Chapter 5: An Unexpected Shield

The courtyard was buzzing during the lunch break. Students clustered in groups, some playing basketball, others gossiping by the flower beds. Lin Qianyu balanced her tray carefully, humming under her breath as she headed toward the outdoor benches.

“Hey, transfer student!”

A sharp voice cut through the air. Three girls blocked her path, their arms crossed and eyes glinting with hostility. The leader, tall with heavily clipped bangs, smirked.

“You think you can waltz in here and act like you own the place just because Mr. Liu likes you?”

Qianyu blinked, taken aback. “Excuse me?”

“You sit with Chen Yuze,” the girl sneered. “Don’t you know the rules? No one gets close to him. Unless you’re trying to get attention?”

The other two girls giggled cruelly. “She’s just pretending to be friendly. Bet she thinks she’s special.”

Qianyu’s grip tightened on her tray, but she kept her voice calm. “I don’t think I’m special. I just… treat people normally. That’s all.”

The tall girl stepped closer, eyes narrowing. “Then stay away from him. Or you’ll regret it.”

Before Qianyu could answer, a shadow fell over the group.

“Regret what?”

The voice was cold, sharp enough to freeze the air. All three girls stiffened. Slowly, they turned to see Chen Yuze standing behind them, hands shoved into his pockets, expression darker than the storm clouds that had gathered the day before.

“Y–Yuze,” one of the girls stammered, suddenly pale.

His gaze cut through them like a blade. “Is this how you spend your break? Harassing people?”

“N-no, we were just—”

“Get lost,” he snapped.

The command was quiet, but it carried weight. The girls scattered instantly, hurrying away with nervous glances over their shoulders.

Silence followed. Qianyu stared at him, wide-eyed. He didn’t look at her, didn’t ask if she was okay. Instead, he simply shifted his gaze toward her tray.

“You’ll spill it if you keep holding it like that,” he muttered.

Qianyu blinked again, then slowly smiled. “So you do notice things.”

His brow twitched. “Don’t misunderstand. I just hate noisy drama.”

“Uh-huh.” Her grin widened, teasing. “Thanks for saving me, though.”

He clicked his tongue and turned as if to walk away. But Qianyu wasn’t done. She quickened her steps, falling into stride beside him.

“You know,” she said lightly, “for someone who doesn’t care, you sure go out of your way to help me a lot.”

He stopped abruptly, making her nearly bump into him. His eyes narrowed dangerously. “Don’t assume things about me.”

Qianyu tilted her head, unfazed. “Fine. I won’t assume. I’ll just… keep finding out for myself.”

For a moment, he stared at her, expression unreadable. Then, with a soft scoff, he shoved his hands deeper into his pockets and resumed walking.

But this time, he didn’t tell her to go away.

......................

That afternoon, whispers spread quickly through the class.

“Did you see? Chen Yuze actually stood up for the transfer student!”

“Unbelievable. He’s never lifted a finger for anyone.”

“Maybe she’s different…”

Qianyu felt the stares but ignored them, scribbling notes during math. Beside her, Yuze sat as always silent, aloof, eyes on the window. But his presence felt different now, heavier somehow, as though a new thread connected them.

When the bell rang, Qianyu packed her things slowly. “Hey,” she said softly. “About earlier… I really am grateful.”

He didn’t look at her. “Don’t make a big deal out of it.”

“But it was a big deal to me.” She smiled gently. “So I’ll remember it.”

This time, his pen froze in his hand. He didn’t reply, but his ears turned faintly pink before he snapped his notebook shut.

......................

Later that night, Chen Yuze sat at his desk by the window, the hum of the city outside mingling with the faint patter of leftover drizzle. His textbooks lay unopened, his pen idle.

Instead, his mind replayed the look in Lin Qianyu’s eyes when she’d smiled at him. The way she hadn’t flinched, even when those girls cornered her. The way her voice had been steady when she said she’d remember.

He leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly.

“Annoying girl,” he muttered under his breath.

And yet, for the first time in years, the corner of his mouth curved not in mockery, not in bitterness, but in something fragile and new.

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