Chapter 9: 𝓨𝓸𝓾'𝓻𝓮 𝓢𝓽𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓮
The next day felt… different.
Not in any obvious way.
The sky was the same dull gray, the campus just as crowded, voices blending into the usual background noise. Everything looked exactly as it always did.
But Lu Zhen noticed it.
The difference.
Or maybe—
he noticed himself.
—
He arrived at the classroom at the same time.
Not earlier.
Not later.
The same.
And for some reason—
his steps didn't slow this time.
Because he already knew.
Lin Xu was there.
Sitting in the same seat.
Waiting.
Not impatiently.
Not expectantly.
Just… there.
Lu Zhen walked over without hesitation and sat down beside him.
Like it had already become routine.
"…You're late," Lin Xu said.
"I'm not."
"You're not early."
"That doesn't mean I'm late."
Lin Xu smiled faintly.
"Fair."
Lu Zhen placed his bag down, pulling out his notebook.
"…You come here every day?"
"Yes."
"…Why?"
Lin Xu tilted his head slightly.
"For class."
"That's not what I meant."
"I know."
A pause.
Then—
"I like it here," Lin Xu added.
Lu Zhen frowned slightly.
"…There's nothing special about it."
"Maybe not."
"Then why?"
Lin Xu didn't answer immediately.
His gaze shifted briefly—
to the seat.
Then back to Lu Zhen.
"…There is now."
Lu Zhen's hand stilled.
Just for a second.
Then he looked away.
"…You're strange."
Lin Xu smiled.
"You've said that before."
"Because it's still true."
"I'll take that as consistency."
"It's not a compliment."
"I know."
—
The lecture started.
This time—
Lu Zhen didn't get distracted.
Not by the room.
Not by the noise.
Not even by the quiet presence beside him.
Because it wasn't unfamiliar anymore.
It didn't feel like something he had to ignore.
It just… existed.
—
Halfway through the lecture—
his pen ran out of ink.
"…Tch."
Lu Zhen clicked it once.
Twice.
Nothing.
He stared at it for a moment, annoyed.
Then—
without a word—
another pen was placed on his notebook.
He paused.
"…I didn't ask."
Lin Xu didn't look at him.
"I know."
"Then why—"
"You needed it."
Lu Zhen stared at the pen.
Simple.
Unremarkable.
And yet—
he didn't push it away this time.
After a brief hesitation—
he picked it up.
"…I'll return it."
"You don't have to."
"I will."
"Okay."
No argument.
No insistence.
Just acceptance.
Lu Zhen looked down at the page again.
His grip on the pen felt… steady.
—
"…You notice too much."
The words came out quietly.
Lin Xu glanced at him.
"Is that a problem?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Lu Zhen didn't answer immediately.
Because he didn't know how to explain it.
How to say that being noticed—
meant being seen.
And being seen—
wasn't something he was used to.
"…It's unnecessary," he said instead.
Lin Xu nodded once.
"Maybe."
A pause.
"…But I don't mind."
Lu Zhen didn't reply.
—
After class, Zhou Kai's voice broke through the usual noise again.
"Song Yan, wait—"
"I am waiting."
"No, you're walking away."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"…You're the one who's slow."
Zhou Kai laughed, catching up easily.
"That's because you walk too fast."
"That's because you talk too much."
"Hey, that's not fair."
"It is."
"You're just mean."
"And you still follow me."
Zhou Kai paused for a second.
Then smiled.
"…Of course I do."
The answer came easily.
Like it didn't need to be questioned.
Lu Zhen watched them briefly.
Then looked away.
His fingers tightened slightly around the pen in his hand.
—
"…You're thinking again," Lin Xu said.
Lu Zhen exhaled quietly.
"…You always say that."
"Because it's true."
"…You're annoying."
"I know."
A faint pause.
Then—
"…You didn't say it today."
Lu Zhen frowned slightly.
"Say what?"
"To stop following you."
Silence.
Lu Zhen's steps slowed just a little.
"…I didn't need to."
"Why not?"
"…Because you would anyway."
Lin Xu looked at him.
"…Is that a problem?"
Lu Zhen hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then—
"…No."
The answer came quieter than expected.
Lin Xu didn't smile.
Didn't tease.
He just nodded once.
"Okay."
—
They walked together.
Not speaking.
Not needing to.
The space between them wasn't empty anymore.
It wasn't something Lu Zhen wanted to fill.
Or escape from.
It just… existed.
—
"…You're strange."
Lu Zhen said it again.
This time—
without irritation.
Lin Xu glanced at him.
"Still?"
"Yes."
A pause.
"…But not in a bad way."
Lin Xu's steps slowed slightly.
"…I'll take that as progress."
Lu Zhen didn't reply.
But this time—
he didn't deny it either.