Chapter 6: Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk

“How could it be you?”

Jiang Yueming asked in astonishment. Hearing this, Xia He looked unhappy.

She puffed out her cheeks and lowered her eyebrows slightly, putting on an angry expression, but it was obviously fake.

“What? You’re not happy that I’m here?”

“It’s not that,” Jiang Yueming scratched his head. “I mean, you’re not even in our class. Why would Old Zhou arrange for you to tutor me?”

Xia He tapped her chin with her fingertip and thought for a moment.

“Maybe because my Chinese score is first in the grade.”

“That impressive?”

Jiang Yueming felt this was a bit of overkill. Did someone at his level really need the top student in the grade to tutor him?

“Ai ya, why so many questions?” Xia He sat down right next to Jiang Yueming as if it were the most natural thing in the world, close enough that their arms nearly touched. “Let’s start the lesson already. I want to go get bubble tea later.”

Jiang Yueming blinked.

“Actually, we don’t have to do this. If you have something else, you can just leave.”

Xia He shot him a glare.

“Are you stupid? I meant I want you to come with me. After bubble tea, we’ll grab some late-night food. Hmm… hotpot sounds good. I haven’t had it in ages.”

Jiang Yueming looked at her matter-of-fact expression and suddenly realized she had no intention of asking for his opinion at all.

“I don’t have any money…”

“Sis will treat you.”

With that, she took his exam paper without waiting for a reply and spread it out on the desk.

“This passage is a segment from Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk…”

Jiang Yueming rested his chin on his hand and listened, his eyes on the paper while Xia He’s gentle voice filled his ears.

But as he listened, a tiny pang of regret rose in his heart.

If it were Wen Xiaoyu sitting here instead, what would it be like?

Would she speak this gently too, or would she be a little colder?

Would she sit this close like Xia He, or would she keep her distance, pointing at the paper with a blank face and saying, ‘You got this question wrong’?

It would probably be the latter.

He secretly pictured the scene—Wen Xiaoyu sitting beside him, her two braided pigtails resting on her shoulders, expression calm and indifferent. She would glance at him occasionally, then quickly look away.

Hmm.

That wouldn’t be bad either.

“…Did you understand?”

Xia He’s voice suddenly stopped. Jiang Yueming snapped back to reality.

“Uh… yeah, I got it,” he said guiltily.

He hadn’t understood a single word.

“Pay attention!”

After the scolding, Jiang Yueming stopped letting his mind wander and focused on the questions.

Gradually, however, he began to feel uncomfortable.

He looked up and realized Xia He was sitting far too close—her hair was practically brushing against his face.

From a distance, the two of them would look like they were embracing.

Wait, is it really necessary to lean in this close just to explain a question?

His body stiffened slightly. Xia He didn’t seem to notice and continued explaining the paper with full concentration.

Her upper body leaned forward unconsciously. As the explanation deepened, the faint, pleasant scent around her grew stronger. It wasn’t perfume—it was her natural body fragrance.

The aroma was like an orchid blooming in a quiet bamboo grove: intimate and alluring.

Jiang Yueming slowed his breathing and subtly leaned back, creating a little space. Having her scent fill his nose made him feel like some kind of pervert sneaking a whiff of someone else’s fragrance.

“Here it uses parallel structure, so according to the question…”

Xia He was completely focused. The small breathing room he had just created was immediately closed as she leaned in again.

Her slender fingers occasionally brushed the back of his hand, sending an itchy feeling across his skin.

Even through two layers of fabric he could feel the soft warmth of her shoulder and body heat. As she drew closer, her voice seemed to whisper right beside his ear.

Jiang Yueming awkwardly pulled back again, but it was useless. Half his butt was already hanging off the chair, with only the other half still on the seat.

Come on… you’re practically sitting on my chair…

“Cough, cough…” Jiang Yueming cleared his throat. “Wait a second. The teacher explained this differently. Look at my deskmate’s paper—he got full points on this question.”

He pointed at the desk drawer behind Xia He. While she turned her head, he quietly slid his chair away.

“I’m first in the grade. I got full marks on this question.” Xia He glanced at it and turned back.

“Mm-hmm,” Jiang Yueming said, now safely back in his seat and no longer doing the splits. “Then please continue.”

Xia He gave him a strange look, then glanced down at the new distance between them. She stayed silent for a few seconds.

“What’s wrong?”

“…Nothing.”

Her tone sounded a little unhappy. Jiang Yueming wondered if she was upset because he had questioned the top student’s ability.

In that case, I’ll just agree with whatever she says next.

With that thought, he refocused on the questions.

Xia He watched him for a moment, then started explaining again. But that same scent still lingered in the air. The classroom was completely empty—why did Jiang Yueming still feel so crowded?

A few minutes later, the corner of Jiang Yueming’s eye twitched. He couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Wait… Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk is about romance?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Xia He nodded as if it were obvious. Jiang Yueming looked utterly incredulous.

“Huh? No, take another look?”

“That’s right. It tells us to cherish hard-won emotions and not let certain things become mere memories.”

Xia He wore an innocent expression, but there was clearly something behind her words.

Jiang Yueming was completely lost. Did Lu Xun even think that when he wrote it?

“But… isn’t this about his childhood?”

“Pretty much the same thing.”

Jiang Yueming seriously began to doubt her Chinese level. If she handed in an answer like that, the teacher would probably call her to the office to question whether she was even human.

Is that really how you interpret it?!

He felt the tutoring session should end here. If they kept going, his Chinese grades would truly be beyond saving.

Xia He saw his dazed look and burst out laughing.

“Ai ya, I was just teasing you.”

Jiang Yueming paused.

“I wanted to see if you’d push back,” Xia He said, resting her cheek on her hand as she looked at him. “You kept nodding and agreeing with everything I said. I thought you’d just keep going ‘mm-hmm’ forever.”

Jiang Yueming opened his mouth, unsure what to say. Xia He smiled even brighter.

“So you do push back after all.”

“Of course. I’m not an idiot.”

“I know you’re not,” Xia He’s voice suddenly softened. “I thought you… didn’t want to talk to me.”

Xia He’s gaze lowered. Her long lashes fluttered with each blink, and her whole demeanor turned dejected in an instant.

The mood shift happened so quickly that Jiang Yueming didn’t know how to react.

He instinctively comforted her. “No, I just… I’m not very good with words.”

Xia He kept her head slightly lowered, but her eyes lifted to look at him from that upward angle. For some reason, the image felt strangely familiar to Jiang Yueming.

A long, long time ago—somewhere in an uncountable river of time—this exact scene seemed to have played out once before.

Looking into those eyes, a strange feeling surged in his heart. It was like he had forgotten something very important, or remembered something he shouldn’t have.

Hiss… my head is starting to hurt again.

What’s going on? My condition lately feels off.

“Are you okay?”

Xia He’s voice suddenly drew closer. Jiang Yueming opened his eyes to find her flawless face right in front of him, full of concern.

Then her hand reached out and touched his cheek. The warm palm pressed against his skin, and Jiang Yueming’s entire body stiffened.

“I-I’m fine.”

“Your face doesn’t look good…”

“Just a little dizzy. I’ll be okay in a minute.”

“Really…”

A moment later, Jiang Yueming pulled back. Xia He’s hand slipped from his face.

“Let’s stop here for today and head home.”

“Alright.”

Xia He stared at her now-empty hand.

“I’ll walk you back.”