After the mock exams on Friday afternoon, after two classes, the weekend break began as usual.
Many people had already packed their backpacks, bringing them to the classroom after a nap, so they didn't need to return to the dormitory - just a few books in the bag, and they could head straight home.
At the campus gate, bicycles were streaming out like fish.
Bicycles were still the most common mode of transport for students; those living in the city usually bought one for convenient commuting during vacations or daily outings.
Su Zelin was pushing a Phoenix brand steel-framed bike, accompanied by Qin Shiqing and Tang Yan.
Being neighbors and classmates from elementary, middle, and high school, they were accustomed to going to school and returning home together, while Tang Yan shared a long stretch of the same route with them, so they walked together on weekends too.
Their appearance drew countless gazes, with most attention naturally focused on Qin Shiqing.
School beauty, top student, broadcaster, literary gala host - all these titles made Qin Shiqing shine at Second High.
No matter where such a notable figure appears, they are always the center of attention.
Su Zelin wasn't without presence either; he was quite a "celebrity" at Second High, mainly due to his childhood friendship with Qin Shiqing and his famous feat of single-handedly fighting and defeating several senior athletes.
Moreover, he had good looks, a natural roguish charm and a mischievous bad-boy vibe, especially the lazy, crooked smile that always hung on his lips, eerily resembling a new rising star from Xiangjiang, Chen Guanxi, making many girls attracted by appearances sneak a few more glances.
It's commonly known that Su Zelin was a mix of a scoundrel and a failing student, seeing him so close to the top student goddess Qin Shiqing, naturally made other boys envious, jealous, and resentful, only regretting that they weren't childhood friends with the goddess.
"Senior!"
Accompanied by a sweet voice, a girl pushed her bicycle over.
Though only sixteen years of age, she had grown so charming, with peach blossom eyes that seemed to flirt and cherry lips that were plump and glistening, like a little enchantress that would captivate anyone.
A pair of ripped low-waisted jeans was at this time a symbol of individuality and rebellion.
The top was quite ordinary, just a plain women's cotton T-shirt, but the English letters printed on it were something else.
Starting with F, ending with K.
Even many who hadn't learned English knew its meaning.
Back then, many liked to wear curse word T-shirts to show their independence and uniqueness, later reflecting that it was quite youthful.
Su Zelin was immediately overwhelmed.
Huang Panpan, a junior.
This charming junior was a problem girl, her personality quirky and her interests quite different from ordinary girls.
She was obsessed with martial arts novels, especially those depicting free-spirited, unconventional wanderer male protagonists.
Su Zelin fit the image - roguishly handsome, wild and unruly.
Back in junior year, due to some minor incident, the two had met in an internet café.
Since then, Huang Panpan fell in love at first sight.
This chick not only often visited the scoundrels' class but also handed him letters of affection several times or directly confessed, but was firmly rejected because Huang Panpan was not his type, and she was quite a clingy bother.
Rejected, Huang Panpan wouldn't give up, sticking to him like glue, often waiting early at the school gate on weekends, just to walk with Su Zelin.
Huang Panpan rode a petite mountain bike, whether it was the red-yellow color scheme or its novel, avant-garde design, or its aluminum alloy frame made it stand out among the traditional bicycle army, just like this rebellious girl, unconventional.
At that time, mountain bikes hadn't even caught on abroad, let alone domestically, and were quite expensive, indicating Huang Panpan's wealthy background.
In truth, her father was a well-known tycoon in the city, yet for some reason, Huang Panpan wasn't well-educated from a young age.
With so many students leaving, bicycles had to be pushed, Huang Panpan unashamedly pushed her bike to the other side of Su Zelin, sweetly saying, "Senior, what a coincidence, we meet again!"
What coincidence!
You're always waiting at the school gate, it's the only exit, how can we not meet!
Su Zelin grumbled to himself.
Since his rebirth, there were two people he didn't want to provoke.
The first was Qin Shiqing, and the second was Huang Panpan.
He didn't want to hurt Qin Shiqing; he simply dreaded Huang Panpan!
This chick's obsessive clinginess wasn't just a whim, it was stubbornly single-minded, relentless in pursuit, once she clung, it lasted over a decade, terrifying Su Zelin.
"What are you doing, why won't you leave me alone?"
Su Zelin asked bravely.
"I can't help it, senior, since I like you, I've decided on you for the rest of my life!"
Huang Panpan chuckled, she had been rejected several times, used to Su Zelin's coldness, not minding.
"But you aren't my type!"
Su Zelin said sternly.
"No, I don't think so, you're not accepting me because of Sister Shiqing, right!"
Huang Panpan was confident.
I don't care what you think, I only care about what I think!
Due to Su Zelin's relationship, she was naturally not unfamiliar with Qin Shiqing.
Turning her gaze to Qin Shiqing, the junior raised her eyebrows: "Sister Shiqing, don't be smug, although you have good conditions, it's just that you took advantage of knowing the senior from childhood, I, Huang Panpan, am more suitable for the senior, one day, you will lose to me!"
Huang Panpan's hostility didn't surprise Qin Shiqing; after being rejected by Su Zelin, she had once gone to her dorm to challenge and demonstrate.
Although the junior was very rude, Qin Shiqing didn't take it to heart; she just smiled lightly in response.
However, Tang Yan couldn't stand it; even though she didn't think Su Zelin was good enough for Qin Shiqing, she couldn't allow her good friend to be slandered.
She smiled coldly, "Junior sister, it's important to have self-awareness!"
Huang Panpan glanced at Tang Yan and retracted her gaze, "The senior doesn't fancy you, I'm not going to stoop to your level!"
In her mind, she had only one rival, and that was Qin Shiqing; as for Tang Yan, who posed no threat, she didn't care at all.
Tang Yan was amused; was she indirectly saying her appearance was too plain?
If it were a guy, she'd have slapped him, but being a junior sister, she couldn't hit her, so she just glared, fuming.
Stuck in the middle, Su Zelin was quite embarrassed; he really couldn't handle Huang Panpan, couldn't hit her, couldn't scold her away, so he just decided to ignore her.
The other guys were even more envious.
Although Huang Panpan had a strange personality, she was undoubtedly a budding beauty, and the only daughter of a wealthy family. Anyone who could win her heart might save decades of hard work in the future.
Among so many handsome guys at the school, she was only devotedly obsessed with that troublemaker.
Is being handsome really that amazing?
Leaving the campus, they all got on their bikes, with Huang Panpan following closely behind.
"Senior, you look so cool riding a bike!"
"Senior, talk to me a bit, okay?"
"It's okay if you don't talk, your aloofness is also very cool!"
"..."
This was why Su Zelin avoided Huang Panpan like the plague; even if he ignored her, she could still buzz around him like a fly, driving him crazy.
After cycling through several streets, they finally reached a point where they had to part ways, as Huang Panpan's home was in a different direction.
At the intersection, the junior sister stopped and shouted at Su Zelin's back, "Senior, it's fine if you don't accept me now, but you'll be moved by me sooner or later, I swear!"
In this era, early romance was still quite rare, not to mention publicly confessing on the street, drawing curious looks from passersby.
Su Zelin just pretended not to hear, pedaling even faster until he completely left Huang Panpan behind, finally breathing a sigh of relief.
"Su Zelin, I'm really puzzled, you actually have a fangirl, and she's obsessed to this extent. Hey, did something happen between you and Huang Panpan?"
Unable to hold back any longer, Tang Yan finally spoke up.
Qin Shiqing's gaze also drifted over; she was quite curious about this question too.
"Nothing happened, she insists on being my girlfriend; after being rejected, she still pesters me endlessly, I'm about to go mad!"
The process of meeting Huang Panpan wasn't something Su Zelin had shared with anyone, not even Qin Shiqing.
With other girls who pursued him, the troublemaker might have bragged a bit, but he really didn't want to use Huang Panpan as bragging material.
This girl was a huge problem; she had pestered him for over ten years in his past life, and even mentioning her annoyed Su Zelin.
"Why does she ignore everyone else but fixate on you?"
Tang Yan expressed her confusion.
Su Zelin thought for a moment and sighed.
"Sigh, I can't help it, I've always had a level of attractiveness and charm beyond my age, I'm so tired!"
"Ugh!"
...
At the next intersection, Tang Yan also waved goodbye, leaving just Su Zelin and Qin Shiqing.
While cycling, the troublemaker's gaze unintentionally drifted towards his childhood friend.
The playful wind gently lifted the girl's silky black hair, blending seamlessly with the hot weather and the exercise, leaving her cheeks slightly flushed, with a delicate face covered in a gentle sheen of sweat.
Su Zelin felt a sense of peace in his heart.
Thinking about it, he hadn't ridden a bicycle in a long time; before his rebirth, he always traveled in luxury cars and supercars; how could he possibly use such a simple means of transportation?
But, he really enjoyed this moment now.
Every nerve, every cell was filled with joy.
This is youth, being with the girl in his heart, even the simplest things could bring happiness.
Before his rebirth, he had yacht parties, inviting a bunch of bikini-clad women, wine flowing like water, and sumptuous feasts, but so what?
When the intoxication faded, an unending emptiness would flood over him, suffocating him.
He also used to drive supercars madly on wild races, but alas, speed couldn't bring excitement; dancing on the edge only served to numb the solitude and loneliness deep down.
Countless times in his dreams, he'd reminisce about the past, just like now—calm and satisfied.
In this life, he and Qin Shiqing wouldn't become lovers again, but they'd always be friends, and that's enough!
The gathering years, your youth carried my flamboyance, and as we go separate ways afterward, I only wish you well, wherever you may be.
...