The sun was dipping below the rooftops when Lingmei walked her usual path to her cousin Sun Shian's house. Her school bag swung gently by her side, thoughts drifting until she noticed someone walking ahead—Hai Lin.
Surprised, Lingmei called out. Hai Lin turned around, just as surprised, then slowed her pace.
"Oh, hey. You're heading this way too?" Hai Lin asked, smiling.
"Yeah, going to my cousin's place."
"Ah…" Hai Lin nodded, and the two started walking side by side.
They chatted about the exams. Hai Lin groaned dramatically. "I failed the math exam. Definitely. The paper looked like an alien language."
Lingmei blinked but didn't laugh. "Then do better next time," she said softly. "Tell the teacher you'll try harder. Maybe they'll support you. Some teachers are like that."
Hai Lin looked at her, a bit startled by the encouragement. "You think so?"
Lingmei nodded with a small smile.
They soon reached Hai Lin's neighborhood. Just as she was about to wave goodbye, Hai Lin suddenly grabbed her wrist.
"Want to come to my house?" she asked, eyes gleaming with a rare excitement.
Before Lingmei could respond, a cheerful voice interrupted from the doorway.
"Oh! Are you Hai Lin's friend?" her mother beamed. "This is the first time Hai Lin brought someone home. Come, come in!"
Lingmei, poised as always, gave a polite bow. "Nice to meet you, auntie."
Her mother smiled brightly, then added without a filter, "If only Hai Lin was half as pretty as you."
That one hit hard.
Hai Lin twitched. "...Thanks, Mom."
Trying to change the topic, she turned to Lingmei. "Want to come up to my room?"
"Sure."
As they climbed the stairs, her mother called, "Take up the fruit I cut!"
Hai Lin ran back down, took the tray, and returned. Both sat cross-legged on her bed, munching on apple slices.
"Can you help me with some math problems?" Hai Lin asked, hopeful.
Lingmei tried explaining one or two, but Hai Lin stared at the page like it was cursed.
"This makes no sense…"
"Ask the math teacher?"
"I already did," Hai Lin huffed. "Still don't get it. But… when senior explains it, I understand everything."
She hesitated, then opened her drawer and gently pulled out a small package wrapped in plastic.
"What's that?" Lingmei asked.
Hai Lin handed it to her.
Lingmei unwrapped it slightly and her eyes widened. "You wrapped his notes… in a plastic cover?"
Hai Lin turned red. "That—it was really helpful, so I thought…"
Before she could finish, Lingmei burst out laughing.
"I'm not judging! Honestly, it's smart. Maybe I should start wrapping Li Zeyan's notes too."
Hai Lin giggled. "You're shameless."
"Right back at you."
Lingmei popped another slice into her mouth. "You should just ask Sun Shian to help you again."
Hai Lin flinched. "How can I?! He doesn't even know me! He'll find me annoying—and he's a senior!"
Lingmei rolled her eyes. "Sun Shian isn't like that. He likes helping others. I can give you his number."
"You have his number?" Hai Lin blinked.
Lingmei chuckled. "I'm his cousin. Of course I do."
"No. Don't. Don't even say it—" Hai Lin flailed dramatically.
Lingmei leaned closer and loudly whispered in her ear, "Zero-nine—"
Hai Lin stood up and covered her ears. "No! I'm not listening!"
Laughing, Lingmei followed, chanting, "—four-two-eight—"
Hai Lin was spinning, laughing, fingers firmly pressed over her ears. "I refuse! I absolutely refuse!"
Their laughter echoed in the room like two girls who'd known each other for years.