Xinyi sat stiffly in her chair, her hands clenched under the desk as the teacher’s sharp voice rang through the classroom.
“Li Xinyi! Are you even listening?”
She snapped her head up, eyes widening slightly. She had been lost in thought, staring blankly at her notebook. The entire class turned to look at her, some students whispering, some snickering under their breath.
“I—I was listening,” she muttered.
The teacher sighed, frustration evident. “Then answer the question on the board.”
Xinyi’s gaze flickered to the problem written in chalk. It was math—a subject she was usually good at—but her mind was too cluttered to think straight. She hesitated, and the teacher’s frown deepened.
“This is exactly the problem, Li Xinyi. You’re always so absentminded, never participating, never showing any effort in class.” The teacher shook her head. “If you don’t start taking your studies seriously, I’ll have no choice but to call your parents.”
At that, Xinyi felt her breath hitch.
No.
She couldn’t let that happen. If her family found out, they wouldn’t just scold her. They would punish her in ways the school could never imagine.
“Please,” she said quickly. “It won’t happen again.”
The teacher crossed her arms. “I’ve heard that before. I want your parents here tomorrow after school. No more excuses.”
Xinyi felt her stomach twist painfully, but she knew arguing would only make things worse. She bit her lip and nodded, her heart pounding in her chest.
When the final bell rang, she rushed out of the school building, ignoring the curious looks from her classmates. Her hands were trembling as she walked, gripping the straps of her bag tightly.
She needed to think. She needed a plan.
Without realizing it, her feet led her to the same park from the night before. She hadn’t intended to come here, but maybe the quiet would help her figure something out.
And that’s when she bumped into him.
Zhao Chen.
He was standing near the bench where they had met, hands in his pockets, looking at the sky as if deep in thought. The impact was light, but it still startled them both.
“Oh—” He turned and blinked in surprise. “Xinyi?”
She took a step back, her mind still in turmoil. She never asked for help. Never. But before she could stop herself, the words slipped out.
“Can you help me?”
Zhao Chen’s eyebrows shot up. “What?”
She clenched her fists, looking away. Her voice was quieter when she spoke again. “I need someone to pretend to be my older brother.”
For a moment, there was silence. Then—
“What?” Zhao Chen repeated, looking at her like she had just suggested something completely absurd.
Xinyi exhaled sharply. “My teacher… she thinks I’m not paying attention in class. She wants to meet my parents, but I can’t let that happen.”
Zhao Chen studied her, his expression unreadable. “And you think I should just show up and pretend to be your brother?”
She nodded, gripping the hem of her sweater. “You’re older. You could pass as a university student.”
“I am a university student,” he pointed out.
“Then it works,” she said simply.
He let out a dry laugh. “Xinyi, we just met yesterday. And now you want me to lie to your teacher? That’s—” He shook his head. “I don’t even know why you can’t just ask your actual family.”
Her breath caught, but she forced her face to remain blank. “I just can’t.”
Something flickered in his expression. He didn’t press further, but his lips pressed into a thin line. “Sorry,” he said after a moment. “I don’t think I can do that.”
Xinyi felt a pang of disappointment—not at him, but at herself for even thinking this was a good idea. She had been foolish to ask.
“…Forget it,” she muttered, turning away. “I’ll figure something else out.”
She left before he could say anything else.
The next day, Xinyi spent the entire school day on edge. She had come up with several excuses, but none of them seemed believable enough to get out of the meeting.
After school, she walked slowly toward the teacher’s office, frustration building inside her.
What should I do?
She was so lost in thought that she nearly walked straight past the office door—until she heard a voice inside.
“I’m her older brother. I came in place of our parents.”
Xinyi’s head snapped up, her breath catching. She peered into the room.
Zhao Chen was sitting there, looking completely at ease, speaking calmly to her teacher.
She stared, unable to believe it.
Why was he here?