Chapter 1 : 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓑𝓸𝔂 𝔀𝓱𝓸 đť“𝓲đť“đť“·'đť“˝ 𝓼𝓶𝓲𝓵𝓮
Linyun City was quiet that morning.
A thin layer of clouds hung low in the sky, dulling the sunlight and casting everything in a soft gray. It looked like it might rain—but not yet. Just enough to make the air feel heavy.
Yunhai University was already alive with noise.
Students moved across the campus in clusters, voices overlapping, laughter echoing faintly between the buildings. It was the kind of place where everything felt busy, constant—like nothing ever stopped.
Except for one person.
Lu Zhen stood near the edge of the courtyard, slightly apart from the crowd.
He wasn't doing anything in particular. Just standing there, hands in his pockets, gaze distant. People passed by him without a second glance, and he didn't seem to mind.
If anything, he preferred it that way.
No one talked to him.
No one tried to get close.
It made things easier.
A few students nearby whispered quietly, their voices just low enough to avoid being obvious.
"Isn't that him?"
"Yeah… I heard he doesn't talk to anyone."
"He looks kind of scary…"
Lu Zhen ignored them.
He had heard it all before.
Scary. Cold. Difficult.
None of it mattered.
He turned slightly, about to leave, when someone stepped into his path.
"Hey."
The voice was calm. Not loud. Not hesitant either.
Just… casual.
Lu Zhen paused, his brows knitting slightly as he looked up.
The person standing in front of him didn't look nervous. Didn't look like he was trying too hard either.
He just stood there, meeting Lu Zhen's gaze like it was the most normal thing in the world.
"Do you know where the administrative office is?" the boy asked.
Lu Zhen stared at him for a moment, expression unreadable.
"…No."
The answer came flat, without hesitation.
It wasn't even true.
He knew exactly where it was.
But he didn't feel like answering.
The boy blinked once, then nodded lightly, as if that response didn't bother him at all.
"Alright," he said simply.
And then—
He didn't leave.
Lu Zhen's frown deepened slightly.
"…Why are you still here?"
The question came out colder than necessary, but the boy didn't react.
Instead, he tilted his head just a little, studying Lu Zhen with quiet curiosity.
"I thought you might change your answer."
"…I won't."
"Hmm."
There was a brief pause.
Then the boy smiled.
Not a wide smile. Not exaggerated. Just something small and easy.
"Then I'll find it myself."
He stepped aside, walking past Lu Zhen without another word.
That should have been the end of it.
A normal interaction. Forgettable.
But for some reason—
Lu Zhen didn't move.
His gaze lingered slightly, almost unconsciously, following the figure as he disappeared into the crowd.
Strange.
He clicked his tongue softly under his breath and turned away.
It didn't matter.
People like that came and went all the time.
—
The lecture hall was half full by the time Lu Zhen arrived.
He chose a seat in the back corner, as usual. Far enough from everyone to avoid unnecessary interaction.
A few minutes later, the door opened again.
Footsteps echoed lightly across the room.
Lu Zhen didn't look up.
Not until someone stopped right beside his desk.
"Is this seat taken?"
That same voice.
Calm. Familiar.
Lu Zhen's expression darkened slightly as he glanced up.
It was him.
The boy from earlier.
"…Yes."
"No, it's not."
The reply came immediately—calm, almost matter-of-fact.
Before Lu Zhen could respond, the boy had already pulled out the chair and sat down.
Like it was the most natural thing to do.
Lu Zhen stared at him.
"…Are you always like this?"
"Like what?"
"Annoying."
The boy didn't seem offended.
If anything, his expression softened just slightly, like he found that amusing.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"It's not."
"Still counts."
Lu Zhen exhaled slowly, turning his gaze away.
He wasn't used to this.
People didn't usually push like this.
They took the hint. They left.
But this one—
He stayed.
The lecture began, the professor's voice filling the room, but Lu Zhen found it harder than usual to focus.
Not because of the class.
But because of the quiet presence beside him.
It wasn't loud. Not distracting.
Just… there.
And for some reason, that made it harder to ignore.
Halfway through the lecture, the boy spoke again—softly this time.
"I'm Lin Xu."
Lu Zhen didn't respond.
There was a pause.
Then—
"You don't have to tell me your name," Lin Xu added, just as calmly.
Another pause.
Lu Zhen's fingers tightened slightly around his pen.
"…Lu Zhen."
The words came out before he could stop them.
Silence followed.
Not uncomfortable.
Just… still.
Lin Xu nodded lightly, as if that was enough.
"Nice to meet you."
Lu Zhen didn't reply.
But for the first time—
He didn't feel the need to tell him to leave either.
Outside, the sky had darkened further.
The rain that had been threatening all morning finally began to fall.
Soft at first.
Then steady.
Like something that had been waiting—
finally deciding to begin.