Spring outing
The school bell rang like a silver bell. Song Yuhuan had barely finished closing her lesson plan when she said, "Tomorrow, the May Day holiday officially begins," when the classroom erupted in cheers. Boys in the front row tossed their textbooks into the air, pages fluttering like doves. The girls in the back row whispered laughter, bouncing off the glass windows and shattering the sunset into tinsel. Chalk dust swirled in the beam of light, mingling with the youthful energy of the young, transforming the ordinary classroom into a sweet, slightly intoxicating feast.
The corridor gradually emptied. Gu Hanzhi, clutching her exercise book, trudged slowly to the podium. A spring breeze streamed in through the half-open window, carrying the fragrance of locust blossoms against her burning ears. Song Yuhuan was organizing lesson plans, her plain white shirt sleeves rolled up to her elbows, revealing a sliver of cool, pale skin. Her fountain pen shone a faint blue light in the twilight.
"Teacher Song, what are your plans for the holiday?" Gu Hanzhi realized her abruptness as she clutched her workbook, her nails leaving a crescent-shaped mark on the cover. She always felt like Song Yuhuan was someone who had stepped out of an ink painting, her features always reserved, even her handwriting on the blackboard possessing an angular, unapproachable quality.
Song Yuhuan suddenly looked up, her eyelashes casting a butterfly-like shadow beneath her eyes. Gu Hanzhi's breath hitched—that smile came so unexpectedly, like the first rays of warm sunlight after the snow melted. The corners of her eyes curved gently, and even her eyebrows were tinged with spring. "Yes." Her voice, shrouded in a chuckle, startled the sparrows perched outside the window, and they fluttered across the crimson sunset.
Gu Hanzhi murmured a half-hearted "hmm," the coolness of her exercise book still lingering on her fingertips as she walked out of the school gate. In the twilight, she gazed at the blazing clouds in the sky and suddenly realized that when Song Yu smiled, her eyelashes would weave tiny stars under her eyes, and the dimples at the corners of her mouth held the tenderness of spring.
May sunlight slanted through the classroom's back door. Jiang Wanning slipped in just as the bell rang. The cherry blossom hairpin in her ponytail still lingered on the air. She rushed to Gu Hanzhi's desk, draping herself over her shoulder. The sweet scent of jasmine perfume mixed with sweat washed over her. "Hanzhi, what are your plans for the May Day holiday? If not, I'd like us to go on an outing together!"
Shen Zhihe, who was arranging books in the front row, felt his hand tremble, and his charcoal pencil dragged a long streak across the drawing paper. As he turned, the stool clanged with it, and the tips of his ears flushed red enough to bleed. "I...I know there's a wild rose valley in the suburbs. It's in full bloom right now!" Before he could finish his words, there was the sound of tables and chairs being moved at the back door. Lu Chenzhou climbed in, leaning against the windowsill with one hand. The collar of his school uniform was slightly open, revealing a light sweat on his neck. "There's fishing in the reservoir in the back mountain. I've brought a tent."
Gu Hanzhi coughed softly at Jiang Wanning's stranglehold, but the moment she saw the two of them, she froze. Shen Zhihe, usually calm, now clenched his fingers, blackened by charcoal pencil, his Adam's apple rolling nervously even as he spoke. Lu Chenzhou, always sporting a cynical smile, now looked at Jiang Wanning with a fiery, casual gaze, like a cat with its tail raised. The wind from the window swept through the corridor, mixing Jiang Wanning's laughter with their argument, and startling the sparrows from the sycamore tree.
"Let's all go!" Jiang Wanning jumped up excitedly, her ponytail brushing across Gu Hanzhi's flushed cheeks, "We can have a barbecue! Hanzhi, you'll be responsible for bringing the desserts, Shen Zhihe will pick flowers and decorate the venue, and Lu Chenzhou will be the coolie and carry the equipment!" She counted on her fingers to arrange the tasks, and the sunlight passed through her fingers, casting tiny spots of light on the desk, as if someone had crushed the stars and scattered them on the earth.
Gu Hanzhi looked at the three figures, their faces flushed with anger, and suddenly felt the May breeze grow gentler. The countdown board at the back of the classroom still read "62 days until senior year," but now the chirping of cicadas outside the window and the plan sheet at hand were all tinged with the sweetness of this unexpected invitation.
Late spring sunlight filtered through the sycamore leaves, creating a shimmering golden hue. Gu Hanzhi leaned against a bus stop sign, the tassels of her canvas bag dangling gently against her calf. A pale purple floral dress hugged her slender waist, the folds carrying the faint scent of lily of the valley. A few strands of hair peeked from beneath her hat's brim, ruffled by the wind, only to accentuate her cool, pale skin. The dark purple ribbon of her half-tied ponytail swayed gently with her steps, and a few strands of hair draped at the nape of her smooth neck, like a soft, decorative touch. The crisp sound of her purple high heels on the asphalt formed a curious contrast with the distant expression of her downcast eyes.
The clatter of a bicycle chain echoed in the distance. Shen Zhihe, one-handed on the handlebars, sped towards them, his white shirt billowing like a sail in the wind. His hair was damp with sweat, and the sun glided across his smiling eyes, casting a swaying shadow beneath his lashes. His canvas shoes screeched to a halt, sending up a few pebbles. The iced orange soda in the basket swayed slightly with inertia, and droplets of water slid down the glass and into the cracks in the bluestone slabs.
"You've been waiting a long time, haven't you?" Shen Zhihe rolled out of the car, his Adam's apple rolling against his open collar. As he bent down to adjust the lock, a small patch of sunburned skin appeared on the back of his neck. Gu Hanzhi looked away, her nails unconsciously scratching at the embroidered pattern on her canvas bag. Her throat tightened, and she coughed softly, looking up at the sky. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of the boy's waistline as he stood up, his shirt hem lifted by the wind.
Parasol tree catkins fluttered onto Gu Hanzhi's shoulders. She raised her hand to brush them away, but Shen Zhihe had already reached out. His fingertips, suspended in mid-air, were barely an inch from her shoulder. The boy's ears, suddenly frozen, were redder than the sunset. They both took a half step back. Gu Hanzhi bumped against the bus stop sign, making a soft sound. Shen Zhihe hurried to support her, his silver watch brushing against the back of her hand, a fleeting jolt of coolness and warmth.
"I... I bought some orange soda." Shen Zhihe frantically fished for the drink from the basket, the water droplets on the surface of the can soaking his palm. When Gu Hanzhi took it, she felt the calloused skin on his palm, and her heart skipped a beat. She heard her companions calling from afar, and she lowered her head to take a sip of the soda. The sour bubbles bursting on her tongue concealed a warmth more scorching than the sun.
In the distance, Jiang Wanning's figure stumbled into view, her low braided pigtails flapping across her shoulders as she ran. Her pink short-sleeved shirt billowed in the wind, resembling two dancing cherry blossoms. Her wide-leg blue jeans skimmed the floor, her pink flats tapping a crisp rhythm on the cobblestones. The pearl pendant on the pale pink necklace around her neck swayed, reflecting the color of her cheeks. She also carried a massive black backpack on her shoulders, the fabric bulging into a semicircle, the zipper tucked in tightly, as if it would burst at any moment.
"Hanzhi~" A final call pierced the evening breeze. Jiang Wanning rushed over, her arms wide open, her body still reeking of sweet orange soda, enveloping Gu Hanzhi in a hug. Gu Hanzhi was knocked back half a step, her lower back pressed against a bench by the roadside. The sound of her rapid breathing reached her ears.
"Why are you being so touchy?" Shen Zhihe's slender fingers clasped Jiang Wanning's wrist and gently pulled her away. He was wearing a white shirt with his sleeves casually rolled up, and the silver watch on his wrist gleamed coldly in the twilight. Noticing the reddening of Gu Hanzhi's ears, he subtly moved to the side to block the view of passersby, his thumb unconsciously stroking the dial of his watch.
She looked at Shen Zhihe's deliberately close stance, then glanced at Gu Hanzhi's scattered hair. Suddenly, she leaned forward with her hands on her cheeks and said, "You two must be doing something bad behind my back!" Her eyelashes fluttered as she spoke, and the pearl necklace around her neck shone with tiny glints. "You two must have some unknown secrets recently."
Shen Zhihe's ears instantly burned red. He turned away, coughed, and his Adam's apple rolled out, "Nonsense." Gu Hanzhi frantically fixed her hair. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Shen Zhihe uncomfortably loosen his collar, and her heart skipped a beat. Jiang Wanning skipped around in a circle between them. The gust of wind from her jeans carried her laughter, startling sparrows from their perches.
Jiang Wanning grabbed the backpack at her feet with one hand, the heavy weight causing the shoulder strap to sag slightly. As soon as the zipper opened a crack, a rich, salty aroma mixed with the distinctive spiciness of spicy noodles surged out—the orange bag of potato chips was inflated, the purple spicy noodles were bundled into a small mountain, and several cans of drinks gleamed metallically in the gaps, almost overflowing.
"Hiss—" A sudden gasp echoed from behind. Lu Chenzhou had been standing at the doorway without him noticing. His light blue short-sleeve was still stained by the heat from outside, and a piece of tender green grass clung to the edge of his sweatpants. He stared at the schoolbag in Jiang Wanning's arms, which was about to burst, his eyes widening as he let out an exaggerated exclamation: "Are you going to empty this convenience store?" As he spoke, he leaned in closer, his hair brushing Jiang Wanning's ear, bringing a gust of warm air.
Jiang Wanning threw her bulging schoolbag onto the table, the plastic packaging making a crisp sound. Her eyebrows curved into crescents: "I'll pack snacks for everyone on this outing. These are snacks I've been saving for half a year!" She poked the bulging potato chip bag lightly with her fingertips, as if showing off her trophies.
Lu Chenzhou immediately cupped his fists in an exaggerated gesture, "Sister Ning is so generous!" Even as he spoke, he reached for a bag of seaweed-flavored potato chips, the fitness tracker on his wrist jiggling. Sunlight streamed into the classroom, casting their shadows into a shimmering pattern of light.
In the corner, Gu Hanzhi had already spread out her workbook, her pen scratching across the scratch paper. The scent of ink mingled with the aroma of snacks, and she bit her lower lip as she worked on the last math problem until she felt a sudden warmth against her wrist. Shen Zhihe had leaned in at some point, his bony hand firmly gripping hers. The workbook clattered back onto the table. "We finally got to go on a picnic, and you're still being so introverted! Don't be such a dampener!" He tilted his head, his hair brushing against the red tip of her ear. His sleeves were stained with the sap of grass, carrying the distinct, crisp scent of the wild.
As the setting sun dyed the clouds the color of orange soda, Gu Hanzhi finally let down her guard. Shen Zhihe, having found a slender piece of foxtail grass from somewhere, gently poked her head, only for her to smile and brush it off. Jiang Wanning forced her a plate of potato chips covered in seaweed, insisting on watching her take the first, crackling bite. Lu Chenzhou raised his drink can, pretending to clink glasses with hers, but deliberately let the foam splash onto her nose.
Lying on the soft grass, she gazed at the gradually brightening stars in the sky. The evening breeze, tinged with the aroma of grilled sausages, drifted past her ears, and the distant sounds of her friends' laughter drifted in, sometimes near and sometimes distant. Her fingertips unconsciously brushed against the potato chip bag, and she suddenly remembered the endless workbooks in her drawer, and the countless nights she'd spent slaving away at her desk late into the night.
"What are you thinking about?" Shen Zhihe's voice suddenly rang out overhead. The young man crouched against the moonlight, the Milky Way shimmering behind him, his hair stained with a few strands of starlight. Gu Hanzhi looked up at him, suddenly reaching out to pluck the petals from his shoulder. "Thinking... it turns out happiness can be so simple."
Before he could finish his words, Jiang Wanning suddenly rushed over, phone in hand, the flashlight illuminating the four people's faces. In that moment, the picture froze, and Gu Hanzhi finally smiled a smile she had never seen before. That smile was like a new bud breaking through the ground in spring, full of vigor and vitality, quietly growing in the gentle night.
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