We walked in silence for a while.

"Is it still ahead?"

"Mm-hmm."

Another stretch of silence followed.

"Do we take this fork too?"

"Yeah."

We’d reached the entrance to my residential compound.

"Class monitor, you’re not lying just to walk me home, are you?" I teased, since Tian Yao had followed me all this way.

"Of course not… Wait, let me check. I remember the address is here." Tian Yao pulled a small note from her backpack, glanced at my compound’s name, and nodded. "That’s right. It’s inside."

So that classmate lived in the same compound as me? What a coincidence. Maybe we’d even met before.

But when we reached my doorstep, my gaze sharpened. Things weren’t as simple as I’d thought.

"That classmate of ours… wouldn’t happen to be named Xia Xi, would she?"

"Huh? Yes, it’s Xia Xi. Do you know her, Zong Jun?" Tian Yao asked in surprise, then realization dawned. "Oh, right. Living in the same compound, it’s normal to know each other."

I slapped my forehead hard. Just as I suspected! I should’ve figured it out earlier. Same age, same compound, absent from school so long… It had to be Xia Xi.

"Actually, it’s not just the same compound…" I pointed to the house beside Xia Xi’s. "That’s my place. We’re neighbors."

Tian Yao covered her mouth in surprise. "What a coincidence! That’s great."

"Well then, class monitor, good luck. I’ll head home first." I waved casually and turned to leave.

But Tian Yao grabbed the hem of my shirt.

"Wait… you should come in with me. You’re neighbors, right? It’ll be easier to talk to her."

"No, we’re not really close. And I need to cook dinner at this hour."

No way. I didn’t want to meet that cult leader. If I could help it, I’d never talk to her willingly. Let alone visit her home…

Tian Yao bit her lip, then let go. "Alright. It wouldn’t be good if you went hungry because of me."

"I’m truly grateful for your consideration."

"Well, see you at school tomorrow."

I waved and headed toward my house.

Bai Yu should be back by now. I wondered if she was angry about me being late and hungry.

After digging out my keys, just as I was about to insert them into the lock, I glanced sideways. Tian Yao still stood at Xia Xi’s door.

She hadn’t rung the bell. She reached out several times to press it, but pulled back each time.

Was she scared? If it was this hard, why hadn’t she insisted earlier? I, who’d received so much help from her daily, might’ve stayed.

Seriously…

I walked over, reached past her shoulder, and pressed Xia Xi’s doorbell.

Tian Yao turned around in surprise, staring blankly. "Zong Jun, weren’t you going home?"

"I’ll stay with you!"

"But, dinner…"

"It’s fine to eat a little late once in a while."

Actually, it did matter. Right now, I was praying Bai Yu wouldn’t be too angry when I got home.

Tian Yao looked away shyly and pushed up her glasses.

A voice crackled from the intercom. "Who is it?"

Tian Yao stepped forward. "Auntie, hello. We’re Xia Xi’s classmates. The teacher sent us to visit her."

"Xia Xi’s classmates? Wait a moment. I’ll open the door."

In under three minutes, a slightly plump aunt opened the door. She looked surprised when she saw me. "Isn’t that Ah-Jun from next door? Are you also Xia Xi’s classmate?"

"Hello, Aunt Cai. I’m Xia Xi’s classmate." I replied politely. I knew most neighbors here—my family’s situation was special, so many in the compound looked out for us.

Aunt Cai laughed heartily. "Come on in, both of you."

Inside, she handed us slippers.

After changing, I stood in the entryway, surveying the layout. It mirrored my house: two stories, dining room and kitchen to the left, living room to the right, stairs straight ahead.

"Xia Xi’s upstairs. I’ll take you up."

Aunt Cai led us to the landing. The leftmost room was Xia Xi’s.

"Xia Xi, your classmates are here." She knocked, but got no response.

Annoyed, she knocked harder. "Open up! I know you’re in there. Don’t pretend you didn’t hear."

After a long pause, Xia Xi’s voice drifted out. "I don’t want to see them. Just tell them to go home, Auntie."

"That’s so rude! Open the door."

"I said no. Just tell them I’m not home."

Xia Xi was being stubborn, refusing to open the door.

Aunt Cai turned to us apologetically. "Sorry. She’s not a bad kid, just a bit reclusive. I’ll get the key."

"No need to—"

I was about to say "don’t bother," thinking we should just leave.

But Tian Yao interrupted, nodding to Aunt Cai. "Then please trouble you, Auntie."

"It’s nothing. I’m happy classmates came to see her." Aunt Cai waved. "Wait here. I’ll get the key downstairs."

She left, leaving Tian Yao and me at Xia Xi’s door.

While waiting, Tian Yao bit her lip—she always did that when nervous—then pushed up her glasses, gaze wandering. "Zong Jun, what’s Xia Xi like? She doesn’t seem easy to get along with."

"Yeah, she’s not."

"I see…"

"So, class monitor, if we want to leave now, it’s not too late." I felt obligated to warn her. Xia Xi was pretty and cute like a delicate porcelain doll, but she was a veteran who spouted dirty jokes the moment she opened her mouth—full throttle, drifting through corners.

Tian Yao smiled. "It’s fine. She’s not a monster. I’ll persuade her to come back to school."

"—By the way, Zong Jun, you seem really reluctant to see her. Do you hate her?"

Hate her…

I shook my head. "It’s not hate. It’s just… well, you’ll see when you meet her."