But even as she spoke, she raised her hand toward Wen Shaoyu's face.
Her slender, fair fingertips touched his cheek. Along with the coolness came the sting of static electricity.
It hurt Wen Shaoyu. It hurt Ji Shuhe too.
But more than the pain, Ji Shuhe was shocked that she had actually zapped him back.
Her eyes widened. She met his gaze.
In the awkward silence that followed, someone—neither knew who—broke into laughter first. Then both of them laughed together.
The hearty laughter finally dispelled the heaviness that had settled in the room. Wen Shaoyu propped his head up thoughtfully. "Ji Shuhe, when we're together, it always seems so bitter."
Ji Shuhe's smile froze. Thinking back, it really did seem that way.
Wen Shaoyu had witnessed every one of her awkward moments. With him, she could drop her guard and reveal her feelings without trying to please him. They had been forced to share each other's worst states.
But that wouldn't do. They weren't that close. She couldn't let herself associate Wen Shaoyu with a sense of dependency.
"Life can't always be about frowning. You still need to smile more," Wen Shaoyu continued. "Xiao Miaomiao, don't you think?"
"Yeah," Ji Shuhe stopped arguing about the nickname he insisted on calling her. "Smiling is easy. First, stop using violence to solve problems. And don't be so sarcastic when you talk. If you could control your mouth, you'd avoid half your troubles."
Wen Shaoyu pretended to pick his ear, thinking she was bossy. "Fine, I'll listen to you," he said casually, without any real seriousness.
Too agreeable wasn't like Wen Shaoyu. Ji Shuhe was just getting suspicious when he added, "Fair trade. Do you have to listen to me too? Then start by fixing that habit of belittling yourself in front of others. What's the point of only being tough with me?"
She knew it! Something was off!
Ji Shuhe shot him a glare. "Who cares what you do? When you get in trouble, it's not me who gets scolded!"
Wen Shaoyu chuckled darkly. The low laugh was like a beam of light piercing the dim room, and it made Ji Shuhe inexplicably feel a flush of heat in her ears.
She had to turn to Lizi, petting his paws and ears, but her mind wasn't on the dog. She was stealing glances at Wen Shaoyu, and he was staring back openly, directly.
Wen Shaoyu thought, if this alley wasn't going to be demolished, he'd be happy to stay here forever. All his loved ones, friends, and... the person he cared about were here.
Of course, demolition in a couple of years would be fine too. By then, he'd be done with high school and in college, with an independent income, and he could take care of Granny. He wouldn't covet that man's money, so he wouldn't have to put up with his attitude.
Just one thing...
He guessed that once the demolition was settled, Ji Shuhe would probably go back to Yuanjing. Her home, her parents, most of her life was there. Why would she stay? For just two years in Xinhai? Or for the people in this old alley?
At this thought, Wen Shaoyu frowned unconsciously. But he said nothing, only asked abruptly, "Is the chocolate good?"
"...Not bad," Ji Shuhe mumbled awkwardly. She had eaten his chocolate after all, and her upbringing wouldn't let her ignore the question.
"Then eat the other one too. I brought it for you. Don't save any for Ji Shulang."
Ji Shuhe felt guilty as he saw right through her.
Wen Shaoyu noticed her leaves drooping a bit, making her look pitiful. Instead, he felt relieved. What was there to be upset about? She was always thinking about that annoying cousin. Why not think about him a little more?
Even if just occasionally, so that if she did go back to Yuanjing, she wouldn't forget him in a few days.
Wen Shaoyu sulked to himself but quickly cheered himself up.
Even if she left, it was no big deal. With modern communication and Ji Shulang around, he'd still be able to find her.
Granny Zheng returned to Yong'anli early on the third day of the New Year. She didn't let Wen Shaoyu's father drive her; she called a cab and got dropped off at the alley entrance. Though she didn't say it outright, she clearly had a lot of complaints about that son-in-law who only cared about his "new" family.
After getting rid of those troublesome people, the New Year was actually quite nice. No need for social visits. The two families in No. 86, three kids, holed up in a room eating, drinking, and playing games.
Especially Ji Shulang, who even slept in Wen Shaoyu's room at night. They'd bicker and argue until Lizi got annoyed and went to sleep with Ji Shuhe in the attic.
But carefree happiness never lasted long. Before the Lantern Festival, all primary and secondary schools were preparing for the new semester.
For the two boys, the second semester of their sophomore year was the last relatively free term before the college entrance exams. It had a kind of "calm before the storm" feel.
Teachers constantly stressed the urgency, but Wen Shaoyu didn't feel it much. He studied when needed and played when he wanted. However, Ji Shuhe noticed he did spend more time with his books than before.
Ji Shulang, on the other hand, was under immense pressure from Chu Yue. After a whole break of tutoring, his placement test results dropped two places instead. Predictably, his weekend tutoring routine would continue.
As for Ji Shuhe's first year of high school, nothing special happened. Her grades were near the top of her grade. She didn't need to worry about the humanities subjects, but math and physics were a bit weaker.
With two science students in the house—if Ji Shulang couldn't teach her, Wen Shaoyu could—and Chu Yue's input, they decided no extra tutoring was needed for now.
Setting studies aside, socially, from the second semester onward, classmates started to form closer bonds. Small groups solidified, and it was clear who got along with whom.
And among them, the budding romantic feelings of adolescence silently grew.
An Qing, who naturally had a better information network than most, often propped up her chin and shared gossip with Ji Shuhe, who was still stuck on "2G" internet.
From who was close with whom and then fought a few days later, to who got caught cheating on a dictation in the office and was being scolded, to who ran into which couple over the weekend, or who got caught by parents at an internet cafe—these scandals ended up in the class group chat.
One talked endlessly, the other listened quietly. But in the end, An Qing always stared at her desk mate in confusion. Her desk mate was gentle and beautiful. How come those blind people didn't ask her to be their wingman!
Ji Shuhe had heard An Qing's rants so often that they went in one ear and out the other. Compared to secret crushes and campus romances, all her adolescent sensitivity had been spent dealing with her parents and matching wits with Wen Shaoyu.
An Qing's sigh was understandable. Over the past half year in Xinhai, Ji Shuhe had grown a lot taller. She had a slender, graceful figure. Though her face still had some childish softness, her delicate features and ponytail gave her a youthful vitality.
And she was gentle, with a jade-like inner radiance and restraint. She had more patience and tolerance than most teenagers her age, who were often more flamboyant.
She lent her homework for others to copy, patiently explained questions, and had a handsome older cousin in the same school. Small cliques couldn't bully her, and she wasn't the type to tattle to teachers. She seemed to maintain decent relationships with everyone.
But in high school, it was easy for camaraderie to turn into a crush.
Deep friendship wasn't necessary. Sometimes a brush-by during an event or a distant glance was enough for that moment of heart-flipping to become unforgettable.