Yudiel stayed on the grass until almost six, then got up and slowly climbed the stone steps. Time was a weird thing. A 45-minute math class felt like forever. But sitting here with Little Butterfly, even doing nothing, two hours just flew by. At the bus stop, some students were already waiting. As soon as Su Yudiel showed up, all the boys turned to look. She was just too beautiful. It was like the air around her turned sweet. Zhuang Zi''ang felt a little possessive, wishing he could put a big mask on her face. The No. 19 bus pulled up slowly from around the corner, meaning it was time to say goodbye. Even though they''d see each other tomorrow, he still felt a little sad to part. "I''ll be waiting for you at the park tomorrow," Zhuang Zi''ang said, "You have to come, okay?" "Of course, I¡¯ll come! Pinky promise?" Su Yudiel said, holding out her pinky. Zhuang Zi''ang frowned slightly. Eighteen years old, was a pinky promise a bit childish? Especially with everyone watching! "Hurry!" Su Yudiel couldn''t wait, grabbing his hand and hooking their pinkies together. "Pinky swear, cross my heart and hope to die, promise you won''t change your mind!" Su Yudiel chanted, pressing their thumbs together with a serious ritualistic air. A pinky swear. The most sacred contract between kids. Adults had laws and morals to keep their word, but still broke promises all the time. Kids? Once they pinky swore, they¡¯d never go back on it. The bus pulled in, students started boarding. Su Yudiel waited till last, wanting to spend a few more moments with Zhuang Zi''ang. "Goodbye, Little Butterfly." Zhuang Zi''ang watched the No. 19 bus pull away, its red taillights disappearing, before finally turning away. He stared at the bus route sign, trying to guess which stop Little Butterfly would get off at. He stared so long the words started to blur, then gave up, feeling pointless, and turned to leave. He hadn''t walked far when a black car pulled up beside him. The window rolled down, revealing Lin Mushi''s face. As the school beauty, her looks were naturally stunning. Zhuang Zi''ang thought Su Yudiel was prettier, but maybe that was just him being biased. Li Huangxuan had praised Su Yudiel to annoy Lin Mushi and deflate her ego anyway. "Zhuang Zi''ang, you are not standing me up again tomorrow, Saturday," Lin Mushi warned. Zhuang Zi''ang suddenly remembered he still owed her a movie. But tomorrow was for Su Yudiel, pinky promise and all. Everyone knew you couldn''t break a pinky promise. "Mushi, I''ve got plans tomorrow. Can we push it back just a tiny bit?" Zhuang Zi''ang pinched his thumb and pinky finger together, showing just how tiny. Lin Mushi looked suspicious. "You going to fool around with that girl again?" Zhuang Zi''ang coughed lightly. "Hey! ¡®Fool around¡¯? Watch your mouth." Lin Mushi pouted. "Zhuang Zi''ang, you''ve been acting more and more out of line lately, skipping class all the time. You''re gonna ruin yourself." Hearing his friend¡¯s scolding, Zhuang Zi''ang didn¡¯t know how to explain. He couldn¡¯t just drop the bomb on her. After a moment, he figured the best way was just to play it cool. "Mushi, are you jealous?" Lin Mushi''s eyebrows shot up. "Zhuang Zi''ang! Jealous of you? Get lost! Go as far away as you can!" "What if one day I really do get lost, far away and never come back? Will you miss me?" Zhuang Zi''ang had asked Li Huangxuan the same thing. Now it was Lin Mushi¡¯s turn, and she gave him the same look of disgust. "Why would I miss you? Just disappear already! There¡¯s a line of guys wanting to take me to the movies, you think I actually care about you? You¡¯re clueless. Go fool around with whoever you want, I don¡¯t care anymore!" Lin Mushi rolled up the window and told her driver to go, leaving Zhuang Zi''ang standing alone on the curb, feeling lost. The evening wind was strong, gritty with sand, making his eyes water. Chapter 20: Falling in Love Zhuang Zi''ang returned to the rental apartment and found Li Huangxuan standing at the door. He smiled and asked, "Son, what are you doing here?" Li Huangxuan grumbled, "You didn''t come to class again this afternoon. I was worried! Why is your phone unreachable?" Zhuang Zi''ang realized he''d accidentally put his phone on silent. He quickly apologized, saying, "My bad." "Dude, you''ve been ditching class and taking leave all the time lately. What''s up? Something you''re not telling me?" Even usually carefree Li Huangxuan had noticed Zhuang Zi''ang acting strangely. It was totally unheard of for the top student to be skipping so much class. Facing his best friend, Zhuang Zi''ang decided to keep his illness a secret for now. Better to tell him later, delay the sadness a bit longer. Li Huangxuan was such a free spirit, him crying? Definitely not cool. "Dad came to school and threw a fit, I was in a bad mood, so I asked Mr. Zhang for leave," Zhuang Zi''ang explained. It was the truth, just not the whole truth. "Your dad, who usually doesn''t give a damn about you, suddenly has the nerve to throw a fit? If you''re worried about being called unfilial, I''ll help you beat him up," Li Huangxuan said indignantly. "Forget it. You''re no match for him," Zhuang Zi''ang replied, a warm feeling welling up inside. Having a true friend in life is enough. As the famous Chinese writer Lu Xun said. Zhuang Zi''ang had just planned to grab a quick bite for dinner, but Li Huangxuan insisted it was the weekend and dragged him to his place. On the way, he called his mom, Fan Ling, asking her to make a couple of extra dishes Zhuang Zi''ang liked. Zhuang Zi''ang genuinely liked Li Huangxuan''s parents. They were sincere, kind, refined, and so friendly. He''d never felt that kind of happy family vibe in his own home. "Zi''ang''s here! Sit down, dinner will be ready soon!" As soon as they walked in, Fan Ling greeted them warmly. "Uncle, Auntie, sorry to trouble you again," Zhuang Zi''ang said politely. Li Tianyun, watching TV on the sofa, smiled. "Zi''ang, we''re the ones grateful. Huangxuan''s grades have really improved since he started hanging out with you!" The evening news was on. A medical expert was explaining how, due to environmental pollution and modern stress, cancer was affecting younger and younger people. So many young people, in their prime, getting diagnosed with incurable diseases. Li Tianyun sighed, concerned. "Huangxuan, Zi''ang, you guys need to eat properly at school, take care of yourselves." "Dad, don''t worry," Li Huangxuan patted his chest confidently. "I''m healthy enough to be a pilot!" Zhuang Zi''ang bit his lip, silent. Meanwhile, Zhuang Wenzhao had been in a foul mood all afternoon because of Zhuang Zi''ang. He kept thinking, Have I been too biased all these years? Just putting himself in Zhuang Zi''ang''s shoes made his heart ache. Divorce was something parents should consider carefully, the childhood trauma could last a lifetime. "Yuhang, you are not to make your brother angry again," Zhuang Wenzhao said, unusually stern. "Yuhang''s still young, he just wants more of your love, that''s why he said those things," Qin Shulan immediately defended her son. Zhuang Yuhang, in peak rebellion, retorted, "I didn''t even say anything bad! I offered him cake! He''s just too sensitive." "He probably won''t be back anytime soon. You need to seriously think about your behavior. Look how terrible your grades are!" Zhuang Wenzhao felt completely drained. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.He pushed open Zhuang Zi''ang''s bedroom door. Empty. The closet had only a few clothes hanging, clearly no new purchases in ages. But the desk drawer was overflowing with certificates and awards. Just then, Zhuang Wenzhao''s phone rang again. His father, calling from the countryside. He quickly answered, trying to soothe him. "He''s just throwing a tantrum, Dad. He''ll be back in a few days." "I''m his father, it''s my right to discipline him." "Sick and hospitalized? He''s so young, what could be wrong?" ... After finally calming his father down, Zhuang Wenzhao collapsed onto the sofa. The scene in the office that afternoon kept replaying in his mind. Was Zhuang Zi''ang really that amazing? How did I, his own father, never realize? Qin Shulan grumbled from beside him, "Zhuang Zi''ang is so good at school, but he never lifts a finger to help Yuhang with his homework. Makes him last in class!" "No sense of responsibility as an older brother at all. Bottom line is, he sees us as outsiders." "What good is being a good student if you don''t care about family?" A wave of anger surged in Zhuang Wenzhao, and he slammed his hand on the coffee table. "He''s my son! Since when is it your place to criticize him? You worry about your own son, and make sure he stops causing me trouble!" Without Zhuang Zi''ang, the house didn''t feel like a happy family of three at all. In fact, the conflicts just seemed to be getting worse. After dinner, Zhuang Zi''ang and Li Huangxuan slipped into the bedroom. "Dude, seriously, where did you run off to this afternoon?" Li Huangxuan looked at Zhuang Zi''ang like a detective grilling a suspect. "Sat by the river with Little Butterfly all afternoon," Zhuang Zi''ang confessed. "Little Butterfly again?" Li Huangxuan stared at Zhuang Zi''ang for a long moment, then sighed dramatically. "Dude, you''re done for. You''ve fallen for her." Zhuang Zi''ang quickly denied it. "Don''t be ridiculous. We''re just friends." "Ask yourself honestly," Li Huangxuan smirked, "Is ''just friends'' really all you want?" "Well¡­" Zhuang Zi''ang was a little flustered. A girl as cute as Little Butterfly? Any normal guy would be smitten. But he wasn''t normal. He was sick. He didn''t have the right to have a crush. "Dude, she''s a great girl. Go for it. I''ll be your best man one day," Li Huangxuan said, eyes shining with imagined futures. "Best man?" Zhuang Zi''ang felt a pang of bitterness. That future was too good to even dream of. He realized how much he didn''t want to leave this world. Didn''t want to leave Li Huangxuan, didn''t want to leave Little Butterfly. But his illness wasn¡¯t going to let him have any long-term plans. God, it felt like the ultimate joke. Zhuang Zi''ang remembered his date for tomorrow morning and didn''t stay over at Li Huangxuan''s. He went back to his rental apartment. He looked up at the night sky, full of stars. He¡¯d heard people turned into stars when they died. Which star would he be? He picked up his phone, and almost without thinking, dialed Little Butterfly''s number again. I''m sorry, the number you have dialed is not in service. Please try again later. Sorry! The subscriber you dialed can not be connected for the moment, please redial later. Same as before. Once night fell, Little Butterfly vanished, unreachable. But tomorrow, she''d suddenly reappear. Like a fleeting, unpredictable meteor, briefly illuminating Zhuang Zi''ang''s otherwise dark life. Chapter 21: Dont Leave Me Following the road south from the school gate to its end, you''ll reach Xishan Park. The park is filled with unique rocks and flowers, pavilions, and terraces by the water. Many elderly people exercise here in the mornings. Because it was the weekend, Zhuang Zi''ang woke up a little later than usual. He hurried out and stopped by a breakfast stall to buy breakfast for two. The park, with its many trees, had exceptionally fresh air. He quickly found the girl with the peach blossom behind her ear by the flower bed. It was the fourth day, and Su Yudiel was still in the same spotless outfit, looking brand new. She was holding a paper box, feeding stray cats, her eyes full of love. A crowd of cats of all colors surrounded her, meowing non-stop. "Tiger, where have you been? You''re all dirty." "Pudding, have you been secretly dating behind my back, huh?" "Cheese, you''re skin and bones! Eat a little more." ... Standing at a distance, Zhuang Zi''ang listened to Su Yudiel talking to the cats, finding it quite amusing. She had given each stray a cute, unique name. "Little Butterfly," Zhuang Zi''ang called out. "Zi''ang, you''re here?" Su Yudiel turned and smiled. In that instant, all the flowers paled in comparison. Zhuang Zi''ang sighed in relief. Good, she didn''t call him "Big Dummy." He waved the breakfast. "You''re taking care of the kitties, and I''m here to take care of you." Su Yudiel, the foodie, couldn''t resist delicious food. She immediately took the bag from Zhuang Zi''ang and sat down by the flower bed, happily munching away. She even shared some with the cats as she ate. Zhuang Zi''ang watched her, a faint smile on his face. Such a beautiful girl, yet so unpretentious, not caring at all about how she looked eating. "What are you staring at? Eat yours! You really are a big dummy," Su Yudiel said, glancing at Zhuang Zi''ang. Only then did Zhuang Zi''ang look away, taking a sip of his warm milk. He felt strangely comfortable being teased; it was almost like he felt a bit off if she didn''t. As Su Yudiel ate, her eyes kept darting around, as if looking for something. Noticing this, Zhuang Zi''ang asked, "What are you looking for?" Su Yudiel frowned slightly. "Tom isn''t here." "Tom?" Zhuang Zi''ang was puzzled. "It''s a little gray cat, kind of silly, just like the one in the cartoon," Su Yudiel explained. Immediately, Zhuang Zi''ang pictured the clumsy cat that could never catch a mouse, the cat that had brought laughter to countless childhoods. "Since it''s a stray, it might have wandered off. It''ll be back in a few days," Zhuang Zi''ang comforted her. "No, I used to feed him every weekend. He wouldn''t leave me," Su Yudiel mumbled, looking dejected.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. "There''s a park worker over there. Why don''t we ask her?" Zhuang Zi''ang pointed to a cleaning cart in the distance. "Okay!" Su Yudiel nodded. The two got up and walked towards the worker. For some reason, Zhuang Zi''ang had a bad feeling about this. "Excuse me, miss, have you seen a little gray cat? About this big, small, with a white spot on its ear..." Su Yudiel patiently described Tom''s features. "That cat¡­ it''s dead," the worker replied. "What?" The milk carton in Su Yudiel''s hand dropped to the ground. Her face was filled with shock. "It got hit by a car crossing the road. Someone buried it by the side of the road," the worker said, keeping it brief, perhaps not wanting to upset Su Yudiel more. The truth was, many stray cats get killed by cars, and their bodies are left mangled on the road. And not everyone bothers to bury them; they often just get flattened into roadkill. "How could this happen? How could this happen? How could this happen?" Su Yudiel repeated, tears welling up in her eyes. Standing beside her, Zhuang Zi''ang could clearly feel her sadness. The worker sighed. "What a kind girl, crying like this over a stray cat." "Little Butterfly, don''t cry. Cats have nine lives," Zhuang Zi''ang gently comforted her. Su Yudiel leaned her head on his shoulder, sobbing softly. "I liked Tom the best. He was so cute." Zhuang Zi''ang''s hand hovered in the air for a moment, then he mustered the courage to pat her hair. "Little Butterfly, don''t be too sad. Every cat dies eventually, just like everyone..." He paused for a long time before saying sadly, "...will die too." Su Yudiel looked up, her eyes teary, seeming not to understand what Zhuang Zi''ang meant. Zhuang Zi''ang looked into her eyes. "People always have to say goodbye, just like you and me. One day, we won''t be able to see each other anymore." "Why? Don''t you want to be friends with me anymore?" Su Yudiel asked, her voice choked with sobs. "No, Little Butterfly. I want to be friends with you forever." "Then¡­ don¡¯t leave me, okay?" Zhuang Zi''ang tried to soften the blow, but it was no use. Even he didn''t know if he would have the courage to face that separation in three months. Dwelling on this unsolvable question would only make them both sadder. Zhuang Zi''ang forced a smile. "No more crying! We promised to be happy every day, and we''re going to fly a kite, remember?" "Okay, let me cry for just a little longer, then I''ll be fine," Su Yudiel pleaded. "Alright, it''s still early. Cry as long as you need," Zhuang Zi''ang said gently, his eyes full of sympathy. When I leave, will you cry for me? If you don''t, does that mean we weren''t really friends? But if you cry too much, it''ll break my heart. So, just a little cry will be enough. The morning sun gradually rose, shining on the grass and flowers. The stray cats, having finished their food, scattered. Zhuang Zi''ang took out a tissue and gently wiped away the tears from Su Yudiel''s eyes. "Okay, let''s go fly a kite. Then I''ll treat you to something delicious for lunch. You said when you''re sad, you need to eat lots of good food." Su Yudiel rubbed her eyes, took a few deep breaths, and cheered herself up. Then she slung her shoulder bag over her shoulder. "Let''s go to your apartment then." "What for?" Zhuang Zi''ang was taken aback. "To make a kite, of course! What else would we fly?" Su Yudiel retorted. Zhuang Zi''ang suddenly realized she meant making a kite, not buying one. Making one yourself was definitely much more meaningful. The thought of making a kite by hand and watching it soar in the sky was a really cool idea. The two left the park and headed towards the apartment complex. Just as they reached his building, they ran into their neighbor. She smiled warmly when she saw Little Butterfly. "Hey there, you''re here again!" "Hello," Su Yudiel greeted her politely. "You should come over more often. Zhuang seems much happier when you''re around than when he''s alone," the neighbor said meaningfully. "I will, because we''re good friends," Su Yudiel replied. Her smile was pure and innocent, without any hidden agenda. Even Zhuang Zi''ang wondered if she even understood what the neighbor was implying. In other people''s eyes, a young man and woman spending time together wasn''t just about being good friends. Chapter 22: The Butterfly Kite Thin strips of aged bamboo, ready to be shaped into a delicate swallow kite. In ancient China, kites were poetically referred to as zhiyuan, meaning ¡°paper kites¡± or even ¡°paper birds,¡± evoking a sense of delicate artistry and freedom. Back at the apartment, Su Yudiel unpacked her bag, revealing bamboo strips, fine rice paper, cotton thread, glue, a candle, a craft knife, paintbrushes, and a whole array of tools ¨C she was incredibly well-prepared. Zhuang Zi''ang was amazed by her expertise. ¡°You¡¯re actually going to make a kite from scratch?¡± ¡°Seriously! Does it look like I¡¯m joking?¡± Su Yudiel said, completely serious. Zhuang Zi''ang had flown store-bought kites a few times as a kid, but making one himself? Never even crossed his mind. He was, to put it simply, all thumbs. Kites boast a history stretching back two thousand years, though paper wasn''t always the material. During the Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties, papermaking flourished, and kite-flying became a beloved pastime during spring outings for everyone, young and old. Over time, kite-flying became more than just a game; it evolved into a refined art form, a display of elegant taste. It¡¯s even recognized today as part of China''s Intangible Cultural Heritage. Su Yudiel started by sketching a large butterfly on the rice paper ¨C the kite¡¯s design. Then, using this as a template, she began constructing the frame with bamboo strips. Zhuang Zi''ang watched, mesmerized, as she heated the bamboo over a candle flame, gently coaxing it into the desired curves. The girl was incredibly deft with her hands! He felt like a complete idiot, just standing there, watching, utterly useless. Su Yudiel secured the bamboo strips with cotton thread, creating the butterfly¡¯s skeleton. Then, she carefully glued the rice paper onto the frame, trimming away the excess. Just like that, the kite''s basic form was complete. But to transform a kite from a mere toy into a piece of art, the design was everything. Su Yudiel lightly sketched the outlines in pencil, then prepared her paints, mixing the perfect hues. Brush in hand, she began to paint, focused and serene. A spring breeze drifted through the room, as silent as the falling blossoms outside. Zhuang Zi''ang stood aside, quietly admiring Little Butterfly¡¯s perfect profile, not daring to make a sound. In that moment, it was like he was seeing a scene from a thousand years ago ¨C a young lady of noble birth, delicately painting a kite. So gentle, so graceful, so utterly charming. He¡¯d never imagined kite-making could be so beautiful. With incredible patience, Su Yudiel painted, stroke by careful stroke, intricate patterns onto the butterfly wings. Ordinary bamboo and paper were being transformed into a work of art. ¡°Ta-da! What do you think? Pretty, right?¡± After more than half an hour of painting, Su Yudiel finally set down her brush and sighed in satisfaction. A lifelike butterfly lay before Zhuang Zi¡¯ang. ¡°Little Butterfly, you¡¯re amazing!¡± Zhuang Zi''ang exclaimed, full of genuine praise. ¡°Grandma taught me. I used to make them every year when I was little!¡± Su Yudiel beamed, clearly proud of her handiwork. Then, she picked up her brush again and, with a mischievous grin, added a line of small characters in a blank space she¡¯d intentionally left: Zhuang Zi''ang is a Big Dummy. Back in the old days, people did write on kites, but it was always lucky sayings or good wishes. Never insults!If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°It¡¯s bad enough you tease me all the time, did you have to write it on the kite?¡± Zhuang Zi''ang grumbled playfully. ¡°This way, the kite will take your dummy-ness far away! Maybe, just maybe, you¡¯ll finally get a brain!¡± Su Yudiel retorted with a sly smile, her logic undeniably flawed. Not to be outdone, Zhuang Zi''ang grabbed a brush and added his own line right next to hers: Little Butterfly is a Little Fool. Su Yudiel¡¯s handwriting was delicate and graceful, while Zhuang Zi''ang¡¯s was bold and flowing. Though, admittedly, the words themselves were a bit childish. Now, the twelve characters were crammed together, a dark blot that disrupted the kite¡¯s color balance. ¡°Ugly,¡± Su Yudiel pouted, her lower lip jutting out slightly. Zhuang Zi''ang picked up a brush, dipped it in red paint, and with a flourish, painted a heart right between the two lines of childish insults. The splash of red was a stroke of genius. Suddenly, the colors popped. Looking at the heart nestled between their names, Su Yudiel¡¯s face flushed, a shy blush rising in her cheeks. Once the glue and ink were dry, they headed out to the grassy riverbank. The sky was a flawless, breathtaking blue, a gentle breeze whispering through the air ¨C perfect kite-flying weather. Su Yudiel held the butterfly kite, ready for Zhuang Zi''ang to launch it. He ran back and forth across the meadow a few times, and the butterfly kite, caught by the wind, lifted effortlessly, soaring higher and higher. Unlike many mass-produced kites that look pretty but can barely fly, Su Yudiel¡¯s kite-making skills were the real deal. Watching the kite dance in the sky, shrinking into a tiny speck, it truly resembled a butterfly in flight. As someone who had witnessed, and even slightly participated in, its creation, Zhuang Zi''ang felt a surge of pride. This kind of joy, he knew, was something no store-bought kite could ever replicate. He smiled, quoting a line from an old poem: ¡°''With a good wind, I shall ride to the clouds.'' The old poem came to mind, perfectly describing the kite¡¯s ascent.¡± Su Yudiel gazed upwards, clapping and cheering, her laughter like the tinkling of wind chimes. Yet, a hint of longing flickered in her eyes. With the vast, lazy clouds drifting above and the gentle murmur of the river below, how wonderful it would be to be a carefree butterfly, dancing freely between heaven and earth. Once the kite was high enough, it needed little effort, just an occasional tug on the string. Zhuang Zi''ang handed the spool to Su Yudiel, letting her take over. Su Yudiel eagerly grabbed it, skipping and running across the meadow, her neck craned upwards, a constant, goofy grin plastered across her face. Her happiness was infectious. Happiness, in its purest form, is often this simple. Zhuang Zi''ang sat on the grass, quietly watching the girl. Sunlight streamed through the clouds, bathing her in a warm, golden light. Every strand of her hair glowed, swaying gently with her movements. The peach blossom tucked behind her ear seemed impossibly vibrant. How young and fair the peach tree grows, / So full of flowers it brightly glows. / This maiden goes to grace her home, / And fitly rule her house to come. The lines of the ancient poem drifted into Zhuang Zi''ang''s mind, a poignant reminder of marriage, of futures he wouldn''t share with her. He thought of Li Huangxuan¡¯s words the other night about being a best man, and a sharp pang of pain shot through his heart. Su Yudiel would be breathtaking in a wedding dress. A sight he would never see. The man who got to marry her must have saved the galaxy in a past life. The kite climbed higher and higher, becoming a tiny dot against the clouds, and the sun grew stronger, almost blinding. Su Yudiel handed the spool back to Zhuang Zi''ang, then pulled the craft knife from her bag. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Zhuang Zi''ang asked, startled. ¡°Cutting the string. That¡¯s the only way the butterfly can truly be free,¡± Su Yudiel said, her eyes clear and resolute. ¡°But you spent so long making it. It¡¯s such a waste to just let it go,¡± Zhuang Zi''ang protested. ¡°I already had fun making it. That¡¯s enough. Now, I want it to fly far, far away,¡± Su Yudiel replied firmly. She didn¡¯t see the kite as just a toy. To her, it was almost alive. Zhuang Zi''ang didn¡¯t argue further. It would sound too¡­ mundane. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Su Yudiel decisively severed the string. The butterfly, finally unbound, danced on the wind, drifting towards the horizon. Carrying the names of Zhuang Zi''ang and Little Butterfly, it set off to find its freedom. In this world, for many things, the process itself holds more value than the outcome. Just as everyone is born knowing they will face death, it doesn''t stop us from savoring life. Live as brilliantly as summer flowers, and pass as peacefully as autumn leaves. Zhuang Zi''ang, hands in his pockets, watched the kite disappear into the vast expanse of sky, then turned back to the girl beside him. And then, he heard it ¨C clear and undeniable, the sound of his own heart surrendering, falling for her. Chapter 23: Just Drink It was almost noon, time for another joyful meal ¨C or as Su Yudiel would say, grub time. Su Yudiel insisted on going for all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ. She pulled out all her cash, counted it, and said, "I''ll keep enough for the bus ride back, and you can have the rest. If it''s not enough, you can cover the rest." Zhuang Zi''ang shook his head. "You don''t need to pay." "No way, I said last time it¡¯s my treat!" Su Yudiel insisted. Zhuang Zi''ang, seeing her determination, relented and took the money. He had his own little nest egg, about five or six thousand yuan, saved up over the years ¨C New Year''s red envelope money from his grandparents and occasional pocket money from his mom. With his usual spending habits, it would easily last him three months, as long as he didn''t eat out extravagantly every day. But with this little foodie around, his expenses were definitely higher than planned. Korean BBQ meant grilling the food yourself, which was more interactive than just ordering dishes. Su Yudiel oiled the grill and placed various meats on it. Soon, the sizzling sounds and delicious smells filled the air. The little foodie couldn''t stop her mouth from watering. Once the meat was almost cooked, she picked up the first piece, dipped it in sauce, wrapped it in lettuce, and held it up to Zhuang Zi''ang''s lips. "Here, open wide." Zhuang Zi''ang obediently opened his mouth and accepted her offering. The richness of the pork belly was perfectly balanced by the crisp lettuce. The first bite was pure bliss. Zhuang Zi''ang couldn''t feed himself because he was busy peeling shrimp for Su Yudiel. His hands were greasy. He peeled the shrimp with practiced ease, and soon a mountain of glistening shrimp piled up on Little Butterfly''s plate. It was a scene of tender domesticity. Diners at other tables gave them envious looks. "Wow, that young couple is so cute together!" "The girl is so pretty and sweet." "And the guy is hot too! Look how smoothly he peels shrimp." ... Some of the comments drifted over, giving Zhuang Zi''ang a little ego boost. If only Little Butterfly were really my girlfriend, he thought. Su Yudiel tuned out the comments, pretending to focus on the food on the grill. But her pink earlobes gave her away. Just as Zhuang Zi''ang swallowed the first piece of meat, another was already at his lips. He gently pushed her chopsticks away. "You haven''t even eaten anything yet. Don''t just keep feeding me." "Eat one more piece, then I''ll eat," Su Yudiel said firmly. Zhuang Zi''ang sighed and opened his mouth again. Meat fed to him by Little Butterfly tasted extra delicious. Even though she was a big foodie herself, she was holding back her cravings to feed him first. What a sweet girl. Zhuang Zi''ang had been to this BBQ place once before with Lin Mushi. Lin Mushi, a pampered princess, was terrified of getting oil splatters on her hands or face and kept well away from the grill. Back then, he had to grill, peel shrimp, and pour drinks, while campus queen Lin Mushi did nothing but eat and drink. Little Butterfly was different. You could tell she was a skilled girl, probably great in the kitchen too. She always got the cooking time just right. After finishing the shrimp, Zhuang Zi''ang went to wash his hands. When he came back, he saw that Little Butterfly had split the remaining shrimp, giving him half. "What do you want to drink? Coke again?" Zhuang Zi''ang asked, smiling. Su Yudiel beckoned him closer. "Come here a sec." Zhuang Zi''ang leaned down. "Why the big secret about drinks?" Su Yudiel leaned in close and whispered a bold idea in his ear. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.Zhuang Zi''ang''s pupils instantly widened. "What? Dr¡­ drink alcohol?" Su Yudiel blinked innocently. "I¡¯ve heard that alcohol tastes really good. People say it makes you feel like you''re in heaven." Zhuang Zi''ang had always been a good boy and rarely drank. He¡¯d only heard adults say that alcohol could mess you up. Their eyes met, both teetering on the edge of something daring. Finally, Zhuang Zi''ang screwed up his courage. To hell with it, let''s drink! He only had three months left anyway. He was done being a good boy. It would be a waste to die without ever knowing what it was like to be drunk. Besides, Dr. Chen had said to eat and drink whatever he wanted. The freedom of not caring was¡­ liberating. The BBQ place had a self-serve drink station. Zhuang Zi''ang first grabbed a bottle of baijiu, strong Chinese liquor, then put it back and took two bottles of beer instead. Maybe they shouldn''t go too crazy. He poured the beer into their glasses. The golden liquid with its white foam released a light, malty aroma. Su Yudiel raised her glass. "Zhuang Zi''ang, to being happy every day! Cheers!" "Cheers, to my good friend." Their glasses clinked, and they both started chugging. The beer was bitter with a slight alcoholic bite. Zhuang Zi''ang frowned. Compared to milk tea and Coke, this stuff tasted like horse pee. He glanced at Su Yudiel. Her brows were furrowed too, she clearly wasn¡¯t enjoying it either. Their eyes met, but neither wanted to back down. They forced themselves to finish their glasses, despite the taste. Little Butterfly''s face was noticeably pinker now, a lovely rosy hue. Even cuter than before. "Zhuang Zi''ang," Su Yudiel asked tentatively, "is it¡­ good?" "Dude, it¡¯s amazing! I drink this stuff all the time!" Zhuang Zi''ang bluffed. "Yeah, it¡¯s actually not bad!" Su Yudiel chimed in, not wanting to be outdone. "Another round? I''m gonna get two more bottles!" She refilled both their glasses. Zhuang Zi''ang gulped, already suffering for his pride. Pride was getting him into trouble, he thought ruefully. After a couple of shrimp, they clinked glasses again, the sound clear and bright. They downed their drinks, secretly watching each other, making sure no one cheated. Little Butterfly¡¯s cheeks were even rosier, and she was much more animated, talking non-stop. She chattered away, sharing jokes she¡¯d collected over the years, often bursting into laughter halfway through, doubling over with giggles. Beer wasn¡¯t strong, but Zhuang Zi''ang was a total newbie when it came to alcohol. After a few glasses, his head was spinning, his cheeks were flushed, and he was seeing two of Little Butterfly. He didn''t quite get the punchlines of her jokes, but he laughed along anyway. Just being with Little Butterfly made him happy. Before they knew it, they¡¯d each downed two bottles of beer. Zhuang Zi''ang, fighting off the wooziness, stumbled to the counter to pay. When he returned, he found Little Butterfly slumped on the table, head resting on her arms, fast asleep. She looked adorably tipsy. "Little Butterfly, I''ll take you home to sleep," Zhuang Zi''ang said, gently nudging her. "Zhuang Zi''ang, carry me," Su Yudiel slurred, her words a little mushy. Sober, Zhuang Zi''ang could have carried her easily. But now, he was willing but unable. He could barely walk straight himself. They ended up supporting each other, staggering out of the BBQ place. Luckily, his apartment wasn''t far. With Herculean effort, Zhuang Zi''ang managed to get Su Yudiel onto his bed. He took off her canvas shoes and pulled her skirt down a little, covering her long, elegant legs. "You sleep here. I''ll take the sofa outside," Zhuang Zi''ang whispered in her ear. Suddenly, Su Yudiel wrapped her arms around Zhuang Zi''ang''s neck and pulled his head down. Caught off guard, Zhuang Zi''ang lost his balance. He fell forward, his lips landing squarely on her plump, cherry-red lips. Chapter 24: A Girls Lips Taste Like Beer Little Butterfly''s lips were soft and moist. Zhuang Zi''ang''s mind went blank, a buzzing filled his head, his blood surged, and his heart pounded as if trying to escape his chest. Those brief three seconds were etched into his memory. She snatched my first kiss! Su Yudiel, seemingly unaware, released her arms from around Zhuang Zi''ang''s neck. Zhuang Zi''ang lifted his head, his cheeks burning hot. Looking at the girl''s delicate face, he felt like he was dreaming. He helped Su Yudiel with the blanket and hastily fled the room. She was the one who initiated it, yet he felt like he was the one who had done something wrong. Lying on the sofa, Zhuang Zi''ang tossed and turned, unable to sleep for a long time. His mind replayed those fleeting three seconds of contact. He finally pulled out his Bluetooth earbuds and listened to music, trying to calm down. Afraid you¡¯ll fly away, afraid you¡¯ll leave me. More afraid you¡¯ll stay here eternally. Every teardrop flows towards you. Flowing back to the seabed of the sky. ¡­ As the melancholic melody played, the alcohol''s effects finally washed over him like a tide. Zhuang Zi''ang drifted into sleep, and naturally, the heroine of his dream was Little Butterfly. The scenes were blush-inducing and indescribable. (To elaborate would fail censorship and likely bore readers, so we''ll skip the details.) After who knows how long, Zhuang Zi''ang felt a tickle in his nose and sneezed loudly. He opened his eyes to Su Yudiel''s bright smile. She held a feather, probably found somewhere, and giggled. "You''re teasing me again." Zhuang Zi''ang rubbed his nose. "Lazybones! The sun¡¯s almost down and you¡¯re still asleep!" Su Yudiel made a face. Suddenly, Zhuang Zi''ang felt a strange sensation and his face flushed crimson with embarrassment. He scrambled up, dashed into the bedroom, and locked the door. First, hide the evidence, wash it later. Several minutes passed before Zhuang Zi''ang finally emerged. Su Yudiel noticed he seemed to have changed his pants. "Zhuang Zi''ang, did you take advantage of me while I was drunk?" "Don''t you remember?" Zhuang Zi''ang asked, surprised. "Remember what? I only remember being at the BBQ place, then waking up in your bed." Su Yudiel looked as innocent as a lamb.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Zhuang Zi''ang felt wronged. How could she be like this? Taking his first kiss under the influence and then turning the tables on him. He had to bite the bullet and say, "You were reeking of booze, who''d want to take advantage of you?" "But you took off my shoes." "If I didn''t take off your shoes, you''d dirty my bed, what else could I do?" Su Yudiel thought it made sense and didn''t pursue it further. But recalling Zhuang Zi''ang''s gaze at her feet yesterday, she still felt a little strange. On the table, in a round fishbowl, two red goldfish swam freely. Su Yudiel picked up the fish food and sprinkled some in. Resting her chin on her hand, watching the fish eat, she said enviously, "Dummy, look how happy they are, not like you at all." "You''re not a fish, how do you know they''re happy?" Zhuang Zi''ang retorted. "You''re not me, how do you know I don''t know fish happiness?" Su Yudiel immediately countered. "You''re not me, how do you know I don''t know you don''t know fish happiness?" Zhuang Zi''ang''s sentence made Su Yudiel pause, almost frying her CPU. She reached out and pinched Zhuang Zi''ang''s arm hard. Serves you right for the wordplay. Zhuang Zi''ang yelped. Yeah, you can''t reason with girls. "Zhuang Zi''ang, I need to go home." Su Yudiel glanced out the window, twilight was gathering. "Do you have to leave so early? I could treat you to dinner." Zhuang Zi''ang tried to persuade her to stay. "No, I have to catch the 6:10 bus." Reluctance flickered in Su Yudiel''s eyes, but she had to get back before dark. Helpless, Zhuang Zi''ang could only see her off. They arrived at the bus stop and sat on a bench, eating oden (Japanese hot pot skewers) while waiting for the No. 19 bus. Though Zhuang Zi''ang wished otherwise, the bus, indifferent to human will, rounded the corner. "Just one more bite." Su Yudiel quickly swallowed the fish ball in her mouth and took another bite of fish tofu. "Will you come tomorrow?" Zhuang Zi''ang quickly asked. "What fun is there tomorrow?" Su Yudiel blinked her big, bright eyes. "We can go to the library and read joke books." Zhuang Zi''ang blurted it out, then immediately regretted it. Joke books? What a lame excuse. It was the weekend, few people waited for the bus. As soon as the doors opened, Su Yudiel stepped on. Watching her slender back, Zhuang Zi''ang felt a pang of loss. He should have suggested something better. Just as the doors were closing, the girl suddenly turned back. "Okay, see you at the library entrance tomorrow morning!" The bus started, carrying the girl away. Zhuang Zi''ang spun around, grinning like an idiot, eagerly anticipating tomorrow. Even though it meant he was one step closer to death. On the way back, Zhuang Zi''ang had a bowl of beef noodles for dinner, then randomly bought a magazine to while away the long night. Around eight, he sent Little Butterfly a message. "What do you want for breakfast tomorrow?" Just like last time, no reply. Much later, his phone suddenly rang. He picked it up quickly, but it was a video call from Li Huangxuan. "Dude, why are you calling?" Li Huangxuan looked glum on screen. "Sounded like you were hoping for someone else." Zhuang Zi''ang forced a smile. "No way, what''s up? Where''d you go this weekend?" "Nowhere fun, you know my mom signed me up for cram school." Li Huangxuan complained. Then he launched into a tirade about how torturous cram school was. Surrounded by academic overachievers, he felt academically overwhelmed. Zhuang Zi''ang offered comfort, and he calmed down a bit. "I really want to be in a relationship." Li Huangxuan suddenly said, "Dude, have you ever kissed a girl?" "What? I haven''t been in a relationship either, who...who would I kiss?" Zhuang Zi''ang stammered, feeling guilty. "What do you think a girl''s lips taste like? Strawberries?" Li Huangxuan wondered aloud. "No, I think they taste like beer." Zhuang Zi''ang blurted out. "Have you lost your mind? Why would a girl''s lips taste like beer?" Li Huangxuan gave him a look of disdain. "Forget it, pointless talking to you about this, you haven''t even kissed anyone." They chatted about random things before ending the call. Zhuang Zi''ang recalled those unforgettable three seconds that afternoon, confirming again, a girl''s lips really did taste like beer. Suddenly, he remembered the embarrassing evidence hidden in his closet. He hurried to the bathroom, poured in a generous amount of laundry detergent, and scrubbed vigorously. The dream scenes still made him blush and his heart race. Yet, he savored the memory. Chapter 25: The Library Horror Story After doing laundry and freshening up, Zhuang Zi''ang lay in bed, playing on his phone. He opened the class group chat and saw a message from the newly appointed class president, Xie Wenyong, @ing everyone. The gist was that next Tuesday and Wednesday were the monthly exams for the whole grade, and everyone should prepare in advance. It was just a simple announcement for the class, but he felt the need to throw his weight around, demanding that everyone reply "received." Most students ignored him. Only a few dutifully replied with a simple "Received." Xie Wenyong was displeased and sent another message. "Why so few replies? Is everyone else asleep?" Li Huangxuan, never one to tolerate such posturing, immediately retorted, "Stop acting like a big shot. When Zhuang Zi''ang was class president, he wasn''t such a pain." "I''m the class president now, and I make the rules," Xie Wenyong quickly typed back. He wanted to make a splash as the new class president. (This is similar to the Chinese idiom '''', meaning a new leader wants to make a strong impression and assert authority right away.) If he couldn''t get this fire going, it would be difficult to manage the class later. He secretly gritted his teeth, determined to prove to Lin Mushi, and to all the teachers and students, that he was better than Zhuang Zi''ang. But things didn''t go as he planned. The students weren''t buying it. Instead of the neat row of "Received" he had envisioned, Xie Wenyong was met with a barrage of sarcastic comments. "It''s just a lousy class president position, one that Zhuang Zi''ang didn''t even want." "Yeah, he really thinks he''s all that." "In my mind, only Zhuang Zi''ang is fit to be class president." "Two years in a row as the top student in the entire grade, who can break that record?" ... Xie Wenyong gnashed his teeth in anger, jealousy burning fiercely in his heart. Just then, Zhuang Zi''ang sent a nonchalant two-character reply: "Received." Campus belle Lin Mushi immediately followed: "Received." Li Huangxuan: "Received." Zhang Ziyu: "Received." Deng Zhuoran: "Received." ... Seeing this, Xie Wenyong finally understood. Zhuang Zi''ang''s position in the hearts of his classmates was unshakable. This only fueled his resentment and his desire to prove himself. Zhuang Zi''ang, on the other hand, had no such petty calculations. He replied "Received" out of goodwill, wanting to give Xie Wenyong some face and help him maintain order. After sending the message, he put down his phone, read his magazine for a bit, and went to sleep, filled with anticipation for his library date with Little Butterfly the next day.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. The next morning, a "ding" sound pulled Zhuang Zi''ang from his slumber. He grabbed his phone from the bedside table and saw a reply from Little Butterfly. "Lazybones, wake up! I bought you breakfast." Zhuang Zi''ang immediately sprang out of bed, all traces of sleepiness gone. Does she only use her phone during the day? And what about yesterday''s kiss? Does she really not remember anything? Zhuang Zi''ang took a shower, changed into a fresh set of clothes, and felt completely refreshed. He unlocked a shared bike outside and rode to the library. Under the poplar tree in front of the library, a girl in a white blouse and blue skirt was playing hopscotch on the red brick pavement. Her movements were light and graceful, as if she were dancing on air. The morning sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling her with light and shadow. She looked as beautiful as a fairy who had descended to earth. "Little Butterfly!" Zhuang Zi''ang was captivated. "You''re so slow! The breakfast I bought is getting cold," Su Yudiel pouted. "Sorry, I''ll be faster next time," Zhuang Zi''ang quickly apologized. Whenever he was with Little Butterfly, he always looked forward to the next time, and the time after that, and the time after that. He wished they could be together every single day. Food was not allowed inside the library, so they sat on the steps nearby to share breakfast. Su Yudiel had bought some baozi (steamed buns) and shaomai, along with warm milk. The most important thing about eating wasn''t what you ate, but who you ate with. When you''re with someone you like, even plain food tastes like a delicacy. "Wow, Zhuang Zi''ang, this shaomai is delicious, try one." "No way, you already took a bite." "It''s okay, I didn''t bite this side." "Alright then!" ... A scene that would make any single person envious. After finishing their food, they entered the library. It was the weekend, and there were quite a few people reading. Zhuang Zi''ang told Su Yudiel to find a seat first while he went to look for books. To play along with the childish game, he picked out several joke books and fairy tale collections. They were the simplified versions for young children, complete with pinyin (phonetic transcriptions). After grabbing the books, he went to the reading area. It took him a while to find Su Yudiel in a far corner. "Why did you pick such a remote spot?" Zhuang Zi''ang asked, finding it a bit out of the way. "I''ll tell you, I just had a super spooky thing happen," Su Yudiel said mysteriously. Zhuang Zi''ang was puzzled. What could be so spooky in a library full of people? Seeing his disbelief, Su Yudiel insisted, "I clearly saw many empty seats, but when I tried to sit down, the people nearby told me they were taken!" "That''s it?" Zhuang Zi''ang stifled a laugh. "Isn''t it spooky? I saw empty seats, but they could see people there," Su Yudiel said earnestly. Zhuang Zi''ang couldn''t tell if she was deliberately trying to be funny or if she was genuinely that naive. He handed her the joke books. "Alright, let''s read!" Like a child, Su Yudiel took the books and started reading with gusto. The "horror story" was immediately forgotten. She had a really low threshold for humor, but she was also mindful of disturbing others. She often covered her mouth to stifle her laughter, her face turning red from the effort. Zhuang Zi''ang occasionally glanced at her, half-expecting her to laugh so hard she''d snort milk out her nose. The children''s books with pinyin were short and easy to read. Su Yudiel finished two books quickly and got up to get more. Zhuang Zi''ang, engrossed in the whimsical world of fairy tales, didn''t pay much attention to her. Time flowed quietly, like sand slipping through one''s fingers. People came and went, each carrying their own joys and sorrows. After a while, Zhuang Zi''ang snapped out of it and looked at the girl beside him. This time, she wasn''t reading a joke book. Instead, she was intently focused on a copy of the Nan Jing (Classic of Difficulties). It was one of the four classics of traditional Chinese medicine, attributed to the legendary physician Bian Que. The book covers topics such as the Five Elements theory, the Eight Extraordinary Vessels, the Gate of Life theory, the Zang-Fu organ system, and other complex concepts, making it quite abstruse and difficult to understand. Zhuang Zi''ang was surprised. The same girl who was just giggling like a fool over children''s books with pinyin was now reading such a profound ancient text. The contrast was striking. "Why are you reading a medical book all of a sudden?" Zhuang Zi''ang asked in a hushed voice. "Just browsing, out of curiosity," Su Yudiel replied casually. "Is someone in your family sick?" "No!" Seeing that Su Yudiel was reluctant to talk about it, Zhuang Zi''ang didn''t press further. After all, people usually don''t like to discuss family illnesses. Then again, he thought, I''m already on death''s door. What right do I have to pry into other people''s affairs? Zhuangzi once said: "Birth and death are intertwined." Everything in the world is constantly being born and growing, and also constantly dying and disappearing. When a person dies, is it truly the end of everything? Chapter 26: Ill Hit You, So What? Around 11:30 AM, Su Yudiel quietly reached over and poked the back of Zhuang Zi''ang''s hand. "What is it?" Zhuang Zi''ang looked up from his book. "I''m hungry," Su Yudiel pouted, looking pitiful. Zhuang Zi''ang was speechless. She was a bottomless pit. Didn''t we just finish eating shaomai? They returned the books and left the library. Finally able to speak out loud, Su Yudiel seemed especially happy, like a bird released from its cage. "Zhuang Zi''ang, what are we having for lunch?" Zhuang Zi''ang started listing off: "Hot pot, skewers, milk tea, ice cream..." Just listening to him list all the delicious food made Little Butterfly drool. But then he changed his tone. "We can''t have any of those." "Huh?" The light in Little Butterfly''s eyes instantly dimmed. "I''m just a poor student with no income. If we keep eating lavish meals, I''ll end up starving on the streets," Zhuang Zi''ang said, poking her forehead. Su Yudiel quickly unzipped her bag and took out two twenty-yuan bills. "This is all I have today, but you have to leave me enough for the bus ride back." Zhuang Zi''ang smiled and asked, "Is your bag some kind of magic money tree? Does it sprout money every day?" Su Yudiel replied, "No, every morning my grandma puts money in it. Since I bought you breakfast this morning, there''s not much left." Hearing this, Zhuang Zi''ang was even more reluctant to spend her money. He thought for a moment. "I know a place that has good and cheap clay pot noodles. Want to go?" "Of course, as long as there''s food," Su Yudiel said with a cheerful smile. This girl really wasn''t picky about food. The clay pot rice noodle place Zhuang Zi''ang mentioned was near his apartment complex. It was run by a middle-aged couple who were honest and offered fair prices. When he didn''t have food at home, he would often come here for a meal. When they arrived at the shop, it was almost exactly noon. It was lunchtime, and the place was packed with customers, bustling with a lively atmosphere. As soon as Su Yudiel appeared, she immediately attracted many gazes. Zhuang Zi''ang quickly found them a seat, tucking her into the corner. They ordered two chicken soup rice noodles. The owner''s wife quickly brought them over. The soup was clear and fragrant. Su Yudiel couldn''t wait and took a sip of the soup, scalding her tongue in the process. "Slow down. People will think I''ve starved you for three days," Zhuang Zi''ang teased. "This soup is so good," Su Yudiel said with a smile. It seemed like there was no food she didn''t like. A girl who isn''t picky is easy to please. They ate their rice noodles and chatted. Of course, most of the time, Su Yudiel was talking, and Zhuang Zi''ang was quietly listening. He listened to her share the jokes she had read all morning. Even ordinary jokes became hilarious after she retold them in her own way. When Zhuang Zi''ang looked at her, his eyes were filled with a gentle smile. They tacitly avoided mentioning the Nan Jing again. The world of medicine is vast and profound, but the more you know, the more helpless you often feel. In the face of countless diseases, what medicine can actually do is very limited. "Zhuang Zi''ang, didn''t you run away from home? What are you doing back here?" An unwelcome voice suddenly came from the side. Zhuang Zi''ang turned his head and saw Zhuang Yuhang''s defiant eyes. He was there with a few classmates from the same apartment complex, also having rice noodles. Because he had been scolded yesterday, he harbored even more hostility towards Zhuang Zi''ang, not even calling him "brother" anymore. Zhuang Zi''ang didn''t want to deal with him. He didn''t say a word and looked away. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere."Who''s this?" Su Yudiel looked at Zhuang Yuhang curiously. "My dad''s son," Zhuang Zi''ang said casually. "So...that''s your younger brother?" Su Yudiel took a moment to figure out their relationship. On the first day she met Zhuang Zi''ang, he had mentioned that he didn''t get along with his family. But she didn''t expect his younger brother to be so spoiled. Zhuang Yuhang felt slighted by the lack of response and pointed at Zhuang Zi''ang''s nose. "I heard you''ve been talking trash about me behind my back." Zhuang Zi''ang replied coldly, "It wasn''t trash talk, it was the truth." "It''s none of your business whether I''m doing well in school or not. Even my parents haven''t said anything," Zhuang Yuhang said, becoming increasingly angry. Because Zhuang Zi''ang was so outstanding, he made his younger brother look like a failure in comparison. He had been holding back his resentment, and now he finally had a chance to vent. The kids sitting with Zhuang Yuhang also chimed in, egging him on with their jeers. "Yuhang, is this your half-brother from the same father?" "I heard he''s a joke in your family." "A bookworm who only knows how to study, how boring." ... Zhuang Yuhang laughed. "Yeah, he can be really annoying sometimes." Hearing this, Zhuang Zi''ang clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles cracking. Su Yudiel stood up abruptly and stared at Zhuang Yuhang. "How can you talk like that at such a young age? He''s your brother!" Zhuang Yuhang gave Su Yudiel a dismissive look. "Who are you? This is our family''s business. Mind your own business." Su Yudiel couldn''t believe that this spoiled, willful child came from the same family as Zhuang Zi''ang. Zhuang Zi''ang was so kind and gentle. "Your brother is so good to you. Didn''t he buy you a cake a few days ago?" Su Yudiel still tried to reason with Zhuang Yuhang. "My dad bought me a very expensive birthday cake. Who needs his cheap cake? I kicked him out of the house that night," Zhuang Yuhang said with a sneer. His words were particularly jarring to those around them. How could a ten-year-old be so full of malice? He was terrified that even a tiny bit of his father''s love would be taken away by Zhuang Zi''ang. "Zhuang Zi''ang, you big dummy," Su Yudiel looked at Zhuang Zi''ang, her beautiful almond-shaped eyes brimming with tears. She imagined how heartbroken Zhuang Zi''ang must have been that night. But the next day, this big dummy smiled and told her that his brother loved the cake and ate it with gusto, getting cream all over his face. He painted a beautiful picture of brotherly love. Although she knew Zhuang Zi''ang was lying at the time, she never imagined the truth would be even more cruel. How tormented must Zhuang Zi''ang''s heart have been that whole night? How disappointed must someone be in their family to run away from home without a second thought, never wanting to return? "Being with someone like him, you must not be a decent girl either," Zhuang Yuhang said, giving Su Yudiel a disdainful once-over. Before he could finish his sentence, he felt a sharp sting on his cheek. Unable to contain his anger any longer, Zhuang Zi''ang raised his hand and slapped Zhuang Yuhang across the face, sending him sprawling to the floor. The sharp sound of the slap startled everyone in the small restaurant. All eyes turned to them. "Are you crazy? How dare you hit me?" Zhuang Yuhang lay on the ground, looking up at Zhuang Zi''ang with fear in his eyes. In his memory, Zhuang Zi''ang had always been mild-mannered, or rather, a pushover. He never thought he would actually dare to hit him. Zhuang Zi''ang looked down at Zhuang Yuhang coldly. "I''ll hit you, so what? Do I need a reason?" Chapter 27: Sweets Are Addictive Zhuang Zi''ang''s solid slap sent Zhuang Yuhang reeling. Did this guy eat gunpowder? Was this the same punching bag he knew? Even Su Yudiel was surprised. She didn''t expect the mild-mannered Zhuang Zi''ang to resort to violence. The other diners in the restaurant didn''t know the whole story. From their perspective, Zhuang Zi''ang was bullying a child, and they started whispering and pointing fingers. "What''s wrong with this guy? Hitting a kid so hard." "Call the cops, let them teach him a lesson." "Let me record a video and post it online. Assaulting someone in public, he''s out of control." ... In the past, Zhuang Zi''ang would have cared about other people''s opinions and probably would have patiently explained himself. But his mindset had completely changed. Whatever you strangers want to say, say it. Who cares? My time and energy are limited, and I''ll only spend them on those I love and those who love me. The owner of the rice noodle shop rushed over, looking surprised. "Xiao Zhuang, why did you hit your brother?" He knew Zhuang Zi''ang and was somewhat familiar with his family situation. So, unlike the others, he didn''t immediately condemn him. "Sorry, Uncle, sorry for the trouble. We''ll be leaving now." Zhuang Zi''ang told Su Yudiel to wait for him, then followed the owner to settle the bill. Zhuang Yuhang scrambled up from the floor, glaring at Zhuang Zi''ang with resentment. But he was only ten years old and no match for Zhuang Zi''ang in terms of size. He could only swallow his anger for now, planning to complain to his parents when he got home. It took Zhuang Zi''ang a while to return. He grabbed Su Yudiel''s wrist and said, "Let''s go!" Su Yudiel didn''t say anything and obediently followed him. As they reached the door, Zhuang Yuhang, assuming Zhuang Zi''ang wouldn''t come back to hit him again, yelled, pretending to be brave, "Zhuang Zi''ang, you''re in big trouble! My parents won''t let you get away with this." Zhuang Zi''ang chuckled coldly. "If they won''t discipline you, I''ll help them out. Stay out of my sight, or you''ll regret it." After delivering his threat, he left without a backward glance. This felt much better than being a doormat. Su Yudiel hadn''t finished her clay pot rice noodles and was still thinking about them. Seeing her wistful expression, Zhuang Zi''ang bought her two grilled sausages and an ice cream, which finally satisfied her. "Hey, why did you hit him? It was kind of scary." "Because he not only insulted me but also said disrespectful things to you. I won''t allow anyone to talk to you like that," Zhuang Zi''ang replied seriously. Su Yudiel remembered that Zhuang Yuhang had called her "not a decent girl," and that''s when Zhuang Zi''ang suddenly attacked. A warmth spread through her heart. That little brat deserved a beating. They didn''t dwell on the unpleasant incident. They returned to the library to continue reading. About half an hour later, Zhuang Zi''ang''s phone vibrated. It was a call from Zhuang Wenzhao. It seemed Zhuang Yuhang had already gone home and complained. Zhuang Zi''ang promptly rejected the call and put his phone on silent mode. To cheer him up, Su Yudiel found some kids'' books. They huddled together, sharing a book and sharing their joy. When they came across a funny joke, they couldn''t laugh out loud, so they exchanged knowing smiles. Zhuang Zi''ang saw his own reflection in Little Butterfly''s clear eyes. I see the mountain''s beauty, and I reckon the mountain sees the same in me. (This is a modified line from a poem by Xin Qiji, a famous Song Dynasty poet.) After a while, Su Yudiel secretly pulled out a bag of fruit-flavored hard candies. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.She unwrapped a strawberry one and held it up to Zhuang Zi''ang''s mouth. "How did you sneak candy in here?" "Shh, keep it down. Sweets can make you forget your troubles." The candy dissolved on his tongue, and sweetness bloomed in his heart. A faint, girlish fragrance wafted into his nostrils. Sweets are addictive, and Zhuang Zi''ang knew he was a goner. But does someone with only three months left to live have the right to love someone? As the afternoon sun slanted westward, the library grew quieter. They had spent the entire afternoon reading seven or eight joke books and comics. Like junk food, it wasn''t nutritious, but it was enjoyable. When you''re with someone you like, time flies by like a rushing stream. At 5:30 PM, Zhuang Zi''ang returned the books, and they left the library, walking towards the school. "Zhuang Zi''ang, do you remember anything we read today?" Su Yudiel asked, skipping along and stepping on the pavement squares. "No, I''ve already forgotten everything," Zhuang Zi''ang answered with a smile. "Me too, hahahaha..." Their laughter echoed along the street. In the setting sun, Zhuang Zi''ang looked at Little Butterfly dancing gracefully and felt the gentle caress of time. Who sent you to my side? At 6:10 PM, the number 19 bus arrived as scheduled. Little Butterfly stood on the bus, looking back at Zhuang Zi''ang through the window, waving goodbye with a hint of reluctance. Zhuang Zi''ang waved back gently. Even after the bus disappeared from sight, he stood there blankly at the bus stop, feeling a sense of emptiness. His day was abruptly split in two by the time 6:10 PM. Being with Little Butterfly and being without her were two completely different states of mind. He grabbed dinner at a diner on the street and returned to his apartment. In the glass fish tank, the two goldfish swam tirelessly. Zhuang Zi''ang fed them and talked to them absentmindedly. "Little fish, do you think Little Butterfly likes me?" "If she does, blow a bubble." "If she doesn''t, solve a quadratic equation for me." He took out his phone and saw that Zhuang Wenzhao had called five times and sent three 60-second voice messages. Zhuang Zi''ang couldn''t be bothered to listen to his nonsense and directly called him back. "Yes, I hit him. He deserved it for being a little shit." "Instead of blaming me, you should reflect on whether you''re a qualified father." "If you think I hurt him badly, take him to the hospital. I''m not taking care of it. I don''t have money, and even if I did, I wouldn''t give it to him." ... While Zhuang Zi''ang was talking to Zhuang Wenzhao, he could hear Qin Shulan in the background, fussing over her precious son and cursing. He sneered inwardly. You''ve put up with your crap for over a decade. Do you still think I am one? After venting his frustration, he hung up again. So satisfying! On the other end of the line, Zhuang Wenzhao heard the beeping sound and was furious. "You ungrateful brat, you animal! What kind of monster have I created?" Anger made him lose his reason. He didn''t even consider why Zhuang Zi''ang''s personality had changed so drastically. Nor did he reflect on whether he had fulfilled his responsibilities as a father. Qin Shulan sobbed, "Look what he did to Yuhang! The swelling still hasn''t gone down. My poor baby!" Zhuang Yuhang slammed his fist on the table. "Dad, go to their school tomorrow, drag him back, make him kneel and apologize to me, and then whip him raw." "So what if he gets first place every year? He hits his own brother. What''s next, is he going to hit his own father?" Zhuang Wenzhao was enraged and had no intention of letting Zhuang Zi''ang off easily. Chapter 28: Im Sorry, My Dear Classmates The morning sun was rising, casting a warm glow over the campus, and a cool breeze blew gently. On Mondays, there was a flag-raising ceremony followed by a morning assembly. School leaders and student council representatives would summarize the learning and activities of the previous week. From the moment Zhuang Zi''ang arrived at the assembly grounds, his eyes scanned the various class formations, searching for Little Butterfly. He was sorely disappointed. Little Butterfly, which class are you in? He had long wanted to ask Su Yudiel this question directly but figured she was deliberately concealing it, probably for a good reason. When she was ready to tell him, she would. His mind was elsewhere, so he didn''t hear a single word from the speakers on the stage. It wasn''t until the assembly ended that he learned from Li Huangxuan that Class 9 had not received the excellence award for the class. This was the first time since the start of the semester. "It''s just a symbolic award, like gold stars for kids in kindergarten. No big deal, right?" Zhuang Zi''ang said with a smile. "Normally, it wouldn''t be, but this is Xie Wenyong''s first week as the new class president, and look at his face, he looks so bitter." Li Huangxuan couldn''t hide his schadenfreude; he had never liked Xie Wenyong. As the top academic class, Class 9 consistently ranked at the top of the grade in academics, discipline, and hygiene. The excellence award had hung in the corner of their classroom without moving. Zhuang Zi''ang used to be the class president and the former head of the student council''s disciplinary committee, so people generally gave him some face. Now that Xie Wenyong was the class president, he was repeatedly rebuffed when trying to communicate with the student council. Nobody respected him. Many students in Class 9 had a strong sense of collective honor and valued the excellence award. As soon as the assembly ended, they started grumbling about Xie Wenyong. "I told you, if you can''t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." "When Zhuang Zi''ang was class president, did we ever lose the excellence award?" "Why did Zhuang Zi''ang quit such a good position?" ... Hearing these comments made Xie Wenyong feel like he had swallowed a fly. Why did everyone think he wasn''t even worthy to shine Zhuang Zi''ang''s shoes? The fourth period in the morning was the class meeting. With the monthly exams starting the next day, there were a few things to prepare. As soon as the bell rang, Xie Wenyong strode to the podium and rapped the desk loudly with the board eraser. "Everyone, quiet down. As your class president, I need to arrange the exam room setup." He really liked to emphasize the words "class president." However, few students paid him any attention. Some were doing their homework, some were chatting, and some were dozing off. Xie Wenyong forced himself to continue for a while but realized no one was listening. He angrily slammed the desk again.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. "Are you even listening to me?" Li Huangxuan retorted sarcastically, "You''ve been rambling for half a day without saying anything important. Who would want to listen?" Xie Wenyong said angrily, "Zhuang Zi''ang used to talk a lot too, why were you happy to listen to him?" "Simple, I respected Zhuang Zi''ang as class president, but I don''t respect you," Li Huangxuan shot back. "Why? What am I lacking compared to him?" "Could he get first place in the entire grade? Can you?" That was a checkmate. Xie Wenyong''s face turned red and then pale. He had coveted the position of class president for so long, but before he could even warm the seat, he was faced with a mountain of trivial problems. When Zhuang Zi''ang was class president, nobody noticed anything. It was only now that people realized how much he had quietly done for the class. Lin Mushi turned around and said, "Zhuang Zi''ang, you were doing such a good job as class president. Why did you quit?" Zhuang Zi''ang glanced up slightly. "I was tired. I didn''t want to do it anymore." This perfunctory answer didn''t satisfy Lin Mushi. She could never have imagined that the real reason was that Zhuang Zi''ang would likely need to take frequent leaves of absence in the near future, and he simply wouldn''t have the energy to fulfill the duties of class president. More and more students turned their attention to Zhuang Zi''ang. "Zhuang Zi''ang, you''re the most suitable person to be class president. We all respect you." "Yeah, you''ve been class president for two years. You should see it through to the end." "Zhuang Zi''ang, I support you. Do you have any difficulties? Tell us, and we''ll help you solve them together." "You''ve helped everyone so much in the past. You can''t just shoulder your burdens alone when you''re in trouble." ... In Class 9, Zhuang Zi''ang was like an anchor. Every time there was an exam, he would dominate the grade rankings, pulling up the class average. Despite his brilliance, he was never arrogant. When classmates asked him for help with their studies, he always answered patiently and thoroughly. As class president, he led the class in sports meets, school anniversary performances, and creating blackboard displays, always achieving excellent results. When classmates faced personal hardships or health issues, they could always count on his care and support. His strength and selflessness had, at times, made people forget that he was just an ordinary teenager, with his own share of sadness and pain. Only a few close friends like Li Huangxuan knew that his family situation was far worse than most. In the past week, Zhuang Zi''ang''s frequent absences had made his classmates suspect that he was facing some serious trouble. Under the expectant gazes of his classmates, Zhuang Zi''ang slowly stood up. Looking at the familiar faces of his classmates, tears welled up in his eyes. "Thank you all for your concern. I''m fine, really." "Resigning as class president was a decision I made after careful consideration. I''m truly sorry that I can''t serve you all until graduation." "The new class president will continue to contribute to the class. Please give him your full support and cooperation, and give him some time to adjust." By the end, his voice was choked with emotion. I''m sorry, my dear classmates. I may not be able to graduate with you. Li Huangxuan slammed his fist on the desk. "Zhuang Zi''ang, what''s wrong with you? Why are you getting all choked up?" Zhuang Zi''ang pressed his hand on Li Huangxuan''s shoulder. "Don''t ask. You''ll find out soon enough." The mood in the classroom became heavy. Although they didn''t know what was happening, they could feel Zhuang Zi''ang''s sadness. Xie Wenyong stood awkwardly on the podium. He had always been competing with Zhuang Zi''ang, but now Zhuang Zi''ang was actually helping him out. Perhaps it''s because of this that I''ll never be able to match up to him, he thought. His character and magnanimity were worlds apart. "What''s going on? Your class is the loudest in the whole building!" Zhang Zhiyuan appeared at the classroom door, uttering a classic teacher''s line. "Mr. Zhang, we''re having a class meeting. We want Zhuang Zi''ang to be the class president again," Lin Mushi said boldly, standing up. Her words were echoed by everyone. "Yes, Mr. Zhang, we don''t want Zhuang Zi''ang to resign." "He''s the only one with enough prestige among all the students." "Is Zhuang Zi''ang facing some family issues? We can all help him." ... Hearing the students'' clamor, Zhang Zhiyuan felt a lump in his throat. He waved his hand, signaling for everyone to quiet down. "Zhuang Zi''ang''s resignation was a decision he made after careful consideration. We should respect his choice." "Although he is no longer the class president, no one will forget his contributions to the class over the past two years." "In the days to come, please continue to respect and care for him as you always have." After saying this, Zhang Zhiyuan turned and rushed out of the classroom, wiping away a tear. Thankfully, he managed to hold back his tears and didn''t break down in front of the class. Chapter 29: Grandpa and Grandson Weeping in Each Others Arms Zhang Zhiyuan stood in the hallway, trying to compose himself, when the phone in his pocket rang. He answered. It was the school security guard. "Zhuang Zi''ang, the security guard at the gate says there''s an old man looking for you." "An old man?" Zhuang Zi''ang wondered. "He looks to be in his seventies. You should go and take a look," Zhang Zhiyuan said. Zhuang Zi''ang sprinted to the school gate. When he saw the old man squatting in front of the guardhouse, tears immediately welled up in his eyes and streamed down his face. The old man was over seventy years old, with sparse, completely white hair and a deeply wrinkled face. He was wearing a blue Mao suit, black cloth shoes, and carrying a bamboo basket. "Grandpa, why are you here?" Zhuang Jianguo stood up excitedly. "Zi''ang, Grandpa was worried about you. I had to come and see you." The old man lived in the countryside and had to transfer buses three times to get to the city. He didn''t know how to use a mobile phone and had to ask for directions all the way to the school, only knowing that his grandson''s name was Zhuang Zi''ang. The security guard entered Zhuang Zi''ang''s name into the computer, found his homeroom teacher Zhang Zhiyuan, and contacted him. Zhuang Zi''ang hurried over and hugged his frail grandfather, sobbing uncontrollably. When he was five years old, his parents divorced. Zhuang Zi''ang was sent to the countryside to live with his grandparents for half a year. In that short six months, the kind old couple gave him a rare taste of familial warmth. A deep bond formed between grandfather and grandson. Later, Zhuang Zi''ang was sent back to the city. Knowing his grandson''s difficult situation at home, Zhuang Jianguo would have him stay in the countryside during the winter and summer holidays. Over the past decade, most of Zhuang Zi''ang''s living expenses came from the old man''s meager earnings from farming. He was Zhuang Zi''ang''s true guardian. These past two days, Zhuang Jianguo had been extremely anxious after learning that Zhuang Zi''ang refused to go home. He urged Zhuang Wenzhao to go find him, but Zhuang Wenzhao was always evasive. In desperation, he decided to come to the city himself. He needed to see with his own eyes that Zhuang Zi''ang was safe. "Grandpa, I''m sorry. I was being immature and made you worry," Zhuang Zi''ang choked out. "It''s okay, child. I know you must have been wronged at home. Don''t be afraid, Grandpa will stand up for you," Zhuang Jianguo said, affectionately stroking Zhuang Zi''ang''s back. He knew his grandson to be kind and good-natured. To do something so rebellious, he must have been deeply hurt and completely disappointed in his father. But he didn''t know about the other devastating news. Zhuang Zi''ang didn''t dare tell him the truth. Just then, Zhang Zhiyuan arrived. Seeing the grandfather and grandson embracing and crying, and thinking of Zhuang Zi''ang''s illness, his eyes reddened again.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Zhuang Zi''ang wiped away his tears and said to Zhuang Jianguo, "Grandpa, this is my homeroom teacher, Mr. Zhang." Zhuang Jianguo quickly bowed deeply to Zhang Zhiyuan. "Teacher, thank you for taking care of our Zi''ang." Zhang Zhiyuan hurriedly returned the gesture. "Oh, please, sir, there''s no need for that. Zhuang Zi''ang is the most outstanding student I''ve ever taught. I''m very proud of him." Zhuang Jianguo took out a few eggs from his bamboo basket and tried to give them to Zhang Zhiyuan. "Mr. Zhang, country folk don''t have much to offer. These are fresh eggs from our own chickens. Please take them." "No, no, we have rules. We can''t accept gifts," Zhang Zhiyuan quickly refused. "Our Zi''ang is a pitiful child. His parents don''t care much for him. Please look after him," Zhuang Jianguo pleaded. "Sir, I will," Zhang Zhiyuan said, his voice trembling. He turned away to wipe his eyes. He couldn''t imagine how heartbroken the old man would be if he knew the cruel truth. The security guard was also deeply moved by the genuine and simple old man. After Zhuang Zi''ang calmed down, he said to Zhang Zhiyuan, "Mr. Zhang, I''m going to take my grandpa to lunch. If I''m late for afternoon classes..." "It''s okay, go ahead!" Zhang Zhiyuan said kindly. Zhuang Jianguo thanked Zhang Zhiyuan and the security guards again before leaving the school with Zhuang Zi''ang. It was lunchtime. Zhuang Zi''ang suggested going to a restaurant, but the old man refused, worried about the cost. Zhuang Zi''ang conceded and went with him to buy two bitter melons. With the eggs his grandpa brought, they returned to Xu Hui''s two-bedroom apartment and made a dish of scrambled eggs with bitter melon. Zhuang Jianguo ate with gusto, complimenting Zhuang Zi''ang on his cooking skills. "Grandpa, I''m doing well here. It''s close to school, and I can sleep in a bit longer in the mornings. Don''t try to convince me to go back," Zhuang Zi''ang said cautiously. Zhuang Jianguo looked around the small but tidy apartment and sighed. "Your mom is hardly ever home, I worry about you being out here all alone." "I''m not alone! I have a lot of friends at school. Everyone likes me." "But friends are no substitute for family!" Zhuang Jianguo wanted to persuade Zhuang Zi''ang to go back, but he also knew that his grandson''s situation in that house was very awkward. Zhuang Zi''ang was already eighteen, an adult, and had the right to choose his own life. "Your dad said you hit Yuhang yesterday. Is that true?" Zhuang Zi''ang nodded. "He insulted my friend first." Zhuang Jianguo''s expression turned serious. "After lunch, I''ll take you back to clear up this misunderstanding. If you didn''t do anything wrong, Grandpa will back you up." Zhuang Zi''ang hesitated for a moment but agreed. He didn''t want his seventy-year-old grandfather to worry about his problems. As for what would happen in three months, he would just have to cross that bridge when he came to it. ... Zhuang Wenzhao was surprised to see his father and son at the door. "Dad, why are you here? You should have told me. I would have picked you up." Zhuang Jianguo said angrily, "You drove Zi''ang out of the house. Am I not allowed to come and see him?" "We didn''t drive him out. He refused to come back," Qin Shulan said, greeting the old man with a forced smile. It wasn''t time for afternoon classes yet, so Zhuang Yuhang was also at home. Both mother and son looked at Zhuang Zi''ang with resentment. After closing the door, Zhuang Wenzhao roared at Zhuang Zi''ang, "Look what you''ve done! Your grandpa is so old. What if something happened to him on the way here? Could you live with yourself?" "Who are you yelling at my grandson for? I came to see him because I wanted to," Zhuang Jianguo slammed his hand on the coffee table. The old man certainly knew how to put his son in his place. Zhuang Wenzhao quieted down, hanging his head and not saying a word. Zhuang Jianguo, still fuming, questioned him, "You have two sons, both your own flesh and blood. How can you be so biased as a father?" Zhuang Wenzhao defended himself, "I''m his father. I was disciplining him." "You call this being a father? You have no right to discipline him!" Zhuang Jianguo was determined to stand up for Zhuang Zi''ang. Zhuang Wenzhao fell silent again. Qin Shulan chimed in, "Dad, you need to be fair. Yuhang is also your grandson. He was slapped by Zhuang Zi''ang. What do you say about that?" Zhuang Yuhang added, "That''s right, my face still hurts. I don''t know what his problem is." "Shut up! He''s your older brother!" Zhuang Jianguo said furiously. He couldn''t understand how this couple could have spoiled their child so badly. The younger brother had no respect for his older brother at all. Chapter 30: Whats the Use of an Apology? Yesterday at the rice noodle shop, Zhuang Wenzhao had only heard Zhuang Yuhang''s side of the story. Naturally, Zhuang Yuhang didn''t mention that he was the one who started the trouble. Instead, he vilified Zhuang Zi''ang in every possible way, painting him as a monster whose crimes were unforgivable. "Dad, no matter what, Zhuang Zi''ang hit Yuhang. That''s a fact. He must apologize to Yuhang. You can''t just blindly protect your own," Zhuang Wenzhao said to Zhuang Jianguo. Zhuang Jianguo frowned, staring at his son with deep displeasure. The way he referred to them, Zhuang Zi''ang was "Zhuang Zi''ang," but Zhuang Yuhang was "Yuhang." This subtle difference alone revealed how stifling Zhuang Zi''ang''s life in this family must be. Qin Shulan, eager to defend her son, added fuel to the fire. "First he hits his brother, next he''ll be hitting his parents, and then what, his grandfather? If he has such poor character, all his education will only make him a greater threat to society. We need to discipline him severely before he makes an even bigger mistake." ... Seeing her spiteful look, Zhuang Jianguo didn''t even bother to respond. Instead, he turned to Zhuang Zi''ang. "Zi''ang, tell Grandpa, why did you hit Yuhang?" Zhuang Zi''ang glanced at Zhuang Yuhang. "Because he had it coming." "What nonsense are you talking about?" Zhuang Yuhang yelled. Now that he had his parents'' backing, he was emboldened. In his eyes, his grandfather Zhuang Jianguo, whom he saw only a few times a year, was just a senile old fool. "Dad, look at Zhuang Zi''ang''s attitude. Is there any hint of remorse?" Qin Shulan let out a heavy snort. "You wretched boy, how dare you be so arrogant after doing something wrong? Do you have any respect for me at all?" Zhuang Wenzhao pointed at Zhuang Zi''ang''s nose and cursed. Zhuang Jianguo said angrily, "Why are you blaming Zi''ang before we even know the whole story?" Qin Shulan said with a sneer, "Well, if you insist on siding with him, there''s nothing I can do. My poor son and I, we''re just unlucky to be bullied by the two of you." Zhuang Wenzhao tried to reason with his father, though still respectfully, "Dad, many of the neighbors saw what happened yesterday. Zhuang Zi''ang skipped school to be with some disreputable girl. When Yuhang happened to see them, he flew into a rage out of humiliation and slapped Yuhang. It was completely uncalled for." Zhuang Zi''ang''s eyes widened, and his voice rose sharply, "Who are you calling a disreputable girl?" "What?" Zhuang Wenzhao was taken aback. The phrase "disreputable girl" was Zhuang Yuhang''s description of Su Yudiel. Zhuang Wenzhao had simply repeated it without thinking, but he didn''t expect Zhuang Zi''ang to react so strongly. "He''s still young, but instead of focusing on his studies, he''s fooling around with girls. Who knows what kind of shameful and dirty deeds he''ll get into in the future," Qin Shulan continued to provoke. This was an extremely offensive statement. The "shameful and dirty deeds" were left to the imagination, but everyone knew what she meant.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Zhuang Zi''ang clenched his fists, wanting nothing more than to rush over and slap his stepmother across the face. At the same time, he felt deeply ashamed for involving Little Butterfly, causing her to be so wrongly accused. Zhuang Jianguo finally understood why Zhuang Zi''ang had run away from home. If he had to live in such a family, he would also find it suffocating. How much disdain had Zhuang Zi''ang endured over the past decade? Thinking of this made his heart ache. Zhuang Zi''ang glared at Zhuang Wenzhao. "Dad, did you really bother to find out what happened yesterday?" Zhuang Wenzhao asserted confidently, "Of course, many people saw it. You slapped Yuhang in public." "No, you didn''t," Zhuang Zi''ang shook his head sadly. "Deep down, you''ve already decided that Zhuang Yuhang is your precious son, and I''m always in the wrong, no matter what I do." "Nonsense, I''ve always treated both of you the same," Zhuang Wenzhao insisted stubbornly, though his voice lacked conviction. "Do you really believe that yourself when you say it?" Zhuang Zi''ang laughed coldly. Faced with Zhuang Zi''ang''s icy stare, Zhuang Wenzhao felt a pang of guilt. No matter how he tried to twist the facts or use clever arguments, he couldn''t hide the fact that he treated his two sons differently. "If you really wanted to know the truth, you would have found out that the rice noodle shop has security cameras," Zhuang Zi''ang said, his tone suddenly calm. Hearing this, Zhuang Wenzhao''s expression froze. Zhuang Yuhang''s eyes gradually filled with unease. Zhuang Zi''ang''s gaze landed on Qin Shulan''s face. "Auntie Qin, would you like to admire my ''heroic'' act of hitting your son?" As he spoke, he took out his phone and played a video. It turned out that when Zhuang Zi''ang went to pay the bill yesterday, he had spent a long time because he was asking the owner for the surveillance footage. Zhuang Zi''ang knew Zhuang Yuhang''s character well. Without solid evidence, he would never admit his wrongdoing. "Hanging out with him, all shady and unclear, you must not be a decent girl either." Zhuang Yuhang''s arrogant and provocative words came from the phone''s speaker. The entire confrontation was captured by the surveillance camera. Zhuang Zi''ang had endured until he couldn''t anymore, and only then did he slap him. Zhuang Jianguo said indignantly, "He deserved it. What kind of man would he be if he hadn''t hit him?" Zhuang Wenzhao was speechless. Even with his bias, he could see that Zhuang Yuhang had repeatedly provoked Zhuang Zi''ang and was essentially asking for a beating. Qin Shulan opened her mouth, but couldn''t find a good excuse and could only remain silent for the time being. She thought to herself, Zhuang Zi''ang is quite scheming, even saving the surveillance video. If they ever fight over the family property in the future, Zhuang Yuhang might not be his match. "Zhuang Wenzhao, do you see now which of your two sons needs more discipline?" Zhuang Jianguo said sternly. "Dad, I was preoccupied with work and didn''t look into it thoroughly. Yuhang is still young. He didn''t mean it," Zhuang Wenzhao said, trying to make excuses. "He wanted to drive his own brother out of the house forever, and you say he didn''t mean it?" Zhuang Jianguo was furious. Seeing the situation, Zhuang Wenzhao realized that he couldn''t defend Zhuang Yuhang any further. He beckoned, "Yuhang, come over here and apologize to Zhuang Zi''ang. Then this matter will be over." "He hit me. Why should I apologize?" Zhuang Yuhang remained obstinate and unrepentant. "It''s fine, I don''t need an apology from anyone," Zhuang Zi''ang said, shaking his head. What''s the use of an apology? It''s not like it''s something you can eat or wear. In front of Zhuang Jianguo, Zhuang Zi''ang didn''t want to dwell on it, not wanting to upset his grandfather. "Grandpa, I don''t want to stay here anymore. Let''s go!" Zhuang Jianguo nodded resolutely. "Alright, let''s go. It''s just as well that we leave this house." After saying that, he glared at Zhuang Wenzhao. Zhuang Zi''ang helped Zhuang Jianguo up and left without a backward glance. "Dad, should I take you back to the countryside?" Zhuang Wenzhao asked, looking ashamed. "No need. If you have so much free time, use it to discipline your son," Zhuang Jianguo said, walking away stubbornly. The grandfather and grandson left, leaving the family of three staring at each other. The atmosphere was extremely heavy. "Dad, I just can''t stand Zhuang Zi''ang!" Zhuang Yuhang still grumbled. Zhuang Wenzhao slapped him. "Shut up! He''s your brother!" Chapter 31: Three Months Until Summer Vacation After leaving home, Zhuang Jianguo was filled with remorse and said to Zhuang Zi''ang, "Zi''ang, Grandpa didn''t take good care of you. You''ve suffered too much." Zhuang Zi''ang shook his head. "Grandpa, I''m fine. I''m living alone now, and it''s very free and happy." He looked at the old man''s head full of white hair, and his heart ached. His grandparents worked hard on the farm in the countryside, scrimping and saving to support his education. He might never have a chance to repay their immense kindness. Zhuang Jianguo suddenly smiled and said, "Zi''ang, is that girl in the video, the one you were eating with, your girlfriend?" Zhuang Zi''ang blushed. "No, she''s a good friend of mine. Her nickname is Little Butterfly." "Little Butterfly? What a cute name." Zhuang Jianguo could guess what he was thinking just by looking at his expression. Older generations are often more open-minded about young people dating. After all, it wasn''t uncommon for people in rural areas to get married in their late teens. Zhuang Zi''ang was already an adult, and it was natural for him to have a girl he liked. Zhuang Jianguo put aside the unpleasantness and changed the subject. "If you like the girl, you should spend more time with her. When I was young and courting your grandma, her father chased me all over the village with a bamboo carrying pole. But with my thick skin, I finally won her hand." ... Zhuang Zi''ang listened quietly, but his heart was filled with sorrow. With only three months left to live, he didn''t have the right to pursue the girl he loved. Passing by a mobile phone store, Zhuang Zi''ang pulled Zhuang Jianguo inside. "Grandpa, let me buy you a phone. It''ll be easier for us to keep in touch." Zhuang Jianguo thought for a moment and then nodded. "Alright." They had talked about buying him a phone before, but the old man was reluctant to spend money on monthly plan fees, saying the landline at home was sufficient. After this incident, he finally changed his mind. Being able to contact Zhuang Zi''ang anytime, anywhere, would ease his worries. Inside the store, following the salesperson''s recommendation, they chose the cheapest senior-friendly phone. It had a large screen, large buttons, and a loud speaker. The phone, along with the SIM card, only cost a little over two hundred yuan. Zhuang Jianguo wanted to pay for it himself, but Zhuang Zi''ang insisted on paying, scanning the QR code to complete the transaction. Although most of his money came from his grandfather, he had very few opportunities to do something for him in the limited time he had left. Sitting on a bench outside the phone store, Zhuang Zi''ang taught his grandfather how to use the phone. He saved his own number in the contacts list, which could be accessed by pressing the menu button on the top right. Then, pressing the green call button would make the call. There were only two steps, easy to remember. When I was young, you taught me how to use chopsticks and tie my shoelaces. Now that you''re old, I''m teaching you how to use a phone. Zhuang Jianguo didn''t want to take up any more of Zhuang Zi''ang''s study time and said he wanted to go back to the countryside. Zhuang Zi''ang saw him off at the bus stop.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. "Zi''ang, it''s almost summer vacation, right? Just three more months?" Zhuang Jianguo asked with a smile. "Three months!" A wave of fear washed over him. He was now very sensitive to this timeframe. Zhuang Jianguo, unaware of his grandson''s thoughts, continued, "Your grandma has been raising some chickens. She keeps talking about how when you come home for summer vacation, the chickens will be big enough to make you some chicken soup." Hearing this, tears welled up in Zhuang Zi''ang''s eyes once more. What if his grandparents found out...? "That Little Butterfly, if you really like her, you need to be proactive as a guy. When summer vacation starts, bring her to the countryside to visit. It''ll make your grandma happy. I''m not getting any younger, but I still want to live to see you get married and hold my great-grandchild." ... Every gentle word from the old man felt like a knife piercing Zhuang Zi''ang''s heart. Zhuang Zi''ang covered his mouth, desperately trying to suppress his sobs. Seeing this, Zhuang Jianguo thought his grandson was just sad to see him go and offered more words of comfort. It''s not like it was goodbye forever. Finally, the bus arrived. Zhuang Zi''ang said, tears streaming down his face, "Grandpa, you and Grandma take care of yourselves." Zhuang Jianguo smiled ly. "Okay, come home early when summer vacation starts in three months!" After the bus drove away, Zhuang Zi''ang sat at the bus stop for a long time. His mind was filled with images of his grandparents learning the devastating news and crying inconsolably. It was too cruel. I''m sorry, I''m so sorry. Zhuang Zi''ang walked back to school like a lost soul. Passing by the guardhouse, he suddenly remembered something. He stuck his head in and said to the security guard on duty, "Uncle, when my grandpa came this morning, you were able to find my class by looking up my name, right?" The guard nodded. "Yes, the computer system has information on every student." "Could you help me find someone? Her name is Su Yudiel," Zhuang Zi''ang requested. The guard nodded and turned to operate the computer. After a moment, four large characters appeared on the screen: No such person found! Zhuang Zi''ang''s eyes widened in disbelief. How could this be? After thanking the guard, he left the guardhouse and walked towards the classroom. His mind was racing with questions. Finally, he concocted a plausible explanation. She probably has two names. Just like Li Huangxuan, who said he was called Li Chao when he was a child, but later changed his name because he thought it was too common. Now, even at his age the elders in his family still call him Chaochao. Su Yudiel must have been her childhood name. She must have changed it. Yes, that must be it. There had to be another explanation! What else could it be? When Zhuang Zi''ang returned to the classroom, the first afternoon class had already started. Zhang Zhiyuan had already informed all his teachers about Zhuang Zi''ang''s family situation, so the teacher didn''t ask any questions and let him return to his seat. "Dude, where did you run off to?" Li Huangxuan whispered. "My grandpa came from the countryside," Zhuang Zi''ang replied briefly. "Your Little Butterfly came looking for you, but you weren''t here. The guys in our class are practically green with envy." Not just the other guys, even Li Huangxuan himself was a little jealous. To be missed by such a beautiful girl was truly a blessing. Zhuang Zi''ang took out his phone and typed under the desk: "What did she want? Why didn''t she call?" Soon, his phone vibrated with a new message from Little Butterfly. "Nothing special, just wanted to see you." Zhuang Zi''ang quickly replied: "Meet me by the flower bed after class?" Little Butterfly: "Okay." As soon as the bell rang, Zhuang Zi''ang dashed out of the classroom. The teacher was dumbfounded. I hadn''t even dismissed the class yet! I was planning to hold you back for a couple more minutes! By the flower bed filled with hyacinths and wisteria sat the girl who was always immaculately clean. The peach blossom tucked behind her ear looked like a wisp of pink cloud. When Su Yudiel saw Zhuang Zi''ang, she immediately stood up and handed him an ice cream. Zhuang Zi''ang was even more puzzled. Class 9 was on the second floor, and Su Yudiel said her classroom was on the fifth floor. He had left as soon as the bell rang. How did she have time to buy ice cream? "Zhuang Zi''ang, eat it quickly before it melts." "Little Butterfly, do you have some kind of secret that you can''t tell me?"