When Xia Zhi Meets Heng

[A record of the untouchable beauty falling from her pedestal x the sunny, roguishly handsome boy's exclusive tenderness]

Everyone at Nancheng High knew two things:

First, Ning Zhi was beautiful, and her grades were even more impressive. She was a cold goddess best admired from afar.

Second, Lu Heng was both handsome and roguish. He could beat anyone in the city at basketball, and he had never lost a bet.

When Lu Heng smilingly accepted the bet that he could win Ning Zhi over in three months,

everyone waited to see the golden boy meet his first setback.

Every day, he showed up at her desk right on time. "Breakfast. It's hot."

After PE, he handed her cold water. "I picked it up while I was at it."

After school, he wheeled over his bike. "I'm going that way. I'll take you."

Ning Zhi coldly turned him down every time, but he only came back more determined.

Until one stormy evening, drenched from head to toe, he cornered her against a wall.

For the first time, panic filled his eyes. "Ning Zhi, I'm serious about you."

The girl raised a hand to wipe the rain from his face, then suddenly smiled.

"Lu Heng, does your bet... still stand?"

* Later, the whole school spread the story that Lu Heng, who had bet he could win Ning Zhi over in three months, had lost. But no one saw him pin her beside the piano in the music room and kiss her earnestly. "The bet is off. This time, let me pursue you for the rest of my life."

From midsummer to late autumn, from seventeen to all the years ahead,

a romance that began with a bet became the longest echo of youth.