At 6:00 AM, Gu Yu woke up naturally. His internal clock was remarkably precise; regardless of how late he went to bed the night before, he would always wake up at this time.
The faint morning light pierced through the old plane tree outside the window, filtering into the room in shades of murky yellow as dust motes danced within the beams of light.
Rubbing his bleary eyes, Gu Yu felt the autumn chill threatening him from outside his warm blankets. Enduring the cold, he forced himself out of bed and headed to the bathroom to wash up.
The cracked glass mirror showed its age, reflecting Gu Yu’s face after he had splashed it with cold water. He looked handsome and upright, elegant and refined.
However, he also clearly showed a paleness and thinness that suggested malnutrition.
After finishing his morning routine, he got dressed, grabbed his schoolbag, and stuffed two bags of bread into his pocket.
There was no time to wait in the long lines at the breakfast shops in the morning, and the bread was both cheap and filling. It had become Gu Yu’s go-to choice for breakfast.
Several students in school uniforms and office workers with bags were standing at the bus shelter. Gu Yu stepped inside and joined the line, listening to the noisy blend of engines and voices while bicycles and morning joggers flashed past him.
The bus arrived on time, coming to a steady stop at the station with the sound of a chime.
He boarded, dropped his coin, and entered the sea of commuters and students that packed the carriage. Every inch of space was occupied. Gu Yu squeezed inside, watching through the scratched window as the familiar stationery stores and food stalls quickly receded into the distance.
He held onto the handrail hanging from the crossbar to steady himself, swaying slightly with the bumps of the road amidst the crowd.
Passengers got on and off, the crowd thinning only to grow again. Gu Yu was pushed further inside and accidentally stepped on someone.
A pair of snow-white sneakers was now stained with grey. A girl in a school uniform looked at him with a hint of irritation, her large eyes filled with a mix of helplessness and dissatisfaction.
“Gu Yu, this is the fifth time you’ve stepped on my shoes this month. You aren’t doing this on purpose, are you? Are my feet so soft that you’ve become addicted to stepping on them?”
“Sorry, Class Monitor, I didn’t do it on purpose. I was just pushed over and didn’t see… want to step on mine back?”
Gu Yu apologized to He Yu and scratched his head, feeling quite embarrassed.
They took the same bus route and headed to school at nearly the same time, so they often met on the bus. Gu Yu also often… stepped on He Yu.
He Yu was a girl who loved cleanliness. Her uniform and shoes were always washed spotlessly, and much like her fair, pretty face, she possessed the pure beauty of a teenage girl.
“Forget it, I’m not that unreasonable.” He Yu wasn’t truly angry, and her tone softened as she teased him. “Why aren’t you with your School Beauty girlfriend? Did you get dumped?”
“Luo Ming doesn’t take the same bus as me. Haven’t you never run into her here either?” Gu Yu explained, “Class Monitor, surely you don’t believe those messy rumors, too? Just because Luo Ming gave me a bottle of water, you guys managed to brainstorm an entire romance novel?”
“Just kidding. Most people are just saying it for fun. After all, Luo Ming has never taken the initiative to interact with any boys before.”
“Rumors like that are quite rude. I don’t really care, but it’s not good for Luo Ming.”
He Yu didn’t push the subject further. Her gaze lingered on Gu Yu’s face, noticing the faint dark circles around his eyes. “Were you too excited after winning the match yesterday to sleep? Those dark circles look like you’ve applied eyeshadow.”
“Insomnia. I was tired but couldn’t drift off. Maybe it’s because I was missing the sound of the English Teacher lecturing. I sleep exceptionally well in her class.”
“Then you can call the English Teacher at night and have her lecture you to sleep.” He Yu joked with Gu Yu, kicking the sole of his shoe. “But the English Teacher might think you’re making fun of her. You could call me instead. If you beg me, I might consider lecturing you.”
“I’d rather listen to Luo Ming’s bedtime stories then. She doesn’t even make me beg,” Gu Yu said lazily.
“Bedtime stories?” He Yu was puzzled, her tone turning serious.
“Forget I said anything; she was just joking, too.”
“But I’m not. If you called and begged me, I really might reluctantly consider telling you some.”
He Yu continued to make playful jokes in her carefree manner, being completely different from Luo Ming. “Teacher He’s Night Lesson isn’t something just anyone can enjoy.”
“Sounds like I have quite a bit of prestige then.”
“Interested?”
“No.”
Gu Yu’s decisive refusal caught He Yu off guard. She turned her head away huffily, her ponytail swinging up and brushing against his face.
“Listen or don’t, see if I care.”
The route they had taken countless times reached their stop. The gates of Jinhe High School grew closer as students in groups of three or five rushed inside.
The bus stopped at the sign a few dozen meters from the school gate. He Yu stepped off first, and Gu Yu followed after the other students had disembarked.
He Yu was waiting for him. Gu Yu walked over and felt his shallow pockets, only to find them empty.
“What is it? Did you lose something?”
“Yeah, my breakfast.”
Gu Yu looked back at the departing bus. The bread he couldn’t find was already far away.
“Next time, remember to wear clothes with zippered pockets.”
He Yu tugged at Gu Yu’s arm and held out her hand, offering him a white plastic bag containing two buns.
Gu Yu froze and didn’t take them. He rubbed his palms against his pants, hesitating, as he didn’t want to accept a favor for nothing.
“I’ve already eaten. My mom forced these on me… It’s a waste if you don’t take them.” He Yu grabbed Gu Yu’s hand and forced them into his grasp.
The girl’s hand was cool and smooth, her fingers snowy-white and slender. Touching Gu Yu’s skin sent a jolt through him like an electric shock, leaving him somewhat flustered.
A faint blush appeared on He Yu’s face as she tapped the ground with her toe. “If you really feel bad about it, you can pay me back next time. Whatever.”
“Thanks.”
Gu Yu thanked her, pulled out a still-warm bun from the plastic bag, and took a bite.
The filling, a perfect blend of lean and fatty meat, oozed golden oil. It tasted delicious. Gu Yu hadn’t eaten something like this in a long time; he was stingily frugal with himself, and he had forgotten the last time he’d had a proper breakfast.
“Let’s go. We don’t have much time left. Don’t be late.”
“Okay,” Gu Yu replied, his voice muffled as he ate.
Gu Yu was wolfing it down, looking quite unrefined and speaking unclearly.
More and more students were arriving for school, walking through the gates in succession. Occasionally, He Yu’s acquaintances and friends would pass by, greeting her and laughing.
They naturally chatted about various things, from funny incidents on the bus to the plot of the TV drama that updated last night. Laughter filled the air, and occasionally, someone would offer a morning greeting to Gu Yu as well.
Gu Yu slowed his pace, giving them space to play around while he finished the breakfast He Yu had provided. He watched them huddle together as they entered the school and parted ways in front of the teaching building.
The friends were from different classes, leaving He Yu alone again. She turned her head and saw that Gu Yu had finished the buns and was currently drinking water.
He choked, spraying water everywhere and wetting his clothes. Gu Yu hurriedly screwed the cap back on and clumsily wiped himself with a tissue.
He Yu smiled sweetly with a hint of mockery, but more than that…
‘This guy is such a dork.’
She turned back around and walked into the noisy classroom.
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