The annual literature project presentations had arrived, and the classroom buzzed with nervous chatter.
Liang Meiyu adjusted the papers in her hands. She'd worked hard on her piece—too hard to have Zhao Yichen as her partner.
"Relax," he whispered as they waited for their turn. "You're going to be fine."
She shot him a doubtful look. "You didn't even read your part."
"I don't need to. I'll wing it."
"You'll embarrass us both," she muttered.
When their names were called, they walked to the front together. Meiyu began, voice soft but steady, explaining their chosen poem and its theme about finding beauty in unexpected places.
Halfway through, Yichen stepped up to read his "assigned" part. Except… he didn't read what was on the paper.
He looked straight at her instead.
"My partner," he began, his tone uncharacteristically serious, "is the most annoying person I've ever met. She's stubborn. Talks back. Makes my life a headache."
The class laughed. Meiyu's eyes widened.
"But," he continued, his gaze unwavering, "she's also the person I can't stop looking for the moment I walk into the room. She's the reason I don't skip class anymore. The reason I… try."
A hush fell over the room.
Yichen's lips curved into a faint smile. "Liang Meiyu, I was always looking at you. Even when you thought I was just trying to annoy you."
Her heart pounded so hard she was sure everyone could hear it.
She found herself smiling—small, shy, but real. "I know," she said softly.
Gasps and whispers erupted from their classmates.
The teacher cleared her throat. "Zhao Yichen, this isn't in the project guidelines—"
"It's literature," he replied with a smirk. "Love is the oldest subject there is."
---
When they sat back down, Meiyu's cheeks were still pink.
"You're unbelievable," she whispered.
"Yeah," he said, leaning closer, "but you like me that way."
She didn't deny it.
Outside, cherry blossom petals drifted past the window—just as they had on her very first day. Only now, she wasn't alone under the falling pink.
Because Zhao Yichen was right there beside her.