Gardenia Blossom Season

Part 3

5

The next morning, when I woke up, I felt lightheaded and dizzy.
The alarm rang several times, but I struggled to get up without success.

In a daze, I heard my mom exclaim, "Zhi Zhi, why is your forehead so hot?"

After that, I lost consciousness.

When I woke up again, I found myself in the hospital.

My mom was sitting by my side. Seeing my eyes open, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a small gift box.

Mom said, "When we arrived at the hospital this morning, we happened to run into Xing Zhan downstairs. He said it's a belated birthday gift for you."
"Oh."

"Aren't you going to open it and have a look?"

"No." Maybe it was because I was still feeling sick; I just wanted to cling to my mom and didn't feel like moving.

After finishing my IV drip, I went home to rest for half a day, and in the afternoon, I returned to school.

It happened to be the time for the monthly exams, and I had missed the morning language exam.

The seating for the monthly exam was arranged according to the results of the previous exam. Both Xu Xing Zhan and I were placed in the first examination room, which was the classroom for Science Class 1.

He was assigned seat number 1, and I was number 2.

As soon as I sat down, Xu Xing Zhan turned around, his tone unusually concerned. "Are you feeling better?"

I didn't look up as I arranged my stationery. "Yeah."

He was silent for a few seconds. "What happened to you?"

"Why didn't you come over last night?"

"What?"

The bell rang. I met his cool gaze, and after a long pause, I said, "Alright, let's stop talking. The proctor is here."
He kept a calm expression and didn't press further.

That was just how Xu Xing Zhan was. Ever since we were young, no matter the situation—even during arguments with me or his parents—he always remained incredibly calm.

It seemed like nothing could ever affect his emotions.

If I hadn't seen him on stage with my own eyes last night, I might still believe that.

When the exam ended, I packed my things and stood up to leave.

"Xu—"

I ignored Xu Xing Zhan's voice calling me from behind.

Distracted, I didn't notice and bumped into a boy entering the classroom.

"Whoa—"

His voice sounded somewhat familiar.

I looked up, meeting the boy's bright, clear eyes.

He had unusual amber-colored eyes, and I couldn't help but stare for a few moments.

He was quite tall. Noticing me staring, he politely stepped aside to avoid any awkwardness.

Snapping out of it, I quickly lowered my head. "Sorry."

"It's alright."

His voice was clear, with that unique, slightly indifferent laziness of a teenager.

"Zhou Ji! Why are you walking so fast!"

Another boy ran over and, without a word, punched him on the shoulder.
Zhou Ji kicked him back.

That was Zhou Ji, the boy whose grades in science and liberal arts were worlds apart.

He almost always scored full marks in science, but his performance in liberal arts was mediocre at best.

Our language teacher would always sigh and lament about him.

Thinking of this, I looked up at him again.

Zhou Ji and his friend walked into the classroom side by side, bantering as they went, with dimples faintly appearing on his cheeks.

The setting sun bathed him in its glow, tinting his ears red.

Perhaps sensing my gaze, Zhou Ji inadvertently turned his head, and our eyes met.

His amber eyes blinked in sudden fluster, then he quickly looked away.

6

When I returned to the classroom, there was an apple left on my desk. It must have been forgotten by the student who used my seat during the exam.

I stuffed the apple back into the desk pouch, planning to leave it there until the evening so they could pick it up after their next exam.

To prevent them from forgetting it again, I wrote a note and stuck it on the apple.

——【Don't forget your apple】

After the evening exam ended, Xu Xing Zhan stood up before I did. "Xu Zhi, let's talk."

He wasn't a fool. My one-sided cold war had been obvious enough that there was no way he hadn't noticed.

"Alright."

As soon as we stepped out of Class 1's door, we ran into that guy from earlier—Zhou Ji.

He was tossing an apple in his hand, chatting and laughing with his friends.

One of his friends nudged him playfully, waggling his eyebrows. "I saw that note on the apple earlier. Come on, fess up—who gave it to you?"

Zhou Ji clicked his tongue impatiently, but his expression revealed a smugness typical of a teenage boy trying to hide his pride. "I bought it myself. Do I look like someone who just accepts things from others?"

"Look at you, all smug! I'd be crazy to believe you!" His friend reached toward Zhou Ji's pocket. "Come on, show me the note!"

Zhou Ji dodged out of the way, moving so quickly that he ended up right in front of me.

Xu Xing Zhan raised his arm to block him, keeping him from bumping into me.

Zhou Ji's arm brushed against Xu Xing Zhan's shoulder, not heavily, but it made Xu Xing Zhan frown.

Zhou Ji looked back and, for a moment, his eyes met mine. He wore a bright, playful grin that made his eyes sparkle.

For some reason, his ears turned red in an instant, and he awkwardly hid the apple behind his back.

"Sorry about that."

I glanced at the apple, then looked back up at his face. "You don't have to apologize to me. You bumped into him."

I gestured to Xu Xing Zhan beside me.

Those amber eyes shifted to Xu Xing Zhan, and his tone lost its earlier nervousness. "My bad. Didn't see you there."

Xu Xing Zhan lowered his arm, not replying, and spoke quietly to me, "I'll go pack up. I'll wait for you outside your classroom."

"Okay."

By the time I refocused, Zhou Ji had already wrapped his arm around his friend's neck, dragging him back into the classroom while pretending to scold, "You're gonna get it from me!"

For no particular reason, I couldn't help but let out a chuckle.