Chapter Two Hello, my name is Zhou Xiaoqi.

“Roll call time. We’ll begin now,” the male teacher announced in the classroom. His name was Lu Ting, and though he always wore a stern expression while teaching, his smile was extraordinarily warm.

“Wang Quan,” he called.

“Present.”

“Song Hai.”

“Present.”

“Zhou Xiaoqi, Zhou Xiaoqi? Not here?”

The roll call ended swiftly, and Mr. Lu began his routine lecture, “I’ve told you all not to be late, not to skip class, but you treat my words like the wind blowing past your ears, don’t you?”

Wang Quan turned to Zhou Xiaoqi’s deskmate and asked, “Xue Ran, do you know where Zhou Xiaoqi went?”

Xue Ran was a beautiful girl herself, yet she was a completely different type from Zhou Xiaoqi. If Zhou Xiaoqi was ice—impossible to melt—then Xue Ran was her opposite, both in personality and in contrast to her chilly name. Her character was fiery, bold, and brash, always bustling, and she often sought conversation with Zhou Xiaoqi, who responded only with silence, as if she were speaking to air.

“How would I know? Even though I sit next to her, you know what Xiaoqi’s like—she basically treats me like I’m invisible, alright?” Xue Ran rolled her eyes at Wang Quan, as if questioning his intelligence for asking.

At that moment, Zhou Xiaoqi was at a bar, unaware of what tomorrow might bring, though none of it was her concern.

“Hello, my name is Zhou Xiaoqi. I’m in my final year at Yucai High School,” Zhou Xiaoqi said, extending her hand to Cui Hao.

“Cui Hao, a friend of Ling Nan. But you know, it’s not a good habit for a high school student to skip class and hang out at bars,” Cui Hao replied, shaking her hand politely.

“See? All adults say the same things. It’s so dull. I thought you’d be a little different,” Zhou Xiaoqi muttered quietly.

Cui Hao chuckled, amused by her adorable demeanor.

“What are you laughing at?” Zhou Xiaoqi asked with irritation.

“Xiaoqi, it’s not that all adults say the same thing, but at your age, going to school is your responsibility. Isn’t it right to do the things you’re supposed to do well?”

Zhou Xiaoqi was taken aback. It was the first time someone had spoken to her about studying in this way. Until now, school had only been a source of pressure from her father.

“Do you teach your own children like this?” For some reason, Xiaoqi felt this man must be married, but at the same time, she didn’t want to believe it. So she asked, testing the waters.

“No, I never meddle with my child. My wife takes great care of them, so I’ve never had to worry about those things.” As Cui Hao spoke, there was a hint of pride in his words.

Hearing this, Xiaoqi felt a fleeting sense of loss in her heart, so brief she barely caught it.

“You seem to love your wife and your family very much.”

“Yes, I love my wife and child. My wife has been with me since she was eighteen, and it’s been fourteen years now. Of course I cherish her. Otherwise, wouldn’t she be left with nothing?” Cui Hao spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Your wife is truly fortunate to have a husband like you. To meet someone you love, who loves you in return, that’s what love is,” Xiaoqi said, and immediately thought of her own parents. It was as if she was telling herself that love really could exist, depending only on whether the other person was capable of giving it.

“It’s not quite like that. In the first years after we got married, my wife and I quarreled every day. For over ten years, really. Only in the past two or three years, as we’ve gotten older, have we stopped fighting so much. You’re still so young, as if you already understand what love is. You shouldn’t be so melancholy. God is fair. If you work a little harder each day, when you’re grown, you’ll be rewarded, and you’ll see the results for yourself,” Cui Hao said, looking at Zhou Xiaoqi, who frowned in confusion, unsure how to comfort her.

“Well, since you’re so much older, I’ll call you Uncle from now on,” Xiaoqi replied with a smile, as if the unhappy girl from before wasn’t her at all.

“Oh, you little rascal, you really are young—always joking,” Cui Hao said, helpless but fond, not realizing the affection in his tone.

“Uncle, you said I’m young, but you were young once too.”

Just as Cui Hao was about to respond, Ling Nan walked in.

“You two seem to be getting along rather well. I thought Xiaoqi would sit here in silence, waiting for me to come back,” Ling Nan teased.

“Ling Nan, I need to head back to school. I’ve been out so long today, who knows what the teacher will do with me tomorrow. I’ll go now. See you around.” Xiaoqi stood as she spoke, and before leaving, glanced at Cui Hao, “Goodbye, Uncle.”

“Cui Hao, you must dress yourself up to look so mature. Xiaoqi calls me ‘brother,’ but calls you ‘uncle.’ Does that mean I’m still fresh and youthful?” Ling Nan joked.

“That’s called manly charm. What would you know? You look like some pretty boy,” Cui Hao replied, shooting Ling Nan a look as if he’d lost his mind, while Ling Nan burst out laughing.