The ice cream shop had late hours—opening late and closing at nine PM. I walked home under the cover of night.

Passing through the night market, I grabbed a basic outfit: a plain short-sleeve shirt, casual trousers, and a pair of size 35 sneakers.

Cheap as they were, the total still neared a hundred yuan.

This was my first time wearing such tiny shoes. A strange sensation.

Finding gender-neutral sneakers in size 35 hadn’t been easy. I’d wandered the night market stalls for ages before spotting one that carried small unisex sizes.

With my last dozen yuan, I hit a still-open supermarket for discounted, slightly wilted vegetables. The taste might suffer, but the price was right.

One thing nagged at me: now that I’d started this job, who’d make Yue Feather’s dinner? Maybe I should prep his meals before leaving in the mornings.

Home-cooked food was always cheaper, cleaner, and more nutritious than takeout.

I wondered if Yue Feather was already asleep.

Lost in thought, I pulled out my keys and unlocked the door.

This was the spare key—the one I’d never used in my memories. Funny how returning to the past finally gave it purpose.

The apartment lights were still on. Yue Feather hunched over his desk, brow furrowed as he slowly scribbled answers.

Copying homework was tedious; doing it yourself was worse—especially the problems demanding real thought.

"Ah! Silver Bell! You’re back!" Yue Feather’s voice perked up the moment he heard the door, shaking off his earlier lethargy.

One glance at the instant noodles on the dining table told me his dinner.

*Sigh.* Always taking shortcuts. Even with leftover wontons I’d made over the weekend.

"Evening," I yawned, exhaustion weighing down my words. The job wasn’t physically hard, but this body turned fragile after dark—nowhere near sturdy enough for all-nighters.

"Ah… um…" Yue Feather stammered, then turned back to his homework without finishing his thought.

*Weird kid.*

Too tired to puzzle over his mood, I craved one thing: a shower.

A hot shower.

If I were still in a male body, cold water would’ve felt refreshing. But this body rebelled against it—pores tightening like they were clogged with ice. Only hot water soothed it.

*Was this how all girls felt? Or just the weak ones?*

After my shower, Yue Feather was still stuck on the same page. Only one problem solved.

*What’s so hard about it?*

Curious, I leaned over his shoulder.

It was late. Better help him finish up and get to bed.

Adequate sleep was crucial for growth. Skimp on rest, and you’d never reach your full height.

"Stuck on something?" I asked.

========Third-Person Perspective========

Yue Feather twirled his pen absently, straining to focus. Yet his ears kept catching the *whoosh-whoosh* of water from the bathroom.

Even without looking, his mind conjured the image: a slender, completely bare figure.

The allure of a girl fresh from the shower teased him like a cat’s tail flicking just out of reach.

He longed to peek through the door crack—but reason held him back. He refused to be seen as a creep by Silver Bell.

His actions stayed controlled. His thoughts did not.

*Slam.* The bathroom door slid open. Light footsteps padded closer.

Then a presence settled behind him.

"Stuck on something?" Her ordinary question carried a warmth that melted his bones.

Yue Feather glanced back. Damp hair clinging to her neck. Delicate collarbones. Skin glowing pale where her clothes slipped. Every detail sent his pulse racing.

For a pure-hearted boy like him, the temptation was overwhelming.

They said a girl straight from the shower was irresistible. True. Yue Feather couldn’t tear his eyes away.

*Her wet hair—I want to touch it.*

*Her smooth skin—I want to trace it.*

*Her collarbones, the soft curve beneath—I want to press my face there…*

"Something on my face?" Silver Bell tilted her head, genuinely puzzled.

"N-nothing…"

"Let me see… Physics? Easy." She smiled. "I remember this."

Silver Bell was a patient teacher. She didn’t give answers—she guided his thoughts step by step.

But Yue Feather kept drifting off. It took far longer than necessary, yet he still learned more than he had all week.

Each minute deepened his sense of distance. She was far more brilliant than he’d imagined.

*Maybe I’ll always be the one watching her from behind.*

Her hair dried naturally as she taught, still silky and gleaming under the lamp.

"Done?" she asked.

"Yeah… finished." Yue Feather checked the clock—11 PM. For students with morning classes, this was dangerously late.

Even if he slept now, he’d get barely seven hours.

Those who regularly stayed up past midnight were harming themselves. Sleep deprivation drained potential—foggy memory and sluggish thinking were inevitable.

School schedules left no room for catch-up naps unless you slept in class.

Students burning midnight oil for homework had excuses. Those staying up late for no reason, then rushing to avoid tardiness? Pure self-torture.

Yue Feather would never refuse an early bedtime. Truth was, he already felt short on sleep—grabbing every spare minute to nap at noon.

"Time for bed then." Silver Bell covered a huge yawn with her hand, exhaustion etching her features. She lay down on her mat and drifted off almost instantly. Her peaceful, weary face stirred protectiveness in anyone who saw it.

*Making such a delicate girl this tired feels like a crime.*

Summer cicadas droned endlessly outside.

Yue Feather tossed in bed. Exhausted but wide awake.

His eyes kept straying to Silver Bell on her mat.

*Probably just the bedsheet—it’s not as cool as her bamboo mat.* He made excuses to himself.

Moonlight spilled through the window, painting her face in sharp clarity. From every angle, flawless. Not a single imperfection.

A blossoming girl lay defenseless beside him. Who could resist such temptation?

Yue Feather reached out, brushing his fingertip against her cool, soft lips. A shiver shot through him.

He yanked his hand back, pressing that same finger to his own lips—imagining it was her kiss.

This stolen contact filled him with dizzying satisfaction.

And crushing shame.

"So nice…" he whispered to the dark, fingers still glued to his mouth, lost in the fantasy of her arms around him.

Bittersweet comfort washed over him. He repeated the mantra in his head:

*Love doesn’t demand possession. Quiet guardianship is enough.*

He finally slipped into sleep.

In his dream, Silver Bell invited him out. They strolled like lovers through flower-strewn hills. Her laughter outshone the sun.

Watching her skip ahead, hand in his, Yue Feather finally called her name.

Even in dreams, it took all his courage to confess.

She froze. Her warmth vanished, replaced by icy distance.

Awkward silence thickened the air.

"You’re a good person. But… I’m sorry. I’ve only ever seen you as a little brother."

"S-sorry…" Yue Feather mumbled, head bowed as he walked away.

Days passed in the dream. Silver Bell never appeared. Anxiety gnawed at him.

Until the day she returned—to pack her bags.

No words were needed. Both understood.

Yue Feather watched her leave, then crumpled against the wall.

*So this is the price of confession? Not even friendship remains?*

He clenched his teeth and muttered to himself, tears streaming uncontrollably from the corners of his eyes.

Finally, the breathlessness from his sobs jolted him back to reality. The loud chirping of cicadas made everything feel vividly real.

"Why are you crying?" Silver Bell asked, puzzled. She was carefully folding a blanket nearby after hearing Yue Feather sit up.

"N-nothing..." Yue Feather stammered, shaking his head in embarrassment. "I just dreamed I fell and it hurt a bit..."

"No way..." Silver Bell said, torn between laughter and disbelief. "Hurt this much?"

"Ah... y-yes..."

"Does it still hurt now?" Silver Bell teased with a smile. This made Yue Feather so embarrassed he wished he could crawl into a hole.

Crying in his sleep and being caught—it was utterly humiliating...