Lin Xiaoxiao knew that if Zhang Wanqing decided to pursue Zhou Xiaocheng, it wouldn’t be easy—but she wouldn’t be alone. Li Yunlan and Zhou Liyun would gladly help, and she and Zhou Xiaoling would absolutely support her.

“You should at least try. Don’t let your life be full of regrets.”

Zhang Wanqing grinned. “Okay, but how? I don’t know how to knit sweaters or make shoes. Should I carve him something out of red sandalwood?”

Lin Xiaoxiao thought for a moment. “Create opportunities. See him more often.”

Still, she hesitated. Zhou Xiaocheng still carried some feelings for Luo Anran, and she wasn’t sure whether to mention it.

Before she could, Zhang Wanqing spoke up. “Actually, one time when I went to the hospital to change the bandage on my arm, this woman came up and said some weird things to me. She said she used to be Zhou Xiaocheng’s fiancée, and if it weren’t for certain circumstances, they would’ve been married.”

Lin Xiaoxiao was stunned. Luo Anran had sought out Zhang Wanqing? “When was this?”

Zhang Wanqing tried to recall. “About a week after I hurt my arm. I don’t remember the exact day. Was she telling the truth?”

“They were together,” Lin Xiaoxiao admitted. “But she married someone else and is now divorced.”

“Oh,” Zhang Wanqing said softly. “Were they very close?”

Not wanting to hide the truth or lie, Lin Xiaoxiao explained their history honestly, letting Zhang Wanqing make her own decision.

Zhang Wanqing listened in surprise, then sighed. “They’ve both been through so much.”

After a moment of silence, she shook her head. “Forget it. I shouldn’t like Zhou Xiaocheng. That Luo Anran has suffered enough. Now that she’s divorced, maybe they can finally be together.”

Lin Xiaoxiao didn’t push further. If Zhou Xiaocheng still had feelings for Luo Anran, Zhang Wanqing would only get hurt. It was better to wait while her feelings were still new. “There’s no rush. You’re still young.”

Zhang Wanqing gave her a strange look. “You’re two months younger than me, and your baby is almost a year old.”

Lin Xiaoxiao smiled wryly. “We marry early in the countryside. It’s different.”

Zhang Wanqing didn’t want to interfere in someone else’s relationship, but emotions aren’t always rational. She couldn’t stop thinking about Zhou Xiaocheng—his gentle smiles, his repeated warnings.

That night, lying in her dorm bed, she replayed the moment he’d lifted her off the ground. The memory kept her awake, staring into the darkness.

As a new boarder, she’d been assigned a top bunk. Her bunkmate, Meng Xiaona, was someone she’d never gotten along with—they rarely spoke.

Both were awake that night. Meng Xiaona was also restless; she and Dai Xueming had officially become a couple that day.

He’d given her a red silk scarf, and they’d shared a kiss.

The memory made her giddy. She was bursting to tell someone and, hearing Zhang Wanqing toss and turn above, decided to climb up.

Zhang Wanqing turned over and nearly jumped at the sight of Meng Xiaona’s face hovering beside her bunk. “What’s wrong with you? Why are you up here?”

Meng Xiaona kept her voice low. “You were moving around. I couldn’t sleep. What’s your excuse?”

“None of your business. Go back to bed.”

Instead, Meng Xiaona grinned. “Zhang Wanqing, have you ever been in love? They say girls from Beijing go after who they like. Is that true?”

Zhang Wanqing’s heart sank. Did she know about Zhou Xiaocheng? But how? He never came to campus. “Go to sleep. I’m tired.”

Meng Xiaona held down her blanket. “Wait—have you ever kissed anyone? What’s it like?”

Zhang Wanqing stared in disbelief. “Meng Xiaona, have you no shame?”

Convinced someone as pretty as Zhang Wanqing must have experience, Meng Xiaona pressed on. “Dai Xueming and I are together now. We kissed today. It’s sweeter than honey. You should try it.”

Horrified by her bluntness, Zhang Wanqing pushed her away. “Get down. I need to sleep.” But as she closed her eyes, Zhou Xiaocheng’s face returned to her mind.

Annoyed, Meng Xiaona climbed down. Zhang Wanqing was no fun.

That night, Zhang Wanqing dreamed of Zhou Xiaocheng. And in her dream, they kissed.

She woke up flushed, moving through her morning routine in a daze. She couldn’t believe her own imagination. How could she have such a shameless dream?

In class, Lin Xiaoxiao noticed her red cheeks and distracted air. “Are you okay? You look feverish.”

“I’m fine,” Zhang Wanqing mumbled. “Just didn’t sleep well.”

“Because of Zhou Xiaocheng?” Lin Xiaoxiao guessed. A crush could easily keep someone up at night.

Zhang Wanqing stayed silent. She could never confess her dream—especially not the part where she’d initiated the kiss.

Watching her blush deepen, Lin Xiaoxiao smiled but didn’t probe further. Some things were better left unspoken.

Zhang Wanqing decided to avoid Zhou Xiaocheng for a while. But life had other plans.

At noon, as she and Lin Xiaoxiao headed to lunch, Zhou Xiaocheng appeared.

Her first instinct was to hide, but he called out, “Zhang Wanqing, wait up.”

Lin Xiaoxiao looked surprised. If Zhou Xiaocheng was here, it was probably related to a case.

Zhang Wanqing stood stiffly beside her friend.

Zhou Xiaocheng frowned slightly. She’d been fine yesterday morning. Why did she seem so reluctant to see him now?