The sweltering afternoon left everyone drowsy. Lu Yu dragged his lazy steps out of the school gate beside Ren Jie.

He was still replaying Lin Beixing’s earlier words in his head.

Good thing she could take care of herself.

But her reason? Just to avoid troubling him.

Had he ever called her troublesome?

No.

Why did her words sound so much like a goodbye?

His thoughts kept circling that.

Outside school, the black sedan had already vanished down the asphalt road.

Then he remembered—Lin Beixing had lingered in the classroom waiting for him to wake.

She’d kept her mom waiting in the car… probably getting lectured by now.

Her mom seemed strict—definitely wouldn’t tolerate lateness.

“Bro Lu! I’m heading to the back gate for skewers. You in?”

Ren Jie waved a hand before Lu Yu’s eyes, snapping him from his daze.

Lu Yu shook his head.

Lately, his mind kept drifting to Lin Beixing.

Probably because swapping bodies made him… care a little. *Just a little*, he thought.

“Nah. Heading home.”

“Alright. Summoner’s Rift later?”

“Sure…” He suddenly spotted the three workbooks spilling from his bag. Paused. “Depends.”

He waved Ren Jie off and walked home.

Most students were long gone. The street lay quiet, the western sun nearly swallowed by dusk.

His dim rental apartment felt hollow and dark.

Only Meiqiu—the pitch-black kitten rubbing against his ankles—brought a flicker of life.

“Meeoow~~~”

The cat food Lu Yu left was already gone.

When first rescued, Meiqiu would devour any amount, then fall sick from overeating.

Now Lu Yu measured portions carefully—but the little glutton still pawed at him, belly round, begging for more.

Lu Yu refilled the bowl. Meiqiu circled it once… then sat, ears drooping.

“Meow…”

Dejected.

First time it refused food after being fed.

Then Lu Yu noticed. He picked up the cat stick Lin Beixing left on the counter and shook the bag.

Meiqiu’s eyes lit up.

“MEOW!!”

Pounced like a starving tiger.

Spoiled already. *After just two days?!*

“…Only one. No more.” Crouched, he fed the stick with one hand, stroked Meiqiu’s fluffy head with the other. “Eight left. Then gone. Lin Beixing bought these—they’re too pricey for us. Next time she…”

He trailed off.

*There won’t be a next time.*

He hoped not.

If the swap truly was her body’s cry for help… he sincerely hoped it never happened again.

Just as she promised: she’d cherish herself.

*Please get better…*

His hand stilled on Meiqiu’s head.

A tightness—throat? Chest?

Just… a little sad.

Logically, her recovery should’ve made him happy.

“Meow?”

Meiqiu licked pink lips, bright eyes gazing up.

Lu Yu smiled faintly. “Don’t worry. After senior year, I’ll work summer jobs and buy you some.”

He pinched Meiqiu’s triangular ear gently and stood.

Slid into his chair, booted the computer.

Phone notifications blinked.

Mom’s message: *Throw out yesterday’s leftovers. No fridge—summer food spoils fast.*

He replied: *Done yesterday.* Closed it.

Ren Jie’s texts—strings of exclamation marks—screamed *LOG IN!*

Lu Yu skipped them. Opened another chat.

Rabbit profile pic. Last message: day before yesterday.

Sent by *him*, from Lin Beixing’s account, while in her body:

*Little North Star: I get bits of it… but the pieces don’t connect.*

Lu Yu stared. Typed. Deleted.

What *could* he say?

Honestly—they had nothing in common.

Two worlds apart.

She: gentle, radiant school idol.

He: failing student, a self-mocking “mouse person” even teachers dismissed.

Without the swap… zero common ground.

*Bzzz bzzz bzzz—*

Phone vibrated, nearly slipping from his grip.

A flicker of hope for the caller’s name.

Then vanished at the familiar contact: Ren Jie.

“Bro Lu! What’s up? Why no reply?”

“…Just got home. Fed the cat.” His voice flat.

Ren Jie buzzed with post-nap energy. “Game! I’m playing Nasus!”

Lu Yu glanced at the spilling workbooks. Nodded. “Alright. Let’s go.”

“No homeroom tomorrow—we’ll play *tons*!!”

“Sure.”

Gaming numbed worries. Killed time.

Once, it was the only light pulling him from darkness.

***

Meanwhile.

Lin Beixing sat in her dark room.

The crystal chandelier caught faint light in the gloom.

Phone glow lit her clean cheeks.

Staring at their chat window.

Wanted to type something. Couldn’t find the words.

Right after leaving class, she’d blurted unfiltered things.

Trying to reassure him?

Or… because he promised to let her *know* him—then went silent?

So she’d snapped, threw that sharp line: *“I won’t trouble you.”*

Then ran.

“Agh… ughhh!”

She buried her face in a pillow, rolling across the bed.

A twinge of regret.

But she knew her life was messy.

Lu Yu couldn’t handle it.

If the swap truly was her body’s warning… she’d fix herself.

Mind. Body.

No more escaping into his world.