Chapter 3 - Unnecessary Interaction

Chapter 2: 𝓤𝓷𝓷𝓮𝓬𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓪𝓻𝔂 𝓘𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷

The rain didn't stop.

By the time the lecture ended, it had turned steady—loud enough to fill the silence that followed as students began packing their things. Conversations picked up again, chairs scraping lightly against the floor, footsteps echoing toward the exit.

Lu Zhen stayed seated.

He wasn't in a hurry.

He rarely was.

Most people rushed—toward friends, toward plans, toward something waiting for them outside.

Lu Zhen had none of that.

So he waited.

Until the room started to empty.

Until the noise faded.

Until it felt quiet enough again.

"…You're not leaving?"

That voice again.

Lu Zhen didn't look up.

"You talk a lot," he said flatly.

There was a soft pause, followed by the faint sound of a bag being zipped.

"I don't think so," Lin Xu replied. "You just don't like talking."

Lu Zhen clicked his tongue under his breath.

Annoying.

He stood up, grabbing his bag without another word and walking toward the door.

He didn't check if Lin Xu followed.

He didn't need to.

For some reason—

He already knew.

—

The hallway was crowded, filled with students trying to avoid the rain outside. Some stood near the windows, watching the downpour. Others were already making a run for it, using bags or jackets to shield themselves.

Lu Zhen walked straight through.

No hesitation.

No pause.

He stepped out into the rain without a second thought.

Cold droplets soaked into his clothes almost instantly, darkening the fabric as they clung to him. His hair fell slightly over his eyes, but he didn't brush it away.

It didn't bother him.

"Wait."

Lu Zhen stopped.

Not because he wanted to.

But because the voice was closer this time.

He turned slightly.

Lin Xu stood just under the edge of the building, one step away from the rain. He wasn't holding an umbrella either—but unlike Lu Zhen, he hadn't stepped out yet.

"…What?" Lu Zhen asked, impatience clear in his tone.

Lin Xu looked at him for a moment, then at the rain.

"You're just going to walk like that?"

"Yes."

"You'll get sick."

"Not your problem."

Lin Xu didn't argue.

He just took a step forward—

and walked into the rain beside him.

Lu Zhen frowned.

"…What are you doing?"

"Walking," Lin Xu replied simply.

"You don't even know where I'm going."

"I don't need to."

"…You're seriously—"

Lu Zhen stopped mid-sentence, exhaling sharply as he turned away again.

This was pointless.

He started walking.

Lin Xu followed.

Not too close. Not too far.

Just… there.

The sound of rain filled the space between them, steady and unchanging.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

Then—

"You don't like people, do you?" Lin Xu asked.

Lu Zhen didn't slow down.

"No."

"That includes me?"

"Yes."

There was a brief pause.

"…But you still answered me."

Lu Zhen's steps faltered for just a second.

Barely noticeable.

"Don't read too much into it."

"I'm not," Lin Xu said calmly. "I just think it's interesting."

"What is?"

"You."

Lu Zhen stopped walking.

This time, fully.

The rain continued to fall around them, soaking through everything, but neither of them moved.

For a moment, Lu Zhen just stared at him.

Trying to figure him out.

Trying to understand why someone like this—

would keep coming closer instead of backing away.

"…There's nothing interesting," he said finally.

Lin Xu met his gaze, unbothered.

"I think there is."

Lu Zhen looked away first.

"…You're weird."

"I've heard that before."

"Then you should fix it."

Lin Xu smiled slightly.

"I don't think I want to."

Lu Zhen didn't respond.

He started walking again, this time a little faster.

And still—

Lin Xu followed.

—

By the time they reached the main road, the rain had softened slightly.

Cars passed by, tires cutting through shallow puddles, the sound blending into the background.

Lu Zhen stopped near the crossing.

This time, he didn't turn around.

"Stop following me."

Lin Xu didn't answer immediately.

Then—

"I'm not."

Lu Zhen finally looked at him.

"You are."

Lin Xu shook his head lightly.

"I live this way."

A pause.

Lu Zhen's eyes narrowed slightly.

"…You're lying."

"I'm not."

Another pause.

The signal turned green.

People began crossing.

Lu Zhen held his gaze for a second longer, as if trying to decide whether to believe him or not.

Then he looked away and stepped forward.

Lin Xu walked beside him.

Naturally.

Like he had always been there.

And for the first time—

Lu Zhen didn't tell him to leave again.