I finally reach my classroom door, trying to pretend my heartbeat isn't doing stupid flips just because a certain bad boy is walking beside me like it's the most natural thing in the world.
I don't look at him.
He doesn't look at me.
But the air between us feels… different. Charged. Complicated.
When I step inside, the room goes quiet for a second
just long enough for me to wonder what version of me they're whispering about today.
The pathetic girl who fell?
The liar?
The one who "seduced" a troublemaker?
I straighten my shoulders, forcing myself not to crumble.
Lin Yi stops at the doorway, hands in his pockets, eyes sweeping the classroom with a look that dares anyone to open their mouth.
Instant silence.
He glances at me once, a small tilt of his chin,like he's saying:
' See? I'm here. Let them try.'
My chest tightens in a way I don't want to think about.
I slip into my seat slowly, trying to hide my face behind my hair. But deep down, under all the hurt, confusion, and the mess Li Xue left inside me… a tiny, unwelcome warmth spreads through my chest.
Lin Yi… he didn't have to stand up for me.
He didn't have to punch anyone.
He didn't have to say I was his girlfriend, even if it was just his stupid way of provoking Li Xue.
So why does he keep stepping in?
And why....despite everything...
do I feel a little safer when he does?
I press my forehead against my desk, exhaling shakily.
"I'm fine," I whisper to no one.
But the truth is…
I don't know if my heart is breaking, healing, or starting something I'm not ready to understand.
And I have no idea which one scares me more.
Lin Yi doesn't walk out.
Instead… he pulls out the empty chair beside my desk..the one no one ever touches because it's "Li Xue's old seat"
and drops into it like he owns the place.
My heart freezes.
"W..What are you doing?" I whisper harshly.
He leans back, stretching his long legs, his voice lazy and annoyingly casual.
"Attending class. Obviously."
"You don't attend class."
"Today I do," he says, tapping the bandage on my hand with his pen. "Class monitor needs supervision."
"I'm not.."
I stop.
He smirks.
I hate that heat crawling up my neck.
Students turn around, gawking.
A few whisper aggressively:
"Why is he sitting next to her?"
"Does she really like troublemaker types?"
"Poor Li Xue…"
I pretend not to hear.
Lin Yi definitely hears.
His eyes sharpen, and suddenly the entire row goes silent.
Meanwhile…
Li Xue and Xiao Yin enter.
The air shifts like a storm cloud just stepped inside.
Li Xue's eyes land on Lin Yi beside me
staying there like he's glued to the seat. His fist clenches, jaw tightening so hard I think it might crack.
Xiao Yin touches his arm gently, but her smile is too sweet, too satisfied.
I look away, clutching my pen.
Li Xue walks to his seat but never stops staring.
Xiao Yin slips into the chair beside him, leaning closer than needed, giggling softly
like she wants to make sure I hear every sound.
I don't.
But of course… I hear everything.
The teacher starts writing formulas on the board.
Lin Yi… starts doodling a dead-looking stick figure holding an ice-cream cup.
I whisper, "What is that supposed to be?"
"You," he answers without shame.
"At least before I saved you yesterday."
I stare at the pathetic drawing.
"…I don't look like that."
"You looked worse."
I kick his foot lightly under the desk.
He bites back a grin.
"Violence on school property? Dangerous girl."
"I hate you," I mutter.
"Lie better," he whispers back, his voice low enough to steal my breath.
I pretend to focus on the board.
But my pulse is loud.
Halfway through class, Li Xue stands abruptly.
"Teacher," he says, too loudly, "may I change my seat?"
The room goes silent.
The teacher blinks.
"Change? Why?"
Li Xue's eyes flick to me
not soft, not gentle..., confused, angry.
"…It's distracting here," he says stiffly.
Before I can react, Lin Yi twirls his pen and says lazily:
"Yeah. Good idea. Go far away. Far, far away."
Giggles break out.
Xiao Yin glares at me like I made Lin Yi speak.
My chest tightens painfully
because something in Li Xue's eyes looks like a silent question I'm too tired to answer.
Teacher sighs.
"Fine. Move. But don't disturb the class again."
Li Xue grabs his books and moves two rows ahead, away from us.
I swallow something heavy.
Lin Yi taps my desk.
"Don't look there," he says quietly.
"He ignored your tears. He doesn't get to own your attention now."
My throat closes.
Because those words shouldn't comfort me…
but they do.
...
After school...
We walk side by side, quietly at first.
Then he suddenly says:
"You didn't sleep last night."
"How do you know?"
"You look like a tired dumpling."
I hit his arm.
"Don't say dumpling!"
"Okay. Tired muffin."
"That's worse!"
He laughs...actually laughs.
A real one.
Not his smirk.
Not his 'I'll-break-your-teeth' voice.
And I…
feel my cheeks warm.
We reach the ice-cream shop.
He chooses choco mint like a little kid.
I choose vanilla.
We sit on the bench outside.
He takes one bite and says,
"See? Good trade. You cry, I scare people. Balance."
"That's not a good balance!"
"Then cry less."
"I wasn't planning to cry again."
His voice drops softer than I expect.
"Good. Because if you do…"
He taps his neck...the tiny tattoo half-visible under his collar.
"I'll break more than chairs next time."
I stare at him.
Troublemaker.
Chaos.
Heartquake.
I shouldn't feel safe beside him.
I shouldn't.
"…Lin Yi," I say quietly.
"Mm?"
"Why are you helping me? Really?"
He stops licking his ice cream, meeting my eyes with that steady, unreadable gaze.
The wind blows.
Our ice creams melt.
But he doesn't answer right away.
Then
"Because," he says slowly,
"someone should."
My breath tangles.
"And right now," he adds,
"I don't see anyone else doing it."
My heart stutters painfully.
I don't know if it's because of Li Xue's growing distance…
or Lin Yi's unexpected closeness.
But sitting there on that tiny bench…
eating ice cream with the school's most feared boy…
I feel something I don't want to name yet.
Warm.
Dangerous.
Calm.
Shaking.
Everything....