The air buzzed with excitement as students gathered at the entrance of the fair. Banners showcasing various technological advancements hung from the ceilings, and the scent of freshly printed brochures mixed with the faint whirring of robotics in the distance.
Xinyi adjusted the strap of her bag, walking alongside her classmates as they entered the venue. Unlike the others, who were already chatting about which booths to visit first, she remained quiet, though anticipation flickered in her chest.
Despite everything, she had always been interested in AI, cybersecurity, and IT. It was one of the few things that genuinely intrigued her, a world where logic and creativity blended seamlessly.
She scanned the area, taking in the sight of multiple university representatives, project displays, and interactive stations. But as her gaze flickered toward the center stage, her steps suddenly faltered.
There, standing before a crowd, explaining AI and cybersecurity with confidence, was Zhao Chen.
Her mind blanked for a second.
Oh. Right.
She had completely forgotten that he would be here.
Xinyi quickly stepped to the side, finding a spot where she could observe without being too obvious. Her classmates, fortunately, were too distracted by the booths to notice her pause.
Zhao Chen spoke with ease, his voice steady and sure. He handled complex questions effortlessly, breaking down intricate topics into digestible explanations. The teachers and students around him listened intently, their expressions filled with admiration.
Xinyi was stunned.
This wasn’t the slightly teasing, casually smug Zhao Chen she had gotten used to. This was a different side of him—one that exuded intelligence and control, someone who commanded attention effortlessly.
For some reason, watching him like this made her heart skip a beat.
She quickly pushed the feeling away.
No. It’s just because I’ve never seen him like this before.
Still, as she continued watching, something within her stirred.
Was this how others saw him? A brilliant university student, respected and admired? It was hard to believe this was the same Zhao Chen who worked part-time at a café, casually swapping ice creams with her, teasing her about being predictable.
A few moments later, the presentation ended, and the crowd began dispersing.
Xinyi turned away, ready to blend back in with her classmates, but a familiar voice stopped her in her tracks.
“You sure look interested.”
She stiffened. Slowly, she turned her head.
Zhao Chen stood a few feet away, hands in his pockets, a small smirk playing on his lips.
She schooled her expression into indifference. “I wasn’t.”
His smirk widened. “You stared at me for a full ten minutes.”
Xinyi opened her mouth to deny it—but realized there was no point. Instead, she huffed, turning her gaze elsewhere. “It was just… surprising.”
“What was?”
“That you actually know what you’re talking about.”
Zhao Chen chuckled. “What, did you think I was all talk?”
She shrugged. “Maybe.”
“Well,” he said, taking a step closer, “are you impressed now?”
She rolled her eyes, ignoring the way her face felt warmer than usual. “Barely.”
His laughter was quiet but genuine.
A moment of silence passed between them before Zhao Chen casually asked, “Have you thought about studying Computer Science in the future?”
Xinyi blinked.
She had. Many times. But no one had ever asked her about it before.
Her family never cared about what she wanted to pursue. As long as she kept being the top student, as long as she didn’t embarrass them, that was all that mattered.
For a moment, she hesitated, unsure how to answer. “…Maybe.”
Zhao Chen watched her, his expression unreadable. “I think you’d be good at it.”
His words were simple. But they hit differently.
It wasn’t the usual, empty praise she had heard from teachers or distant relatives. It wasn’t forced encouragement. It was an observation, a statement spoken with certainty.
And for some reason, it made her feel… warm.
She shifted awkwardly, trying to ignore the unfamiliar tightness in her chest. “I—”
Before she could figure out what to say, Zhao Chen reached into his pocket and pulled out a USB drive.
“Here.”
She frowned. “What’s this?”
“There are some useful Computer Science materials in there,” he said casually. “A few beginner AI and cybersecurity courses, some coding exercises… Thought you might find it interesting.”
Xinyi stared at the small device in his hand.
No one had ever given her something like this before. Not because they had to. Not because they wanted something in return.
Her fingers closed around the USB hesitantly. “Why…?”
Zhao Chen raised an eyebrow. “Why what?”
“Why are you giving this to me?”
He tilted his head slightly. “Because I thought you’d like it.”
Her heart skipped again.
She immediately pushed the feeling down.
It’s nothing. I’m just not used to this.
Clearing her throat, she tucked the USB into her pocket. “...Thanks.”
Zhao Chen’s lips quirked up slightly, as if amused by her reaction. “Don’t mention it.”
She turned, ready to leave before he could say anything else that might make her feel even weirder.
But as she walked away, she couldn’t ignore the strange warmth lingering in her chest.
She tried to shake it off, to convince herself it meant nothing.
But deep down, something had changed.
And she wasn’t sure how long she could keep denying it.