Episode 5: The Confession He Wasn't Supposed to See

The lunch bell rang, filling the hallways with noise as students poured out of their classrooms.

Zi Xuan stretched his arms and packed away his books.

The morning had been exhausting.

Ever since Zhao Ming had appeared at his classroom door, everyone seemed determined to make his life difficult.

"How do you know him?"

"Are you two close?"

"Does he have a girlfriend?"

The questions never stopped.

Even now, as he walked toward the cafeteria, his friend continued pestering him.

"Just tell me one thing."

"No."

"One tiny thing."

"No."

"Do you like him?"

Zi Xuan nearly choked on air.

His friend burst out laughing.

"That reaction says everything."

"It says you're annoying."

"Sure."

Before the conversation could continue, Zi Xuan spotted an empty table near the window.

"Food first."

His friend finally surrendered.

"For now."

After lunch, Zi Xuan decided to spend the remaining break in the library.

The quiet atmosphere was exactly what he needed.

As he walked through the campus garden, a cool breeze brushed against his face.

The weather was perfect.

For once, everything felt peaceful.

Then he heard a voice.

"Senior Zhao Ming."

Zi Xuan paused.

The voice came from behind a row of flowering trees.

Without meaning to, he recognized the name immediately.

Zhao Ming.

A strange curiosity made him glance over.

A girl stood a few feet away from Zhao Ming.

She looked nervous.

Her hands were clasped tightly together.

Several students nearby were pretending not to watch.

But everyone knew what was happening.

A confession.

Zi Xuan immediately looked away.

He shouldn't be here.

This was private.

Very private.

He turned to leave.

Then he heard the girl speak.

"I've liked you for a long time."

His footsteps stopped.

Not because he wanted to listen.

Just because the words felt unexpectedly heavy.

The girl continued.

"Ever since last year."

Her voice trembled.

"I know you probably don't feel the same way, but I wanted to tell you."

The garden became quiet.

Even the students pretending not to watch seemed frozen.

Everyone waited for Zhao Ming's response.

Zi Xuan told himself to keep walking.

Instead, he stayed exactly where he was.

A few seconds passed.

Then Zhao Ming spoke.

His voice was calm.

Gentle.

"I'm sorry."

The answer was immediate.

No hesitation.

No uncertainty.

The girl's shoulders fell.

Yet Zhao Ming continued.

"You're a wonderful person."

"But I don't want to give you false hope."

A few students whispered nearby.

The girl forced a smile.

"I understand."

Even though she was smiling, Zi Xuan could tell she was hurt.

Anyone would be.

Confessing wasn't easy.

Being rejected was even harder.

After a moment, she bowed slightly.

"Thank you for being honest."

Then she walked away.

The crowd gradually dispersed.

The moment was over.

Zi Xuan finally exhaled.

For some reason, he felt relieved.

The realization startled him.

Relieved?

Why?

The rejection had nothing to do with him.

Absolutely nothing.

Yet the feeling remained.

And that bothered him.

A lot.

"Enjoying the show?"

Zi Xuan froze.

He looked up.

Zhao Ming was staring directly at him.

Caught.

Completely caught.

"I wasn't spying."

"You were standing there."

"I was leaving."

"You didn't leave."

Zi Xuan opened his mouth.

Then closed it again.

Unfortunately, Zhao Ming looked far too amused.

"I really wasn't spying."

"Sure."

"I wasn't."

"Then why are you still red?"

"I'm not red."

"You are."

Zi Xuan turned away immediately.

Which only made Zhao Ming laugh.

The sound surprised him.

Usually Zhao Ming seemed calm and composed.

Hearing him laugh felt different.

Warmer.

More genuine.

"Why are you here?" Zhao Ming asked.

"Library."

"You're going the wrong direction."

Zi Xuan blinked.

Then looked around.

To his horror, Zhao Ming was right.

Somehow he'd ended up walking toward the sports field instead.

"..."

Zhao Ming raised an eyebrow.

Zi Xuan wanted the ground to open beneath him.

"This never happened."

"It definitely happened."

"Forget it."

"I don't think I will."

The smile in Zhao Ming's eyes made Zi Xuan look away again.

His heart was acting strangely today.

Far too strangely.

For the next few minutes they walked together.

Neither seemed eager to leave.

The conversation drifted naturally.

Classes.

Teachers.

Homework.

Nothing important.

Yet somehow every second felt important.

As they reached the library entrance, Zhao Ming stopped.

"So."

"So?"

"You looked disappointed."

Zi Xuan frowned.

"About what?"

"The confession."

His heartbeat skipped.

"What?"

Zhao Ming's gaze remained steady.

"Before."

"In the garden."

"You looked disappointed."

"I did not."

"You did."

Zi Xuan stared at him.

Then laughed nervously.

"Why would I be disappointed?"

"That's what I'm asking."

The question hung between them.

Dangerous.

Uncomfortable.

Impossible.

Zi Xuan didn't know how to answer.

Because he wasn't sure himself.

Thankfully, a group of students entered the library, interrupting the moment.

The tension disappeared instantly.

Both stepped aside.

Saved.

Or maybe not.

Because just before Zhao Ming left, he said something that made Zi Xuan's entire world stop.

"Good."

Zi Xuan blinked.

"Good?"

Zhao Ming nodded.

A small smile appeared on his face.

The kind of smile that almost never appeared.

The kind reserved for very specific people.

Then he said quietly—

"Because I wasn't interested in her."

Zi Xuan's chest tightened.

His pulse quickened.

Something about the way Zhao Ming said it felt intentional.

Like there was a meaning hidden beneath the words.

Like he wanted Zi Xuan to understand something.

Before Zi Xuan could respond, Zhao Ming stepped backward.

"I'll see you later."

Then he walked away.

Leaving Zi Xuan standing alone outside the library.

Confused.

Flustered.

And unable to stop replaying that sentence in his mind.

"I wasn't interested in her."

Why had Zhao Ming felt the need to tell him that?

Why did it matter?

And why couldn't Zi Xuan stop smiling?

What neither of them noticed was the student standing on the second-floor balcony.

Watching everything.

Watching Zhao Ming.

Watching Zi Xuan.

Watching the way they looked at each other.

A slow smile appeared on the student's face.

Because he had just discovered something interesting.

And he couldn't wait to use it.

To Be Continued... 👀📖✨

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