Yang Yajing took the cassette tape to school. Instead of rushing to the cafeteria to grab a seat, she waited for Zhou Pengfei at the door of Class 4's classroom.

Half a semester has passed, and everyone in the third grade knows that Yang Yajing and Zhou Pengfei are good friends.

Boys would curiously look at Yang Yajing, while girls would mostly comment on her and compare themselves to her in their minds.

They're all shallow elementary school students. In their world, being good-looking means being popular, and being good-looking means being someone they want to befriend.

Zhou Pengfei's good looks were recognized throughout the school, so there was a constant stream of people trying to curry favor with him.

Don't be fooled by how relaxed and funny Zhou Pengfei is when he's with Yang Yajing; he's actually quite reserved in class.

Although she was polite to everyone, she seemed distant, except for two or three boys who also liked to draw and shared similar interests.

But those boys all liked to tease the girls; they were all extroverted types.

"Aren't you going to the cafeteria today?" Zhou Pengfei saw Yang Yajing waving at him from the doorway, quickly packed his schoolbag, put it on the desk, and went over.

"Of course I'll go, but I need to talk to you about something." Yang Yajing winked at him mysteriously.

"You need to talk privately? You're not going to confess your feelings, are you?" Two guys who were close to Zhou Pengfei came over and started chattering.

"Wow! Yang Yajing! Is that her? Is that her?" The boy who spoke was named Li Bin.

"Zhou Pengfei doesn't like sweets, did you bring any chocolate? Can you give it to me?" Bian Xiaoming chimed in from the side.

"Are you guys crazy? What are you confessing about? Does the teacher know you want to start dating?" Yang Yajing glared at the outspoken boy. "We have serious business to discuss!"

"What important business is it?"

"Hmph! I won't tell you!" Yang Yajing raised her chin, keeping everyone in suspense.

"Ugh! That's boring!" After saying that, they scattered like birds and beasts, going off to find other girls to have lunch with.

"What's going on? Why are you being so mysterious?" Zhou Pengfei asked as he followed Yang Yajing out of the classroom.

Yang Yajing took a cassette tape out of her bag and shook it: "Ta-da! Look what gift I got!"

"Wow! Little Tigers? I've never seen this album before! Is it a new album?" Zhou Pengfei is also a music lover, from pop to classical, he loves them all.

"Yes! It's a new album, it was only released last September, and it's not available in China yet!" Yang Yajing said this deliberately so that everyone could hear it.

"So new? How did you get it if it wasn't for sale?" Zhou Pengfei looked at the album's pictures and tracks with envy. "Can I borrow it to listen to?"

“It’s a New Year’s gift from relatives in Hong Kong.” After answering the first part of her sentence, Yang Yajing snatched the cassette tape back from Zhou Pengfei’s hand. “I haven’t listened to it yet, why should I lend it to you? Want to listen? Give me five yuan and I’ll make you a copy.”

"Why are you trying to make money off me again?" Zhou Pengfei laughed irritably. "You really are a capitalist!"

“You’re not short of money! If you don’t want it, you can go to Hong Kong to buy it yourself. The travel expenses are a few hundred, the visa is a few hundred, the album is twelve, accommodation…” Yang Yajing started counting on her fingers.

"Alright, alright! Stop calculating. I know you're giving me a bargain with five yuan!" Zhou Pengfei slapped away Yang Yajing's fingers that she was counting on.

"Do you want to buy it? If not, that's fine too. Whoever wants it can flip through it!" Yang Yajing knew that their slow stroll and conversation in the corridor had already attracted many people to listen.

"I want it! I want it! Five yuan, right? I have five yuan!" Zhou Pengfei's two friends jumped out and blocked their way.

"Sure!" Yang Yajing snatched the five-yuan bill from Li Bin's hand with two fingers. "But I haven't bought a tape recorder yet, and I still need to buy blank tapes. I also have classes to attend. It'll probably take about ten days."

"Huh? That long?" Li Bin was getting impatient. "Fine! Ten days it is. Anyway, it's better than waiting for half a year and having to spend 12 yuan to buy it!"

"Me too! Me too!" Bian Xiaoming chimed in, not wanting to be left behind. "We want to be at the forefront of fashion too!"

"Give me the money?" Yang Yajing held out her hand.

"Huh? I didn't bring that much money with me today!" Bian Xiaoming scratched his head.

"No money, no talk." Yang Yajing deliberately teased Bian Xiaoming.

"Why don't you write it down? I'll give you the money tomorrow?" Bian Xiaoming held onto Yang Yajing tightly, refusing to let go.

“Sure!” Yang Yajing turned to Zhou Pengfei and said, “I didn’t bring a notebook, could you help me jot this down in my sketchbook?”

Zhou Pengfei shook his head helplessly, took out his sketchbook that he never parted with, wrote down the names of the two people, and put a checkmark after Li Bin's name.

"Remember to pay me, or I'll come after you if I lose everything!" Yang Yajing said, then pushed Bian Xiaoming aside and started to walk forward.

"Um... um..."

Before she could even take a step, she saw a well-behaved girl blocking her way.

"Is there something you need?" Yang Yajing asked gently.

"I...can I buy a box too? I really like the Little Tigers...I have money!" The little girl blinked her eager eyes, making it impossible to refuse.

"Alright! One more or one less won't make a difference." Yang Yajing smiled and pointed at Zhou Pengfei. "Let him write it down?"

The girl looked at Zhou Pengfei, lowered her head, and blushed shyly.

"What's your name? What year and class are you in?" Zhou Pengfei asked the girl.

"I...I'm Lin Jiao, from Class 3, Grade 3," Lin Jiao said softly.

"Lin Jiao? Which Jiao?"

"The 'delicate' in 'spoiled'."

"I've got it all!" Zhou Pengfei nodded to Lin Jiao after seeing Yang Yajing take the money and tick the box next to her name.

This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!