The first day after summer break was loud.

Students were catching up with friends, exchanging holiday stories, and complaining about homework they hadn't done.

Zi Xuan hated days like this.

He adjusted the strap of his bag and quietly walked into the classroom.

His goal was simple:

Find a seat. Stay invisible. Survive.

Unfortunately, fate had other plans.

The only empty seat was beside Zhao Ming.

Everyone knew who Zhao Ming was.

Third-year student.

Basketball captain.

Top of the academic rankings.

Popular enough that half the school seemed to know his schedule better than their own.

Zi Xuan considered turning around and leaving.

Instead, he sat down.

As he placed his books on the desk, Zhao Ming looked over.

"You're the transfer student?"

Zi Xuan nodded.

"Zi Xuan."

"Zhao Ming."

The conversation died immediately.

Zi Xuan silently celebrated.

The teacher entered a few minutes later.

Classes began.

Throughout the morning, Zi Xuan focused entirely on his notes.

At least, he tried to.

Every now and then he could feel Zhao Ming talking to classmates around him.

Laughing.

Answering questions.

Helping people.

It was exhausting just listening.

How did someone have that much social energy?

Lunch break arrived.

The classroom emptied within seconds.

Zi Xuan remained seated.

He preferred eating alone.

Less noise.

Less attention.

More peace.

He had just opened his lunchbox when a shadow fell across his desk.

"You're not going to the cafeteria?"

Zi Xuan looked up.

Zhao Ming.

"No."

"You always eat alone?"

"Usually."

"Oh."

To Zi Xuan's surprise, Zhao Ming sat down.

"Can I stay here?"

"You don't need my permission."

"Good answer."

Zi Xuan blinked.

What did that even mean?

For the next ten minutes, Zhao Ming talked while Zi Xuan mostly listened.

Somehow the silence never felt awkward.

After school ended, Zi Xuan was among the first to leave.

The walk home was peaceful.

Finally.

No crowds.

No conversations.

No Zhao Ming.

His phone vibrated.

A notification.

Unknown Number.

Zi Xuan frowned.

Who was texting him?

He opened the message.

Chat

Unknown Number: Is this Zi Xuan?

Zi Xuan: Who is this?

Unknown Number: Zhao Ming.

Zi Xuan: How did you get my number?

Zhao Ming: Class group.

Zi Xuan: Oh.

Zhao Ming: You always reply with one word?

Zi Xuan: Maybe.

Zhao Ming: This friendship is going to be difficult.

Zi Xuan: Friendship?

Zhao Ming: Too soon?

Zi Xuan: Very.

Zhao Ming: 😂

For some reason, Zi Xuan smiled.

Just a little.

A tiny smile that disappeared as quickly as it came.

A few minutes later another message arrived.

Zhao Ming: By the way.

Zi Xuan: ?

Zhao Ming: You're better at talking through text.

Zi Xuan: Am not.

Zhao Ming: That's the longest thing you've said all day.

Zi Xuan: ...

Zhao Ming: See?

Zi Xuan stared at his screen.

Was Zhao Ming always like this?

Zhao Ming: What are you doing?

Zi Xuan: Reading.

Zhao Ming: Novel?

Zi Xuan: Yes.

Zhao Ming: What kind?

Zi Xuan: Mystery.

Zhao Ming: Wait.

You read mystery novels too?

Zi Xuan: Too?

Zhao Ming: My shelf is literally full of them.

Zi Xuan: Really?

Zhao Ming: There it is.

Zi Xuan: What?

Zhao Ming: Two words.

Progress.

Zi Xuan rolled his eyes.

Yet somehow he kept replying.

The conversation continued for nearly an hour.

Mostly Zhao Ming talking.

Mostly Zi Xuan answering.

But unlike most conversations, it didn't feel tiring.

At 9:47 PM, another message appeared.

Zhao Ming: Random question.

Zi Xuan: What?

Zhao Ming: Were you nervous today?

Zi Xuan paused.

How had Zhao Ming noticed?

Zi Xuan: Maybe.

Zhao Ming: New schools are difficult.

Zi Xuan: You noticed?

Zhao Ming: Of course.

Zi Xuan: Why?

Zhao Ming: Because you looked like you wanted the floor to swallow you whole.

Zi Xuan laughed.

Actually laughed.

Alone in his room.

At a text message.

Zi Xuan: That's rude.

Zhao Ming: But accurate.

Zi Xuan: Maybe.

Zhao Ming: There you go again.

Zi Xuan: What?

Zhao Ming: Maybe.

It's your favorite word.

The conversation slowed after that.

Both had school the next day.

Eventually Zhao Ming sent one final message.

Zhao Ming: Good night, Zi Xuan.

Zi Xuan: Good night.

The chat ended.

The room became quiet again.

Zi Xuan set his phone aside.

Then picked it up again.

Then looked at the conversation.

For no reason at all.

Or maybe there was a reason.

He just didn't know it yet.

On the other side of the city, Zhao Ming was staring at the same chat.

A small smile appeared on his face.

The quiet transfer student was interesting.

Much more interesting than he had expected.

And neither of them knew it yet, but that single conversation was about to change the entire school year.

End of Episode 1 ✨

The next morning, Zi Xuan arrived at school earlier than usual.

Part of him blamed it on wanting a quiet classroom.

The other part refused to admit he was curious whether Zhao Ming would talk to him again.

When he entered the room, Zhao Ming was already there.

The senior sat casually at his desk, reading something on his phone.

The moment he noticed Zi Xuan, he waved.

"Morning."

Zi Xuan nodded.

"Morning."

"Wow."

Zi Xuan stopped.

"What?"

"Two words before first period. You're improving."

Zi Xuan regretted speaking immediately.

Classes passed slowly.

During math, Zhao Ming secretly passed him a small note.

Zi Xuan unfolded it under the desk.

Are you always this serious?

He stared at the paper.

Then wrote back.

Are you always this annoying?

A few minutes later, another note appeared.

Yes.

Zi Xuan had to bite his lip to stop himself from laughing.

Lunch break arrived.

The classroom instantly became noisy as students rushed outside.

Zi Xuan packed away his books and prepared to find a quiet corner somewhere.

Before he could stand, Zhao Ming appeared beside his desk.

"Come with me."

"No."

"You didn't even ask where."

"I don't need to."

Zhao Ming grinned.

"Fair."

Despite refusing, Zi Xuan somehow found himself walking toward the cafeteria beside Zhao Ming.

The cafeteria was crowded.

Students filled nearly every table.

Zi Xuan immediately considered turning around.

Too many people.

Too much noise.

Too many eyes.

Then Zhao Ming pointed toward a table near the window.

There was an empty chair.

Only one.

"Sit."

Zi Xuan frowned.

"You were saving that seat?"

"Maybe."

"For who?"

Zhao Ming looked at him.

Zi Xuan suddenly realized the answer.

"Oh."

"You're welcome."

For some reason, warmth spread through his chest.

It wasn't a big thing.

Just a chair.

A simple empty seat.

Yet nobody had ever specifically saved him a place before.

As they ate, several students walked by.

Most greeted Zhao Ming.

A few looked surprised to see Zi Xuan sitting with him.

One girl even whispered loudly to her friend.

"Since when are they friends?"

Zi Xuan pretended not to hear.

Unfortunately, Zhao Ming definitely heard.

"Ignore them."

"I'm trying."

"They gossip about everyone."

"Even you?"

"Especially me."

Zi Xuan glanced at him.

"You don't seem bothered."

Zhao Ming shrugged.

"I learned a long time ago that people will talk no matter what."

"That's easy for you to say."

"Why?"

"Everyone likes you."

For the first time, Zhao Ming looked genuinely surprised.

Then he laughed.

"That's definitely not true."

Before Zi Xuan could ask what he meant, the bell rang.

Lunch was over.

That evening, after finishing his homework, Zi Xuan's phone buzzed.

A familiar notification appeared.

Chat

Zhao Ming: Emergency.

Zi Xuan: ?

Zhao Ming: I need a book recommendation.

Zi Xuan: That's not an emergency.

Zhao Ming: It is to me.

Zi Xuan: Dramatic.

Zhao Ming: Accurate.

Zi Xuan: What kind?

Zhao Ming: Mystery.

Zi Xuan: Obviously.

Zhao Ming: See? You know me already.

Zi Xuan: Unfortunately.

Several seconds passed.

Then another message arrived.

Zhao Ming: Can I ask something?

Zi Xuan: Depends.

Zhao Ming: Why do you always eat alone?

Zi Xuan stared at the question.

Most people never asked.

They simply assumed.

Zi Xuan: I like quiet.

Zhao Ming: That's all?

Zi Xuan: Mostly.

Zhao Ming: Hmm.

Zi Xuan: What?

Zhao Ming: Nothing.

A minute later another message appeared.

Zhao Ming: You know, you don't have to sit alone if you don't want to.

Zi Xuan: I know.

Zhao Ming: Good.

Zi Xuan: Why?

Zhao Ming: Because I already saved tomorrow's lunch seat.

Zi Xuan froze.

Zi Xuan: You what?

Zhao Ming: Too late.

Already decided.

Zi Xuan: What if I don't come?

Zhao Ming: You will.

Zi Xuan: Confident.

Zhao Ming: Extremely.

For the first time in a long while, Zi Xuan found himself looking forward to tomorrow.

And that realization was far more dangerous than he wanted to admit.

End of Episode 2 ✨📱🍃

The next day, Zi Xuan spent the entire morning telling himself that he was not looking forward to lunch.

Absolutely not.

It was just lunch.

A normal lunch.

With a senior who talked too much.

That was all.

Yet when the lunch bell rang, he found himself glancing toward Zhao Ming's desk almost immediately.

Unfortunately, Zhao Ming noticed.

"Looking for someone?"

"No."

"You literally looked at me."

"I was looking at the clock."

"The clock is on the other wall."

Zi Xuan sighed.

"I regret becoming your friend."

Zhao Ming grinned.

"Too late now."

As promised, Zhao Ming had already saved a seat.

The same one near the cafeteria window.

The same one nobody else seemed allowed to take.

When they sat down, Zhao Ming placed a book on the table.

Zi Xuan's eyes widened.

It was one of his favorite mystery novels.

The Silent Witness.

A book he had reread three times.

"You've read this?" Zi Xuan asked.

Zhao Ming looked pleased.

"Of course."

"You actually like mystery novels."

"I told you I did."

"I thought you were lying."

"I'm hurt."

"You'll survive."

Zhao Ming laughed.

Then something unusual happened.

For nearly twenty minutes, they talked without Zhao Ming carrying the entire conversation.

They debated suspects.

Argued about plot twists.

Complained about endings they hated.

Discussed authors they loved.

For the first time since transferring schools, Zi Xuan completely forgot to be nervous.

"You know," Zhao Ming said, "you're very different when you talk about books."

Zi Xuan paused.

"What does that mean?"

"Usually I have to drag words out of you."

"And?"

"When it's books, you won't stop talking."

Zi Xuan immediately looked away.

Zhao Ming's smile widened.

"That embarrassed you."

"No."

"It absolutely did."

"No."

"It did."

"Eat your lunch."

The conversation ended there, but Zhao Ming couldn't stop smiling.

That afternoon, the literature teacher entered class carrying a stack of papers.

Everyone groaned.

Assignments.

Obviously.

"Since the semester has started," the teacher announced, "we will be doing a partner presentation."

The classroom became restless.

Nobody liked group projects.

The teacher continued.

"You will choose a book and present an analysis of its themes, characters, and message."

Several students immediately began choosing partners.

Zi Xuan prepared himself to work alone if necessary.

Then the teacher started assigning groups.

"Zhao Ming."

"Here."

"Zi Xuan."

"Here."

The teacher glanced at her list.

"You two will work together."

The classroom fell silent for a second.

Then whispers erupted.

"Of course they got paired."

"They're always together now."

"Didn't see that coming."

"Actually I did."

Zi Xuan wanted the floor to open beneath him.

Immediately.

Meanwhile, Zhao Ming looked completely relaxed.

"Looks like we're partners."

Zi Xuan stared.

"You seem happy."

"I am."

"Why?"

"Because you're the only person who'll actually read the whole book."

Against his will, Zi Xuan laughed.

After school, they decided to meet in the library.

The library was one of Zi Xuan's favorite places.

Quiet.

Organized.

Peaceful.

Unfortunately, Zhao Ming somehow made even a library feel lively.

"Okay," Zhao Ming said as he sat down across from him. "Choose a book."

"You're letting me choose?"

"You're the expert."

"I'm not."

"You definitely are."

Zi Xuan looked through several titles.

Then his hand stopped.

A familiar cover.

"What about this one?"

Zhao Ming leaned forward.

"The Midnight Puzzle?"

Zi Xuan nodded.

"It's good."

"I've never read it."

"Really?"

"Really."

Zi Xuan immediately stood.

"Then borrow it."

Zhao Ming blinked.

"That serious?"

"Yes."

For a moment Zhao Ming simply stared.

Then he smiled.

Not his usual teasing smile.

A softer one.

"Okay."

For some reason, Zi Xuan suddenly felt warm.

The study session lasted nearly two hours.

By the time they finished, the library was almost empty.

Outside, the sky had begun turning orange.

As they packed their things, Zhao Ming noticed a notebook sticking out of Zi Xuan's bag.

"What's that?"

Zi Xuan immediately grabbed it.

"Nothing."

That response only made Zhao Ming curious.

"Now I definitely want to know."

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Just one look."

"No."

Zhao Ming leaned back dramatically.

"You're cruel."

Zi Xuan rolled his eyes.

"It's just writing."

Zhao Ming froze.

"Writing?"

Instant regret.

Zi Xuan had revealed too much.

"You write stories?"

"No."

"You literally just admitted it."

Silence.

"Maybe."

Zhao Ming pointed at him.

"There it is again."

"What?"

"Maybe."

Zi Xuan groaned.

"I hate you."

"You don't."

To his horror, Zhao Ming was right.

At least, he didn't hate him.

Not even close.

That realization followed him all the way home.

Later that evening, his phone vibrated.

Chat

Zhao Ming: Important question.

Zi Xuan: What now?

Zhao Ming: How many books do you own?

Zi Xuan: Around seventy.

Zhao Ming: Seventy?!

Zi Xuan: Is that surprising?

Zhao Ming: Extremely.

Zi Xuan: Why?

Zhao Ming: Because my room only has thirty.

Zi Xuan: Only?

Zhao Ming: Don't judge me.

A few seconds later another message appeared.

Zhao Ming: Also.

Zi Xuan: ?

Zhao Ming: Thanks for helping with the project.

Zi Xuan: We barely started.

Zhao Ming: Still.

Zi Xuan: You're welcome.

For a moment the chat became quiet.

Then another message appeared.

Zhao Ming: You looked happy today.

Zi Xuan stared at the screen.

His heartbeat suddenly felt strange.

Zi Xuan: What?

Zhao Ming: In the cafeteria.

Talking about books.

I've never seen you smile that much.

The words sat on the screen.

Simple.

Harmless.

Yet they affected him far more than they should have.

Zi Xuan: You noticed?

Zhao Ming: Of course.

A pause.

Zhao Ming: I notice a lot of things about you.

Zi Xuan's fingers froze above the keyboard.

For several seconds, he didn't know what to say.

His heart was beating annoyingly fast.

Finally—

Zi Xuan: That's creepy.

Three dots appeared instantly.

Then—

Zhao Ming: 😂

There he is.

I was wondering when you'd insult me.

Despite himself, Zi Xuan smiled.

Again.

As the conversation continued into the night, neither realized how much things had already changed.

Three days ago, they had been strangers.

Now they were texting every evening.

Eating lunch together every day.

Working on projects together.

Sharing pieces of themselves that they rarely showed anyone else.

Neither of them called it special.

Not yet.

But somewhere between mystery novels, saved seats, and late-night messages, something had quietly begun.

Something neither of them fully understood.

Something that would only grow stronger with time.

End of Episode 3 📚✨💬