Ye Chen stared after Li Sitong's retreating figure, lost in thought.
Suddenly, inspiration struck.
"Damn—was that girl just about to confess to me, only to swallow the words at the last second?"
Recalling her flushed little face moments ago, the odds looked awfully high.
Ye Chen could already sense that Li Sitong's feelings toward him had shifted.
Though she hadn't spoken the words, he'd read her heart loud and clear.
The corner of Ye Chen's mouth curved; who'd have thought the ice-queen school flower would chase him one day?
In his past life they'd been close, yet nothing more than desk-mates.
Now the future National Goddess—currently the frosty campus belle—was pursuing him; the feeling was sublime.
"Li Sitong, when will you tell me how you feel?"
He could hardly wait.
Li Sitong hurried toward the Classroom.
It felt as if seven or eight rabbits were thumping inside her chest.
"Ugh, that guy Ye Chen actually touched my forehead!"
"No other boy has ever done that before!"
"Still… his hand felt so warm."
By now her heart was in complete turmoil.
"Ouch!"
Preoccupied, she never saw the person in front of her.
She slammed straight into someone coming the other way.
"S-sorry!" Li Sitong blurted, flustered.
"Si Tong, what's up? Walking without looking?" Yu Weiwei rubbed her bruised shoulder.
"Oh, it's you."
Li Sitong exhaled on seeing her best friend.
Better her than a stranger—how mortifying that would have been.
"Si Tong, why so rattled this early?" Yu Weiwei asked, curious.
She'd never seen Li Sitong lose her composure.
"I ran into Ye Chen at the school gate," Li Sitong whispered, cheeks aflame.
She recounted everything to Yu Weiwei.
"Si Tong, you're killing me! Such a perfect chance to confess and you missed it?"
"Words right there—why'd you chicken out?"
"You're hopeless."
Li Sitong bristled.
"Easy for you to say; I don't see you declaring to any guy either."
"You think confessing is that simple?"
Yu Weiwei retorted, "Who says? I just haven't met the one. When I do, I'll pin him down on the spot—or slip something into his drink. No speech needed."
With no crush of her own, Yu Weiwei could boast all she liked.
"Heh, I'll be waiting to see you 'pin down' Mr. Right," Li Sitong teased.
After all, they'd been classmates—and best friends—since middle school.
They knew each other inside out.
As they chatted, Yu Weiwei nudged her. "Your sweetheart's coming."
"Yu Weiwei, watch your mouth—what sweetheart?"
Still, Li Sitong glanced back, face scarlet.
Sure enough, Ye Chen was walking toward them, backpack slung over one shoulder.
The sight made her flush even deeper.
But the next instant she froze.
A girl from Class 3, cheeks rosy, handed Ye Chen a pink envelope.
"Crap, Si Tong—your rivals aren't just Xia Yingluo anymore!"
Yu Weiwei shook her arm excitedly.
The girl stood before Ye Chen, face burning.
"Ye Chen, I've liked you for ages. This is my very first love letter…"
Ye Chen stared at the letter, speechless.
He hadn't expected anyone to give him a confession note.
Just then he spotted two furtive figures among the onlookers.
None other than Li Sitong and Yu Weiwei.
Nervous about the rival, Li Sitong had sneaked over to eavesdrop.
In another corner Ye Chen noticed a third silhouette—Xia Yingluo.
A smile tugged at his lips. "Sorry, but I already like someone. Thanks for your kindness."
With that he strode past her into the Classroom without another glance.
"Aww, School Heartthrob Ye is taken!"
"Who's the lucky girl?"
The girl had braced for rejection, yet never imagined he'd admit so plainly that his heart was already claimed.
Secret admirers everywhere felt theirs shatter.
"My first love ended before it began."
"Alas, my youth is over!"
Yu Weiwei whispered, "Did you hear? He likes someone—it has to be you."
Li Sitong's cheeks pinked, uncertainty in her eyes.
"Is it really me? What if it's Xia Yingluo?"
"Li Sitong, you're Jiangzhou's top school flower—have some confidence!"
"You and Ye Chen have three solid years as desk-mates; how could Xia Yingluo compete with that foundation?"
Frustrated, Yu Weiwei watched her brilliant yet insecure friend.
Li Sitong truly excelled.
Looks, background, personality—pure goddess material.
Were Xia Yingluo absent, Li Sitong could bet Ye Chen meant her.
Yet Ye Chen and Xia Yingluo were undeniably close too.
Nearby, Xia Yingluo shared the same bewilderment.
"He already likes someone—could it be me?"
"No, it must be Li Sitong. How could I outshine the rich, perfect Li Sitong?"
The bell for class drew nearer.
Inside the Classroom the air grew heavy.
Every face wore a mix of nerves and anticipation.
The results of the second Mock Exam were about to drop.
Though not the final National Higher Education Entrance Examination, the score would likely foreshadow it.
Li Sitong gazed at Ye Chen, the upcoming exam the last thing on her mind.
"Is it me or Xia Yingluo?"
"I need to fish for clues."
She inhaled, nudged Ye Chen, and grinned mischievously. "I heard everything just now."
Ye Chen chuckled. "Heard what?"
He fought a smile; silly girl, did she really think he hadn't noticed her lurking?
He knew she wanted to find out whom he liked—
or whether that girl was her.
"A girl confessed to you a minute ago!"
"Mhm, I turned her down. We should focus on studying now."
Li Sitong pressed, "So who's the girl you like?"
At that moment even Xia Yingluo, pretending to read, pricked up her ears.