“Not at all! 😊”

“This teaching building has a really hidden spot,”  
“I haven’t even brought Mu Feng or Xiang Guan here before. I only learned about it from an upperclassman.”

An upperclassman? (The girl grew alert.)

Remembering how, after class, flocks of girls would flutter toward him like songbirds, Hua Xin couldn’t help but let out a cold snort in her heart.

If she still had her niu niu, there’s no way Xia Yan would be this popular!

Ding! The elevator doors opened.

“Come with me,” Xia Yan said, blinking playfully at the girl clutching her helmet, then stepped ahead to lead the way.

The girl silently stared at the takeout box in his hands.

Want to eat... 🤤  
Wish those big, delicious meals Xia Yan bought could fill my little tummy completely... 😋

Left turn, right turn, left again, right again...

Since the top floor was often used for teacher-related activities, the corridor was completely empty now—only the sound of their footsteps and the rustling plastic bag echoed through the spacious hallway.

Xia Yan walked all the way to the far right, then climbed up a short flight of stairs.

These led to the rooftop of the teaching building. Because the door on the right side of this floor was broken, they could easily—and quietly—slip through.

It sounded just like one of those romantic anime scenes where the male and female leads meet or grow closer.

But they were both guys, after all—maybe someday they’d become good brothers.

The door wasn’t locked. It opened effortlessly.

“Hey, Hua-classmate, look up?”  
Once Hua Xin stepped onto the roof, Xia Yan gently closed the door behind her and smiled.

“Huh? Where... is this?”

The girl suddenly snapped back to reality—then her pupils shrank in awe.

She instinctively took two steps forward toward the netted safety railing.

The playground, roads, trees, blue sky, white clouds, endless city buildings stretching into the distance, the faint hum of traffic below...

Ancient poets always said: Climb high to see far.

For the first time, Hua Xin truly understood what that meant.

(So beautiful...)  
(Is this what the outside world really looks like...?)

She couldn’t tear her eyes away. Walking to the railing, she set her helmet down and reached out with delicate, pale hands from her sleeves, gripping the mesh as she gazed ahead, utterly entranced.

The dizzying height made her heart race and her breath catch. Her mind kept conjuring terrifying illusions—like she might plummet to the ground any second.

She was terrified of heights.

Yet she kept staring, eyes sparkling, at this vast world before her.

This was the first time Hua Xin had ever seen such a view—nothing like the dark, windowless room she’d been confined to, nor the videos she’d watched online.

“Our school’s teaching building is pretty tall, so you can see most of this area from here.”  
“Isn’t it breathtaking?”

“You can eat in peace here with no one bothering you, plus enjoy the view. I’ve always treated this place as my secret base.”

Xia Yan sat down against the safety net, opened the takeout container, and a rich, savory aroma instantly drifted on the breeze straight into Hua Xin’s nose.

“Here, this portion’s bigger.”  
He smiled and handed her the meal.

“Thank you.”  
Hua Xin came back to herself and replied softly—very politely indeed.

Slowly regaining composure from the overwhelming scenery, she carefully cradled the meal and walked a short distance away from Xia Yan. She mimicked his posture, leaning against the netting and placing the food on the ground.

(Time to eat...)

With her back turned to Xia Yan, she removed her mask, revealing an unexpectedly delicate and lovely face. Her eyes shimmered with pure happiness.

To witness such a view and enjoy a delicious meal…  
It felt like manna from heaven! 😭

Because she’d worn her hood the whole time, her long hair was damp with sweat—strands near her ears stuck to her cheeks.

”Awooo...”

With solemn reverence, she picked up a piece of sweet-and-sour pork ribs and popped it into her mouth.

Tangy sauce, tender meat, the satisfying chew of protein—all bursting together with fluffy, perfectly steamed rice...

Pitter-patter. Pitter-patter.

Tears began falling silently onto her lap.

She spat out the bone and gently wiped her eyes.

(Delicious...)  
(Really, really delicious.)  
(It’s sweet-and-sour ribs… just like back then.)

For some reason, the more she wiped, the more tears flowed—slowly tracing paths down her cheeks, some even dripping into her rice.

Hua Xin kept eating the other dishes while crying, but didn’t touch the sweet-and-sour ribs again.

“Hey, Hua-classmate—what should I call you, anyway?”  
“Hua Hua? Xin Xin?”

“But those sound kinda... unmanly for a guy, don’t they? So I figured I’d ask what you prefer.”

Xia Yan set down his chopsticks and looked seriously at her back—his tone held no teasing, only sincerity.

“...”

Hua Xin’s cheeks bulged like a hamster’s, stuffed full of food. After hurriedly swallowing, she licked her lips contentedly.

Hearing his question, she hesitated slightly, then whispered:  
“Just call me... Xin.”

“Got it, Xin-ge!”  
“?”

Hearing him instantly call her “ge” (big brother), the girl nearly lost her composure.

Wait—this guy’s this casual already?!

Of course! We boys are naturally loving! Calling each other “ge” among brothers is totally normal! Who wouldn’t, with my overwhelming charisma? (smug)

She shoved another huge bite of rice and braised pork belly into her mouth, brushing off the naming issue entirely.

Right now, eating mattered more.

With renewed vigor, she attacked her meal with her chopsticks.

“Hmm…”

“But Xin Xin, you can’t keep calling me ‘Class Rep’ either…”  
“?”

(Chew chew chew.)  
(Didn’t YOU just say ‘Xin Xin’ sounds too unmanly?! I literally told you to call me Xin-ge, and you’re STILL doing it!)  
(I’ll bite you to death.)

She viciously chomped into a piece of crispy sweet-and-sour pork—imagining it was little Xia Yan himself.

Though honestly, the crispiness and sweetness of the real dish far surpassed anything Xia Yan could offer.

“When others are around, just call me Xia Yan.”  
“In private… how about ‘Xiao Shui’?”

As if recalling something amusing, Xia Yan smiled.

“My grandpa gave me that nickname. Kinda ironic, right? A name with ‘fire’ in it, but my nickname’s ‘water’…”

“Only you and my grandparents know this name.”

He wasn’t lying—it was true.

But his real intention was to create a “secret shared only between us,” hoping to strengthen their fragile, newly forming friendship.

After all, many friendships begin with a shared secret.

“Xiao Shui?”

Hua Xin set down her now-empty container—except for the untouched sweet-and-sour ribs—and repeated the name softly.

Wait… isn’t there some shrimp-headed guy online who also goes by “Shui”?

The thought flickered and vanished. There were millions of people named Zhang Wei in this world—coincidences happened. Besides, this sunny, kind, popular guy could never be like that lecherous shrimp-head.

She put her mask back on and returned to Xia Yan’s side, holding the empty box.

“You finished already? That was just a few minutes…”

“Uh… should we head to the activity hall then…?”

Xia Yan stood up hesitantly—actually stunned by how fast she’d eaten.

His eyes glanced at her slender frame… It was hard to believe someone so petite could devour a full meal meant for a construction worker in mere minutes.

“Aren’t you going to eat anymore?”

Surprisingly, Hua Xin showed no fear this time. Instead, she looked earnestly at the half-full containers on the ground.

“I’m… not that hungry. I’m already full.”

Xia Yan swallowed the ache in his chest and spoke gently.

He understood what she wanted—and what her question truly meant.

Silently, Hua Xin picked up the remaining food, sealed the containers, and placed them into her black plastic bag.

Feeling the weight in her hands, she looked at Xia Yan with genuine delight:  
“Can I have this?”

“I don’t mind at all.”

Xia Yan quickly turned his head away, lifting his gaze to hide his emotions—his eyes glistening faintly.

Why did she look so happy and hopeful… when taking his leftovers?

After a long pause, he finally spoke, forcing lightness into his voice to mask the tremor:  
“I was afraid you’d look down on me.”

“No way! This food is really tasty!”