Episode 3-So it’s his name!!

[Scene: Mengqi trying hard to open the bicycle lock to go to school. Golden sunlight fills the schoolyard. Students rush out with bags, bicycles lined up outside.]

Mengqi: Ughhh… why won’t you just open! Come onnn… (shakes the lock)

[A shadow falls over her. She looks up—it’s the boy from the principal’s office. Her chest tightens.]

Hanxu: (calm, teasing) Planning to wrestle with it all day?

Mengqi: (startled, fumbling harder) N-No! I was just about to open it…

[Hanxu crouches down, gently takes the key from her. With a smooth twist—click! The lock opens.]

Hanxu: (standing, smirking faintly) Easy.

Mengqi: (face pink) I-I could’ve done it too…

[Just then, his friend calls from a distance.]

Friend: (yelling) Hanxu! Hurry up!

[Mengqi freezes. She whispers to herself.]

Mengqi: (soft, half out loud) …Hanxu? So that’s his name…

[Hanxu hears her. He chuckles, stepping a little closer.]

Hanxu: (amused) Yeah. What happened? You look surprised.

Mengqi: (flustered, waving hands) Ahhh n-no, I’m not! Who said so?!

Hanxu: (grins, tilts head) Then why are you blushing?

Mengqi: (turns away, face burning) I-It’s just the sun! Really sunny today, okay?!

[Hanxu glances at the huge tree right next to them, shading her completely. He laughs quietly.]

Hanxu: (teasing, walking off) Mm. I believe you. Bye. Catch you later.

[Mengqi stares after him, her heart racing uncontrollably.]

Mengqi (thinking): Hanxu…

[Scene: 4th period, PT. Students gather at the ground for warmups. Mengqi stands lazily stretching, Youyou beside her.]

Youyou: (teasing whisper) Someone looks way too excited for PE today\~

Mengqi: (snapping) No I’m not! I hate PE!

Youyou: (smirks) Uh-huh… say that after you stop blushing every two minutes.

[The coach blows the whistle. Students split into lines. Mengqi bends down to tie her laces, when a shadow falls again.]

[She looks up—it’s Hanxu, standing across the line. He waves casually with a faint smile.]

Hanxu: (lightly) Hiii.

Mengqi: (awkward, raises hand halfway) H-Hi…

[Hanxu chuckles at her stiff little wave. His friends nudge him playfully, while Mengqi hides her face behind Youyou.]

Hanxu: (to himself, amused) These girls…

[Mengqi’s cheeks turn pink as she pretends to focus on stretching, heart thumping wildly.]

[Later, after running a few laps, Mengqi collapses on the grass beside Youyou, panting, hair sticking to her forehead.]

Mengqi: (groaning dramatically) Ughhh, I’m dead. Someone bury me here…

Youyou: (snorts) Drama queen. You barely ran two rounds.

Mengqi: (glaring weakly) Shhh. Even walking counts as running if your soul is suffering.

[Just then, a shadow falls over Mengqi again. She blinks up — it’s Hanxu, holding out his water bottle.]

Hanxu: (smiling faintly) Here. You look like you’re about to melt.

Mengqi: (eyes widening, quickly sits up) O-Oh… (takes the bottle carefully) …thank you.

[She sips a little, her cheeks already pink, and hands it back nervously.]

Hanxu: (teasing) Wooh, you’re strong though. I wouldn’t do more than… 5000 push-ups.

Mengqi: (nearly spits the water, coughs) 5000?! (snorts) Seriously, I think I can only do… like… fifty-something.

Hanxu: (laughs softly, eyes amused) Fifty is already good. You look like you’d faint after ten.

Mengqi: (pouting, smacks her chest) Hmph! I’m stronger than I look!

[Hanxu sits down on the grass next to her, resting his arms on his knees.]

Hanxu: By the way… which grade are you in?

Mengqi: (hesitant) …Ninth. Class Seven.

Hanxu: (exhales dramatically, grinning) Ninth, huh? So young. Kiddo.

Mengqi: (eyes widen, sits up straight) I-I’m not that young! Just two years younger, okay?!

Hanxu: (chuckles, leaning back casually) Two years is a lot when you’re a kiddo.

Mengqi: (face burning, grabs grass to throw at him) Arrghhh, STOP calling me that!

[Hanxu bursts out laughing, dodging easily. Mengqi hides her face in her knees, pouting while sneaking glances at him.]

Hanxu: (grinning, still teasing) Oookay, oookay… ‘woman.’ Happy now?

Mengqi: (throws hands in the air) That’s even worse!!

[Youyou, sitting beside them, stares wide-eyed, then smirks knowingly.]

Youyou: (sing-song) Qiqiiii\~ your face is red again. Someone’s heart is beating soooo hard.

Mengqi: (snaps, flailing her arms) Youyou!! Seriously, what’s wrong with you?!

Youyou: (laughing) It’s just fun to tease you. Come on, let’s go before we’re late.

[The whistle blows again. Students begin heading back toward the changing rooms. Hanxu stands, brushing dirt from his pants, then looks down at Mengqi.]

Hanxu: (light, casual) Catch you later, kiddo,byebye\~.

Mengqi: (muttering under her breath, cheeks hot) Arrghhh… I’ll never forgive him for that…

[But as she trails behind Youyou, Mengqi can’t help the tiny smile tugging at her lips, her heart racing wildly.]

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