After My Crush Came Back from the Dead - Chapter 1

Qi Yuan carried the test papers and handouts needed for the next class and walked out of the fourth-floor office with the class monitor.

It was already November, the beginning of winter. Slanting wind and dense rain fell from the sky, drifting into the corridor in chilly waves. The two of them shuddered all over from the wind-blown rain and could not help shrinking their necks as they quickened their pace.

The class monitor hissed as she drew in cold breaths and sighed, “It’s so cold…”

Qi Yuan smiled and nodded. “Yeah.”

The class monitor hugged the exercise books tighter, folding her hands over one another for warmth. Full of anticipation, she said, “But winter vacation is almost here too, isn’t it?”

Qi Yuan mercilessly interrupted her. “Don’t forget we still have extra classes.”

The class monitor thought about it and realized she was right, so her face immediately fell as she shook her head.

In the first semester of senior year, everything felt tense and rushed. At some point, white chalk marks counting down the days until the college entrance exam had appeared on the back blackboard. The homework assigned by the teachers also piled up like snowflakes, and all their schoolwork quietly grew heavier without anyone noticing.

Seeing the class monitor’s expression gradually turn gloomy, Qi Yuan changed the subject. The two of them chatted and laughed as they slowly walked forward. After they left the office area, the sounds of playful noise suddenly grew louder.

The long break between classes, when they did not have to do morning exercises, was always noisy. But because it was too cold today, many students were gathered in the classrooms in small groups, chatting together. The long corridor was empty, with only a few scattered figures.

Just as the two of them passed the corner by the stairwell, someone suddenly rushed out from the corner and crashed into Qi Yuan. Qi Yuan could not dodge in time. She only felt both her hands go numb, and amid the class monitor’s startled cry, the papers in her arms scattered all over the ground with a rustling crash.

The class monitor quickly put down the handouts in her arms and leaned forward anxiously. “Qi Yuan, are you okay?!”

Qi Yuan rubbed her numb hands and gently shook her head. “I’m fine.”

She turned to look at the culprit, only to freeze.

Feeling Qi Yuan’s gaze, the disheveled girl froze in place, her face slowly flushing red. She twisted her fingers together awkwardly and forced out a dry, pained voice. “I’m sorry…”

Qi Yuan recognized her. This girl’s name was Lu Xin. She was their classmate, usually quiet and inconspicuous in class. After a pause, Qi Yuan smiled gently and said, “It’s okay. Are you hurt?”

Lu Xin stared blankly at Qi Yuan. After a long while, she finally came back to herself and stammered, “I-I’m fine…” When she bent down, wanting to help organize the papers on the floor, the class monitor reached out and stopped her.

“We’ll handle it.”

She glanced at the mud and dirty water on the other girl’s shoes and clothes, then frowned. “You should go to the restroom and clean yourself up first.”

Lu Xin lowered her head and saw her own hands covered in muddy water. Her eyes immediately reddened. She instinctively hid her hands behind her back and hurried away.

When Lu Xin left, she brought a gust of wind with her. Qi Yuan was a little dazed as she watched Lu Xin’s limping figure disappear at the end of the corridor.

The class monitor bent down and helped her pick up the last fallen paper, sighing softly as she did. “Lu Xin is really pitiful. She was probably picked on again.”

“Do people often bully her?”

“It’s just Li Shanglu and her group,” the class monitor said casually.

Li Shanglu was the leader of the delinquent girls in their class. She had connections outside of school and was quite influential throughout the entire grade. Originally, a bad student like her should not have been in the key class Qi Yuan was in. But Li Shanglu’s family was no ordinary family. They had money, power, and background. They donated a library and forced their daughter in, so the teachers could only turn a blind eye.

“Lu Xin seems introverted and doesn’t talk much,” the class monitor said. “Li Shanglu and the others probably just see that she has no background, no presence, and doesn’t dare fight back, so they keep making trouble for her.”

Qi Yuan looked thoughtful and said softly, “Let’s go. We should head back to class first.”

Lu Xin hid inside a stall.

The restroom was damp and cold. When she rushed in, several girls had moved aside with shocked expressions.

Even without looking in the mirror, she knew how miserable she looked. Unfortunately, Qi Yuan had seen her in this filthy state. She had no idea what Qi Yuan would think.

During the break, she had watched Qi Yuan and the class monitor leave the classroom. Thinking it could not possibly be such a coincidence that she would run into them, she had gone out of the classroom to answer Li Shanglu’s invitation. But her luck was always bad. Qi Yuan had ended up seeing her in such a sorry state anyway.

A numb sadness spread through her heart.

She actually no longer cared much about other people’s gazes. Yet in the blink of an eye, she had run into Qi Yuan. Being looked at so lightly by the other girl made her feel as if her whole body had frozen over, as if she had been scanned from head to toe by an X-ray, leaving every dark corner with nowhere to hide.

“I’m done for,” she whispered.

The pungent smell of ammonia irritated her nerves. Lu Xin lowered her head and leaned against the door, silently wiping her eyes with her sleeve. Only after all her tears had dried did she regain a tiny bit of strength. She stood up from the toilet, lowered her head, and pushed open the stall door.

A handkerchief appeared in her line of sight. Lu Xin froze.

“I’ve been waiting for you for a long time,” the owner of the handkerchief said softly. Looking at the other girl, who was still damp all over, she froze as well. “Why didn’t you clean yourself up a little?”

Lu Xin thought she was dreaming.

She took the handkerchief and stared foolishly at the other girl—Qi Yuan was holding a clean set of school uniform and plugging a hair dryer into the outlet. She waved at Lu Xin. “Come here. I’ll help you dry off.”

Lu Xin walked over stiffly, almost moving the same arm and leg together.

Qi Yuan looked her up and down. “I think you should change into the uniform first. Then I’ll help you dry your hair.” She hung the uniform in her hand on the hook inside the stall and said, “I borrowed this from the teacher for you. Remember to return it tomorrow.”

Lu Xin blinked, her expression wooden, like a docile yet clumsy bear that had fallen into water.

Qi Yuan blinked back. “Hurry and wipe yourself clean, then change your clothes.” She could not hold back the smile on her face. “Why aren’t you moving? Do you want me to help you change?”

Lu Xin clenched the handkerchief tightly, her ears red as she rushed into the stall. She covered her face with the handkerchief and let out a long, regretful sigh. That white handkerchief was giving off the same fresh, clean fragrance as Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan leaned against the stall door, one hand in her pocket, boredly playing a match-three game.

The restroom was filled with cheerful music, as well as the rustling sound of someone changing clothes. She could not help thinking back to Lu Xin’s disheveled appearance just now. The school uniform had hung loosely over her thin body, empty and baggy, like a pale portrait.

Lu Xin was actually not ugly. She could even be considered delicate and pretty. But her appearance was too frail, and her personality was mild and reserved. Among the many outstanding honor students, she seemed completely unremarkable.

They had been classmates for two years, yet Qi Yuan had very little impression of her. Earlier had also been the first time she had truly looked at Lu Xin seriously.

Lu Xin did not want to make her wait too long, so she soon came out wearing the new uniform.

The uniform was not particularly large, but she really was very thin. Her whole body was wrapped in the red-and-white fabric, leaving huge gaps around the pant legs and sleeves. Feeling Qi Yuan’s gaze, she turned her head away, not daring to meet her eyes.

Lu Xin kept feeling as though she were inside a beautiful dream. When she opened her eyes again, Qi Yuan was holding the hair dryer and drying her hair for her. Her touch was measured and her movements gentle. The warm wind made Lu Xin dazed and sleepy.

She tilted her head and looked at the mirror above the sink. In the mirror, Qi Yuan was holding a comb, gently brushing from the top of her head down to the ends of her hair. The hot air made Lu Xin narrow her eyes.

Looking at Qi Yuan in the mirror, she whispered, “…Thank you.”

Qi Yuan glanced at her through the mirror and said softly, “You’re welcome.” She combed Lu Xin’s long hair neatly, then patted her head and said, “All right. That’s about enough.”

Lu Xin immediately stood up and looked at her cautiously.

For some reason, that action made Qi Yuan think of a timid little animal. She could not help smiling. “Then let’s go back to the classroom.” Her face was delicate and beautiful, and when she smiled, it felt like a spring breeze. Lu Xin’s heart fluttered, and she hurriedly started walking.

The two of them headed back to the classroom together.

The long break was almost over, but the classroom was still bustling.

However, when Qi Yuan and Lu Xin stepped over the threshold at the same time, everything went quiet. Everyone watched this never-before-seen pair walk in hand in hand, their eyes widening one after another.

Under everyone’s stare, Lu Xin’s scalp went numb. She took the initiative to stop and stammered, “Thank you. I’ll go back first…”

Qi Yuan looked at her with a faint smile that was not quite a smile, watching as she walked back to her seat and sat down in a daze.

Qi Yuan’s deskmate leaned over and patted her shoulder, asking in surprise, “You and Lu Xin? What’s going on? Are you two close?”

She was famously loose-lipped. Although she had repeatedly said she would keep secrets, she always ended up unable to stop herself from leaking the news.

Qi Yuan avoided her hand without a trace and explained lightly, “No. Not really.”

She sat down, propped her chin on her hand, and looked at Lu Xin’s back with a thoughtful expression.