The string of overcast days meant darkness fell especially early. The two of them worked in silence for a while. Zhou Sheng finished his own homework for the day.
Normally, he'd immediately open his supplementary workbook and embark on the next "expedition." But not this time.
To say the illness hadn't affected him was impossible. His head had felt heavy all day. That morning before leaving, he'd actually been teetering on the edge of a low-grade fever. His mother had suggested he stay home to recover.
He'd refused.
Given Zhou Sheng's personality, neglecting his health for the sake of studying seemed perfectly reasonable. His mother thought so too. Besides, he didn't seem particularly listless, so she'd let him go. But no one could have guessed that his reason for insisting might, perhaps, possibly… have nothing to do with studying?
—Or at least, nothing to do with his own studying.
Zhou Sheng propped his head on his hand, gaze fixed on the completed problems. His pen twirled deftly in his fingers, circle after circle. But his peripheral vision was stealing glances at the pitiful figure beside him, buried in her work and looking thoroughly stumped.
She can't even find the common perpendicular of these skew lines? Oh dear… Zhou Sheng's brow furrowed slightly. He suppressed the urge to blurt out the solution and let his gaze drift back to Lin Sitian's face.
Lin Sitian had a round face. Seen in profile, her cheeks were plump and soft, giving her the look of a ragdoll.
At this moment, the girl's full lips were slightly pursed, pressed against the end of her pen. She was using her upper lip to press the button on and off, completely forgetting Zhou Sheng was right beside her, exposing her bad habit.
His head felt even heavier, dizzier. The illness must be getting worse.
Leaning on his hand, Zhou Sheng glanced up and noticed her head was practically dipping onto the desk. He looked at the sky outside. It was getting quite dark.
He tapped Lin Sitian lightly on the back to get her attention, signaling that he needed to get past her to turn on the light.
Lin Sitian straightened up and suddenly turned her head. Her eyes, catching the faint light from the window, were clear and bright.
Zhou Sheng didn't know what she was thinking. He continued his intended path, leaning towards her, planning to slip past behind her chair.
But as soon as he got close, Lin Sitian leaned into him.
Zhou Sheng recoiled instantly, afraid of getting too close and infecting her.
Lin Sitian, however? Utterly fearless. She pressed forward unerringly, backing him right into the corner.
Zhou Sheng found himself pressed against the wall. He waved his hands frantically, signaling she couldn't come any closer.
"Tutor," Lin Sitian murmured, burying her face against his neck. "I can't solve this. I need some motivation."
Trapped, Zhou Sheng had no choice. He patted her head clumsily. While talking to Zhou Sheng, she vaguely heard a sound. When she turned to look, a shadow of movement was visible just outside the front door window – someone seemed about to walk past the classroom.
Lin Sitian recoiled as if she'd seen a ghost, jerking back towards her chair. If she'd just fallen herself, that would have been one thing. But as she tipped backwards off the chair, she instinctively grabbed Zhou Sheng's arm. Before he could react, he was pulled down too, landing hard on the floor beneath her.
Chairs and desks clattered loudly.
"Oof." Zhou Sheng's grunt was instantly muffled by Lin Sitian's hand clapping over his mouth.
They remained huddled in the corner, trapped in the cramped space between the chair and desk. Zhou Sheng, hand still covering his mouth, could only look at her with confused eyes, silently asking for an explanation.
"P-person, someone—" Lin Sitian whispered, her eyes darting meaningfully towards the window.
Zhou Sheng craned his neck to look. Sure enough, he saw a figure lingering by the window, half a shoulder visible. But right now, the figure had one hand raised to his ear, phone pressed against it, as if on a call. And he seemed rooted to that spot.
Zhou Sheng lowered his voice, pulling her hand away from his mouth. "Why hide?" he murmured.
"W-well, is it okay to get up now?" Lin Sitian dared not peek, relying on Zhou Sheng for guidance.
"Wait." His throat hurt, making him curt. As they whispered, the teacher started moving again. Zhou Sheng quickly cupped the back of Lin Sitian's head, pressing her face against his chest. His eyes tracked the teacher as he walked down the corridor, phone still to his ear, passing right by the classroom window without stopping.
When the figure finally disappeared past the rear of the classroom, Zhou Sheng let out a silent sigh of relief. Lin Sitian, still oblivious in his arms, whispered urgently, "Is he gone? Is he gone?"
Looking down at Lin Sitian nestled against him, Zhou Sheng's heart softened unexpectedly. But then a mischievous impulse struck. Maintaining their position – one pressed against the wall, the other leaning into him – he whispered softly, "Shh."
Lin Sitian instantly fell silent.
Sitting on the cold tile floor wasn't ideal for someone still recovering from a cold. Yet, Zhou Sheng found he didn't want to break the atmosphere. "...Zhou Sheng? Is he gone?" Lin Sitian still hadn't dared look, her voice cautious.
Within his line of sight, no one was there. But Lin Sitian couldn't be sure if the teacher was standing just out of sight in a blind spot, so she remained frozen.
Zhou Sheng watched her fearful expression, his gaze darkening slightly. He mouthed silently: N-o-t S-u-r-e.
It wasn't exactly a lie. Where the teacher went after leaving the corridor, he genuinely didn't know.
The next day, Zhou Sheng didn't come to school.
Lin Sitian endured a class period filled with anxious uncertainty. The moment the bell rang, she rushed to ask Mr. Zhao – Zhou Sheng's condition had worsened. His mother had insisted he stay home to rest. Mr. Zhao took the opportunity to lecture the class on Zhou Sheng's diligence and dedication to studying, even at the expense of his health – an admirable spirit, but one not to be emulated, as health was paramount.
A faint blush crept onto Lin Sitian's face. She was the reason for his initial cold, and she seemed to be the reason it had gotten worse. For the first time, Lin Sitian discovered she possessed the makings of a jinx.
Feeling undeniably responsible, Lin Sitian found time that evening to call Zhou Sheng.
[It's fine... uhk-uhk... not serious.] Zhou Sheng's voice came through the phone between coughs.
He sounded weak, breathless, and the coughs seemed worryingly deep. Utterly unconvincing. My sickbed first love, Lin Sitian thought with a pang of heartache.
She fussed over him a bit more. Zhou Sheng insisted he wasn't that bad off – just coughing and a slight low-grade fever. However, since going to school that first day had worsened his condition, his mother was worried and wouldn't let him return immediately. He needed to rest properly at home for a couple of days. By that calculation, they wouldn't see each other again until the midterm exam day itself.
While missing Zhou Sheng for the next few days was a pity, it conveniently bypassed the awkward phase after their classroom near-miss. So, there was a silver lining.
Only...
[You need to study hard. Don't slack off just because I'm not there.] Her Devil Tutor wouldn't relent on the studying, even while sick.
[If there's anything you don't understand, message me,] Zhou Sheng cleared his throat painfully, [I'll explain on QQ.]
Lin Sitian had been feeling a bit miffed that Zhou Sheng, his mind seemingly occupied solely by studying, hadn't mentioned missing her at all. But hearing his earnest instructions, her heart softened again. This was Zhou Sheng. This was the Zhou Sheng she knew. His care and concern for her always came through in actions, not words.
"Lin Sitian, seriously? You got this one wrong too—?"
On the other end of the line, Zhou Sheng's hand holding the phone stiffened. His brow furrowed slightly.
"I'm on the phone, can you shut up, Meng Qiaoyu?!"
Meng Qiaoyu?
Hearing that vaguely familiar name, Zhou Sheng's grip tightened on the pen in his right hand. [There's... someone else at your house?]
"Ah." Lin Sitian felt awkward; she'd just lost her composure. "My grandma went for acupuncture again today. She bought some things on the way back, so Meng Qiaoyu helped her carry them home. Then she insisted he stay for dinner."
[It's 8 o'clock now.] Zhou Sheng momentarily forgot to cough, glancing at the clock.
"He's got issues!" Lin Sitian complained.
Zhou Sheng remained silent, waiting for her to continue.
"Before dinner, my homework was out on the table and he saw it. During dinner, he asked if I was bad at math. After eating, he started hovering, critiquing my work. Just now, I couldn't solve a big problem and he laughed at me. Then he said he'd stay and tutor me himself."
Meng Qiaoyu is so annoying. Zhou Sheng got perfect scores in math and never once laughed at her.
[What problem couldn't you solve?] After listening quietly to Lin Sitian's account, Zhou Sheng didn't mention Meng Qiaoyu again. Instead, he asked this.
Seriously? After all that, he only cares about the problem?
His "precious student" was being humiliated! Shouldn't his priority be comforting her and joining forces against the enemy?
Lin Sitian gritted her teeth, squeezing the phone in frustration. When will this blockhead ever catch on? When?!
Zhou Sheng coughed several more times before pressing on: [Send me the problem on QQ. Let me see it.]
"You should be resting since you're sick." Lin Sitian was even less inclined to send it now.
[Send it, Lin Sitian.] Zhou Sheng pushed his own workbook aside and pulled out his scratch pad. [And send me the assignment he was looking at. All of it.]
Lin Sitan truly began to doubt if Zhou Sheng's brain contained anything but problem-solving. But he was being so stubborn, refusing to listen to reason, that she had no choice but to agree.
Hmph. Even like this, I'm still not as important as the problems.