The classroom buzzed with a strange intensity as the college entrance exams drew closer. Teachers spoke faster, chalk scratching against blackboards like the ticking of time. Students huddled in groups, discussing formulas, derivations, and trick questions from past papers. But in her usual spot by the window, Lian Yue remained still, a pillar of calm amid the storm.
She had always been the topper. Her rank wasn't something she chased—it followed her naturally, as if her mind instinctively reached out to understand the world. Now, with the final exams approaching, she was even more focused. No distractions. No entanglements.
Not anymore.
She turned a page in her physics revision guide and started scribbling solutions, each number a step away from the shadows of the past. Her handwriting was neat, almost beautiful—her clarity of thought reflected on paper. Outside the window, wind swayed the branches, and she let herself breathe for a moment, in the quiet between equations.
"Hey… Lian Yue?"
The voice startled her only a little. She looked up to see Chen Yuze, the second ranker in class. Tall, with a slightly too-long fringe and nervous fingers gripping the strap of his backpack. He held a notebook in his hand, its pages filled with scribbles and highlighted lines.
"Oh," she said softly, not unkindly.
He hesitated, shifting his weight. "Uh… I didn't want to interrupt, but—could I ask you something about the magnetic field derivation?"
She gestured to the empty seat beside her. "Sure."
Chen Yuze sat quickly, flipping to a specific page. But as he placed the notebook between them, it was clear he wasn't even sure what his question was.
She scanned it anyway, pointing to the part he'd circled. "This part isn't wrong, but you've missed the sign convention here. That's why your result looks off."
"Oh… right. Of course." He scratched the back of his neck, clearly flustered. "Thanks."
She nodded and went back to her own book, making it clear the conversation was over. But Chen Yuze lingered.
"I… I know you probably get this a lot, but—your notes are amazing," he said, trying to sound casual. "Your handwriting looks like it belongs in a textbook."
She smiled, just a little. "Thanks."
There was an awkward silence. He tapped his pencil lightly on the desk.
"You've always been so focused," he said finally. "I mean, I study hard too, but you… it's like you see the world in numbers. It's kind of cool."
Lian Yue looked up again, brows raised in mild amusement. "I just don't like leaving things unfinished."
He chuckled. "Wish I had that kind of discipline."
Then, quieter, he added, "You're always alone these days."
She paused for a moment. That was true. And not because she didn't have friends—Ruan Meng still dragged her to lunch when she could. But Lian Yue had learned to protect her peace. Some kinds of silence were healing.
"I like the quiet," she said.
"I do too," Chen Yuze replied, though his tone held something else—hope, maybe. "Sometimes it's easier to think when you're sitting next to someone who doesn't make you feel like you have to talk."
She didn't respond immediately. She understood what he was trying to say, but she also knew he wasn't just here for physics.
"I appreciate the quiet," she said softly, "but I'm not looking to let anyone in right now."
It wasn't cruel, just honest.
Chen Yuze flushed slightly. "Right. Of course. I didn't mean—"
"I know," she interrupted gently. "And I didn't mean to assume anything. Just... I want to focus on myself right now."
He nodded quickly, eyes dropping to his book. "Got it."
Another silence passed, this one more peaceful. She reached for her pen again, turning the page. After a moment, he did the same.
They worked side by side for another fifteen minutes, no words exchanged, the scratch of pens against paper the only sound. And true to his earlier words, he didn't try to speak again—perhaps realizing that the presence itself was enough.
When he finally stood to leave, he hesitated again.
"Thanks, Lian Yue," he said, quieter now. "Not just for the derivation. But… for letting me sit here."
She looked up once more, and this time her smile was warmer.
"You're welcome, Chen Yuze."
He walked away with a little more lightness in his steps.
And Lian Yue? She went back to her notes, her mind sharp and steady. The ache in her chest had dulled over time, softened by effort and choice. She didn't know what the future held—only that for now, she was enough for herself.
Outside, the wind still stirred the leaves. But inside the room, where equations met silence and understanding, she felt something close to peace.