Chapter 8 | An Unexpected Heartbeat

The November weather grew increasingly cold.A thin layer of mist occasionally rose from the library windows.Lin Nian still sat in her usual window seat.Neatly arranged exercise books sat on her desk.Her notes were meticulously written.Zhou Yu, as usual, sat down opposite her.He'd been coming to the library more and more often lately.His teammates had started teasing him."Zhou Yu's become a study whiz.""He's always in the library."Zhou Yu just smiled.Actually, he couldn't explain why.But seeing Lin Nian sitting there every night made him feel at ease.That night.The library wasn't crowded.Zhou Yu worked on some problems for a while, then couldn't help but look up at Lin Nian.She had her head down.Her hair fell beside her face.The lighting was soft.Zhou Yu suddenly realized.Lin Nian was actually quite pretty.Not the kind of striking beauty.But very clean. Like winter sunshine.Lin Nian suddenly looked up.Her gaze met his.Zhou Yu immediately lowered his head, pretending to do his homework.Lin Nian chuckled softly.“You don’t know how to do it again?”Zhou Yu looked up.“No.”Lin Nian looked at him.“Then you were daydreaming just now.”Zhou Yu coughed.“Contemplating life.”Lin Nian couldn’t help but laugh.She pushed a test paper towards him.“Since you’re so good at contemplating life, try this question.”Zhou Yu glanced at it.“…Contemplating basketball suits me better.”Lin Nian’s smile widened.That night they studied together until after ten o’clock.When they walked out of the library.The campus streetlights were already on.The evening breeze was a little chilly.They walked towards the school gate together as usual.When they reached the playground.There were still people playing basketball on the court. Several girls stood watching.One of them suddenly ran over.“Zhou Yu!”Zhou Yu was taken aback.“What’s wrong?”The girl nervously handed him a bottle of water.“I watched you practice for a long time.”“Here, for you.”Zhou Yu felt a little embarrassed.“Thank you.”The girl blushed.“You’re really good at the game.”She ran back after saying that.Lin Nian stood beside them.She didn’t say anything.They continued walking.After a while.Zhou Yu suddenly said:“Actually, I don’t know her.”Lin Nian was stunned.“Why are you explaining this to me?”Zhou Yu scratched his head.“It’s just… I was afraid you’d misunderstand.”Lin Nian smiled gently.“Why would I misunderstand?”Zhou Yu was stumped.He was silent for a moment.Then she whispered,"Yeah, right."The two continued walking.The campus was quiet at night.The wind rustled through the leaves.Lin Nian suddenly said,"Actually, a lot of girls like you, right?"Zhou Yu paused for a moment."No, I don't think so."Lin Nian glanced at him."Doesn't that count?"Zhou Yu thought for a moment."Maybe."Lin Nian didn't say anything more.For some reason.She suddenly felt a strange feeling in her heart.She couldn't quite put her finger on it.It wasn't anger.It wasn't sadness either.It was just a little...uncomfortable.They reached the school gate.Lin Nian stopped."I'm going back."Zhou Yu nodded."Okay."Lin Nian had only taken a few steps.Zhou Yu suddenly called out to her."Lin Nian."She turned around."What's wrong?"Zhou Yu handed her the bottle of water.Lin Nian froze."Why?"Zhou Yu said,"I'm not thirsty."Lin Nian looked at him."Someone gave it to you."Zhou Yu shrugged."Then I'll give it to you."Lin Nian couldn't help but laugh."You'll get beaten up if you do that."Zhou Yu laughed too."It's okay."Lin Nian took the bottle of water."Thank you."She turned and walked into the alley.She took a few steps.Suddenly she stopped.Then she looked back.Zhou Yu was still standing under the streetlight.The wind ruffled the hem of his clothes.Lin Nian suddenly realized.That strange feeling from before seemed to have returned.She never used to care who gave whom water.Nor did she care who was talking to whom.But just now,she actually cared a little.Lin Nian sighed softly.She muttered quietly,"Strange."Meanwhile,Zhou Yu was walking home.His mind was also on the same thing.When Lin Nian said, "Many girls like you,"he actually felt a little nervous.As if some secret had been discovered.Zhou Yu suddenly smiled.He finally realized something.He didn't just "think Lin Nian was nice."But—he had genuinely fallen for her.And Lin Nian was slowly realizing it too.The boy who sat across from her in the library every day.He seemed to be more than just a classmate.She felt a flutter in her heart.It always happened unexpectedly.Quietly.