Thirteen Wonders (ShíSānYāo) : Chapter 4 - East Wind, South Wind
Chapter 4: East Wind, South Wind
The gossip about Chen Xuze was still a hot topic. The next day, Class 7 had a pop quiz. Zhou Yao, new to the class and still unfamiliar with most of her classmates, found herself thrust into the class ranking competition.
This type of quiz was graded quickly, and the results were out before lunch.
Unexpectedly—or perhaps unsurprisingly—Zhou Yao claimed first place in the class rankings. When the homeroom teacher compared her score with past year-wide results, it was clear her performance firmly placed her among the top five in the grade. Beaming with delight, the teacher's attitude toward her grew even more amiable.
At the school convenience store, Deng Jiayu and her group were buying drinks as dust swirled on the distant sports field.
“Did you hear? That new transfer, Zhou Yao, got first place in her class on the placement test.”
“That ‘Coke’ girl? The one who's been hanging out with Chen Xuze's group since she got here?”
“Yeah, looks like a total bookworm. Figures.”
“......”
Among those paying attention, news spread quickly. Someone brought up Zhou Yao as a topic of conversation, and soon she became the subject of gossip.
Deng Jiayu frowned, her impatience and disdain evident. “So what if she got first on some pop quiz?”
Despite her dismissive words, a trace of jealousy seeped into her tone. Deng Jiayu didn’t care about academics, but Chen Xuze was a genius, consistently among the top three on the school's honor roll without appearing to put in much effort.
The idea that Zhou Yao, another top student, somehow shared a connection with Chen Xuze—one she herself couldn’t reach—made Deng Jiayu increasingly uncomfortable.
One of the girls beside her, oblivious to Deng Jiayu’s irritation, continued chatting. “I heard Zhou Yao was always number one at her old school. If she’s that good, she’d probably rank first here too.”
“Who said that?” another chimed in. “Isn't there that girl who's always first on the honor roll? She’s pretty impressive too. She's been sent to compete in tournaments. If you put the two together, it's not certain who’s better.”
This year, the school had high ambitions. The honor roll's top student had recently been sent to represent the school in competitions, with the prospect of direct admission to her dream university.
Then there was Chen Xuze, who already held a guaranteed admission spot. Whether he took the college entrance exam was entirely up to him.
Now, Zhou Yao had joined the fray. Word had it that among students from the city's top schools, Zhou Yao—formerly of No. 5 High School—was considered the fiercest competitor against No. 7 High School’s top talents. By bringing her in, the school clearly hoped this year's cohort could produce a city-level top scorer in the college entrance exams.
As the girls prattled on about who was more capable, Deng Jiayu grew increasingly annoyed. Finally, she snapped, “Enough already! Who cares who’s better? They’re both insufferable. Why are you all making such a fuss?”
“......”
The group fell silent, sensing her displeasure.
One girl tugged on Deng Jiayu’s sleeve cautiously and whispered, “Jiayu, um, I heard Chen Xuze and his group are eating in the cafeteria at lunch today.”
Deng Jiayu’s eyes lit up. “How do you know?”
“I overheard Jiang Jiashu talking about it outside their classroom.”
A smile spread across Deng Jiayu’s face. “In that case, let’s eat at the cafeteria today too!”
……
Chen Xuze and Jiang Jiashu were sitting with their group in the right section of the cafeteria, at the sixth row by the wall.
The moment Deng Jiayu entered, she scanned the area, her gaze locked onto their table. After getting her food, she barely set her tray down before grabbing a side dish and heading over.
“Chen Xuze—”
Her voice carried a sugary tone, and she couldn’t suppress the smile on her face. Placing the dish in front of him, she said, “Try this. It’s really good.”
Chen Xuze didn’t even lift his head, focused on picking at his rice.
Jiang Jiashu glanced at Deng Jiayu, rolled his eyes discreetly, and buried his head in his meal, pretending not to hear her.
The entire table ignored her, leaving Deng Jiayu standing awkwardly. Unused to being treated this way, she grew upset. Frustrated, she reached out to tug on Chen Xuze’s sleeve. “Chen—”
Before she could touch him, he shifted his arm, avoiding her hand.
Many in the cafeteria noticed the commotion, but out of fear of Deng Jiayu's ‘reputation,’ no one dared to openly watch. Still, glances were discreetly cast in their direction.
Deng Jiayu's face flushed with embarrassment. Glaring at Chen Xuze, she seethed, “Do you have to be like this, Chen Xuze? You—”
“If you have nothing to say, leave. Don’t interrupt our meal.” Chen Xuze still didn’t look at her. His gaze swept over the dish she had placed down, and he added coldly, “Take your trash with you, or throw it in the bin.”
Deng Jiayu’s face turned beet red. Humiliated, she snatched the dish and stormed back to her seat.
It wasn’t the first time Chen Xuze had snubbed her, but the rejection seemed harsher with each encounter. Perhaps she thought their ‘near-kiss’ had somehow improved their relationship. Jiang Jiashu, watching her retreat, couldn’t help smirking at her expense.
Feeling cheerful, Jiang Jiashu picked up a piece of sweet-and-sour pork and took a bite. The tangy flavor made him wince, and he pushed the plate aside. He then shoved the whole dish toward Chen Xuze.
“Dammit, it’s sweet and sour! I can’t eat this. You take it.”
Chen Xuze barely lifted his eyelids. Without even glancing at the plate, he pushed it back. His tone was flat and emotionless. “I don’t eat things other people have touched.”
“…” Jiang Jiashu sighed. “I forgot about your obsessive cleanliness. Fine.” He shook his head and shoved the dish toward another boy.
Zhou Yao arrived late. When Jiang Jiashu saw her figure at the cafeteria entrance, he quickly waved his hand. Zhou Yao noticed and walked over briskly.
She sat down beside Chen Xuze. Jiang Jiashu pushed an untouched meal tray in front of her. “I got this for you,” he said.
“Thanks.”
As Zhou Yao picked up her chopsticks, Jiang Jiashu started joking while eating, “Hey, Zhou Yao, you came late and missed some drama. Just now, someone brought Xuze food—one of those girls chasing him like crazy—but Xuze scared her off with just a cold glare!”
Zhou Yao slowly turned her head to look at Chen Xuze.
His chopsticks paused for a fraction of a second before he said calmly, “It wasn’t for me. It was for Jiang Jiashu.”
Jiang Jiashu clicked his tongue, staring in disbelief. “Xuze, you…” How could he lie with a straight face?
Before he could finish, he caught Chen Xuze’s deep gaze. Startled, Jiang Jiashu shut his mouth instinctively.
The opportunity to argue passed, and his reaction seemed like tacit agreement. No one pursued the topic further. After some thought, Jiang Jiashu reasoned that it made sense. Deng Jiayu had just angered Chen Xuze earlier, so of course, he’d want to distance himself from her as much as possible.
Satisfied with his conclusion, Jiang Jiashu didn’t mind taking the blame and continued eating.
After a few bites, Zhou Yao stood up. “I’m going to the window to get some napkins.”
She returned shortly. Just then, the other two boys at the table needed napkins, so Zhou Yao handed them each a couple. She wiped the oil off her hands and resumed eating. Zhou Yao wasn’t fond of chicken, and the stir-fried chicken dish on her plate remained untouched. She eventually forced herself to eat a piece, but found it unappealing. Glancing at the dish, she felt it would be a waste to leave it, so she simply pushed the plate toward Chen Xuze.
“You eat it.”
“Zhou Yao, he—”
“Hmm?” Zhou Yao raised her head, her clear and innocent gaze perfectly natural.
Jiang Jiashu wanted to say that Chen Xuze never ate food touched by others. But before he could speak, he saw Chen Xuze calmly pick up a piece of chicken with his chopsticks and eat it.
“What is it?” Zhou Yao asked, still waiting for Jiang Jiashu to finish his sentence.
Jiang Jiashu was stunned and speechless.
Previously, whenever they met up, it was always for bowling or karaoke. This was the first time Jiang Jiashu had witnessed how Zhou Yao and Chen Xuze interacted during a meal.
Even after they left the cafeteria, Jiang Jiashu was still puzzled. Zhou Yao and Chen Xuze walked ahead, chatting and staying three steps ahead. Jiang Jiashu nudged the boy beside him with his elbow. “Don’t you think Xuze was acting strange?”
“Huh? How so?”
“I just offered him some ribs, and he wouldn’t eat them!”
“That’s normal. You know he doesn’t eat food others have touched.”
“But Zhou Yao gave him her stir-fried chicken, and he ate it!”
The boy thought for a moment, his expression cycling through confusion before suddenly lighting up. “That means the stir-fried chicken must’ve been good!”
Jiang Jiashu: “…”
He shoved the boy’s arm off his shoulder and quickened his pace.
No point in talking to an idiot!
……
Deng Jiayu sat fuming as she watched Chen Xuze and his group leave. The food on her tray was barely touched, and her face twisted in anger.
The girl sitting next to her was also staring at the cafeteria doors, but unlike Deng Jiayu, she seemed lost in thought. After a while, she frowned slightly and said, “I feel like Zhou Yao looks familiar. Have I seen her somewhere before?”
Deng Jiayu didn’t take her seriously and, after a long pause, sneered, “Familiar? With her plain face? Girls like her are everywhere. Of course, she looks familiar!”
The others didn’t dare say anything. To be fair, Zhou Yao was quite beautiful. Her large doe-like eyes sparkled with a gentle radiance, and her delicate, fair skin made her look endearing. Even her slender neck had an elegant curve that was particularly eye-catching.
But no one dared voice their thoughts in front of Deng Jiayu. Who would dare?
Suddenly, the girl who spoke earlier slapped the table repeatedly in excitement, her hands turning red. The sound was almost painful to hear.
“I remember! I know who Zhou Yao is!”
Already in a foul mood, Deng Jiayu turned to glare at her. “Are you insane? What’s with all the yelling? Who is she, some goddess or demon?”
“Seriously! I remember now! I saw her back in elementary school!”
“If you’ve seen it, you’ve seen it. What are you yelling about?!”
“We had a spring outing back then. Our school and her school went to the same park. She and Chen Xuze were classmates! I think they were even in the same class!”
Deng Jiayu gritted her teeth. “So what?”
Grabbing Deng Jiayu’s hand, the girl’s eyes shone with inexplicable excitement. “No, Jiayu, you don’t get it! Back then, Zhou Yao was…”
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