The sky served as a backdrop, white clouds as the stars. Birds occasionally streaked across, leaving echoes of chirps and trills—a vibrant scene with sound and color.
Sitting like this with someone you like in such surroundings brought an indescribable sweetness.
"Such lovely weather today. It’s been ages since I last enjoyed the view like this," Yixinxue said, hugging her knees on the grass. Her white hair swayed gently in the breeze behind her.
Lingyuan’s gaze drifted upward. "Haven’t you traveled to many countries, Class Rep? I’d think you’d love traveling."
Yixinxue merely smiled. "For the sake of being number one—of honor—trivial hobbies like that can be discarded."
"Is being first really that important?"
"Of course. I refuse to lose. To me, losing is the deepest shame." Her voice held raw sincerity. "So I keep pushing myself, staying at the peak."
"Isn’t that... too much?"
"Hm?"
"Aren’t you exhausted?" Lingyuan shook his head, puzzled.
Always fighting to be first in everything—if Yixinxue wasn’t a genius, she’d collapse from overwork. A worker like her would have capitalists scrambling to hire her...
"Exhausted...?" Yixinxue lowered her head, staring blankly at her skirt. *How could it not be exhausting?*
Once, her greatest joy had been trying on different outfits—a rare weekly escape.
Lingyuan frowned deeper. "Aiming for first in everything... it doesn’t just happen. You must pour far more effort into it than others, right?"
Her fiery crimson eyes froze over instantly.
"Yeah," Lingyuan clicked his tongue. "People only care about results nowadays. They never see the struggle. Every time I hear them say, ‘Class Rep got first again—such a genius, so amazing!’ it feels off. Sure, you’re gifted at studying. But you work harder than anyone. Not a single lazy moment. Isn’t that exactly what earned you this?"
*Right... no one ever sees my effort...*
How many sleepless nights? How many problems solved? Yixinxue had lost count.
The violin she once loved. Singing. Dancing... All scattered like dust for the sake of grades.
How long since she’d held a violin bow? Sung a note? Danced a step?
She couldn’t remember.
"Am I wrong, Class Rep? You’ve nearly fainted several times. Sometimes during morning readings, you can barely stand. And chasing first place... you don’t have a single friend at school, do you?"
Suddenly, glistening tears welled in her frozen eyes.
"W-why dig into someone’s pain like that..." Yixinxue choked back tears, voice trembling. "To stand at the top... sacrifice is necessary..."
"Is it worth it?" Lingyuan, oblivious to her distress, pressed on. "Truly exceptional people know what to fight for—and what to let go. There’s too much in this world. Even with endless talent, pushing yourself this hard... you’ll break one day."
With every word, her tears multiplied, teetering on the edge of collapse.
"So, Class Rep," Lingyuan’s tone softened, "don’t push yourself so hard. You’re far prettier when you smile."
A tear rolled down her cheek, bright as a scattered pearl, dampening her clothes.
"Ah—Class Rep, why are you crying?!" Lingyuan panicked, fumbling frantically in his pockets for tissues. "I don’t get what I said wrong—"
"I’m not crying..." Yixinxue took the tissue, murmuring. "You carry tissues? A boy like you..."
"It’s... leftover toilet paper from this morning’s bathroom break. From the roll. Don’t mind it..."
"Pfft—" Yixinxue’s tears gave way to a soft chuckle. She wiped her cheeks and crumpled the tissue. "You’re different. No drive to compete at all."
"Who said that?!" Lingyuan bristled. "I never plan to lose ranked matches! I’m top 50 in the national server for mobile games. If that’s not impressive enough—my PC account’s Hunter tier, world rank 100-something! Haven’t played in days though. Gotta climb back tonight."
Watching his fiery determination, Yixinxue smiled warmly.
Her heart felt lighter than it had in years.
*A slacker saying things like this... Ahh~ I like you even more now~*
"Sigh~ But~"
"But what?"
Whenever Yixinxue’s voice turned playful like this, Lingyuan’s instincts flared.
"In winning *you*," she pounced, pinning him down, "I *must* be first~ You really... make me fall harder every day~"
"N-no! Class Rep! Someone might see—we’ll end up on headlines!"
"Ehh~ Don’t be scared~"
Straddling his lap, where their bodies met in ways words couldn’t describe—
Excitement. Greed. Shyness. Desire...
All crashed like tidal waves against her heart.
*Is this what being love-struck feels like?*
Losing herself. Buried in the desert storm of love.
Seeing Lingyuan’s flustered panic beneath her, a devilish smile curled on her lips.
*[Way too cute~]*
"Class Rep!"
Lingyuan heaved himself upright. Yixinxue yelped, clinging to him as she lost balance.
"This isn’t right! It ruins your image as Class Rep! Let’s stand up and talk properly—"
"Huh...?"
Yixinxue froze.
*This... this isn’t how the scene’s supposed to go?*
"L-let’s go shopping instead! As a model student, you shouldn’t do this. I’ll help correct your behavior..."
Lingyuan pulled her up, brushing grass from her skirt.
*Huh?*
*Why stop?*
Yixinxue’s mind went blank, unable to process.
"We should buy some toys for the cat too!" Lingyuan added earnestly.
Seeing his sincere face, she nodded slowly.
"*Phew...*" Lingyuan exhaled, smiling at her.
*Scared me to death. Thank goodness she agreed.*
Sunlight bathed his smile. Yixinxue stared at the boy before her, time seeming to still. The world faded to silence...
*[I could love every part of you. I wish... you could love every part of me too.]*
Time erodes all things.
Yet time also changes everything.
