Gu Yue's Question
The door to the dormitory hallway clicked shut behind Wu Changkong's retreating form, leaving Xu Xiaoyan standing alone in the center of her new room. She took a slow, turning step, her shoes whispering against the polished floor. A single room. A real bed, not a bunk. A desk by the window overlooking a courtyard. It was more than she'd expected, and the sheer quiet space of it made her feel both privileged and intensely observed. 'Everything you have is thanks to Class Zero.' Wu Changkong's final words echoed, not as a gift, but as a weight.
A sound from the hall broke her reverie—voices, familiar and unfamiliar. Curious, she moved to her door, easing it open just enough to peer out.
Down the hall, two figures had paused outside their rooms. The boy was tall for his age, with a calm, anchored presence that seemed to quiet the air around him. The girl beside him was ethereal, silver hair cascading like a waterfall of moonlight, her beauty so striking it felt less about aesthetics and more about a different order of existence.
"...Come again during summer vacation, please." The girl's voice was cool, melodious, carrying a subtle undertone that was for the boy alone.
"Yes, I'd be delighted," the boy replied, his voice warmer, a soft smile touching his lips as he looked at her.
It was an intimate exchange, a bubble of shared history in the sterile hallway. Xu Xiaoyan's breath caught. These were to be her classmates. Steeling herself, she pushed her door open fully and stepped out.
The movement caught their attention. Both turned. The boy's expression shifted to one of polite, open curiosity. The girl's violet eyes swept over her, the initial glance so assessing and deep it felt like a physical scan before settling into a neutral, guarded stillness.
Gathering her courage, Xu Xiaoyan offered her brightest, most earnest smile. "My name is Xu Xiaoyan! We… we sort of met at the barbecue place before. I'm joining Class Zero from today. Please take care of me!" She gave a quick, slight bow.
Yao Xuan took a small step forward, his posture relaxed but attentive. "Hello, Xu Xiaoyan. I'm Yao Xuan, the class monitor." He gestured loosely beside him. "This is Gu Yue. Welcome to Class Zero. If you need anything to get settled, or have questions about how things work, feel free to ask. We're a small class; the sooner everyone gels, the better."
His tone was friendly, responsible—the tone of a leader. It was kind, and it made something in Xu Xiaoyan's chest flutter. Her cheeks warmed slightly. "I'll do my best, Class Monitor!" she said, her voice a touch more spirited.
"I am Gu Yue." The silver-haired girl's voice cut in, clear and deliberate. She did not step forward. Instead, she shifted her weight almost imperceptibly, her shoulder aligning more closely with Yao Xuan's. "And I am Yao Xuan's girlfriend. Welcome." The declaration was not loud, but it was absolute, laying a boundary as cleanly as a drawn line.
"Oh!" Xu Xiaoyan's eyes widened, her gaze darting between them. The envy that sparked in her eyes was genuine and uncomplicated—the kind a younger girl feels for a seemingly perfect pair. "Wow… that's, that's really amazing. You two look… really good together." The words tumbled out, a little awed.
Yao Xuan nodded, accepting the comment with a simple grace. "Thank you. Gu Yue is also the second strongest in our class. The others, Tang Wulin and Xie Xie, you might remember them. They should be here soon. We'll all do proper introductions then."
"Okay! I understand," Xu Xiaoyan replied, bobbing her head. "I should go unpack now. It was nice meeting you properly!"
"Of course. Settle in," Yao Xuan said with a final, reassuring nod.
As Xu Xiaoyan retreated into her room and closed the door, Yao Xuan turned toward his own. A hand closed gently, but firmly, around his wrist.
"Yao Xuan." Gu Yue's voice was low, a private thread of sound. "A moment."
He followed her without resistance into her room. The space was neat, carrying a faint, clean scent that was uniquely hers. She closed the door, and the hallway sounds vanished, leaving a sudden, pressurized quiet.
She didn't step away. Instead, she turned to face him, standing closer than usual. Her violet eyes searched his face, not with anger, but with a fierce, probing intensity. Her head tilted a fraction, silver hair brushing her shoulder.
"Yao Xuan," she began again, her voice barely above a whisper, yet every syllable precise. "Are you interested in that Xu Xiaoyan?"
The question hung in the air. It wasn't an accusation of betrayal, but something more complex: a strategic inquiry mixed with a raw, unfamiliar pulse of personal apprehension. It was Gu Yue analyzing a new variable in their environment, and the part of her that was Na're feeling a territorial ripple.
Yao Xuan met her gaze steadily. He saw the layers within it—the ancient dragon's wariness and the young girl's vulnerability. He didn't laugh it off or dismiss it. He reached out, not to pull her closer, but to gently lay his hand over the one she still had on his wrist, his thumb brushing lightly over her knuckles.
"Gu Yue," he said, his voice soft but firm. "No. She is a new classmate. She seems nervous, and she's in a trial period. As the class monitor, it's my role to be welcoming and helpful. That's all." He paused, holding her gaze, willing her to see the truth in his eyes. "My interest… is here."
The 'here' was not just the room. It was the space between them, the shared past in Aolai City, the silent walks by the lake, the intertwined destiny they carried. It was her.
Gu Yue held his gaze for a long, silent moment. The tension in her shoulders, which he hadn't even fully registered until now, slowly eased. The fierce intensity in her eyes softened into something more contemplative, more trusting. She gave a single, slow nod, her fingers under his unclenching slightly.
"Good," she murmured, the word a release of breath. The strategic assessment was satisfied. The personal fear was soothed. She did not apologize for asking. It was a necessary data point, confirmed.
She finally pulled her hand back, the ghost of his touch lingering on her skin. "You should go unpack as well," she said, her tone returning to its usual, cool practicality, but the edge was gone.
Yao Xuan smiled, a small, private thing. "I will. See you in class."
He left her room, the door clicking shut behind him. In the hallway, he paused, leaning back against the wall for a brief second. The encounter had been a reminder—their bond was profound, but it was not simple. It was a living thing, requiring attention, understanding, and the quiet reassurance of a touch. He wouldn't have it any other way.