Dawn. Trees lined both sides of the road, dappled light filtering onto the asphalt. Car horns were sparse. A thin veil seemed to hang between people, muffling voices into indistinct murmurs.

The first hour after sunrise was a quiet gift—a moment of peace that let Lu Li feel a gentle, unhurried ease. Backpack slung over his shoulder, he suddenly recalled a nursery rhyme:

*"The sun shines bright, flowers smile at me~

Little bird chirps, 'Early, early, early! Why’s your backpack full of bombs?'"*

School was a besieged city: those inside longed to escape; those outside wished to return. Lu Li couldn’t name his mood. He only felt that setting distant futures aside and enjoying the present wasn’t such a bad thing.

What pulled him from that calm was a sleek black sedan.

In Chuanhai, the car wasn’t flashy—but perfectly balanced: modest yet refined. A favorite among local officials. It pulled to the curb. The window rolled down. Class Monitor Chu Jingyi waved eagerly, cheeks flushed pink. "Lu Li! Get in—we’re going the same way!"

Alone with her? No problem. But the refined middle-aged man in the driver’s seat smiled—and Lu Li’s stomach clenched. *Did last night’s drink just try to leak out my ears?* He shook his head. *Right. Student. Not businessman.*

The man’s eyes crinkled warmly. Approachable. Flawless.

"This is my dad," Chu Jingyi murmured shyly—rarely sharing family details. "He’s giving us a ride."

"Hello, Uncle Chu," Lu Li said politely. He slid into the back seat, perching only on the edge.

The sedan glided forward. Lu Li rested his chin, gazing out the window. Chu Jingyi kept opening her mouth, then closing it—clearly wanting to speak, but hesitant with family present. Her flustered look was unmistakable.

Uncle Chu chuckled. "You’re Lu Li, right? Mind if I call you Xiao Lu?" Warm. Effortlessly kind. "Are you and Jingyi in the same class? Hehe—she praised you nonstop yesterday. I took this route just to meet you."

Lu Li blinked, glancing at Chu Jingyi, who’d turned her face away. *Yesterday*, he remembered. He’d shown her his game script. She’d raved—revealing herself a horror literature fanatic, utterly unlike her poised exterior.

"We’ve only gotten to know each other recently," Lu Li said with teenage shyness.

"Work hard. Aim for a good university."

Encouragement? It sounded standard—but Lu Li caught an odd undertone. Uncle Chu’s flawless smile gave nothing away. Small talk followed: questions from him, quiet answers from Lu Li.

At the school gate, Uncle Chu added warmly, "Visit us during break, Xiao Lu. Don’t stay cooped up alone." He glanced at Chu Jingyi, who’d been playing ostrich the whole ride.

"Ooooh…" she drawled, making Lu Li suppress a smile. Her face burned crimson.

"Let’s go! We’re late!"

*Half an hour till morning reading. Late?* Lu Li didn’t argue. He thanked Uncle Chu, stepped out—and saw Chu Jingyi hurrying ahead. *She had more to say. Why run?*

He caught up. "Your dad’s car’s gone."

"SO embarrassing!" Steam practically rose from her head; she mumbled nonstop.

"Really?" Lu Li smiled softly. "I’m happy. Someone liking my writing feels lucky. Why be ashamed?"

Chu Jingyi finally faced him, pink-cheeked. "He kept bringing up yesterday—like we’re… like we’re—" *Especially close?* But they’d barely gotten familiar. Usually so reserved… who knew she blushed this easily?

"Like what?" Lu Li teased.

She stomped his foot with her little leather shoe. "You’re doing it on purpose too!"

Lu Li winced dramatically. The pink faded from her cheeks. She huffed twice—suddenly less "perfect monitor," more *real*.

"What does your dad do?" he asked.

"Government work." Cautious. Her eyes flickered; lips pursed. "Why ask?"

"Just preparing."

"Wh-what for?!" Flustered—then realization dawned. *Teasing again.*

"I worry he’ll misunderstand," Lu Li said lightly. "*That I’m aiming way above my league.*"

*Not a joke.* A man like that—driving himself? Sending his daughter was just the excuse. He came to see *me*.

"Dad’s not like that! Ah—! Nonsense!" She stomped again. He dodged. "I’m not talking to you!"

*Are you in elementary school?* Lu Li chuckled, trailing her. He’d seen it in the car: she wanted to discuss yesterday’s script.

He had reason to be confident. This rewrite—scrapped and rebuilt after rebirth—carried decades of lived wisdom. Every scene, every detail, meticulously crafted. Earning a horror fan’s praise? Only natural.

*One hit away… if I find the right musician and artist.*

Just then—walking beside the class monitor, noticing the delicate curve of her ear—

The last person he wanted to see appeared.