At sixteen, I’d never doubted myself like this before. I looked at the girl tugging my sleeve and replayed her words in my head.

First, she thanked me. Then, she apologized for this morning’s confession mix-up.

Hmm… that was it!

I’d already accepted both her thanks and apology. So why did Xia Tong’s expression now look like a girl whose heart had just been toyed with by some jerk?

“Uh, Xia Tong?” I ventured carefully, afraid to make her state worse.

“Can you let go of my clothes first?” I pointed to her hand gripping my shirt. She ignored me, clutching even tighter. Her thumb turned bone-white from strain, trembling slightly. How scared was she that I’d run?

“I won’t run,” I said helplessly, raising my hands.

“I swear. You can let go now, right?”

Xia Tong tilted her head, studying me as if checking for lies. Only when she seemed sure I wouldn’t flee did she slowly release my shirt. But then she stepped closer, closing the gap between us.

Anthropologist Edward Hall divides personal space into four zones: intimate, personal, social, and public. Intimate distance—zero to half a meter—is reserved for lovers, family, or close friends. Never cross it with someone you barely know.

Xia Tong seemed oblivious to how dangerously close she was for a straight guy like me. Her breath warmed my face. I instinctively stepped back, creating a safer space. She ignored my retreat and pressed forward again. When I tried to pull away, she yanked my collar, pulling me down to her height. Warm breath brushed my skin, carrying a hint of lavender. Time froze. I stared at my own reflection in her eyes, frozen.

“Ye Xi… I finally found you,” she whispered, her free hand caressing my cheek. Her gaze overflowed with tenderness.

The mood felt off. I pried her fingers from my collar and stepped back, holding up a hand to block her.

“Wait. Give me a sec. Too much is happening.” I rubbed my forehead, overwhelmed.

This time, Xia Tong stayed put.

“You’re Xia Tong, right?”

“Mm. ‘Xia’ like summer, ‘Tong’ like pupil. See how pretty my eyes are?” She moved to show me.

“Stop! Stay right there.” I cut her off.

“You were that girl the day before yesterday, right?”

“Mm!”

“We’ve only met once, right?” I wondered if some childhood friend plot was unfolding—or if she knew my parents.

“Huh? No!” Xia Tong shook her head seriously.

“What? When else did we meet?” I was baffled. “When?”

She started counting on her fingers.

That many times? I had zero memory.

“Twice. The day before yesterday, and today.”

“Fine! So we’ve met twice face-to-face now?”

“Mm!” She nodded earnestly.

“Then why grab me just now? I already accepted your thanks and apology.”

“Ye Xi, you misunderstood.” Xia Tong flustered, waving her hands.

“Oh? How?” Now I was confused.

“I meant I shouldn’t have confessed in front of everyone.”

“Mm—wait, what?”

“Now it’s just us. I want to say it properly.” Her eyes were steady, gentle.

“Ye Xi, I like you.”

No girl had ever confessed to me before. My heart raced with excitement.

But worry drowned it out. If I agreed now, it’d feed some male ego—but gratitude isn’t real love. That kind of feeling never lasts. Better to end it here than face messy fights later. Besides, I wasn’t even into dating.

“Xia Tong, you might be mistaking gratitude for liking me. Right now you don’t see it, but later—”

Her smile faded. Her eyes grew hollow.

“So… you’re rejecting me?”

Seeing her state, I rushed to explain.

“No, no! I never expected a confession from someone like you. Honestly, it shocked me. But we’re not at that level yet. We just learned each other’s names—isn’t this too rushed?” My words tumbled out, messy and desperate. I just hoped she’d understand.

Xia Tong’s gaze slowly refocused.

“I get it!”

Relief washed over me. Thank goodness she understood.

“Then I—mmph!”

She grabbed my collar, yanking me down to her height. Something soft and insistent parted my lips, swirling inside my mouth. My mind went blank. Instinct took over.

“So sweet,” she murmured.

Before I could react, she pulled away. A thin silver thread glistened between us in the sunlight.

“You…” I was speechless. A girl had just forced a kiss on me? Unbelievable.

“What was that for?” I snapped, annoyed.

“That was my first kiss.” Her voice was firm. “I did it to prove my feelings aren’t just gratitude. I don’t know why—I just want to be with you. I want to be your girlfriend. Consider that kiss our start. Now take your time getting to know Xia Tong. See if she truly likes you.”

She pulled my phone from my pocket, unlocked it with my finger, and dialed a number.

“That’s my number.” She slipped the phone back.

I stood frozen. This was way beyond me. Was she serious?

“You…”

“Ye Xi… see you tomorrow!” Xia Tong waved and strode toward the classroom without looking back.

I watched her skip away, my heart tangled. She seemed genuinely into me. This should’ve made me happy—so why didn’t it? Was any of this real?

Back in class, everyone had gone home after getting their books. Only Fang Yiyi remained.

“Ye Xi!” She carried a stack of books to my desk.

“Here are yours.”

“Thanks. You didn’t have to.”

The class rep seemed to sense my mood.

“No problem! I’m heading out. Don’t stay too late…” She shouldered her bag and left.

The empty classroom held only me. I stared out the window. What was I thinking? Even I didn’t know…