Chapter 1: First Encounter

The September morning carried a hint of mist, though the sun had already risen high, hanging loftily in the sky.

From the moment Lu Yiqi entered the school to her search for her classroom, nearly ten minutes had slipped away. Her love of sleep had made her forget to come early and scout out the room; now, after wandering blindly for ages without success, she was forced to find someone to ask for directions.

A self-confessed admirer of beauty, she scanned the people around her but found not a single face that suited her aesthetic tastes.

Lu Yiqi sighed, dismissing her hopes and resolving to ask just anyone at random. She picked a target and began to walk over, but before she could speak, her attention was drawn to two people less than five meters away.

There, leaning against the stair railing, stood a tall, slender figure. One hand was casually tucked into his pocket, while the other rested with effortless grace on the banister, exuding a cool and untouchable air.

The boy’s handsome face was all sharp angles and definition; beneath deep, contemplative eyes was a prominent nose, and below that, a pair of thin, tightly pressed lips. Each feature was flawless on its own—together, they were breathtaking, as if he had stepped out of the pages of a comic.

Lu Yiqi thought: This must be the fabled “boy who looks like he’s been ripped from a manga.”

Standing before him was a girl who barely reached his shoulder. As the girl faced away, Lu Yiqi couldn’t see her face. The girl produced a sky-blue gift box, adorned with an exquisite bow—a clear sign of careful preparation.

She offered the box to the boy. “You probably don’t know, but I’ve secretly liked you for over a semester. I was too scared to confess last term, but I think feelings like this should be spoken aloud, so it took all my courage to say this now…”

At that, the comic-book boy replied with a blank expression, “Really? I don’t believe you.”

The girl was visibly stunned, her hand holding the gift freezing midair, but she quickly tried to explain, “It’s true! So—will you accept my gift?”

He replied with a nonchalant “Oh,” then asked, “But who are you?”

This time, the girl’s expression shattered completely; even the smile at her lips was barely holding together.

She had spent an entire semester making herself visible to him, believing he must have noticed her at least a little. It was only after mustering all her courage that she dared to confess, yet he had no idea who she was?

Her confidence took a heavy blow. Nearly in tears, the girl fled up the stairs.

The little drama at last came to an end.

Lu Yiqi snapped back to herself and glanced at the time.

Oh no!

With only two minutes left before class began and no clue where her classroom was, she was determined not to be late on the very first day.

If only she’d just asked someone earlier instead of lingering to watch the scene—why had she insisted on staying?

Lu Yiqi was now full of regret—nothing but regret.

At this moment, her only hope was the comic-book boy in front of her.

Lu Yiqi hesitated, watching him. He’d just rejected that girl so mercilessly—if she went to ask him the way, he probably wouldn’t tell her either… would he?

Caught between her pride and the prospect of being late, Lu Yiqi was on the verge of tears.

Seeing that the comic-book boy was about to head up the stairs, she hurriedly called out, “Hey! Excuse me—” I really, really don’t want to be late!

Inwardly, Lu Yiqi scrambled for words, searching for a way to ask that wouldn’t get her rejected.

The boy lifted his gaze, casting her a sidelong glance.

If he remembered correctly, this girl had been standing nearby just a few minutes ago, watching the whole spectacle. Now, right after the previous girl left, she was coming over—was she here to confess too?

He didn’t have time to dwell on it; his eyes took in Lu Yiqi’s anxious, nearly tearful face.

Removing his elbow from the banister and straightening his back a little, a trace of uncertainty flickered in his eyes as he said, “Hey, don’t look so down. You’re hardly the only girl who can’t get me.”

Lu Yiqi: “???”