Chapter 128 - 127: At least she paused for me for two seconds.

Words : 1192 Updated : Sep 21st, 2025

Chapter 128: 127: At least she paused for me for two seconds. "Alright, I trust that you’ll make it happen." Teacher Ma smiled, folded the test paper, and handed it to her. This small gesture made Yu Zhi easily change her opinion of him. She still vividly remembered last time when she was punished to stand for sleeping in class; she thought this teacher was far too strict, his tone sharp and harsh, and never once had she seen him act kindly or gentle. But now, upon reconsideration, his strictness had merely been for the sake of ensuring that every student who passed through Shengde’s doors would step into their youth without regrets. "Thank you." Yu Zhi held onto the corner of the test paper and returned him a faint smile. After Teacher Ma finished handing out all the papers and picked up a piece of chalk to start writing on the blackboard, Yu Zhi, for the first time, focused entirely on the lecture without distractions. Shortly after the bell for the end of class rang, Qin Huai approached the girl, a tinge of incredulity in his gaze. "Little Zhi, so you’re really not a top student, huh." Earlier, she’d thought he was simply being humble, but upon seeing the score on her paper, she belatedly realized how mistaken she’d been. Yu Zhi replied faintly, her eyelids heavy with fatigue as she yawned. Even though she was trying hard to keep her energy up, halfway through the lecture, she still couldn’t help but feel sleepy. Watching her yawn multiple times in succession, Qin Huai couldn’t help his concern, "Did you not sleep well last night?" It’s only the first class break; he genuinely feared she’d fall asleep under the teacher’s eyes again, replaying the scene from before. "It’s alright." The only problem was that certain restless man, which left her somewhat troubled. The girl rested her head on her folded arms, turning her face toward the window. "Call me when class starts." After Qin Huai agreed, she adjusted the scarf around her neck, ensuring it was tightly secured before closing her eyes. Not long after, Lu Li entered from the back door of the classroom, holding two cans of soda, walking over to the girl’s desk. He glanced at the girl’s sleeping face, his gaze lingering for a moment on her long lashes and vibrant lips before he restrained himself and turned away. Lu Li placed the soda in front of Qin Huai and pointed at the girl next to her, lowering his voice. "When she wakes up, give this to her." Qin Huai agreed without hesitation, but seeing him standing still, she asked instinctively, "Is there something else you want me to relay?" Lu Li hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Tell her to wait for me after school—I have something I need to ask her." As he spoke, an unmistakable touch of expectation flashed in his eyes, along with a forceful urgency that was hard to put into words. "Alright." "Thanks." Lu Li took a step forward but turned back just before leaving, adding, "One of these cans is for you." The young man left, his shadow dancing in the warm sunlight with every step, as if he were waltzing with the glow beneath his feet. ** After enduring an entire day of being called to the podium by various teachers to face ruthless criticism, Yu Zhi slumped against the wall near the stairway. Holding test papers with scores that didn’t break into double digits, she let out a long sigh. "Classmate Yu." Lu Li jogged over to her, and the moment he realized she had waited, the corners of his mouth curved upward without restraint. "Hm, what do you want to ask?" The girl got straight to the point, showing no intention of prolonging the conversation. After all, that man waited for her at the school gates. Upon hearing her words, a blush spread across Lu Li’s ears. He lowered his gaze to her feet—the words he wanted to say making his heart beat uncontrollably faster. "You..." The boy looked like he was struggling to articulate his thoughts. Despite preparing himself mentally, the words he wanted to say still wouldn’t come out. "What is it?" Yu Zhi raised a brow, puzzled about what was making him hesitate. Yet, despite this, she patiently waited for him to continue, giving him her respect. "Will you be my girlfriend?" Lu Li suddenly raised his eyes, seemingly summoning all his courage, meeting her gaze. It was the first time he’d ever liked a girl, but his lack of experience with romance had led him to do many things that failed to reveal his feelings to her. He had spent days thinking it over, finally deciding to ask her for an answer. The air grew still for a moment. Yu Zhi straightened her posture, the relaxed demeanor she wore moments ago vanishing entirely upon hearing his words. "Sorry, I already have a boyfriend." Her expression was impartial as she uttered the most brutal words to the boy. The voice that typically sounded clear and beautiful now carried a piercing edge. "Since when?" Lu Li’s throat moved with difficulty; the light in his eyes grew dim, eventually extinguishing completely. His hand hidden in his pocket clenched tightly, as though suppressing something fiercely. "For a while now." Fearing he might still harbor hope, she added, "You’ve met him." "Who?" Lu Li asked while mentally scanning every male she might have interacted with or who had been around her. "That time at dinner, he came to pick me up." Yu Zhi’s words immediately snapped his drifting thoughts back to reality. In an instant, Lu Li recalled who "he" was; he looked at her in disbelief, his voice trembling. "Isn’t he your brother?" "We’re not related by blood." Lu Li felt his mind explode, like it was collapsing into chaos. Everything around him seemed to blur into an intangible haze—a blur he couldn’t grasp nor see through. He staggered back a step, laughing bitterly. "Yu Zhi, I’m sorry." He gazed at her apologetically, but in those light coffee-colored eyes of hers, there was nothing but remorse—no other trace of emotion. Lu Li stared deeply at the girl before him, studying every detail of her face, as if trying to etch her features permanently in his heart. After a long pause, he managed to pull the corners of his mouth into a smile. "No need. You can go." Yu Zhi pressed her lips together, the words she wanted to offer as another apology swallowed when she saw the pain in his eyes. She lingered for a few seconds, but eventually turned and walked away, leaving him behind. Only when her silhouette disappeared from view did Lu Li slowly walk over to the spot where she had leaned earlier. Imitating her previous posture, he leaned against the wall, trying to use this support to calm down. It wasn’t until twilight fell and the hallway lights dimmed into an ambiguous glow that he straightened up, gazing down at the floor, murmuring quietly, "At least she stopped for two seconds, didn’t she?"

Chapter 128 - 127: At least she paused for me for two seconds.

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