The air in the teacher’s office was thick with the scent of paper and ink, the quiet hum of a ceiling fan filling the silence. Sunlight streamed through the half-open blinds, casting long shadows on the desk. Xinyi hesitated in the doorway, her fingers curling slightly at her sides. A familiar nervous energy pooled in her stomach, tightening her chest.
The moment she entered, her eyes locked onto Zhao Chen’s. He was sitting across from her teacher, completely at ease, as if this whole situation was nothing more than a casual conversation.
She, on the other hand, felt like a mouse walking straight into a trap.
Ms. Huang, her homeroom teacher, greeted her with an amused smile. She was a woman in her late thirties, known for her expressive face and exaggerated hand gestures whenever she spoke.
“Ah, Li Xinyi, you’re here! Your brother and I were just talking,” she said, grinning.
Xinyi stiffened.
Her ‘brother.’ Right.
She forced herself to stay calm, stealing a glance at Zhao Chen. He gave her the smallest nod—reassurance, maybe, or a silent warning to just play along.
Ms. Huang leaned back in her chair, folding her hands together as she studied Zhao Chen with curiosity. “I must say, you seem like a responsible brother. Xinyi has always been… quiet, but she needs to be more engaged in class.”
“I understand,” Zhao Chen responded smoothly. His tone was respectful yet casual, as if he had done this a hundred times before. “I’ll talk to her about it.”
Xinyi tried not to gape at him. How could he lie so effortlessly?
Ms. Huang hummed in approval, tapping a pen against the desk. “It’s good that she has someone like you looking out for her.” Then, her eyes twinkled with mischief as she tilted her head. “Say, how long have you been in university?”
“Two years now,” Zhao Chen answered without hesitation.
“What do you study?”
“Computer Science.”
“Oh! A smart kid, huh?” Ms. Huang chuckled, impressed. “That must be a tough field.”
“It has its challenges, but I enjoy it.”
Xinyi continued to stare in quiet disbelief. Zhao Chen handled the conversation so naturally, as if he had been preparing for this moment. Meanwhile, she was standing there, stiff as a board, waiting for something—anything—to go wrong.
But just when she thought she could escape, Ms. Huang’s playful expression returned.
“Alright, one last question,” she said, tapping her pen against the desk.
Xinyi felt her breath catch.
“What’s Xinyi’s favorite subject?”
Her heart stopped.
This was a problem.
No one knew the answer to that except her. Not her classmates. Not her teachers. And definitely not Zhao Chen.
She forced herself to keep her face neutral, but panic gnawed at her. If he guessed randomly and got it wrong, Ms. Huang might grow suspicious. She might ask more questions. Dig deeper.
Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. Should she say something? Try to change the subject?
But before she could open her mouth, Zhao Chen spoke.
“It’s math.”
Xinyi’s breath hitched.
Ms. Huang blinked. “Oh? And how do you know that?”
Xinyi glanced at him, expecting hesitation or a weak excuse. But Zhao Chen’s expression remained unreadable—calm, confident, as if he had known the answer all along.
“She’s always carrying math-related books,” he said smoothly. “Her bag isn’t stuffed with random notebooks like other students—it’s neatly packed, which means she values organized subjects. Plus, whenever she thinks no one’s looking, she does mental calculations on her palm when she’s anxious.”
Xinyi sucked in a sharp breath.
She did that?
She hadn’t even realized.
Ms. Huang stared at him for a long moment before bursting into laughter. “Hah! You’re an observant one, aren’t you?” She shook her head, amused. “Alright, alright. You’re a good brother. I’ll let her off this time, but Xinyi, you better pay attention in class, okay?”
Xinyi nodded quickly. “Yes, Ms. Huang.”
“Well then, thank you for coming, young man,” Ms. Huang said, standing up. “You’re free to go!”
Zhao Chen smiled, stood up, and—before Xinyi could react—gently grabbed her wrist.
“Thank you for your time, Ms. Huang,” he said politely before leading Xinyi out of the office.