Chapter 19

After Senior Zhao Ge changed clothes in the bedroom, the two of them rode the elevator downstairs.

At home and outside it, she felt like two entirely different people—a cool, quiet beauty, gentle and poised. The slim calves wrapped in black stockings beneath her skirt were almost a pleasure to look at.

Just as they reached the ground floor and stepped out, Lin Zhe caught a glimpse of several girls slipping into the other elevator.

Yunxiao and Ye Zi, walking past him, never noticed Lin Zhe and Zhao Ge.

Fresh from a full day of band practice, Yunxiao had her guitar on her back; the Back-Alley Cat members had grabbed a quick dinner outside and were heading back to their shared apartment.

They brushed right past Lin Zhe.

If they had taken the elevator a minute later—or if Lin Zhe and Zhao Ge had arrived a minute earlier—they would have met.

The Back-Alley Cats’ communal apartment was also in this building.

Xiao Lan, the easy-going rhythm guitarist, slung an arm over Yunxiao’s shoulder and laughed:

“Xiao Hei, that instrumental break in ‘Boundless Sea and Sky’ is insane, right?”

Yunxiao shoved her off with a look of disgust.

After an afternoon of rehearsal, the band finally had a workable grasp of the song.

At this pace they’d have it locked down within a week.

All that remained was Yunxiao herself—lead vocalist and guitarist.

She’d loved Cantonese films in high school and always picked Cantonese songs at KTV, but her pronunciation still fell short of Miss Buou’s standards.

With Buou backing her, though, it should sound a lot better.

The long-haired, deadpan keyboardist, Miss Buou, drifted up behind Yunxiao and murmured:

“Xiao Hei, come to my room tonight. We’ll nail the correct Cantonese pronunciation early.”

Yunxiao said nothing; she simply dipped her head in silent agreement.

She desperately wanted Lin Zhe to hear this song—wanted to surprise him at the welcome concert.

Then she could confess her mistake.

Forgetting him, even if he didn’t know, was something she couldn’t forgive herself for; the guilt simmered inside her like a slow flame.

Meanwhile, as Lin Zhe stepped out of the building with Zhao Ge, he thought he heard someone behind him mention “Boundless Sea and Sky.”

He glanced back on instinct.

The elevator doors had already shut, the floor numbers flickering upward.

Must have imagined it...

Zhao Ge, puzzled by his sudden turn, tilted her head to study his face.

“Xiao Lin, did you see something?”

He faced forward again and gave a small shake of the head.

“Nothing.”

Street-lights on the road to the community supermarket blinked on as the sky dimmed, stretching their twin shadows across the pavement.

Jogging grandpas and grandmas nodded and smiled in greeting as they passed.

A young woman walked her corgi—“Woof!”

Suddenly Zhao Ge leaned in, shoulder brushing his.

Even through thin fabric he felt the gentle warmth of her skin.

“Feels like... it’s been ages since we walked like this.”

She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, tilting her profile toward him.

Then she lifted her face slightly, gazing up from under dark lashes, a faint smile softening her cool, delicate features.

From that angle Lin Zhe could see the graceful curve of her neck, skin smooth as ivory.

His heart gave an unexpected lurch.

Don’t look at me like that—it’s unfair.

He turned his head to hide the flush creeping across his cheeks.

“Hmph, Xiao Lin’s changed... but not really. Your reaction’s still as cute as ever.”

When Zhao Ge laughed, her ice-clear eyes melted like snow in sunlight.

Lin Zhe refused to be outdone.

“You should smile more, Senior. Scowling all the time scares people away.”

She burst into brighter laughter at that.

It had been too long since they’d bantered like this.

Then, as if remembering something, her cheeks pinked.

She clasped her hands behind her back, took a light step, and stared at the ground.

“Xiao Lin... do you think I’ve changed at all?”

He looked over—and noticed the charming red tinge spreading to the tips of her ears.

So the unflappable senior could get shy...

Cute.

Zhao Ge snuck a sideways glance, eyes shining with anticipation.

After all, she’d only started learning how to dress and do her makeup once senior year ended.

The question made Lin Zhe remember the days when he and Zhao Ge first got to know each other. Back then, Senior Zhao Ge had kept a much lower profile.

She’d worn her hair in two low twin braids, the long bangs in front half-hiding those eyes that looked as clear as snow-spirit jade. She’d always had on a pair of rimmed glasses, and every day she drowned herself in that sack-like high-school uniform.

Nothing like now, when she actually understands how to dress.

In those days Lin Zhe had loved teasing Senior Zhao Ge. She’d been the textbook definition of a bookish girl—nothing like the cool, aloof beauty with the long, straight black hair she was today.

Yet, even though her looks and style had turned inside-out, Lin Zhe knew he could still pick her out of any crowd at a single glance.

Because of those eyes—pure as winter crystal.

So that afternoon on campus, one look had been enough.

These days, Senior Zhao Ge had truly transformed; the proverb “a girl changes at eighteen” had never fit anyone better. She grew more stunning by the day.

All these memories drifted through Lin Zhe’s mind, and a faint, rueful smile curved his lips. Then, quietly, he said:

“To me, you’re still the same senior—clumsy, stubborn, hopeless at looking after yourself.”

He sounded like a scolding parent. “You haven’t improved one bit.”

Zhao Ge didn’t hear the praise she’d been hoping for, yet for some reason his words felt sweeter than honey. Perhaps only Xiao Lin could see straight through to the real her; no matter how much she changed, he would always recognize her in an instant.

Still, it was a tiny let-down that he hadn’t actually complimented her. She’d kind of wanted to watch his face flood with surprise when he saw how she looked now.

Wish denied.

But while that thought was still fluttering through her mind, Lin Zhe spoke again, soft and matter-of-fact:

“Though I have to admit, Senior, you’re cuter without the glasses.”

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