The Pingyi Library glowed softly under the halo of white pendant lights. The air was calm, almost sacred, broken only by the rustle of pages and low whispers.
A few students huddled on retro space-ball chairs—the kind that looked straight out of the 1960s—discussing homework in hushed tones.
And then the peace shattered.
"Damn it—what a day!"
Mo Lü stormed out of the restroom, his T-shirt still damp from being wrung out. Drops of water darkened the floor as he marched across the library, grumbling the whole way. He flopped down across from Guo Chouzhou, glaring at him.
"Seriously? You're soaked through, and you're still sitting here reading? No thoughts of changing clothes? You're unbelievable."
Guo Chouzhou didn't even look up. He simply turned another page of his book. Water dripped from the tips of his long curls, sliding past his sharp jawline. When a ray of sunlight broke through the rain clouds and spilled across the glass dome, it hit his face just right—his lashes glinting, his profile painted in gold.
In that moment, he looked untouchable.
Mo Lü's annoyance faltered for half a heartbeat. The sight was… unfairly beautiful. But then irritation returned, hot and prickly. He leaned closer, waving his hand.
"Hey, I'm talking to you—"
No response. Not even a glance.
By the time Guo Chouzhou finally finished his book, Endtime Hunters, and shut it with a soft thud, Mo Lü was nearly vibrating with impatience.
He snatched the book out of the other's hands, flipping through it with feigned disinterest. "Didn't take you for the type to read this kind of gore-fest," he muttered. "Guess appearances really are deceiving."
Guo Chouzhou raised his eyes, cold and unreadable. "If you wanna change, go. What are you even doing here with me?"
Mo Lü grinned, leaning back. "I don't live in the dorms. Got a place off-campus. You could move in with me."
He meant it half as a joke, half as a test. Ever since seeing Guo Chouzhou's face on the campus heartthrob ranking—the undefeated #1—he'd been curious. Too curious.
"No money," came the blunt reply.
Mo Lü blinked. "No money? You look like the kind of guy who never has to worry about that. Don't tell me you can't even afford an umbrella!"
Guo Chouzhou didn't answer. He just leaned back, closing his eyes, face utterly expressionless. He wasn't one to explain himself. He didn't care about people's stares or whispers. The whole "school idol" thing bored him.
And that quiet arrogance? It drove Mo Lü crazy.
He sat there, half sulking, half plotting a comeback—when a loud, familiar voice cut through the calm.
"Found you, my brother! I knew you'd be here. Every time it rains, you hide out in the library!"
A tall, lively girl strode over and dropped herself right beside Guo Chouzhou, bumping his chair.
Guo Chouzhou's brows drew together. "And you don't?"
Before she could answer, Mo Lü gawked. "Wait—brother? He's your brother?"
"Oh? Second place?" The girl—Guo Chouyan—tilted her head and smirked as she recognized him. "What brings you here, huh?"
"None of your business," Mo Lü shot back, pretending to go back to his book.
Guo Chouyan chuckled. "Wow, you've got some attitude. But when you're around my brother, you go all quiet. What's wrong? You into him or something?"
Mo Lü nearly choked. "Who'd dare into him? He's got that 'do not approach' sign written all over his face."
Still, he found himself glancing at Guo Chouzhou again. The resemblance between the two siblings was striking—sharp eyes, defined features, the same effortless aura.
"You two twins or something?" he asked.
"Are you dumb?" Guo Chouyan shot back. "If we were twins, we'd be in the same class. I'm a year younger."
"Oh. Then your mom was pretty efficient," Mo Lü blurted without thinking.
Twin death stares hit him instantly.
He raised both hands in surrender—but his mouth didn't stop. "So, what are you, mixed or something? Why are your eyes so big? And that broken umbrella—what's the story? You really broke or just pretending?"
Guo Chouzhou's patience snapped. "You talk this much—why not go be a TV host?"
Guo Chouyan burst out laughing, clutching her stomach. "Oh, this is gold. My brother's ice-cold and you're a walking megaphone. What a duo."
Still grinning, she reached out a hand. "Since you're so curious about him, why not ask me instead? I'm Guo Chouyan."
Remembering how his earlier handshake had been ignored by her brother, Mo Lü eagerly took hers this time.
He shot Guo Chouzhou a smug grin. "Between the two of you, your sister's way cuter—and definitely nicer."