"Wait, wait, wait—hold on a second!" Zhang Yuxin's voice cracked through the phone like a firecracker. "Did you just say first crush? As in—you?!"
Hai Lin lay flat on the rooftop, her cheeks warm. "Don't shout…"
"You?! The girl who never looked at boys, never cared about skin, who only falls in love with video game characters?" Yuxin was gasping now. "Are you okay? Should I call a doctor?"
"Stop exaggerating…" Hai Lin muttered, hugging her knees. "It's not like I planned to like him."
"Who is he? What's his name?"
"Sun Shian."
"Ohhh… now that sounds like a name from a dating sim. Search the school forum! He might have a profile!"
Hai Lin blinked. "Right…"
She quickly hung up, fingers already flying across her phone screen. She typed his name on the school app, scrolling through profiles. Her thumb accidentally hit "Send Friend Request"—but not to Sun Shian.
Instead, it was some ID: Li Zeyan.
"Who…?" she blinked, but her mom's shout from downstairs cut her thoughts short.
"Hai Lin! Come down this instant! Help me set the table!"
Groaning, Hai Lin tucked her phone away and walked down.
As she placed the dishes, her mother started again. "Your father! Off in another country, working, working—never even showed up for our move!"
Hai Lin and Xueyan glanced at each other, both sighing quietly.
---
The next morning, school felt strange.
The corridor buzzed with whispers, and Hai Lin felt her stomach knot as she entered the classroom. Everyone looked... disappointed?
The teacher looked at her from the board. "You must be the new student. Introduce yourself."
"Um… Hi. My name is… Hai Lin."
The teacher blinked. "That's all?"
"Yes, teacher."
A pause.
"…Fine. Sit wherever there's an empty seat."
She walked down the row and sat near the back. As soon as she did, the entire class fell eerily silent.
She looked around, puzzled.
She leaned toward the girl beside her. The girl had glossy black hair and piercing eyes.
"Um… why is everyone staring at me like that?"
"You'll know soon," the girl replied dryly, turning away.
Suddenly, the classroom door slammed open.
A boy strode in, wearing the uniform—but barely. His brown hair was slightly curled, his shirt was half untucked, and his collar looked like it hadn't been ironed in a month.
"You!" the teacher barked. "Can't you see I'm here? No respect at all!"
The boy didn't even blink. "Then I'll go."
He turned to walk out.
The teacher sputtered. "Wait! Just—ugh! Forget it. Sit down!"
The boy yawned, walked down the row—straight to Hai Lin—and dropped into the empty seat next to her. Then he slouched forward and laid his head on the desk.
Hai Lin froze.
Ah…
Now she understood why everyone had stared.
She was sitting beside him.