Qi Yao flicked the raindrops off his umbrella one by one before stepping onto the dry patch at the back of the classroom. He tossed his backpack onto the rear desk and scanned the room.
Only a few unfamiliar girls had arrived.
Up front, Qinmu and Tu Shen were whispering quietly to each other.
*Where’s Yue Yang?*
She’d fled ahead of him on the way to school. Qi Yao had tailed her through endless detours, yet now she’d vanished without a trace. Frustration gnawed at him.
*Could she teleport?*
---
Outside Class One, Yue Yang shifted nervously. She waved repeatedly at Yin Wenqi, who was laughing and roughhousing with classmates inside. Getting no response, she finally squeaked, "Wenqi... come out!"
Yin Wenqi spun around and strode out. "Cutie, what’s up? Why so early?"
"Trouble," Yue Yang whispered, pulling her closer. "Don’t... let others hear."
"Who’d dare eavesdrop? I’ll flatten them."
"It’s not about flattening anyone. Some strange boy followed me all the way here—he wouldn’t shake off, even tracked me to school." Her mood darkened further.
Cautious by nature, she rarely faced such chaos. If he stalked her from school to the cafeteria, then home... her peaceful life would shatter.
Yin Wenqi’s expression hardened. "Seriously? Who’d break school rules like this? Did you see his face? Is he wearing our uniform?"
"He is. Otherwise, he couldn’t get in." Yue Yang hesitated. "What if he’s an outsider? Some vagrant sneaking in with a fake uniform..."
Yin Wenqi patted her shoulder. "Don’t worry. I’ll walk you to and from school. As Student Council VP, I’ll alert the whole campus. Every girl needs to stay vigilant."
"Thanks... but keep it quiet if he stops following me."
Yue Yang, you’re too naive," Yin Wenqi sighed. "What if he’d done something worse? Not everyone’s kind. Darkness exists where light doesn’t reach."
"...I’m just soft-hearted."
"Exactly. If we find him, point him out. One example will scare off the rest."
"I’ll try to remember his face."
*Though I panicked and ran the moment I noticed him. All I recall is—a guy. With so many boys here, how could I possibly ID him?*
"Cutie, you’re just too adorable. Perverts target that. I’ll be your guardian—shield you from anyone who’d taint you. The world’s dangerous now. People hide twisted intentions..."
"Boys aren’t *that* scary," Yue Yang cut in, fleeing before Yin Wenqi could continue.
Yin Wenqi watched her back fade. *You’ve got someone you like, don’t you...*
---
By the time Yue Yang returned to Class Thirteen, the room buzzed with chatter and laughter.
*Youth carries deliberate dreams but careless smiles,* she mused, dodging lingering glances from boys as she hurried to her seat—second row from the back, last column. The spot beside her had been empty since Ye Ning transferred schools.
She longed to fill that void.
A boy or girl would do.
But the boy she stole glances at now was Nangong Qinmu.
*If heaven placed him beside me, I’d burn incense daily in gratitude.* Yet reality mocked her. The one she adored stayed distant, while Tu Shen—sitting beside him—claimed his laughter, his warmth, his every glance.
Jealousy burned in her chest.
*But what good is rage? The unreachable stirs restlessly; the cherished grows bold.*
---
"Let me see! It won’t bite!"
"Are you insane? This is class! I don’t hit girls, but push me and I’ll make you regret it!"
"Just a peek—"
"Shen Tu! What are you doing?" The homeroom teacher’s voice cracked like thunder behind them.
Shen Tu jerked her hand from Qinmu’s collar. "W-we were just playing!"
"Playing? Riding on Nangong Qinmu counts as *playing*?" The teacher’s face darkened. "Back to your seat. At your age, don’t you know boundaries between genders? Is he your boyfriend?"
"N-no." Shen Tu shook her head.
"Qinmu, is she your girlfriend?"
Qinmu’s head snapped left. "Absolutely not."
"Then how dare you, Shen Tu, act so shamelessly with a boy who isn’t even your boyfriend?"
"It’s Qinmu’s fault!" Shen Tu blurted. "She’s so cute—like a girl! I just got carried away..."
"Enough excuses! Since this semester began, have you opened a textbook? Your grades sank to the bottom of Mount Everest! Harassing boys instead of studying—do you even regret it?"
The teacher turned to Qinmu. Though undeniably delicate-featured, he maintained his composure. "Your dynamic is disruptive. For the class’s sake: Qinmu, move beside Yang Yue. Shen Tu, I’ll assign you a new desk partner—*female* this time. No more touching."
Qinmu’s eyes lit up. "Thank you, teacher."
"Don’t thank me. Go now." The teacher dismissed her before scolding Shen Tu again. "I paired you hoping Qinmu would help your grades. Instead, you disgrace us..."
---
Yang Yue’s heart hammered wildly. *He’s sitting beside me? How do I act? Someone save me!*
Qinmu clutched his bag, equally flustered. *What do I say to Yang Yue? How do I seem... normal?*
The classroom erupted. Boys cheered:
"Two class flowers together!"
"No more neck strain watching both!"
"Long live the double blooms!"
"QUIET!" The teacher’s roar silenced the room.
---
Qinmu forced his pulse to slow. "Yang Yue... we’re desk partners now. Please take care of me." He offered his hand.
Yang Yue’s cheeks flushed. "Y-yes. Same to you." Her fingers brushed his—warm, soft—and a jolt shot through her. She couldn’t pull away. Her face burned hotter.
"I’m Nangong Qinmu," he murmured shyly. "You... know my name, right?"
*Know it? We took cooking class together last month!* She finally released his hand. "Um... that letter I gave you. Did you read it?" *Did I just say that aloud?*
"Letter?" Qinmu blinked. *A letter from Yang Yue? I’d have stayed up all night rereading it!*
"For... for helping me in English class. You remember?" Her fingers twisted her bag strap raw.
"Oh, that was nothing." He smiled awkwardly. "You’re adorably forgetful sometimes."
*Adorable? He called me adorable!* The strap frayed under her grip. "W-when I’m forgetful... could you remind me?"
"Of course. Unless I annoy you."
"Thank you. I’m bad with words... please don’t mind." Her blush deepened.
"Why would I mind? We’ll be together all year. Honestly," his gentle smile softened his features, "I’ve always wanted to be friends. You’re amazing, Yang Yue."
"Amazing?"
"You’re always class rank #1. Isn’t that amazing?"
*Oh. Just my grades.* Disappointment flickered—everyone knew she was the top student. To them, "Yang Yue" meant "honor student," a title no one else could touch.
"Someone else will hold that spot someday, Qinmu. No one stays #1 forever." Her smile held no pride.
"Me? Impossible." He gave a bitter chuckle. His rank had plummeted past fourth place.
"Anything’s possible if you try. Right, Qinmu?" She patted his shoulder, then yanked her hand back, flustered.
"You’re right. Please take care of me, Yang Yue."
"Likewise. I’ll help however I can." She pressed her lips into a small, warm smile.
---
The teacher reclaimed the podium. The classroom filled once more with the steady rhythm of reading voices.
Meanwhile, Qinmu and Yue Yang wandered in unspoken understanding, each lost in their own fields of exhilaration, directionless. The thrill of finally meeting brought a trace of warmth to the chilly November air.
