A Glimmer in the Desk

P.S. Pure school life: high school, everyday moments, understated, no gimmicks, told in retrospect.

I spent a month roughing out the main plot as a writing exercise, but I was so swamped with schoolwork that my brain turned to mush and I forgot to save the drafts. Now I have to schedule the posts automatically. I forgot for half a year, then ran out of time to write the rest, so I forgot about this again... orz

Blurb:

In Class 3, Grade 11, the top class.

Four lines are written on the corner of Shen Xiaoji's desk:

A young steed rests in its stall, yet dreams of galloping a thousand miles.

The young dreamer sets their sights on a distant, shining shore.

Her deskmate, who got into the class through connections and has no interest in studying, sees the lines and gives her a mocking smile.

One day, after returning from break-time exercises, she suddenly notices that someone has changed the words:

A young steed rests in its stall, yet dreams of reaching a single meter.

A young girl is lovestruck and wants Chen Ji.

No matter how many years pass, people always say that Chen Ji's version rhymes better than hers.

She says, "I beg to differ."

Her friend points out, "Then what do you call holding hands with him under the desk when no one's looking?"

Her: ...

/

A timid Jiangnan girl x a rough, rowdy boy

[Similar upcoming story: I've Long Adored Muxian. Add it to your favorites.]

Theme: Care for the mental health of young people and support romances that reflect healthy values.