“Fate really does bring people together. The ways of fate are truly mysterious.”

“...What’s gotten into you now?”

“What do you mean, what’s gotten into me?” Cao Bin’s grin turned downright lecherous. “That girl’s expression changed so many times when she mentioned you just now. What else could that mean if she’s not into you?”

“...”

Su Tong couldn’t be bothered to answer. He opened his English textbook, slipped a manga inside, and started reading. He’d never been much of a student anyway. In class, he did anything but study—read manga, novels, e-books, whatever.

But the chatterbox beside him still wasn’t done:

“The easiest way to get a girl to like you is to make her interested in you first. Doesn’t matter if it’s positive or negative interest—as long as it’s not too extreme, you can turn things around later. Once she notices you, you’ve got plenty of room to make your move. And you two having the same name is the perfect opportunity. Hurry up and go for it!”

He did have a point.

“But I’m not interested,” Su Tong said expressionlessly. “If your theory were really that useful, would you still be single? What a master strategist. You want to use me as a test subject and watch me charge in thinking I’ve got the advantage, only to get a GG slapped on me? If you’re so good, you do it.”

He didn’t say the rest—“If you can’t do it, quit running your mouth”—but they both knew it was there.

Only then did Cao Bin purse his lips and mutter, “No wonder you’re single.” He pulled out his phone, opened QQ, and went back to slacking off.

One person’s loneliness; two fish having fun.

And so, taking turns slacking off and being pestered, they spent the whole morning.

For high school students, the lunch bell didn’t just signal that it was time to escape the classroom.

It was also the all-important signal that food was ready.

As Su Tong watched a crowd of classmates pour out of the classroom like tigers let loose from their cages, she couldn’t help thinking that teenagers really were at an age when their bodies desperately needed nourishment. Even the sight of them rushing off to eat was enough to stir the feelings of someone reborn like her.

So this was youth.

But youth didn’t fill your stomach.

So the girl looked toward the corner of the classroom. Su Tong was sitting there, and sure enough, he hadn’t joined the crowd heading to the cafeteria for food.

The reason was simple.

When there were lots of people, the cafeteria prepared the food early. By the time classes let out and students came to eat, some of it had already gone cold. So why not wait a little, until the crowd thinned out? Then he wouldn’t have to jostle with everyone, and he could get food fresh off the stove.

Simple, and practical.

The girl smiled.

They were the same person, after all. Of course she knew everything about him, from his body and soul to his personality.

You know me, and I know you inside and out.

But Su Tong didn’t know her.

The boy suddenly looked up, checked his watch, and muttered, “It’s almost time to eat.” Then he stood and stretched in the autumn sunlight—and happened to spot Su Tong smiling at him.

He froze.

He stayed frozen in his stretch, with no idea what to do. At most, he managed to shift his gaze away, letting it wander anywhere but toward Su Tong.

Silence fell. The awkwardness was suffocating.

Thankfully...

A timid girl’s voice soon came from the doorway, breaking the dead silence in the classroom:

“Young Lady, Nia and Dongli have brought your lunch.”

A literal lifesaver.

The two in the classroom immediately looked toward the door. Su Tong’s gaze held the faintest trace of gratitude; Su Tong’s was subtly thoughtful.

Under their combined gaze, the petite silver-haired maid in a student uniform standing in the doorway began to tremble.

She was scared.

And then Su Tong suddenly spoke, sounding displeased:

“Didn’t I tell you to call me by my name at school? You’re not supposed to call me ‘Young Lady.’”

The little maid holding the elegant insulated lunchbox grew even more flustered. She looked ready to throw herself to the ground and bang her head against it in apology.

Fortunately, the other little maid behind her wrapped an arm around her waist and held her back, preventing things from getting even stranger.

“I’m sorry, Young Lady.” The blonde little maid stepped forward to shield her foolish older sister, then bowed respectfully. “Nia’s an idiot and can’t remember what she’s supposed to call you. I’ll make sure to teach her properly when we get back... But we still need my idiot sister’s strength to keep you safe.”

Su Tong said nothing more, only giving a noncommittal nod.

The little maid Dongli quietly let out a breath of relief, then turned to look at Su Tong.

Their eyes met. A spark seemed to flash between them.

Su Tong tensed at once.

He’d guessed that the transfer student was a rich young lady, but he’d never imagined she’d be this rich. She even had personal maids, like some character straight out of a novel...

What was going to happen next?

The boy nervously clenched his fist.

An outsider like him had uncovered the identity of a bona fide rich young lady. Would they knock him out with a club and physically erase his memory, or throw money at him as hush money to buy his silence?

But as it turned out, he’d simply read too many novels and let his imagination run wild.

The blonde little maid glanced at him, then looked away and led her dejected older sister, who looked ready to cry, over to Su Tong. She took out the insulated lunchbox, opened it, and arranged the carefully prepared food inside.

“Young Lady, please enjoy your meal.”

A sporty school uniform didn’t have a skirt to hold up, so of course Dongli couldn’t curtsey. Even so, she performed the polished manners she’d been trained in beautifully—elegantly, even.

Nia, on the other hand, couldn’t manage it.

The goof only grimaced, mumbled “Young Lady, please enjoy your meal” after her little sister, then hid behind Dongli, looking even more pathetic.

Su Tong didn’t mind.

She was used to big scenes and all kinds of situations. Besides, she was pretty easygoing, so she simply took the chopsticks Dongli handed her—and even had time to wave at Su Tong on the other side of the room.

“Su Tong, I’ve got too much food here to finish by myself. Want to eat with me?”

Her expression was innocent, her air naturally sweet and adorable.

But the boy wasn’t about to fall for it. He forced a stiff, awkward smile and waved her off.

“No, thanks... It’d be inconvenient. Besides, the cafeteria should be pretty empty by now. It’s a good time to go eat... Haha...”

“See you later, then~”

“S-See you later...”

At last, the boy fled as if he’d been granted a pardon.

Su Tong only narrowed her eyes and smiled, then turned to the two little maids beside her.

“The rest of the class will be back from lunch soon. You two should leave for now. I’ll wait for you at the school gate after class.”

“Yes.”

Dongli answered, but her gaze kept wandering. After a moment, she finally made up her mind and asked quietly:

“Young Lady... is there something special between you and that boy just now?”

“Hmm?” Su Tong tilted her head as she ate elegantly. “Why do you ask?”

“It’s just that...” The little maid steeled herself and tried to explain. “I just feel like you treat him differently from everyone else.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Su Tong couldn’t be bothered to hide it anymore, so she simply nodded.

“He’s a very special person to me.”

Yes.

Special enough that... across thirty years of time, he was the only one worth noticing...

Only him.

[To Be Continued]