The First Time Helping a Girl Put on Shoes

The sun illuminated the leaves and grass, infusing the air with the scent of earth.

The more beautiful the world seemed, the more sorrowful Ziang felt.

Afraid that others might see his dishevelled state, he quickly left the corridor and ran downstairs towards the playground.

Tears streamed down his face as he ran.

In the northwest corner of the basketball court, the trees grew dense.

Several tall ginkgo trees thrived in the sunlight, exuding a vibrant vitality.

In this secluded corner, Ziang poured out his grief.

Large teardrops seeped into the soil beneath him.

His throat was hoarse from crying.

He couldn't understand why the heavens were so unfair to him when he had never done anything wrong.

He had always thought that death was something very distant.

When it suddenly arrived, it shattered his will in an instant.

As he cried, he heard a faint melody, almost imperceptible, like a delicate thread weaving through the air.

At first, he thought he was imagining it.

Gradually, the tune became clearer, a unique melody with many twists and turns.

"Lai so so si do si la, so la si si si si la si la so..."

Ziang was certain he had never heard it before.

The ethereal music flowed through his heart like a gentle stream.

The deep sadness that had gripped him was slowly soothed.

He looked at the dreamlike world through tear-filled eyes.

"Hey, aren't you ashamed, a big boy crying like that?" A clear voice sounded above him.

Ziang was startled and looked up to find a girl sitting on the branches of the ginkgo tree.

His cheeks flushed red in an instant.

His disheveled state must have been completely seen by her.

The girl was beautiful, with an oval face and almond-shaped eyes, a single asymmetrical braid draped over her left shoulder.

She wore a pure white blouse paired with a dark blue pleated skirt that reached her calves. One foot was clad in a spotless white canvas shoe, while the other was bare.

The most striking feature was the blooming peach blossom she had tucked behind her ear.

Ziang had always thought Lin Mu Shi was pretty, but compared to this girl, Lin Mu Shi seemed slightly less attractive.

"Why aren't you in class?" Ziang asked.

"Shh, keep your voice down." The girl placed a finger to her lips.

Her fingers were beautiful, slender and delicate, like white jade.

Her lips were small and rosy, like freshly picked strawberries.

"Hi, I'm Ziang, from Class 9," he introduced himself quietly.

"Su Yudie, from Class 23. You can call me Little Butterfly," the girl replied.

Her voice was melodious, like pearls dropping onto a jade plate, like raindrops hitting banana leaves.

It also resembled a breeze rising from the depths of a wheat field, stirring the wind chimes on the eaves.

Ziang knew that their entire grade only had 22 classes, so her mention of Class 23 was likely a precautionary measure to avoid revealing her real class.

Yudie swung her small foot: "Ziang, help me pick up my shoe."

Following her gaze, he saw a white canvas shoe at the base of the tree.

It was probably kicked off accidentally while she was climbing.

"Why is a girl climbing so high?" he asked, picking up the shoe and standing on tiptoe to hand it to her.

His gaze involuntarily fell on her lotus-like calf, soft and delicate.

What a perfect work of art.

At that moment, a mischievous thought crossed his mind.

The girl above him was wearing a skirt.

With a slight adjustment of his viewing angle...

Of course, it was just a thought. He didn't actually do anything perverse.

Yudie, sitting on the branch, tried several times to adjust her position but still couldn't put on the shoe.

Ziang watched her intently, feeling nervous, afraid she might lose her balance.

"Help me put the shoe on," she suddenly said, lowering her foot.

She tossed the white canvas shoe back to him.

They had just met, and this request seemed a bit forward.

But considering her current predicament, it was understandable.

He hesitated for a moment, swallowed, then reached out and gently held her soft, small ankle.

It was his first time helping a girl put on a shoe, his heart raced, and his breath grew heavy.

After much effort, he managed to slip the shoe on and tie an awkward-looking bow.

"Clumsy," Yudie laughed, teasing him.

"You're the clumsy one, climbing so high for no reason while wearing a skirt," he retorted.

After she had her shoes on, she looked down and said, "It's so high, I'm a bit scared. Catch me."

He nodded, extending his arms to signal her to jump.

After hesitating for a moment, she finally gathered her courage and jumped down.

Ziang caught her in a princess carry.

Her soft body exuded a faint floral fragrance.

The scene was like something out of a romance drama.

Yudie looked up into his eyes, her face blushing: "Put me down."

"Oh!" He quickly helped her stand.

Their eyes met, and they both smiled.

Her bright, clean smile, like warm sunlight, dispelled the shadows and coldness in his heart.

This girl, descending like an angel from above, carried a mysterious power.

"Why were you hiding here and crying?" she asked curiously.

"I encountered something sad and wanted to vent," he said, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Shame on you, I also have sad things, but I don't cry," she pouted.

He shook his head with a bitter smile, not arguing.

From her age, she seemed about the same as him, but her cheerful demeanor made it hard for her to understand his sorrow.

She was as young as the rising sun, just beginning to shine.

While he was like the setting sun, about to bleed on the hilltop before being swallowed by the night.

The world turning dark and cold.

He didn't know where his soul would wander.

The pleasant sound of the class bell echoed across the empty playground.

The lifeless school buildings came alive.

It was the fourth period in the morning, leading to a joyful lunch break, and the classrooms buzzed with excitement.

Yudie blinked: "If you're unhappy, I'll take you out to play, eat delicious food, and don't cry without my permission."

Hearing these somewhat domineering words, he instinctively nodded.

The warmth that had been drained from his body seemed to return with the bright sunlight.

Even if he only had three months left to live, every remaining day was worth cherishing.

Life might not have length, but it could still have depth.

This girl before him was like a lively angel, here to guide him and save his soul.