The next day at school, Shi Yao noticed something unusual.
Li Yuan's seat at the front of the class was empty.
The absence of his sharp, composed presence felt like a strange void in the room, one that even Shi Yao couldn't ignore.
The lesson began, but it wasn't long before the teacher stopped abruptly, his gaze lingering on the empty desk. He cleared his throat and addressed the class. "It seems that Li Yuan hasn't shown up today. It's quite unusual for him to be absent. Does anyone know why?"
The room buzzed with quiet murmurs, students exchanging puzzled looks. Li Yuan's disciplined nature was well-known—he wasn't the kind of person to skip school without a good reason. Even the teacher seemed concerned, his brows furrowing as he continued.
"If anyone lives nearby or can spare the time after class, I'd appreciate it if you could visit him and check if everything is alright."
The room fell silent, the weight of the request hanging in the air. No one stepped forward.
Then, to everyone's surprise, Shi Yao raised his hand.
"I'll do it," he said casually, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
The classroom erupted into whispers. Heads turned, and curious glances darted toward Shi Yao.
Everyone knew that he and Li Yuan didn't exactly have the best relationship. The tension between them was no secret, and for Shi Yao to volunteer was… unexpected, to say the least.
Even the teacher seemed momentarily taken aback. He adjusted his glasses and nodded slowly. "Thank you, Shi Yao. That's very considerate of you."
Lin Yi, sitting a few rows ahead, leaned back in his seat with a skeptical grin. "Shi Ge, are you feeling alright? You and Li Yuan don't even get along. Why are you going out of your way for him?"
Shi Yao shrugged, leaning back slightly in his chair. "It's not a big deal. Someone has to do it, right?" His tone was calm, almost indifferent, but there was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes that he didn't bother hiding.
The whispers continued for a while, but Shi Yao paid them no mind. His decision had already been made, and no amount of speculation would change that.
After school, Shi Yao made his way toward Li Yuan's house. The path was familiar—he had followed it once before, though his intentions had been different then. As he walked, he couldn't help but wonder what he'd find this time.
Why is Li Yuan absent?
The question lingered in his mind, pulling him forward with quiet determination.