There’s always something to look forward to in life.

No matter who you are. No matter where you stand.

Every single day holds a little spark of anticipation.

Maybe it’s the dream of a promotion. Maybe it’s wondering if that sunlit girl will appear at your window.

Maybe it’s just a simple WeChat message. Or the next chapter update of the novel you’re following.

“Memorize this formula. Derive it carefully. Start from the basics—think step by step toward the goal…”

The physics teacher droned on, wrapping up the final problem on the test paper.

Lu Huai finished the derivation after some effort—but a few small errors remained. Proof his studies still weighed on him.

Maybe his method was off. Maybe he just hadn’t tried hard enough before.

He was tired of hearing “studying and exams are everything.” No wonder so many cracked under pressure and quit halfway.

Lu Huai had thought about it too.

But sadly, his family’s situation left no room for dreams beyond getting into a good university.

All that lay ahead was the familiar promise: graduate, land a stable job.

Like countless youths, he chased ideals he barely understood—only to be gently, repeatedly bruised by reality.

A breeze drifted through the window. *She* wouldn’t pass by now.

Suddenly, he remembered how Liu Qianxun had walked past this very window days ago, leaving him that precious spark of inspiration.

And just like that, a fleeting story took shape.

Youth *should* burn with fierce emotion—like a tree rooting deep, reaching high… Sounds poetic. Few ever live it.

But writing often speaks of what we can’t do. Even memoirs hide exaggerations. Isn’t that true?

“Redo this paper at home. Next week’s quiz won’t be much harder.”

As class ended, the teacher’s final words hung in the air.

Lu Huai glanced at his note-covered test sheet and tucked it away.

“Cafeteria or straight to the net café?”

“Again? Eat first! Yesterday I gamed on empty stomach—nearly passed out from low blood sugar.”

“Screw food. Two Snickers bars. Meals wait. Games don’t.”

“I’m broke…”

“My treat!”

“Go! Last PCs’ll be gone!”

Yep. Internet-addicted teens? Universal truth.

“Xiao Yuan, where to eat?”

“Mall. Craving luosifen so bad.”

“You’ll reek after…”

“Who you trying to smell nice for? Food’s non-negotiable. Coming or not? I’m leaving!”

“Ugh, fine. Bestie duty calls.”

For girls, foodie mode is baseline.

The upgraded version? Eat anything, stay effortlessly slim.

Lu Huai didn’t rise immediately.

Li Xin clapped his shoulder. “Cafeteria? Why so slow?”

“I’ll go later… when it’s quieter.”

“Only leftovers by then. Sure?”

“Not hungry.”

“Alright.”

He always left late—avoiding cafeteria crowds, the awkward silence amid chatter.

Not trying to be special. He knew others might see it as pretentious. But explaining felt worse.

Besides… today felt different. Something waited.

He glanced at the few remaining students, said nothing, and slipped out.

Downstairs buzzed with noise. Up here, only the fan’s soft whirring remained.

Even the classroom seemed to sigh into rest.

Golden light traced the windowsill, gently brushing the desks.

Tap…

Tap…

Footsteps drew near.

Not a horror story. He knew who it was. Her figure already filled his sight.

Even in standard school uniform, she stood out—charm needing no proof.

Lin Ruoxing, black-rimmed glasses in place, lightly tapped his desk.

Concise.

“Let’s go.”

Lu Huai hesitated. “If it’s important… we can talk here.”

Insisting on a meal felt too formal. Almost… date-like. Narcissistic? Maybe. But the vibe was there.

He preferred simplicity. Less awkwardness with a pretty girl.

Lin Ruoxing tapped again—soft, textured, impossible to ignore.

Her voice, barely a whisper:

“I rarely treat others. Making a girl wait isn’t very gentlemanly, is it?”

“…Where to?”

After a quiet struggle, Lu Huai surrendered. His life was already strange. Might as well lean in.

He wasn’t a hero. Just a small boat drifting down time’s river.

“I’ll lead.”

Lin Ruoxing was cool.

Not the flashy, “girl-group” cool—aloof words, dramatic gestures.

Hers lived in quiet confidence: direct words, purposeful steps, eyes seeing only the path ahead.

Walking behind her? Felt like trailing a young mistress as her lackey.

Wait… Xu Wenxi had that aura too.

Were they similar?

Lu Huai froze. Too late to back out now. His rule: refuse firmly upfront, or commit quietly. Midway changes only burden others.

So he walked on.

*[In these fleeting minutes,

Sky blurred and hazy.

All honors, all scores—scattered to the wind.

Mind hollow.

Emotions surge like waves.

Let me sleep forever… keep all beauty in dreams.]*

Xin Guang Xiang’s melody drifted from the speakers.

Funny how melodic rap was winning over mainstream taste lately.

Second-floor booth. Lu Huai and Lin Ruoxing faced each other.

Behind: two chattering schoolmates. Ahead: a couple lost in conversation.

Lu Huai kept his eyes fixed on the window.

“What’ll you have?” Lin Ruoxing asked calmly.

He’d skimmed the menu downstairs. “Beef over rice…”

“Okay.”

She scanned the QR code, ordered, then held her phone toward him.

“You haven’t added me on WeChat?”

“Seems like it…”

*Definitely.*

Before Xu Wenxi, Yan Ningning was the only girl his age in his contacts. No exaggeration.

Now? Xu Wenxi. Su Xiangrong. Suddenly, a whole database.

Su and Yan posted cheerful Moments selfies. Xu Wenxi? Invisible.

“So…” Lin Ruoxing’s gaze held a flicker.

Lu Huai blinked. “So…?”

“A guy should take initiative. Must I ask?”

He froze, cheeks warming as he pulled out his phone. “Sorry… Can you just say things straight?”

“Hm?”

“No offense. I just… miss hints.”

He hated roundabout talk. She’d seemed so cool earlier. Now? Unleashed.

After adding, she murmured, “Language is art. Pure directness? Dreadfully dull.”

“…Can’t argue with that.”

Lu Huai’s eyes stayed glued to the window. Distracted. Wary.

A pretty girl treating him? Sounded sweet. Classic life illusion. Stay sharp.

“The literature club? I heard you visited today.”

*That’s the topic?* He nodded slightly. “Went. Small issue. Should be fine… I think.”

“Careful words. Looks humble. Feels insecure.”

She sat perfectly straight, posture elegant, observing him again.

Lu Huai stayed silent, flustered.

“You’ve changed lately. I thought the bulletin board woke you up. Seems not.”

Soft music. Girls giggling behind them.

Lu Huai winced. “Class Monitor… must we discuss ‘youth transformations’ *here*? Real life isn’t anime.”

“Hard to talk about?”

Her expression turned innocently wide-eyed. *Too* innocent. *Bad woman.*

“Not hard… just… complicated.”

“Oh? So if I praised how *noticeable* your changes are… you’d blush harder?”

“…Please stop.”

“Alright.”

He exhaled. Glanced up.

She propped her cheek, lips curved in a sly, quiet smile.

*She’s laughing.*

“You’re still smirking!”

“Silence respects your wish. Smiling’s my right. Too domineering, Lu Huai?”

“So you *don’t* care about my feelings…”

He muttered, voice barely there.

Upon hearing those words, Lin Ruoxing suddenly leaned back, palms flat on the table as her fingertips lightly tapped the surface.

She pouted slightly.

“Why isn’t the food here yet? I’m about to complain.”

Don’t change the subject with such an adorable act—that’s a foul, I tell you!