Saturday.

The rain had passed and the sky was clear.

Xu Ye slept until nine, went to the cafeteria for breakfast, and then drove over to the conservatory.

After days of solid gray drizzle, a little sun was rare, so a lot of people were out. Driving out the school gate, passing the bus stop, Xu Ye spotted Li Lulu again — but strangely, Yang Fei wasn't with her.

Xu Ye said out loud to himself, "Where'd Yang Fei get to? Didn't Li Tongwen say he left first thing this morning?"

He couldn't come up with an answer, and he let it go.

Forty-some minutes later.

The car pulled up below the girls' dorm. On the way in Xu Ye had seen Chen Qingqing out on the balcony watching for him, so he got out fast and shouted up, "You already saw me coming. What are you still doing up there?"

Chen Qingqing had ducked down on the floor to hide. At that she stood back up, leaned out the window, looked down at him and laughed. "When did you see me?"

"A while ago."

Xu Ye waved. "Get down here and let me kiss you."

"Get lost."

Chen Qingqing swore at him, then asked, "Are we going out today?"

"Up to you."

"How about the Shanghai Library? It's on Middle Huaihai Road, it's quick if we drive."

Before Xu Ye could answer, a second head appeared on the balcony. Shen Xinyi laughed. "I'm coming too."

Xu Ye asked, "Zhiwei didn't tell you what time he's getting here today?"

"He's got something going on at school. He's coming this afternoon."

Xu Ye laughed. "Then come on down. And ask Zhang Ruowei and Jiang Yu if they want to come while you're at it. One extra third wheel is extra, three extra third wheels is also extra."

It didn't take long.

The four flowers of Room 205 came down together.

Chen Qingqing had kept it simple today — a navy knit sweater over a white T-shirt, a pair of faded straight-leg jeans, black Vans, a small plain black leather bag on…