Chapter 8 – The Library Confession
It was a quiet afternoon, and the library felt especially serene, with sunlight filtering softly through the tall windows. Su Zaizai had claimed her usual spot near the back, spreading her books across the table as she tried to focus on the upcoming science project deadline.
She was so absorbed in her work that she didn't notice Zhang Lurang enter until he was already walking toward her. In his hands, he carried two steaming cups of tea, the aroma faint but comforting.
"For you," he said quietly, placing one cup in front of her without sitting down.
Zaizai blinked, surprised. "T-thank you… but how did you know I like tea?"
He shrugged slightly, his calm expression betraying nothing, though the corner of his lips curved ever so slightly. "You always bring tea with your snacks. It's obvious."
Zaizai felt a warmth in her chest, a mix of embarrassment and delight. She sipped the tea, savoring the taste and the unexpected attention.
They worked together for a while, the silence between them comfortable rather than awkward. Every now and then, Lurang would glance at her notes, offering a quiet suggestion or correction. Zaizai found herself admiring the way he observed everything so carefully, so deliberately, yet spoke so sparingly.
Finally, unable to hold back, Zaizai whispered, almost to herself, "You always know what I need… even when I don't say anything."
Lurang looked at her then, really looked at her, as if seeing her for the first time that day. "I notice," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Not everything, but… enough."
Zaizai's heart skipped a beat. His words were simple, but they carried weight. They were a confession of attention, of care, without saying "I like you" outright. It was quiet, understated, yet somehow more intimate than any declaration she had imagined.
The library bell rang, signaling the end of the period. They packed up their things, and as they stood side by side, Zaizai felt a strange reluctance for the moment to end.
"See you tomorrow?" she asked, almost shyly.
He nodded once, his dark eyes meeting hers. "Tomorrow."
As she left the library, Zaizai realized that the small, quiet moments with him were becoming the most meaningful parts of her day. Every glance, every gesture, every carefully chosen word was building something delicate — something that neither of them had yet named, but both could feel.
And for the first time, she felt certain: Zhang Lurang wasn't just a boy by the window anymore. He was slowly becoming… someone she couldn't ignore.
End of Chapter 8