shadow
Chapter 1: Shadow
It’s the season when the sycamore leaves fall, and the second year of high school has been underway for more than a month.
Bai Ke emerged from the liberal arts classroom clutching a stack of workbooks, her nearsighted eyes narrowed slightly. Four o'clock afternoon sunlight slanted across the corridor, carving geometric patterns of light and dark on the white walls. She carefully adjusted the position of the notebooks in her hands to prevent them from slipping.
At this moment of adjustment, a figure walked out from the back door of the science class and passed by her.
Bai Ke didn't see the man's face clearly; she only felt a slight breeze and the glimmer of white clothing. But she knew immediately who it was—Chen Yiyu. The top student in the science class, a name known throughout the campus.
She remembered the first time she heard of him, after the midterm exams of her second semester of high school. The scoreboard was packed with people, and she stood on tiptoe to find her own name—seventh in the liberal arts department, not bad. Then she heard the chatter around her.
"Chen Yiyu is first again, more than 20 points ahead of the second place. It's terrifying."
“And he’s super handsome!”
"Is this true? So powerful and good-looking?"
"If you don't believe me, go to the science class and see for yourself."
Bai Ke didn't go to see him. She always kept her distance from such campus celebrities. As the president of the liberal arts class, she had too much to do every day: collecting homework, organizing class meetings, and assisting the teacher with various chores. Her life was so full that there was no room for curiosity about a strange boy.
Until one day, she came across Chen Yiyu's essay in the library - it was a collection of winning works from the school's essay competition last semester. His essay, titled "Slanting Sunlight," won first prize in the science category.
"The angle of sunlight determines the length of the shadow. Just like the tiny deviations in life determine the trajectory of our encounter."
Bai Ke was struck by this. She had originally thought that the boy who was the top scorer in science would only write logically rigorous but boring argumentative essays, but she had not expected his writing to be so delicate and poetic.
From then on, she began to pay attention to the news about him unconsciously. She knew that he would go to the library to return books every Wednesday afternoon, that he would always lower his head slightly when walking as if he was thinking about something, and that he had a white shirt that he often wore, which was washed and worn but clean and crisp.
But she never took the initiative to approach him. To her, Chen Yiyu seemed like someone from another world—excellent academics, striking looks, the secret crush of countless girls. She, on the other hand, was just the "class monitor of the liberal arts class," plain-looking, with nothing special about her besides decent grades.
"Bai Ke!"
A familiar voice interrupted her thoughts. She turned around and saw her childhood playmate Li Meng peeking out of the Science Class 1 classroom.
"Why are you here?" Li Meng strode up to her and took half of the homework book from her arms. "It's so heavy, let me help you carry some."
Bai Ke smiled: "Send it to the teacher's office. Is your class over?"
"We just finished the quiz." Li Meng walked side by side with her in the corridor. "Your mother asked me to bring you something when I go home this weekend. I'll give it to you after school."
Li Meng was Bai Ke's childhood friend, having grown up together. Although they were placed in different classes in high school, their friendship never faded. Coincidentally, he was also Chen Yiyu's classmate.
"Just now...did Chen Yiyu just come out of the classroom?" Bai Ke asked casually.
Li Meng raised his eyebrows: "Oh, you are also concerned about our science class's talented students?"
"Just asking." Bai Ke turned his face away.
"Yeah, he went to the library. That guy hardly goes anywhere else except the classroom, the library, and the rooftop." Li Meng said, suddenly lowering his voice, "I heard Qiu Luodi went to look for him again. I guess he went to the library to block him."
Qiu Luodi. The name made Bai Ke's heart sink. She was a well-known wealthy girl in school, a family friend of Chen Yiyu's. It was said they grew up together, and she had never concealed her admiration for Chen Yiyu.
Bai Ke said nothing more, but walked silently. The sunlight through the window stretched her shadow very long.
At the same time, in the library, Chen Yiyu did meet Qiu Luodi.
"I knew you'd be here." Qiu Luodi, wearing the latest dress of the season, stood in front of the literature bookshelf with a beautiful smile. "I have a birthday party this weekend, you must come."
Chen Yiyu took a book from the shelf and said calmly, "I remember I've already replied to you. I have a physics competition training session this weekend."
"The training will end this afternoon, and the party will be in the evening." Qiu Luodi took a step closer. "My dad specifically said he hopes you will come."
"I'll see what happens." Chen Yiyu retreated calmly, keeping a distance from her.
"You always say that, and then you disappear." Qiu Luodi pouted, "This time I came to invite you in person."
Chen Yiyu looked over her shoulder and towards the library entrance: "I really may not have time."
Qiu Luodi followed his gaze and turned back, only to see an empty doorway. When she turned back again, Chen Yiyu had already walked towards the library.
"I have something else to do, so I'll leave first." He said lightly.
After Bai Ke and Li Meng parted ways at the teacher's office door, she returned to the classroom alone. Passing the library, she subconsciously slowed down her pace.
Because of this slowness, she almost bumped into someone walking quickly out of the library.
"Sorry." A clear voice said.
Bai Ke looked up, seeing Chen Yiyu's face up close for the first time. His eyes were clear and deep. The sunlight shone obliquely on his profile, outlining its distinct features.
"No, it's okay." Bai Ke felt his voice was a little tight.
Chen Yiyu nodded slightly, his eyes lingering on her face for a moment: "You are the monitor of the third liberal arts class, right?"
Bai Ke opened his eyes wide in surprise: "How did you know?"
"In last semester's essay competition, your essay ranked first in the liberal arts category," Chen Yiyu said. "I really like your essay 'Shapes of Shadows.'"
Bai Ke felt her cheeks heat up. She hadn't expected Chen Yiyu to have read her article and even remember her class.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “‘Slanting Sunlight’ is better.”
Chen Yiyu seemed a little surprised, then raised the corner of his mouth slightly: "Have you seen it?"
At this time, Qiu Luodi walked out of the library and saw Chen Yiyu and Bai Ke standing together talking. His eyes suddenly became sharp.
"Chen Yiyu, you haven't answered me yet." She walked over and naturally took Chen Yiyu's arm. "Are you coming this weekend?"
Chen Yiyu gently pulled his arm out: "I'll try my best."
His gaze returned to Bai Ke, as if he suddenly remembered something: "By the way, will you attend the literature club activities next week?"
Bai Ke was stunned for a moment. She was a member of the literature club, but rarely participated in activities because she had to help with class affairs.
"I...."
"If you come, I will share an analysis of modern poetry." Chen Yiyu said, with an indescribable expectation in his eyes, "I think you might be interested."
Qiu Luodi's expression obviously darkened.
Bai Ke nodded: "I'll try my best."
Chen Yiyu didn't say anything else, just nodded again, then turned and left. Qiu Luodi followed closely behind him and glanced back at Bai Ke. It was hard to tell whether the look in his eyes was one of vigilance or contempt.
Bai Ke stood there, watching Chen Yiyu's receding figure, the sun slanting down and casting a shadow over the path he had walked. She suddenly remembered a line from his article: "Those tiny deviations in life determine the trajectory of our encounter."
Is today's encounter also the result of some slight deviation?
After school, Li Meng was waiting for Bai Ke at the door of her classroom, holding a cloth bag in his hand.
"Pickled vegetables your mother made, and some clothes." He handed the bag to Bai Ke. "Did you run into Chen Yiyu at the library entrance just now?"
Bai Ke was surprised: "How did you know?"
"Qiu Luodi came back and complained to her friends, saying that Chen Yiyu was talking to a girl from the liberal arts class, and the description was obviously about you." Li Meng's expression was a little complicated. "When did you meet Chen Yiyu?"
"Not really an acquaintance, we just happened to meet." Bai Ke took the bag, "Thank you very much, and please help me bring things back when I go back this weekend."
Li Meng stared at her for a while, then suddenly smiled: "Bai Ke, you're blushing."
Bai Ke subconsciously touched his face: "What nonsense."
"Okay, okay, I'm talking nonsense." Li Meng raised his hands in surrender. "But I want to remind you that although Chen Yiyu is excellent, he is surrounded by young ladies like Qiu Luodi, which is very troublesome. It's better for you to stay away from him."
Bai Ke didn't respond, but simply lowered her head to pack her bag. She knew Li Meng was doing this for her own good, but she felt a strange sense of dissatisfaction in her heart.
Why can't an ordinary girl like her get close to someone like Chen Yiyu?
On the way home, Bai Ke kept thinking about the brief moment she and Chen Yiyu exchanged glances. His words about her article were like a stone dropped into a lake, sending ripples through her heart.
She stopped as she passed the school bulletin board. It listed the schedule for the new semester's literature club activities. There was indeed a sharing session next Friday afternoon, and the speaker's name was prominently listed as "Chen Yiyu."
Bai Ke stood in front of the bulletin board, the setting sun stretching her shadow. She recalled another line from Chen Yiyu's article: "We all walk under the light, but at different angles."
Perhaps, when two people walk under light of different inclinations, there will be moments when their shadows overlap?
She gently touched Chen Yiyu's name on the notice and made a decision.
She will attend the literary club activities on Friday.
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