"Form groups of five. Assign yourselves freely. The class monitor will hand me the list later."
As the teacher on the podium finished announcing tomorrow’s extracurricular activity, Chi Yuzhou still hadn’t grasped the situation.
Groups of five? An off-campus event? What would they even do outside school?
There was still time before first period. On the podium stood the class monitor and vice monitor.
One was Hua Qi, the vice monitor and Chi Yuzhou’s seatmate. The monitor was a girl.
He didn’t know her well—only that her surname was Shen.
The monitor’s voice rang out clearly:
"Five per group. Exactly five teams. If you don’t form your own, I’ll assign you."
Students below exchanged uncertain glances, then quickly clustered into teams, reporting to her in fives.
Chi Yuzhou, seated in the back, noticed Xiao Yingwan being invited by three classmates in rapid succession.
She only slightly shook her head and pointed toward the podium.
Just then, the monitor—busy tallying names—spoke up:
"Yingwan’s in my group. Find others."
Her words triggered soft sighs of disappointment across the room, along with regretful glances from some girls.
Chi Yuzhou and his front-seat neighbor, Hua Fu, remained frozen in the corner, trapped in awkward stillness.
Both were unclaimed.
Hua Qi on the podium spotted Chi Yuzhou’s hesitation. He whispered to the monitor, then approached Chi Yuzhou’s desk.
"Yuzhou, got a team yet? Join mine?" Hua Qi kept his usual warm tone. "Shen Shiling and Xiao Yingwan are already in."
"I’m fine with anything."
"Great. Just need one more."
Chi Yuzhou didn’t know what this off-campus thing was, but he didn’t refuse. Besides Hua Qi, he barely knew anyone well.
Hua Qi scanned the room. Everyone had teams except Hua Fu. He hesitated—he barely knew her.
As he wavered, Shen Shiling walked over, list in hand.
"Hua Fu, do you have a group?"
Hua Fu didn’t speak. She only slowly shook her head.
The class had split into chattering circles, yet many eyes lingered on the corner.
Shen Shiling wasn’t strikingly beautiful. Her loose braids hung behind her, glasses lending a scholarly air. Yet her role as monitor gave her quiet authority. Faint freckles dusted her cheeks, adding an unplaceable charm.
She gently adjusted her glasses.
"Join my team?"
"Yes. Thank you, Monitor."
"No problem. Hope we cooperate well tomorrow."
"Mm."
Hua Fu accepted politely, nodding. Shen Shiling relaxed slightly—she’d expected resistance from this girl, who usually seemed gloomy and detached.
Shen Shiling glanced at Chi Yuzhou. He looked stunned, frozen with joy at being grouped with Xiao Yingwan. She silently turned away. He seemed like a textbook otaku shut-in—she could almost picture him rolling on his bed over some anime plot.
After finalizing discipline on the podium, Shen Shiling left the classroom.
Drowsy Chi Yuzhou still hadn’t pieced together what the activity was.
Seated again, Hua Qi turned to Hua Fu with open friendliness:
"Tomorrow’s event—I’ll rely on your help, Hua Fu."
"Mm." She turned her face slightly, nodding gently once more.
Class was about to start. Chi Yuzhou finally asked Hua Qi:
"Off-campus activity? What is it?"
"Huh? You missed the announcement?" Chi Yuzhou shook his head—he slept through most classes. "I thought you were awake then." Hua Qi scratched his head. "Tomorrow afternoon: a collaborative cooking session."
"Cooking together?"
"Yeah."
Chi Yuzhou was surprised. The school held cooking events? It sounded fun.
He remembered something. "What if someone can’t cook?"
"Five people—someone’s bound to know how, right?" Hua Qi waved reassuringly. "Plus, Shen Shiling’s in our group. No worries."
"Okay."
Though unsure why Shen Shiling guaranteed safety, Chi Yuzhou trusted Hua Qi’s confidence and began looking forward to tomorrow.
...
The lunch bell rang. Chi Yuzhou moved like an autopilot—mind foggy, body already heading to the convenience store.
A bread roll and sweet yogurt bottle made for a blissful break.
It’d be perfect if clouds randomly blocked the scorching sun.
Shaded and still, Chi Yuzhou gazed into the distance, imagining cloud-controlling powers like childhood storybook witches.
Reality snapped back quickly. He turned toward the classroom.
At the stairwell, Xiao Yingwan appeared on the steps above. Sunlight haloed her silhouette, captivating passing students.
Spotting Chi Yuzhou below, she saved herself the search.
"Wait. Classroom 405 later. Okay?"
"Mm. Okay."
Their exchange lasted seconds, yet a few students noticed Chi Yuzhou. Beautiful people carried their own spotlight. He hid his looks on campus partly for this reason. Xiao Yingwan hadn’t sought him in class—likely to spare him attention. Even stubborn people had thoughtful sides. Worth noting.
Chi Yuzhou climbed the stairs, oblivious to the lingering glances behind him.
