After the seven-day National Day holiday, the weather in Tianmu City gradually cooled, carrying the crisp chill of autumn.

Unlike September, which inherited summer’s lingering heat, October’s temperatures were a welcome relief. While mid-September still baked under 30°C days, October’s gentle 20s felt far kinder.

In another ten days or so, they’d probably switch from short-sleeved uniforms to long ones.

Nangong Shiyu walked alone across the empty school playground, musing on this. He pulled his phone from his black trousers’ pocket and checked the time.

Noon had arrived.

He was slightly late. Would she be angry?

Though he felt her anger wouldn’t truly matter, his feet unconsciously quickened as he entered Heavenly Eye Fourth Middle School’s main building, climbing toward the rooftop.

Not a single person crossed his path—not outside the classrooms, not even in the stairwells. It seemed even boarding students had gone home for the weekend, leaving the entire campus deserted.

Except for the one person waiting for him on the roof.

This was his first time at school on a weekend. He hadn’t expected such eerie emptiness. He’d thought some students might come to study. Shiyu sighed at the silence, continuing his climb.

At the rooftop door, he yanked the heavy iron gate open. A cool breeze slipped through the gap, brushing his skin with a refreshing chill.

Noon sun blazed overhead. Though the air was only 26°C, the sun-baked concrete radiated heat. Warmth seeped through his shoe soles, dragging him back to summer vacation—not the lazy freedom of holidays, but the sweltering, air-conditioner-or-die heat.

Worry pricked him for the person who’d summoned him here.

Had she been waiting long?

Scanning the barren rooftop, Shiyu saw only heat haze shimmering above the ground. No one.

Just him.

Which meant—

“Standing me up?” he muttered.

No…

*She’d* stood him up?

Others might do it, but *her*? Unthinkable.

She was always punctual.

If she wasn’t here… had something happened?

A creak behind him cut his thoughts short. He turned. Chestnut hair, meticulously cared for, gleamed under the noon sun. As she loosened her ponytail, waist-length locks whipped in the wind like silken ribbons—smooth, weightless.

Her features, sharp under the sunlight, paired with sun-kissed skin that spoke of constant activity. Today, freed from weekday uniforms, she wore a white tee printed with an anime character and denim shorts. The shorts showcased legs lean and flawless—legs that’d break the internet if photographed.

“Ah, sorry to keep you waiting!” Shen Yining clasped her hands together, bowing slightly.

“No, I just got here. Were you behind me? I didn’t see you.”

Their arrivals were barely a minute apart. If she’d followed him, he’d have spotted her.

“Eh, no! I’ve actually been here over ten minutes!”

“Really?”

“Mhm! Dragging you to school on a weekend… I couldn’t let *you* wait for *me*.”

(Though technically, she’d made him wait those few dozen seconds.)

“If you were here first… where were you just now?”

The question slipped out—rude, but curiosity won.

“Well… hehe… while waiting for you, my… period suddenly hit…”

“…”

*Why this?*

Flustered, Shiyu forced concern: “Are you okay?”

“Fine! Totally fine!” Yining hopped on the concrete like Rabbit, grinning. “See? 100% HP even on my period!”

But after three bounces, she crumpled, clutching her stomach, face buried in her knees.

“Hey—*are* you okay?”

“Guh… fine…”

“You’re curled up on the ground. That’s not ‘fine’.”

Shiyu sighed. A girl getting her period in front of him? He had zero clue how to handle this.

*Ugh. If only Xia Zixin were here…*

Wait—wasn’t Zixin originally male? After the Thunder God Demonic Orb’s side effects turned her fully female… did she even *get* periods? Shiyu had no idea. He certainly lacked the courage to ask.

“Is… is there anything I can do?”

“Ahaha, no worries! I already ran out to buy emergency supplies. All good now!”

Seeing her spring back up, Shiyu finally relaxed.

“Phew. Glad to hear it.”

Words failed him. He couldn’t—*wouldn’t*—prolong the period talk. He hadn’t come for this anyway.

Yining had called him here insistently, refusing to discuss it over the phone. He’d even consulted Zixin: two possibilities—goodbye, or confession. Both agreed on the latter. After last month’s triple date, Yining’s relentless pursuit was undeniable. Her giving up? Unlikely.

“So… why’d you drag me here at noon?”

Yining shifted, one foot tucked behind the other, hands clasped behind her back. Shy.

“Shiyu… it’s been over a month since my last confession, right?”

“Yeah. Over a month.”

He had a guess where this was headed.

“I admit… I rushed it last time. I must’ve scared you. Sorry…”

Truth was, her sudden confession *had* shocked him. Back then, he’d felt nothing for her. After an afternoon’s thought, he’d refused.

“It’s fine. I didn’t dwell on it.”

“So… after a month of us acting normal… what do you think of me?”

“What do I think…”

Before her confession, they’d barely spoken. Now? Lunch and dinner invitations every weekday. Weekend homework deliveries to his house—just to steal time together.

Of course, Aberrants kept crashing their dates. Sometimes Shiyu’s magic drained, flipping him female mid-outing. The Balancers would wipe Yining’s memories, rewriting it as “Shiyu had urgent business.”

Yet she persisted.

Every day, she bridged the gap between them.

So…

“You’re… really nice.”

He remembered her words, even if she’d forgotten them after the memory wipe:

*“I like you! All of you! Every single part!”*

That confession still made his heart skip.

“Oh…” Disappointment flickered across Yining’s face—then vanished. Her eyes blazed back to life.

Full HP! Full MP! 100% charged!

“Then today… I want to ask again…”

She closed her eyes, sucked in a deep breath.

“Nangong Shiyu… I-I like you! Will you… be my boyfriend?”

She said it.

Again.

She knew it might annoy him. She did it anyway.

Shiyu smiled—a small, warm curve of his lips.

He smiled for her effort.

He smiled because his heart still raced for her.

And he gave his answer:

“Yeah. I’d like that.”

“Ah… I knew it. I’m still not good enough. Of course you’d reject me. I’ll try harder next—wait. *What* did you just say?”

Yining’s eyes flew wide, disbelief painted across her face.

“I said yes. I’ll be your boyfriend.”

He’d weighed it carefully.

He hadn’t planned on dating in high school. But…

Seeing her try so hard. Seeing how fiercely she liked him. Why not try?

As a wise leader once said: practice is the sole criterion for testing truth. Love was no different. He didn’t have all the answers yet—but how could he, without trying?

They might end up scarred and broken. Or blissfully happy. No one knew.

That was his choice.

“So… you’re my girlfriend now.”

“Mhm!”

Yining launched herself at him, arms wrapping tight around his waist, face pressed against his chest. Shiyu hugged back. Warmth and unspoken feelings flowed between them through fabric and skin.

In that moment, Nangong Shiyu welcomed his first love.

He welcomed his first romance.