Andrew Lane was about to cough up blood. “What are you doing? I asked you to come over, was it just to write those four characters?” Zoe Young shook her head. “Look carefully, these four characters are different from those four!” “万事胜意” is not “万事如意.” “You already have everything going your way, everything happens as you wish, so I won’t wish you that. These four characters were taught to me by my grandma. I’ve always thought it’s the best blessing, and I’m only giving it to you.” Zoe Young was utterly serious. Andrew Lane suddenly didn’t dare look up into her bright eyes, just stared at his light gray slippers, still a bit unhappy as he asked, “What’s so good about it?” “The meaning of ‘万事胜意’ is that every outcome turns out just a little better than you imagined.” She raised her right hand, using her index finger and thumb to show him what “a little bit” meant. Andrew Lane’s gaze, however, passed through the gap between her fingers and landed directly on Zoe Young’s smiling eyes. He lowered his head, took the paper from her hand, and awkwardly said, “Oh, fine, let’s leave it at that.” After saying it, Andrew Lane immediately regretted it. Now that Zoe Young had finished her task, she could naturally leave, but he didn’t want her to go, yet didn’t know what excuse to use to keep her. But today’s Zoe Young was especially cooperative, not going against him at all, and not… not bullying him either.

“Do you have the complete collection of Disney cartoons at home?”

“Yeah, I watched them when I was little.” Andrew Lane struggled to stand on a stool and took them down from the wardrobe. “Do you want to watch?”

“Sure, I’ve never seen them.” Zoe Young casually pulled out a box. “Let’s watch ‘Snow White’!”

“That’s so silly.” Andrew Lane swallowed this comment, grinning as he turned on the TV. After the movie started, he picked up an apple from the tray and took a big bite, then handed Zoe Young a bag of Want Want rice crackers. Zoe Young watched in silence, and just as Andrew Lane was getting so bored he was about to fall asleep, she suddenly blurted out, “No, no, that’s not right.”

“What’s not right?” Andrew Lane asked, chewing his apple and raising his eyebrows at her.

“She doesn’t look like Snow White.”

“Ha,” Andrew Lane laughed, “Have you ever seen a real one?”

“You don’t get it.” She shook her head. “I’m not watching anymore, it’s boring.” She shouted, “Can you stop bullying me?”

Andrew Lane turned off the TV, looking a bit helplessly at Zoe Young. She sat on her own sofa, lost in thought, looking a little sad.

“Andrew Lane, what’s your favorite fairy tale?” He was caught off guard by the question and thought for a long time before answering, “Cinderella… What about you?” Zoe Young smiled. “I like ‘The Nightingale,’ by Andersen, about a king and a nightingale.” “I haven’t read it.” Andrew Lane was interested in everything about Zoe Young. “Tell me about it.” “Maybe later.” Zoe Young was surprised at her own words, and a bit awkwardly glanced at Andrew Lane’s desk. “Oh, did your family buy a computer?”

“Yeah,” Andrew Lane nodded, “The computer system at our school is so outdated, it’s still win32.”

But Zoe Young didn’t care at all how bad win32 was. Andrew Lane felt she was a bit distracted, not knowing what she was worried about. Her gaze fell on the cabinet again, and she stared at it blankly for a long time.

Andrew Lane also looked up and immediately saw the yellow cartridge placed in the top left compartment—64-in-1. He had once carefully climbed on a chair to put it there, but had never played it.

“Zoe, why didn’t you want to play with me before?” Even he thought this question was childish, but he really wanted to know.

“No reason.” Zoe Young shook her head, then suddenly smiled. “Andrew Lane, let’s play a game together! Let’s play that cartridge.” Poor 64-in-1, after all these years, not even Brother Joel or the other two had played it. It was Contra again, and the third level again. Zoe Young never seemed to improve, but she wasn’t anxious at all, content to drag Andrew Lane down with her. Andrew Lane didn’t say anything, just stood by and shot to cover her, waiting for her to clumsily catch up.

A simple game took a long time to finish. When playing Chip ‘n Dale, Zoe Young always controlled her little squirrel with a hat to sneak up on her partner Andrew Lane from behind, pick up his squirrel, and throw it at the cobra. Andrew Lane finally couldn’t take it anymore, put down the controller, and rolled his eyes at Zoe Young: “Whatever! Who told you not to dodge?” Andrew Lane was left speechless. Indeed, he was willing—he never dodged, whether in the game or in real life. He bent down, resting his chin on his right hand, and smiled at the GAME OVER screen. “Fine, I’m willing.”

That day, Zoe Young walked home under a sky full of red clouds. Turning around, she could see Andrew Lane’s balcony. He was still standing there, waving at her, and she could almost imagine the silly grin on his face.

She lowered her head, her nose a little sore, and walked away quickly without looking back.

The long graduation ceremony finally ended. No matter what, Fiona James and Zoe Young were among the stars of their year. They, along with Andrew Lane, Charlotte Lee, and others, still appeared at the ceremony, reciting poems or giving speeches as student representatives, each playing their part in the final act.

“You’re going to West City to study?”

“Yeah, No. 35 Middle School. Zoe, which junior high did you decide on?” Zoe Young shook her head mysteriously. “Not telling you, but I’ll write you letters in the future.” Fiona James’s eyes filled with tears. “Zoe, you’re the best girl I’ve ever met.” Zoe Young smiled. “You’ll always be my little swallow.” Luckily, neither of them said, “We’ll always be best friends.”

Zoe Young saw Mr. Hughes from afar, surrounded by students and parents and holding flowers. She stood on the outside and watched for a long time.

Mr. Hughes had tried several times to talk to Zoe Young’s parents, but her mom always sneered, “Insatiable.” A few months ago, her mom finally made time to have a serious talk with Zoe Young about her future.

“What help can your teacher give? She just wants to get a last-minute gift. I’ve already checked out the High School Affiliated to Normal University for you, don’t worry, Zoe.”

“What?” Zoe Young was shocked. “I can go to the Affiliated High School?”

“Why not?” Her mom looked at her, puzzled. “They accept students through connections too. Just pay another twenty thousand yuan for the school building fund, and you can even get into the best class. What’s so hard about that? I was just too busy before, I’ll go take care of it for you tomorrow.”

All the struggles about math competitions and the future could actually be solved with connections and money, and she had thought she was already at a dead end.

An absurd joy appeared on Zoe Young’s face, but it quickly faded.

“But, Mom, I don’t want to go to the Affiliated High School.” She said it clearly, one word at a time. No one was forcing her.

Heroine Zoe Young jumped off the cliff of her own free will. For a stranger.

When the crowd thinned a bit, she gathered her courage and walked up to Mr. Hughes. Mr. Hughes, who was adjusting her corsage, looked up and saw the delicate face of the girl in front of her. She didn’t say any parting words, but instead frowned and brought up the topic of school again.

“Zoe Young, what’s your final decision? I’ve never seen a student as out of line as you. Your student file will be transferred to…”

“Mr. Hughes.” For the first time, Zoe Young interrupted her. “Mr. Hughes, you could actually be a good teacher.” Mr. Hughes was stunned, looking at Zoe Young in confusion. “But you just don’t want to.”

Zoe Young finally said what she’d kept in her heart since first grade, and turned away without hesitation.

Andrew Lane finally escaped the crowded backstage full of parents and students. He ran out the theater doors and just caught sight of Zoe Young’s back as she left with her backpack. “Zoe!” he shouted loudly, without any hesitation—because his parents were both away on a business trip. Zoe Young turned around, and he excitedly grabbed her backpack strap. “Zoe, want to go home together?”

“I have something to do today.” Zoe Young looked down, not meeting his eyes.

Andrew Lane sighed in disappointment. “I see. Then we’ll have to wait until school starts to see each other again. I’ll be going to Europe with my parents for the summer. Dad’s going for business, and he’s taking me and Mom along for a trip. We’ll be gone for a while, so we can’t meet during the holidays. But when school starts, we’ll see each other again. I’ll bring you a present—I’m going to lots of countries.”

Zoe Young forced a smile. “Oh, have fun, and safe travels.” Andrew Lane didn’t notice anything strange, and kept talking to himself. “Do you think we’ll be in the same class this time?” Zoe Young looked up, her eyes showing emotions he couldn’t understand. She moved her lips as if to say something, but in the end, it just became a smile. “Yeah, maybe, maybe… we’ll be in the same class.” See you then.