FENG YU'S POV, NEXT MORNING
Feng Yu wakes at 6 AM.
His first real day at X University.
He showers, dresses carefully. Nothing too formal, just a clean white t-shirt and jeans. Approachable. Normal.
Zheng Yi is already awake when Feng Yu walks towards his bed by 7:30.
"Coffee?" Zheng Yi offers, holding up a thermos.
"Desperately."
They walk to the cafeteria together. It's early enough that only a few students are around: athletes getting breakfast before practice, early risers, and insomniacs finishing all-nighters.
"So," Zheng Yi says casually, "did you run into him yesterday?"
Feng Yu doesn't pretend not to know who he means. "The Dean assigned him to show me around."
Zheng Yi nearly spits out his coffee. "You're kidding."
"Nope."
"That's... wow. That's lucky."
"Yeah."
Feng Yu doesn't mention that he researched which days new students typically check in, which ones the Dean usually assigns tour guides, and the probability that Yishui, as a student council member, would be available.
Luck had very little to do with it.
"And?" Zheng Yi presses. "How was it?"
"Fine. He was nice. Showed me the buildings, gave me his number in case I had questions about classes."
"He gave you his number?"
"For class questions."
"Still. Day one and you've got his number. That's progress."
Feng Yu shrugs, but something warm settles in his chest.
Progress.
They eat breakfast, Feng Yu barely tastes it, and head to their first class. Business Management 101, 9 AM.
The lecture hall is massive, stadium seating, with at least two hundred students. Feng Yu scans the room.
Yishui's not here.
Of course not. He's a senior. Different classes.
Feng Yu takes a seat near the middle, pulls out his notebook. Focuses on the lecture.
Mostly.
LATER , CAFETERIA, 12:30 PM
Feng Yu enters the cafeteria with his lunch tray, scanning the room like he's looking for a place to sit.
He's not.
He's looking for someone.
There's a corner table by the windows. Three guys are laughing about something. Feng Yu recognizes two of them from Yishui's Instagram.
Chen Yi: shorter, energetic, always smiling in photos.
Kai Fang: elegant features, expensive clothes even in casual settings, foxlike eyes.
And Yishui. In a grey hoodie, looking more relaxed than yesterday.
Feng Yu calculates. He could walk over, use the "class questions" excuse to approach. But that might seem too eager. Too obvious.
Instead, he chooses a table within Yishui's line of sight. Not too close. Just... present.
He eats slowly, pulls out a textbook. Studies.
He can feel eyes on him occasionally. Wonders if it's Yishui or just his imagination.
After twenty minutes, his phone buzzes.
YISHUI: Hey, you in the cafeteria? Think I see you.
Feng Yu looks up, catches Yishui's eye across the room. Yishui waves.
Feng Yu waves back, then looks at his phone.
FENG YU: Yeah, just grabbing lunch between classes.
YISHUI: How's your first day?
FENG YU: Good. Overwhelming but good.
YISHUI: It gets easier. Come sit with us if you want. My friends won't bite.
Feng Yu's heart races. This is it.
But he hesitates. Types slowly, like he's considering.
FENG YU: Don't want to intrude...
YISHUI: You're not. Come on.
Feng Yu gathers his things. Walks over, keeping his expression shy, uncertain.
"Hey," Yishui says, gesturing to an empty chair. "This is Feng Yu. Freshman, Business Management. Feng Yu, this is Chen Yi and Kai Fang."
"Hey," Chen Yi says warmly. "Welcome to hell. Just kidding. Mostly."
Kai Fang nods, his sharp eyes assessing. "Nice to meet you."
"You too," Feng Yu says quietly, sitting down. He keeps his body language small, non, nonthreatening. The new kid is grateful for attention.
"So, Feng Yu," Chen Yi says, "how'd you end up at X University? It's pretty competitive."
"Scholarship. Got lucky."
"Lucky and smart," Yishui corrects. "He scored first in his province."
Chen Yi whistles. "Damn. Impressive."
Feng Yu shrugs. "Just studied hard."
"Where are you from?" Kai Fang asks. His tone is friendly but his eyes are sharp. Evaluating.
"Shijiazhuang. Small town."
"Family there?"
Feng Yu pauses, just briefly. "Yeah, my mom."
Something shifts in Yishui's expression. Sympathy.
"Well, you've got us too," Chen Yi says, breaking the tension. "Fair warning, Yishui here is a terrible influence. He'll convince you to skip class for basketball games."
"I've skipped class exactly twice," Yishui protests.
"This month," Kai Fang adds dryly.
They all laugh. Feng Yu joins in, lets himself relax into the conversation.
It's easier than expected. Chen Yi is friendly, keeps things light. Kai Fang is more reserved but not unfriendly. And Yishui...
Yishui keeps looking at him. Small glances, like he's trying to figure something out.
Feng Yu meets his eyes occasionally. Not too much. Just enough.
After thirty minutes, Yishui checks his phone. "Shit, I have Economics in ten minutes."
"We should go too," Kai Fang says, standing. "Chen Yi and I have that project meeting."
They gather their things. Feng Yu starts to stand as well.
"Hey, Feng Yu," Yishui says, "you doing anything Friday?"
"Um, no. Why?"
"There's a party. Off campus. Pretty low key. You should come."
"I don't really know anyone..."
"You know us now," Chen Yi interjects. "Come on, it'll be fun. Better than sitting in your dorm all weekend."
Feng Yu hesitates. Not too eager. "Okay. Yeah. That sounds good."
"Cool. I'll text you the address." Yishui grins. "See you then."
They leave, and Feng Yu sits back down, alone at the table.
His phone buzzes.
ZHENG YI: Saw you sitting with Su Yishui and his friends. HOW.
FENG YU: He invited me over.
ZHENG YI: It's been ONE DAY. How are you this good?
FENG YU: Good at what?
ZHENG YI: Don't play innocent. You know exactly what. You're scary sometimes.
Feng Yu doesn't respond. Just stares at the message.
Scary.
He's not scary. He's just... focused.
There's a difference.
He thinks there's a difference.
SU YISHUI'S POV, WALKING TO CLASS
"So," Kai Fang says as they walk, "Feng Yu seems nice."
"Yeah," Yishui agrees. "Quiet. Smart."
"Very convenient," Kai Fang continues casually, "that he showed up exactly when he did. Freshman, same major, needs guidance."
"What are you implying?"
"Nothing. Just observing." Kai Fang's voice is neutral. "He's pretty."
"I didn't notice."
"Liar."
Yishui shoves him. "Shut up."
But Kai Fang's right. Yishui did notice.
Large dark eyes, delicate features, small frame. The way he ducked his head when nervous. The slight smile when Yishui invited him to sit. Pretty.
And something else. Something Yishui can't quite name.
When Feng Yu looked at him, it felt like being seen. Really seen.
Not as Su Yishui, basketball captain and family heir.
Just as a person.
It was... nice.
Refreshing.
Yishui shakes his head. He's reading too much into it. The kid's just a lonely freshman grateful for friends.
That's all.
KAI FANG'S POV, SAME MOMENT
Kai Fang watches his friend carefully as they walk.
Yishui's distracted. Keep looking back toward the cafeteria.
Interesting.
Feng Yu is... something. Kai Fang hasn't decided what yet.
Polite. Smart. Appropriately shy.
Almost too appropriate.
Like he's playing a role.
Or maybe Kai Fang's being paranoid. The kid seems genuine enough.
But there's something in those big dark eyes. Something calculating hidden under the shyness.
Maybe.
Kai Fang files it away. Decides to watch.
Time will tell if Feng Yu is exactly what he seems.
Or something else entirely.