I saw it. Without a doubt, Senior Bailin’s gaze was fixed squarely on me.

Liming had never felt such certainty before. Not even after acing his most confident exam could compare to being watched by Senior Bailin.

Her familiar, clear amber eyes held a mesmerizing power. Like the world’s most exquisite gem, they stole his ability to think the moment they met his.

Over a year had passed since their last meeting. The lingering sorrow from their farewell felt like yesterday. Yet, as if guided by fate, Liming locked eyes with Bai Ling instantly.

Finally, we meet again, Senior Bailin…

Finally, we meet again, Junior Li Ming…

From each other’s eyes, they read pure joy and the ease of reunion. After a year apart, if fate smiled on them, the red thread binding them remained unbroken.

*Senior, you haven’t changed a bit from a year ago.*

The impact from his soul left Liming lost in Senior Bailin’s beauty.

Unlike the brief side glance at the traffic light that morning—interrupted by Zhangqianxing—this time, Liming saw Bai Ling’s face clearly from mere meters away.

She hadn’t changed at all. Time had left no trace on Senior Bailin. Years favored such a radiant woman.

Her gentle, warm eyes made ill thoughts impossible. Silky hair flowed to her waist, simply tied back yet perfectly so. Her lips were slightly pale, lacking color. Her delicate figure was flawless from every angle.

Qianning High School’s summer uniform—a thin white shirt—didn’t expose flaws on her. Instead, she wore it with absolute mastery.

The epitome of grace, her every step exuded nobility honed by time. Gentle, polite, unassuming yet earnest. When you marveled at her beauty, everything else faded.

Golden sunlight streamed through the corridor like shattered lake light. It bathed Senior Bailin’s proud figure and her clear, transparent eyes. Like a goddess treading on golden brocade, she descended from the heavens.

Her fair cheeks caught a hint of light. In that instant, Liming clearly saw the fatigue and sorrow deep in Senior Bailin’s eyes.

Liming knew her well. As her most capable secretary once, he’d rarely seen such shadows on her. Only once—during their farewell—had he glimpsed that helpless sorrow in her gaze.

Senior Bailin carried some unspoken worry. Beneath her composed gentleness, sorrow clung to her. From her eyes, he saw nostalgia and pain, yet her unique aura remained unchanged.

As always, it silently seeped into your awareness. Her titles—“City in the Clouds” and “White Lotus on the High Peak”—fit her, yet were often misunderstood.

Almost instinctively, Liming stepped forward to continue this reunion. But Senior Bailin left only a graceful back view, vanishing around a corridor corner.

His raised hand dropped. Liming watched the empty space and slowly exhaled.

Indeed, he still wasn’t fully ready to face Senior Bailin. Perhaps sensing his panic, the understanding Senior Bailin hadn’t waited.

Liming felt lost and dejected. Even after a year, his guilt hadn’t faded a trace.

*Senior Bailin must know the Student Council’s fate back in town. No matter what, I won’t let that happen here. I missed once—this time, I absolutely won’t fail!*

If joining the Student Council was just to apologize before, now Liming’s guilt ignited into a burning flame!

He saw it clearly: Senior Bailin’s sorrow and exhaustion.

Liming craved to join the Student Council—desperately! Like their perfect partnership before, fighting side by side to achieve the unbelievable!

Unaware Senior Bailin had already set her sights on him, Liming sincerely wanted to help.

Looking back later, he’d wonder what to feel. What he didn’t know was that as Bai Ling gazed at him, the fragmented sunlight at his feet formed a spiderweb pattern—with Liming at its center.

“Xiao Mingzi, spacing out again? You rushed out to deliver files, right?”

Zhangqianxing stepped out of the classroom, parting with a blushing girl. Seeing Liming’s fiery, sky-piercing gaze, he blinked oddly with his peach-blossom eyes.

Liming had that unstoppable look only once in middle school—a flame that died sadly. Zhangqianxing never thought he’d see it reignited here.

“I saw Senior Bailin.”

“What?! Seriously? Where?!”

“She’s gone. Senior’s busy—didn’t linger.”

Liming gestured for Zhangqianxing to follow. He still needed to deliver the student forms to their homeroom teacher. This sharp, driven Liming was someone Zhangqianxing couldn’t resist.

“Hey, hey, Xiao Mingzi—you’re unfair! You know I admire Senior Bailin, yet you didn’t even try to keep her. At least leave an impression!”

His best friend’s nagging made Liming’s forehead vein throb.

“What impression? Your ‘romantic but not vulgar’ playboy act? I can’t promise anything, but if you dare bother Senior during work and make her angry, you’ll be scorned to death.”

Liming remembered vividly: back in town, a clueless boy pestered her nonstop—even during work hours. Senior’s scolding was so sharp and pained, he’d cried on the spot.

“Don’t say that! I’m handsome, after all. I’ll just change my image—Senior will see me differently.”

Liming glanced at Zhangqianxing, who’d been cozying up to a girl minutes ago, and spat out two words.

“Scumbag!”