Chapter Forty-Nine: Rock, Paper, Scissors

The third class of the afternoon came to an end.

Lu You quickly tidied up his desk, and with brisk, light steps, headed toward the second floor.

Just as he reached the landing between the two floors, he saw Tang Wan standing by the stairway entrance, looking up at him.

"Why are you waiting for me here?"

Tang Wan did not speak, simply gazing silently at his face.

"Is there something on my face?"

Saying this, Lu You instinctively touched his own cheek.

"No."

Tang Wan withdrew her gaze.

"Really?"

Lu You sensed that her mood was a bit off, but could not figure out the reason.

"Let's go, to the cafeteria."

...

The two got their food and chose a secluded corner.

Lu You sat down by the wall, and Tang Wan immediately took the seat to his right.

Something is definitely up.

Lu You thought to himself secretly. Because usually when they ate together, they sat face-to-face. This time, she deliberately sat side by side—unusual behavior always harbored hidden motives.

However, Lu You did not ask. When Tang Wan wanted to talk, she would naturally speak up; there was no need for excessive speculation. Filling one's stomach was more important for now.

Compared to Lu You, who was happily devouring his meal in large bites, Tang Wan had little appetite. She simply rested her chin on one hand while poking at her rice with the other, her gaze vacant, as if deep in thought.

By the time Lu You had completely cleared his tray, Tang Wan's food remained virtually untouched.

"What's wrong? Is the cafeteria food not to your liking today?"

Tang Wan snapped back to reality, shook her head, and took a symbolic bite.

"No, it's quite good."

"Go ahead, is there something you want to ask me?"

Lu You put down his chopsticks, looked at her, and put on an expression of rapt attention.

Tang Wan lowered her gaze and remained silent for a moment.

"Can I ask you about your personal matters?"

"Go ahead, I don't really have any secrets I can't tell."

Tang Wan gripped her chopsticks with her right hand, unconsciously applying force.

"Who was that girl talking to you today?"

Lu You searched his memory for the events of the day.

"Are you talking about the one on the playground after the grade assembly?"

"Yes."

"Seems her name was Ye Hongshu."

"Hongshu... that's a pretty name."

"Pretty? It's just so-so, not as nice as yours."

The gloom in Tang Wan's heart instantly dissipated quite a bit.

"What does she look like? Is she pretty?"

"Didn't pay attention, forgot. Anyway, she's not as pretty as you."

The knot in Tang Wan's heart completely unraveled, and a curve naturally formed at the corners of her lips.

"Then why did she look for you?"

At that moment, Lu You seemed to remember something.

"If you hadn't mentioned it, I almost forgot. I actually wanted to talk to you about this too. When the grade assembly ended, wasn't I planning to come find you?"

Hearing his words, Tang Wan averted her gaze, clearly looking guilty.

"Is... is that so? How come I didn't see you?"

"Nice try. You definitely saw me, you just didn't wait for me and left anyway for some reason."

"Ahem."

Tang Wan hurriedly coughed twice to change the subject.

"That's not important, let's talk about Ye Hongshu first."

"The situation back then was, I saw you waiting under a tree for me, and just as I started to walk over, she blocked my path and said to me, 'My name is Ye Hongshu, I hope you remember it.'"

"And then?"

Lu You spread his hands.

"That's it!"

Tang Wan found it hard to believe.

"Just that?"

"Just that!"

"That makes no sense. She only said that one sentence to you?"

Tang Wan frowned, falling into self-doubt.

"Hey, stop thinking about her, nothing worth thinking about."

Lu You tapped on her tray to draw her attention back.

"Eat quickly, there's still so much left, it's getting cold."

"Alright."

...

Tang Wan didn't eat like the female protagonists in traditional novels, taking tiny little bites; instead, she valued speed and efficiency.

The habit of seizing every single second to study, retained from her third year of middle school, allowed her to empty her plate in under ten minutes.

The moment Tang Wan put down her chopsticks, Lu You naturally handed over a tissue.

"What are we doing next? Going straight back to the classroom?"

Tang Wan wiped her mouth clean, and Xu Nian's words from the afternoon—"You're not even his girlfriend"—floated into her mind. Thus, she made a bold decision.

"No, let's go for a walk on the playground."

"Now? Go for a walk in the dead of winter?"

"Yes, right in the dead of winter. Working out a bit at this time warms up the body. Any problem?"

As she spoke, Tang Wan even gave Lu You a fierce look, implying that if he dared to refuse, he was dead meat.

Lu You blinked innocently.

"Alright, I'll listen to you in everything."

...

The two arrived beside the plastic runway of the playground.

Surprisingly, quite a few people were out walking and exercising on a winter evening. Both the running track and the nearby open-air basketball court, badminton court, and sandbox were bustling with people.

Seeing this scene, Lu You said in astonishment, "Oh, there's quite a crowd."

Thinking of what she intended to do, Tang Wan cheered herself on inwardly.

*Wanwan, you can do this!*

Then she took a deep breath, turned her head to look at Lu You, and asked, "Do you mind taking a walk with me?"

"Why ask that? Since I agreed to come for a walk with you, naturally I wouldn't mind."

"What if we end up like that study session last Saturday night, spreading rumors?"

When Tang Wan said this, Lu You could clearly see determination in her eyes, along with a trace of hard-to-detect timidity.

"If it's you, I don't mind."

In an instant, Tang Wan's face blossomed into a smile, her eyes narrowing slightly like a crescent moon hanging high in the night sky. The corners of her lips curved charmingly, and two cute little dimples appeared as well.

Her smile struck Lu You's heart like a sudden peal of spring thunder. A seed that had been sown at some unknown moment quietly began to sprout right then and there.

"If you don't mind, let's walk then. Don't just stand there like a fool."

...

Tang Wan walked on Lu You's left side, the two of them side by side on the outer lane of the track. The distance between them was closer than ever before, their hands and shoulders occasionally brushing against each other.

"Lu You, let's play a game."

"Sure, let's hear it."

"We'll play rock-paper-scissors. The winner can ask the loser a question."

This could be considered a good way to understand each other better.

Lu You readily agreed.

"Bring it on."

Round one began.

Both: "Rock, paper, scissors!"

Tang Wan's scissors won.

"Ahem." She cleared her throat and said, "What is something you dislike eating?"

"Um... things that taste bad, and dishes made with weird ingredients."

A neat little wrinkle formed between Tang Wan's smooth brows, somewhat unsatisfied with his answer.

"How is that any different from saying nothing? Can't you be more specific?"

"How should I put it." Lu You gently stroked his lips and asked, "Do you like eating apples?"

"Yes."

"Then what if I put an apple in the microwave and heat it for a few minutes?"

Tang Wan: `(⇀‸↼‶)`

"Consider yourself passing for now. Let's keep going."

Both: "Rock, paper, scissors!"

Tang Wan's scissors won again.

"What do you like doing most in your free time?"

"Looking at black silk stockings!"

Tang Wan's face flushed red once more, and she slapped him on the back.

"Be serious!"

Lu You pointed at his own solemn expression and said, "Do I look like I'm joking?"

*Don't get angry with him, it's not worth it, not worth it.*

Tang Wan took a few deep breaths to calm her emotions.

"Next round."

Both: "Rock, paper, scissors!"

Lu You's rock won.

"Haha, it's my turn to ask now. Classmate Tang Wan, may I ask what your weight is?"

Huh? Just this question?

"You're just going to ask this?"

"Yeah, can't it be said?"

"No, it can. 108 catties."

Lu You took this number, factored in her height and his memory of what she wore in the summer, and reached a conclusion.

Tang Wan's figure was probably somewhat astonishing.

Tang Wan had no idea what was going through his mind.

"Come on, next round."

Both: "Rock, paper, scissors!"

Lu You's paper won.

"Classmate Tang Wan, when is your birthday?"

Fortunately, it was a normal question.

Tang Wan alternately liked and hated him; who knew if he would start talking in code again.

"March 1st, shortly after the next semester starts."

"That's great. We'll be in the same class next year, let's celebrate together."

"Alright, I'll remember that, you're not allowed to go back on your word."

"It's a deal."

Both: "Rock, paper, scissors!"

Tang Wan's rock won.

"What kind of person is your ideal type?"

Lu You looked completely astonished.

"Huh? Going that big?"

"Hmph, who told you to make dirty jokes earlier."

"Clearly your mind is the one in the gutter!" Lu You said with righteous indignation, "Black silk stockings are just completely normal clothing. Only people with impure minds think they're indecent!"

Tang Wan covered her ears and played foul, shouting, "I'm not listening! I'm not listening! Blah blah blah!"

"Then I won't answer either. Unless you acknowledge the respectable status of black silk stockings!"

"Don't answer then! Next round!"

The two started competing fiercely: "Rock, paper, scissors!"

Lu You's scissors won.

"Do you have any allergies, or anything you particularly dislike eating?"

"No allergies. As for things I particularly dislike—well, I guess there aren't any, I'm not a picky eater, as long as it tastes good."

Just like that, they played over a dozen rounds, gaining a fairly deep understanding of each other. Of course, this was only an understanding of hobbies and interests; as for personalities and habits, that would still require time for the two of them to slowly discover.

Both: "Rock, paper, scissors!"

Tang Wan's rock won.

"Last round. I'm asking you seriously, you're not allowed to dodge it." Tang Wan looked into his eyes, her expression serious.

"Alright, I will definitely answer seriously."

"Will you fall in love during high school?"

The two stopped in their tracks simultaneously, gazing quietly at each other.

After quite a while, Lu You finally spoke.

"Whether I fall in love or not has nothing to do with whether I'm in high school. It only depends on whether there is someone I love.

If I fall in love with a certain girl and decide to spend the rest of my life with her, then I will definitely make her my girlfriend."

"Isn't that something you only do when you've decided to get married?"

"For me, the moment I decide to enter a relationship means I am already prepared for marriage."

"Don't you want to have a few more relationships to gain experience?"

Lu You smiled, his gaze turning profound as he locked eyes with Tang Wan.

"The more relationships you have, the more dust covers your heart. So-called experience is nothing more than self-consolation.

Besides, my heart is very small and fragile, big enough to hold only one person, allowing me to only love someone with all my might. If she were to run away, there would be nothing left behind but utter devastation."

Tang Wan felt dazed, and certain words were about to overflow uncontrollably from her heart.

Right at that moment, the bell for half-past six rang out.

Lu You reached out and waved his hand in front of her eyes.

"Stop daydreaming, let's go. It's time for evening self-study."

Then, taking advantage of the night, he grabbed her wrist and led her toward the teaching building.