Afternoon.

By the time they got back to school, first period had just ended.

The classroom was buzzing with noise.

Gan Lan and Ye Yubai came in through the back door, one after the other.

Ye Yubai put down his bag and sprawled across his desk.

He couldn't stop yawning.

Gan Lan glanced at him, frowning.

“Class is about to start. You’re really planning to sit through it like that?”

“I’m tired.” Ye Yubai turned his face toward her, peering at her through narrowed eyes. “I spent the whole morning running around with you.”

That lazy drawl of his was downright sexy.

Gan Lan found herself getting a little embarrassed just listening to him.

Ye Yubai suddenly smiled. “But if you give me a little something in return, maybe I’ll be so happy I won’t feel tired anymore.”

His smile was just as sly as his tone.

Gan Lan's gaze darted away.

“I don't know what kind of reward you want.”

Her fingers rummaged aimlessly through her bag.

She picked up a workbook, then put it down again.

Over and over.

It seemed like any of them would do—and yet none of them would.

Ye Yubai watched her profile, counting her eyelashes as he drawled, “What I want is really simple.”

Really simple?

What could it be, if it was that simple?

Gan Lan glanced at him. “Just say it. Stop teasing me.”

Ye Yubai said, “I want you to…”

He deliberately dragged out the words.

Gan Lan's hand trembled, and her bag hit the floor with a thud.

She hurriedly bent down to pick it up.

But Ye Yubai got to it first. He scooped up the bag and set it on her lap.

While putting the bag down, he placed his hand on her thigh as brazenly as you please.

Through the thin fabric of her casual pants, he gave it a gentle squeeze.

“I just want you to come online with me. What are you so nervous about?” Ye Yubai grinned like a total creep.

Gan Lan's back stiffened, and she sprang to her feet on reflex.

Her bag hit the floor with another thud.

Gan Lan stared at him, her eyes blazing. For a long moment, she said nothing.

“What are you doing?”

Ye Yubai propped his chin on his hand, studying her expression with interest.

Gan Lan pinched her own leg, then sat back down, fuming.

Her heart was racing.

Her voice came out weak, too.

“You… You know what you did, don't you?”

Ye Yubai shook his head.

“I don't think I did anything.”

He looked completely shameless.

Gan Lan couldn't be bothered to say anything else. She hurriedly picked up her bag and shoved it carelessly under her desk.

…

Gan Lan spent the whole afternoon in a daze.

She barely took in anything the teacher said.

Her notebook was covered in a mess of random scribbles.

During the last period, PE, the homeroom teacher came in carrying a stack of forms and started talking about choosing between the science and arts tracks.

Ye Yubai clicked his tongue. “Seriously? She couldn't use class meeting time to talk about this? She had to take over PE.”

Gan Lan watched the homeroom teacher, torn.

In her previous life, she'd chosen the science track. This time, she wanted to study art.

But should she really choose art?

If she chose science, she'd be able to keep studying without missing a beat. After all, she'd learned it all before, so at least some of it would feel familiar.

If she chose art, everything would be completely unfamiliar.

She wasn't especially smart. Whether it was studying or working, she'd always relied on hard work.

If she took on something entirely new, could she do better than she had in her previous life?

Gan Lan felt lost and uncertain.

Just then, the homeroom teacher began handing out the forms.

“You'll officially choose your track next semester, so everyone needs to think carefully…”

The homeroom teacher walked around the classroom.

Every so often, she'd pick a couple of lucky students and take them outside for a private talk.

Of course, Ye Yubai was one of them.

Gan Lan watched him leave the classroom.

Through the wall, she could just make out their conversation.

…

“Ye Yubai, with grades like yours, you could easily get into Tsinghua or Peking University. Still, I'd recommend the science track. It's the safer choice.”

The homeroom teacher urged him earnestly.

“Math and science are your strong subjects, and your English is decent too. But you need to put more effort into Chinese. Don't get lazy just because you're smart, understand?”

“The gaokao will be here before you know it. You're already in your second year of high school. Once you choose your track, you'll be in your final year, and the time will fly by.”

“Ye Yubai, I have high hopes for you. Don't let me down.”

Ye Yubai didn't give her an answer. He just smiled and nodded, occasionally offering a perfunctory “Mm.”

The homeroom teacher could tell he wasn't taking her seriously, and couldn't help sighing.

There was no point in lecturing a clever kid like him too much. He knew his own mind.

Ye Yubai's intelligence was plain for everyone to see.

But so was his laziness.

Sometimes, he even copied Gan Lan's homework. The homeroom teacher found that downright baffling.

“Think over what I said when you get home. You should talk it over with your parents too, all right?”

As she spoke, she looked around.

“Come with me. There are a few more things I need to tell you.”

She led Ye Yubai toward an empty corridor.

Only when they reached a quiet corner did the homeroom teacher lower her voice. “You absolutely mustn't hang around with someone like Gan Lan.”

At that, Ye Yubai's smile froze.

But the homeroom teacher didn't notice his expression change and kept on talking.

“Someone like Gan Lan, who's ranked eleventh from the bottom of the class—you won't get a single thing out of hanging around with her.”

“I know you two grew up together and have been friends since you were kids, but eventually you'll each have to go your own way. You'll meet plenty of other people, and the gap between you and her will only keep growing.”

“You need to think about your own future.”

“This last stretch of high school is the time to work hard. That way, you won't regret it later!”

…

All Ye Yubai could hear was the homeroom teacher's nagging.

But he didn't take in a single word.

Because just as the teacher began her earnest lecture, he saw Gan Lan sneak out through the back door of the classroom.

The way she hunched over and peeked around as she sneaked off was ridiculously funny.

Even funnier than the cat his family used to have.

“What’s she sneaking off for?” Ye Yubai wondered. “It doesn't look like she's going to the bathroom. More like she's skipping class to go have fun.”

The homeroom teacher talked on and on, then sighed when he showed no reaction at all.

She patted his shoulder. “Think it over.”

Ye Yubai nodded, then suddenly clutched his stomach with a pained expression. “Teacher, I need to use the bathroom.”

“Go ahead.”

“Okay, thanks for letting me go.”

Still clutching his stomach, Ye Yubai jogged after Gan Lan.

Once he was out of the teacher's sight, he slowly straightened up and returned to his usual unhurried air.

Curious, he made sure Gan Lan didn't spot him and followed close behind.

He followed Gan Lan farther and farther, until they were well away from the classroom buildings.

They reached the small grove near the sports field.

As if by magic, Gan Lan pulled a shovel out from behind a low shrub and started digging beneath the biggest camphor tree.

Ye Yubai watched the whole thing from a crouch.

“Huh. I think that tree is…”