Chapter Seventy-Six: Ode to Cherry Blossoms

April in Shanghai is a season of shifting clouds and alternating warmth and chill.
It is a time when emotions are easily unsettled.
A time when catching a cold comes easily.
And because of this, flowers bloom late, but their blossoms linger—making it the perfect season for flower-viewing.

Xia Shamo rode her bicycle beneath the camphor trees, like a solitary leaf drifting along the current. On the corner, the park was filled with cherry blossom trees.

After days of gloom, the spring sun broke through with sudden warmth, and the cherry blossoms burst forth across the hills. A single storm, and petals fell swiftly, carpeting the streets in a blanket of fallen blooms.

The cherry blossoms, serene and delicate, are quick to fade away unnoticed. Raindrops, cold and scattered, mingled with drifting petals, floating down the length of the street.

Thin and slight, Xia Shamo reached out her hand and caught a petal adrift in the air.
Her heart, like that petal, wandered, uncertain where it would land.

Dreams and reality—a cruel choice. Had she not met Cheng Xiaoyu, so many tangled worries wouldn’t trouble her. For her, singing had always been just a hobby, but Cheng Xiaoyu made her feel the joy of music.

She wanted to sing, to keep singing.

Xia Shamo let go of the petal, letting the wind carry it away.

As Guilty Crown’s popularity soared online, Xia Shamo had become the most talked-about girl at Fudan High School, second only to Su Yuxi. Compared to the aloof and unapproachable Su Yuxi, Xia Shamo’s gentle charm made her a favorite among the boys.

There was a saying among the boys at Fudan High: “If you haven’t written a love letter to Su Yuxi, your school life isn’t complete.” No one ever felt embarrassed by Su Yuxi’s refusal; in fact, not being rejected was considered unusual.

But now, with Xia Shamo’s sudden rise, she became the new darling of Fudan High. Unlike the icy Su Yuxi, Xia Shamo’s warmth and approachability made her the school’s new dream girl, her hands nearly numb from the flood of love letters.

She had fans among the freshmen, sophomores, and even middle schoolers, so younger students often sought her out after class for photos and autographs. Xia Shamo, gentle as ever, never refused unless someone went too far—much to the annoyance of the former class beauty, Gu Manting, and her circle, who frequently spread rumors about Xia Shamo.

Originally, Xia Shamo was a girl of little presence, her life limited to monotonous studies and almost no social interaction. Because of her family circumstances, she carried a quiet sense of inferiority, reluctant to make friends. Now, as fame came, many girls approached her, but she was awkward and unsure how to interact, which only made some believe she acted superior around girls and pitiful around boys, calling her a “scheming green tea.”

Naive Xia Shamo was oblivious to the gossip among her classmates, unaware she had been largely ostracized by the girls.

But for someone with a tranquil heart, such malice could not pierce her thick armor. In kindergarten, children mocked her for not having a father. In elementary school, when it rained, others were picked up by their parents—she walked home alone, drenched. In middle school, no one attended her parent-teacher meetings; her mother, burdened by mortgages, worked part-time and had no time to spare.

No father meant knowing that, even if bullied, no one would stand up for her. When others were comforted by their fathers, she could say nothing, only push forward in endless loneliness, with no retreat. Passing by a kindergarten and seeing a child holding their father’s hand, eating ice cream, would leave her heart aching for the joy she never had.

Loneliness was something she had long grown used to. With no one to protect her, she learned to protect herself.

After the morning exercises, boys from other classes and grades came to her for photos. Xia Shamo smiled for the camera, refused their requests for her number, blushed, and hurried back to her classroom.

At the doorway, she heard a group of girls, led by Gu Manting, gossiping loudly about her. Xia Shamo hesitated, choosing not to enter.

“I heard she’s never had a father!”

“What’s the story? Come on, spill the tea about her family.”

“Her mom was a mistress, got dumped after having her! Her mom used to work at my family’s supermarket, that’s what my mom told me.”

“Mistresses deserve to die—who’d have thought she could act so well? You think she’s cozying up to that fat Cheng Xiaoyu because he’s rich?”

“I bet she is. Looks like a pure white lotus, but she’s just a scheming green tea.”

“Did you know? The shoes she wore at the New Year’s performance were crystal shoes from OO. I saw them in a magazine—they cost tens of thousands!”

“So expensive? Must be knockoffs. Isn’t her family poor?”

“Heh, Cheng Xiaoyu bought them for her! I saw them at lunch one day—he said all sorts of mushy things to her. Ugh, it made me sick.”

“If you want money, go seduce Cheng Xiaoyu yourself!”

“No way! He’s so fat. Xia Shamo’s so thin—how could she handle him?”

“You’re disgusting…” And then, laughter.

Xia Shamo stood at the classroom door, her face pale, then turned and walked down the corridor.

Cheng Xiaoyu was about to enter the classroom when he saw Xia Shamo standing outside, not going in. He went over to startle her, only to overhear all those hurtful words. He stood behind her, unable to see her expression, uncertain how to comfort her, when Xia Shamo turned and bumped right into his chest.

She stepped back, not meeting his eyes, hurriedly bowed her head and said, “Sorry,” then tried to leave.

Cheng Xiaoyu grabbed her and said, “Wait.” Then walked into the classroom.

The group of girls fell silent when Cheng Xiaoyu entered. He strode over, and everyone sensed something was wrong.

Cheng Xiaoyu coughed, slapped the desk, and addressed the girls loudly: “With faces like yours, I really try not to judge by appearances. So I made an effort to see your souls, but your souls disappoint me even more than your looks. And you say you’re trying to seduce me? Please, take a picture of your own face—hang it on the door to ward off evil, on the bedside to prevent pregnancy.”

Gu Manting blushed and said, “Cheng Xiaoyu, watch your mouth, this is a classroom.”

“Oh, so you know it’s a classroom! Shamelessness is just pretentiousness. There are so many weapons in the world, but you all insist on learning the sword. Not the noble sword, but the sword of the shameless. Iron swords you ignore, but the sword of stupidity you master, reaching the heights of sword and person as one—just call it the sword of shamelessness.” Cheng Xiaoyu spat his words with the flair of a seasoned internet troll—if he didn’t bring some artistry to his insults, he’d be letting down five thousand years of culture. These were jokes unheard of in this era, so many classmates couldn’t help but laugh.

The other girls, intimidated by Cheng Xiaoyu’s imposing manner, dared not respond. Even if they wanted to, they lacked the vocabulary—after all, they spent little time on forums.

Still unsatisfied, Cheng Xiaoyu glared at the flushed girls. He hated gossips most: “Jealousy is fine, but don’t act like dogs, slandering people behind their backs—what’s the point? Normally, I don’t insult people, unless I’m angry, but today’s an exception. You idle girls, let me say this sincerely: your mouths are filthy, and you deserve a slap. Think you’re pretty? Oh, excuse me, you’re overestimating yourselves! Honestly, if I looked like you, I wouldn’t dare go out—I’d be embarrassed on the street. What do you even have to show off? Stand anywhere, and people might mistake you for a desecrated portrait. You think you’re beautiful? Proud? I can’t even be bothered to look at you—it’d waste my brain cells.”

“Are you done yet, Cheng Xiaoyu?” Gu Manting slammed the desk and stood, tears streaming down her face.

Cheng Xiaoyu chuckled, “What’s wrong? So fierce behind people’s backs, but scared face-to-face? If a dog bites me, I kick it. Today, I bite back—so you can experience the pleasure you get from biting others.” With no one daring to reply, he turned to leave, then looked back: “The college entrance exam is coming—stop worrying about other people’s business. Gossip all you want behind people’s backs, but not in public places like the classroom. If you really can’t resist, tell me—I’ll book the whole stage for you, let you rant with a microphone, music accompaniment, plus tea, drinks, sunflower seeds, peanuts, spicy radish. Food and fun, guaranteed satisfaction.”

He looked at his classmates, all gazing at him with awe. Wondering if he’d gone too far, Cheng Xiaoyu walked to the podium, thinking he’d better offer a touch of artistry to educate these hothouse flowers.

Beautiful chalk script appeared on the blackboard.

o, 'sosars

We always hope the world does not exceed our imagination.
Some defy the will of gods, others profane sorcery,
And yet another is granted the power of “knowledge,”
Only to become the target of all.

Inviting pursuit like an army of ants.

Man, chasing by boat, unloading burdens as he goes,
Unchanging through the ages,
Life, silent as the deep sea.

Now, the ancient order slowly shatters.
Perhaps the Mother of the Universe gazes upon her children, the stars,
Whispering softly,
Yes, we stagger toward the light.

Then, she kisses our youth,
Gathering sun, moon, and stars to her breast.
While the Father of the Universe, next door,
Shouts and clamors for the coming of Heaven,
Too busy to care for us in this journey through time and space.

Sometimes, I see the village’s public library,
Its open reading room, tall bookshelves,
And communal pencils.

These books, aged and worn,
Spend weeks in different hands,
Circulating,
Their covers etched with long lists of “borrowers.”
At night, they confide in those lying beside them,
And their eyes, that place so full of lies.

Finishing, Cheng Xiaoyu tossed the chalk aside, walked out, and, before everyone’s eyes, took Xia Shamo by the hand and led her toward the stairs.

Xia Shamo did not resist, her eyes red, and softly asked, “Where are we going?”

Cheng Xiaoyu turned with a dazzling smile. “In this April of drifting cherry blossoms, it’s the perfect time to skip class!”