Monday. Yichen walked into the classroom right on time, just like any other day.

Though he planned to transfer schools, he was still a student at Skyvoid Academy—for now. At the very least, he needed to tell his classmates, especially Zhenghong, about his decision.

"...to date, nations that have joined the Soul Force Administration now cover 50% of the world’s total land area. Within ten years, that figure is projected to reach 65%. A clear gap in public safety exists between member and non-member states. Recent polls show citizens in member nations report a 98% sense of security, compared to just 60% elsewhere. Ninety percent of developed countries have already joined. Among developing nations, GDP growth in member states vastly outpaces non-members... all thanks to the secure environment provided by the Soul Force Administration..."

The politics teacher droned on from the podium about the Soul Force Administration. But Yichen slumped at his desk, propping up his cheek with one hand to keep from collapsing. Restlessness gnawed at him. He couldn’t focus. The teacher’s words slipped through his mind like water.

His gaze drifted to Shiyue. She sat utterly absorbed in the lecture. Suddenly, she turned—and their eyes met.

Yichen’s face burned. He snapped his head down, staring hard at his textbook.

*Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding!*

The first-period bell finally rang. Yichen exhaled sharply and stretched.

"Hey, Zhenghong."

He tapped the shoulder of the boy in front. Zhenghong turned.

"What’s up?"

Yichen paused.

"I’m transferring schools."

"*Huh?!*" Zhenghong’s jaw dropped wide enough to swallow an egg. "You’re joking. Why so sudden?"

"Serious. I leave next week."

"Seriously? Where to?"

"Soul Force—uh, Europe. To study near my sister."

Yichen improvised the excuse.

Zhenghong stared blankly for a long moment.

"Really?"

"Really."

Classmates nearby had overheard. They crowded around, peppering him with questions.

"You’re transferring?"

"Did the Chairman arrange it?"

"Why the rush?"

Yichen hadn’t expected this much attention. He laughed awkwardly.

"Ahaha, yeah. Heard the schools there are better. Closer to my sister’s company too."

"Which school?" a girl asked.

"Uh... not sure yet. Haha."

"Which city? Vienna? Paris? Venice?" Another girl, eyes sparkling with travel dreams, leaned in eagerly.

"I, uh... forgot the city name. Haha."

Their questions kept coming, but Yichen’s vague answers only deepened their confusion.

Then one classmate nodded knowingly.

"Right. Your parents aren’t around anymore. Makes sense to live with your sister."

"Ahaha, exactly."

Yichen had no memories before age ten. According to Zixuan, a car accident had erased them. His parents had passed away before he turned ten—he remembered nothing of them. *What were they like?* The thought pulled him into silence.

The classmate who’d mentioned his parents saw Yichen’s distant expression and flinched.

"Uh... sorry, Yichen."

"Huh? No, it’s fine!" Yichen waved his hands hastily.

Meanwhile, Shiyue sat at her desk, reviewing notes for the next class.

Xiao Lan suddenly leaned close, whispering in her ear.

"Shiyue! Yichen just said he’s transferring!"

Shiyue flinched. Her pen clattered to the floor. She froze, staring blankly ahead.

"Shiyue?" Xiao Lan waved a hand before her eyes. "Don’t scare me like that!"

Shiyue snapped back, shooting Xiao Lan an annoyed look.

"Don’t be silly. I heard Yichen’s transferring."

"Huh? *How* did you know?" Xiao Lan’s eyes widened in shock.

"Someone told me."

"Who? And why so calm about it?"

"This *is* calm." Shiyue muttered, lowering her gaze to the desk.

***

That afternoon, tennis club practice ended.

"Bye, Senpai Shiyue! Senpai Lingfei!" Du Xiaoyi, twin ponytails bouncing, waved dramatically from the clubhouse door before skipping away.

Shiyue and Lingfei settled onto the bench to rest.

"So, Shiyue," Lingfei began casually, "how’s it going with Lin Yichen lately?"

"*Cough! Cough-cough!*" Shiyue choked on her water, doubling over.

"Whoa, easy there!" Lingfei patted her back.

"I’m fine... *cough*."

"Sorry, didn’t expect that reaction. Seriously though—any progress with Lin Yichen?"

"What progress? There’s *nothing* between us!" Shiyue shook her head fiercely, cheeks flushed.

"Come on. You nursed him for days while he was hospitalized. ‘Nothing’?" Lingfei raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"Since when are you so nosy?" Shiyue snapped, packing her bag with sharp movements.

"Just looking out for club members."

"*Hmph.* I said there’s nothing." She shot Lingfei a glare, face still red, then hurried out of the court.

After a few steps, Shiyue slowed. Habit made her check her phone. A new message from Yichen glowed on the screen. Her brow furrowed as she opened it:

> *Shiyue, I’m heading straight home today. Don’t wait at the cram school—just come to my place.*

*He skipped cram school?* Shiyue’s eyes widened in surprise. She pocketed her phone and headed straight for Yichen’s house.

Confused about his absence from cram school, Shiyue passed through the iris scan at Yichen’s gate. Beyond it lay a spacious courtyard: a trickling rock garden, a small pond with golden koi, and lush green grass.

"*Hah! Hah! Hyah! Hyah!*"

Shiyue turned toward the grunts. Her eyes widened.

Yichen stood there, swinging a blue longsword with practiced form.

She recognized that blade—the one he’d inexplicably wielded during their attack.

"Yichen... what are you doing?"

"Oh! Shiyue." He stopped instantly, scratching his head with an embarrassed grin. He lifted the sword proudly. "Look—it’s the sword from that night. Turns out it has a name: Stellar Blade."

"Stellar Blade? How do you know that?"

"Haha, no idea. It just... told me. Feels like part of my body. Wanna try holding it?" He offered it to her.

"So you skipped class and cram school... for this rusty sword?"

"Eh?" Her icy tone froze him. Shiyue’s brows knotted in anger. "You were distracted all day. You ditched tutoring. For *this*?"

"I was just—"

"Don’t you remember why you’ve worked so hard? Don’t you want to catch up to your sister? Are you giving up your dream over a piece of junk?"

"I haven’t forgotten!" Yichen clenched his fists. "That’s *why* I’m holding this sword! It’s my only chance to enter my sister’s world. How could I quit?"

Shiyue fell silent, stunned. She bit her lip, her expression twisting with pain.

"Shiyue... what’s wrong?"

"I... I—" She shook her head, stumbling backward. Yichen dropped Stellar Blade. It dissolved into blue particles. He reached for her hand.

In the next instant, Shiyue yanked her hand away.

She retreated two steps, eyes wide with panic.

Seconds passed. Her eyes snapped open in realization. Then her gaze fell, her face crumbling into quiet sorrow.

"Sorry."

She whispered the word and fled inside.

Shiyue ran to her room and collapsed face-first onto the bed. She didn’t understand her own reaction. All she knew was a bitter ache had flooded her chest when she saw him so absorbed in that sword. She’d just lashed out.

She dragged herself up and changed into her maid uniform. Staring at her reflection in the mirror, her expression remained hollow.

"Not much time left like this, is there?" she murmured.

At dinner, Shiyue stayed silent and downcast. Yichen tried talking to her, but she barely responded—just soft "hmms."

"I’m done."

Those were her only full words all meal. She cleared her dishes and retreated upstairs.

That night, Yichen studied in his room. Shiyue’s inexplicable anger had doused his restlessness like cold water. For the first time all day, he could focus. Problems he’d blanked on earlier now yielded to careful thought. But gaps from skipping class left him scratching his head over exercises.

At 9 PM, the door opened. Shiyue entered as usual, placing a cup of tea on his desk. She saw him frowning at a problem.

"Stuck?"

Yichen nodded. "Didn’t really listen in class today. Ugh."

"Let me help."

"Okay. Thanks."

Normally, Shiyue would lean close while teaching, making Yichen’s face flush. But tonight, she kept an ordinary distance, explaining patiently.

"Get it now?"

"Yeah. Thanks."

A pang of disappointment hit him. The memory of her kiss flashed in his mind. His cheeks burned. He shook his head hard.

"Yichen?" Shiyue looked at him strangely.

"Ah—nothing! Just..." He forced a weak smile.

A flicker of sorrow crossed Shiyue’s eyes.

"Yichen... are you really leaving?"

He froze, then realized she meant the transfer. News had spread fast after his talk with Zhenghong. He’d planned to tell her himself tonight about the Soul Force Wielder academy—but her anger had derailed everything.

"Yeah. Shiyue, I’m going to a specialized academy for Soul Force Wielders."

"I know. Miss Zixuan told me."

Yichen stared, bewildered. *Why would Zixuan tell her?*

"Yichen... do you have to go?"

He met her gaze, resolve hardening in his eyes.

"Yes. I have to."

Shiyue’s expression deepened into grief.

"Can’t things stay as they are?"

"Shiyue..."

Unable to bear it, she turned and left the room.

Yichen suddenly wondered: if he left, what would happen to Shiyue? Would she still come to his house as usual?

After all, it was Yichen who’d suggested Shiyue work there, and Zixuan had never been keen from the start.

He actually wanted Shiyue to go with him too. But Zixuan had warned that once you go, you can’t leave freely. Besides, Shiyue’s family was here. So Yichen mentally rejected the idea.