Spend Summer Chapter 12
byZaowan
Time trickled by drop by drop. Shen Wan pursed her lips, her heart filled with a mix of disappointment, anxiety, and worry. Was she still not coming?
Shen Wan had given up all hope for today and decided to focus on her studies.
“I know, don’t worry.”
A familiar voice, a familiar tone. Shen Wan whipped her head around, her pupils reflecting Ji Zhao’s figure.
She wore a high ponytail that swayed with every step, strands of hair fluttering against her face. The sun was behind her, haloing her in warm light.
In an instant, light flooded the desk, the pages of the book glowed, and the trees outside seemed to flourish.
For a moment, Shen Wan’s words caught in her throat, leaving her speechless.
Ji Zhao walked quickly toward her and took her seat. Her eyes were still curved like crescent moons, but Shen Wan felt a slight sense of strangeness.
Having not seen each other for five days, it felt like a lifetime had passed.
Ji Zhao waved her hand in front of Shen Wan’s eyes, her voice cheerful. “What’s wrong? We haven’t seen each other for that long, and you already don’t recognize me?”
Shen Wan shook her head quickly, her voice carrying a rare hint of urgency. “No! Good morning, Ji Zhao.”
The words skipped between the desks. Ji Zhao’s voice was clear. “Good morning, Wanwan!”
Then her tone shifted into a playful pout. “How did you do on the monthly exam?”
As students, grades were always the most important topic upon meeting; there was no escaping the inquiry.
Shen Wan was prepared. She took out the score slip tucked inside her book. “Here.”
Ji Zhao took it. The slip was written in Shen Wan’s own handwriting, listing the scores for each subject clearly.
One score was particularly eye-catching—705 points.
Ji Zhao couldn’t help but give a thumbs-up, her mouth overflowing with sweet praise. “Not bad! As expected of our Grade Topper, Sister Shen!”
Shen Wan’s ears turned red. Feeling a bit shy, she said, “If you had participated, I might not have been first.”
Hearing this, Ji Zhao felt a bit of regret. This was supposed to be her first formal competition with Wanwan, but it hadn’t happened.
However, rather than dwelling on the past, Ji Zhao preferred to look toward the future. She gave a relaxed wave of her hand and said, “It’s fine. We’ll compete during the midterms. You better work hard~”
Shen Wan stared at Ji Zhao and nodded, repeating softly, “Mhm, we’ll compete during the midterms.”
Holding the score slip, Ji Zhao looked at it again and again. She blinked her large, bright eyes at Shen Wan and asked, “Wanwan, can I have this?”
Shen Wan nodded. She didn’t place much importance on monthly exam results.
She cared about two other things: the prize money from major exams and the parts of the test she hadn’t mastered.
Usually, she would just glance at her monthly scores and move on. This time, she had written them down carefully only because she knew Ji Zhao cared and wanted to make it convenient for her.
So, when Ji Zhao asked for the slip, she naturally agreed.
Ji Zhao’s eyes crinkled with joy as she happily tucked the slip into her notebook.
After the pleasantries, the two began their morning reading seriously, trying to memorize more vocabulary.
–
After the vocabulary check, it was time for breakfast.
With Ji Zhao there, Shen Wan couldn’t skip out on breakfast. She ate a bun and drank a cup of porridge.
When they returned to the classroom, there were still very few people. Shen Wan fumbled with the plushie in her desk, trying to organize her words.
The moment she saw Ji Zhao walk in from the doorway after using the restroom, Shen Wan jerked her hand back. Her ears were bright red, feeling hot and burning.
Although she had been practicing what to say for three days, she still felt lost when facing Ji Zhao. She suddenly froze up.
Ji Zhao looked at Shen Wan blankly at first, but quickly realized she had something to say. She let out a chuckle and took the initiative to ask, “Wanwan, what is it?”
Shen Wan pulled out the plushie and held it out to Ji Zhao. Closing her eyes tight as if facing death, she said, “This is for you.”
Ji Zhao was startled. She looked down at the plushie in Shen Wan’s hands. It was golden-yellow… a Golden Retriever?
She froze before reaching out with both hands to take it. Her pupils widened. It took a long moment for her to react, her eyes suddenly filling with tears. “For me?”
Shen Wan opened her eyes. Seeing the tears in Ji Zhao’s eyes, she panicked and tried to comfort her awkwardly. “Be… because you’ve taken care of me so much. It’s… it’s a gift for your discharge from the hospital.”
Ji Zhao held back her tears, but her voice was uncontrollably choked with emotion. She broke into a wide smile and said, “Thank you, Wanwan!”
Shen Wan breathed a silent sigh of relief. As long as she accepted it, it was fine…
Ji Zhao examined the plushie carefully. The fur was soft and warm, carrying the scent of sunlight. It had big, dark eyes and looked incredibly cute.
Ji Zhao had no resistance to cute things, especially dogs.
She buried her face in it and took a deep sniff, her voice rising with excitement. “Wanwan, how did you know my favorite dog is a Golden Retriever!”
Shen Wan’s lips curled slightly as she said softly, “I’m glad you like it.”
Looking at the plushie, Ji Zhao suddenly had a flash of inspiration. “How about we call it Zaowan? ‘Zao’ from red dates and ‘Wan’ from meatballs. It’s a pun on our names.”
Shen Wan agreed without hesitation. “Whatever you want.”
With that settled, Ji Zhao carefully put Zaowan away. Resting her head on her arm, she turned to look at Shen Wan and asked curiously, “Speaking of which, Wanwan, does your name have a special meaning?”
Shen Wan’s pupils shrank, and her expression became complex. Her fingers gripped the page of her book. After a long pause, she feigned a relaxed tone and said, “My mother gave me my name. It comes from the line—’Do not say the mulberry and elm are late, for the sunset clouds still fill the sky.’ She told me it means it’s okay for some things to happen a bit later. Enough about me, what about yours?”
Ji Zhao silently repeated the line in her heart—Shen Wan, “Do not say the mulberry and elm are late, for the sunset clouds still fill the sky.” So that was the meaning. She looked thoughtful.
Hearing Shen Wan’s question, she scratched her hair and said sweetly, “Your aunt is so good at naming. Mine comes from—’The past spring is distant, the coming year is bright.’ My mother chose it too.”
Suddenly, as if thinking of something, she reached out and grabbed Shen Wan’s wrist, her tone full of surprise. “That means our names are a perfect match! One is morning, and the other is evening!”
Shen Wan bit her lower lip. The spot where her wrist was covered began to burn, bringing an indescribable sensation.
Her ears flushed red. She glanced at the spot and immediately looked away as if burned.
Noticing Shen Wan’s discomfort, Ji Zhao’s excitement faltered. She followed Shen Wan’s gaze to her own hand.
Suddenly, she pulled her hand back and laughed awkwardly. “Ha… haha…”
Turning around, Ji Zhao stared straight at the blackboard, lost in thought.
From Shen Wan’s perspective, her face was flushed, and her long, dark, curled lashes fluttered.
In an instant, Shen Wan’s mood relaxed. A charming curve appeared at the corners of her eyes as she thought silently.
The past spring is distant, the coming year is bright.
May Zhaozhao’s wishes come true, and every year be peaceful…
Lin Jiayue, who had just returned, looked at the awkward atmosphere between the two with a face full of confusion.
–
The three of them had fast food for lunch.
Well… the cafeteria food was as unique as ever.
Returning from the cafeteria, Shen Wan took out the materials and test papers she needed and began studying new material.
Ji Zhao, meanwhile, was showing off the plushie to Lin Jiayue.
Lin Jiayue: “Sister Zhao, do you know how to do this problem?”
Ji Zhao: “You mean Zaowan? Wanwan gave it to me. Yes, I know, you write it like this.”
Lin Jiayue brought out some candy to share. “Sister Zhao, want some candy?”
Ji Zhao: “Zaowan? It is indeed sweet. I’ll have some, thanks Yueyue~”
…
Lin Jiayue couldn’t take it anymore.
She used her ultimate move (a secret she observed with her 24K pure alloy eyes). She said, “Sister Zhao, do you want to know what Sister Shen did these past two days?”
Ji Zhao habitually started to reply, “Zao—” then stopped. Her eyes lit up, and her pupils dilated. She wrote on a notebook:
[What what?]
Lin Jiayue put her hands behind her back. Seeing those words, she smiled smugly. You were showing off just now, but you still have to beg me!
She picked up a pen, scribbled something, and handed it back to Ji Zhao.
Ji Zhao stared at it. After reading it, she felt as if she were soaking in a hot spring, warm and cozy.
She couldn’t stop her lips from curling up; her heart felt like popping candy.
A line of flying script was written there:
[Sister Shen begged the Head Teacher for a long time yesterday afternoon so that you two could continue being deskmates.]
Ji Zhao couldn’t help her eyes from drifting toward Shen Wan. She chuckled secretly and then forced her gaze back to her book.
Shen Wan was confused and wanted to ask, but considering the silence of the classroom, she said nothing and continued her test paper.
Because of this, Ji Zhao remained in a good mood all day, humming an unknown tune under her breath.
.
Night gradually deepened. The school bell rang. Shen Wan packed the books she needed for the night and walked toward the dark alley.
Pushing open the door, Shen Wan froze. Her throat moved as she took in the scene before her.
Shen Jianye was leaning against the peeling, mottled wall, drinking. The bright light shone on his face, which was a ghastly pale mixed with red—a terrifying sight.
Hearing the door, he slowly raised his head and opened his bloodshot, half-closed eyes. His expression instantly turned distorted.
A coarse voice exploded in Shen Wan’s ears. “Where’s the money?”
Cold sweat broke out on Shen Wan’s back. She swallowed and asked warily, “I don’t have any. I paid the school uniform fee.”
Infuriated by her words, Shen Jianye stood up abruptly and stumbled toward her, his tone vicious. “You don’t have any? You don’t have any, huh?”
He swung his arm and slapped Shen Wan hard. “I got beaten like this, and you’re probably pretty happy, aren’t you? No money? I’ll show you no money!”
Shen Wan reflexively dodged the slap, but this only enraged him further.
He grabbed her hair and kicked her in the stomach.
A familiar, sharp pain surged. Shen Wan doubled over, biting her lower lip hard to stifle her gasps.
Beads of blood fell from her lip, splattering onto her faded white hoodie, looking stark and shocking.
Shen Jianye let go, several strands of hair torn away between his fingers.