Chapter Eleven: First Intimate Contact

On the September campus, the drill sergeant’s rhythmic commands—"One, two, one! One, two, one! Halt!"—echoed across the playground. The high school freshmen were undergoing their very first lesson: military training. During the break, groups of sophomores gathered to watch the newcomers.

"Geng Geng, do you remember when you fainted last year and Lu Xinghe carried you to the infirmary?" Beta asked, her tone casual.

"I had passed out, how would I remember that? I only recall waking up and seeing him peeling an apple for me," Geng Geng replied, reflecting on the moment. It was the first time she had been cared for like that, and a strange, indescribable feeling had stirred in her heart.

"You missed out then! All the girls in the formation thought Lu Xinghe was so manly!" As Beta recounted the whispers that had rippled through the ranks, she noted that it was around that time the campus rumors about Li Jie and Geng Geng first began to swirl.

A year had passed, and the rumors had only accelerated. Li Jie’s aura as a top student, combined with his handsome looks, had earned him countless admirers, which in turn drew hostility from many of his fan-girls toward Geng Geng. They were baffled as to how such an ordinary girl, neither the prettiest nor the brightest, had managed to capture the attention of their idol, often witnessing them stuck together even during the holidays.

Geng Geng had grown accustomed to the gossip. Initially, it had made her shy, but after hearing the same things over and over, she had developed an immunity. She didn’t care what outsiders said, and though she was occasionally ostracized, having Beta by her side made it feel like no big deal.

*Ring! Ring!* The bell rang, and the spectators scrambled toward their classrooms. Anyone who hadn't arrived by the second bell would surely face the "loving education" of the dean, Pan Yuansheng—the very incarnation of a devilish iron fist.

*Tap, tap.* With the sound of footsteps, Zhang Ping, now a veteran homeroom teacher of one year, entered the classroom. He had fully adapted to his role; gone were the days of amateur mistakes like forgetting to call a student's name.

"Stand up!"

"Good morning, teacher!"

"Good morning, everyone. Did you preview the new semester's material over the break? You will be seniors next year. I warned you before summer vacation that Zhenhua will finish the entire high school curriculum this year. That means you must master all the textbooks by the end of this term."

As soon as the words left his mouth, the chatter about summer fun vanished instantly. Seeing their expressions, Zhang Ping smiled gently and comforted them, "Don't worry! Zhenhua has the best teachers and the best students—you. None of this will be a problem. Believe in yourselves!"

Geng Geng wasn't listening to the pep talk. She thought of the mornings during the break when Li Jie had tutored her at the city library. Glancing at the empty seat beside her, she felt a hollow ache. Lu Xinghe had told her he was going abroad to visit his mother for an extended period and had already taken leave from school. Having grown accustomed to his presence, his absence for over a month left her feeling completely out of sorts. She had no idea when he would return.

After school, Geng Geng and Beta walked home. Beta watched Geng Geng’s melancholy expression—it was a textbook case of lovesickness. Yet, Geng Geng remained stubborn, refusing to admit it. Beta had tried every comforting word and gesture over the past month, but nothing seemed to reach the root of the problem.

"Hey, Geng Geng, look who's ahead!" Beta said loudly.

"Stop it, Beta. You’ve tried this trick several times already. It’s not funny," Geng Geng replied listlessly.

"No, really! This isn't 'the boy who cried wolf'—look! Just look! Who is that up ahead?"

Geng Geng lifted her head and saw the figure she had been longing for. She bolted toward him. Halfway there, she tried to slow down, thinking to herself, *Wait, I shouldn't run this fast. I need to be reserved, a girl should be reserved.* But her feet refused to listen, and she kept on sprinting. Watching Geng Geng dash off, Beta smiled and turned to walk in the opposite direction, even though it wasn't the way home.

"Slow down! Slow down! I'm not going to disappear!" Li Jie said, watching Geng Geng run toward him with doting eyes.

"Hmph! You just left suddenly without even telling me, just a simple text message," Geng Geng complained.

"I know you missed me. Don't worry, it won't happen again." Li Jie reached out and tousled her bobbed hair.

"Next time you leave, you have to tell me! No more surprise disappearances! And besides, I didn't miss you!"

Seeing Geng Geng’s stubborn denial, Li Jie chuckled, though he quickly stifled it when he saw her expression darken.

"I'll forgive you this once, just because you're finally back." She noticed the suitcase behind him and realized he had come straight to her instead of going home. A secret joy bloomed in her heart, followed by a pang of sympathy for his travel-worn appearance.

Li Jie pulled his suitcase with one hand while telling her about his interesting experiences in Australia. He didn't mention his side trip to Hong Kong, where he had been invited to produce an album for a newly signed artist at Red Rock Records; otherwise, he would have been back much sooner.

As they walked, they moved closer, their hands brushing repeatedly. Suddenly, Li Jie took her slightly cool left hand in his right and held it firmly. Geng Geng struggled briefly, but finding she couldn't break free, she relented, allowing his daring gesture.

Her heart hammered against her ribs, and her cheeks turned as flushed as peach blossoms. Her palms grew damp with sweat. She kept glancing around to see if anyone was watching, and whenever her eyes met a passerby, she would immediately look down, hiding like an ostrich burying its head in the sand.

They walked on in nervous silence. When they reached the final intersection near her home, Geng Geng quickly pulled her hand away, fearing a neighbor might see and create an awkward situation.

"We’re almost at your house. I’ll stop here; it wouldn't be good to be seen by anyone we know," Li Jie said, noticing the hand being pulled away and realizing they were nearly at her doorstep.

"Right. You should go home, take a shower, and get some sleep. You must be exhausted from the flight," Geng Geng said, her voice filled with concern.

Seeing Geng Geng lingering and looking reluctant to part, Li Jie said, "Alright! I'll come pick you up for school tomorrow morning. See you tomorrow!"

Geng Geng’s face brightened instantly. "Okay! See you tomorrow!"