AS CH 5

Chapter 5

During the third period in the afternoon, there was a basketball match for PE class—Class 5 versus Class 7, both from the same grade level.

Once the players were selected, the rest of the students from both classes stood on the sidelines, cheering and rooting for their own teams. The PE teacher gathered the players, led them through warm-ups, and then explained the game rules.

Xu Wenhao was one of the players. As he listened to the teacher’s instructions, his gaze wandered restlessly, as if searching for something. He didn’t even know where the urgency came from. His eyes scanned every corner of the gym until they finally landed on a particular spot.

He’d always known that familiar figure preferred hiding alone in the shadows. He’d never paid much attention to it before, but ever since their unusually long conversation earlier today, Xu Wenhao found himself wanting to understand Lü Chenyue more.

The whistle blew, and the game began. Both teams gave it their all, attacking and defending with full effort. On the sidelines, female classmates had organized an impromptu cheer squad, waving their hands and shouting encouragement. Inside the court, the players clashed intensely. Neither side backed down, and after twenty minutes of back-and-forth struggle, the whistle signaled the end of the first half.

It was only a friendly match, yet both sides treated it like an official competition. The score difference was just six points, with Xu Wenhao’s class in the lead.

During the halftime break, a few enthusiastic girls from the class brought water bottles and towels for the players.

Especially Xu Wenhao—he alone had five or six girls buzzing around him, eagerly “serving” him. But he didn’t care for the attention. He took the bottle with a quick, indifferent “thanks,” drank a few sips, and then once again scanned the area, eyes chasing after that figure huddled in the shadows.

Lin Xiangling, noticing his strange behavior, followed his gaze. “Wenhao, what are you looking for? Want us to help you look?” she asked, intentionally prompting him, her tone tinged with disappointment.

Her voice snapped Xu Wenhao back to reality. He blinked slightly, then replied with a flat, “Nothing. It’s nothing.” He took a few more sips of water before stepping away from the group of girls and sitting alone on a bench to rest.

Why was he so intent on finding that person? Even if he genuinely wanted to understand him better, was it really necessary for his eyes to constantly seek out that solitary figure?

Yes, for the past two years, Lü Chenyue had always been alone.

He would always sit quietly at his seat, staring out the window; doing his work silently by himself; or just curling up alone in some corner, as if wanting to disappear. Over time, everyone in class had simply learned to ignore his presence.

Even Xu Wenhao himself.

There were times during roll call when Xu Wenhao would completely forget Lü Chenyue was in the class. It became so normal to overlook him that forgetting his existence didn’t feel unusual anymore. Xu Wenhao knew that wasn’t right. Maybe it was pride, or the weight of carrying the “class monitor” title, but because he never said anything, neither did the others. Eventually, the entire class just got used to it—and forgot that someone named “Lü Chenyue” still sat among them.

But now, the ripples in his heart—stirred by that boy’s loneliness—were very real. He didn’t want to keep seeing Lü Chenyue’s cold, indifferent expression. Was there a way to change that, even just a little?

Why did he dislike Lü Chenyue so much in the beginning? Even now, Xu Wenhao couldn’t quite recall. He used to look at him with disdain, harboring resentment for no clear reason. In hindsight, wasn’t that a kind of silent bullying too?

These past few encounters—when he thought back on them carefully—Xu Wenhao realized something: He didn’t actually dislike Lü Chenyue as a person.

Was this what people called the law of attraction^[1]?

Fine. Xu Wenhao admitted he’d been influenced by others. Over time, he developed negative feelings toward Lü Chenyue, and naturally, he hadn’t had a favorable impression of him.

But… was it still not too late now?

What exactly should Xu Wenhao do to slowly get close to Lü Chenyue? To help him lower his guard, step out of that dark corner, and walk into the light?

***

Sensitive as he was, Lü Chenyue had long since noticed that pair of eyes constantly watching him. That’s why, right after the game started, he quietly moved to hide in another corner. Yet even during halftime, that gaze kept searching for him, like it refused to give up.

But why?

Wasn’t Xu Wenhao the kind of person who didn’t like people like him? Then why look at him like that?

Because they’d talked too much earlier today, they ended up drawing the attention of their classmates. So many eyes had been watching them. Lü Chenyue hated that feeling—it made him incredibly uncomfortable. He’d tried so hard to stay low-key, to blend into the background. So why did he still draw attention?

Ever since Xu Wenhao had made him stay behind after school, causing him to miss out on a paying job, Lü Chenyue had wrapped himself up more tightly than ever. He didn’t want to be noticed anymore. He did his homework quietly, always handing it in when the classroom was nearly empty—usually the last to submit. But today, he couldn’t find the right moment, and that gave Xu Wenhao the perfect chance to approach him directly again.

Today was the first time they had ever spoken so much.

But unnecessary contact would only lead to rumors. Lü Chenyue knew that all too well. That’s why he had spoken up and warned Xu Wenhao—so he would keep his distance and leave his space.

Xu Wenhao was smart. Couldn’t he understand the reason behind his actions?

Still feeling the weight of that gaze, Lü Chenyue snapped back to his thoughts. The distance between them was too far—he couldn’t clearly see the look in Xu Wenhao’s eyes.

Was it because he was antisocial? Or because he always seemed to go against the grain? But he wasn’t the only one in class who disliked sports. So why was he being singled out?

Lü Chenyue knew Xu Wenhao wasn’t just good at academics—his athletic ability was top-notch too. When it came to basketball, his skill alone was enough to widen the score gap between classes. No wonder the girls adored him.

Earlier, during the break, Lü Chenyue had definitely seen the group of girls eagerly bringing Xu Wenhao water and towels, anxiously fussing over him like he was about to collapse. That’s just the kind of person Xu Wenhao was—no matter what he did, he always became the center of attention among the girls.

So if he already had so many admirers, why had Xu Wenhao looked away from them—just to search for him?

At that moment, the final whistle sounded. After a sweaty, high-energy second half, Class 3 won the match. Cheers erupted from the girls on the sidelines, most of them calling out for Xu Wenhao. He seemed used to it, wiping sweat from his face without reacting to the loud shrieks surrounding him.

Only when the PE teacher blew the whistle to gather everyone again did the gym fall quiet. After taking attendance and confirming the match’s end, the class was dismissed.

As always, Lü Chenyue stayed in the furthest corner until most people had cleared out. Only then did he slowly start walking back to the classroom.

Meanwhile, Xu Wenhao was surrounded by his fellow players, chatting and laughing as they made their way back together. But out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Lü Chenyue trailing behind them—not too far away.

And just like that, Xu Wenhao’s gaze shifted entirely to Lü Chenyue. He stopped paying attention to the conversation around him.

Lü Chenyue noticed it too. As soon as he realized Xu Wenhao was looking his way again, he immediately averted his eyes, quickly circling around the group and heading straight for the classroom. Once inside, he quietly returned to his seat.

Why was he looking at him again?

Lü Chenyue didn’t know how to deal with this version of Xu Wenhao today.

He felt like a hedgehog, always keeping others at a distance. But now, it was as if someone had gently knocked on his locked heart and cracked it open. Instinctively, Lü Chenyue reached up and clutched at his chest.

Was it fear?

No.

It was something else—an unfamiliar feeling he couldn’t name.

His entire emotional state… had been completely thrown into chaos by Xu Wenhao.

(To be continued…)