Li Hanyan noticed Linjue before he noticed the noise.
That alone annoyed him.
Linjue wasn't loud. He wasn't trying to be. He just had that irritating ease—hands in his jacket pockets, smile lazy, like he belonged wherever he stood.
And right now, he was standing too close to XinYue.
Too close.
Li Hanyan watched from his seat as XinYue laughed—actually laughed, head tipping back slightly, eyes crinkling in that way she only did when she wasn't thinking about how she looked.
She didn't laugh like that with just anyone.
"What's he doing here?" Zhao Xia muttered beside him, arms crossed.
Li Hanyan didn't answer.
Because he was asking himself the same thing.
Linjue leaned down slightly to say something to XinYue, and she instinctively leaned in to hear him better. Their shoulders brushed.
That was it.
Something sharp twisted in Li Hanyan's chest.
Not anger.
Not fear.
Possession—without permission.
XinYue turned and noticed Li Hanyan watching.
For half a second, her expression shifted. Just a flicker. Like she'd been caught somewhere she didn't expect him to see.
Then Linjue followed her gaze.
Their eyes met.
Linjue smiled.
Not rude.
Not smug.
Just knowing.
Li Hanyan looked away first.
He hated that.
During lunch, Linjue sat across from XinYue like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"So," Linjue said, tapping the table lightly, "we're still pretending that whole scandal never happened?"
XinYue choked on her drink. "Pretending?"
Zhao Xia shot Linjue a glare. "Careful."
Linjue raised both hands. "Relax. I mean—people still think we're… you know."
He tilted his head, waiting.
XinYue sighed. "We're not."
"I know," Linjue said easily. "But they don't."
Li Hanyan's grip tightened around his chopsticks.
He didn't look up.
Didn't trust himself to.
"Well," Linjue continued, eyes flicking briefly toward Li Hanyan before returning to XinYue, "we could clear it up."
XinYue hesitated. "Or…?"
"Or we don't," Linjue said, smiling again. "Let them talk."
Silence stretched.
XinYue didn't say no.
That was worse.
After school, Linjue walked XinYue toward the gate.
Li Hanyan followed a few steps behind, telling himself he was just going the same way.
A lie.
Linjue stopped near the corner and turned to her. "You've changed."
XinYue blinked. "Changed?"
"Yeah," he said softly. "You look happier."
She didn't answer right away.
Li Hanyan slowed unconsciously.
"Maybe I am," XinYue said finally.
Linjue smiled like that answer mattered.
"Good," he said. "I'd hate to be the only one still stuck."
Li Hanyan stopped walking.
Something in that sentence landed too close.
XinYue waved goodbye and turned back—only to find Li Hanyan standing there, hands in his pockets, expression unreadable.
"Oh," she said. "You're… here."
"Yeah," he replied. "Same way."
They walked in silence for a bit.
Then, without looking at her, Li Hanyan said, "Are you… close with him?"
XinYue glanced at him, surprised.
"Linjue?" she asked. "Why?"
He swallowed. "Just asking."
She studied his profile. The tension in his jaw. The way his steps were slightly faster than usual.
"…We're friends," she said. "Why does it matter?"
He stopped walking.
She stopped too.
"It doesn't," he said quickly.
Then, quieter—almost to himself—
"It just looks like it does."
XinYue didn't tease him.
Didn't push.
She only said, "You don't usually notice things that don't matter."
And walked ahead.
Li Hanyan stayed where he was for a moment, staring at the space she'd left behind.
For the first time, the feeling was undeniable.
This wasn't friendship.
And Linjue wasn't just a rumor.
He was a problem.