When the dismissal bell rang, Lu Yu’s prison sentence was finally over.
He’d already blacked out two full pages of Lin Beixing’s scratch paper.
If he kept scribbling mindlessly, his hand would ache—and Lin Beixing’s pen was nearly out of ink.
The moment the bell sounded, Lu Yu pushed off the desk and stood.
Normally, he’d sling his bag and dart out the second school ended.
But now…
Lu Yu glanced down at the light blue top he wore, the slight swell of the chest beneath it. He hesitated.
As class monitor, bolting first after dismissal wouldn’t look good.
So he pressed the desk and sat back down.
Come to think of it—he hadn’t drunk enough water today.
No wonder he hadn’t felt the urge to use the restroom all afternoon.
Kind of a shame.
Lu Yu began aimlessly packing Lin Beixing’s schoolbag.
He had no idea what she usually took home.
But given her top grades, textbooks were probably needed. He stuffed the white bag full and slung it over his shoulder.
*Buzz buzz…*
His phone vibrated. Lu Yu glanced back at his own seat.
Lin Beixing (in his body) held up the phone and pointed—check the messages.
Little Polar Star: Meet me at the back school gate.
Yu: Your bestie told me to find her after school.
Little Polar Star: You’re actually going?! Come to the back gate first!!
Yu: Fine.
Lu Yu didn’t know what happened when besties stood each other up. He just vaguely felt girls were a petty species—so he’d keep the appointment.
He was maintaining Lin Beixing’s image. But if she truly didn’t care… he wouldn’t go either.
Slipping the bag on, Lu Yu lazily stepped out of the classroom.
He usually looked like this. Today—no nap, forcing drooping eyelids open all afternoon—he seemed utterly drained.
“Beixing, why are you alone today?”
“Beixing, walk home together?”
As the class’s popular figure, Lin Beixing rarely walked solo. Seeing her all alone, girls naturally gathered.
“Lin Beixing” shook her head while walking, a practiced smile on her face.
“No thanks… I’ve got things today.”
Politely declining, Lu Yu quickened his pace, dashing down the hallway to shake them off.
By the time he reached the back gate, he was breathless.
Lin Beixing’s fitness really was this poor. Had she lived like this for years?
Or… was this just how girls were?
“Why’d you bring so many books?”
Lin Beixing stood by the flowerbed, Lu Yu’s backpack worn neatly on her back.
Lu Yu never wore bags this properly—hand-carry if possible, single-strap if not.
Seeing *his own body* wear it so neatly felt strangely off.
“I wasn’t sure which subjects you’d review. Brought them all.”
Lu Yu took the heavy, overstuffed bag.
“You only need homework. I have textbooks at home…”
“Oh.” Lu Yu replied absently. “What do you usually do after school?”
They hadn’t switched back. They’d go home in each other’s bodies—and face each other’s parents.
Lin Beixing’s chest tightened. She paced anxiously.
“Homework, piano practice… after dinner, more problem sets.”
“Piano?”
Lu Yu spotted something odd on her schedule.
A top academic senior—still practicing piano?
Lin Beixing wasn’t arts-track. Pure grades. Squeezing in piano now felt unnecessary.
“What kind?”
“Grand piano.”
“…I can’t play at all.”
Without labeled keys, he couldn’t even find a note.
“You…”
A flicker of despair crossed Lin Beixing’s face.
Worst-case scenario.
Lu Yu going home *as her*? Unthinkable.
She feared he’d clash with the piano teacher, defy her parents.
For eighteen years, she’d followed every rule perfectly.
Stayed up all night just to earn her mother’s smile with smoother playing.
But Lu Yu? She dared not imagine how he’d slack off.
Lin Beixing took a shaky breath… then released it.
“Just… wing it.”
Asking someone with zero musical talent to play flawlessly was too much.
Besides—he *had* tried hard to uphold her image.
“Your place? Where?”
Lu Yu pulled keys from his pocket.
“Exit gate, turn right. Cross the street—shabby old complex on your right. Unit 2, 301.”
He pressed the keys into her hand.
“Oh… What do *you* do after school? How to handle your family?”
“Do whatever. Surf the net. No one’s home—you’re fine.”
“Huh…?”
Lin Beixing froze.
A senior gaming right after school?
And… he lived alone?
“Are… you an orphan?”
No malice—just instinctive worry during this crucial year.
Lu Yu frowned. “My parents are alive.”
“…Okay.” She realized her slip. “Sorry.”
“No worries. Just feed my cat.”
“You have a cat?!” Her eyes lit up.
She wanted to ask more—but the cat stole all her attention.
“How?”
“Add cat food.”
“How many scoops?”
“…”
Sometimes her thinking was just too rigid.
Lu Yu gestured. “One bowl.”
She almost asked *what size*—then let it go.
“I understand.” She nodded firmly.
“Here.”
Lu Yu rummaged in the bag, pulled out the top test paper.
“Math test. Didn’t do it.”
He said it plainly.
He genuinely couldn’t.
“At least write *something*…”
“Guessed A-B-C-D. Rest? Nope.”
“…”
Lin Beixing fell silent.
This guy was beyond saving.
“If it’s blank, *you’ll* face Old Zhang tomorrow. Remember—you’re in *my* body.”
Lu Yu “kindly” reminded her.
He’d never obediently accept extra homework from the math teacher.
Since *she’d* agreed… let her handle it.
“I can’t do it anyway. Waste of paper.”
“You…” She choked.
He had a point.
If missing, *she’d* be summoned to the office.
“Our handwriting differs… I can only do part.”
“Figure it out.”
Lu Yu checked his phone. “Walk out together?”
Lin Beixing nodded, slowing her steps to follow behind him.
