Fu Yunshen recovered quickly.
By morning, his fever had dropped. By noon, he was sitting up and texting Zhou Zhi sarcastic threats about turning his absence into a school-wide gossip column.
But Shi Mu could tell—
Something was off.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
He was quieter now. Less teasing. His glances, though fleeting, carried more weight.
Like he was holding something back.
Like he'd realized something while sick—and now didn't know what to do with it.
Shi Mu understood.
She was doing the same.
That evening, the three of them walked back to the dorms together. Zhou Zhi led the way, happily narrating a completely made-up story about a ghost who haunted the vending machine and refused to let him buy snacks.
Fu Yunshen chuckled at the right moments.
Shi Mu smiled faintly.
But there was space between her and Fu Yunshen. Not physical—but something else. Something unspoken.
She wanted to reach across it.
But didn't.
In the dorm, she unpacked her bag and rearranged her desk. Her time back in Room 415 was nearly up. The west wing had been cleared, and she'd be moving again.
Zhou Zhi flopped onto his bed. "I vote we don't let her leave. It's too quiet without her yelling at us."
"I don't yell," Shi Mu said automatically.
"Denial is loud," Fu Yunshen murmured.
She glanced at him.
His voice was light, but his expression wasn't.
Later that night, when the lights were off and Zhou Zhi was already snoring, Shi Mu lay awake, staring at the ceiling.
The bed across from hers was dark.
But she could feel him watching her.
She turned.
And yes—his eyes were open.
They didn't speak.
They didn't move.
But the moment lasted too long to be nothing.
And not long enough to be something.
[System Notification]
Emotional Plateau Detected – Mutual Observation without Engagement
Brotherhood Value +55 (Shared Silence + Repressed Connection)
Current Total: 2,080 / 1,000,000
Shi Mu finally turned back over and closed her eyes.
Tomorrow, she would leave this room again.
Return to her solo dorm. Her solo mission.
But tonight—
She wanted to remember what it felt like…
To be seen.
Even from a distance.