It was the first day of the second year of high school. Li Zhou was assigned to Class 12 of the second year of high school as a transfer student.
Li Zhou stood on the podium, his eyes calmly scanning the classroom.
More than thirty pairs of eyes were staring at him, some curious, some sizing him up, and a few boys in the back row were whispering to each other and laughing mischievously.
"My name is Li Zhou, Li means dawn, Zhou means light boat." His voice was not loud, but clear enough.
Teacher Li, the homeroom teacher, nodded and said, "Student Li Zhou has transferred from No. 3 Middle School. He has excellent grades, so please take good care of him."
There was sparse applause from the audience.
Li Zhou, carrying his schoolbag, walked towards the only empty seat—the window seat in the second-to-last row. As he passed the back row, he heard a frivolous whistle.
"What an artistic name!"
He paused and looked sideways.
A boy was lazily leaning against the back of a chair, his school uniform jacket casually draped over his shoulders, two buttons of his shirt collar open, revealing a section of his collarbone.
He twirled the pen with one hand, a playful smile on his lips, and a bold and sharp look between his eyebrows.
——Gu Yuxiao.
Li Zhou had heard of this name before transferring to another school.
"Gu Yuxiao from Class 12? He's a troublemaker. His family has a strong background, and even the teachers can't control him."
"He fights hard, but his grades are ridiculously good. Isn't that infuriating?"
"I heard that last month he beat up the gang leader from the vocational high school next door and sent him to the hospital..."
The head teacher knocked on the blackboard: "Gu Yuxiao, be quiet!"
Gu Yuxiao shrugged and said nothing more, but his eyes followed Li Zhou until he sat down.
Li Zhou could feel that gaze piercing the back of his neck, but he didn't turn around. He just took out his textbook silently.
The cafeteria was bustling with people at noon.
Li Zhou was queuing with his plate when he suddenly felt someone cut in front of him.
"Excuse me."
A familiar voice.
He looked up and saw Gu Yuxiao smiling at him with two bottles of ice cola in his hands.
"New classmate, please have a drink." Gu Yuxiao handed over one of the bottles.
Li Zhou didn't answer: "No need."
Gu Yuxiao raised his eyebrows: "No respect?"
"I don't drink carbonated drinks." Li Zhou said lightly.
Several boys around started to boo.
Gu Yuxiao narrowed his eyes and suddenly leaned closer: "What do you want to drink? I'll bring it to you tomorrow."
Li Zhou took a half step back: "No need."
Gu Yuxiao stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled: "Okay, you have character."
He turned and left, and before leaving, he put the bottle of Coke on Li Zhou's plate with a "bang".
"If you don't want it, throw it away."
Li Zhou looked at the bottle of drink with water droplets on it and frowned.
In physical education class, the boys were divided into groups to play basketball.
Li Zhou didn't want to participate at first, but the physical education teacher forced everyone to go on stage.
"Li Zhou! Catch the ball!"
As he turned around, a basketball hit him straight in the face.
Bang!
The ball grazed his cheekbone, causing a burning pain.
There was a burst of laughter from the sidelines.
Li Zhou looked up and saw Gu Yuxiao standing outside the three-point line, spinning another ball in his hands, grinning wickedly: "Sorry, my hand slipped."
Li Zhou wiped his face and said nothing.
In the next round, Gu Yuxiao broke through with the ball, and Li Zhou suddenly blocked him.
Their eyes met.
Gu Yuxiao curled his lips: "Are you on guard against me?"
Li Zhou didn't answer, but just lowered his center of gravity.
Gu Yuxiao faked a change of direction, but Li Zhou predicted his route, intercepted the basketball, turned around and made a fast break layup.
The ball went in.
The sidelines were instantly quiet.
Gu Yuxiao stood there, looking a little stunned.
Li Zhou was panting, sweat dripping down his chin.
"Sorry," he looked directly at Gu Yuxiao, "my hand slipped."
Gu Yuxiao was stunned for two seconds, then suddenly burst into laughter.
"Interesting!" He patted Li Zhou's shoulder vigorously. "Really interesting!"
After school, Li Zhou went to the library to study as usual.
When he pushed open the door to the rooftop, he smelled a faint scent of cigarette smoke.
As the sun sets, Gu Yuxiao leans against the railing, a half-smoked cigarette between his fingers. The afterglow gilds his eyes, tinting even the tips of his hair with a warm hue.
Hearing the noise, Gu Yuxiao turned around, a little surprised: "Why are you here?"
Li Zhou: "I should be the one asking you this."
Gu Yuxiao smiled and put out his cigarette: "Good students also skip self-study?"
Li Zhou didn't answer, his eyes fell on the cigarette box at his feet.
"What are you looking at?" Gu Yuxiao raised his eyebrows. "Want to try it?"
"No." Li Zhou turned and was about to leave.
"Hey." Gu Yuxiao called him, "Today is my mother's death anniversary."
Li Zhou paused.
Gu Yuxiao lowered his head and crushed the cigarette butt. He said softly, "She loved watching the sunset the most when she was alive."
After a moment of silence, Li Zhou walked back and stood beside him.
Neither of them spoke, they just quietly looked at the sunset in the sky.
The wind blew past my ears, bringing with it the coolness of early autumn.
"Do you come here often?" Gu Yuxiao asked suddenly.
"Um."
"one person?"
"Um."
Gu Yuxiao turned his head to look at him: "Not boring?"
Li Zhou shook his head.
Gu Yuxiao smiled: "Call me next time."
Li Zhou was a little surprised: "Don't you hate quiet places?"
"Yeah," Gu Yuxiao stretched, "but it's nice to change things up once in a while."
The setting sun stretched the two people's shadows very long and overlapped them.
————————————————
One day after school, it suddenly started to rain heavily.
Li Zhou stood at the door of the teaching building, looking at the pouring rain with worry.
"No umbrella?"
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
