The school courtyard had never looked so alive. Lanterns strung across the trees flickered with soft yellow light, glowing like fireflies in the warm evening air. Stalls lined the paths—takoyaki sizzling, cotton candy spinning, and games of ring toss echoing with cheers. Students in their uniforms had changed into casual clothes, some even donning yukatas for the occasion.
Liang Meiyu stood at the edge of it all, her heart caught between awe and unease. The festival was supposed to be fun, a break from endless exams and suffocating rumors. Yet the text from last night still lingered in her mind, its words sharp like glass:
"If you really think you're the heroine of this story, think again. Tomorrow, everyone will know who you really are."
Her fingers tightened around her phone. She hadn't told anyone—not Yichen, not Haoran. What if the sender was watching her now, blending into the crowd of laughing faces?
"Meiyu."
She turned. Zhao Yichen stood a step away, hands shoved into his pockets. Gone was his usual school uniform. He wore a simple black shirt and jeans, but somehow it only made him look sharper, more intimidating. His dark eyes scanned her face, catching the flicker of unease she couldn't hide.
"You've been spacing out since morning. What's wrong?"
Meiyu forced a smile. "Nothing. Just tired."
Yichen didn't buy it. He never did. His gaze hardened as if he wanted to demand the truth—but before he could, Wen Haoran appeared, carrying two cans of soda.
"Here," Haoran said, offering one to Meiyu with that warm, boy-next-door smile. He was in a light blue hoodie, the color softening his already gentle aura. "You look like you need it."
Her chest tightened. With the two of them flanking her like this, it felt as if every student passing by was staring. Some whispered, some snickered. She caught fragments:
"Why are both of them with her?"
"Is she two-timing?"
"She acts innocent, but…"
Meiyu's smile faltered. The rumor mill was already spinning faster than she could control.
"Let's play a game," Haoran said, steering her toward the ring toss stall. His cheerfulness felt like a shield against the whispers. "You liked this one last year, remember?"
"I—I didn't even win once last year."
"Then I'll win for you."
Before she could stop him, Haoran paid the stall owner and started tossing rings. The first missed. The second clattered off. But on the third try, the ring landed perfectly around the neck of a small stuffed bunny.
He grinned, triumphant, and handed it to her. "See? Lucky charm for you."
Meiyu laughed despite herself. The bunny was soft against her palms, its stitched smile oddly comforting. For a moment, the tension in her chest eased.
Until she noticed Yichen standing a few feet back, watching silently. His expression was unreadable, but the air around him felt colder than the night breeze.
She stepped toward him. "Yichen—"
"Don't waste your time on stupid games." His tone was sharp, but his eyes flicked to the bunny in her hands before quickly darting away. "Come on. The fireworks are about to start."
Meiyu blinked. Was he… jealous? The thought sent an unfamiliar warmth rushing to her cheeks.
The three of them walked together toward the riverside where the fireworks would launch. Students spread picnic blankets across the grass, laughter bubbling everywhere. But Meiyu couldn't relax. Every time she glanced at the crowd, she half-expected to see someone holding up a sign, shouting out her secrets, proving the message true.
The first firework burst overhead, scattering golden sparks across the sky. Gasps of wonder filled the night. Meiyu tilted her head back, her lips parting at the beauty of it. For a moment, she forgot her fear.
Then her phone buzzed.
She froze. Slowly, she unlocked the screen.
[Anonymous]: Look around. Do you really think either of them likes you for who you are? Or are you just their game?]
Her stomach dropped.
She glanced at Yichen, whose eyes weren't on the fireworks at all but fixed firmly on her. His gaze was burning, intense, almost possessive. Then she turned to Haoran, who was smiling softly at the sky—but when his eyes shifted toward her, they held something deeper, something she couldn't name.
Were they both… playing with her?
Her grip on the bunny tightened. The festival noise seemed to fade into the background, replaced by the hammering of her own heart.
Another firework exploded above, painting the night with streaks of red and blue. The reflection of it lit up Yichen's sharp profile, Haoran's warm smile, and her own trembling hands.
The message echoed in her head.
"Are you just their game?"