The Rooftop Gift and a Lingering Obsession

Lin Ling was momentarily bewildered. For something so utterly unexpected, he found himself utterly devoid of a response.

“I transferred to Class Three simply because the pressure in Class One was too overwhelming. That’s why I moved.”

Qin Ruoxue, however, was far from swayed by Chen Sishi’s explanation. She swiftly and decisively pointed out the girl’s glaring flaw.

“Then why didn’t you go to Class Two? Or Class Four?”

New City Private High School had a total of ten classes this year. Excluding the premier Class One, there were still nine other classes Chen Sishi could have chosen from. This meant a one-in-nine chance; why, then, had she specifically joined Class Three? Moreover, she was the one who had been following Lin Ling that day, which only deepened the suspicion.

Yet, in the face of Qin Ruoxue’s pointed questions, Chen Sishi replied with remarkable nonchalance.

“I just happen to like Class Three, what’s wrong with that?”

Rubbing his throbbing temples, Lin Ling felt as though this lunch had nearly cost him a pint of blood. Fortunately, midway through their argument, Qin Ruoxue suddenly had to leave due to an urgent matter. She mentioned needing to prepare a blackboard drawing this afternoon and had to return early to gather materials.

Watching Qin Ruoxue depart into the distance, a triumphant expression finally bloomed on Chen Sishi’s face.

The troublesome impediment was finally gone, meaning Lin Ling was now hers alone. Clinging stubbornly to his hand, the two of them returned to the academic building.

As per their agreement from yesterday, Chen Sishi headed directly to the rooftop. Lin Ling, having tucked the workbook into his backpack, needed to retrieve it from the classroom.

At last, Lin Ling could be apart from her for a brief moment, though he still needed to retrieve the item quickly. If he broke their agreement, Chen Sishi might become highly unpredictable.

Lin Ling had no desire to test that theory, nor did he dare. Snatching the workbook in haste, he raced towards the rooftop without delay.

Pushing open the rooftop door, the scorching sunlight glared blindingly off the white ground. The silver-haired girl stood at the edge of the rooftop, her lustrous silver hair gently ruffled by the warm breeze.

Lin Ling stared, utterly captivated, one hand still poised as if pushing the door. The girl, sensing movement behind her, turned to reveal a gentle smile.

“Lin Ling, how do you find the view from here?”

“Ah, *cough, cough*, it’s quite… quite beautiful.”

Clearing his throat awkwardly, Lin Ling tucked the workbook behind his back and slowly advanced. As he reached the girl’s side, he glanced down to see the bustling students below.

Lin Ling wasn’t particularly fond of this feeling of looking down upon everyone from above.

“So, Lin Ling, what do you have for me?”

The girl’s voice chimed in his ear, and Lin Ling’s lips curved into a slight smile as he feigned mystery.

“Why don’t you guess?”

“Eh? You want me to guess…?”

“Let me think first.”

With that, Chen Sishi fell into contemplation. Observing her seemingly harmless demeanor, Lin Ling couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. It seemed she wouldn’t do anything outrageous after all.

“Roses?”

Hearing her answer, Lin Ling shook his head with a faint smile. Noticing his denial, Chen Sishi’s brow furrowed slightly before she inquired again.

“Then… chocolate?”

“Not that either…”

“Then what is it?”

Deciding the time was right, Lin Ling slowly produced the workbook from behind his back. The smile on the girl’s face froze, and she gazed at the boy before her with profound confusion.

“You’re giving me this?”

“Ah, haha, that’s right…”

*Gulp*~

Lin Ling’s Adam’s apple bobbed. For some reason, he found Chen Sishi exceptionally terrifying at that moment. His hand, clutching the workbook, was slick with cold sweat. Fortunately, Chen Sishi’s unsettling expression quickly reverted to normal.

“Alright, if it’s something Lin Ling is giving me, then I’ll accept it.”

Exhaling a ragged breath, Lin Ling relaxed now that Chen Sishi had taken the workbook from his hand.

Thankfully, things hadn’t spiraled into his worst-case scenario. He had envisioned Chen Sishi going berserk, pushing him off the rooftop, and the two of them dying together in a lovers’ suicide.

“Shall we go then? Class is about to start.”

“You go back first. I’ll stay a little longer.”

While puzzled as to why Chen Sishi wished to remain on the rooftop, Lin Ling didn’t ask, instead fleeing down from the rooftop as if escaping.

****

Gazing at the boy’s retreating figure, Chen Sishi opened the workbook to its first page. Neatly inscribed upon it were the characters ‘Lin Ling’. Staring at them, she felt her heart pound furiously.

*Thump~ Thump*~

“Ah, haha, Lin Ling, Lin Ling, my heart is beating just for you.”

“But you still seem afraid of me. I don’t think I’ve done anything to you yet, have I? So why… why are you afraid of me?”

The unhealthy pallor on her face became increasingly pronounced. Finally, she pressed the workbook against her own face. Chen Sishi frantically inhaled its scent, yet it lacked the fragrance she desired.

Her grip on the workbook tightened, growing ever more desperate, until the cover was entirely crumpled. Only then did she release her hold, cradling it tenderly in her arms as if it were a precious treasure.

****

Back in the classroom, Lin Ling felt a persistent unease, as if something sought to consume him. He pulled out the jade pendant hanging around his neck, and feeling its residual warmth, clasped it tightly in his palm.

*Ding-a-ling*~

The bell finally rang, and at that very moment, a rustling sound came from behind him. A familiar fragrance wafted into Lin Ling’s nostrils—unmistakably Chen Sishi’s.

Knowing she had returned, Lin Ling nudged his chair forward, then slumped onto his desk, feigning a nap.

The afternoon passed swiftly, and strangely enough, Chen Sishi hadn’t spoken much or bothered Lin Ling since returning from the rooftop. This realization sparked a sudden surge of joy in Lin Ling’s heart.

‘Ha, I truly am a genius. Chen Sishi’s favorable impression of me must have dropped considerably by now, right?’

He mused contentedly, unaware that the silver-haired girl was currently sprawled over that very workbook, the sickly flush on her face showing no signs of fading.

Having finished her work of drawing and writing on the blackboard, Qin Ruoxue nodded with satisfaction. After snapping a photo and sending it to the homeroom teacher, she turned and returned to her seat.

Her gaze inadvertently swept over the two individuals on the other side, and Qin Ruoxue found it somewhat peculiar.

Chen Sishi was consistently ranked among the top ten students in the entire grade. By all accounts, she should have been studying diligently at all times. So why was she sleeping at her desk today?

After a moment of thought, Qin Ruoxue decided she might be overthinking things and chose not to bother her.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, dismissal finally arrived. Lin Ling, whose bag had long been packed, shot out of the classroom like a cannonball, leaving his classmates stunned. ‘When did that kid get so fast?’ they wondered.

‘It’s no joke,’ he thought. ‘If I don’t run fast enough, it’ll be trouble if Chen Sishi catches up.’

Qin Ruoxue, who had just finished packing her bag, had originally intended to walk home with Lin Ling today. However, when she turned, she found Lin Ling’s seat empty. Looking at the faintly smiling Chen Sishi with a puzzled expression, Qin Ruoxue asked.

“Where’s Lin Ling?”

“Oh, he left. Probably made a run for it.”

Frowning as she scrutinized Chen Sishi’s current expression, Qin Ruoxue had a nagging feeling that something was amiss. She quickly slung her backpack on and rushed out.

Only then did Chen Sishi retrieve her phone, open a chat interface, and type a line of text. –He has a tracker on him, just follow the location. Remember, don’t scare him. Wait for me to get there.–