Su Yu returned the letter and gift to the boy who had confessed. He caught the unmistakable dejection and disappointment in the boy’s eyes—a flicker of something hauntingly familiar. If he’d confessed last night, he might have ended up just the same.

“What’s your relationship with Xia Qian’ge?”

The boy gripped the envelope tightly, staring at Su Yu with clear suspicion.

“Xia Qian’ge and I…” Su Yu hesitated a moment. “We sit front and back. Just classmates.”

“My bad. Got a little carried away.” The boy glanced at the gift box—quietly returned by Su Yu, likely to spare him embarrassment. “Thanks.”

“No problem. It’s nothing.”

Walking back, Su Yu seemed distracted. Human nature was tricky: he wanted distance, yet tension coiled in his chest at the thought of Xia Qian’ge accepting someone else’s confession.

In his previous life, *she* had been the one to return the gifts. This shift could only stem from his choice not to confess. Why it centered on him? He had no answer.

The butterfly effect rippled onward—a single decision quietly reshaping what lay ahead.

Later, Xia Qian’ge murmured thanks to Su Yu before turning back to her exercises. She’d faced this too many times; such moments barely stirred her heart anymore. Yet this radiant girl, adored like the moon amid stars… why would she ever say yes to *him*? Su Yu felt increasingly perplexed.

…

Dusk deepened. The setting sun bled crimson, setting the horizon’s clouds ablaze. Deep-red light spilled freely into the classroom.

An afternoon of drills had drained the class’s spirit. Senior year was an unrelenting machine—they had to keep moving, or fall hopelessly behind.

Su Yu rested his head on the desk, tired after explaining problems to his deskmate. She was shy, petite at around 155 cm. Her timid voice and oversized black-rimmed glasses perched on a delicate nose made her look like pure white cotton candy—soft enough to stir an urge to gently pinch her cheek.

Alas… no matter how sweet she seemed, she held zero appeal for the Su Yu of that past life. His eyes had held only one girl: Xia Qian’ge.

Xia Qian’ge kept working, likely practicing English listening. Su Yu watched from his desk—a habit from before. When study fatigue hit, his gaze never sought the horizon. Instead, he’d tilt his head, lost in the delicate curve of her profile.

Golden sunset light gilded her snow-pale skin, tinting it like cool jade veined with moonlight. Impossible to look away.

“Hey, walk downstairs?”

Chen Kai popped up out of nowhere, slinging an arm around Su Yu’s shoulders with a mischievous wink. Before, Su Yu would’ve wrestled back playfully—just enough noise to catch Xia Qian’ge’s glance up front, her faint smile as she turned away. One look, and he’d felt content.

“Sure. I’m hungry.”

This time, Su Yu only nodded. They slipped out quietly—so quietly his problem-absorbed deskmate didn’t notice.

The moment he vanished through the back door, the slender white earphone cord slid down her fair neck. With each quickened breath, faint blue veins surfaced on her sunset-kissed skin—lingering a heartbeat before fading beneath.

…

“Another month, and we’re outta here.”

Chen Kai and Su Yu strolled the field after dinner, walking off their meal.

Su Yu smiled faintly. Underclassmen filled the grounds. A dust-streaked soccer ball tore through the grass like a rainbow arc into the net—erupting cheers that shook the field.

Vibrant energy defied the fading light. Sweat on the track. *This* was youth. He’d lived it once too.

“You’ve changed,” Chen Kai mused, chin in hand, studying him. “Quieter. Stressed about the college entrance exam?”

“Aren’t you?”

“Nah. My scores are set. But you… Xia Qian’ge’s target school? Cutoff’s probably sky-high.”

“I…” Su Yu gazed at the darkening sky. “I won’t apply to the same university as her.”

“*What?*” Chen Kai’s voice shot up, eyes wide. “You’re kidding, Su Yu! Weren’t you all ‘Xia Qian’ge or nothing’?”

“People change. I’m tired of chasing.”

“Then where?”

“Qingchuan. Want distance. Heard the scenery’s nice.”

“Qingchuan University’s tough too! Push hard—you might still match her path.”

“You told me to let go when I chased her. Now you push me to try? Make up your mind.” Su Yu shot him an exasperated look.

“I *want* you to win her! Nearly three years of liking her—just bury it? At least try before graduation. Fail, then go to Qingchuan.”

“I’ve decided. If I still like her… I’ll keep it buried.” Su Yu smiled, the curve of his lips strained. “Better for us both.”

“Stop.” Chen Kai tugged his arm. “Xia Qian’ge’s right behind us.”

Su Yu turned. Sure enough—Xia Qian’ge and her best friend walked nearby. The girl who’d once claimed he wasn’t worthy of Xia Qian’ge. Class Two. Still a stranger to him now.

Their eyes met. Su Yu offered a casual wave.

*Xia Qian’ge rarely came down here. Almost never, in his memory.*

“So you’re the boy who returned Qian’ge’s gifts? Saw you today. Not bad.” Lin Siyi’s large eyes twinkled, voice teasing. “Just hope you didn’t ‘misplace’ anything.”

“Stop it,” Xia Qian’ge nudged her, then gave Su Yu an apologetic glance. “Sorry. This is Lin Siyi, my best friend. She jokes too much.”

“No worries. All in good fun.”

Su Yu studied Lin Siyi again. A different person from the girl who’d once pressured him to stay away. Back then, ideals. Soon, reality. *People really do change—sometimes beyond recognition.*