There was also an unexpected incident.

The chubby guy was completely absorbed in his food, paying no attention to his two companions. As soon as he sat down, he ordered two hearty dishes. This was his foolproof tactic for fleecing effeminate men—if there was a beauty present, he'd order lobster, and the soft-hearted types would always agree with a smile.

Zhang Pa hadn’t ordered. His mind was on the beautiful teacher, calculating inwardly: forget it, there’s no point in getting to know her. He remembered how long he’d admired that silhouette, only to watch her with other men…

Lost in thought, he glanced up. The beautiful teacher was looking at her phone again.

He wanted to look at her a while longer, but like a goddess sensing his gaze, she lifted her head and looked straight at him, as if there were some radar of mutual awareness operating with precision between them.

Flustered, he dropped his eyes in a panic once more.

A few minutes later, a server walked over to the beautiful teacher carrying a plastic bag of takeout—bulky and sloshing with some unknown dish, costing twenty-two yuan.

The beautiful teacher paid and thanked her, then left with the food.

She walked so gracefully, light as a spring breeze. Zhang Pa didn’t dare lift his head, only watched her leave out of the corner of his eye.

She was still dressed in her loose practice clothes, but now wore a pair of thick-soled black dance sneakers, the sporty kind.

Without pause, she left the restaurant quickly.

Zhang Pa felt a sudden emptiness inside. He turned his head just in time to catch a last glimpse of the dance teacher’s retreating figure, but felt only disappointment in himself. The girl he’d once liked so much was in the restaurant next door, yet here he was, moved by another woman?

He sighed quietly and looked away.

No wonder women say all men are wolves, he thought. Even when nothing is happening, I have all these messy thoughts. Damn it.

While berating himself, he suddenly noticed that the girls who had been chattering away at the table had fallen silent, and someone seemed to be standing beside him. Looking up, he found the beautiful teacher at his side, her expression unreadable as she said, “Step outside.” With that, she turned and walked out.

Zhang Pa was slow to react. The effeminate rescuer gave him a kick under the table. “Go on, get out there!”

He stammered, stood up, and followed her outside.

She was waiting at the door, and when he emerged, she started walking ahead. He hurried to catch up.

After about twenty meters, she stopped at a street corner. The area was quiet. She turned to look at him, and he grew even more nervous, more awkward than the first time he’d gone out to sell books.

She asked, “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Ah…” Zhang Pa was so tense he didn’t know how to respond.

She said, “Weren’t you waving at me? Waving goodbye?”

“Waving?” The memory of their last meeting through the glass came back to him, and he managed a smile. “That was an accident.”

“An accident?” she said. “You know, it’s rude to talk like that.”

“What?” He was completely lost.

She explained, “Making eye contact is basic courtesy when you speak to someone.”

He took a deep breath and met her gaze.

But she fell silent.

He weighed things in his heart. He didn’t think himself handsome, he was poor, a nobody; no woman would ever like him. He didn’t believe in windfalls, didn’t think she could possibly be interested. But then again, it couldn’t hurt to just get to know her. Just acquaintances, nothing more. After all, she was the one who’d called him out. He thought of Long Xiaole’s obsession with the girl in blue, and braced himself internally.

She said, “I’m leaving now.”

He clenched his fists. “I want to get to know you.”

Her eyes curved into a bridge of a smile—so beautiful it took his breath away.

“My name is Zhang Pa,” he said. “I’m nobody right now—a poor man, no job, no house, no money. But I’d still like to know you.”

Her smile grew even brighter, warming the whole world like sunlight.

“You’re really beautiful,” he added.

She was still smiling, then tilted her head playfully and spoke, “My name is Liu Xiaomei. I teach dance at the Conservatory of Music—though I’m not very good at it. I’m poor too—no house, no money.” She paused for a long moment, then suddenly extended her right hand. “I’d like to get to know you.”

Zhang Pa nearly fainted, as if a pie the size of the sky had fallen on his head. How could this be happening? The happiness came so quickly and unexpectedly that he didn’t even notice her outstretched hand.

Liu Xiaomei smiled at him, her right hand still extended. He stood there in a daze, basking in the sudden happiness for a full five seconds before finally seeing her hand and hurriedly reaching out with both of his.

But as he lifted both hands, he realized that wasn’t right, withdrew his left, and gently clasped hers with his right… The lightest touch, yet his heart was about to soar from his chest. So beautiful, so blissful!

Soft, smooth, warm—what kind of man could possess such beauty?

He was reluctant to let go, held on a moment longer before releasing her hand and saying thank you.

Liu Xiaomei laughed, “Why thank me? It’s just getting acquainted.”

“Thank you for letting me get to know you,” he said, recalling something Long Xiaole had once said. “Thank you for giving me this chance.”

She was still smiling. “I know a lot of people.”

“I don’t care about anyone else,” he replied. “Just being able to know you is enough.”

She said, “Well, now you do. I need to go home for dinner. Goodbye.” She said goodbye, but didn’t leave right away.

In a rare moment of quick thinking, Zhang Pa pulled out his phone. “Your number, WeChat, Weibo, QQ—can you give me all of them?”

Liu Xiaomei laughed again, her smile so genuine and joyful that Zhang Pa could see it at once, making him feel he could die happy. She handed him her plastic bag. “Hold this for me.” Then she took his phone, entered her number, added her other contacts, and saved them in his notes. Handing the phone back, she said, “They’re in your notes. Don’t call me unless it’s important.” She took her bag and turned to leave.

But at that crucial moment, Zhang Pa’s intuition kicked in. He stepped forward. “Actually, I do have something I want to ask you.”

Liu Xiaomei replied, “Didn’t I say not to call unless it’s important?”

“I’m not calling you, I’m telling you in person.”

She laughed again, her voice light yet crisp, playful as a little girl’s, making him wonder just how old she really was.

He said, “You’re a teacher at the Conservatory of Music. I want to learn guitar—could you help me buy a folk guitar for between a thousand and two thousand?”

“You want to learn guitar?” she asked. “I’m a dance teacher—you’re asking the wrong person.”

“I’m just asking.” He mumbled, “I just wanted to talk to you a little longer.”

“Do you know I can hear you?” she said.

“I know,” he replied. “That’s why I said it.”

Liu Xiaomei thought for a moment, then took his phone, dialed her own number, and hung up. She saved his number in her own phone, waved it slightly, and said, “Got it. Wait for my call.” Then she added, “Can’t chat any longer—my food’s getting cold.”

He quickly apologized, and she smiled, raising her hand to shoulder height in a playful little wave. “I’m off.” With that, she turned and left.

Zhang Pa stood there, motionless, watching her go.

She crossed to the other side of the street, turned back and saw he was still standing there. Smiling, she waved again—just like a happy girl in a Japanese cartoon—her steps light and cheerful as she walked away.

Zhang Pa felt he might die of happiness. For the first time, he was certain he’d made a perfect decision: he would learn guitar, and buy one near the conservatory.

He was grinning foolishly when a jarring voice sounded beside him, “Falling in love, are you?”

Startled, Zhang Pa jumped. “Are you trying to kill me?”

“Gentle, gentle—you have to be as gentle as you were just now,” the chubby guy teased. “Our delicate friend wants to know: with your luck, how did that beauty even agree to talk to you?”

“Guess,” Zhang Pa replied, cheerfully heading back to the restaurant—and nearly collided with another woman.

It was a familiar girl, standing with a boy who matched her perfectly in height and looks.

She spotted Zhang Pa and was surprised, “What are you doing here?”

Zhang Pa froze. After a moment, he managed, “A friend invited me for dinner…”

“Dinner,” she repeated, glancing back at her companion before turning to him again. “You come to the capital and don’t look for me? Not cool.”

He hurried to explain, “No, no, it’s not that.”

“Not what? You owe me several meals, you know. Since we’ve run into each other, you’re treating me tonight.”

He agreed at once.

“Did you change your number?” she asked, not waiting for his answer. “I’m still using my local number, you know that?”

He nodded.

“If you know, why haven’t you called? So mean.” She scolded him again.

Zhang Pa was a bit dazed, his mind momentarily blank. Luckily, the boy beside her asked, “And who’s this?”

“I’m not telling you,” she replied breezily, then turned to Zhang Pa. “What’s your number?”

He hesitated. “I’ll give it to you tonight.”

“Fine, I’ll wait for your call. If you don’t call me, hmph!” She seemed a little annoyed, but immediately smiled, “I’ve got class this afternoon. See you tonight.” Waving, she crossed the street back to the school.

After ten meters, she turned and waved again before heading through the gates.

Zhang Pa stood rooted to the spot. What kind of day was this? What was this rhythm? How could things be this way?

He was utterly dumbfounded—not at all the calm, clear-headed person he was when facing troublemakers. His mind was a hopeless jumble. In the end, he even asked the chubby guy, “Am I being unfaithful?”

The chubby one was shocked. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Zhang Pa opened his mouth, unsure how to explain.

The chubby guy shouted, “Are you trying to make our delicate friend despair? If even you count as a playboy, what hope is there for him?”

Zhang Pa thought about it and still couldn’t figure it out.

The chubby guy asked, “Who was that girl? Another beauty—how do you know so many? Didn’t she know you were in the capital?”

Zhang Pa scratched his head. “I need to head home and get some work done.”

The chubby guy groaned, “You really are a pig. Eat first.” And dragged Zhang Pa back into the restaurant.