The morning light had already crept in.

It was another one of those days when Xia Fu couldn’t remember when she’d fallen asleep or woken up. After two nights of poor sleep, her mind was in a fog. She had to open up her schedule app just to remember what was on her plate for the day.

Monday mornings from eight to eleven were dedicated to “Probability Theory.” This elective course, essential for both math and finance majors, attracted a lot of students, especially those planning to switch fields for graduate studies.

Bao Zhiwei was one of them.

The thought of running into him in class made Xia Fu feel a little resistant to the idea of school. Sitting up in bed, she stared at her phone screen blankly, dazing off until Ji Xiaowei’s alarm jolted her back to reality. Only then did she pat her cheeks and start changing out of her pajamas.

“Don’t be stubborn, Xia Fu. You don’t have any backup.”

If she let external distractions affect her scholarship eligibility again, she’d really be left with nothing…

Trying to motivate herself, Xia Fu climbed down from her bunk bed and yanked open the thick curtains.

The day was bright again. Golden-orange sunlight poured in, carrying waves of heat that filled the room. The moment she pulled back the sheer window, the chirping of cicadas reverberated through the dorm.

The weather was really nice.

It was broad daylight, the classroom would be full of people, and she’d be fully dressed. There was no reason to be afraid of Bao Zhiwei.

Xia Fu took a deep breath of the morning air, turned to face the beds, and raised her voice, “Wake up, time for that early class.”

Sounds of shuffling and rustling came from behind the drawn bed curtains, with a drowsy yawn mixed in, “Mmm, yeah, I’m coming.” The girls got up and began their morning routines.

Though they both had early classes, Ji Xiaowei’s schedule was different from Xia Fu’s. After having breakfast together, they parted ways at the East Gate of the campus.

Before leaving, Ji Xiaowei looked at Xia Fu with a worried expression. “Are you alright?”

From the moment they’d left the dorm, Xia Fu hadn’t said a word. Even though Ji knew Xia Fu was naturally quiet and introverted, today she was extra quiet.

Xia Fu held onto her friend’s hand, reluctant to let go.

Heavens, how she wanted to say, “Not really. Take me with you.” But Ji Xiaowei had her own life; she couldn’t stick by her side forever. Xia Fu had to be stronger.

“I’m just a bit tired. I’ll be fine.”

I’ll be fine. I’ll be fine.

Xia Fu kept telling herself this. She tightened her grip on her backpack and entered the academic building, but as soon as she spotted a certain face in the elevator, she instinctively held her breath.

The lecture hall was on the fourth floor, and university students rarely get up early, so there was usually a surge of students about fifteen minutes before class started.

Right now, the area in front of the elevator was packed with students headed to class. Bao Zhiwei was mixed into the crowd. When the elevator chimed open, he was swept forward by the press of bodies.

Squeezed between other guys, Bao Zhiwei ended up in a corner of the elevator, his back pressed against the cold metal wall, right by the control panel.

With a rough finger, he kept pressing the “close door” button, wanting to get out of the cramped metal box faster, even getting into a spat with the guy next to him.

“Don’t hit the close button! My roommate hasn’t gotten in yet!”

“We’re packed enough! He can just take the stairs; we’re all running late!”

The tense atmosphere and Bao Zhiwei’s scowling expression made Xia Fu nervous.

Why was he so irritable? Did the counselor already tell him about everything?

The thought made her unconsciously step back, trying to slip out of Bao Zhiwei’s line of sight.

But it was too late. While still glaring at the other guy, Bao Zhiwei noticed Xia Fu standing just behind him. Forgetting his irritation, he moved his hand to the “open door” button and twisted his body to call out to her:

“Xia Fu, hurry in! I saved a spot for you.”

Heavens, getting up close to Bao Zhiwei was a terrifying thought.

Yet knowing he still treated her like before, Xia Fu felt a surprising sense of relief—good, he didn’t know about the counselor thing yet.

“No need; it’s packed,” she replied, shaking her head and backing away. “I’ll just take the stairs.”

Without looking back, she dashed into the stairwell.

She hadn’t known she could run so fast, like a rabbit escaping its predator. Her movements were fluid and instinctive. Only after hiding in the dim stairwell did she manage to calm her breathing.

Realizing how panicked her escape had been, Xia Fu felt a bit foolish.

Why did all her mental preparation crumble so quickly?

Why was she the one feeling terrified when Bao Zhiwei was the one in the wrong?

… Was it possible that even though it was daylight, her mind was still stuck in the night?

But at least, in a dark, lonely night, it was far safer than a bright day with Bao Zhiwei in it.

F University’s classrooms were outfitted with sleek, high-tech multimedia equipment, but for the sake of green initiatives, the hallways were still equipped with old-fashioned motion-sensing lights.

The lights went out every minute, needing someone to make noise to reactivate them, leaving the stairway dark except for the dim green glow of the exit signs, eerily like a haunted house.

Somehow, this inconvenient setup felt comforting to Xia Fu.

Her family’s old apartment building was designed the same way, with dim, cramped hallways covered in tattered ads like cryptic symbols. Walking through it felt like traversing the twisting intestines of a creature. In such a place, the occasional flicker of light was a blessing.

When Xia Fu returned from evening classes, she would feel her way up the dark stairs, moving cautiously until reaching the landing.

“Ah-ha!”

She’d shout to expel any lingering tension, stamping her foot as if to chase away the shadows. The sudden burst of light illuminating her path always made her feel like persistence would eventually lead to brightness in life.

Today, along with the sound of the sensor light, she heard laughter.

What was that?

Xia Fu leaned over the stair railing, peeking down. It was like a princess in a tower looking down at a visitor, a stray lock of hair slipping past her cheek.

Someone else must have decided to sleep in and take the stairs, rushing to avoid being late.

Fang Jingcheng stood a few steps below, looking up at her.

“Hey, good morning.”

The fluorescent light brightened the stairwell, but his handsome face was enough to light up her eyes.

At that moment, Xia Fu couldn’t quite describe her feelings.

“…Good morning.”

She parted her lips, her voice carrying a tiny hint of hopefulness.

“Are you going to class here too?”

On the basketball court, Bao Zhiwei and Fang Jingcheng had built up quite a rivalry; if he were around, Bao Zhiwei probably wouldn’t even have time to notice her.

“Yeah, I’m headed to the fourth floor.”

As he climbed the stairs, Fang Jingcheng reached into his bag.

In the time it took for Xia Fu to drift off in thought, the sensor light had gone out, and Fang Jingcheng had already reached her side. He clapped his hands, turning the light back on.

Xia Fu noticed he was pulling out a brand-new textbook, the familiar cover peeking out under his slender fingers.

“It’s Probability Theory. It’s a must for the modeling competition. Are we in the same class?”

The answer was a definite yes.

“That’s lucky.”

Fang Jingcheng’s blue eyes sparkled with amusement.

The honors class had a unique evening study arrangement; the counselor would often be there to answer students’ questions. Fang Jingcheng had only needed to make a small request to get a look at Xia Fu’s schedule, arranging this “chance encounter.”

Little did he expect that diligent Xia Fu would be one of those barely-on-time types; things were going smoother than he’d planned.

With five minutes to spare before the warning bell, they entered the lecture hall. The middle section was mostly full, and only the very front row remained empty.

This was the dreaded “black triangle” zone, right in the professor’s line of sight and open to all the students. Anyone hoping to use their phone would avoid it like the plague. But for Xia Fu, it was just what she needed.

She didn’t want to sit next to Bao Zhiwei again, nor keep slipping by unnoticed…

Her last paper had already proven her grasp of this subject. With the competition approaching, she should be sitting at the front, answering questions, and earning participation points!

With that thought, Xia Fu slipped her bag into the drawer of the central seat in the first row.

And Fang Jingcheng, with nowhere else to go, naturally settled down beside her.