The kitten-shaped lock hung neatly on the locker now, paired with hers in perfect symmetry.
Every morning, no matter how early or late Sophia arrived, Alexander's homework would already be waiting—meticulously solved, every step clear, his handwriting crisp and precise.
She had no idea where he even got the worksheets.
Even knowing this was just him repaying a debt, Sophia couldn't help but feel guilty.
Holding six sheets of future tycoon's original work in her hands, she squirmed in her seat, as if she'd accidentally upgraded from a one-day trial to a lifetime VIP membership.
Ms. Ding still summoned students to her office daily, but Sophia had escaped every time—thanks to Alexander.
Being his deskmate was the best decision she'd ever made.
All she'd given him were cheap trinkets.
What he gave her in return was time—hours of careful, handwritten solutions.
For days, Sophia marveled at how wrong she'd been about him.
Seventeen-year-old Alexander was far more approachable than she'd imagined.
Cold on the surface, yes.
But every promise he made, he kept.
Did that mean…
If she kept being nice to him, she could secure two whole years of homework assistance?
By the time math class ended, Sophia was already dreaming big.
Who knew what would happen in ten years?
After high school came university. By the time Alexander became the man she remembered, he might've long forgotten her.
If she couldn't rely on him as a future ally, was it so wrong to enjoy the perks now?
She rehearsed a speech of effusive praise in her head—but the opportunity never came.
Gym Class Escape
Thursday's last period was PE.
The sun hung low, not scorching but relentless, baking the track until the rubber burned through shoe soles.
Sophia dragged Mia to the equipment room, loaded a cart with volleyballs, and lingered in the air conditioning.
As one of two class sports commissioners, her job was attendance and equipment—a role tailor-made for privileged underachievers like her.
No real responsibility.
Just an excuse to slack off.
Mia, however, kept checking the clock. "We should go."
Outside, the basketball court buzzed with cheerleading practice.
A dozen girls in white pleated skirts bounced to peppy music, their centerpiece a slender, graceful figure—Huang Weiwei.
Every passing boy stole glances, cheeks flushing as they walked away.
"Huang Weiwei's so pretty," Mia murmured.
Then, hastily: "You're pretty too!"
Sophia laughed. "You didn't have to add that."
"No, really!" Mia insisted, ears reddening. "Those boys who tease you? They're definitely secretly in love with you."
"Please, that's even worse."
Mia clamped her mouth shut, realizing she'd been teased.
She did think Sophia was beautiful—softer before, brighter now.
The way Sophia carried herself had changed.
No more hunched shoulders.
No more oversized jackets.
Just a girl who moved through the world like she belonged in it.
The Glimpse
On the third floor of the administration building, the math Olympiad S-class was wrapping up a grueling mock test.
Two and a half hours.
Five minutes left.
Golden sunset spilled through the windows, painting the room in warm hues.
Not a single head lifted.
Not a single pen stopped.
Except one.
Lin Lang's gaze flicked to his deskmate—Alexander Sterling—who'd set down his pen ages ago.
Alexander wrote left-handed.
His script was awkward but efficient, skipping steps where possible.
To the untrained eye, it looked sloppy.
Lin Lang knew better.
This guy was a monster.
Anhui's provincial first-prize winner.
A genius who'd walked away from nationals.
And right now…
He was staring out the window.
Not at the sky.
Not at the trees.
But at something—or someone—on the field below.
Lin Lang followed his line of sight.
Cheerleaders.
Of course.
He smirked.
So the ice prince had a type.
Yet none as infuriatingly composed as Alexander Sterling.
A year in this pressure cooker had left Lin desperate for normal company.
Today, assigned to collect exams together, he'd hoped to bond.
But the moment the bell rang, Alexander had stacked the papers and left.
Lin chased him into the hall. "Wait up!"
Alexander sidestepped his shoulder bump. "This doesn't require two people."
"Try telling Coach Zhang that," Lin grumbled. "Where's the fire?"
"I have things to do."
Lin smirked. "Going to watch Huang Weiwei?"
Alexander blinked. "Who?"
"...Bullshit."
Lin stared. "The girl from the school promo videos? Center of the cheer squad?"
"Don't know her."
Lin listed more names—popular girls, pretty girls—but Alexander's expression never changed.
Near Coach Zhang's office, a plump white cat leapt onto an AC unit.
"Fine," Lin huffed. "I'll pretend you were watching the cat."
Alexander's steps slowed.
For a fleeting moment, he thought of another pair of round, luminous eyes.
"Close enough."
The Practice Room
Sophia Carter had settled into her new routine.
With Alexander's homework as her cheat sheet, even Ms. Ding's wrath couldn't touch her.
After school, she dragged Mia Harper to the music building—a gleaming Steinway waiting under red velvet.
Mia gasped. "Isn't this Lucas's—"
"This whole wing was my mom's donation," Sophia declared, sprawling on the sofa. "Play whatever you want."
Mia's eyes shone. "You're the best."
"Took you long enough."
They lasted forty-five minutes before gossip won over practice.
"They say Alexander's never in class," Mia whispered. "Just training for nationals."
Sophia shrugged. "He'll be back."
She remembered—vaguely—how he'd sat by the broken window in winter, breath fogging in the cold, never complaining.
"Girls sneak into the admin building just to see him," Mia added.
Sophia's chest swelled with inexplicable pride.
"Good taste," she said, eyes sparkling. "I told you he's handsome."