SW - 24

Tang Yin pretended not to notice anything, her eyes wide with feigned curiosity.

Seeing her like this, Lu Chi felt a small sense of relief. He gave a slight shake of his head and, in the next moment, released her hand.

Autumn evenings fell dark earlier than usual.

The stack of study materials was heavy, but Tang Yin had tested it—Lu Chi carried them effortlessly, as if they weighed nothing at all.

After waiting for quite some time, the bus still hadn’t arrived. Perhaps the previous bus had already passed, and this one was delayed.

There weren’t many people around now. The traffic light ahead held cars at a stop, making their side of the road even darker.

Fortunately, not long after, the streetlights suddenly flickered on.

With the bus still nowhere in sight, Lu Chi frowned, scanned the area a few times, and finally spoke up. “Let’s... take a taxi.”

“Alright, I’ll follow your lead,” Tang Yin replied cheerfully.

Truthfully, she didn’t particularly enjoy riding buses—it was just an excuse to spend more time with him. Now that their outing had lasted long enough, it was time to leave.

Taxis didn’t stop here, so they had to walk forward.

Tang Yin trailed behind Lu Chi, holding the pink milk tea she’d bought earlier. Casually, she struck up a conversation. “Lu Chi-chi, do you think I’m pretty?”

“...”

Lu Chi thought that if only she would use a slightly more normal nickname, he might actually respond.

By the time they reached the four-way intersection, they happened to be standing right in the middle. After a car passed, leaving a small gap, Lu Chi took the first step forward. But when he turned back, he saw Tang Yin still staring at her milk tea.

He wasn’t slow to react. Quickly stepping back, he extended his free hand to grip her wrist and, taking advantage of the temporary lull in traffic, guided her across the road.

Tang Yin tended to feel cold year-round. Even during summer outings, while everyone else sweated profusely, her exposed skin remained cool to the touch.

She had rolled up her sleeves earlier, and when Lu Chi touched her wrist, he was startled by the stark contrast between her icy skin and his warmth.

Unaware of his thoughts, Tang Yin playfully intertwined her fingers with his and grinned. “I can’t believe our first hand-holding happened like this.”

“...”

Lu Chi had never encountered someone so shameless.

Seeing him struggle to speak, his frustration evident, Tang Yin burst into laughter. Her bright, melodious laughter rang out like wind chimes clinking together.

As she sipped her milk tea, she felt the sweetness seep into her heart.

On the other side of the road, there were more people. Coincidentally, there was an eyewear store nearby, brightly lit.

Perhaps fearing something might happen, Lu Chi hadn’t resisted much during their earlier interaction. It was only after reaching the opposite curb that he withdrew his hand, his expression as cold as ever.

Tang Yin tiptoed closer to peek at him, surprised to find his face completely devoid of emotion.

Startled by her sudden proximity, Lu Chi’s brows twitched slightly. After a moment’s hesitation, he gently pushed her away.

“What’s wrong?” Tang Yin complained.

“Don’t... get too close,” Lu Chi said slowly.

“You’re shy again,” Tang Yin pouted, retreating slightly, though disappointment lingered in her voice. “How can you resist me? I’m so beautiful.”

Lu Chi said nothing, simply gazing at her quietly.

In the end, Tang Yin broke the silence herself. “Alright, alright, I won’t come closer.”

She abruptly thrust the milk tea into his hands, huffed, and turned her back to him.

Caught off guard by her sudden action, Lu Chi hastily caught the drink, his eyes flashing with confusion as he wondered where things had gone wrong.

His lips pressed tightly together.

At that moment, an empty taxi suddenly appeared. Without hesitation, he raised his hand to hail it, murmuring softly, “The... cab is here.”

The taxi pulled over, coinciding with a red light.

Before Tang Yin could react, Lu Chi had already opened the rear door from behind, placing the study materials inside. He stood there, silently watching her.

Tang Yin stared at him for a few seconds before climbing into the car. Not seeing anyone else behind her, she asked in surprise, “Aren’t you getting in?”

Lu Chi shook his head.

To be precise, his home was in the opposite direction.

Tang Yin didn’t press him further. After Lu Chi closed the car door, the window happened to be down. Suddenly feeling playful again, she waved at him. “Bye-bye!”

Lu Chi nodded, standing motionless.

The driver, observing their reluctant farewell, sighed inwardly and reminded them, “We need to go—the light’s green.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Lu Chi stepped back.

The taxi began to move forward. Instinctively, Tang Yin turned to look back. This scene reminded her of the time she returned home during a holiday.

The difference was, this time, Lu Chi kept his gaze fixed on the departing car.

Only after Tang Yin was gone did Lu Chi remember—the pink milk tea was still in his hand.

He stared at the half-empty cup for a moment, his eyes shining like stars. In the end, he didn’t toss it into the nearby trash bin.

Just then, his phone vibrated.

TangTangTang: “Today was fun.”

An emoji followed, perfectly fitting Tang Yin’s style.

Lu Chi stared at the animated GIF on the screen, blinked, and after a pause, replied with a simple “Mm.” Then, he tucked his phone away and started walking back.

________________________________________

After the holiday, everyone’s focus shifted away from studying.

Senior three was naturally more intense than sophomore year. The schedule was packed with tight review sessions, followed by exams every other day, leaving the students restless. They used every method available to relieve stress.

If the school hadn’t been strict about electronic devices, things might have gotten even crazier.

Back in freshman year, the rules weren’t as stringent. One student who excelled in physics secretly brought a power strip into the dormitory, causing sparks to fly and prompting the school to cut electricity in the dorms, leaving only the water room operational.

Thus, even those who smuggled phones relied on portable chargers, using them sparingly.

Just before the end-of-month holiday, another test was administered.

The school always graded exams on the same day, returning results the next day. When Lin Ru, Class 14’s homeroom teacher, saw Tang Yin’s improved physics score—with fewer mistakes than usual—she nearly jumped for joy.

It had taken nearly three years, but finally, there was progress just in time for the final stretch.

Wait… Could it be that this exam was easier?

Lin Ru double-checked with the physics teacher, who confirmed that the difficulty was similar to the mid-term exam. Only then did she feel reassured.

It seemed that spending time with Lu Chi was indeed beneficial.

Lin Ru also taught English in the experimental class. Aside from managing their English grades, she devoted most of her attention to Class 14. Tang Yin’s physics performance had always been a source of worry, but now there was hope.

During her English evening study session, Lin Ru couldn’t help but call Lu Chi out.

Lowering her voice, she asked, “Lu Chi, have you been helping Tang Yin with her physics? She improved a bit on this exam.”

Tang Yin’s academic progress was good news for Lin Ru. Whether now or in the future, it was best if Tang Yin could secure the top spot in the college entrance exam—though that seemed unlikely at the moment.

Still, progress was progress, and any improvement was worth celebrating.

Lu Chi nodded, though with a hint of hesitation.

If giving her practice problems counted as helping...

Seeing him nod, Lin Ru felt even more reassured. “I know your grades are exceptional. Tang Yin owes this improvement to you. I’ve always been worried about her physics, but it’s finally getting better. Thank you.”

Lu Chi opened his mouth slightly, replying softly, “Teacher... you flatter me.”

Lin Ru smiled.

“There’s less than three months until the first mock exam. Both of you will be entering the advanced class. I hope you can continue to help each other.” She spoke for a while, then realized that Lu Chi likely didn’t need any help and shifted the topic. “Her personality is rather stubborn. If she does something, don’t take it to heart.”

Stubborn... yes, she was indeed stubborn.

Unconsciously, Lu Chi’s gaze drifted toward Class 14.

He was currently standing near the back door of the experimental class, just one or two steps away from the front door of Class 14. The windows were open, allowing him to glimpse a small part of the scene inside.

Tang Yin was dozing off, her cheek resting on her palm.

Perhaps she was deeply asleep, her chin bobbing slightly. Her tousled black hair fell across her face, contrasting sharply with her overly pale complexion.

“...I’m leaving Tang Yin in your hands.”

Lu Chi snapped out of his thoughts just in time to hear those words.

During this period, Werewolf had gained immense popularity in Class 14 due to its unique charm. Boys and girls gathered together to play, filling the room with all sorts of cries and laughter.

“Every time you guys vote me out! What’s going on? I’m clearly a villager!”

“Hahaha, I killed everyone!”

“When it comes to scheming, none of you can match me!”

After class, everyone gathered around the tables to play with cards, creating a lively atmosphere.

Su Kexi loved playing the most. Not only did she play in the classroom, but she also smuggled her phone into the dormitory, secretly enjoying the game late into the night.

On the way to class one afternoon, she said to Tang Yin, “Hahahaha, you wouldn’t believe it—there’s this guy from Guangdong, and his Mandarin is hilarious.”

Su Kexi mimicked his accent, pinching her throat to imitate his voice. “That little girl, are you sick? I’ve already said I’m a good villager... Little girl and Miss Girl, are you brain-dead? Brain-dead!”

“Is that really Guangdong?” Tang Yin asked skeptically.

“He says it himself,” Su Kexi covered her face, laughing. “I’ve been influenced by him to talk like that too.”

Bored, Tang Yin rested her chin on her hand. “Count me in.”

Yu Chun immediately responded, “Ine-sister wants to play? Come on, come on!”

With so many people, playing on phones became less fun. Fortunately, someone had brought a deck of cards, which they quickly pulled out to use instead.

A group of boys gathered around, including Su Kexi and Tang Yin, starting a new round. Everyone was determined to win.

Werewolf was a game of logic and discernment.

Tang Yin drew the role of the Seer. She rarely spoke and maintained her usual poker face, leaving everyone unsure whether she was telling the truth or lying.

“Why the hell doesn’t anyone believe me?” Yu Chun was the first to be voted out. “Ine-sister, you’re a villager, right?”

Tang Yin smiled faintly.

Su Kexi shuddered. “You’re freaking me out like this.”

After playing so many rounds, Su Kexi had encountered liars before, but Tang Yin remained unpredictable. Who knew what tricks she might pull?

Midway through the game, Tang Yin glanced outside and spotted Lu Chi walking past. It was her turn to speak, so she casually pointed at someone.

Before the person could respond, Tang Yin called out to the window, “Lu Chi.”

Lu Chi silently glanced at her, intending to keep walking.

Tang Yin reached out and slapped her card against the window, revealing it to him. “Do you know what my role is right now?”

“Hmm?”

Yu Chun sneakily peeked over. Wow, the Seer.

“It has a great ability,” Tang Yin tilted her head, her beautiful features coming alive. “It’s used to check people’s identities, and then...”

She dragged out the last syllable teasingly.

Finally, Lu Chi moved slightly, turning his body to look down at her. His sharp jawline stood out prominently as he waited to see what she would say next.

Tang Yin’s gaze lingered on his lips—they were thin, yet tinged with a soft pink.

Suddenly, she felt her throat go dry.

“You... tell me,” Lu Chi finally couldn’t resist speaking up.

Tang Yin snapped back to reality and smiled. Her lips parted, and her words came out clear and unhesitant.

“Of course—it verifies that you belong to me.”

The group sitting nearby, holding their cards, had already perked up their ears. Hearing her words, their gazes instantly focused on Lu Chi.

Another creative line today, huh?

Ever since the last time, they often saw Tang Yin teasing Lu Chi. No one knew exactly how far their relationship had progressed—no one dared to ask—but it was definitely not simple.

They’d heard plenty of these cheesy lines before and found them cringeworthy.

Everyone turned to look at Lu Chi, curious about his reaction, only to see him expressionlessly turn and walk away.

But Tang Yin burst into laughter.

His ears were red again today.