Late-day sunlight, honestly, it has this way of making everything softer. The glow poured in through the classroom windows, sort of painting the old desks gold and making dust swirl around like it was in on some secret. You could still catch those echoes of the basketball game—balls bouncing, someone cheering, distant groans—hanging out somewhere above the hallway lockers, stubbornly refusing to fade. It almost felt like the school itself wouldn't let go of Li Wei's ridiculous speed and whatever supernatural thing had gotten into him yesterday. No wonder everyone kept sneaking glances, whispering to their friends, sharing rumors like they were trading cards.
Li Wei took his time heading toward the lockers, feeling for the little pendant he wore under his shirt. Honestly, that thing never really stopped pulsing with heat these days; it was weird, like the universe kept poking him, saying, "Hey, pay attention, kid." Still, it was comforting as much as it was mysterious. Zhang Jie kept pace, shoulders hunched, nervously pretending he wasn't about to lose his mind from excitement. Nothing subtle about him.
"Man, you left everyone speechless yesterday," Zhang Jie blurted, shaking his head, eyes still a little wide. He tried for casual, but the grin gave him away. "Even the teachers were stunned—you know, the strict ones who never crack a smile? Chen Guang's reputation… bruh, toast." That did get a chuckle out of Li Wei, or at least a lopsided smirk. Kid had never been great at hiding his reactions.
His gaze slid almost on autopilot to Lin Xinya—she was right there, hanging back like she knew he'd show up, face glowing in the sun. The moment their eyes met, something easy and electric passed between them, like one of those inside jokes you don't have to say out loud. She walked over, quieter than a whisper in a storm, and it was like the hallway noise got hit with a mute button.
She smiled, all shy and genuine, and said, "Congrats." Just that, really soft. Like she knew how to make a word count. "You were… amazing yesterday. I've never seen moves like that, ever." There was this pause where she smiled again, and you could tell she was searching for the right way to explain how wild it all seemed. "It was really impressive," she finished.
Now Li Wei, this kid who could face down Chen Guang, was out here feeling like his heart might explode. He swallowed, finding it weirdly hard to look her straight in the eye. He managed, "Thanks… Xinya. That actually… means a lot." And that right there was him, laid bare—vulnerable in the best possible way.
She looked away just for a second, fiddling with her sleeve. Her voice got quieter, a bit worried. "I'm just glad you're okay, after everything with Chen Guang." The way she said it, you could tell she'd gone home thinking about him. No one pretends to care like that, you know?
Right there, in the swirl of commotion and half-whispered rumors, Li Wei found this tiny, stubborn hope starting to bloom in his chest. Maybe things with Lin Xinya could be—what's the word—real. Like, more than just passing notes or sitting in the same classroom. Something that belonged just to them. Even though the world outside was wild and noisy, just standing together made it all feel quieter.
Of course, the universe always balances things out. Chen Guang, leaning against the wall with his usual backup crew, shot daggers with his eyes. If a look could kill—or at least start a fistfight—that would do it. You didn't have to hear what he mumbled to know it wasn't exactly "have a nice day." Guy was burning up with jealousy, fingers itching for payback—both the obvious and the kind that stings deeper.
Zhang Jie, always the sidekick, gave Li Wei a hearty nudge. "Bro, look at him. Chen Guang's gonna pop a vein at this rate." He grinned like he won the lottery.
Li Wei felt his own confidence kick in, but he kept it cool. "Let him stew. Not like I gotta say anything for him to start boiling—he's doing fine on his own." You could almost say they were a little bit proud of how Chen Guang was unraveling.
Lin Xinya didn't budge either, hanging around and seeming more certain by the second. She hesitated, but you could tell she'd already made up her mind. "Um… wanna walk with me? To the library?" she asked. Her voice was soft, but she looked right at him—bold, in her own way. "We could, you know… study, or maybe just talk."
Now, if Li Wei thought he'd survived facing Chen Guang, he wasn't prepared for how this simple question made his nerves flutter. Terrifying and amazing, all at once. "Yeah. I'd like that," he said, probably faster than he meant to, and then had to laugh at himself for being so eager.
Their walk to the library wasn't packed with conversation—sometimes quiet says more. Every step felt more important than it should, the kind of silence that lets your heart make a little extra noise. He could feel the pendant under his shirt—like it was tuned into the moment, gently throbbing, like the universe giving two thumbs up.
Lin Xinya finally broke the silence, glancing at him sideways. "About yesterday… You seemed so calm. Even when Chen Guang was all up in your face. How'd you do that, anyway?" She looked genuinely curious, not just impressed. Like she was hoping for a real answer, not just some cool-sounding line.
Li Wei shrugged, sticking to his cover story. Hard to say "oh, I have a weird magic thing under my shirt" and not sound insane. "Mostly just… tried not to freak out, I guess. Went with my gut. Probably just luck." He figured she wouldn't buy it, but what else could he say?
She narrowed her eyes in this playful way, a tiny grin showing she wasn't convinced. "Luck, huh? Or maybe you're just… kind of extraordinary." The way she said it, it was half-joking, half-dead serious. That's the kind of thing that sticks with a person, believe me.
They just looked at each other, comfortable in the hush. One of those rare times you don't need to fill the air with words because there's already too much floating between you.
He finally stammered, "Xinya… thanks. For caring. Really." It was all he could manage, but it felt like enough.
She ducked her head, blushing, but the look on her face was so open and honest it made him feel brave and exposed all at once. "I just want you safe, Li Wei. I never realized how brave you were until now." Her voice was quiet, but it hit deep.
The library loomed ahead, its glass doors catching the sun, turning it reddish-gold. They stepped inside and that unmistakable smell of books, paper, memories—kind of soothing, kind of overwhelming—wrapped around them. The hush in there felt sacred. And the pendant, yeah, it still kept quietly pulsing, like it knew this was just the beginning.
For maybe the first time, Li Wei didn't try to kill the hope in his chest. He just let himself believe that maybe, just maybe, something special was about to start. And honestly? That felt pretty great.