After morning exercises, the gentle, unblinding slant of sunlight seeped into the classroom. Speckled rays mingled with swirling dust motes. Tu Shen happily snatched Qinmu’s math homework, savoring the breakfast and drinks he’d bought her. Still unsatisfied, she lazily pointed at her shoulder with her free hand—a clear *you-know-what-I-mean* look—and said, "Qinmu, my shoulders are so sore. Could you give them a massage?"

Qinmu bit back his resentment, reluctantly massaging his lazy desk mate. Behind them, two girls stared wide-eyed at their intimacy, whispering fiercely:

"What’s going on with them? Weren’t they tearing each other’s hair out happily just last week? Why so cozy now?"

"Nangong Qinmu’s totally a pushover. Think about it—he’s massaging Shen Tu! Only the weaker side grovels like this. Shen Tu’s definitely got him wrapped around her finger."

"Rabbits don’t eat the grass near their burrows... Ugh, if only Shen Tu would swap seats with me. I adore cute boys too. Such a waste~"

Hearing their incessant chirping, Tu Shen straightened up, turned around, and snapped, "It’s just a massage. Want me to have Qinmu loosen *your* stiff joints too?"

The girls had thought their whispers were hidden. Startled, they shook their heads in unison: "No thanks! Really, no need!"

Satisfied she’d crushed potential rivals, Tu Shen slumped back into her lazy pose, waiting for Qinmu to resume his "duties." But Qinmu flatly refused: "No."

"Keep going! Hurry up—I’m waiting," Tu Shen urged impatiently, almost forcing his hands onto her shoulders. Qinmu refused again, fearless and firm: "Everyone’s watching. It’s embarrassing. If you want a massage, find a machine and sit on it all day."

Seeing his clear reluctance—and a flicker of disgust toward her—Tu Shen reluctantly gave up. She didn’t want to be branded a villain in Qinmu’s eyes. Besides, she couldn’t ruin their closeness for future... *intimate exchanges*. Everything in moderation.

She cleared her throat theatrically. "Ahem! Qinmu, I’ll let you off this time. I’m in a good mood. Next time won’t be so lucky."

Qinmu ignored her, focusing on the morning reading assignment—English passages. Rumor had it the teacher would test her recitation after school. She couldn’t afford to slack off. After all, she’d been singled out last week for daydreaming in class. Another slip-up would mean a scolding from the strict English teacher.

Yue Yang stole glances at Qinmu during the reading break. Sitting in the front row, she had to be subtle. Unbeknownst to her, Qi Yao watched her every move. *The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind*, Qi Yao thought smugly, weaving fantasies: *Yue Yang, once I uncover all your secrets, I’ll help Qinmu win you over. With my dating experience, I’ll crack this tsundere girl yet.*

Oblivious, Qinmu finished reciting and started on her test papers. Tu Shen lazily scrolled through the latest novel chapter, obsessed with handsome men, growing thinner by the day.

Outside, winter sunlight still warmed the air. Towering nanmu trees stood straight before the classroom building. In the distant flowerbeds and bamboo grove, most blossoms had withered, leaving bare branches with a few stubborn leaves. The bamboo remained emerald and upright, though some stalks had already turned brittle and brown.

---

The afternoon stayed sunny, but the temperature had inexplicably dropped several degrees. Even the sun offered little warmth against the chill. Yue Yang huddled in her thick black coat, braving the wind alongside Wenqi Yin as they boarded the bus to school.

Wenqi Yin, her childhood friend from Class 2-1, had shared fourteen magical years with her—elementary, middle, and high school, always at the same school.

Yue Yang tucked a folded letter into her pocket. Wenqi Yin smirked. "So secretive. Just tell the boy you like him. Why write a thank-you note? Scared he’ll eat you alive?"

Yue Yang pushed aside her bangs, eyes wide with panic. "No! What if he rejects me? We’d be awkward forever. Besides, I only just started talking to him!"

Wenqi Yin sighed. "You need to be bolder. Your grades are stellar—you might even get into Yuzhou University. [*Ps: Yuzhou University ≠ Chongqing University. (Fictional)*] If you stay this timid, you’ll bomb the Yuzhou interview. And let’s be real—grades alone won’t guarantee admission."

Flustered, Yue Yang twisted a lock of dark hair. "I know! But this is just... who I am. I can’t change overnight. I’m not like our student council president—smooth talker."

Wenqi Yin patted her shoulder, flashing a comrade-in-arms grin. "What if I teach you to ditch this timid act? Will you follow my guidance?"

Yue Yang eyed her skeptically. "You? But you don’t have many friends in class either."

Stung by the truth, Wenqi Yin scowled. "That’s because I’m *vice* president! They either fear me or envy me—"

Yue Yang burst into genuine laughter, teasing: "Oh, Vice President~ Such a tragic past! My heart bleeds for you~"

Fuming at the mockery, Wenqi Yin retaliated. Her icy hand slipped under Yue Yang’s collar, sliding down to her warm shoulder. Yue Yang yelped: "Stop! I’m sorry, Vice President!"

But Wenqi Yin didn’t stop. Her wandering hand slipped further—into Yue Yang’s bra. The soft warmth sent electric jolts to her brain. For half a minute, Wenqi Yin lingered, even squeezing playfully. The brazen touch left Yue Yang flushed and furious.

Worse, Wenqi Yin whispered in her ear, fanning the flames: "My, my, Yue Yang. You’ve blossomed nicely this year. Much bigger than before."

Yue Yang’s face burned crimson. She yanked Wenqi Yin’s hand free. "Pervert! How dare you?! Shameless!"

"Heh. Shameless? Fine. But with your curves and pretty face, Qinmu will *definitely* like you~" Wenqi Yin pressed on, making Yue Yang’s blush deepen until steam practically hissed from her ears.

"But... will Qinmu even like girls with big chests?" Yue Yang asked shyly, despite her embarrassment.

"Most guys do. Some prefer smaller. But anyone who truly likes *you* won’t care about size." Wenqi Yin mused, her hand still hovering near Yue Yang’s chest. Yue Yang seriously considered calling the police for harassment.

"I get it. Either way... I need to try. I’ll give him the letter myself."

Yue Yang clenched her fist, resolve hardening. She had to test Qinmu’s feelings herself before chasing this rare love.

---

Qinmu hurriedly copied notes—*Tu Shen’s* notes. The girl had slept through the entire morning math class, treating her like free labor. Copying wasn’t the issue; it was Tu Shen never reviewing them, then blaming *her* when tests went south. That injustice had happened too many times.

In the back row, Qi Yao chatted with boys about the latest pretty girls—a timeless topic.

One boy grinned excitedly: "That girl who looks just like Qinmu? Stunning. She’d be Class 3’s flower for sure."

Qi Yao bristled. "Shut up! She *is* Qinmu’s twin sister. And she’s earned that title."

Another sighed dramatically: "Nowadays, if you’re not born pretty, you’d better work hard. Be an unsung hero—like a CEO’s assistant... or Lao Wang."

His neighbor scoffed: "Seriously? With morals like that? Don’t say you’re from Jintang Academy. We can’t afford that shame."

Laughter erupted, filling Class 13 with noise. Qinmu glanced up but resisted joining. The boys’ talk had long stopped being her world. She buried herself in copying notes for Tu Shen.

---

Yue Yang lingered outside the classroom window. She watched Qinmu copying notes—his focused expression, his earnest charm—making her heart race. *I like this Qinmu too*, she thought, lingering longer than intended. Only when a passing girl tapped her shoulder did she snap out of it, fleeing with a scarlet face.

Qinmu felt the burning gaze from outside but didn’t look up. Lately, too many boys had slipped her love letters. She couldn’t risk giving anyone false hope.

Qi Yao, ever the spy, had already locked onto Yue Yang. He’d seen every flicker of emotion on her face. *She likes Qinmu*, he realized. *Deep, hidden love. The silent kind. A true crush.*

Drowsy from copying, Qinmu lowered her head. She turned down her earphone volume and drifted off. Seeing her asleep, Yue Yang seized the moment. While classmates chatted, she slipped to Qinmu’s desk, pulled the letter from her pocket, and tucked it into her bag.

Qinmu slept deeply, unaware. She turned her face outward in her sleep. When it faced Yue Yang, she nearly gasped—but clamped a hand over her mouth. *Still asleep.* She studied him carefully: slightly tousled blue hair, smooth pale skin, dimples that appeared even in rest, a clean-shaven jaw, a neck without an Adam’s apple. *If he were a girl, this would be normal*, she thought. *But he’s a boy—and that’s where creation’s magic lies.* *What a dream... to date a boy like him.*