The streets at six in the morning were still quiet, with only a few early risers lingering at breakfast stalls. Yue Feather didn't know what Silver Bell liked to eat, so he just bought a couple of plain steamed buns and headed upstairs.

As for himself...

His wallet was nearly empty. Inside were only a few crumpled bills—mostly fives and tens—with one fifty-yuan note as the largest. Not a single bill over twenty yuan, and just a handful of coins that clinked faintly when shaken.

For a high school student, this wasn't bad pocket money. But for Yue Feather, it wasn't pocket money at all—it was his living expenses for the next half-month.

Averaging about ten yuan a day, it was barely enough even in this small city with low costs, even in 2004 before inflation bit hard. After all, he couldn't always eat lunch at school.

Yue Feather pulled out five one-jiao coins, lining them up shyly before the bun stall owner. "Boss," he murmured, "one more sweet steamed bread, please."

For Silver Bell, he'd bought a red bean bun, a vegetable bun, and a cup of soy milk. Food portions were generous back then; two buns and soy milk made a hearty breakfast for a girl—and for Yue Feather, it felt like a feast.

He ate his own plain sweet steamed bread on the walk home.

"Here. I brought breakfast. I'm not sure... if you'll like it..." Yue Feather placed it on the table, too shy to hand it directly to Silver Bell.

"Mm, thanks." Silver Bell rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought, her reply absentminded.

"Um... I'm off to school now."

"Go ahead." Silver Bell snapped out of her daze, looking up at him gently. "Be careful on your way."

"Mm... mm!" Yue Feather paused slightly, then nodded firmly. A faint trace of sweetness welled in his chest—a feeling of happiness swirling in his heart.

As he closed the door, Silver Bell's gaze followed him. For a moment, he thought the figure on the chair blurred with his hazy memory of his mother...

Back in elementary school, he'd walked alone too. His mother would smile by the door as he left, then lean out the upstairs window to call softly, "Be careful on your way!"

Yue Feather gripped his backpack straps, walking dazedly down the street. He only snapped back to reality at the school gate.

Had he really walked so far without noticing?

He arrived at Kaiyuan High School by 6:30 a.m.—a bit later than usual, but the campus was still deserted. A few early birds had arrived, but most students wouldn't show up until after seven.

Yue Feather loved coming early. He enjoyed the solitude of an empty classroom, watching classmates trickle in while he played the quiet observer, as if he didn't belong there.

It made him feel safe.

Just like after school, when he'd wait alone until the last student left and the sunset faded, then pack his bag slowly.

Uncle Morning-Shift, the security guard, dozed in his booth. Yue Feather slipped quietly through the half-open side gate into the silent campus.

The hallway echoed only with his footsteps—crisp and rhythmic.

He climbed to the third floor and stopped at a classroom door.

It was locked, but no problem for him. He had the key. The class monitor, lazy about early duty, had handed it over since Yue Feather always arrived first.

Unlocking the classroom was his daily chore.

The air inside was stuffy. He threw open all the windows and switched on the ceiling fans, freshening the room bit by bit.

Extra morning time was for catching up on homework, napping, or doing things he enjoyed.

He pulled out a blank notebook, pen in hand, trying to sketch Silver Bell from memory. But he hesitated, never drawing a line—he feared his clumsy art would disrespect her.

Just then, a round-faced girl bounced in, greeting him warmly.

"Yue Feather, good morning!"

"Ahh... morning..." Startled, he tucked away his notebook and pen, forcing a stiff smile.

This was Zhan Qi. Popular with everyone, especially boys—not for her plain looks, but her kind heart and helpful nature. Even those who didn't like her couldn't dislike her.

But seated at the front, she rarely interacted with Yue Feather in the back row. He still felt awkward around her.

"You're always so early! Why not sleep in?"

"Hmm... I can nap here too..."

"Yo, Yue Feather! Knew you'd be here!" A loud voice cut in. Ji Fan, nearly six feet tall, strode in with exaggerated steps, slamming his backpack on a desk. "Hand over your homework—now!"

"Ji Fan... didn't do yours again?"

"Duh! I only do copying assignments. Others? Waste of time!" Ji Fan declared proudly, as if cheating were perfectly natural.

"I only guarantee the science subjects. The rest might be wrong..."

"No sweat! Our arts rep's here. I'll copy from her!"

Yue Feather raised an eyebrow, teasing, "Living the easy life, huh?"

"Damn right!"

Tall and sturdy, Ji Fan was one of Yue Feather's few close friends. Serious-looking but easygoing, he loved joking around, always grinning like he had no worries.

"Take whatever you need. It's on my desk," Zhan Qi said cheerfully, ever helpful. "But really, doing it yourself is better."

"Yeah, yeah. Heard it a million times. My ears are numb!" Ji Fan dug at his ear impatiently, grabbing a pile of homework to copy.

Zhan Qi quietly unpacked her textbooks into her desk, organized untouched assignments on the top-left corner, and pulled out her morning reading book.

Only after this did she pause. She undid her slightly messy twin ponytails from the walk here, then swiftly tied a cute single ponytail.

Yue Feather watched her fingers fly—so practiced.

He thought of Silver Bell at home, her hair loose. Pretty, but it probably blocked her view.

*I should buy her a hair tie after school...* he mused. *No girl stuff at home. She couldn't braid it even if she wanted to.*

He never doubted Silver Bell could braid hair. In his mind, all girls just knew how.

Zhan Qi wore twin ponytails on her walk but switched to a single one at school. Why? Did she prefer twins but think singles looked better? Or just a girl's little habit?

The morning slipped by in Yue Feather's daydreams. Finally, lunchtime arrived.

Starving, Yue Feather shot out of class the instant the teacher dismissed them, chopsticks ready, sprinting for the cafeteria.

His seat by the back door was the most efficient escape route.

Amazing he could run so fast after just one steamed bread for breakfast.

Hunger must unlock hidden potential.

Kaiyuan High's cafeteria food was bland but had one perk: all-you-can-eat. Rice or dishes, you could refill until full.

To save money, Yue Feather ate lightly at breakfast and dinner, then gorged at lunch—often double portions.

Today, after almost no breakfast, he devoured triple helpings.

Impressive for a growing teen, especially since he wasn't fat. How his stomach held it all was a mystery.

"Holy crap, are you a pig?" Ji Fan groaned, eating with him. "I can't lunch with you again. You're embarrassing me!"

Yue Feather rolled his eyes but couldn't retort—he was choking, gulping down soup desperately.