Chapter 4

I woke up early, as usual.
Even on weekends, my body seems to follow the same rhythm. The morning light slipped through the curtains, soft and pale, brushing against the edge of my desk. I sat up, tidied my bed, and quietly stretched before heading to the bathroom. The cold water against my face felt refreshing — a small reminder that the day was just beginning.

Normally, it's Mom who makes breakfast on weekdays, but on weekends, I like preparing it myself. It's simple — toast, eggs, and a bit of fruit — but somehow the familiar routine calms me. While eating, I turned on the TV. The weather forecast said it would be clear skies all day, maybe a little hot in the afternoon. I let the sound play in the background as I finished my meal.

Last night, I chatted with Xia for a while.
She had a lot to say, as always — about school, new clothes, and the latest flavor of pancakes at a café she wanted to visit. Then she asked if I wanted to go shopping with her today. I didn't have any plans, and honestly, staying inside all day felt a little dull. So I agreed.

Just as I was washing the dishes, Mom came out from her room. Her hair was still a little messy, and she looked at me with that gentle, half-sleepy smile.
"You're up early again," she said, "even on weekends?"

"I just don't want to become lazy," I replied.

She chuckled softly. "It's okay to relax sometimes, you know."
Then she made herself a cup of coffee and sat at the counter.

"So, any plans for today?" she asked.

"I'm going out with Xia," I said. "She wanted to check some new fashion releases."

Mom's eyes narrowed playfully over her coffee cup. "With your friends... or with a boyfriend?"

"Mom!" I nearly dropped the dishcloth. "I don't have a boyfriend, and I don't really have time for that."

She smiled, clearly amused. "That's unfortunate. You're so popular at school, I thought someone would've already asked you out."

I sighed, trying to hide my embarrassment. "I just haven't met anyone I'm interested in," I said quietly.

"Well," she said, her tone softening, "you should try opening up to people a little. You never know who might surprise you."

For a moment, I thought about what Xia had told me last night — that I should be more honest about what I like, or what I feel. I guess Mom and Xia aren't so different after all.

"I'll... think about it," I said, shrugging slightly.

Mom smiled again, that warm, knowing smile of hers. I finished cleaning up, glanced outside, and thought maybe today wouldn't be such a bad day to go out after all.

******

After finishing breakfast and chatting with Mom, I decided to leave home a little early.
The weather forecast said it might get hot later, and I preferred walking while the air still felt cool.

Outside, the sky was a soft blue, brushed with a few thin clouds. The gentle breeze carried the faint scent of grass and the distant chatter of morning vendors. It was a peaceful kind of morning — the kind that made you want to take your time.

I passed by the small park near my house. There were already a few people there — some jogging, others walking their dogs. On one side, an elderly woman I often saw in the mornings was strolling slowly with her cane. When she noticed me, she smiled, and I greeted her politely with a small bow.

"Good morning," she said kindly.

"Good morning," I replied with a smile before continuing on my way.

It didn't take long before I reached the main street. I checked my phone and sent a message to Xia, letting her know I was almost there. A few seconds later, she replied:

Xia: "Okay~ I'll be waiting at the station!"

When I arrived at the station, it didn't take long to spot her. Even from a distance, Xia stood out — waving her hand energetically the moment she saw me.

"Yiyi! Over here!" she called, jogging over with a bright grin.

I couldn't help but smile back at her energy.

Once we met, we started walking leisurely toward the shopping district. The streets were slowly getting livelier as more people came out — couples, families, and groups of students enjoying their day off.

Our first stop was a clothing shop Xia had mentioned yesterday. The moment we entered, her eyes sparkled with excitement. She darted between racks of clothes, pulling out shirts, skirts, and dresses, humming to herself as she tried to decide which to try on first.

"Yiyi, look at this one!" she said, holding up a light blue dress against herself. "Isn't it cute?"

"It looks nice," I said honestly. "It suits you."

She grinned. "You should try something too! Maybe this one?" she said, handing me a white blouse with soft ruffles.

I hesitated. "I don't think it'll suit me."

"Of course it will! Come on, just try it!" she insisted.

I gave in eventually, mostly because it was hard to say no when Xia looked that excited.

While I was checking my reflection in the mirror, she suddenly leaned over and said teasingly, "You know, if you wore that on a date, I think your future boyfriend would fall for you instantly."

I rolled my eyes lightly, trying not to show how embarrassed I was. "You always say things like that," I said, half amused.

"That's because it's true!" she said, laughing.

I shook my head but couldn't help smiling. Spending time with Xia was always like this — noisy, warm, and full of laughter.

******

The shopping district was a little livelier than I expected.
Even though it was still morning, the air already carried a trace of summer warmth, but a soft breeze made it pleasant enough to walk without feeling tired. Xia was beside me, as usual, talking about all sorts of things while holding a few paper bags from the clothing store we just left.

She was always like that — full of energy, never running out of things to say.
I just listened, nodding or answering when needed, but she didn't seem to mind.

When we turned the corner, she suddenly stopped.
"Yiyi, look at that!" she said, pointing excitedly toward a small accessory stall between a café and a bookstore.

Before I could even react, she was already there, greeting the vendor like they were old friends. I followed, just a few steps behind. The stall was filled with all kinds of things — hairpins, ribbons, bracelets — glittering faintly under the morning light.

"Good morning, girls," the woman behind the counter greeted us with a smile. "Looking for something pretty?"

"Just browsing," Xia replied quickly, then turned to me with that mischievous grin she always had. "Actually, I think something here would look great on Yiyi."

I frowned a little. "Me?"

She nodded, already holding up a silver hairpin with a small blue gem. "This one. It matches your hair."

I tried to step back, but she wouldn't let me.
"Oh, come on. You always wear your hair plain like that. Try something new for once."

The vendor chuckled. "Your friend's right, dear. You have lovely hair — this one suits you."

I hesitated, but she was already placing it gently against my hair. In the small mirror on the counter, I caught a glimpse of myself. The light caught on the little blue stone — it was simple, but... it didn't look bad.

Xia leaned forward with a proud smile. "See? I told you."

I sighed softly. "You're impossible sometimes."

"Thank you," she said cheerfully, and before I could stop her, she was already paying for it.

"Xia—"

"Consider it a gift," she interrupted. "You can repay me when we try that new pancake flavor later."

I gave up arguing. "Fine. But only if it's on discount day."

That made her laugh out loud, her voice blending with the morning sounds of the street. The vendor smiled warmly at us. "You two seem very close," she said as she handed the little paper bag to Xia.

"We've known each other for a long time," Xia answered with a grin.

We left the stall together, walking side by side again. The sunlight filtered softly through the trees lining the street, and when the wind brushed past, I felt the faint glint of the new hairpin in my hair.

We walked for a while longer until a small bookstore caught my attention. The familiar smell of books drifted from the open door, and I slowed down instinctively.
"Wanna stop here for a bit?" I asked.

Xia looked uncertain. "You and your books... sure, why not? But don't make me wait too long."

I smiled faintly and stepped inside. The cool air and quiet atmosphere immediately felt comforting — rows of neatly arranged books, soft instrumental music in the background. I began browsing through the new releases near the center shelf.

Then, as I reached for a title, I noticed two familiar figures near the counter - A Boys from our class, and a girl standing beside him, holding a book.
They were talking quietly to the shop staff, seemingly discussing something about the books on display.

Xia leaned closer and whispered, "Oh, isn't that Tang Yuan from Our Class? And... Ye Ling, right?"

I nodded slightly. "Looks like it."

She grinned. "Should we say hi?"

I glanced at them again — Yuan looked calm as always, and the girl beside him had a gentle smile that somehow matched his quietness.
"...No," I said softly, tugging at Xia's sleeve. "Let's not bother them."

Xia blinked, surprised. "Really?"

"Mm. They seem busy."

After a short pause, she shrugged. "Alright, if you say so."

We turned toward another aisle instead, pretending to browse. But as we walked past, I couldn't help glancing one more time. They looked... comfortable together, in a way I couldn't quite describe.

Outside, the sunlight had turned warmer when we left the store. Xia stretched her arms with a yawn. "So, pancake shop next?"

"Yeah," I said, adjusting the small blue hairpin she'd given me earlier. "Let's go before it gets too crowded."

******

The street ahead smelled faintly of sugar and butter long before we reached the corner. The pancake shop Xia mentioned was easy to spot — its pastel-colored awning and warm wooden sign stood out against the rows of boutiques nearby. Through the glass window, I could see families and groups of students chatting happily over plates of pancakes stacked high with fruit and cream.

"It smells amazing already," Xia said, her eyes practically sparkling. "I'm ordering two flavors. Maybe three."

I smiled at her enthusiasm. "You're going to regret it halfway through."

"Never," she said, confidently pushing the door open.

The little bell above the entrance chimed softly as we stepped inside. The air was filled with the scent of sweet batter and caramel. A waitress greeted us and led us to a small booth near the window. I liked the seat — sunlight poured in gently through the glass, casting soft golden light on the table.

We ordered quickly — strawberry cream for Xia, and plain honey butter for me. As soon as the waitress left, Xia leaned forward. "So, did you know we'll have P.E. first thing Monday morning?"

I blinked. "Really? That's... not the best way to start a new week."

"Right?" she groaned dramatically. "And I heard from another class that it might be outdoor. Probably running laps or something."

I sighed quietly. "As long as it's not under the noon sun."

"Same. Oh—speaking of our class..." she said, lowering her voice and glancing around. "You saw Tang Yuan and Ye Ling at the bookstore, right?"

I looked up from my glass of iced tea. "...Yes."

"Don't you think they looked kinda... close?" she teased, wiggling her eyebrows.

I shook my head. "They were just talking. You're overthinking it."

"Mm, maybe~" she said, stretching the word. "Still, Ye Ling doesn't talk much with boys. It's kind of rare, you know? People might start gossiping."

I rolled my eyes slightly. "You're the one gossiping."

She grinned. "Hey, I just notice things."

The pancakes arrived, golden and warm, cutting off the conversation for a moment. The sweet smell made Xia's face light up again as she happily poured syrup over hers.

"By the way," she said between bites, "Li Rui told me he might try talking to you again next week."

I paused mid-cut. "...Why?"

"Because he likes you?" she said in a tone that made it sound painfully obvious.

I sighed. "He barely knows me."

Xia shrugged. "That never stopped anyone before."

I gave her a helpless look, which only made her laugh harder.

"You're so indifferent, Yiyi," she said, leaning her chin on her hand. "People talk about crushes, relationships, and you just... treat it like background noise."

I thought for a moment before answering softly, "Maybe I just haven't met someone who makes me think about that."

She tilted her head with a knowing smile. "Not yet, huh?"

I ignored the teasing tone and focused on my pancake, though for a brief second, an image of the bookstore flashed through my mind — a quiet boy standing by the shelf, eyes focused on a book, speaking in that calm, polite tone.

I pushed the thought aside and smiled at Xia. "You think too much."

"And you think too little," she shot back playfully.

We both laughed, the sound blending with the cheerful chatter of the café. Outside, the sun had climbed higher, and the air shimmered faintly with warmth. It was just an ordinary day off — simple, sweet, and somehow... comforting.

******

After we finished our pancakes, Xia wanted to wander a little longer. The shopping district was busier now — sunlight reflecting off windows, the sound of chatter and passing bicycles filling the air. We stopped by a few small shops, but by the time we decided to head home, the sky had already started to fade into orange.

The warm light stretched over the street, soft and comforting. Xia hummed quietly beside me, sipping the last bit of her bubble tea. "Today was nice," she said. "We should do this again next week."

"Mm. Maybe," I said with a small smile. "You'll probably drag me out anyway."

She laughed. "You know me too well."

We parted ways near the station. She waved one last time before heading toward her bus stop, and I continued walking alone. The streets were calmer now — just a few people heading home, the glow of storefront signs flickering to life one by one. I liked this hour. The air was cool, and everything felt slower, gentler.

I took a different route home than usual, passing by a small park I used to visit when I was younger. The vending machine by the gate was still there, humming softly under the fading light. I realized I was a little thirsty — maybe something cold before heading home wouldn't hurt.

As I walked closer, I noticed someone already standing there, looking at the rows of drinks.

He seemed familiar — tall, wearing casual clothes, the kind of calm expression that doesn't stand out at first glance. For a second, I tried to remember where I'd seen him before. Then it clicked — the bookstore.

Tang Yuan.

He looked up at that moment, as if sensing someone nearby. Our eyes met briefly, and his expression shifted from mild surprise to quiet recognition.

"Oh... Zhao Yiyi?" he said, as if confirming what he saw.

I hesitated for a second before nodding. "Ah, yes. Tang Yuan, right? From class."

He gave a small, polite smile. "Yeah. I didn't expect to see you here."

"Same," I said softly. "You live around here too?"

"Not far," he replied. "Just stopped by for a drink on the way home."

The moment fell quiet for a bit — only the soft sound of the vending machine breaking the silence. I wasn't sure what else to say. He didn't seem the type to talk much, but somehow, the silence didn't feel uncomfortable.

Finally, he chose a bottle of iced tea, then stepped aside slightly. "You can go ahead."

"Thanks," I said, picking a drink almost at random — the same kind, I realized only after pressing the button.

He seemed to notice but didn't comment, just looked at the sky that was now deep orange, almost fading into purple.

"The weather's nice today," he said quietly, almost as if talking to himself.

"It is," I answered. "A bit warm, though."

He gave a small nod. "Yeah."

Another pause. The air between us was soft — not awkward, just unfamiliar. After a moment, I held my drink and smiled politely. "Well... see you Monday, then."

He nodded again, his expression calm but faintly gentle. "Yeah. See you."

As I turned and started walking home, I couldn't help but glance back once. He was still standing by the vending machine, looking up at the sky as if lost in thought.

For some reason, the sight stayed in my mind longer than I expected.