Hua Rong sat in the cramped office for what felt like the hundredth time this month, her gaze fixed on Teacher Jiayi with the kind of hopeful expectation one usually reserved for lottery results.
"Teacher Jiayi, please—there has to be another way, right?" she pleaded, leaning forward as if sheer proximity could change the woman's mind.
The teacher sighed, rubbing her temples. "Hua Rong, you should go back to class."
Hua Rong's face twisted in determination. "Not until you tell me there's another way!"
Jiayi stared at her for a long moment, then finally exhaled in defeat. "Fine," she muttered, pushing her chair back as she stood up.
Hua Rong perked up, eyes practically sparkling. "Really?!"
"Wait for the announcement that Headmaster Jian will make," Jiayi said, brushing imaginary dust off her sleeve.
Hua Rong's excitement screeched to a halt. "What?" she deadpanned. "Is he finally done plotting against us?"
Teacher Jiayi's narrowed eyes told her she had pushed her luck.
Hua Rong quickly grabbed her bag and bolted out of the office, expertly avoiding her teacher's piercing gaze.
"Back to class, Hua Rong!" Jiayi's voice followed her down the hall.
"Yeah, yeah!" Hua Rong called over her shoulder. She wasn't sure what was coming next, but if the headmaster was involved, it was bound to be bad.
.....
Zinchen Liu had been working on that camera for weeks. Every wire, every circuit had been a battle, but finally, his efforts had paid off—the location had been detected. Yet now, a different struggle weighed on him.
Should I share this with my classmates?
Would they even believe him? More importantly, would they agree to go? The risk was real—who knew what was waiting there? If something went wrong because of him, he'd be the one in trouble. But he couldn't do this alone. He needed someone.
Tapping his fingers anxiously against the desk, his mind raced through the possibilities—until the door swung open.
Hua Rong stepped inside, the only girl in the entire academy who wore a white skirt, a crisp white shirt, and a deep blue jacket. Her long, untied hair cascaded down her shoulders, swaying with each step. She looked lost in thought, fragile almost, as if a single push of wind could sweep her away.
And then it clicked. That's right. If anyone can help me, it's her.
Even if things went south, what trouble could she possibly cause? It was a safer bet to ask her rather than dragging those rich kids into this mess—if they got in trouble, their powerful parents would be breathing down his neck.
With sudden determination, he bolted from his seat, weaving through the hallway before catching up to her.
"Hua Rong!" he called, stopping right in front of her.
She blinked, startled, taking a step back. Oh, right—he had never really talked to her before. Of course, she'd be surprised by his sudden appearance.
"I found something," Zinchen Liu whispered, leaning in slightly. "And I want to share it with you."
...
The study hall was eerily quiet, the usual chatter and rustling of pages absent now that the first-term exams had ended. With no upcoming tests in sight, students had abandoned the place, leaving only the two of them in the vast, empty room.
Zinchen Liu pulled out his tablet, his fingers tapping swiftly on the screen before turning it towards Hua Rong.
"It's here!" he announced.
Hua Rong leaned in, her gaze locking onto the screen. She zoomed in instinctively, and within seconds, recognition dawned on her.
"That place… it's close to my house," she murmured.
Zinchen Liu's eyes lit up with excitement. "That's great! Saves us the trouble of finding it."
But as she processed the situation, something nagged at her—why her? Of all the students in the academy, why had he chosen to share this with her alone?
Her fingers hovered over the tablet before she finally spoke, her voice laced with suspicion.
"But why… did you only share this with me?"
Zinchen Liu avoided her gaze, scrambling for an excuse. His mind raced for something convincing, something that would keep her from questioning him further.
"Well… because I trust you!" he finally said, forcing a smile as he met her eyes.
Hua Rong didn't look convinced. She narrowed her gaze, leaning in slightly. "Trust? And me? Why?"
There was something unnerving about the way she asked, her voice cold, her sharp eyes studying him like a predator cornering its prey.
Wait—why does she suddenly seem so dangerous?
Before he could think of a response, she snatched the tablet from his hand, lifting it as if ready to smack him with it. His reflexes kicked in, and he caught her wrist mid-air, blurting out the first thing that came to mind.
"Because I like you!"
A stunned silence stretched between them.
Hua Rong blinked. Her expression shifted from suspicion to sheer confusion, her lips parting slightly as if she'd misheard him.
He straightened up quickly, keeping his grip firm just in case she still planned to hit him. "I really like you," he repeated, his voice steadier this time. "And I wanted to share this with someone I can trust."
Hua Rong let out a breath, running a hand through her hair in frustration. "Like me? Come up with a better lie."
Zinchen Liu panicked. He needed to keep up the act. "No, it's true! I really do. From the very first time I saw you… That's why I never talked to you—I was shy!"
He made his expression as sincere as possible as if this were some grand confession rather than an attempt to save himself.
"And now," he added dramatically, "I finally gathered the courage to say all this!"
Before she could respond, he quickly threw in, "Oh, please don't reject me! You can take your time—no need to answer right away."
Hua Rong wasn't buying it. His lie was obvious, but for some reason, she didn't press further. She sighed, shifting her focus back to the tablet.
"You'll come with me there, right?" Zinchen Liu asked cautiously.
She exhaled and gave a slight nod. "Yeah."
Her eyes remained on the screen, but he could tell—she wasn't fooled.
And then, the static hum of the microphone buzzed through the academy's speakers, cutting through the quiet.
"Hello!" A voice echoed, smooth yet laced with mischief.
Every student instinctively turned toward the nearest speaker as the voice continued, amusement evident in its tone.
"Hello, my cute little troublemakers. Gather in the hall."
Zinchen Liu and Hua Rong exchanged glances.
"That's the headmaster," Zinchen muttered, already bracing himself for whatever nonsense was about to unfold.
Hua Rong sighed. "Probably the announcement Teacher Jiayi mentioned."
With that, they both headed toward the hall, the curiosity in the air thick enough to touch.