The morning felt heavier than usual.
Maybe it was the early spring humidity, or maybe it was the way every hallway buzzed with the same topic:
Tomorrow.
Class 2-B.
Joint project.
Cheng practically sprinted into the classroom and slammed both hands on my desk.
"Yuan. It's happening."
"...What is?"
"The project! The fate of my romantic life!"
I blinked slowly. "A bit dramatic for someone who hasn't even spoken to Cai Qing outside of lunch."
"That's why it's fate!" he insisted. "Tomorrow, destiny will throw us toge—"
He suddenly stopped, eyes narrowing at something behind me.
"Oh. Speaking of destiny."
I turned.
Zhao Yiyi had just walked in with Xia, the two chatting softly.
Her expression was calm, but her steps slowed just a fraction when she noticed how unusually loud the room was.
Around us, students whispered excitedly:
"Will we get paired with Rui's group?"
"I hope I'm with Cai Qing—she's super smart."
"What about Ye Ling? She's quiet but terrifyingly talented."
"The boys from 2-B always fight to be in the same group as her."
I set my bag down and sat.
Cheng leaned in again.
"So? Anyone you wanna be paired with?"
"No."
"You're impossible."
Just then, our homeroom teacher walked in carrying a stack of printed papers.
"Alright, everyone. Settle down. Today we'll prepare for next week's joint project."
The room straightened instantly.
He wrote the project title on the board:
Cultural Connections: Modern Youth Perspectives
Gasps and groans echoed.
"It's a research-based creative project," he continued. "Essays, posters, interviews, short videos—you may choose your format. Each mixed group will have four students."
Cheng whispered loudly, "FOUR?! That's the perfect number for romance development!"
I nudged him under the desk.
"Tomorrow, Class 2-B will join us in the multipurpose hall. Group lists will be announced then. Today, you may begin brainstorming."
Across the room, Yiyi rested her pen lightly against her chin as she listened.
Xia whispered something to her, earning a small, warm smile.
The classroom shifted into a low hum of activity.
Students formed loose clusters, flipping open notebooks.
Cheng filled a page instantly.
"Yuan, help me think. If I get paired with Cai Qing tomorrow, what topic makes me look intelligent?"
"None."
"Please take this seriously!"
He scribbled wildly:
– generational pressure
– study habits
– youth and relationships
– internet culture
– family expectations
I didn't comment.
My attention drifted elsewhere.
Yiyi and Xia were discussing quietly near the window.
Xia gestured animatedly, while Yiyi listened with her usual composed, thoughtful expression.
It struck me how observant she was.
She rarely pushed her opinions—she listened first.
Carefully. Calmly.
But something else caught my eye.
Through the door window:
Ye Ling walked past with a classmate, carrying documents.
Probably preparing for their side of the project.
As she passed our door, her eyes flicked inward—
—meeting mine for a brief second.
She gave a small, polite nod before continuing down the hall.
Cheng froze mid-sentence.
"...Did she just look at you?"
"No."
"She DID!"
I ignored him.
Before the bell rang, our teacher raised his voice.
"Remember—be on time tomorrow. First period will be held with Class 2-B. Group lists will be posted then."
The room erupted instantly.
"Finally!"
"I hope I'm with someone fun!"
"Please not the boring kids."
"Let me get Rui this time!"
"Ling from 2-B looks like a princess—I'm too scared to talk to her."
Cheng punched the air triumphantly.
"Yuan! Tomorrow is the day!"
"Please stop."
Even Zhao Yiyi glanced over at our noisy corner—
expression unreadable, but faintly amused.
Just a small glance.
But somehow, it made the classroom feel more alive than it had yesterday.
Tomorrow would change things.
Quietly.
Slowly.
But definitely.
******
The hallway outside our classroom was louder than usual when the lunch bell rang.
Students sprinted out like they were escaping something, most of them heading straight for the bulletin boards near the stairwell.
Cheng grabbed my sleeve before I even stood fully.
"Yuan—LET'S GO! The group lists are up!"
"So soon?"
"Teachers live for this kind of dramatic timing," he declared, dragging me into the hallway.
By the time we reached the bulletin board, a crowd had already gathered.
Students leaned in close, calling out names as if the results were from a national exam.
"Ahhh I got paired with 2-B!"
"No WAY— I'm with Rui!!"
"Who is this 2-A kid? I've never seen him."
"Where's Ling? Which group got Ling??"
Cheng forced his way through the crowd with surprising efficiency, pulling me behind him until we stood right in front of the list.
It didn't take long to find our names.
Group 3 — 2-A & 2-B Mixed Project Team
Tang Yuan (2-A)
Liu Cheng (2-A)
Cai Qing (2-B)
Ye Ling (2-B)
Cheng stared at the paper as if it contained secret government information.
"...No way."
"You didn't get what you wanted?" I asked.
"No, I DID."
He slapped my shoulder with so much force I nearly lost balance.
"I'm in the same group as Cai Qing!"
He looked like he was physically holding his scream inside.
My ear started to hurt.
Then his expression slowly fell.
"Wait— why are YOU in this group too?!"
"I can leave if you want," I offered.
"No! No, don't leave! You're like... the calming force! If I'm alone she'll think I'm a psychopath!"
I didn't argue.
He was probably right.
My eyes drifted to the next group.
Group 5 — 2-A & 2-B Mixed Project Team
Zhao Yiyi (2-A)
Lin Xia (2-A)
Li Rui (2-B)
(another student from 2-B)
I didn't know the fourth member, but the first three names were recognizable enough.
Cheng followed my gaze.
"Oh? Yiyi and Rui in the same group? Ooooh, this is gonna be fun to watch."
"For who?" I deadpanned.
"For ME. Obviously."
Behind us, students whispered openly:
"Poor Yiyi... Rui's gonna malfunction every meeting."
"Xia will protect her, don't worry."
"Group 3 is insane... both Ling and Cai Qing? Lucky guys."
"Who's Tang Yuan again? That quiet kid?"
"Yeah, but Ling greeted him yesterday. They must know each other."
I stepped back before the whispers got any louder.
Cheng clapped his hands together like a man about to start a feast.
"Alright! Food time!"
Cafeteria
By the time we reached the cafeteria, the line stretched almost to the door.
Cheng talked nonstop the entire way.
"Imagine this, Yuan: me and Cai Qing exchanging ideas—"
"She'll ignore your flirting."
"Then I'll flirt harder."
"Please don't."
"I'm a natural romantic! It's my destiny."
I sighed quietly.
We grabbed our food and scanned for empty seats.
Then we spotted them—Ling and Cai Qing sitting together on the far side, already finished eating.
Ling noticed us first.
"Hello," she said softly, giving a slight nod.
Cai Qing waved cheerfully. "Looks like we're group mates, huh?"
Cheng nearly dropped his tray.
"W–we—uh—yeah! I'm looking forward to it! Heh."
I sat across from Ling.
Cheng practically launched himself into the seat next to Cai Qing.
Ling folded her hands neatly.
"I hope we can work well together. The project scope is broad, but with cooperation, it should be manageable."
Cheng nodded far too fast.
"O-of course! Totally! Co–cooperation!"
Cai Qing giggled. "Relax, Cheng. You're shaking."
"I AM NOT—"
He absolutely was.
Ling's gaze shifted from Cheng to me.
"We saw the list earlier. I was... surprised to see your name with ours. But it's reassuring."
"...Is it?" I asked.
"You're reliable."
She said it simply, but somehow it carried more weight than a compliment.
Cheng stared at me, mouthing silently:
"Reliable?! YOU?! HOW?!"
I ignored him.
Across the cafeteria, something else caught my eye.
Yiyi and Xia were seated at their usual spot—
and Rui was standing in front of them, trying very, very hard to start a conversation.
He looked like he was reciting lines from a script he memorized badly.
Yiyi listened politely, but she clearly didn't know how to respond.
Xia hid her laughter behind her drink.
Cheng followed my gaze immediately.
"Ohhh boy. Rui's already warming up. Classic."
I looked away.
Ling noticed my brief distraction, but made no comment.
Cai Qing sipped her drink.
"Tomorrow will be interesting, don't you think?"
Cheng inhaled dramatically, as if steeling himself for a battle.
"'Interesting' is an understatement."
I didn't say anything.
But he was right.
Tomorrow would be... something.
******
The afternoon felt different.
Not louder—just heavier, like the noticeboard had shifted the air in the whole school.
Even during math, when half the class usually drifted off, people kept glancing around and whispering.
"Did you see your group?"
"I can't believe I got paired with 2-B."
"Ling in Group 3... lucky."
"Yiyi and Rui... poor girl."
The last one hung where I couldn't ignore it. I bent my head back to my notes.
When literature began, the teacher assigned quiet reading. Pages turned softly; pencils tapped now and then. Outside, a breeze brushed the windows and carried the ordinary noises of the courtyard.
Cheng nudged my elbow. "Ready for tomorrow, partner?"
"Yes."
"That's it? 'Yes'? Bro, show some spirit!"
"I don't need spirit for a project."
He made a sound like someone collapsing dramatically.
Across the room, Yiyi sat with the same calm posture she always had. Xia leaned in to whisper; Yiyi listened, expression unreadable. Then—once, only for a second—she looked up and met my eyes. A small, simple moment, easy to miss. She blinked, looked back down, and the page took her again. I lowered my gaze too.
During the short break I refilled my water bottle. Returning to my desk, someone stood in the doorway.
Ye Ling, holding a slim notebook. When she saw me she gave a quiet smile. "Ah. Tang Yuan."
"Hello," I answered.
"I reviewed the project theme during lunch," she said. "There's a lot of direction we could take. We can discuss tomorrow."
"Alright."
She nodded, graceful as always, and stepped into the room. A few students at the back watched and whispered.
"That's Ling, right?"
"She talked to Tang Yuan again."
"What's their relationship?"
"They look... familiar."
I kept my face neutral and sat down. Cheng clapped my back. "You're attracting attention again."
"I was just talking."
"Bro, that's the problem—you talk calmly to everyone like nothing's happening."
I didn't know exactly what he meant and let it pass.
The last period was review and reminders. The teacher repeated tomorrow's plan: Class 2-B would join first thing; bring writing materials; groups would be introduced. Soft murmurs spread. Cheng buzzed with excitement. Rui peered into our room twice. Xia penciled notes in her planner. Yiyi listened without shifting.
Even I felt the odd anticipation, like a low current under everything.
When the bell finally rang, the classroom burst into motion—bags, laughter, hurried goodbyes.
Cheng slammed his book shut. "Tomorrow, my destiny begins."
"Let's hope it doesn't end immediately," I said.
He gave me a mock glare. "I'll ignore that."
As we walked out, I glanced toward the window. Yiyi was packing slowly; Xia chattered beside her. Maybe she seemed quieter than usual. Maybe I was only noticing what I hadn't before.
Either way, change was coming.
Not loud. Not sudden.
Just quietly, inevitably—step by step.
******
The hallway emptied quickly after the final bell.
Cheng slammed his locker shut, clutching his newly bought manga like sacred treasure.
"Yuan, I can't walk home with you today. I promised my sister we'd get snacks."
"That's fine," I said.
"You sure?"
"I'm not a child."
He laughed as he jogged off. "Think about tomorrow! Destiny awaits!"
I stepped outside into the cool afternoon air.
The sky had started shifting into orange, long shadows stretching lazily across the pavement.
I wasn't expecting to run into anyone.
But near the school gate, Ye Ling and Cai Qing stood together, finishing a conversation.
When Cai Qing noticed me, her eyes lit up mischievously.
"Oho~ Look who's here! Group 3 already bonding outside school?"
Ling blinked. "Cai Qing..."
"Oh! I suddenly remembered I need to stop by the convenience store," Cai Qing said loudly. "Ling, go ahead! You and Tang Yuan live in the same direction, right?"
Ling turned to me.
"...We do?"
I nodded. "More or less."
Cai Qing actually winked — then skipped away like she had just orchestrated a victory.
Ling sighed softly, adjusting her bag.
"...Shall we walk?"
"Sure."
We started down the quiet street. Students drifted home in small groups, shopkeepers lowered blinds, and members of the basketball club jogged past us, talking loudly.
Neither of us spoke at first.
Then Ling said, "You have a calm way of walking."
"...Is that good or bad?"
"It's good."
Her tone was gentle. "Some people rush everywhere. It's tiring to match their pace."
"I don't like rushing."
"I noticed," she said with a small smile.
Her voice always sounded like she measured her words before releasing them—soft, steady, never hurried.
After a while, she turned slightly.
"About yesterday... thank you again for helping during the dinner rush."
"You don't have to thank me every time."
"It's polite."
I glanced at her.
"...You think I'm reliable?"
She paused, surprised that I remembered.
"Of course. You listen carefully. You work efficiently. You don't panic."
I looked ahead before she could describe me any further.
She continued, quieter:
"My mother likes you too. She said you have a steady presence for someone our age."
That didn't help my nerves at all.
Ling adjusted her bag strap.
"For the project... I think our group will work well. Cai Qing has creative ideas, and Cheng seems enthusiastic."
"That's one word for him."
She laughed softly.
"You two are close."
"We've known each other since primary school."
"And Cai Qing... seems to know him too."
"She teases him constantly."
Ling covered a small laugh with her hand. A rare expression for her.
"Cai Qing is very observant."
"That's dangerous," I muttered.
"Well," Ling added, "she already noticed how Cheng acts around her."
I stopped.
"...He's obvious?"
"Very."
I sighed. "He's doomed."
She laughed again — light, like a tiny bell.
"Your class is interesting," she said.
"You think so?"
"The reactions today were very lively. Especially to the group list."
"That's normal."
Ling's eyes softened.
"They also reacted strongly yesterday, when I greeted you."
I stayed silent.
"Do you dislike being noticed?" she asked gently.
"...I'm not used to it."
"I see."
We reached her home before I realized.
A modest two-story building with a warm glow spilling from the windows.
The scent of broth drifted softly from the kitchen.
Ye Family Noodle Shop.
Ling stopped in front of the gate.
"Thank you for walking with me."
"Same direction," I said.
She shook her head lightly, amused. "Still. Thank you."
The front door slid open.
Auntie Ye stepped out, wiping her hands with a towel.
"Oh! Yuan!" she beamed. "Walking Ling home?"
"Not exactly—just happened to be heading the same way."
"Even so, thank you. Come in for a drink! You worked so hard yesterday."
Ling's cheeks warmed slightly. "Mother... Yuan probably wants to go home."
I lifted a hand. "It's okay, Aunty. I should get going. My mom's waiting."
"Aiya, such a polite boy. Come again soon!"
"I will."
Ling watched me step away.
"Goodbye, Tang Yuan," she said softly.
"See you tomorrow."
As I walked the last stretch alone, the sky turned from orange to soft pink.
Nothing dramatic happened today.
But something felt different.
A quiet shift—small, gentle, like a breeze you only notice after it passes.
Tomorrow would be busy.
I didn't mind.
Not at all.