Too Sudden

At four in the afternoon, the school bell rang across Guangya.

As usual, students flooded toward the club building or sports center, their laughter rising and falling like waves, weaving a lively net under the clear autumn sky.

Lu Xuexue glanced at Gu Ximan, who looked troubled, and hesitated before speaking up. "Miman, I’ll go with you."

She had carefully gone over the whole incident with Gu Ximan afterward and realized it was truly just a misunderstanding.

Gu Luo’s confession had been meant for Luo Shuning all along.

Though Lu Xuexue was heartbroken too, she had spent the past few days doing her best to console Gu Ximan, who was taking it even harder.

Hearing her offer, Gu Ximan waved a hand with forced nonchalance. "It’s fine, really. Hmph, I just want to see what that jerk Gu Luo is up to."

But the worry between her brows betrayed the unease in her heart.

Gu Luo’s words—You didn’t leave because of that awkwardness, did you?—still echoed in her mind.

What did that idiot mean?

Had he figured something out? Was he about to lay everything bare…?

"Alright then… I’ll wait for you downstairs," Lu Xuexue said, her expression concerned as she ruffled Gu Ximan’s cool tea-brown hair.

"Mhm! That jerk said he’d take me home, but I’m not going." Gu Ximan lifted her chin defiantly. "I’d rather starve to death or jump off this rooftop than go back with him!"

"Hey, none of that talk about starving or jumping! Tsk, tsk."

"You’re the best, Xuexue!"

Ten minutes later, Gu Ximan took a deep breath and slowly pushed open the rooftop door.

A breeze brushed past her, and the sunlight was a little too bright.

Gu Luo was the only one there, sitting on a bench. He waved at her and called out, "Block the door."

"W-why block the door…?"

Gu Ximan’s face instantly flushed.

Every Guangya student knew the rule—blocking the door with something meant hanging a "Do Not Disturb" sign. It usually meant a couple was up here getting cozy.

After using an empty bucket to barricade the door, Gu Ximan smoothed her cool tea-brown hair and walked unhurriedly toward the bench.

She sat down beside Gu Luo, leaving just a few inches between them.

"Come closer."

He patted the space next to him with a smile.

"…Okay."

Her heartbeat quickened, her gaze darting nervously as she inched closer, until her calf lightly brushed against his uniform pants. Her pulse stuttered.

"Ximan."

Gu Luo turned to look at her, his voice soft.

"…What?"

She puffed her cheeks and glared back, though her lashes trembled.

"You like me, don’t you?"

"……"

The words hit like a stone dropped into a still lake, sending ripples crashing through her chest.

Her eyes widened, lips parting, but before she could speak, she choked on her own saliva. Violent coughs wracked her, turning her cheeks scarlet.

"Cough… cough…!"

"Easy, easy."

Gu Luo’s hand settled on her back, gently rubbing along her spine. The warmth seeped through her thin uniform, so scorching she wanted to pull away—yet couldn’t bring herself to.

When she finally caught her breath, Gu Ximan covered her face, her voice muffled between her fingers.

"You… you…!"

"Jerk… What are you trying to say…?"

Her heart pounded so hard it threatened to leap out of her throat.

This was too sudden.

Way too sudden.

Instead of answering, Gu Luo pulled a lucky star from his pocket. The fluorescent green paper shimmered faintly in the sunlight.

Pinching the star between his fingers, he smiled so tenderly it could melt ice. "I love it. Really, really love it."

"Because you folded it for me. It’ll definitely bring me luck—and keep me safe."

"…S-so what…?"

Her pulse raced even faster.

But Gu Luo veered off again, fingertips tracing the star’s edges as he murmured,

"Ximan, there’s something I need to confess to you."

…………

…………