Life is full of unexpected encounters, though most of them end in missed connections.

So why bring that up all of a sudden?

Luo Chen opened his textbook and started flipping through it alone, just as he had yesterday. Most of the material on the pages was stuff he’d already handed back to his professors after college.

The rest of the class chatted during morning study. Luo Chen glanced up without thinking and looked at Lin Yuqi. She was reading too. From where he sat, all he could see was her back, her black ponytail swaying gently.

Luo Chen was a loner.

He’d been all right in middle school. But once high school started, he’d stopped bothering with people. He’d basically shut himself away.

That was also why Luo Xi was at odds with him. After something happened to their parents, they hadn’t leaned on each other for comfort. Instead, he’d shut himself away on his own.

…Luo Chen began to change after confessing to Lin Yuqi. Because of her, he started taking part in social activities and learning about her circle.

Lin Yuqi changed too. She’d been doing much better than him to begin with; she was simply cool-tempered and quiet. But to make him happy, she became more lively and gentle.

A relationship takes effort from both people. They influence each other and help each other become better—not just one person giving everything.

………………

The teacher stepped into the classroom right on time at eight. The interesting part was… someone was following behind.

The classroom had suddenly gone quiet, and Luo Chen looked up without thinking. His eyes flew wide.

That was someone who… absolutely shouldn’t have been here!

The girl behind the teacher was tall and slender, with long black hair falling loose around her shoulders. She reached out a pale, slender arm, picked up a piece of white chalk from the lectern, and turned to write a few words on the blackboard.

【An Jinchu】

The classroom erupted in whispers. Luo Chen stared blankly at her. An Jinchu was wearing a different black dress today. Compared to yesterday’s, this one didn’t bare her shoulders, and its hem was a little longer.

Below the hem, her slender legs were still covered in sheer black stockings. Paired with her cool, composed expression, they didn’t look provocative; instead, she carried an imposing air.

Luo Chen scratched his head.

An Jinchu’s gaze moved across the desks below the lectern, then met Luo Chen’s as he scratched his head.

Seeing the baffled look on his face, she gave a soft laugh.

“Hi, everyone. My name’s on the blackboard. I’m An Jinchu. I’m not much of a talker, so that’s all.” After that smile, her expression turned cool again.

…What kind of bizarre introduction was that? Was it just her own brand of arrogance, or was there… something wrong with her head? Luo Chen wondered silently.

“Teacher, there’s an empty seat over there. I’ll sit there.” An Jinchu pointed to the desk beside the thoroughly bewildered Luo Chen.

…

…

Everyone in class turned to look at Luo Chen. He had no idea what the girls were thinking, but the boys… probably looked jealous and resentful.

It was so obvious there was no point hiding it… Luo Chen suddenly had a very bad feeling.

An Jinchu had already come down from the lectern. Carrying the books she’d brought with her, she quietly and gracefully took the seat beside Luo Chen.

Luo Chen pulled out her chair for her first.

An Jinchu lowered her head and quietly straightened her skirt, then looked up to find Luo Chen facing her.

“Why are you here?????”

“I transferred.” An Jinchu’s voice was calm, as if she were talking about something trivial.

“I didn’t expect you to still be in this class. What a coincidence.” An Jinchu smiled.

“What about Xiao Xi?”

“She’s at this school, in the middle school section.”

“Wait, why didn’t you take her with you??”

“Why would I take her with me?”

Luo Chen was stumped… Had everything gotten mixed up? The future wasn’t supposed to unfold like this, was it?

“I didn’t want to keep going to my old school, so I was planning to transfer. Then I got a call from my younger sister. I thought it over and decided to transfer here instead, so I could go to school with her.”

“Wait, why… No, that’s not…” Luo Chen was still completely baffled.

Could it be that Luo Xi leaving early had changed the future timeline?

An Jinchu tilted her head. “Anything else you want to ask?”

Luo Chen froze for a moment, then his expression gradually settled… This sudden surprise had thrown him completely off balance.

If he let things continue, she’d be leading the conversation. Luo Chen hated feeling like someone else was in control.

“I want to ask… why aren’t you wearing yesterday’s dress to school?”

The next second, it was An Jinchu’s turn to freeze. Her lips parted. “Huh?”

Luo Chen nodded, confirming that was exactly what he’d asked.

“It’s summer. It’s hot, so I changed into another dress… Besides, that one wasn’t suitable for school. What if it rode up?” An Jinchu quickly recovered and shrugged.

“You didn’t change your stockings, though.”

“I did. Yesterday I was wearing pantyhose; today I’m wearing over-the-knee socks. They’re different.”

Luo Chen kept a straight face. “I don’t believe you.”

“Here, look…” An Jinchu motioned for him to look down. Then she lightly pinched the hem of her skirt, which rested at her knees, and slowly lifted it.

Her knee bent, and the stocking-covered calf beneath it bulged slightly. The thigh-high sock seemed a little loose, probably because her thigh was so slender. Luo Chen could see its lace trim a little way above her thigh.

An Jinchu moved slowly, stopping at the black lace trim on the stocking. When she looked up, she found Luo Chen had already turned his face away.

Luo Chen stared straight ahead, his face perfectly calm, and said flatly,

“You’re so damn lewd.”