You really dislike me.

Jiang Ci gradually grew accustomed to her life after rebirth. Almost every day, after spending time with her grandmother, she would go to work at the convenience store.

Gao Wanqing was aware of Jiang Ci’s family situation. Sympathetic to her, she still gave Jiang Ci the best treatment possible.

Not long after returning home from the convenience store, Jiang Ci couldn’t bear the sticky feeling on her skin and went to take a shower.

When she finished, her grandmother happened to come out of the kitchen carrying a meal. Seeing Jiang Ci’s hair still wet and dripping, she frowned slightly. “Ci, go dry your hair before eating. You might catch a cold.”

Jiang Ci replied with a “Okay,” went back to her room, dried her hair, and then came out.

After dinner, Jiang Ci washed the dishes and glanced at her grandmother, who was reading the newspaper in the living room. A faint smile curved her lips.

“Ci, is school starting in a couple of days?” her grandmother suddenly put down the paper and looked at her.

Jiang Ci nodded. “Yes, Grandma. I might come home late then. I’m worried about you being alone…”

“Oh, don’t worry about this old lady. Just focus on your studies. Grandma’s here!” Her grandmother patted her hand. “Has your mother sent you the tuition money yet?”

Jiang Ci pursed her lips. “Grandma, I can handle the tuition myself. I have a part-time job at Aunt Gao’s, and I’m just about to get paid these days.”

“You can wait, but can the school wait on tuition?” Her grandmother sighed. “Ci, I don’t have much to give you, but I’ve saved some money over the years. Take it.”

She pulled out a small, patched-up cloth pouch from her pocket. Inside were many coins and a few hundred-yuan bills.

Jiang Ci looked at her grandmother carefully taking out her pension book. Her nose tingled, and tears welled up. “Grandma, I know you care for me, and I don’t need that much tuition. Please keep the money for yourself…”

“Ci, Grandma’s old now and doesn’t need it. You take it.” Her grandmother hugged Jiang Ci and sat on the balcony, watching the nightfall. “Your mother owes you a lot. As her mother, I’m responsible for taking care of you. Grandma’s sorry, Ci.”

Jiang Ci held back tears, leaning on her grandmother’s shoulder. Together, they watched the stars begin to shine, her heart feeling as if countless ants were gnawing at it.

“Grandma, you haven’t wronged me. You’re my only family now,” Jiang Ci said softly. “As long as you stay healthy and watch me grow into an adult, that’s enough.”

The next afternoon, Jiang Ci arrived at Gao Wanqing’s convenience store as usual.

Gao Wanqing waved her in immediately, suddenly remembering that Jiang Ci was preparing for her final year of high school. “Ci, is your senior year starting in a few days?”

“Yes, Aunt Gao.”

Jiang Ci was restocking drinks in the freezer when Gao Wanqing said, “Oh, I should pay your wages early since you’ll need tuition money.”

“Thank you, Aunt Gao,” Jiang Ci whispered gratefully.

“Will you still be able to help at the store after school starts? Senior year is intense…”

Jiang Ci thought for a moment. If her school schedule conflicted, she probably couldn’t come. “Aunt Gao, I’ll finish my work in two days.”

Gao Wanqing felt a bit regretful. Jiang Ci was such a good, diligent kid—rare to find. But studies came first. “Alright, if you have free time, just let me know, and I’ll call you to help.”

“Got it. Thanks, Aunt Gao.”

Just as Jiang Ci finished speaking, the door chimed with a mechanical tone.

“Welcome.”

Jiang Ci, still arranging drinks, looked up toward the entrance. A silhouette stepped in against the light.

The boy stopped beside her. His familiar aura swept over her. He wore a simple black T-shirt; his skin was pale and cold. His profile was sharp, eyelashes casting shadows, exuding an air that warned strangers to keep their distance.

Jiang Ci tilted her head to look at him, heart skipping a beat. Her lips parted slightly. She froze.

Zhang Heyu.

“Excuse me,” Zhang Heyu said, holding the freezer door open for her. His gaze was lazy, exuding a carefree air.

Jiang Ci was stunned, her hazel eyes fixed intently on him. She clenched the drink in her hand tighter.

“Hmm.”

Seeing no reaction, Zhang Heyu’s lips curved into a faint, teasing smile. Only then did Jiang Ci step aside to make room.

Did he just smile?

Jiang Ci swallowed silently, feeling her cheeks flush.

Zhang Heyu scanned the drinks inside the freezer, hesitating slightly. Jiang Ci looked at him suddenly remembering something. “Wait!”

He said nothing but watched with interest as she turned to the other freezer.

Twenty seconds later, Jiang Ci returned, holding a pale blue drink.

“I haven’t restocked Gatorade yet, but I left one inside.”

Zhang Heyu was momentarily surprised, sensing something. His eyebrows lifted, loose strands of hair fell over his forehead, adding to his youthful charm.

“Do you know each other?”

Jiang Ci stiffened, her hand frozen mid-air as she offered the drink. Her throat tightened, words stuck.

The silence lasted a minute.

Suddenly, Zhang Heyu’s phone rang unexpectedly from his pocket. He took the drink from her hand, nodding. “Sorry.”

He pulled out his phone and answered.

“Hey, Yu Ge, can you hurry up? We’re waiting at the court!” Ho Chen Si’s teasing voice came through. “Your wife came too, said she’s here to watch you play.”

Jiang Ci heard every word clearly. Her heart felt squeezed painfully.

After the call, Zhang Heyu said nothing, politely letting Ho Chen Si finish before hanging up.

“How much?” Ho Chen Si opened his phone’s QR code, glancing indifferently at Jiang Ci.

Snapping back to reality, Jiang Ci walked to the register, voice faint, “Five yuan.”

“Mm.” Zhang Heyu brought the QR code closer to her. Suddenly, he asked, “Have we met before?”

Jiang Ci gasped softly, heart pounding. “…No, I don’t think so.”

Zhang Heyu nodded, grabbed the Gatorade, and headed out.

After he left, Jiang Ci felt her legs weaken.

How pathetic, she thought.

* * *

As usual, the senior year at Nancheng No. 3 High School started about half a month earlier than the lower grades. The day after senior year began, there was a class placement exam.

Jiang Ci had taken liberal arts in her first year, but teachers soon realized she excelled more in science subjects. She changed her course selection late, so when classes were divided in the second year, she ended up in a lower-ranked science class.

Nancheng No. 3 emphasized academic excellence in all areas—morality, intellect, physical education, arts, and labor. Under such a school culture, good students far outnumbered the rest.

The night before school started, Jiang Ci’s grandmother was already asleep. Jiang Ci returned to her room, picked up the textbooks on her desk, turned on the lamp, and began reading slowly.

Her grades were not bad. It was not just her tireless effort but a belief that motivated her.

That belief was Zhang Heyu.

Zhang Heyu was one of the top students at Nancheng No. 3, consistently ranking first in the grade. Though he usually appeared indifferent, Jiang Ci knew very well that his grades were his pride.

He stood at the summit, overlooking the most beautiful mountains and rivers in the world.

Jiang Ci wanted to see the same sky, the same sea, the same mountains, the same rivers as him.

She was fortunate to have met Zhang Heyu.

* * *

The next morning, Jiang Ci made a simple breakfast and kept the rest warm so her grandmother could have hot porridge when she woke.

Since she wouldn’t be home for lunch, Jiang Ci had already arranged with their neighbor, Aunt Hu, to keep an eye on her grandmother.

In mid-August, the campus was lush with thick branches and fragrant osmanthus blossoms.

“Ci Ci, long time no see!” Yu Xijin greeted Jiang Ci from her seat.

Jiang Ci smiled faintly and sat down. “Indeed, it’s been a while.”

“Quick, quick!” Yu Xijin’s desk was a mess, covered with test papers. “Ci Ci, lend me your math homework to copy!”

“You didn’t do it again?” Jiang Ci saw her friend’s flustered expression and quickly handed over the holiday math papers.

Yu Xijin scribbled without pausing. “Don’t mention it. I could have finished last night, but the drama was too good—I forgot.”

Jiang Ci shook her head. “One second of sympathy.”

“Ah! There’s so much…” Yu Xijin looked helpless. “We have the placement exam soon. Save me, please!”

Before returning to class, Jiang Ci checked the exam schedule: Chinese first, math in the afternoon, English the next morning, and science in the afternoon.

“Students, please begin organizing the exam rooms. Everyone should be in their exam room before nine.”

After hearing this, Yu Xijin reluctantly packed up her holiday assignments.

“Ci Ci, which exam room are you in?” she asked.

“Class Seven. You?”

“Class Six, next door. Let’s go together later.”

Jiang Ci packed some pens and nodded.

In the hallway outside Classroom Seven, Jiang Ci studied classic essay material for Chinese.

Suddenly, Yu Xijin nudged her. “Ci Ci, the top student in grade two is in this room too!”

Jiang Ci looked up and saw Zhang Heyu standing amid a crowd.

Besides familiar faces like Ho Chen Si and Fan Mian, there was a girl standing next to him.

“Of course, it’s Zhang Heyu. That girl next to him must be the campus beauty,” Yu Xijin sighed. “Dating Zhang Heyu, that’s bragging rights for a while.”

Jiang Ci listened quietly, lips pressed tight, saying nothing.

No matter how many girlfriends he had, Jiang Ci knew it would never be her.

“Zhang Heyu’s girlfriends are always beautiful, but something always feels missing,” Yu Xijin said, glancing at Jiang Ci.

Jiang Ci was puzzled by her trailing off and looked up. “Missing something?”

“I got it.” Yu Xijin stared at Jiang Ci for a moment. “Missing that cool, resilient spirit you have.”

Jiang Ci was speechless.

The exam bell rang.

Jiang Ci left her notebook outside and turned to enter the classroom, only to find the doorway completely blocked.

The queue moved slowly. Suddenly, the person in front unexpectedly stepped back a few paces. Before Jiang Ci could react, she was pushed backward.

She stumbled, taking two steps back, and her head struck something hard.

“Ouch—”

A sharp pain throbbed in her head. Dazed, she steadied herself but accidentally got stepped on.

“Classmate, do you dislike me?”

A low, slightly annoyed voice came beside her. Jiang Ci tensed and looked up sharply. Her pupils contracted.

Zhang Heyu.

Her mind scrambled. Flustered, she raised her hand and awkwardly placed it on his firm chest.

“Sorry, sorry, I didn’t mean to. I didn’t know…”

Zhang Heyu frowned and caught her hand, which was wandering over him. “You’ve practically touched me all over—how do you expect to apologize?”

Jiang Ci’s eyes reddened. Her hazel eyes shimmered with tears. “I really didn’t mean to…”