In the bathroom.
Lin Beixing braced her slender arms against the sink’s edges, staring intently at her reflection.
To cover up the lie Lu Yu told last night, she’d been forced to wear long pants to school today.
Though Lin Beixing had always been prone to feeling cold, summer heat affected her just like anyone else.
She splashed cold water on her face, closed her eyes, and shook her head lightly.
In the mirror, her bangs were slightly damp; her glistening eyelashes, dotted with droplets, quivered faintly before the beads trickled down one by one.
“What’s wrong, Xiao Xing? You seem off today… Did you stay up late studying again?”
For girls, bathroom trips together were routine. As Lin Beixing’s best friend, Lan Xi always rushed over from the neighboring classroom within half a minute of her text, then they’d go together.
But this morning, Lin Beixing hadn’t come to use the restroom. Her preoccupied expression had Lan Xi worried.
“Didn’t I tell you yesterday to balance work and rest? No need to push so hard. Just talk to your mom—senior year pressure is real. Ask her to ease up.”
Lan Xi sighed, still trying to counsel her stubborn best friend.
“It’s not about that…”
Though Lan Xi’s concern was valid, Lin Beixing’s mind was elsewhere.
She shook her head. “Xiao Lan… there’s something I need to tell you.”
Lin Beixing had many friends, but Lan Xi was her sole confidante—the only one she’d ever share buried thoughts with.
Lan Xi nodded solemnly. “Go ahead.”
“I think something’s off about him.”
“Who?”
“Lu… Lu Yu.”
“Him?!” Lan Xi’s eyes widened. “*You’re* the one acting strange! Yesterday you walked out of the school gate all cozy with him, and when I asked, you refused to spill a word! I’m your childhood best friend!! And now you suddenly say *he’s* problematic?!”
Lan Xi flared up—petite but feisty, oddly charming when riled.
Then she softened instantly. “Alright, out with it. What’s wrong? Which part?”
Truth was, Lan Xi lived for gossip.
Hearing juicy tea about her own best friend? She was all ears.
“…I saw his grades.”
“Academic?”
“Mm…”
“Where?”
“At his place—no, wait. Some middle school test papers fell from his desk drawer… I accidentally saw them…”
Lin Beixing’s voice dropped to a whisper.
Lan Xi sensed something odd.
Who carries middle school papers into senior year? Especially this close to college entrance exams?
She brushed it off. “Didn’t I say ages ago Lu Yu’s got depth?”
“When?” Lin Beixing frowned.
“At orientation!” Lan Xi sighed. “He was freshman representative… Oh right, you skipped it.”
“So you *are* into him now?” Lan Xi pressed.
“No… I just wondered. Given his current grades…”
No need to spell it out. Lu Yu, dead last in the grade, was infamous at Jiangshui No.1 High School.
Handsome underachievers were rare—he was the only one.
Watching her flustered, denial-prone friend, Lan Xi rolled her eyes.
“Like him? Fine. I approve of your taste.”
“And if you wanna date him? I’m all for it. Follow your heart. Do something you enjoy. Don’t bury yourself in books like a bookworm—you’ll turn into a total nerd.”
“It’s not like that…” Lin Beixing instinctively objected, glancing between Lan Xi’s reflection and her own clear-eyed gaze in the mirror.
“I just feel… as class monitor, if a classmate’s struggling, I should help mediate…”
“Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say. Shyness suits you.”
Lan Xi pretended not to listen. Lin Beixing’s cheeks flushed crimson.
“…Lan Xi!”
Lan Xi waved her off. Knowing her friend was shy, she let it drop.
“Finding out why he suddenly gave up? Tough. Lu Yu’s notoriously aloof—barely talks, let alone opens up. Even the homeroom teacher probably wonders how a top student ended up at the bottom.”
“But…” Lan Xi stroked her chin, sizing up her friend. “Here’s an idea: Ask him yourself. If he’s willing.”
*Ding-ding-ding—*
The class bell echoed from the speaker above.
Lin Beixing dried her face and hurried Lan Xi back.
They parted at the doors—Lin Beixing to Class 5, Grade 12; Lan Xi to Class 6.
“Go on, Beixing. I’ve got your back.”
Lan Xi smirked, craning her neck toward the back row.
Lu Yu had just settled at his desk, pen and notebook in hand. She shot Lin Beixing a meaningful glance.
“Remember: To ask personal questions, build rapport first.”
She gave Lin Beixing’s shoulder a firm pat and slipped away seconds before the teacher entered.
Lin Beixing rushed to her seat, arranged her textbook.
Before afternoon lessons began, she glanced back toward Lu Yu.
He was propping his head, lost in random thoughts.
Sharp-eyed as ever, he caught her gaze across the aisle the moment she looked.
“Hm?”
A soft, surprised sound escaped him.
Silent eye contact held between them.
