Lin Muke summoned her courage and, time and again, took the initiative to approach Ye Huaixian. For a girl to be this proactive—it wasn’t just that he needed to lift a veil; she had practically crossed mountains to reach him. Yet Ye Huaixian stubbornly played dumb, brushing her off once more.

Was he really that emotionally clueless? Unlikely. Lin Muke recalled the ambiguous embrace on the morning bus—he’d clearly weighed every detail, even her feelings. There was no reason he hadn’t noticed by now.

So it wasn’t mere evasion. He had silently rejected her.

That was why, after returning to her seat, Lin Muke could no longer suppress the surging emotions. She collapsed onto her desk, fighting back tears and sorrow, hoping no one would see. But as usual, hope betrayed her.

This period belonged to Tang Yingxue, homeroom and Chinese teacher—a recent graduate with little experience, yet beloved by students and staff for her warm, lively presence.

But the moment she stepped inside, confusion flickered across her face, then shock. She even stepped back out to double-check the doorplate. Only then did she confirm: this was indeed Class 3, Grade 1 of Lanling High School.

But… what was with this utterly unfamiliar atmosphere?!

Boys scribbled furiously over textbooks. Girls sat lost in thought, some scowling. And her trusted class monitor, Lin Muke, was slumped face-down on her desk. This scene screamed *something was wrong*.

No wonder Tang Yingxue thought she’d entered the wrong classroom.

Her cheerful mood vanished. With a complex look, she re-entered.

The longer she watched, the more flustered she grew. Inexperienced and facing this anomaly for the first time, she felt utterly lost.

Thankfully, not everyone was strange. Ye Huaixian, the vice monitor, sat upright, meeting her gaze with his usual calm. That single glance felt like finding a kindred spirit in a silent world. She gave him a silent nod—full of trust—steadied her breath, and began the lesson.

She didn’t know what happened. But as the teacher, she had to steer the class back on track. Act normal. Better than normal. No room for hesitation.

Tang Yingxue took a deep breath. “Open your textbooks.”

Slowly, Lin Muke pulled herself up. Her eyes, once soft and fragile, now burned with resolve and quiet fire—as if someone new had awakened within.

She’d always known she was weak. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been targeted on the bus.

Running for monitor was her way to grow stronger. And she’d succeeded. Now, she vowed to become a class monitor everyone could rely on.

And approaching Ye Huaixian again? She wouldn’t give up.

Not for herself. Not for Yuyin.

She remembered Yuyin’s words: *“It’s ’cause Mom’s so useless… that’s why I came back to help her.”*

Yes, she was a useless mother. But even so—she had the will to fight for someone.

And Lin Muke couldn’t deny it: whether shaped by little Yuyin’s words or her own experiences, she’d grown to trust Ye Huaixian. To feel something warm for him. Teenage girls dream. She knew that.

For the first time, the dream felt close enough to touch.

And yet… impossibly far.