The Route 107 bus finally arrived, one of the few remaining diesel-fueled vehicles still operating in Nanling. Its fog lights were on, yet only half of them illuminated, giving the bus a remarkably dilapidated appearance even from afar.
Upon the bus’s arrival, Qin Zixin’s mind instantly connected it to school, then to classes, and a sudden wave of drowsiness washed over her. Even the coffee she had just consumed failed to combat the overwhelming fatigue, prompting her to yawn once more. Her thought process, particularly concerning these connections, always seemed remarkably erratic.
Qin Zixin boarded the bus, carried along by the stream of passengers. With only a few empty seats remaining, she selected one near the rear door and settled in.
She spotted the chubby man who had been secretly photographing her, his expression furtive as he boarded the bus. Qin Zixin’s gaze immediately fixed on him, and the man, noticing her scrutiny, instinctively recoiled. Yet, with no other seats available except the one directly in front of Qin Zixin, he reluctantly shuffled forward, managing an embarrassed smile.
Qin Zixin, however, showed no mercy, fixing him with a disdainful gaze that bordered on contempt, as though he were nothing more than trash.
“Hey, you fat slob, hand over your phone.”
“Huh?”
The chubby man swallowed hard, unable to suppress a shiver that rippled through him, causing the two mounds of flesh on his chest to jiggle. He wore a school uniform, the emblem of Nanling No. 1 High School prominently displayed on his right chest, pushed upward by a noticeable bulge, creating an inexplicably jarring and somewhat offensive sight.
“I don’t think I have a phone on me.”
“No phone? Then what exactly is that in your hand?”
The chubby man’s face twitched as he grudgingly surrendered his phone to Qin Zixin, his expression a mask of bitterness. He instantly regretted not having checked his camera before attempting the illicit photos. On forums, others seemed to get away with such acts, even earning deferential ‘big brother’ titles. Why, then, was he so exceptionally unlucky on his very first attempt?
Qin Zixin took the phone, and upon witnessing his mortified expression, she burst into laughter. Her jade-like cheeks, luminous as snow, and her gracefully arched brows, radiated an unparalleled, captivating beauty. She leaned slightly forward, and the partially concealed, profound cleavage came into view, a captivating sight that enhanced her exquisite charm, much like the final, vital stroke in a painting.
As the delicate, fragrant scent of the young woman wafted towards him, the chubby man felt as though a goddess had descended to the mortal realm. Yet, the distinct look of disdain in her eyes as she regarded him was unmistakable.
But that, he decided, was inconsequential.
The chubby man’s eyes trembled, his mouth suddenly parched. He found himself in a dilemma: to gaze at Qin Zixin’s chest would undeniably brand him a lecher, yet to avert his eyes felt like an unforgivable waste.
Despite his recent transgression of secretly taking photos, with Qin Zixin now so close, he felt it would be an absolute squandering of a rare opportunity not to steal another glance.
“Hey, enter the password.”
Qin Zixin’s tone was sharp, yet as her crimson, cherry-like lips parted, her breath emerged as sweet as orchids. The chubby man’s lips were pursed high, but being a coward, he dutifully entered the password.
[ ‘Good heavens? You actually took someone else’s phone?’ ]
The System clicked its tongue in astonishment, genuinely surprised that Qin Zixin’s disposition could become so assertive. Based on its understanding of the ‘little thorny one,’ she typically didn’t require its prompting, preferring to distance herself from any trouble.
[ ‘Of course! Don’t you know who I am?!’ ]
[ ‘I haven’t even praised you, and you, a southern bumpkin, are already getting ahead of yourself.’ ]
[ ‘Hey! My Mandarin is perfectly standard, how dare you call me a bumpkin?!’ ]
[ ‘Why? Because you speak in dialect! Stop blabbering, what are you doing with his phone?’ ]
[ ‘Deleting photos, and checking out the phone while I’m at it.’ ]
Qin Zixin couldn’t help but purse her lips. While she typically chose not to engage with the System, she invariably sensed its peculiar air of superiority, a trait commonly observed online among certain pretentious ‘cyber-Beijingers.’ The chubby man’s phone screensaver, notably, depicted Master Chief, the iconic protagonist from the renowned game *Halo*, encased in his formidable Mjolnir Powered Assault Armor.
[ ‘Holy crap, this screensaver is too classic. I used to stir up trouble on Reddit, and avatars like this were the easiest to provoke, squirming for a day like maggots if you poked them. In real life, they’re basically shut-ins who get out of breath just climbing stairs.’ ]
[ ‘How many floors can you climb in one go? You complain endlessly after climbing six flights of stairs to your classroom.’ ]
[ ‘But seriously, this phone screen is truly excellent. Hey, what do you think if I buy an older model from that Korean brand next?’ ]
[ ‘Not good.’ ]
The System felt a headache brewing. This stubborn girl was clearly set on getting a new phone, yet if she were to acquire an expensive one, there was absolutely no way Tang Yuyu would approve.
[ ‘What’s wrong with you today? You dare to demand a stranger’s phone? Are you in puberty? Is your temper flaring?’ ]
[ ‘Hmph, you won’t buy me one anyway, so I can’t even get a feel for it? It’s his fault for looking so cowardly; if he’d been a bit fiercer, I wouldn’t have gone this far.’ ]
[ ‘Being a bully who picks on the weak and fears the strong is just that, no need for fancy excuses. Tang Yuyu’s monthly allowance of twelve hundred is absolutely sufficient. If you were to eat a little less and save for three months, you would undoubtedly have enough for a new phone.’ ]
In 2013, a substantial meat bun cost merely one yuan, and a typical bowl of wontons was around eight yuan, signifying that twelve hundred yuan still commanded considerable purchasing power. Yet, even with supplementary income, Qin Zixin could only ever manage to save a meager thousand or eight hundred for emergencies.
[ ‘Uh, um… no! This money is only enough for food. What if I become malnourished?!’ ]
Qin Zixin, recalling precisely where her money typically vanished, felt her jade-like cheeks flush. Yet, with her characteristic thick skin and stubbornness, she instinctively launched into a rapid-fire series of excuses.
Beyond a few accessories, her funds invariably went towards food and drink. She could never resist exploring a newly opened small restaurant, always eager to sample its offerings. As a child, she had even consumed an eraser, an incident that culminated in a hospital visit for a stomach pump and a thorough beating from Tang Yuyu.
Indeed, the majority of her monthly allowance was invariably spent on food.
The System, too weary to engage with the incorrigible girl, opted for silence, considering it a means to secure its own peace.
Noting the System’s silence, Qin Zixin finally redirected her attention to the chubby man, handing him back his phone.
“Hey, fatty, I’ve deleted your photos. Next time you decide to take secret pictures, at least do your preparation properly, you absolute idiot. Also, your wallpaper is truly tacky.”
The chubby man instantly became agitated.
“I’m, uh, my name is Fang Qiyun. This is a really popular game abroad!”
“Right, right, right, *Halo*, who doesn’t know that? On foreign forums, anyone using Master Chief as an avatar is generally assumed to be a sexless nerd who can only rant online.”
Qin Zixin tilted her head back, her face a mask of utter indifference. Yet, the chubby man opposite her grew increasingly agitated, his face flushing then paling with excitement. The flesh on his face jiggled so violently that Qin Zixin half-expected grease to be rendered from him.
“You’ve played this? I thought only a few people played this game, let alone girls.”
“Oh please, do girls not play games? And you think this one is niche? Resources are everywhere, it even has Chinese voice acting. Truly niche games don’t even have translations; I might not even recognize them.”
Fang Qiyun felt a pang of annoyance at the stereotypical impression of girls, though Qin Zixin, not truly seeing herself as purely feminine, remained largely unfazed. As they conversed about games throughout the journey, Fang Qiyun gradually shed his initial awkward shyness, his conversation eventually drifting towards recent anime.
The chubby man was astonished to discover that the wildly popular school beauty of Nanlin Experimental High School, a sensation across forums, was remarkably well-versed in ‘two-dimensional’ culture. Not only had she delved into numerous mainstream otaku-oriented games and anime, but she also played many niche titles and could even rattle off a surprising number of ‘gentlemanly’ mods.
The two conversed at length, eventually adding each other as QQ friends. During their chat, Qin Zixin subtly dropped several memes related to the protagonist of ‘Koi Fan,’ making a few discreetly suggestive jokes. While others might not have caught on, Fang Qiyun was clearly no ordinary person.
The chubby man instantly became animated, feeling as though he had encountered his very own Venus. He was just about to delve deeper into ‘that’ particular plotline when the Route 107 bus arrived at the Nanlin Experimental High School stop.
For Fang Qiyun, it was the first time he earnestly wished the bus would proceed at a slower pace.
Perceiving the imminent stop, Qin Zixin brought their conversation to a close. She smiled, waved at Fang Qiyun, and rose from her seat. However, as the bus pulled into the station, the driver executed an abrupt brake, causing Qin Zixin to nearly lose her footing. Seeing her falter, Fang Qiyun hastily rose, intending to steady her, but Qin Zixin regained her balance with remarkable swiftness. Instead, it was Fang Qiyun who, having stood too abruptly, stumbled forward with the sudden brake.
Fortunately, Qin Zixin’s quick reflexes saved him; she swiftly grabbed Fang Qiyun by the collar, preventing his head from colliding with the seatback in front. Fang Qiyun slumped onto the floor, panting heavily, so startled that his saliva escaped, landing right on Qin Zixin’s hand.
“Ew~”
Qin Zixin grimaced in disgust, wiping the spot on her small hand, now stained with saliva, against Fang Qiyun’s chest several times before exiting the bus without a backward glance.
Fang Qiyun, meanwhile, was still savoring the sensation of Qin Zixin’s hand wiping against his chest. Though unsure of the first impression he had left on her, he now understood the meaning of ‘soft as boneless.’ Qin Zixin’s small hand, sculpted like the finest white jade, was incredibly smooth and delicate; he could feel its snowy tenderness even through his school uniform.
Fang Qiyun felt a rush of blood to his head. After a long moment, he finally picked himself up from the floor and returned to his seat. The several young boys from Nanling No. 1 High School, who had been watching their entire interaction, now regarded Fang Qiyun with unconcealed envy and jealousy.
****
Before entering the classroom, Qin Zixin removed her mask and sun hat. Early September in Nanling City still brought considerable heat, and climbing six flights of stairs had left a thin sheen of sweat on her skin, making it appear even more lustrous, as if glazed. Her fair face was faintly flushed. Her attire instantly drew a multitude of gazes upon her entrance.
Qin Zixin inwardly grumbled about the leadership, convinced they cared only for superficial appearances, unwilling even to install an elevator for a six-story building.
Her beauty and figure could not be concealed even by the ugliest school uniform, let alone the powder-blue camisole dress she wore today. It accentuated her figure while maintaining a certain understated elegance, a contradictory aesthetic that in later eras would be termed ‘pure and seductive.’ But young people in this era had yet to encounter such a style.
In 2013, the ‘kill matt’ internet subculture was still prevalent.
Even when standing still, she exuded an alluring presence. Outside, among strangers, it was mostly fine, but entering the classroom and encountering acquaintances in such an unconventional outfit brought a strange sense of shame.
Completely disregarding the mixed gazes—jealousy, admiration, astonishment—Qin Zixin walked to her seat with an impassive expression.
Reaching her spot, Qin Zixin set down her bag. Having just climbed six flights, she felt a little breathless and exhaled slowly.
As soon as she sat down, her chiffon silk blouse slipped to the sides, one strap of her silk dress sliding off her shoulder. A small expanse of her skin, like jade and snow, was exposed. Beneath the powder-blue silk camisole dress, a pure white cotton lace-edged undergarment cradled her rounded, full contours, creating an exaggerated, high, and voluminous curve.
The thin silk fabric faintly revealed the embroidered patterns on her undergarment, while her smooth, delicate, snow-white skin glowed alluringly beneath the sheer silk. Her proud assets playfully trembled in rhythm with her gentle breaths.
Qin Zixin sighed, feeling the heat. She slipped off her chiffon blouse, crumpled it into a ball, and casually stuffed it into her drawer.