Chapter 2: Shen Xiyan, I like you

“Shen Xiyan! Shen Xiyan!”

Half-asleep, Shen Xiyan was shaken awake by someone grabbing his shoulders.

The last memory in his mind was of a flash of light and a smear of blood.

Blood?

Oh no!

“Qin… what Qin?”

The speaker was a girl around sixteen or seventeen.

She had her long hair tied back, wore light makeup, a white short-sleeved shirt with one button undone at the collar revealing her collarbone, cropped pants, and beige casual shoes.

Due to the hot weather, her face was tinged with a light blush.

She had a straight nose, rosy lips, fair jawline, and bright, clear eyes under long lashes.

Her smooth hair fell naturally to her shoulders.

At that moment, she was standing gracefully in front of his desk, lowering her head to look straight at him.

“…Lin… Lin Ci?!”

“What’s that expression? Do I have something on my face?”

Lin Ci took out a mirror and checked both sides of her face.

Shen Xiyan’s eyes widened as he began observing his surroundings.

In front of him was an empty classroom, in his ears the noisy cicadas chirped, above him was an old electric fan, and below were not-so-clean sneakers…

Everything felt familiar yet foreign.

In the upper right corner of the desk, someone had messily scribbled the word “morning,” which he couldn’t help but touch with his hand.

He quickly flipped open the book in front of him…

[Class – Year One, Shen Xiyan]

Impossible.

A cold shiver ran down Shen Xiyan’s spine.

He snatched the mirror from Lin Ci’s hand.

In a moment of confused reflection, he began to truly doubt reality.

Did I time-travel?!

His eyes were filled with indescribable shock.

He dashed out of the classroom, leaned over the corridor railing, and was instantly overwhelmed by a torrent of memories.

Yes!

This time—first year of high school—was just about to end.

At this time, he hadn’t yet met Qin Sheng.

Right now, everything was still possible to change.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Lin Ci, carrying Shen Xiyan’s school bag, followed him and poked his shoulder twice, timidly.

When Shen Xiyan first opened his eyes, his pupils were unfocused and hollow—no vitality.

Even though people are usually dazed when they wake up… where did that fear come from?

Hearing Lin Ci’s voice, Shen Xiyan turned and looked at her.

It was like he was suddenly waking up from a dream.

In that moment, he doubted if he was really dreaming.

If it were a dream, pinching should wake him up, right?

So, he cupped Lin Ci’s cheeks, pinched her soft white skin, and pulled hard:

“Does this hurt?”

“???”

Lin Ci was stunned.

She never expected Shen Xiyan to do something so “outrageous” at school.

Classmates nearby all turned to stare.

Embarrassed and angry, Lin Ci pushed him away and scolded:

“What are you doing?! What if the teacher sees?”

“As I thought, it doesn’t hurt.” Shen Xiyan gave a bitter smile.

After hope comes deep despair…

What is this?

Did I become a vegetable?

Is this a lucid dream?

Why does it feel so real?

Should I buy a spinning top or something?

(T/N: Possibly referencing the movie Inception)

Lin Ci was furious.

She had originally intended to let it slide if Shen Xiyan just apologized.

But when she saw he was pretending nothing happened first, she felt even more wronged.

You touched my face, and that’s your reaction?!

So she bit his arm hard, leaving a deep tooth mark.

“Try if this hurts!”

“Ahhh!! It hurts! It really hurts!!!”

“…Hmm?”

Lin Ci looked at the bite mark on his arm, feeling a bit guilty—it was so deep, it might leave a scar.

But Shen Xiyan didn’t care.

He suddenly realized—

This isn’t a dream!

Did I really travel back in time?!

“Aren’t you a little confused from sleeping? Hurry home—didn’t your aunt say she’s coming back today?”

Lin Ci shoved his school bag into his arms and pulled him toward the school gate.

On the way, Lin Ci talked a lot, but Shen Xiyan barely responded.

He was trying to adapt—to the version of himself from ten years ago, and to Lin Ci from ten years ago.

Lin Ci was his neighbor.

They grew up together—childhood friends, at best.

But after he started dating Qin Sheng, he couldn’t even tolerate talking to other girls, let alone Lin Ci.

In the second half of high school, Shen Xiyan and Qin Sheng moved to the liberal arts stream, while Lin Ci stayed in the science stream, and they gradually drifted apart.

Later, he heard Lin Ci had gone abroad for college, but because Qin Sheng constantly checked his phone, they eventually lost contact.

The last time they met was shortly before the car accident.

They bumped into each other on the street, exchanged updates…

Qin Sheng saw them, got jealous, and when she found out Lin Ci was still single, she said some harsh things.

That was also when Lin Ci said she liked women.

But Qin Sheng didn’t believe it.

As for his aunt…

Shen Xiyan lost both parents when he was young and was left with a younger sister.

Their relatives avoided them like the plague—only his aunt took pity and adopted them.

Unfortunately, during college, she was diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer, caused by long-term overwork and irregular routines just to provide for the family.

“Wait—you said Aunt is coming back today?”

“Are you really that out of it? Weren’t you the one who told me that?”

Lin Ci paused and reached out to touch Shen Xiyan’s forehead.

Shen Xiyan: I’m doomed!

This was the exact day he had met Qin Sheng.

Now that he had a second chance, there was no reason to get involved again.

If he could just avoid today, the future could change.

“How about we leave through the back gate?”

“Why? The back gate’s so far!”

“Let’s just take a walk…”

“You’re acting really weird today.”

Lin Ci gave him a suspicious look, but still obediently turned around.

Sometimes walking together was nice.

When his aunt wasn’t home, Shen Xiyan had to go home and take care of his sister—it was exhausting.

He let out a long sigh and looked in the direction of the school gate, steeling his resolve.

But in the next moment, his pupils shrank, and even the murmurs around him went silent for a second.

“Hey! Is that Qin Sheng?”

“She’s pretty, right?”

“Mhm.”

“She’s an art student… You only see her once a month. Today’s our lucky day.”

Qin Sheng was indeed a beautiful girl. Shen Xiyan knew that from the very first moment he saw her.

Especially those long, slender, snow-white legs—both in line and proportion, nearly perfect, glowing with a warm ivory sheen.

Their eyes met unexpectedly.

Strangely, Shen Xiyan felt like she’d been waiting for him—

Just a moment ago, she had been looking around in the crowd, then locked eyes with him.

Her eyes widened slightly, and then her pale face bloomed into a smile—genuine, from deep within.

How?

She was supposed to have already left school by now!

Lost in thought, Qin Sheng walked closer—until only a foot stood between them.

She looked up seriously, gazing at his eyes, nose, lips, and chin…

The setting sun shone on her face as she tilted her head slightly and smiled sweetly, eyes curving like crescent moons.

“Classmate, are you Shen Xiyan?”

Qin Sheng’s voice was soft and gentle, like a kitten.

Shen Xiyan’s heart, which had only just calmed, suddenly raced again uncontrollably.

Yes!

This was the girl who had made him fall in love at first sight, the one he had been deeply addicted to.

Looking at her now, Shen Xiyan couldn’t even distinguish past from present anymore.

“My name is Qin Sheng.”

She looked at him with a radiant smile.

“I like you. Please be my boyfriend.”

“???”

Lin Ci’s eyes went wide like thunder had struck her.

Then, the next moment—

Qin Sheng stood on tiptoes and, in front of everyone, slithered up to Shen Xiyan like a snake, wrapped her arms around his neck, and stared deeply into his eyes.

A light lily scent wafted into his nose, making him twitch slightly.

Then, with eyes gently closed and body leaning forward, her soft red lips landed on his—like a delicate, fragrant petal.

To the overwhelmed Shen Xiyan, this sudden softness and warmth felt like an illusion that made him forget everything.

But after a few seconds of entanglement, Shen Xiyan snapped back to his senses and forcefully pushed her away.

Qin Sheng was pushed back a meter away, her hair in disarray, her face flushed, but the look in her eyes was not of desire, but of deep despair.

Her lips were bloodied, and she laughed and cried at once.

“Psycho!”

Shen Xiyan ran away in panic—

Afraid that if he stayed any longer, he might do something reckless.