The Everlasting Summer of the Year

Coming next: Give In

The students of Lintong No. 1 High can't help comparing the two new transfer students in private.

The new girl, Song Fuqing, has a neat short haircut and wears black-rimmed glasses that give her a scholarly air. Anyone would take her for the kind of sweet, obedient student who always listens to her teachers.

Su Zeyu, on the other hand, has nothing but a handsome face to his name. He's rebellious and unruly, the textbook problem student who gives teachers the biggest headache.

After they become desk mates, a friend lists Su Zeyu's impressive record in Lintong and worries constantly that he'll pick on the girl.

Song Fuqing waves her off. "He won't."

Her friend frets day after day, until one time she sees her sweet, helpless, utterly obedient friend Song Fuqing step in front of someone and threaten the troublemaker fiercely: "Go ahead. Lay a hand on him and see what happens."

Behind her, Su Zeyu looks helpless and pitiful, but a meaningful smile curls his lips.

*

When they meet again, Su Zeyu is still the center of attention, while Song Fuqing is an unknown nobody. No one knows they used to know each other.

Song Fuqing shows up at his door to corner him. Everyone laughs it off, thinking she's just another bold girl chasing after love. She won't get what she wants, they assume. The boy already has someone in his heart, so she'll only end up disappointed.

But that night, in a quiet, deserted stairwell, Song Fuqing corners him against the wall. It sounds like an apology, but it's really a threat. "You promised you'd be my boyfriend. Don't tell me you're going to go back on your word?"

Su Zeyu's eyes roil as he glances sidelong at the real culprit, the one who's actually breaking her promise.

Song Fuqing feels guilty. "If you don't want to, I'll treat you like my girlfriend. I'll cook, mop the floors, do the laundry, and cheer you up whenever you're upset..."

The more she says, the angrier she gets, and her gaze grows increasingly menacing. After all that, he still won't say yes?

Su Zeyu: ...

What the heck, did you even let me speak?

Theme: Companionship and growing up