Shang walked down the dimly lit road, the plastic bag of snacks swinging lightly in her grip. The night was quiet, except for the occasional passing of cars and the rustling of trees in the breeze. She was still lost in thought—her mind replaying her encounter with Yuan Wei.
That look he gave her. The way he said her name. It was unsettling… and oddly familiar.
"Shang!"
She snapped out of her thoughts as a familiar voice called out. Looking up, she saw Bryan approaching with his usual energetic stride, a grin plastered on his face.
"There you are! I've been looking for you," he said, stopping in front of her.
Shang raised an eyebrow. "Why? Is there an emergency?"
"Nope," Bryan smirked. "But I have good news! You know the book My Perfect Prince that you've been dying to read?"
Shang stopped in her tracks. "Yeah? What about it?"
Bryan wiggled his eyebrows excitedly. "My brother knows the author, and guess what? He has an advanced copy!"
Her eyes widened in surprise. "Are you serious?!"
Bryan nodded proudly. "Legit! He said I could let you have a sneak peek before it's officially released."
Shang couldn't help but smile. She had been eager to read that book ever since she first heard about it. A love story tangled with fate and forgotten memories… something about it felt strangely familiar.
"Bryan, you are officially my hero!" she said, laughing.
"I know, I know," he said, dramatically flipping his imaginary long hair. "I'll bring it to school tomorrow."
"Perfect!" Shang beamed.
Bryan was about to say something when he suddenly stopped, squinting at her with a curious look.
"Wait… are you alone?" he asked, glancing behind her.
Shang frowned. "Huh?"
"I saw you get out of a car earlier," Bryan said, crossing his arms. "It looked expensive… I think it was a Porsche."
Shang felt her stomach drop slightly.
Bryan's eyes narrowed playfully. "Shang… don't tell me Yuan gave you a ride?"
She hesitated for a second before sighing. "Uh… yeah. It just happened. He saw me walking and offered a ride."
Bryan let out a dramatic gasp. "Shan Jane Cruz, you're already getting into Yuan Wei's car? Wow."
"Don't make this a big deal," she muttered, rolling her eyes. "It was just a ride."
Bryan smirked. "Hmm… interesting."
Shang gave him a look. "What are you thinking now?"
Bryan shrugged. "Nothing. But if I were you, I'd be careful. That's Yuan Wei we're talking about. Rich, handsome, mysterious. People like him are never just ordinary."
Shang sighed. "I know. But Bryan, I swear, it doesn't mean anything."
"Sure, sure," Bryan teased, nudging her. "But admit it, you're curious about him."
She opened her mouth to protest but stopped.
As much as she hated to admit it, there was something about Yuan that made her curious. Something about his presence that made her feel like he was more than just a rich handsome student.
Something about the way he looked at her…
Like he already knew her.
And that scared her.
Bryan stretched his arms and let out a small yawn. "Alright, Shang. I gotta go home before my mom starts calling me a missing person."
Shang chuckled. "Yeah, same. Thanks again for the book, Bryan. You have no idea how excited I am."
Bryan smirked. "I can tell. Anyway, let's just meet at the canteen tomorrow. I'll bring the book then."
Shang nodded. "Sounds good. See you tomorrow."
As they parted ways, Shang couldn't shake off the strange feeling lingering in her chest. Something about the book, about Yuan, about everything happening lately—it all felt connected. But for now, she just had to wait.
The school cafeteria buzzed with its usual chaos—students chatting loudly, trays clattering, and the smell of food filling the air. Shang scanned the room and quickly spotted Bryan sitting at one of the tables near the window, waving at her with a grin.
She walked over and sat across from him. "You actually brought it?" she asked, excitement in her voice.
Bryan dramatically pulled the book out of his bag like it was a treasure. "Ta-da! One exclusive copy of My Perfect Prince."
Shang's eyes sparkled as she reached for it. "Finally! I swear, if this book disappoints me, I'll—"
Before she could finish, a familiar, teasing voice interrupted.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?"
Shang sighed before even looking up. Of course.
Shawn stood beside their table, hands in his pockets, his usual cocky smirk plastered on his face. His sharp gaze flickered between Shang, Bryan, and the book.
"You're actually spending your lunch break reading, Princess?" Shawn teased, tilting his head. "Didn't know you were that much of a nerd."
Shang rolled her eyes. "It's called enjoying a good book, Shawn. Something I'm sure you wouldn't understand."
Bryan chuckled. "Yeah, some people actually use their brains for entertainment instead of just annoying people."
Shawn raised an eyebrow at Bryan, his smirk widening. "Oh? And I suppose you're one of those people?"
Bryan smirked back. "Obviously."
Shawn clicked his tongue, looking amused. "Wow. Didn't expect you to have a backbone, Bryan. Usually, you're just in the background, making dumb jokes."
Shang frowned. "Shawn, knock it off."
But Bryan just leaned back in his chair, unfazed. "And I didn't expect you to be this interested in what I do. Should I be flattered?"
Shawn let out a short laugh. "Not really. I'm just surprised Shang hangs out with guys like you."
Shang clenched her jaw. "Guys like him? What's that supposed to mean?"
Shawn smirked, but there was something sharp behind his gaze. "Nothing, Princess. Just saying, I thought you had better taste."
Bryan scoffed. "Wow, man. Big words for someone who can't even mind his own business."
The tension between them was thick, but Shang wasn't in the mood for whatever childish game Shawn was playing today.
She grabbed the book and stood up. "Bryan, let's go. I'd rather not waste my lunch listening to whatever this is."
Bryan smirked at Shawn before standing up as well. "Yeah, I suddenly lost my appetite."
As they walked away, Shang could still feel Shawn's eyes on them.
The Hidden Truth in the Pages
Shang walked through the quiet hallways of the school, gripping the book tightly in her hands. After the heated moment at the canteen with Shawn, she just wanted some peace. She needed to read this book without distractions.
She finally reached the old garden behind the school—a place barely anyone visited. The stone benches were slightly covered in moss, and the air smelled of damp earth and flowers. It was the perfect spot.
Settling down under a large tree, she flipped open My Perfect Prince with excitement buzzing in her chest.
As she read the first few pages, a giddy smile formed on her lips.
"Oh my god… this is so good," she whispered to herself, hugging the book close for a moment before eagerly continuing.
Each word, each sentence—it was captivating. The story followed a girl who unexpectedly crossed paths with a mysterious yet familiar boy, someone who seemed to know her deeply despite them never meeting before. The descriptions, the emotions, the way the characters interacted—it all felt strangely familiar.
And then—
Flash.
Shang gasped as an image flickered in her mind. A memory—no, a vision.
A garden bathed in golden sunlight.
Laughter.
A boy's voice, warm and teasing.
A promise whispered between two souls.
She blinked rapidly, her fingers tightening around the book. "What… was that?"
Her heartbeat raced as she looked down at the page she was reading. The words blurred for a moment, and she felt dizzy. It wasn't just a book anymore—it was triggering something buried deep inside her.
She shook her head and took a deep breath. "Calm down, Shang. It's just a story… right?"
But as she read further, the flashbacks became stronger. More vivid.
She could almost hear the voices. Feel the warmth of the sun. Smell the faint scent of jasmine.
And worst of all…
She could feel him.
A boy she couldn't recognize. A boy who felt so real—so painfully familiar, yet completely unknown.
Her hands trembled. She clutched the book close to her chest, closing her eyes as another vision washed over her.
This wasn't just a coincidence.
This book…
This story…
It wasn't fiction.
It was a piece of her past.
Shang was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice someone else was there.
A soft rustling sound caught her attention. She turned her head sharply—only to see Yuan Wei lying under the large tree, one arm covering his eyes as if he had been asleep.
She froze.
Yuan stirred slightly, letting out a small sigh before lazily opening his eyes. His sharp, chinito gaze met hers, but instead of looking surprised, he just raised an eyebrow.
"Why are you here?" His voice was deep, slightly raspy—like he had just woken up.
Shang, still startled, could only blink at him. "Uh—shouldn't I be the one asking that? You're the one sleeping here."
Yuan smirked slightly, sitting up and stretching his arms. "This is my spot," he said casually. "You? What are you doing here?"
Shang hesitated, glancing at the book in her hands. "Nothing… I just wanted to read in peace."
Yuan's gaze flickered to the book she was holding, his expression unreadable. "My Perfect Prince?" he read aloud, amusement evident in his tone. His smirk deepened. "A romance novel?"
Shang rolled her eyes. "Mind your own business."
But Yuan wasn't about to let it go. "You seem really into it. Learned anything new?"
She hesitated. Should she tell him about the strange flashbacks she was having? About how the book felt oddly familiar? But before she could answer, Yuan's sharp eyes locked onto hers, as if he could already see through her hesitation.
Something in his gaze made her stomach twist.
Instead of responding, Shang sighed and looked away. "I just wanted to relax, okay? If this is your spot, we can share."
Yuan chuckled at her response before leaning back against the tree. "Hmm… fair enough."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The breeze rustled through the leaves, and the faint sounds of students echoed in the distance.
Shang glanced at Yuan from the corner of her eye. He looked relaxed, but there was something about him that made her uneasy. It was the same feeling she got while reading the book.
Like she knew him from somewhere…
But that was impossible.
Right?
The peaceful silence under the tree didn't last long.
A sudden commotion erupted from the hallway, distant but growing louder. Shang and Yuan both turned their heads toward the source of the noise.
Curious, Shang frowned. What's going on?
Yuan, however, tensed. His smirk disappeared, replaced by something unreadable. Before Shang could ask, a group of students appeared near the entrance of the courtyard, whispering excitedly.
"She's back!"
"I can't believe it—after all this time?"
"Do you think she and Yuan will—?"
Shang's eyebrows knitted together. Who's back?
Then, as if on cue, a tall, stunning girl stepped into view.
She had long, wavy hair that framed her delicate face, her makeup subtle yet enhancing her already striking features. Dressed in a crisp designer school uniform, she carried herself with effortless elegance—like she owned the place.
And the moment her sharp eyes landed on Yuan, a knowing smirk played on her lips.
"It's been a while, Yuan."
Shang didn't miss the way the air around them suddenly felt heavier.
Yuan's jaw tightened. His usual lazy demeanor vanished, replaced by something colder, more distant.
"Unice," he said, voice neutral.
Shang's stomach twisted at the name. Unice?
Then it clicked.
This was Unice—the Unice. Yuan Wei's ex-girlfriend.
Shang hadn't asked too much about her, but Elise had mentioned her briefly. Beautiful. Rich. Smart. And the only girl who ever got close to Yuan.
Now, here she was. Back at school.
And judging by the way she was looking at Yuan…
She wasn't here just for a friendly reunion.
The air between them was thick with tension.
Unice took a slow step forward, her confident smirk unwavering. Her sharp eyes scanned Yuan, as if searching for something—perhaps familiarity, perhaps warmth.
But she found none.
Yuan's expression was cold, almost emotionless, but Shang—who had been silently watching—noticed something else beneath the surface. Not love. Not longing.
But resentment.
"So, you're not even going to say you missed me?" Unice teased, tilting her head slightly.
Yuan scoffed. "Miss you?" His voice was calm, but the way his jaw clenched betrayed his true feelings. "You overestimate your importance, Unice."
The murmurs of the students around them grew louder.
"Whoa… that was harsh."
"Didn't they use to be crazy about each other?"
"Why does it feel like they're about to fight instead of reconcile?"
Unice's smirk faltered for a split second, but she quickly masked it. She chuckled, crossing her arms. "Still the same, huh? Cold and arrogant."
"No," Yuan corrected, his gaze darkening. "I've changed. And you? You're just someone from the past."
That hit a nerve.
For a moment, something flickered in Unice's eyes—hurt, maybe. But she wasn't the type to back down.
She stepped even closer, lowering her voice. "Yuan, we were—"
"Don't," Yuan cut her off, voice sharp as a blade. "Whatever you're about to say… don't."
Silence.
Even Shang, who had been watching from a distance, felt the weight of his words.
Unice exhaled slowly, her confidence still intact but her expression unreadable. "Fine," she finally said. "I'll let you pretend I don't matter."
Then, her gaze shifted—straight to Shang.
Shang froze.
"And you are…?" Unice asked, her tone dripping with curiosity and something else Shang couldn't quite place.
Before Shang could respond, Yuan took a step forward, blocking Unice's line of sight.
"She's none of your concern."
Unice raised an eyebrow, a slow smirk creeping back onto her lips. "Interesting."
The moment Unice turned away, Yuan's voice rang out—calm, steady, but loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.
"Shang is my girlfriend."
The entire hallway seemed to freeze. Gasps and whispers spread like wildfire.
"Wait… what did he just say?"
"Did Yuan just announce he has a new girlfriend?"
"And it's Shang? The transfer student?"
Shang's eyes widened in shock. She snapped her head toward Yuan, completely caught off guard.
"What—?" She barely managed to speak before Unice suddenly stopped in her tracks.
Slowly, Unice turned back, her expression unreadable. But her sharp eyes carried an unmistakable intensity.
"Your… new girlfriend?" she repeated, her voice laced with disbelief and something else—displeasure.
Yuan remained unfazed, slipping his hands into his pockets. "You heard me."
Shang's heart pounded in her chest. What the hell is he saying?!
She tugged on Yuan's sleeve, lowering her voice. "What do you think you're doing?"
Yuan glanced at her briefly, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "Saving you from unnecessary trouble," he murmured.
Shang didn't know whether to strangle him or run away.
Unice let out a soft, humorless chuckle, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "I see. So, you've moved on, huh?"
Yuan tilted his head. "Obviously."
Unice's gaze flickered to Shang once more, as if assessing her. A slow, amused smile formed on her lips.
"I wonder how long this will last," she mused before turning around again and walking away.
The second she was gone, Shang forcefully pulled Yuan aside.
"What the hell was that?!" she whisper-yelled. "Why would you say I'm your girlfriend?!"
Yuan simply shrugged, looking far too amused for someone who just created a scandal. "Like I said, I saved you the trouble. Unice can be… persistent."
"So your solution was to make me your fake girlfriend?!"
"I'd say it was a pretty effective plan." Yuan smirked. "Unless… you'd rather I take it back?"
Shang opened her mouth to argue, but the lingering stares of students made her pause. If Yuan suddenly retracted his statement, things might get even messier.
She groaned, rubbing her temples. "I hate you."
Yuan chuckled. "Don't worry, Princess. You'll get used to me."
But Shang had a bad feeling about this.
Because if Unice was really as persistent as Yuan said…
Chaos in the Classroom
The moment Shang stepped into the classroom, she felt it—the stares, the whispers, the energy in the air that told her something was wrong.
Dead wrong.
She barely had time to process when Elise rushed to her, gripping her shoulders like she had seen a ghost.
"WHAT. DID. YOU. DO?!" Elise whisper-screamed, shaking her slightly.
"I—"
"Tell me it's not true," Elise begged, eyes wide in disbelief. "Did Yuan really say you're his girlfriend?!"
Shang groaned, rubbing her forehead. "Technically, yes, but—"
"OH. MY. GOD." Elise dramatically clutched her chest, looking like she was about to faint. "Why didn't you tell me you were planning to seduce the most unattainable guy in school?!"
"I WASN'T PLANNING ANYTHING!" Shang whisper-yelled back, exasperated. "This is all a misunderstanding!"
But it was too late.
The entire classroom was buzzing with chaos.
"Did you hear? Yuan Wei announced that Shang is his girlfriend!"
"Since when?! How?!"
"Wait, didn't Unice just come back? Is this revenge?"
"Shang must be special if Yuan chose her after Unice!"
Shang felt her soul leave her body. She wanted to disappear into thin air.
And then—
"Tsk. What a joke."
The voice wasn't loud, but it carried enough weight to make the entire room fall silent.
Shang turned and met Shawn's piercing gaze. He was lounging at his seat, arms crossed, his signature smirk absent.
"So now you're playing pretend couples?" Shawn scoffed, raising an eyebrow. "Did Yuan run out of options or something?"
The insult stung, and Shang immediately narrowed her eyes.
"Excuse me?!"
Shawn leaned forward, resting his arms on his desk. His dark eyes gleamed with something dangerous—irritation.
"I just find it funny," he drawled. "One second, you're just some transfer student. Next second, you're suddenly Yuan Wei's girlfriend? How convenient."
The way he said it—like she was nothing but some random girl who lucked her way into this situation—annoyed her beyond reason.
"Believe what you want," Shang shot back, crossing her arms. "I don't owe you an explanation."
"Oh, please." Shawn chuckled, shaking his head. "You think I actually care?"
And yet, he was the only one who looked truly pissed.
Before Shang could fire back, the classroom door swung open.
And there stood Yuan Wei.
The classroom was already buzzing with tension when Yuan Wei walked in, his presence instantly demanding attention.
He was calm, composed—too composed. Like he knew exactly what he was about to do and how everyone would react.
He walked past Shawn, who was still leaning back in his chair, arms crossed, watching with an unreadable expression. Then, without hesitation, Yuan stopped in front of Shang.
The whole class fell silent.
Then, in a voice loud and clear, he said:
"For anyone still doubting it—yes. Shang is my girlfriend."
Boom.
It was like a bomb exploded in the room.
"WHAT?!" Elise nearly choked on air.
"Holy crap, it's true?!"
"Yuan Wei, the untouchable, is actually dating someone?!"
Shang felt her entire body freeze. What. The. Hell. Was. Happening?!
She whipped her head to Yuan, her voice coming out in a harsh whisper. "What are you doing?!"
Yuan, looking completely unbothered, turned to her with a smirk. "What do you think? Confirming the truth."
"TRUTH?!" she hissed. "I never agreed to this!"
"Did you disagree, though?" Yuan shot back, raising an eyebrow.
Shang opened her mouth—then closed it. Damn it. She hadn't technically denied it yet.
And just like that, the chaos continued.
"Oh my god, Unice just came back, and Yuan's already moved on?"
"This is insane! I thought Yuan didn't do relationships!"
"Poor Unice… she got replaced."
And then—
"Tsk. What a fcking joke."*
Shawn's voice cut through the noise like a blade.
Shang turned just in time to see Shawn standing up from his seat, his jaw clenched, eyes cold as ice.
"Boyfriend and girlfriend?" he repeated, letting out a humorless chuckle. "Seriously, Yuan? Since when do you play house?"
The energy in the room shifted.
Yuan tilted his head slightly, expression unreadable. "Since now."
Shawn let out a slow breath, shaking his head. "You really expect us to believe this?"
Yuan smirked. "Believe whatever you want." Then, without warning, he turned to Shang—and slung an arm around her shoulder.
The classroom erupted.
"What the hell—Yuan's actually showing PDA?!"
"Shang looks like she's about to faint!"
"Shawn looks like he's gonna kill someone."
And Shang?
She was about to explode.
She grabbed Yuan's wrist and yanked it off her shoulder.
"What the hell are you doing?!" she whisper-yelled, face burning.
Yuan simply smiled. "Making it official."
And in the midst of the chaos, Shang made the mistake of looking at Shawn.
His smirk was gone. His expression was tight. His fists were clenched at his sides.
And the way he was looking at her?
POV: Shawn – The First Time I Saw Shang
The first time I saw her, she was just a stranger walking down the hallway.
Or at least, that's what I thought.
She walked with certainty—like she knew she belonged here. But in her eyes, there was hesitation. It was as if she was searching for something, lost in her own thoughts.
Then, she slightly turned her head.
And that was when I really saw her.
For the first time, my world seemed to stop.
"Who is she?"
She wasn't just beautiful. She was mesmerizing—the kind of person you couldn't look away from even if you tried.
The kind that made everyone glance when she passed, even if she wasn't doing anything to stand out.
And the kind that… could make even me stop.
Me, who was never fazed.
Me, who never got caught up in things like this.
But why did it feel like something had just dropped inside me?
"Tsk." I quickly shook off the thought. No.
I didn't know her. She wasn't important.
But—
"Bro, isn't she the new transfer student?" one of my friends whispered while staring in her direction.
Transfer student?
And as if fate was playing tricks on me, she looked up again—this time, her gaze landed directly on mine.
Sh*t.
I didn't know if she noticed the split-second I stopped breathing. The moment where I forgot how to move.
But one thing was certain—
F*ck. This is dangerous.
So, I did the only thing I could to snap myself out of it.
I clicked my tongue, shook my head, and smirked.
"Looks like we have a new princess here."
Just loud enough for her to hear as she walked past me.
And that's when I saw it—her eyes rolling, the way she dropped her gaze in annoyance.
Then, she walked on, like I was nothing.
But for some reason, it felt… different.
I wanted to do it again. I wanted her attention again.
And suddenly, an irritating urge surfaced.
To tease her. To annoy her. To make sure she noticed me.
⸻
Flashback – Inside the Classroom
I couldn't stop myself.
When I saw her standing beside our teacher, I knew I had to say something.
The moment our teacher asked if we had any questions for her, I spoke up.
I made my voice casual. "Why did you transfer?"
She lifted her gaze toward me, clearly uninterested in answering.
But I wasn't about to stop.
"Maybe you did something bad at your old school, that's why you moved here?" I added, pushing her to respond.
A few chuckles echoed in the room.
But I wasn't finished.
"Or maybe… you have a sex scandal?" I threw in, adding a playful smirk.
Laughter erupted across the classroom.
I noticed the slight stiffness in her posture, the way her expression darkened.
But for some reason—even though I knew I was getting under her skin…
I just wanted her to notice me.
⸻
Flashback – In the Canteen
I didn't stop there.
While she was in line at the canteen, I found myself walking up to her.
"Princess, still talking about me?"
I knew she'd get annoyed. And I was right.
"Don't flatter yourself," she shot back, irritation clear in her tone.
And that only made me more amused.
I kept teasing her, making little comments about everything she did.
Then, when I saw her reaching out to pay for her tray, I moved faster—tapping my card before she could.
"Hey! I was going to pay for that!" she protested.
I shrugged. "Consider it a gift. A welcome gift."
She rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck.
But no matter what I did, I couldn't stop myself.
Damn it.
Why am I like this?
Why did it feel like I couldn't sit still unless I had her attention?
Why, even though I kept throwing insults and teasing remarks…
The truth was, I just couldn't admit how much I liked her?