He Xin had a crush on Xu Zhou.
One day, the desks were rearranged during study hall, and by sheer chance He Xin ended up sitting behind Xu Zhou. From then on, the boy's lively figure filled her field of vision.
His youth was bold and free.
Her infatuation was timid and fearful.
Xu Zhou was popular, and their classmates were always teasing him. "Brother Zhou, you're such a heartbreaker. No wonder the girl next door can't stop thinking about you."
He Xin's heart sank lower and lower as she listened to the boy's cheerful laughter.
A plain Jane and the golden boy were never meant to cross paths, just like her and Xu Zhou.
The day Xu Zhou announced his relationship, He Xin got blind drunk and ate the piece of candy she'd treasured for so long.
She couldn't remember who had said candy was sweet, but all she could taste was bitterness.
*
They unexpectedly met again in college.
Xu Zhou was still the one surrounded by admirers, the school's biggest celebrity and a legend to both teachers and students. He was still worlds apart from her.
It was her birthday. Xu Zhou hadn't been invited, but he came anyway.
In a corner, he held out a birthday present to her. "I remember someone once said through her tears that she wanted to give us a try and see if we could be sweet together."
He Xin looked at the candy in his palm, and a wave of sadness rose in her heart. "But... it's not sweet."
Later, he used his lips, with candy between them, to tell her that orange candy had always been sweet.
That difficult time hadn't just been her descent into unrequited love. It had been his, too.
#Unrequited Love #High School to College to Adulthood
Content note:
No intimate scenes before adulthood.
Theme: When the flowers bloom, the butterflies will come
Spread the flowers, spread the flowers, spread the flowers, spread the flowers, spread the flowers.
Spread the flowers, spread the flowers, spread the flowers, spread the flowers, spread the flowers.