LABICTTS_ARCHIVE_CHAPTER 9: REMEMBER ME

LIKE A BOAT IT CIRCLS TO THE START

Chapter Nine

Remember Me

 

Epigraph:

It doesn’t make sense that I notice you all the time—

But to you, I’m just invisible air.

It was a Sunday afternoon.

Zhou Xiao had just finished tutoring and boarded the bus. It wasn’t too crowded—no empty seats, but at least it wasn’t rush hour hell, where the buses had a "crush-you-or-bust" vibe.

She still remembered that one time she got squished so hard, her entire body was plastered against the glass door. Honestly, it looked like something straight out of a movie.

Thankfully, today wasn’t like that. She let out a sigh of relief. After three hours of tutoring, she really didn’t have the strength to be packed in like a sardine.

She grabbed a pole for balance, leaning her whole body against it. She was exhausted. And the way the bus was jerking around—was the driver drunk or something? She was starting to feel nauseous.

From the moment she got on, Zhao Fanzhou had been watching her. She looked pale, and he could tell she wasn’t feeling well.

“Hey… are you okay?” he asked.

Zhou Xiao turned to look at him. Was… was he talking to her? Where’d this "classmate" come from? Do people really go around randomly calling strangers “classmate” on public transport now?

She eyed him warily. He was pretty good-looking, but Chairman Mao once said—beware of enemies bearing sugar-coated bullets.

The look on her face—like Little Red Riding Hood spotting the Big Bad Wolf—told Zhao Fanzhou she definitely didn’t recognize him.

He sighed and pointed to the emblem on her bag. It had her school’s crest pinned to it, leftover from some class event she’d forgotten to take off.

“I go to X University too. Economics and Trade Faculty.”

Zhou Xiao let out an awkward laugh. Okay… maybe she’d been a little too paranoid. She shook her head. “I’m fine.”

“You look pale. Take my seat,” he said, already standing up.

“Huh? Oh no, no need…” she stammered, caught off guard by the gesture, waving her hands quickly.

But he didn’t say anything else—just stood there, holding the overhead rail with ease. Tall guys had it good. Unlike her, who always had to tiptoe just to reach the handle.

Since he insisted, she felt too embarrassed to refuse again. “Thanks,” she said, sitting down.

And wow—sitting really did feel a lot better. She finally had the energy to glance around and noticed, dang, he was really good-looking.

Who says there aren’t any good people left in this world? Handsome and kind—like a living, breathing Lei Feng.

This kind of rare find, and she runs into him? Might as well flirt a bit. Teasing hot guys is one of life’s little joys, right?

“So… what year are you in?” she asked.

“Junior.”

“No way! Same here.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted it. Same here? Really? That’s the best she could come up with?

He chuckled at her obvious cringe. “Which faculty?”

“Huh? Oh, Chinese Lit.”

Actually, he already knew.

Ever since the third time he’d seen her entering a classroom in the literature building, he looked up the timetable out of curiosity. When he found out she was in Chinese, even he thought he’d gone too far. Why am I even looking this up?

“Zhao Fanzhou,” he said simply. “You?”

There was a pause before she realized he was asking for her name.

Could he be any more concise? Like she owed him 800 yuan or something.

“Zhou Xiao. The ‘Xiao’ with the bamboo radical. Not the ‘small’ one and not the ‘bright’ one with the sun radical.”

See? That’s how you explain a name. Thorough. Impressed, aren’t you?

Silence.

When it was time to get off, she said a quick goodbye.

He nodded. And just like that, they went their separate ways.

Two days later.

Zhou Xiao was heading back from the library with a stack of novels in her arms when she spotted a stunning couple walking toward her.

She sighed inwardly. Why is life so unfair? Some people get prince-and-princess-level pairings, and I get stuck surrounded by wolves and jackals.

Wait a second—wasn’t the guy the same one from the bus? The living Lei Feng? What was his name again? Zhao… whatever. No point testing her memory.

Should she say hi?

Nah, he probably didn’t even remember her. Besides, with that gorgeous girlfriend next to him, it’d be weird to just walk up and say something. Better to pretend she didn’t see them.

But Zhao Fanzhou had seen her again.

At this point, he had a rough idea of her weekly schedule—he pretty much knew where she’d be and when.

He watched her lower her head, trying to walk past without looking up. Again? She still doesn’t recognize me?

He was getting genuinely irritated now.

“Zhou classmate.”

Her steps faltered.

Wait. Was he talking to her?

“Friend of yours?” Jia Yichun asked, clearly puzzled.

It was rare to see him initiate a conversation—especially with a girl.

Zhou Xiao cautiously looked up. Both of them were staring at her.

Welp. No use running—it’s fate.

She forced a smile. “Oh, Zhao classmate. Hello! Have you eaten yet?”

Ugh, typical Chinese small talk. When you have nothing to say, ask if someone’s eaten.

“Not yet. You treating?”

Was he joking?! She peeked at his expression.

Totally unreadable. What was with this guy?

Did giving up a bus seat really earn him a free meal?

Jia Yichun’s sixth sense flared. Danger.

Her instincts screamed this girl’s a threat.

She smiled sweetly and said, “Don’t tease her. You’re scaring the little underclassman.”

Little? Underclassman? Please. She was also a junior. Just because she had a baby face didn’t mean she was younger.

“Heh. Next time! I’ll treat you next time,” Zhou Xiao said quickly, laughing nervously.

“When’s next time?”

Is this guy seriously pursuing a free meal?

Since when did Lei Feng start chasing people down for dinner?

“Give me your phone,” he said suddenly.

Stunned, she handed it over without thinking.

He started typing rapidly.

That’s when she realized—Wait, why did I just hand him my phone?

Was this some new scam? Win her trust with a bus seat, then rob her on campus? Did he bring in a beautiful accomplice too? If so, they really went all out.

If she did get scammed, would she report it?

“Third-year student tricked on school grounds—phone stolen by handsome conman…”

“Here.”

His voice snapped her out of her spiral.

“Huh? Oh, thanks…”

Wait—why was she thanking him?

“You’ve got my number now. When you’re ready to treat me, give me a call.”

“…Okay.”

What else could she say?

Was he starving? Did his girlfriend not feed him?

She glanced at the girl next to him—definitely didn’t look like the type to starve her boyfriend.

“Alright then… see you. Bye.” Zhou Xiao said softly.

“Mm.”

And they walked off without a backward glance, leaving Zhou Xiao standing there like an idiot.

Wait… did I just get extorted?

As they walked, Jia Yichun stole a sideways glance at Zhao Fanzhou.

Was… was he smiling?

“That girl just now—who is she?” she asked.

“Friend,” he replied.

Friend? She knew almost all of his friends. She’d always made sure of it.

“What kind of friend?”

She knew she was overstepping, but she couldn’t help herself.

He gave her a strange look and didn’t answer.

She didn’t dare ask again.

That night.

Zhou Xiao stared at her phone, Zhao Fanzhou’s number saved and glowing on the screen.

Should she really call him for dinner?

Ten minutes of agonizing later, she decided:

Forget it. Sleep is king.

She turned off her phone and went to bed.

Meanwhile, Zhao Fanzhou checked his phone for the 101st time.

No missed calls. No texts.

Sigh. Maybe he was a bit too pushy today. Did he scare her off?

_________________________________________

 

That same night, Jia Yichun lay in bed, unable to sleep.

She kept replaying the slight curve of Zhao Fanzhou’s lips.

Her chest felt tight.

She wanted to cry.

___________________

EUN: THAT'S RIGHT!~ JUST CRY IT ALL OUT JIA ALCOHOL! It's ok. Let it all out. Just don't get in between the two of them and act like a third-rate Bish.  

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