Give Me Another Smile

Fang Ling followed Tang Yu to her seat like a tail, watching Tang Yu put her schoolbag down and the bottle of goat's milk into her drawer.

Confused, Fang Ling asked, “Aren't you going to drink it? My mom says that goat's milk is the 'King of Milk' and drinking it is good for your body.
She won't let me leave home without drinking at least a bottle every morning.”

In response, Tang Yu shook her head and lightly said, “I don't like it.”

“Oh.”

“Which problem is troubling you? Let me take a look.”

“Okay!” Remembering what she was here for, Fang Ling quickly dashed back to her seat to retrieve her test paper.

…

“Yin Zhao-an, someone outside is looking for you,” a girl who had just entered the class said to Yin Zhao-an.

Yin Zhao-an snapped out of her daze when she heard the girl's words.
However, when she turned to the door, she found that, sure enough, the person outside wasn't her Tang-Tang.

Zhao Yu carried a book in his hands, his eyes sparkling when he saw Yin Zhao-an walking over.
“Didn't you say you were looking for this book last time? I found it for you.”

Yin Zhao-an glanced at the book's title—No Longer Human.

Yin Zhao-an didn't know what the book was about.
She only knew that Tang Yu loved it very much.
When they were living together before, she would always see this book in Tang Yu's schoolbag.

Yin Zhao-an accepted the book.
It was a thick book with a gray cover.
At first glance, it gave off a feeling of oppression.

Gently caressing the book's cover, she looked at it with an inquiring gaze.

“That… This bookmark is for you,” Zhao Yu said, feigning calmness as he handed Yin Zhao-an a bookmark.
In reality, though, his eyes were filled with anxiety and expectations.

Yin Zhao-an did not refuse the carved bookmark.
After accepting it, she smiled at Zhao Yu and said, “Thanks a lot!”

Zhao Yu hurriedly left after leaving behind a “No problem.” Yin Zhao-an did not mind the boy and returned to the classroom with the book and bookmark in hand.

Yin Zhao-an quietly looked at the well-preserved book, her mind wondering what the book contained that it managed to intrigue Tang Yu so much.

…

Yin Zhao-an was the first to rush out of the classroom when recess started.
It was a stark contrast to her usual leisurely pace.
Even the teacher couldn't help but be stunned by her behavior.

…

Tang Yu had just finished tidying her desk and was about to head to the cafeteria's noodle shop.
However, before she could leave the classroom, she got stopped by a panting Yin Zhao-an.

Yin Zhao-an was so out of breath her face had turned red.
Even so, she held onto Tang Yu's arm tightly without letting go.
Then, she met Tang Yu's gaze and said, “Let's…
Let's have lunch together.”

Tang Yu lowered her gaze slightly, not knowing what she should say when she saw Yin Zhao-an's other hand firmly protecting two lunch boxes.
Ultimately, she nodded in response.
Then, she saw Yin Zhao-an breaking into a relieved smile.

Tang Yu suddenly felt as if she was bullying a child.
Rubbing the tip of her nose in embarrassment, she took one of the lunch boxes out of Yin Zhao-an's hand and said, “Come on in, then.”

Yin Zhao-an ate exceptionally quietly today, even quieter than Tang Yu.

Amidst the silence, Tang Yu looked around the classroom.
Only a few people remained in the room, and they were doing their own things.
Seeing this, she leaned forward and said in a hushed voice, “You really don't need to bring me lunch.
I can eat in the cafeteria.”

Yin Zhao-an slowly raised her eyes, the usual luster in those eyes all but gone.
Then, she said, “No.”