Chapter 12 - Things That Don't Leave

Chapter 11: 𝓣𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓓𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝓛𝓮𝓪𝓿𝓮

The campus was louder that day.

Too loud.

At least—that's how it felt to Lu Zhen.

Every voice seemed sharper. Every sound harder to ignore. Even the usual quiet corners didn't feel as quiet anymore.

He sat in the classroom, staring at his notebook.

Not writing.

Not thinking.

Just… there.

Beside him—

Lin Xu didn't speak.

He noticed.

Of course he did.

But this time—

he didn't say anything.

—

A few rows ahead, Zhou Kai leaned back in his chair, tapping his pen against the desk.

"You're ignoring me again," he said.

"I'm not," Song Yan replied without looking up.

"You are."

"I'm listening."

"You didn't answer."

"That doesn't mean I'm ignoring you."

Zhou Kai tilted his head slightly, watching him.

"…You're in a bad mood."

"I'm not."

"You are."

Song Yan's pen paused.

"…Stop assuming things."

Zhou Kai smiled faintly.

"Sounds familiar."

Song Yan frowned slightly but didn't reply.

—

"…You didn't sleep."

Lu Zhen's hand stilled.

Lin Xu's voice was quiet.

Not accusing.

Just… certain.

"…You don't know that."

"I do."

"…You always say that."

"And I'm usually right."

Lu Zhen didn't respond.

Because—

he was.

—

The lecture started.

Words filled the room, but they didn't stay.

Not for Lu Zhen.

His focus drifted in and out, his pen unmoving against the page.

Beside him, Lin Xu remained still.

Not pushing.

Not interrupting.

Just… there.

—

"You're distracted."

Zhou Kai said it this time.

Song Yan didn't look up.

"I'm not."

"You are."

"…Focus on yourself."

"I am."

Zhou Kai leaned closer slightly.

"…Then why haven't you turned the page in ten minutes?"

Song Yan froze.

Just for a second.

Then flipped the page quickly.

"…Happy?"

Zhou Kai laughed softly.

"Not really."

"…You're impossible."

"And you're still here."

The words came out lighter than usual.

But they lingered longer than they should have.

Song Yan didn't respond.

But he didn't move away either.

—

"…You didn't eat again."

Lu Zhen frowned slightly.

"…Stop."

Lin Xu didn't.

"You should eat something."

"I said I'm fine."

"You always say that."

"And you always repeat yourself."

Lin Xu looked at him.

Calm.

Steady.

"…Because you don't change your answer."

Lu Zhen's jaw tightened slightly.

"…Because it doesn't change anything."

There it was again.

That sentence.

That same weight behind it.

Lin Xu didn't reply immediately.

"…It does," he said quietly.

Lu Zhen shook his head faintly.

"No."

—

The lecture ended.

Chairs scraped, voices returned, movement filled the room again.

Zhou Kai stood up, stretching lazily.

"Come on."

"I'm not going with you," Song Yan said.

"You are."

"I'm not."

"You are."

"…Stop deciding things for me."

Zhou Kai paused.

Then—

"…Then decide."

Song Yan frowned.

"What?"

"Stay or go."

A beat of silence.

Then—

"…I'll stay."

Zhou Kai smiled.

"Okay."

And just like that—

he sat back down.

Song Yan blinked slightly.

"…You're not leaving?"

"You said you're staying."

"…That doesn't mean you have to."

Zhou Kai leaned back again, relaxed.

"I know."

A pause.

"…But I want to."

Song Yan looked away quickly.

"…You're really annoying."

Zhou Kai didn't argue.

Didn't tease this time.

He just stayed.

—

Lu Zhen watched them.

Something in his chest felt… tight.

Uncomfortable.

Familiar.

—

"…You're doing it again."

Lin Xu's voice was soft.

Lu Zhen looked away.

"…Doing what?"

"Thinking too much."

"…You assume too much."

"I notice."

Lu Zhen exhaled slowly.

"…Same thing."

Lin Xu shook his head slightly.

"Not really."

A pause.

Then—

"…You're not okay today."

The words were quiet.

Careful.

But direct.

Lu Zhen didn't respond.

Didn't deny it either.

—

They walked out together.

Like usual.

But this time—

the silence felt heavier.

—

"…You don't have to keep pretending."

Lin Xu said it softly.

Lu Zhen stopped walking.

"…I'm not pretending."

"You are."

"…You don't know anything."

Lin Xu met his gaze.

"I know enough."

Something in Lu Zhen's expression shifted.

Just slightly.

"…Then tell me."

The words came out sharper than expected.

"Tell me what you think you know."

Lin Xu didn't hesitate.

"You push people away before they can stay."

Silence.

The world around them faded for a moment.

"…And?" Lu Zhen asked quietly.

"You act like nothing matters."

"…Because it doesn't."

Lin Xu shook his head.

"…Because you're used to it."

The words hit harder this time.

Because they were true.

Because he had already said them himself.

Lu Zhen looked away.

"…Stop saying that."

"Why?"

"…Because you don't understand it."

Lin Xu didn't respond immediately.

Then—

"…Then let me."

Lu Zhen froze.

Just for a second.

His chest tightened again.

That same feeling.

Unfamiliar.

Unsettling.

"…You can't."

The answer came out low.

Almost quiet.

Lin Xu didn't argue.

Didn't push further.

He just nodded once.

"…Okay."

But he didn't step away.

—

They stood there.

Side by side.

Not speaking.

Not moving.

—

And for the first time—

Lu Zhen realized something.

It wasn't the noise that felt overwhelming.

It wasn't the people.

It wasn't the day.

It was—

the fact that someone had gotten close enough

to notice what he had spent so long hiding.

—

"…That's why you shouldn't stay."

Lu Zhen said it quietly.

Lin Xu glanced at him.

"…And that's why I will."