Episode 3: The Mystery Novel

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 📚✨💬

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