The grand gathering that day ended in quiet solitude. Su Yu had drunk himself into a stupor. When he woke, nearly half the guests were already gone. Gazing at the empty private room, a faint melancholy washed over him.
The seat beside him was vacant. Chen Kai was gone. Xia Qian’ge had slipped away too—perhaps quietly, sometime the night before. Not even a proper goodbye. Just… parted.
Days that followed drifted by uneventfully. He checked his scores, submitted his application to Qingchuan University, confirmed the choice. All set. No turning back. Regret wouldn’t change a thing.
Summer ticked away, each day counting down to semester start. Reborn once more, he’d achieved little. Even his university fell short of last time. Still—he should be grateful. He felt no regret. Not now, at least.
…
“Hey, I don’t get this problem.”
A tug on his sleeve pulled Su Yu from his thoughts. “Aren’t *you* the tutor? How come *you’re* spacing out more than the student?”
Su Yu looked down. He Muqing gazed up, big eyes flickering with mild annoyance. She tapped the worksheet. “I can’t do it. Explain.”
“We literally just did one like it. If you got that, this is easy. How is it confusing?”
“How is it the *same*? I don’t see it!”
“Then you didn’t get the last one. Why lie?”
“Ugh, forget it! I’m not studying! I just don’t get it, okay? Why you gotta be so mean? Fine—I’m dumb. Happy?”
She tossed her pen aside, pouting softly. Her eyes fluttered like butterflies, impossibly cute. Anyone’s heart would melt.
“Don’t pull that. We’ve known each other forever. Cute tricks? Shameless.”
“Tch… Blockhead.” The act vanished instantly. She pursed her lips. “Total blockhead.”
He Muqing couldn’t figure Su Yu out. He’d promised: *Get into Qingchuan, and I’ll grant one wish.* And his wish? For *her* to sit through his tutoring sessions? Her—a sweet, pretty girl—and he picks *that*? She’d even bought a lovely new dress, waiting for *the* request… Only to spend days in the same sleepwear while the dress gathered dust in her closet.
“For your own good. With grades like yours… where’d you end up? Really okay drifting into some mediocre college?”
Su Yu smiled wryly. She’d given her future zero thought. “What uni do *you* want? Ever thought about it?”
“Nah… Still early.” She shook her head, idly kicking her slippers. Beneath her knee-length sleep dress, fair calves swayed. Smooth, porcelain-like feet tapped the floor—bright orange polish gleaming on her toes. Surprisingly lovely.
Her eyes suddenly lit up. “Hey… what about Qingchuan University?”
“Qingchuan?” Su Yu chuckled, tapping her smooth forehead. “With *these* grades? Only in your dreams.”
“Hmph.” She swatted his hand away, muttering, “Just wait. I’ll get in and shock you.”
“Then study. Once I leave, no one’s teaching you.”
“Wait—you’re leaving *when*?” Summer was halfway gone. Qingchuan awaited.
“Few days. It’s far. Bullet train takes hours. Gonna go early.”
“So soon…” Her breath hitched. That untouched dress flashed in her mind. She’d thought time was endless. They’d lived side by side for over a decade—always there. Now… gone in days. Next meeting? Winter break. A tight ache bloomed in her chest—not just missing him, but something sharper, restless. Worse than any unsolved math problem.
She snatched the AC remote and mashed buttons wildly. Su Yu watched, certain one wrong word would make her snap it in half.
Temperature plunged to minimum. A cold blast hit his neck. He shivered. “Hey… what’s wrong with you? Why freeze the room?”
“You’re leaving and didn’t *say*? Why tutor me now when I thought you’d stay?” She slammed the remote down. Eyebrows knotted, gaze fierce—Su Yu knew this look. *Really* upset.
“You’re so annoying! Seriously!” She yanked the bedroom door open, dragging his arm. “Don’t wanna see you. Get out. Leave.”
“You… your mom invited me! I’ll tell her!”
“Mom’s at the hospital with Dad. *I’m* boss here. I say go—you go.”
Stubborn as a child. Words childish. Emotions plain on her face.
“Stop! You’ll rip my shirt! Pervert?”
“You’re the pervert! Your whole family! Blockhead! Emotionally clueless! Big dummy!” She bit her lip but held tight.
“Wait—tomorrow! Tomorrow I’ll take you out. Mango pudding. All on me!”
“Really?”
Her grip loosened instantly. Su Yu slumped back, breathless. He Muqing stared, eyes sparkling like crystal grapes.
“R-really.”
He grinned, utterly sincere.
“Fine. Go.”
Su Yu blinked. “Huh? Still kicking me out?”
“Tomorrow I won’t be mad. *Today*? Still mad.” She lifted her chin, prideful. “Scram. Or I grab the broom.”
“You…” Teeth gritted. A hissed whisper: “Muqing! You’re despicable!”
…
Clang!
The door slammed shut. The metallic echo felt cold. Her smile faded. She couldn’t stay angry long. Agreeing was just a step down for both.
After he left, the heaviness lifted. She rarely acted spoiled—usually showed anger instead. But it wasn’t real anger. Just her way of being cute. Because when she pouted, Su Yu would soothe her… and grant little wishes.
This time, he gave in like always. Yet joy didn’t come. Like punching a pillow—soft, hollow. Just… powerless.
