Criticizing Love - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

What kind of coincidence allows two strangers to lock eyes twice in a single day?

For a long time afterward, Lin Xi would often ponder this question in the deep of night, tossing and turning on her creaky old bed. Irritated and rushed, she eventually chalked it all up to a “wicked fate.”

The sunlight from the first-floor lobby was cut in half as it reached the second-floor corridor, leaving the surroundings dim. Lin Xi stood at the corner, her shadow casting a long, slanted line across the gold, having long since been exposed to Gu Nianyin’s eyes.

Gu Nianyin’s face held little expression; only her dark brown pupils caught a stray sliver of light. The boy’s reaction seemed unimportant to her; she simply watched Lin Xi—the uninvited guest eavesdropping in the corner—with a rising chill.

Being watched like that made Lin Xi’s chest tighten. She finally understood why that boy had frozen for so long before speaking again. This new star student truly possessed a formidable aura.

However, more impactful than Gu Nianyin’s aura was the reason she had given for rejecting the boy. As they stood in silent eye contact, Lin Xi’s mind raced to analyze those words.

What did she mean by “I don’t like boys”? Does she like girls? Is Gu Nianyin… gay?

That simple sentence echoed like a thunderclap in Lin Xi’s world. She didn’t know how she felt about reaching this conclusion; her head was foggy, and every thought ended in a question mark.

Although society was becoming increasingly accepting, some people still couldn’t handle it. People like Lin Deyuan. Last summer, while driving past Lin Xi’s school, he had accidentally seen Lin Xi’s friend, Zhong Sheng, acting intimately with another girl. He had gone home and scolded Lin Xi, ordering her to break off the friendship and not catch any “indecent, foul habits.”

Lin Xi, of course, hadn’t listened. She had snapped back at him and slammed the door. If Lin Deyuan couldn’t handle her simply having a friend like that, what would he do about Gu Nianyin?

Would he be able to keep his composure then? The daughter of his beloved “white moonlight” being the very thing he loathed. The person he was exhausting himself to please being the person he found most unacceptable.

Suddenly, a dark, petty thought flashed through Lin Xi’s mind. It was as if a thief had finally found a gap in an aristocrat’s armor—a weakness that couldn’t be hidden. The more proud he became of her in the future, the more this truth could sting him, could be her revenge. Even if she didn’t have a solid plan yet, this realization was enough.

As the sunlight shifted past the corner, Lin Xi broke eye contact. Gu Nianyin saw the lingering daze in those eyes vanish, replaced by a subtle, unreadable smile tucked beneath long, thick lashes.

Ring— Ring.

The preparatory bell echoed through the building. A breeze blew in from the east, timely hiding the half-formed emotions in Lin Xi’s head. The loitering students scattered like startled birds. Despite his reluctance, the rejected boy had no choice but to leave. His heavy footsteps faded into the distance.

Lin Xi remained where she was.

“Is something the matter?”

The corridor returned to silence. Gu Nianyin’s voice was the same as before. The sunlight draped her figure in a faint glow; her dark hair brushed against her shirt, radiating a clean, pure, cold tone from the inside out.

“Yeah,” Lin Xi responded with a lazy grunt from her throat, stepping out from the corner. Her composure was steadier now than during their sudden eye contact, and she was colder. She looked at Gu Nianyin and said, “Teacher Wang sent me to help you move classrooms.”

Fearing Gu Nianyin might not be aware, Lin Xi added, “You know about transferring to the elite class, right?”

Gu Nianyin stood opposite Lin Xi, subtly taking in the other girl’s silhouette before nodding calmly. “Teacher Wang just told me.”

“Good.” Lin Xi figured that was one less hassle. She pulled the logistics slip from her pocket. “Our class only has thirty-five sets of desks. You need to go to the logistics department to get yours first.”

“Will you come with me?” Gu Nianyin asked, her eyes fixed on Lin Xi.

Lin Xi really wanted to just shove the slip at her and tell her to go alone. But she knew exactly what would happen if Wang Tingxiu found out. Lin Xi hated Gu Nianyin, but she hated “parent-teacher conferences” even more. She let out an impatient “Mm” from her nose.

Upon hearing this, Gu Nianyin lowered her eyes slightly and gave a polite nod. “Thank you.”

It was cold, devoid of emotion, but polite enough. Lin Xi’s mood soured a bit less. She shoved the hand holding the slip back into her pocket and turned abruptly. “Let’s go.”

The preparatory bell for seniors was the signal for class to begin. By the time they walked back past the water room, the hallway was empty. Voices of various teachers drifted from the classrooms. Few noticed the two figures walking by; only the sun followed them.

A breeze through the open windows tossed a few strands of Gu Nianyin’s loose hair. She seemed to have washed her hair that morning; the thick black strands had a soft luster, and the wind carried a pleasant scent

a cold, elusive fragrance, like a nameless flower.

It was quite…

A word of praise began to form in Lin Xi’s mind before she slammed on the brakes. She turned to look at Gu Nianyin, who was nearly as tall as she was, and her brow furrowed again.

She hated this drafty hallway.

The senior building and the logistics department were on opposite ends of the campus. Even taking the shortcuts through the connecting walkways, it was a six or seven-minute walk.

Ever since the wind had pushed Gu Nianyin’s scent toward her, Lin Xi hadn’t said a word. Gu Nianyin didn’t seem like much of a talker either. They walked in silence, arriving no slower than the average pace.

As the logistics sign came into view, Lin Xi led Gu Nianyin to the office door and knocked politely. “Excuse me, we’re here to pick up a desk and chair.”

Logistics was a quiet job, usually staffed by elderly men nearing retirement. Though they weren’t instructors, many students sweetly called them “teacher” anyway. Today, only one old man was on duty.

He looked up with a smile, adjusting his glasses. He seemed to have expected them. “Class 1’s student, right? Let me see the slip.”

Lin Xi nodded and handed it over. Perhaps due to the “elite class” filter, the old man only gave it a glance before keeping the slip. He leaned in with a tip: “Go ahead. Don’t go to 303; go to 304 next door. There are a few sets of new desks that just arrived last week. A good horse deserves a good saddle; you elite students should have the best furniture.”

“Thank you,” Lin Xi said politely, turning to leave.

Gu Nianyin, standing behind her, followed. She had been close enough to hear the conversation clearly. Lin Xi knew this and didn’t bother repeating it. Shoving her hands back into her pockets, she tilted her chin toward the room. “Pick whatever you want. Tell me when you’re done.”

“Okay,” Gu Nianyin replied softly.

Perhaps sensing Lin Xi’s distance, she didn’t say more and pushed open the door to 304 alone. As the door opened, a rush of air followed. Lin Xi leaned against the doorframe. The room smelled of damp wood that hadn’t seen the sun in a long time.

It was called a classroom, but it was essentially a large storage room. Desks and chairs, in varying states of repair, were piled together. Sunlight fell through unwashed windows, and dust motes danced in the beams.

Clack, clack.

The sound of furniture being moved echoed softly in the quiet, sounding unhurried. Bored, Lin Xi looked over. The sunlight was so bright it overexposed her vision, outlining a white shirt in the glare.

Gu Nianyin was standing by the furniture, tall and straight, carefully making her selection. Feeling her loose hair was in the way, she tucked it behind her ears, revealing her full profile in the light and shadow. Her long, thick lashes were cast down, and the light slid down them to land on the bridge of her nose.

She had an excellent bone structure, though her lips were a bit thin and pale. Yet, this combination created an unforgettable sense of cold, arrogant cleanliness.

Why does someone like her look so clean? Lin Xi thought. She’s just a ‘dodder flower’ who clings to others, part of the same filth as Lin Deyuan.

Lin Xi leaned against the door, her frown deepening. Her first impression of Gu Nianyin was poor, and she had no intention of improving it. She turned her head away to look out at the courtyard.

The buildings of Nancheng High were arranged in a hollow square, with a central courtyard stretching up to frame a perfect square of sky. The sun seemed to be sinking; the blue sky was grayer than before, painting everything in slightly cramped colors.

BANG!

A sudden collision echoed in the quiet room. Startled, Lin Xi turned to see Gu Nianyin shuffling a set of furniture toward the door. She didn’t seem used to this kind of work; compared to her usual calm, she looked a bit strained.

I see. Our future ‘top scholar’ actually has things she struggles with.

Seeing this made Lin Xi feel slightly better. “Chosen?”

Gu Nianyin nodded. “Mm.”

Lin Xi didn’t waste words. “Wait here.”

She walked to the office next door and spoke to the old man, who was brewing a pot of tea. “Teacher, we’ve picked them. Do you want to check?”

“No need,” he waved her off. “I trust the elite students. Don’t forget to close the door when you leave.”

“Will do.” Lin Xi nodded, making sure to close the logistics office door behind her.

When she stepped out, Gu Nianyin wasn’t in the hallway. She walked back to 304 and found her still inside. Gu Nianyin was standing straight, leaning against her chosen desk. Her skirt brushed against her long, thin legs, and the light traced the line of her back, creating a scene of leisure amidst the coldness.

Lin Xi poked her head in, her tone softening slightly. “Not going?”

Gu Nianyin looked up. “You told me to wait.”

She said it calmly, as if stating a simple fact.

But Lin Xi’s calm vanished. To hell with softening my tone.

Why does she make it sound like it’s my fault? I said ‘wait,’ not ‘stand there like a statue.’ Is this the ‘elite student state’ Wang Tingxiu wanted me to observe?

Just as Lin Xi’s patience was about to evaporate, Gu Nianyin spoke again: “I can’t move it alone. I need your help.”

Her expression didn’t change, but her voice sounded like a genuine request.

She really is a ‘dodder flower’ who never exercises and can’t lift a finger, Lin Xi thought. …But at least she’s honest about it.

That honesty saved the last bit of Lin Xi’s patience. She stood at the door, adjusted her clothes, and walked over. “Take the chair.”

Gu Nianyin didn’t speak; she simply picked up the chair that had been resting on the desk. Then, Lin Xi’s arms reached past her, a warm breeze swirling around her shirt as she gripped the edges of the desk.

Lin Xi’s short-sleeved shirt ended above her elbows, revealing pale, thin arms with a faint, handsome vein visible. She lifted the desk and skillfully turned toward the door, her words sparse: “Let’s go.”

The shadow of a nodding head followed silently. The room fell quiet again.

Sunlight hitting the doorframe obscured the upper half of Gu Nianyin’s profile. She followed behind Lin Xi, her eyes fixed on the girl in front of her.

“What is your name?” Gu Nianyin asked.

Lin Xi paused. She hadn’t expected the question. She realized then that her knowledge of Gu Nianyin was one-sided; Lin Deyuan’s new “jewel” didn’t know who she was at all.

“Lin Xi,” she answered curtly.

Their shadows merged on the hallway floor. Lin Xi turned her head back, her voice carrying a hint of provocation and disdain, as if emphasizing the significance of her name to Gu Nianyin:

“Xi, as in pity (kě xī).”

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