Li Xinya sat in the library, twirling her pen as her diary lay open in front of her. She frowned deeply.
"So far, all my rules have gone up in smoke. Graceful? Nope. Cooking? Disaster. Calm and gentle? Ha!"
She scribbled fiercely on a fresh page:
Rule #4: Give him space! Don't cling too much. A good girlfriend is mysterious and cool.
She nodded to herself. Yes. Play it cool. Be dignified. Don't hover over him like a puppy.
The Next Day – Walking Home
Xinya walked beside Chen Yuxuan, her hands clasped tightly behind her back. Normally, she'd chatter nervously about homework or TV dramas, but today she bit her tongue.
Silent. Calm. Distant.
Yuxuan glanced at her sideways. "…You're quiet today."
"Hm? Oh, am I? Heh… I'm just… mysterious."
"…Mysterious?" His brow furrowed slightly, like he was concerned.
Inside, Xinya screamed. Don't panic! Stick to the rule! Don't cling! Don't cling!
They reached the small pedestrian bridge near the park. The railing looked inviting, so Xinya leaned against it, pretending to look at the sky. "Ah, look at those clouds! Don't you think they're romantic?"
Unfortunately, she leaned a little too far.
Her foot slipped.
"WAAH—!"
Before she could tumble, Yuxuan caught her by the wrist, pulling her against him with a startled grunt. She crashed into his chest, their faces inches apart.
Xinya froze. Her breath caught. She could see every detail of him this close—the long lashes, the faint curve of his lips, the warmth of his eyes.
Her heart pounded. Oh no. Too close. Way too close. Rule #4, give him space! GIVE HIM SPA—
But before her brain could finish the warning, she shifted nervously… and in the clumsy movement, her lips brushed against his.
It was brief. Accident. Barely a second.
But it was still a kiss.
Silence.
The world seemed to stop. Even the cicadas buzzing in the summer heat went quiet.
Xinya's entire face flushed scarlet. She staggered back, covering her mouth. "I-I-I DIDN'T MEAN TO! THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT! OH NO, RULE #4 IS RUINED FOREVER!!"
Yuxuan touched his lips, a rare pink creeping across his cheeks. Then, to her shock, he chuckled softly.
"If this is how you 'fail,'" he said, looking at her with a warmth that made her knees weak, "I don't mind at all."
Xinya's heart exploded. She fumbled for her diary, scribbling wildly:
Rule #4: Give him space.(Catastrophic FAIL.)New Rule: Sometimes… being too close is the best place to be.
She hugged the diary to her chest, still trembling, while Yuxuan simply walked beside her, his hand brushing hers—this time, not pulling away.