The bell rang.
The class stood, chairs scraping, chatter erupting instantly. Students rushed out for lunch, excited to escape the monotony of maps and mountains.
Shen Hao moved slowly, unsure if he should leave first or let her go ahead. He didn't know why he was hesitating. He'd fought monsters the size of buildings, and now he was scared to talk to a classmate?
Pathetic.
Just as he turned, her voice hit him — warm, light, and oddly cheerful.
"You're Shen Hao, right?"
He froze, turned, and there she was — standing next to his desk, holding her lunch tray with a grin.
Her voice was sweet, maybe a little too loud for how close she was, but full of energy. There was something magnetic about it.
"I'm Luna. Wanna sit together?"
Shen Hao blinked. "Uh… sure?"
Inside his head:
Lingfeng: "WOOOOOOOOO! LUNCH DATE!! MASTER'S COOKIN' NOW!"
Elder Golem: "First verbal exchange successful. Logging interaction."
Mo Han: "...Hmph."
They found a spot in the courtyard, under a tall fig tree where a few tables sat unoccupied. Most students had clustered indoors or around the far benches.
No one joined them.
No one even looked at Luna.
And that was strange — she was glowing. Her energy, her expression, her liveliness — it stood out. Shen Hao couldn't figure out why the other students were acting like she didn't exist.
He finally asked.
"Do you… usually eat alone?"
She shrugged and smiled again.
"Pretty much. It's fine though. People say I talk too much, or I'm too loud. I'm always smiling, and I guess that bothers some people."
She laughed softly, like it really didn't hurt — but Shen Hao saw through it.
Something was off.
"You ever wonder why people avoid people who are happy?" she asked, looking up at the fig tree.
Shen Hao didn't answer right away.
Inside his head, the golems went oddly quiet.
Then one of them said softly, "Pain recognizes pain."
Lingfeng sighed. "This girl's got layers."
Mo Han, for once, said nothing.
Shen Hao broke the silence with the only answer he knew.
"Some people hate light. It reminds them they're sitting in the dark."
Luna looked at him, surprised.
Then she smiled wider — genuinely this time.
"You're different."
Shen Hao scratched his neck, suddenly awkward. "I guess."
They ate together under the fig tree, the rest of the school fading into the background. Shen Hao, despite being drained from battle and burdened with ancient secrets, felt strangely calm here.
Luna talked. A lot. About teachers. About the cafeteria food. About how pigeons always attacked her lunch.
"Like, yesterday? One literally stole my sandwich and flew off with it. Just lifted it clean off my tray. I didn't even get mad. I just… watched it go."
Shen Hao chuckled for real.
"You're weird."
"Yup," she replied proudly. "That's why they call me Loony Luna."
He frowned. "That's dumb."
She blinked. "What is?"
"The nickname. You're not loony. You're… just honest."
She paused.
No jokes. No snappy comebacks.
Just a quiet, grateful look.
"Thanks," she said, quieter than usual.
Shen Hao glanced up at the school clock tower. Only ten minutes left of lunch break.
Inside his ring, the elder golem's voice returned.
"Master, her energy is vibrant, but there is something fractured within her soul pattern. It is not illness. Not injury. But… disconnection."
"Disconnection?" Shen Hao asked mentally.
"Yes. She walks among others but is not 'seen.' Not truly. Her presence does not anchor in their minds. It's as if… their spiritual threads skip over her."
"A curse?"
"No," the elder replied. "A rare condition of Qi misalignment at birth. Her energy hums at a frequency most mortals subconsciously reject. It makes people uncomfortable. Not by choice — by nature."
Shen Hao watched Luna laugh about her pigeon war.
And understood.
The bell rang. Lunch ended. They walked back to class.
No one bumped into Luna.
No one spoke to her.
No one even looked at her.
It was like she was invisible.
Except to Shen Hao.
Inside his mind, Lingfeng whispered: "She's like you, Master. Too different for the world she's in."
Shen Hao nodded slowly.
"I think I just found someone real."
They returned to their seats. The teacher hadn't arrived yet. A quiet buzz filled the room.
That's when it happened.
The classroom door slid open again, and a tall student walked in casually — black backpack slung lazily over one shoulder.
His uniform was neat but not rigid, and he wore a single white earbud in one ear.
He scanned the class, locked eyes on Shen Hao, and grinned.
"You're Shen Hao, right?" he said in fluent Chinese.
Shen Hao blinked.
"Yeah?"
The boy walked right up and stuck out his hand.
"Name's Wei Zixin. From Jìngyun. Didn't expect another Chinese student here. Mind if I join you?"
Shen Hao shook Wei's hand, surprised by the confident grip.
Wei smiled. "I saw your name on the list this morning. Had to come over. We're probably the only two Chinese kids in this entire district."
He slid into the empty seat in front of Shen Hao and spun around, leaning on the backrest like they'd been friends for years.
"I've only been here two months. My family owns… a lot. As in, one of the top ten fortunes in the world."
Shen Hao raised an eyebrow. "So you're rich-rich?"
Wei smirked. "Approaching-a-trillion kind of rich. You know how it is."
Shen Hao stared blankly.
Wei added with a lazy grin, "Yeah. I've got like three black cards, a private AI assistant, two space startup shares, and a jet I keep forgetting exists. But don't worry — I only use two of the cards."
Inside Shen Hao's mind:
Lingfeng: "BRO. WHAT. RICH AND COOL?! HE'S LIKE A MODERN CULTIVATOR!"
Younger Golem: "His Qi is minimal, but his worldly resources are beyond comprehension."
Elder Golem: "A mortal with nearly divine economic power. Fascinating."
Mo Han: "Usefulness confirmed."
Wei leaned closer. "You've got that same vibe, you know? Not just Chinese — there's something... intense about you. What's your deal?"
Shen Hao gave a small shrug. "Nothing much."
Wei slapped the desk. "That's the most suspicious answer I've ever heard."
As they chatted, Luna looked over from her seat. Wei finally noticed her.
"Oh, hey. Didn't see you there."
Luna smiled. "No one ever does."
Wei blinked, clearly embarrassed. "Wait—no—I didn't mean—uh…"
"It's okay," she said brightly. "I'm invisible. Special talent."
"She's not," Shen Hao said firmly. "People just can't handle honesty."
Wei gave a sheepish grin. "That's deep."
"She's deep," Shen Hao replied.
Luna blinked once… then smiled — and turned away with a soft blush.
The class resumed. Teachers came and went. Wei cracked jokes quietly while Shen Hao did his best to focus. But something about the day felt… lighter.
For the first time in years, Shen Hao didn't feel like a foreign object. He wasn't drifting alone.
He had people now.
Not a sect. Not fellow cultivators. Not guardians.
Just… people.
The final bell rang.
The trio stepped out into the sunlight together. Most students streamed past without a glance — though a few side-eyed Wei curiously, and even fewer looked at Shen Hao with quiet respect.
None noticed Luna.
Wei stretched like a cat and yawned.
"You two heading home?"
"Yeah," Shen Hao said.
"I usually go to the park," Luna added. "It's quiet."
"Nice. I'll catch you both tomorrow then."
He gave a relaxed wave and started walking toward the street, whistling and unlocking his phone with a blink of his eye.
Luna turned to Shen Hao.
"He's different."
Shen Hao nodded. "I like him."
"Me too."
She smiled, watching the clouds shift above the trees.
Then she glanced at Shen Hao, playful spark returning to her eyes.
"So… you're the kind of guy who attracts weirdos, huh?"
Shen Hao stared ahead, lips calm.
"Maybe I'm the weirdo."