Chapter 16

I woke up earlier than my alarm again.

Not because I needed to—
just because my body decided that lying in bed any longer felt wrong.
Especially today.

I sat up slowly, stretching my arms before making my bed with the practiced motions of someone who preferred order over chaos.

The room was quiet.
Still.
Too still.

Maybe that was why my thoughts were louder than usual.

Today was the first actual day of joint project work.
Nothing special, really—just planning.
But knowing I'd be working alongside another class felt strangely... heavy.

I brushed off the feeling and went to wash my face.

The kitchen smelled faintly of toasted bread when I walked in.
My mother stood at the counter, tying her hair back as she prepared her coffee.

"You're early again," she said, glancing at me with a gentle smile.

"I slept well," I replied, sliding into my seat.
"It just felt wrong to stay in bed."

"That's not a bad habit," she laughed quietly.
"But you know... even hard-working children should relax sometimes."

I didn't answer.
She already knew I wouldn't relax easily.

As she set a plate in front of me, she leaned on the table with one hand.

"So," she asked, "how's school? I remember you mentioning a joint project with another class today."

"...Yes."

"Are you nervous?"

I hesitated.
I wasn't sure if "nervous" was the right word.

"It's just... something new," I said softly.
"Different than usual."

Her smile deepened.

"You always think too much before things even begin. Just go and see what happens."

"I know."

"And," she added teasingly, "if you meet new people or start working with new classmates... that's not a bad thing."

I gave her a flat look.

She chuckled.

"Eat before it gets cold."

I did.

Slowly, carefully, trying not to think about the "new people" part too much.

When I finished getting ready for school, I slipped my bag over my shoulder and headed for the door.

"I'll be back," I called out.

"Take care," my mother replied.
"And don't overthink everything!"

I didn't answer—she was too good at hitting the mark.

The air outside was cool, with sunlight filtering through the trees lining the street.
My footsteps echoed lightly on the pavement.

A normal morning.

Except it didn't feel normal.

Not really.

Maybe it was just the project.
Maybe something else.

I wasn't sure yet.

But I kept walking.

And a few minutes later, I would meet Xia on the way to school—
which was where things would start to make more sense.

For today, at least

******

I met Xia at the usual intersection, her short hair bouncing as she jogged up to me with her usual energy.

"Yiyi! Morning!"
She grinned.
"You're early again. I knew it."

"You're early too," I said.

"That's different. I overslept and panicked."

I stared at her.

She cleared her throat.
"Ahem—anyway! Let's go."

We walked side by side down the familiar tree-lined street leading toward the school.
The air was crisp; sunlight filtered softly through the branches overhead.

"Today's the first actual session with Class 2-B, right?" Xia asked.

"...Yes."

"You nervous?"

I thought for a moment.
"...Not exactly."

"Liar," she laughed.

I didn't deny it.

We continued walking, the school gates still a few minutes away.
Students trickled in from different directions, some chatting loudly, others dragging their feet.

That was when Xia suddenly stopped.

"Yiyi—look."

I turned my head.

Ahead of us, slightly farther up the street, two figures walked side by side.

A boy and a girl.

The boy, even from behind, was unmistakable:
short brown messy hair, tall frame, slightly slouched posture.

Tang Yuan.

And beside him, walking with small, neat steps—
long black hair, tidy posture, hands clasped around her bag strap—

Ye Ling, the representative of Class 2-B.

They weren't talking much.
Just walking quietly, close enough to seem familiar, but not close enough to seem intentional.

The kind of coincidence that felt too natural.

Xia blinked twice, her eyes sharpening with curiosity.

"Well... that's unexpected."

I didn't answer immediately.

It wasn't surprising that two classmates going early happened to meet.
It didn't mean anything.

But seeing them together—
the quietness of the moment, the casual synchronicity—
made something inside me tighten slightly.

Not jealousy.
Not confusion.

Just... awareness.

Xia leaned closer to me and whispered:

"Didn't they have group work together?"

"...Yes."

"Hmm. They look comfortable already."

I looked away from the pair ahead.

"Let's go," I said softly.

Xia studied me for a second, then nodded quietly.

We resumed walking.
By the time we reached the school gate, Yuan and Ling had already disappeared into the crowd ahead.

Xia let out a thoughtful hum.

"Today is going to be interesting."

I wasn't sure what she meant—
or maybe I didn't want to think too deeply about it.

So I kept walking, letting the morning swallow the lingering image of two silhouettes walking quietly ahead.

******

By the time Xia and I reached the classroom, the room was already half full.

The usual morning chatter filled the air—
chairs scraping, bags thumping onto desks, scattered laughter, the occasional half-drowsy groan from someone who clearly wanted to go back to bed.

Nothing unusual.
Not on the surface.

But as I stepped inside, I felt it immediately—
a faint, restless undercurrent running through the class.

Xia noticed it too.

"Wow, they're loud today," she whispered.

It wasn't ordinary loudness.
It was anticipation.
Curiosity.
Excitement.

The joint project had turned the classroom into a buzzing hive.

We walked to our seats, and I set down my bag.

Almost at once, two girls from the row behind leaned forward toward Xia.

"Xia! Did you hear?"
"Apparently Class 2-B arrived early today."
"They're already hanging around near the teacher's office."

Xia raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? Why so early?"

"Who knows? Maybe the representative needed to report something."

The girls exchanged glances—then one of them lowered her voice.

"And there's also a rumor... that some students from our class came early too."

Xia pretended to look surprised.
"Who?"

"Someone said Tang Yuan was seen walking with the 2-B class rep this morning."

My hand paused midway as I opened my notebook.

Of course they saw.
The street wasn't empty.
Anyone could have noticed.

Xia shot a very brief glance in my direction, but said nothing about what we witnessed earlier.

The girl continued excitedly:

"They were walking together like—well, not close, but still! Together!"

"Maybe discussing group stuff," Xia said casually.

"Maybe... but people said they looked kind of matching."

I tightened my grip on my pen ever so slightly.

Matching?

It was a strange word to use.
Especially about a pair who didn't even seem to be talking.

I focused on my desk, keeping my expression calm.

They weren't wrong.
Any boy and girl walking together would be seen that way by classmates who wanted entertainment.

I shouldn't think too deeply about it.

Xia stretched in her seat with deliberate ease.

"People love making stories out of nothing," she said lightly.

The other girls laughed.

"You're right. Still—it's interesting."

They returned to their seats just as another wave of students filed in.

Lin Xia leaned closer and whispered:

"See? Gossip travels fast."

"...It doesn't matter."

She smiled knowingly.

"I didn't say it did."

I turned my eyes forward.

Across the room, I noticed Tang Yuan entering with Liu Cheng—
talking quietly, expression unchanged, carrying the same unhurried pace as always.

He didn't look like someone who cared about gossip.

And Ling wasn't here.
Of course—she was from Class 2-B.
She wouldn't enter our classroom yet.

But for reasons I didn't understand, I found myself glancing at the doorway one extra time before looking away.

The classroom's restless buzz continued until the homeroom teacher arrived, signaling the start of the day.

******

When the homeroom teacher entered, the noise in the classroom thinned out almost instantly.
Her calm presence always had that effect—steady, composed, quietly commanding.

"Good morning, everyone," she said as she set her materials on the desk.
"Please take your seats."

Chairs scraped lightly.
Xia nudged me gently before straightening her posture.

The teacher glanced around the room, making a quick mental count.

"As you already know, today is your first joint session with Class 2-B. We will be meeting in the multipurpose room after homeroom. Make sure you bring your notebooks and a pen at the very least."

A few students groaned softly.

The teacher smiled in a way that said she heard them but would ignore the complaints entirely.

"Remember, this project lasts three weeks. I expect everyone to participate responsibly."

Xia leaned toward me and whispered, "Half the class is going to forget their notebooks."

I gave her a look.
She grinned.

Across the room, several students were already whispering about their groups:

"Who's presenting for us?"
"I hope we don't have to talk today..."
"Is 2-B already waiting downstairs?"

One girl near the window said, "I heard they're strict. Their rep looks really serious."

Another replied, "But that's good, right? At least things won't be messy."

The teacher tapped the whiteboard lightly to get everyone's attention back.

"We will not do formal group work yet. Today is mostly introduction and coordination. Please behave appropriately and listen when Group Leaders are speaking."

Group Leaders.

That meant Ye Ling for 2-B...
and for our class, it was the quiet boy who always sat in the back and avoided eye contact.

The contrast was sharp.

The teacher continued:

"Class 2-B will join us in the multipurpose room. We will coordinate seating once both classes arrive. Do not crowd the entrance."

Cheng slumped forward dramatically.
Xia snickered quietly.

I kept my hands folded on the desk, outwardly calm.
But beneath it, I could feel a faint tension rising—not fear, just anticipation wrapped too tightly around itself.

Homeroom concluded quickly after that.
Students immediately began packing up—too quickly, as if eager to leave but pretending not to be.
Bags zipped, desks thumped, a few students knocked shoulders while squeezing through the aisles.

Xia nudged me again, softer this time.

"Ready?"

"...Yes."

She smiled brightly.

"Let's see what kind of chaos today gives us."

We stood.
As we moved toward the door, I glanced—briefly—across the classroom.

Tang Yuan was adjusting the strap of his bag, expression as unreadable as always, Liu Cheng talking beside him with animated gestures.

He didn't look excited.
He didn't look nervous either.

He simply looked... prepared.

I wasn't sure why I noticed.

But Xia's hand on my shoulder brought me back.

"Come on," she said.

We stepped out into the hallway, joining the flow of students heading toward the multipurpose room—
where both classes would finally gather in one space.

Where everything for the next three weeks would begin.

******

The hallway leading to the multipurpose room felt louder than usual—two streams of students converging, shoes tapping, chatter overlapping, a kind of restless excitement floating in the air.

Xia and I walked at a steady pace, neither hurrying nor dawdling.
Even before we reached the doorway, I could already hear Class 2-B inside.

Their voices were different from ours.
Not louder—just... sharper, more focused.
A kind of organized noise.

Xia peeked past the door frame.

"They're really early today," she whispered.

We stepped inside.

The multipurpose room was already arranged with rows of chairs.
Class 2-B occupied several of them, sitting neatly, bags at their feet, some discussing quietly.
They looked more composed than I expected.

Class 2-A students flowed in behind us, filling up the remaining rows.

But even before sitting, the whispers began:

"Who are their leaders?"
"Where's their representative?"
"Is that Class 2-B's vice rep?"
"They look so serious—kind of cool, though."

Xia leaned over to me and muttered,
"Looks like half our class is already intimidated."

I didn't disagree.

We took our seats near the middle.
I placed my bag gently on the floor, smoothing my skirt as I settled.

The room buzzed softly—
our voices blending with theirs,
a strange mix of familiarity and unfamiliarity.

And then—

I saw him.

Tang Yuan, entering the room with his group:
Liu Cheng, warm and confident;
Cai Qing, tidy and composed;
and Ye Ling walking quietly beside them, carrying her notes.

Their group moved with a very natural rhythm—
not too close, not too distant.

But something about the balance felt complete.

Xia noticed immediately and nudged me with her elbow.

"There they are," she whispered.
"Group C."

I didn't answer.
My eyes followed them only for a moment before I looked away.

Our homeroom teacher stood at the front and clapped her hands lightly.

"Everyone, please take your seats. Class 2-B's homeroom teacher is on the way. We will begin shortly."

Chairs shifted.
Bags rustled.
The room quieted.

Moments later, Class 2-B's homeroom teacher entered, and the two teachers exchanged quick greetings.

Then the official explanation began.

"Our two classes will be working together for the next three weeks,"
the teacher said.
"The goal is for all of you to learn how to cooperate, communicate, and manage responsibilities independently."

The room listened—
some seriously,
some pretending to listen,
some whispering behind their hands.

I kept my gaze on the board, but my ears picked up everything.

When the teacher mentioned "group leaders," several students glanced toward Ye Ling.

Even from here, I could see her posture:
straight, quiet, attentive—
the kind of presence that settled people simply by existing.

Her calmness reminded me of her earlier, walking beside Tang Yuan.

Steady.
Unhurried.
Natural.

When groups were instructed to sit together, movement rippled through the room.

Xia and I stood and walked toward our assigned area, where Rui and another boy from our class were already waiting.

Rui gave a small wave.
"Ah—Yiyi, Xia. Good morning."

Xia waved back cheerfully.

I offered a polite nod.
"Good morning."

Rui looked strangely relieved, as if he'd been practicing his greeting.

Xia stifled a laugh behind her hand.

We took our seats.
From where I sat, I could see parts of Group C.

Cheng was already talking energetically.
Qing was listening with a polite smile.
Ling was taking notes.
And Tang Yuan...
He sat quietly, listening to the teacher with mild concentration, unaware that many eyes were occasionally drifting toward him.

Not because of popularity—
but curiosity.

Whispers floated from nearby:

"He's pretty close with Class 2-B today."
"Wasn't he talking to their rep earlier?"
"They look like they work well together."

Xia clicked her tongue quietly.

"Rumors grow in real time," she muttered.

I didn't comment.
Rumors never impressed me.

But seeing Yuan sitting in a group that looked unexpectedly balanced...
for a single moment, something faint twisted in my chest.

A feeling without a name.

And before I could understand it, the teacher began explaining the next steps, pulling my attention back.

The joint session continued, steady and structured, until the final bell signaled the end of morning activities.

By the time Xia and I reached the cafeteria, the lunch crowd had already thickened.
Voices overlapped, chairs scraped, trays clattered — familiar sounds, but louder today.
Probably because Class 2-B was also flooding in at the same time.

Xia scanned the room, hands on her hips.

"It's packed... Did everyone get hungry at once?"

"It looks like it," I said quietly.

We moved into the line together.
It took a few minutes before we grabbed our lunches and stepped into the sea of occupied tables.

That was when Xia nudged me lightly.

"Yiyi, front-left."

I followed her gaze.

There, at a long table near the windows — sunlight spilling across their trays — sat Group C.

Cai Qing, neatly sorting her utensils.
Liu Cheng, animated even while eating.
Ye Ling, calm, composed, holding her chopsticks correctly with practiced posture.
And Tang Yuan, sitting quietly, listening as Cheng talked with broad gestures.

Their group looked balanced in a way I couldn't describe.
Comfortable, even.

Xia let out a low whistle.

"They got a good atmosphere going, huh?"

I didn't answer.

We weren't close enough to be noticed, but not far enough to pretend we couldn't see them — that strange middle distance common in cafeterias.

Most of the tables were full.
Only two empty seats remained at a table diagonal from Group C.
Xia steered us there.

"Here's fine," she said.

We sat down.

Not too close.
Not too far.

Just near enough that the occasional word drifted over.

Cheng's voice was the clearest — he rarely spoke quietly.

"—I'm telling you, this idea could work! We just need the materials!"

Qing answered softly, patiently.
"We should make sure it fits the assignment guidelines first."

Ling nodded, tapping her pen lightly against her notebook.

"We can present two ideas to the teachers and let them choose. It's safer."

Tang Yuan added a brief comment — low, steady.
"Then we won't waste time preparing the wrong one."

Cheng clapped him on the back.

"See? Yuan agrees!"

Yuan looked like he regretted saying anything.

Xia covered her mouth to hide a laugh.

"That group has harmony," she whispered.
"Much better than some groups I've seen."

I ate quietly, listening only because the sound naturally drifted over.

It wasn't eavesdropping.
Just proximity.

From somewhere behind us:

"Is that Class 2-B girl the rep? She looks strict."
"I heard she's smart. And really close with Cai Qing."
"Isn't Tang Yuan in that group too?"
"Yeah. He's quiet, but... kind of fits in there, surprisingly."

Xia raised an eyebrow.

"Well, they're not wrong," she muttered.
"They do look like a serious group. Efficient."

I kept my eyes on my tray.

But every now and then, a small part of me — a part I didn't recognize yet — found itself returning to that table near the window.

Not to watch.
Not to stare.

Just... to confirm the balance of the group.

To see the way they worked together, how naturally they interacted.

I noticed something small:

Ling occasionally glanced toward Yuan when he spoke, as if trying to understand him better.
Qing listened to everyone calmly, smoothing the discussion.
Cheng kept the energy moving.
Yuan anchored the group with quiet logic.

Xia noticed too, whispering:

"They're going to be efficient partners."

"...Yes."

"And," she added, tapping her chopsticks, "rumors about them are definitely going to explode later."

I didn't respond.

I simply finished my meal in silence.

The lunch break ended quickly, the atmosphere still buzzing with curiosity and invisible threads connecting one table to another.

When the bell rang, Xia and I stood, collecting our trays.

Before following her out, I gave one last quiet glance toward Group C —
toward Ling writing something down,
toward Cheng laughing,
toward Qing gathering her things,
and toward Tang Yuan, who seemed to be listening to something his group said.

It wasn't a special moment.

Just an observation.

One that lingered with me longer than it should have.

******

After lunch break, the school felt heavier than in the morning—
not loud, just... full.

Full of conversations about groups, plans, rumors, worries, excitement.
It was the kind of atmosphere that drifted into every classroom whether you wanted it or not.

When Xia and I returned to our seats, half the class was already buzzing.

"Group A is meeting after school."
"Our group wants to start researching."
"2-B is so fast... They already drafted something."

I sat down quietly, setting my notebook on the desk.

The teacher arrived a minute later, and afternoon classes began.

The first subject after lunch was mathematics.
The teacher explained formulas slowly, her chalk tapping the board in an even rhythm.

Usually, this was the time of day when people started to doze.
Today was no exception.

Someone in the back yawned loudly.
Xia poked my arm lightly and showed me a doodle she made of a stick figure collapsing on a desk.

I looked at her.
She grinned.

I shook my head, but a small breath escaped me anyway.

A quiet laugh, almost soundless.

Xia seemed satisfied.

Whenever I raised my head to look at the board, my gaze naturally passed across the room.

For a moment, I noticed Tang Yuan sitting a few rows across, slightly turned toward Liu Cheng as they exchanged a whisper during a short pause in the lesson.

Cheng looked energetic even while half-asleep.
Yuan looked... normal.
Not particularly engaged, not particularly troubled.

Just himself.

Behind him, some classmates were whispering again.

"Group C might finish early."
"I heard Ling-san already has notes prepared."
"Do you think they'll be the top group?"

Xia leaned toward me, murmuring:

"They're making it into a competition. Ridiculous."

"...Yes."

But even so, hearing Tang Yuan mentioned so casually in rumors felt... strange.

Not good or bad.
Just unfamiliar.

Between periods, Xia and I went to refill our water bottles.

The hallway was filled with small clusters of students talking about the project.
As we passed by a window, Xia suddenly stopped.

"Look," she said quietly.

Across the courtyard, Class 2-B students were standing together—
Ye Ling among them, holding a notebook as she chatted with two classmates from her group.

She looked the same as always: straight posture, calm presence, controlled expressions.

But now that I had seen her working alongside Tang Yuan earlier, I noticed the little things—

How organized she was.
How serious she seemed.
How she didn't raise her voice, even in a group.
How naturally she handled responsibility.

Xia observed her too and whispered,

"She's reliable. I get why the teacher chose her as representative."

"...Yes."

"And I also get why your class keeps talking about her group," she added teasingly.

I didn't reply.

Instead, I returned to my seat when the bell rang.

The final class of the day dragged on.
Even the teacher's voice sounded tired.

I wrote notes mechanically, my attention drifting in and out.

Sometimes to the teacher.
Sometimes to the window.
Sometimes to the faint sound of Class 2-B somewhere in the building.
Sometimes to the memory of Group C at lunch—
their balance, the quiet confidence they seemed to carry.

And sometimes—
to Tang Yuan's expression during the session,
calm and unreadable,
almost indifferent to the noise around him.

It wasn't interesting.
Not even special.

But the image wouldn't fade easily.

When the day finally ended, students sighed in relief.

Chairs moved, bags rustled, people rushed out faster than they came in.

Xia stretched her arms over her head.

"That was exhausting. Let's go home before my brain melts."

"...Okay."

We packed our things at a relaxed pace.
On the way out of the classroom, I adjusted my strap and stepped into the hallway beside her.

I didn't expect anything to happen.

But just before we turned the corner—

I heard something.

A quiet voice.

Not directed at me, but close enough to make me pause.

Fate moved in small steps.

And the moment Xia called out to someone ahead...

that would become the bridge to the end of my day.

******

The hallway outside our classroom was unusually bright.
Afternoon sunlight spilled through the long windows, soft and warm, stretching across the floor like pale ribbons.
Students moved in small clusters, talking about project work, after-school plans, or nothing at all.
Their voices blended into a gentle hum—tired, but content.

Xia and I walked side by side, our steps unhurried.
After such a long day, neither of us had the energy to rush.

I was adjusting my bag strap when Xia suddenly tugged my sleeve.

"Wait... look ahead."

I lifted my eyes.

A short distance in front of us, walking toward the stairwell—

Tang Yuan.
Matching steps with Liu Cheng, who spoke with his usual energy—hands moving, head bobbing.

They didn't stand out, but maybe because of this morning, or lunch break, or the atmosphere created by both classes working together...
my attention lingered slightly longer than usual.

Xia noticed too.

"Should we...?" she began, eyes narrowing thoughtfully.

Before I could respond—

She raised her hand a little.

Her voice carried just enough to reach them.

"Yuan! Ah—sorry—Tang Yuan!"

I felt a small jolt of surprise.

Not because she called out to him, but because it sounded... spontaneous.
Unplanned.

Almost instinctive.

The hallway paused for me in a quiet way.

Cheng reacted first, turning his head.

"Oh? Xia? And Yiyi?"

He flashed an easy grin.

Beside him, Tang Yuan stopped as well.

He didn't look startled—
just slightly unsure, as if wondering why someone like us would call him at all.

His eyes met ours briefly.

Calm.
Steady.
A little confused.

"Ah... hello," he said.

Xia jogged a few steps forward, forcing me to follow her.

"We saw you two and thought we'd say good luck," she said cheerfully.
"You know, since the project is officially starting."

Cheng laughed.

"You too! I heard your group's pretty stacked. Rui's been nervous all day."

Xia grinned wider.
"He should be."

I bowed my head politely.

"Good luck."

Tang Yuan hesitated a moment—just a beat—then replied softly,

"...You too."

It wasn't awkward.
It wasn't warm either.
Just simple.
Straightforward.

But something about the way he stood there—
quiet, a little stiff, not used to being addressed first—
made me notice small details I hadn't before.

The way he held the strap of his bag.
The way his eyes drifted to Cheng as if checking whether the conversation was normal.
The way he lowered his tone slightly when speaking to girls.

It lasted only a moment.

Cheng nudged him lightly with his elbow.

"Come on, we'll be late."

"Right..."

Yuan gave a short nod to us before turning away.

Cheng waved dramatically.

"See you tomorrow!"

Xia waved back.
I lowered my head again politely.

Then the two disappeared down the stairwell.

The hallway felt normal again, but my steps didn't resume immediately.

Xia stood beside me, arms folded, her eyes carrying a look I had seen many times.

A look that meant:
I noticed something you didn't want to say out loud.

She let out a small breath.

"...So that's Tang Yuan up close," she commented lightly, as if observing a wild animal.

I blinked.
"Up close?"

"Well, usually he's either with Cheng or reading alone, so we don't really bump into him like that. Today's the first time we actually talked properly, isn't it?"

I nodded slowly.

Her smile deepened—not loud or teasing, just knowing.

"You looked surprised," she added.

"...Did I?"

"A little."

Xia started walking again, and I followed.

The sunlight felt warmer than before, brushing against my wrist, my cheek, my hair.

I wasn't sure why.

As we turned the corner toward the stairs, Xia whispered:

"Let's go home. Tomorrow's going to be busy."

"...Yes."

I glanced back instinctively—
toward the stairwell where Tang Yuan had disappeared.

It was empty now.

But for some reason,
that brief hallway moment stayed with me all the way home.