Sang Ning rubbed her ears. The phone navigation didn’t show the Wenyuan Building marker. She asked several people in succession, but she couldn’t hear clearly and still wandered around like a headless fly.
September in Birch City was hot. Fine sweat beaded on Sang Ning’s forehead, and her tinnitus worsened as anxiety and frustration swelled.
She was always unlucky. Her ears already couldn’t hear clearly, and right after starting school, her hearing aid had broken. In this unfamiliar environment, she felt especially lonely and helpless.
As she passed the gravel path in front of the teaching building, a slender figure appeared. Sang Ning looked up and saw a pretty girl who must be a senior student.
From not too far away, she abruptly called out to her, “Senior…”
Shen Tingwan stopped at the sound and turned her gaze to the quiet girl who had spoken, offering a polite smile.
Sang Ning stared at her blankly for a second, intending to ask for directions again. Steel yourself, she thought, and asked, “Excuse me, how do I get to the Wenyuan Building?”
Shen Tingwan guessed she was a freshman still unfamiliar with the labyrinthine campus. She patiently gave the shortest route.
Sang Ning’s eyes dimmed. Her broken ears hadn’t caught it again, but she could sense the other girl’s gentleness. She bit her lip, mustered her courage, and said with a smile, “I have a hearing impairment. My ears can’t hear clearly. Could you write it down for me?”
This was the first time she had so openly and proactively admitted that she was hard of hearing.
Shen Tingwan paused briefly.
Sang Ning smiled awkwardly, regretting her words. How strange. The other girl would surely look at her with odd eyes now—curious or pitying. She’d experienced that too many times and was used to it.
Shen Tingwan’s expression didn’t change. She opened her phone’s notes app, typed a line, and held up her phone with a smile.
[I’m going that way. I can go with you.]
Sang Ning stared at the words in a daze, her eyes suddenly heating up. She hadn’t looked at her with any strange gaze at all…
Seeing her eyes redden but her smile stubborn, Shen Tingwan said warmly with a laugh, “Let’s go.”
Sang Ning read the simple lip movements and nodded foolishly.
The bell rang, signaling the end of class. Students noisily streamed out of classrooms, making the campus even more chaotic.
Sang Ning always felt particularly unsafe in noisy environments, but at that moment, she felt secure because of this stranger.
The two walked along a small path without speaking.
Sang Ning occasionally glanced at the person beside her. So pretty. She wore a light-colored shirt and jeans, with soft long hair reaching her back. She had a fresh, pleasant faint fragrance and gave off a gentle, comfortable feeling.
Walking quietly like this, Sang Ning’s irritable mood suddenly calmed a great deal.
In less than ten minutes, Sang Ning arrived at her destination. Her eyes filled with gratitude. “Thank you, Senior.”
Shen Tingwan smiled faintly. “You’re welcome.”
Sang Ning stared at the retreating back. After a moment, she realized she hadn’t even asked for the girl’s major or name, or exchanged contact info… She hesitated about chasing after her to ask but in the end stood there awkwardly, watching the figure fade into the distance.
A few days later, it started raining in Birch City.
Her new hearing aid was fitted, amplifying the sounds around her ears. Sang Ning regained her sense of security as she stood on the dorm balcony listening to the rain for a long time. She didn’t mind the rain’s noise; hearing it made her feel at ease.
“Sang Ning,” Tan Xiaoqiu called to her. “Going to the cafeteria for dinner?”
“Sure.”
Sang Ning went to the cafeteria with Tan Xiaoqiu.
Of everyone in the dorm, she was closest to Tan Xiaoqiu. At first, it was because Tan Xiaoqiu had a loud voice, making communication easier. Later, she discovered Tan Xiaoqiu was actually a thoughtful girl—for instance, when Sang Ning missed what a roommate said, Tan Xiaoqiu would casually repeat it.
The cafeteria was full of freshmen who hadn’t yet tired of the food.
They ordered stone pot bibimbap from the window and found an empty table to sit at.
Tan Xiaoqiu mixed her rice while chatting idly. “Clubs are recruiting at the end of the month. Which one do you want to join?”
Sang Ning didn’t love socializing, but to earn credits, everyone usually joined two or three clubs. She thought for a moment. She’d probably pick a quieter one. “Reading club or calligraphy and painting society?”
Tan Xiaoqiu said, “I want to join the calligraphy and painting society too. Together?”
Sang Ning smiled. “Okay.”
There were many activities for freshmen, but Sang Ning’s life was uneventful. Her hearing impairment made simple communication troublesome, and her introverted nature shied away from hassle. Aside from going out with Tan Xiaoqiu, she often kept to herself. People who didn’t know her thought she was aloof and cold, but those who did knew she was just not good at socializing and actually had a gentle personality.
In late September, the school held a welcome party for the new academic year. Sang Ning hadn’t signed up for any performance, so she naturally became part of the audience.
Noisy environments made her uncomfortable, so unlike others who enjoyed the event happily, she just stared woodenly at the stage, watching one program after another.
That evening, Sang Mingjuan sent her a WeChat message asking if she was adjusting to her new life.
Sang Ning told Sang Mingjuan she was and sent a happy emoji. She was used to sharing only good news with her family. Saying she wasn’t adjusting would just worry them needlessly. She knew Sang Mingjuan already had it hard enough.
The host continued announcing programs.
Sang Ning was lost in thought with her head down when a clear gasp rose from the audience.
“Wow…”
“The senior is such a goddess.”
Sang Ning looked up toward the stage amid the exclamations. A girl in a white long dress walked gracefully into the spotlight and sat at the piano.
Once she recognized the person on stage, Sang Ning’s drowsy mood vanished instantly. Sitting in the front row, she could see the side profile clearly—it was the senior she’d met that day.
Tonight, with stage makeup, she looked elegant and radiant amid her gentleness.
Sang Ning watched the stage intently, her heartbeat inexplicably quickening with the piano melody. Her emotions were usually subdued, and she never paid attention to others, but the person on stage captivated her at first sight.
With a strange new feeling, she watched the entire solo performance, her gaze following that beautiful figure until the curtain call ended.
Sang Ning clutched the program booklet and, under the dim light, searched for the piano solo…
She learned her name.
Shen Tingwan.
After the event ended, the girls around her were still talking. “That senior who played piano was so beautiful.”
“Shen Tingwan, the super talented senior.”
“Even her name sounds nice!”
Sang Ning perked up her ears to listen and learned that the senior who had helped her was a campus celebrity.
From that day on, Sang Ning subconsciously paid attention to anything related to “Shen Tingwan.” Whenever she heard others mention her, she listened closely.
In her quiet life, she silently added a bit of attention and care.
Not long after the welcome party came club recruitment season, the liveliest time on campus.
Sang Ning had already decided on the clubs she wanted, but Tan Xiaoqiu still dragged her around to browse. Birch University had all sorts of clubs, dazzling in variety.
The sun shone brightly that day, and everyone brimmed with youthful energy.
Sang Ning strolled quietly as usual along the tree-lined path. Under a wutong tree not far away, she spotted a familiar side profile again.
Shen Tingwan sat at the recruitment table, lifting her hand to gather her long hair behind her head, exposing her fair nape. Dappled sunlight fell on her.
Sang Ning stared at the scene, her heart pounding fiercely. On impulse, she walked over.
Tan Xiaoqiu saw and followed.
Shen Tingwan was chatting idly with someone when her peripheral vision caught a quiet figure approaching. She turned her head forward and quietly froze.
Meeting her gaze, Sang Ning’s palms sweated.
Shen Tingwan looked up at her slightly, her lips curving lightly. They met again. She smiled and asked, “Want to sign up?”
Sang Ning nodded directly.
Tan Xiaoqiu beside her was dumbfounded: ???
She hadn’t heard Sang Ning mention this one.
Shen Tingwan picked up a sign-up form and handed it over.
Sang Ning took it nervously and looked down to see it was for the Photography Society. She flushed with embarrassment. “I don’t have a camera…”
Shen Tingwan explained promptly, “Phones are fine. No rules against it. As long as you’re interested, it’s okay. The club has regular photography classes.”
Sang Ning stared at her. “I’m interested.”
Shen Tingwan gave a gentle smile. “Welcome.”
Sang Ning had never seen such a gentle and beautiful girl and felt too shy to stare at her face for too long.
Tan Xiaoqiu shot her a look. “You signing up?”
Sang Ning, distracted, said, “Yeah.”
In the end, Tan Xiaoqiu bewilderedly took a form too.
The Photography Society had a simple interview, and both passed. After the National Day holiday, the club held its first activity.
Sang Ning prepared early and asked Tan Xiaoqiu, “Should we go now?”
Tan Xiaoqiu eyed her suspiciously. “Why are you so eager?”
Sang Ning mumbled, “Pretty interested in photography.”
Tan Xiaoqiu: “You never mentioned joining before.”
Sang Ning: “…”
She couldn’t respond.
Tan Xiaoqiu recalled how Sang Ning had grabbed the form that day. Probably because the recruiting senior was pretty?
The first activity was held in a classroom: an icebreaker and a simple photography lesson lasting two hours.
Sang Ning looked around several times but didn’t see Shen Tingwan.
Later, she learned that Shen Tingwan rarely participated in club activities. She was just friends with the president and had been dragged in for recruitment that day.
Even so, Sang Ning attended the club’s weekly activities on time. Partly to see Shen Tingwan, and partly because she had grown interested in photography.
On Friday evening, the club held its first group dinner of the semester.
Tan Xiaoqiu was busy, but Sang Ning signed up eagerly. After her last afternoon class, she hurried to an off-campus restaurant.
This time, she didn’t have high hopes, but heaven loved to tease her. As she entered the private room, the first person she saw was Shen Tingwan, seated in the center like a moon surrounded by stars.
Shen Tingwan looked up toward the door.
Sang Ning politely smiled at everyone and quietly took a seat in a corner.
A lively girl boldly approached Shen Tingwan. “Senior, can I add your WeChat?”
Shen Tingwan smiled. “Sure.”
Others took the chance to ask for Shen Tingwan’s WeChat too.
Sang Ning gripped her phone tightly, debating whether to go ask too, but her introverted nature held her back. She waited, but no one else asked… She sat there blankly for a long time and ultimately didn’t step forward.
Shen Tingwan approved the friend requests one by one. Everyone present had added her—except… She quietly glanced at the person farthest from her.
What a aloof underclassman.
