After that, I felt listless most of the time, except when the school beauty came to see Qiao. Only then did I focus intently, perhaps because they were both so popular.

I had always looked down on gossipy people, yet now I seemed to be becoming one myself… It made me silently admit, “People really do change.” And so, I kept watching.

Qiao seemed a little different when faced with the school beauty’s intense enthusiasm. What was different? Let me think—he seemed… at a loss. Yes, that was it.

Being at a loss is natural. If a well-mannered, attractive guy treated me like that, I’d probably react the same way.

But it seemed I was wrong…

Every day after school, the school beauty would shamelessly plop herself on the back of Qiao’s bike, asking him to take her home. At first, Qiao refused, but she was undeterred and followed him like a shadow.

As soon as he reached the crowded school gate, Qiao would pedal away without looking back, as if escaping forever. His powerful legs pedaled quickly, trying to shake off the “tail” behind him, but the school beauty had decent endurance and knew where he lived.

He could flee, but he couldn’t hide.

The school beauty tossed her branded bag with the security guard, rolled up her sleeves, and started running after him, laughing as she called out, “Hey, I’m taking you home!”

Her tone was as bold as a man’s.

Qiao hesitated for a moment, then kept pedaling. The school beauty chased him, laughing brightly, her smile as radiant as a sunflower.

Their shadows stretched long across the ground, and to an onlooker, it might look like a game of cat and mouse.

After evening classes, the night air turned chilly, and the warmth of the day was long gone. My uniform barely shielded me from the cool night breeze as I followed them on my mountain bike, becoming another little “tail.” No one noticed me; I was always invisible.

They continued their chase, and I continued my covert pursuit, feeling a bit like a paparazzo. As I trailed them, I couldn’t help but mock myself internally—maybe I should just call myself “Tabloid Qin” and apply for a journalism major after the college entrance exams.

They moved into the side road, while I stayed hidden behind the trees.

Qiao’s bike slowed down on the bumpy road. He glanced back at the school beauty, who was running after him like a cheetah, and, unable to keep ignoring her, finally put his foot down to wait.

Once he stopped, the school beauty caught up and plopped herself on the back of his bike, panting. “Don’t worry,” she said, “I told you I’d take you home, and I will. Or how about this—you let me take you instead?” From where I was, I couldn’t see Qiao’s expression, so I moved a little closer and just managed to hear his calm, low voice: “This isn’t right. Please stop following me. Thank you.”

The dark, windy night and empty street set the mood perfectly. The school beauty suddenly hugged Qiao’s waist, swaying slightly as she pleaded, “Fine, I’ll stop following you if you take me instead.” She looked around, and I quickly hid behind the corner. Then she cried out, “Oh no! I have no idea where I am, Qiao… please be kind and take me home.”

Qiao sighed, looked around, and brushed her hand off as he replied, “Don’t think I don’t see through your little tricks. I’ll take you home this time, but not again.”

The school beauty straightened up immediately, laughing with mischievous joy as she hugged Qiao from behind, pretending to sound troubled, “No, that won’t do. I always repay kindness. Since you’re taking me home today, next time it’s my turn.”

Qiao said nothing, and I couldn’t hear the rest of their conversation because they were turning around, and I was busy finding a hiding spot. On their way back, the school beauty would constantly hug or cling to him in all sorts of playful ways, but Qiao stayed unfazed.

With one hand on the handlebars and the other shielding himself from her, he remained composed. When the path curved, he had to use both hands to steer, and when she got more touchy, he just ignored her, letting her have her fun.

After all, a guy’s “personal space” seemed to cost less than a girl’s. She took advantage of him, and after that night, she began having him take her home regularly. And I… sometimes I followed, and sometimes I didn’t.

I’m not sure when their relationship deepened, but Qiao’s bike trips must have warmed things up between them. The school beauty was relentless, and eventually, Qiao became hers.

Though he kept a cool distance, his attitude toward her held a subtle difference. He hadn’t agreed to anything, but he no longer resisted her advances. When she gave him gifts, he accepted; when she asked for things, he agreed; when she got affectionate, he tolerated it.

People noticed, as if they’d discovered a new world, and after a while, they got used to it.

The school beauty’s bold pursuit was hard to ignore, and when she was called out by the head of discipline one day, I happened to pass by and saw it. Back in class, I told Liao Sixing.

Then Liao Sixing passed the message to Qiao. I saw Qiao’s hand tense on his pen, staring at his book in thought. Before he left the classroom, he came over to my desk, and a light seemed to shine over me. For the first time, I knew what it felt like to be noticed.

It was the first time Qiao ever came to me directly, his expression still distant, but his eyes sincere as he said, “Thank you, Du Qin, for letting Liao Sixing tell me.” His gratitude surprised me—I thought he didn’t even know my name.

Hearing “Du Qin” from him felt strange, though his thanks didn’t feel entirely right to me. I looked at Qiao for a full two seconds; it felt like the first time he looked at me seriously, with crystal-clear eyes, free from any negative emotions. His gaze was as pure as white jade, clear and untainted. If I looked any longer, I might be tempted to admire his eyes further.

I lowered my head and continued my homework, my handwriting messier than before. “No need to thank me. It was nothing.”

“There’s no obligation for anyone to do anything for others. I’ll remember this favor.” Qiao left after hearing my response.

I watched him, realizing that, for once, he had set aside his studies for someone else and was about to use his precious lunch break to see someone. He never wasted his break; if he wasn’t studying, he was reading, as if wasting a single second was unforgivable.

I smiled. It seemed like he always worried about owing someone. Even the smallest favor was a serious matter to him.