At the end of September, the early autumn arrived in the city as expected. The sky was high and clear, with a light blue background and no traces of clouds. The osmanthus trees beneath the teaching building were in full bloom, and the classroom windows were wide open, allowing the fragrance to drift in with the breeze.
The old fan made a slight noise, and there was also the sound of chalk hitting the blackboard and water-based pens scribbling on paper. Yan Zhibin’s voice was high and unceasing as he lectured at the podium.
Lin Xiche was a bit distracted, looking down at her draft notebook, repeatedly writing four numbers.
—1024.
She noticed that the person beside her seemed to be leaning in, so Lin Xiche immediately refocused, closed her notebook, and calmly looked at the blackboard, copying the notes onto her textbook.
But this seemed to be just her imagination; Xu Fang was sitting still, lips slightly pursed, writing notes with his head down. He had cut his hair shorter, revealing a smooth forehead, and he looked much more spirited.
Seeing this, Lin Xiche patted her face and concentrated on listening to the lecture.
Tomorrow was the National Day holiday, and since it fell on a Saturday, the school didn’t need to schedule makeup classes or adjust the timing. They had a full seven days off according to national regulations.
In the dormitory, except for Chen Han, the other three roommates all lived in R Province, making it convenient for them to go home. So, most of them would go back home.
Chen Han’s home was far from the school, and it would take three hours by plane, which was quite troublesome to go back and forth. But because of the one-week holiday this time, she hesitated for a long time but eventually chose to go home.
In the dormitory, only Lin Xiche would remain during these seven days.
She had already made plans for the seven-day holiday. Through a recommendation from the department head, there was a temporary part-time job available at a nearby bubble tea shop during the National Day holiday. Lin Xiche added the manager on WeChat, glanced at the general requirements, and then signed up.
The part-time job was mainly because she had too much free time during the holiday and wanted to pass the time with it, but it was also related to her need for money.
The bet between Lin Xiche and Xu Fang had already ended, and she had spent all the three thousand yuan he gave her for living expenses before. In fact, she even owed him a few hundred yuan.
Although she had no intention of repaying him, it served as a warning to her. If she continued to spend money recklessly, three thousand yuan a month would definitely not be enough. The key point was that Xu Fang’s birthday was coming up in a month, and Lin Xiche needed to save money to buy him a gift.
In previous years, neither of them paid much attention to birthdays, especially Lin Xiche, who was quite casual about it. If she remembered, she would casually give him something, like a pen missing its cap, a half-empty bottle of cola, or even a watch she had used for half a year.
But this year, she definitely couldn’t be so casual.
If she continued like this, she might as well just hand Xu Fang over to someone else.
In Lin Xiche’s random thoughts, the bell for the end of class rang. Yan Zhibin dragged on for a while, but when he noticed that the students were restless, he let them go quickly.
Lin Xiche tidied up her things, said goodbye to Xin Zidan and Ye Shaowen, and found Xu Fang waiting for her, sitting with his long legs resting on the iron bar in front of the desk.
Xu Fang moved his lips and casually asked, “What are you going to do for these seven days?”
“I plan to take a part-time job.” Lin Xiche stood up and told him the truth, “It’s just outside the school, for the National Day these seven days.”
Xu Fang frowned, “Why do you need to do a part-time job when you have nothing to do?”
The two of them continued to walk while talking.
“I’m taking a part-time job because I have nothing to do,” Lin Xiche said as she searched for her bike key in her backpack, adding, “Why don’t you come along? After all, you don’t have much to do, you’re free every day.”
Xu Fang glanced at her but didn’t say anything.
“Wait a minute, let me check,” Lin Xiche pulled out her phone and checked her previous chat with the manager, “The requirements are lively and cheerful personality, patient and easygoing… Hmm, you don’t seem to fit.”
“…”
“Working hours should not be less than four hours a day, and it pays fifteen yuan per hour. I think you might find it too little.”
“…”
Lin Xiche continued reading, “Requires professional qualities…”
Before she could finish, Xu Fang suddenly interrupted her, his tone soft and affectionate, “Xiche.”
Hearing him call her like that, Lin Xiche’s heart skipped a beat, and she looked at him with a stunned expression.
“What’s wrong…”
“Don’t go, you don’t meet the requirements,” Xu Fang took the bike key from her hand, looking like he was sincerely concerned for her, and continued, “You don’t have the qualities they’re looking for.”
“…”
Lin Xiche’s temples throbbed as she stared at him, holding her breath. She watched as Xu Fang walked to the bike shed next to the teaching building and unlocked the bike. He stood there patiently, waiting for her.
This bike was a prize from the freshman basketball game, with large wheels and a rear seat. It had a lightweight frame and a slightly retro design, which Lin Xiche liked very much. Xu Fang had received it and immediately gave it to her.
Having more bikes on campus was convenient since the school was quite large.
However, Lin Xiche usually walked to class with her roommates. This time, she had ridden the bike because she was going for an interview at the bubble tea shop.
Xu Fang pushed the bike out of the shed.
Lin Xiche gripped the handlebars, sat on the saddle, and turned to ask him, “I’m going for the interview now. What about you? Are you going back to the dorm or having lunch?”
Xu Fang stood still, not giving a clear answer.
After a few seconds of hesitation, Lin Xiche said, “I’ll be on my way then.”
“Okay.”
Lin Xiche thought about finishing the interview quickly so that she could return to the dorm early. She didn’t want to delay too long. She put her phone into her backpack and was about to pedal forward when suddenly, there was an extra weight behind her.
Lin Xiche instinctively turned her head to look and saw Xu Fang sitting comfortably on the rear seat. He looked natural and composed, as if he had just hailed a taxi and was about to tell the driver his destination.
“…Do you know how much you weigh?” Lin Xiche’s lips twitched.
With a body full of muscles, he was strong and heavy.
“Yes,” he replied.
“…” If you know, then get off.
Lin Xiche hesitated for a few seconds and asked, “So, are you coming with me to the interview?”
“Yeah,” Xu Fang replied. His long legs casually rested on the ground as he spoke with a somewhat vengeful tone, “I have nothing better to do.”
“…In that case, should I switch places with you, and you can carry me?”
“No,” Xu Fang said directly, “I can’t carry you.”
“…”
You damn well weigh twice as much as me.
Lin Xiche gritted her teeth as she pedaled the bike, thinking that what she liked was definitely not a man but a genuine princess. She had to make sure he felt like he was cherished and adored.
With that in mind, Lin Xiche was quite sure that Xu Fang would never be interested in other girls. Who would pamper him as unconditionally as she did?
Arriving at the bubble tea shop, Lin Xiche felt like she had only half her life left due to the fatigue. From the moment she locked the bike, she had been urging Xu Fang to go back to the dormitory quickly. It was so hot outside; he might get heatstroke if he stayed out too long. She told him not to starve either.
In short, he didn’t need to wait for her.
So she wouldn’t have to carry him back later, and she wouldn’t lose the other half of her life.
Xu Fang frowned, quite incredulous. “Are you really going to let me walk back by myself?”
“…” The fact that he could say such a thing with such righteousness left Lin Xiche feeling incredulous.
The two of them entered the bubble tea shop one after the other.
The shop was quite spacious, with two floors and a cozy and elegant interior design. It attracted a considerable number of customers. Besides drinks, they also served various dessert items with exquisite designs and great flavors.
Lin Xiche had been here before during department gatherings.
The interview went smoothly, and Lin Xiche passed it on the spot. The manager told her that he would send the work schedule to her tonight, and she could start working tomorrow.
After leaving the bubble tea shop, the two of them returned to where they had parked their bikes.
“I’ll just leave it at that today,” Lin Xiche handed him the bike key and jogged over, half-sitting on the rear seat while looking cautious and alert, “If you don’t give me a ride today—”
Xu Fang glanced at her, calmly asking, “What?”
“Then I’ll…”
“What?”
“Then I’ll…”
Xu Fang made a soft grunt.
His expression made Lin Xiche immediately back down. She obediently jumped off the rear seat and looked at him with a wry face.
“In that case, I’ll ride with you.”
“…”
Xu Fang silently sat on the bike saddle, facing away from her, and for some reason, a faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. After clearing his throat, he withdrew the curve of his lips.
Seeing this, Lin Xiche blinked and sat back on the rear seat with a joyful expression. She held onto the bottom of the seat with both hands to prevent herself from being thrown off.
After a while, as Lin Xiche sat behind Xu Fang, staring at his back with a thoughtful expression, she slowly reached out, grabbed his shirt corner, and gave it a little tug.
Sensing her movement, Xu Fang turned to look at her but didn’t say anything.
The next afternoon, Lin Xiche got ready and left for the bubble tea shop. The manager had sent her the work schedule last night, and her shifts were mostly fixed from 2 PM to 6 PM.
Four hours each day.
When she arrived at the shop, Lin Xiche was busy for a while.
Around 3:30 PM, Lin Xiche packed a cup of bubble tea and handed it to a customer. Her phone, which she had placed in her pocket, suddenly rang. She glanced at it and instinctively answered the call.
It was Lin Xigeng.
The call was noisy, with the bustling sounds of people, and Lin Xiche could faintly hear the announcements of the subway.
“Lin Xiche, come out to pick me up.”
“…” Lin Xiche was momentarily stunned. “What?”
“I just got off the subway. I should be at the school gate in a moment,” Lin Xigeng’s voice, sweet and clear, came through, “You don’t have to come to the subway station to find me. If you don’t want to come out, I’ll just go straight to your dormitory.”
“Are you at S University?” Lin Xiche asked.
From her tone, Lin Xigeng couldn’t tell if she was angry because she hadn’t informed her in advance. Her voice immediately lowered, “Yeah… I’m just here for a couple of days…”
“…”
Since she was already here, Lin Xigeng elongated her tone and began to act spoiled, “Anyway, I’ll be applying to this school in the future, so consider this an early visit.”
After a few seconds.
“I don’t have time right now,” Lin Xiche said, looking at the few customers still waiting for their orders, contemplating, “You stay where you are and don’t move. Don’t wander around. I’ll have Xu Fang pick you up.”
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