In the season of cherry blossoms, he met her—

Qin An enrolled at Dongling High School in Divine River City. Unassuming gates, an unassuming sports field, and unassuming students.

The only comfort came each spring: the cherry blossom avenue before the school gates. Petals drifted like pink snow. A gentle breeze sent them swirling—a shower of blossoms.

Qin An walked quietly down the avenue. Petals settled lightly on his hair, only to be carried away by the wind.

No best friend suddenly clapped his shoulder from behind. No cute girl waited beneath a cherry tree for a fateful encounter. Just like three years ago—after he introduced himself in Chinese, a few gasps echoed, then silence. Everyone stayed in their own circles. Maybe this was fine. But today felt different.

Beside the avenue flowed a small river. Cherry blossoms floated on its surface. Tiny fish leapt now and then, snatching petals mid-air.

Today, the riverbank held something new: a girl standing alone.

She wore a fluffy white beanie. Her uniform—standard Dongling High shirt, wool sweater, knee-length pleated skirt, and long socks—framed her slender figure. Silky hair fell halfway down her back. From behind, she looked utterly adorable. Given how the boys here behaved, they’d never ignore a girl like this. Why was she alone?

Qin An drifted near her. She suddenly turned. "Hey," she said, "why can’t anyone see me?"

Thick lashes framed watery eyes. Her bangs fell neatly over porcelain skin, dark hair making it glow brighter. Undeniably beautiful.

A gust snatched her beanie away. Cherry blossoms danced wildly around her. Her face crumpled. Tears welled in her eyes.

"Why can’t anyone see me?"

She rose onto her tiptoes. Leapt. Qin An couldn’t stop her—she plunged into the river. The water wasn’t deep; non-swimmers rarely drowned here. *Usually*. Bubbles surfaced once, twice. Then stillness.

"Seriously? A beautiful girl jumping in the river at dawn? Heartbroken?" Qin An muttered. He dropped his bag, stripped off his shirt, and dived in like a flash.

In the waist-deep water, he spotted her lying motionless on the riverbed. He hauled her out. She’d swallowed so much water she’d passed out.

Soaked from the waist down, Qin An laid her on the bank. He pressed her abdomen. Her slightly parted lips spurted water like a tiny fountain.

Her bloated belly deflated like a punctured balloon. But she didn’t wake. He performed CPR, hands pressed firmly over her faintly rising chest. No response.

"Only one option left?"

He pried open her small mouth, leaning close. Before his lips could touch hers, her eyes fluttered open—round, chestnut-brown eyes locking with his. She gasped, then fainted again. Knowing she lived, Qin An wouldn’t take advantage.

He expected help. Instead, passersby glanced once, covered their eyes, and cried, "Pervert!"

*Wait—this isn’t how it’s supposed to go!* Was he the naked weirdo in their eyes? As if no one else could see this girl.

Qin An yanked his clothes on and sprinted away, cradling the unconscious girl.

To others, it looked like a soaked pervert sprinting while clutching empty air.

*Yeah. I’m totally screwed.*

In the infirmary, Qin An laid her on a crisp white bed. He turned to leave—her hand snagged his sleeve.

"Don’t go. Achoo!" She shivered violently.

"Take off your wet clothes. Wear this." He tossed his wool sweater over his shoulder without looking back.

Silence. Only more sneezes answered him.

"I swear I won’t look," Qin An said, raising both hands. "Change safely."

Fabric rustled behind him. Trusting his promise, she began undressing.

Just as she stood in only her underwear, the infirmary door burst open. The nurse in her white coat shrieked, "PERVERT!" and fled in tears.

Qin An’s forehead throbbed with imaginary black lines. *Great.* Dongling’s nurse was notorious for her zero tolerance for anything lewd. He knew exactly where she was running—to the principal.

The girl’s cheeks flushed. She tugged on his oversized sweater. His masculine scent filled her senses, burning her ears crimson.

"If you’re fine, I’ll go."

"No!" Her hand caught his sleeve again.

"What now?" Qin An sighed, turning.

The sweater swallowed her petite frame, hem barely covering her underwear. Her bare thighs gleamed in his sightline—hinting at the pink beneath.

"Don’t look!" she yelped, clamping a hand over her lap. Seeing her exposed legs still on display, she yanked a blanket over them with a shaky breath.

"You... can see me?" Her voice trembled with disbelief.

"Obviously! Who else pulled you out?" Qin An frowned. "Are you even a Dongling student? Transfer? I’ve been here nearly three years—I’d remember you."

"Actually... I’m like air. No one sees me. Teachers mark me absent every day. ‘Miss Hirazawa’s skipped class again! Such a bad kid!’" Her voice, ethereal and hollow, carried unspeakable sorrow.

"I arrive earliest. Sit at my desk. No ‘good morning.’ I leave last. No ‘see you tomorrow.’ No one talks to me at break. When I try... silence. Worst today—Mom set only two bowls. For her and Dad. Like I don’t exist."

Tears spilled over. Pearl-like drops soaked the blanket.

"I try so hard! Why can’t they see me?!" She shook Qin An’s shoulders, raw frustration breaking through.

Footsteps echoed behind them. Qin An turned. The nurse’s voice cut through the air: "Pervert! Scumbag!"

More black lines etched his temples.

"Maybe you’re not alone," he said softly. "I’m... like air too."

"Really?"

"Really."

She searched his deep blue eyes—sad, profound. And in their depths, she saw her own tiny reflection. *I’m not alone. He sees me.*

A playful smile bloomed on her lips. Warmer than an April day. More beautiful than the cherry blossoms outside.