Chapter 28 Receiving Gifts She Thought Birthdays Were Nice…

Chapter 28: Receiving Gifts Made Her Feel That Birthdays Were Truly...

The next day at school, Yu Kui ran into Qin You again downstairs. Their eyes met, but neither spoke.

This time, however, Qin You didn’t deliberately avoid her as before. They boarded the same bus and stood in the aisle as if they were strangers.

As the bus moved forward, more and more people got on. Before they knew it, Yu Kui and Qin You were pressed closer together by the crowd until they were squeezed side by side.

Yu Kui tried her best to avoid leaning toward him, but the jostling from the front made her sway, and she bumped into Qin You’s backpack.

In the past, she would have tugged at Qin You’s sleeve to ask him to make some space.

But this time, she said nothing and slowly pulled her arm back from his backpack.

She listened to the noisy chatter around her and smelled the food in the bus cabin—these were the routines she had repeated daily for over a decade, yet something subtle had shifted inside her.

She no longer found the bustling passengers annoying, nor did she mind the smell of breakfast.

Those times when she would chatter endlessly, complaining about boys, seemed forever out of reach now.

Yu Kui carefully avoided any chance of physical contact with him, her gaze calm like still water as she quietly watched the scenery outside the window. She didn’t notice that Qin You had already turned his head, his eyes resting lightly on her face.

He was secretly observing her, his expression complex and bitter.

They were like two birds beating their wings; once the bus stopped, they would each go their separate ways.

Only after Qin You had walked far ahead did Yu Kui leisurely make her way to school.

She thought that this might be the closest she would ever get to Qin You again. No matter how far she walked in the future, she would only be able to lightly brush against his backpack, silently standing behind him, watching helplessly as he drifted further away.

This realization brought tears to her eyes, yet she had no excuse to let them fall.

By late December, the weather had turned even colder. Yu Kui changed into a down jacket and brought Sun Shuya to the library to study.

"I just can’t focus," Sun Shuya said, scratching her head in frustration. "How about we go eat all-you-can-eat buffet instead? I’ve been wanting to for ages."

"Not now," Yu Kui held her arm. "Finish your assignments first, and I’ll treat you to dinner tonight."

"Really?" Sun Shuya quickly picked up her pen. "I’ll start right away."

Yu Kui smiled helplessly. "Ask me if you have any questions."

"Okay." Sun Shuya shrugged. "You’re stricter with me than my teachers."

"We came here to study, after all," Yu Kui said. "If we keep thinking about going out, today will be a waste again."

"I know, I know," Sun Shuya grumbled, though she knew Yu Kui meant well. "If I get into college next year, I’ll treat you to a big meal."

Yu Kui shook her head. "Just focus on finishing your homework for now."

Sun Shuya: "..."

After finishing her own papers, Yu Kui sat down to review her weaker subjects—English and math, which she never dared to neglect.

"How are things with that troublemaker from Class 13?" Sun Shuya nudged Yu Kui during lunch. "Does he still come looking for you after school?"

"Yeah," Yu Kui replied. She had considered inviting Xie Xingzhi to study together but held back, knowing Sun Shuya’s aversion to him. "He’s actually quite nice. You should stop calling him a troublemaker."

"But he is one," Sun Shuya clicked her tongue dismissively. "Don’t be fooled by his looks."

Yu Kui thought she was overthinking it. "We’re just classmates."

"Who knows what bad intentions he might have?" Sun Shuya clung to Yu Kui’s arm. "You’re such a bookworm—if someone tricks you, you’d probably help them count the money. It’s fine to explain problems to him, but if he has other intentions, don’t entertain him."

"Okay." Yu Kui didn’t think Xie Xingzhi was that bad. As long as he was willing to study and improve, that was enough.

As for anything else, she had no particular opinion of him.

Everyone had their own lives; their brief intersection was already an unexpected delight.

Before the library closed, Sun Shuya finished her homework as promised, and Yu Kui took her to a nearby seafood buffet.

The two girls didn’t have huge appetites, but they piled their plates high, almost needing to lean against the wall to walk out afterward.

"This wasn’t worth it," Sun Shuya lamented. "We should’ve gone for barbecue instead. They made so much money off us."

"It’s just once in a while," Yu Kui said, unbothered. "As long as we had fun."

Sun Shuya looked at her intently. "It’s really nice being friends with you." Yu Kui had helped her so much; Sun Shuya should have been the one treating, yet Yu Kui had paid instead.

She never seemed to mind the imbalance in their give-and-take, always giving her all without reservation.

Sun Shuya had never met a girl like Yu Kui before. When she was with her, her mood felt stable and relaxed, free from the usual confusion and restlessness.

Yu Kui was warm and comforting—like a little sun accompanying her.

"New Year’s is almost here," Sun Shuya linked arms with her. "Are you performing a dance this year?"

"Probably," Yu Kui said. She quite enjoyed the New Year’s party and had been learning some dance routines online in her spare time. "I’ll look up some videos when I get back."

"Great," Sun Shuya said. "Call me if you need help deciding."

"Mm."

The scale of the party was similar to last year’s, but everyone’s mood seemed different, tinged with more anxiety about the future.

The homeroom teacher took the stage to lift everyone’s spirits. "Don’t overthink anything this afternoon—just relax and enjoy yourselves."

This was their last New Year’s celebration in high school.

Once winter ended, the pressure on each of them would intensify.

Sun Shuya hosted from the podium, and the classmates were exceptionally supportive.

This year, there was no comedy skit. Instead, Tao Jiang and a few classmates performed a play based on Rapunzel. She seemed like a natural actress—no matter how awkward others seemed, her expressions and gaze kept everyone immersed in the story.

For a moment, Yu Kui felt as though she truly was a princess straight out of a fairy tale.

She acted incredibly well.

Yu Kui watched her intently, not looking away even during the final bow.

"Mesmerized?" A slightly amused male voice came from beside her.

Yu Kui turned and met Xie Xingzhi’s eyes. "What are you doing here?" she asked, puzzled.

"Watching you dance," Xie Xingzhi said. "You don’t perform often—of course I had to come."

"It's not my turn yet." Yu Kui had chosen a more upbeat dance tune this time and had already changed into a pretty outfit, looking lively and beautiful.

"I'm not in a hurry," Xie Xingzhi said, eating two mandarin oranges. "Want to go for hot pot together after school?"

"My mom is cooking tonight," Yu Kui said apologetically. "Can we do it another time?"

"We can plan something after finals," Xie Xingzhi replied, not too disappointed. "You’ll have time then, right?"

Yu Kui: "..."

Tao Jiang looked up and, as expected, saw Qin You standing by the back door. She smirked and shot a provocative look at Yu Kui, but her face fell abruptly when she noticed Xie Xingzhi sitting beside her.

She lowered her gaze, hurried back to her seat, took her coat, and left the classroom.

"What’s wrong?" Qin You asked nervously, seeing her look and taking her hand.

"Nothing," Tao Jiang said, then smiled as she looked at the stuffed bear he was holding. "Is that for me?"

"Yeah," Qin You handed her the gift. "Do you like it?"

"Of course I do!" Tao Jiang hugged the bear and kissed it, her eyes gleamed with mischief. "It’s almost my birthday—what are you planning for my birthday?"

Her eighteenth birthday.

In just two days, Tao Jiang would be an adult.

Qin You swallowed. "How do you want to celebrate?"

"You decide," Tao Jiang said, raising her hand and showing the delicate purple crystal bracelet she was still wearing. "I really liked the gift you gave me last time."

Qin You felt a glow of happiness. "Then I’ll come find you the day after tomorrow."

"Sure." Tao Jiang’s eyes crinkled with a smile. "Let’s go for steak—I haven’t been to a steakhouse in ages."

Qin You nodded. He had been preparing for Tao Jiang’s birthday for a long time and was eagerly looking forward to the day.

After Yu Kui finished her dance, the class applauded loudly.

Her face slightly flushed, she returned to her seat. Xie Xingzhi took a thermos from the desk drawer, opened it, and handed it to her. "You’re out of breath after just one dance—you’re not very fit."

Yu Kui took a few sips of warm water and admitted honestly, "I’ve always had poor endurance."

Xie Xingzhi paused. "Then how do you handle your PE exams?"

"I just scrape by every time," Yu Kui said. "I have to push myself to the limit during the tests."

Xie Xingzhi couldn’t help but laugh. "You need to exercise."

"I don’t like exercising," Yu Kui said, immediately wincing at the thought of the grueling 1,500-meter run. "Just have mercy on me, please."

Xie Xingzhi chuckled. "So there are things that trouble you after all."

"I’m not a god," Yu Kui corrected his perception of her. "Of course there are things I’m not good at."

"Got it." Xie Xingzhi urged her to put on her coat. "It’s snowing again outside."

Yu Kui stood up to look, and sure enough, snow was falling, blanketing the ground in white.

Xie Xingzhi continued taking more snacks off her desk, earning a dirty look from Sun Shuya, which he completely ignored as he chatted with Yu Kui while eating.

"Are you going to the library tomorrow? I’ve set aside a few problems to ask you."

"Of course," Yu Kui said immediately. "Just remember to pack lunch."

"Okay."

Qin You received a gift box he’d ordered online. He carefully wrapped the gift he’d prepared and was eager to see Tao Jiang’s face when she opened it.

Little did he know, Tao Jiang was currently out for a meal with Zhou Xiao, an old classmate from the past. The boy had gifted her a rather expensive skincare collection. "Do you like it?"

Tao Jiang was already captivated by the brand name. She touched the cool surface of the bottles. "Of course I like it."

"I’ll buy you more when you finish it," Zhou Xiao said, looking at her intently. "Want to go out and hang out later?"

"Sure," Tao Jiang said, putting the gift away. "Let’s go downtown to watch the fireworks, and then check out some shops. I want to buy a few other things."

"Whatever you want," Zhou Xiao said, serving her more food. "Eat more—you’ve lost weight."

Tao Jiang smiled faintly, thinking to herself how nice it was to celebrate a birthday—she could even receive the gifts she truly wanted.