5. Heartbeat

After school that afternoon, Pei Huan stuffed all the homework and textbooks needed for the day into her bag, zipped it up quickly, and noticed that Lu Yinghuai was, unusually, still sitting at his desk at this hour. Pei Huan glanced at him with mild curiosity, shouldering her bag and preparing to leave, when Yuan Tao stopped before Lu Yinghuai’s seat.

A bright smile lit up Yuan Tao’s face as she spoke gently, “Yinghuai, want to walk home together after school?”

Lu Yinghuai didn’t pause as he packed his things. Only after zipping his bag did he look up and meet Yuan Tao’s smiling gaze. His eyes were cool and detached, and his voice even colder: “And you are?”

Pei Huan, watching the scene unfold with interest, couldn’t suppress a quiet laugh, her tone tinged with schadenfreude. She’d heard from other girls about what happened in gym class earlier—how Yuan Tao had called him ‘Yinghuai’ so intimately—only for him to now act as if he didn’t know her. Pei Huan wondered if Yuan Tao felt the sting of embarrassment.

Yuan Tao’s smile faltered for a split second but soon recovered. She continued warmly, “I’m Yuan Tao. Your family should have mentioned me to you.”

“Really?” Lu Yinghuai’s eyes remained indifferent as he replied offhandedly, “But I haven’t been in touch with my family for a long time.”

Another sharp retort, and Pei Huan nearly choked trying to suppress her laughter. Yuan Tao, of course, noticed the flush on Pei Huan’s face and her shaking shoulders, silently cursing her, though she kept her composure.

“Is there anything else? If not, I’ll be going.” Without waiting for Yuan Tao’s response, Lu Yinghuai slung his backpack over his shoulder and left.

Yuan Tao stared after Lu Yinghuai’s departing figure, a flash of unwillingness in her eyes.

Having enjoyed the spectacle, Pei Huan got up to leave as well. Just then, Tao Ranxi walked over to Yuan Tao’s side. When the two locked eyes, Pei Huan could sense Tao Ranxi’s dislike for her, but she didn’t care. She had already made plans to play basketball after school and suspected she’d be scolded for being late.

“Someone looks like she’s enjoying the misfortune of others,” Tao Ranxi remarked suddenly. Though she didn’t name names, everyone present knew who she meant. Pei Huan paused, turned to Tao Ranxi, and narrowed her eyes slightly. “If you have something to say, just say it.”

“Did I say you?” Tao Ranxi shot back, refusing to back down.

Tension crackled between them. Yuan Tao, though she secretly looked down on Pei Huan, hurried to smooth things over. “Sorry, Pei Huan. Ranxi just has that kind of temper. If she upset you, I’ll apologize on her behalf.”

On the surface, she was apologizing for Tao Ranxi, but Pei Huan could sense the hidden meaning. Pei Huan studied Yuan Tao for a few seconds, then broke into a bright smile. “All right, since you apologized for her, I’ll forgive her.”

Pei Huan wasn’t one to pick fights, but if someone came at her, she’d never let herself be at a disadvantage.

The whole class was watching—some amused, some siding with Yuan Tao, some with Pei Huan.

Tao Ranxi was clearly unhappy at Pei Huan’s words. “Why should I, Pei Huan?”

“Don’t want to?” Pei Huan raised a brow. “Then you can apologize yourself.”

One against two, yet Pei Huan held her ground effortlessly—so much so that Wang Xun and the others watched in admiration.

That’s Pei Huan for you.

For a moment, Yuan Tao’s eyes darkened, but she quickly regained her composure and said with a hint of apology, “Sorry.”

“All right, then I forgive her,” Pei Huan replied, turning smartly to leave the classroom.

Tao Ranxi was fuming and forgot they were still in class. “Yuan Tao, why did you apologize? Didn’t you see how arrogant she was?”

Yuan Tao was about to reply when someone else spoke up. “Well, Tao Ranxi, Yuan Tao apologized to her for your sake, and you’re still giving her attitude? Isn’t that a bit much?”

Others quickly chimed in, and Tao Ranxi, outnumbered, stormed out of the classroom, anger barely contained.

When Pei Huan reached the basketball court, her friends immediately called her over. The boys noticed she was in an unusually good mood during the game. During a break, Chen Mingzhe took a sip of water and asked, “You’re in a great mood today, huh?”

“You can tell?” Pei Huan laughed.

“Even your game is better than usual,” Chen Mingzhe teased.

After a few casual words, they returned to the court, but Pei Huan played only five more minutes before stepping out. Her brother, Pei Yan, had things to do and couldn’t walk home with her today, and as dusk fell, he’d texted her to remind her to come home early.

Leaving the school, she found fewer and fewer people as she walked home, humming a song as she strolled. Passing a park, she glanced around aimlessly and spotted a familiar figure. After a moment’s hesitation, she walked over.

“Didn’t you already go home?” Pei Huan asked, surprised.

Lu Yinghuai’s unfocused gaze settled on her face. “Just clearing my head.”

Pei Huan sat down naturally beside him and made conversation. “It’s getting late. Aren’t you heading home?”

“No rush.”

The house was empty—he had no desire to return.

They chatted casually, and Pei Huan suddenly recalled the events after school. Sitting up straight, she asked, “Do you really not know Yuan Tao?”

Lu Yinghuai gave her a cold sidelong glance. “Why would I lie to you?”

“When you said that and saw her reaction, it was hilarious. She’s probably cursing me out in her head right now,” Pei Huan said, laughing again.

Lu Yinghuai watched her laugh, his expression unreadable, unable to understand what she found so funny.

After a while, Pei Huan decided it was time to go home. As she stood, so did Lu Yinghuai. She glanced at him. “Are you leaving too?”

“I’ll walk you,” he replied simply.

“You’ll walk me?” Pei Huan was surprised.

She hadn’t expected those words from him.

Lu Yinghuai had already walked ahead, but, turning and seeing Pei Huan still standing there, he called, “Aren’t you coming?”

“Coming, coming,” Pei Huan hurried to catch up.

They kept a comfortable distance between them. Pei Huan caught a faint scent of laundry detergent from Lu Yinghuai—not overpowering, actually rather pleasant. She asked without thinking, “What laundry detergent do you use? Smells nice.”

“No idea,” Lu Yinghuai shook his head.

He didn’t seem to be lying, so Pei Huan dropped the subject. After all, he probably didn’t care about brands.

When they reached her building, Pei Huan turned on the steps and saw Lu Yinghuai still standing there, watching her. She flashed him a brilliant smile and waved. “Bye, Lu Yinghuai. Be careful on your way home.”

Whether it was the dazzling sunset or Pei Huan’s radiant smile, something made Lu Yinghuai’s heart skip a beat. He watched the door close before finally turning to leave.

Lu Yinghuai knew very well what that racing heartbeat meant, but he was used to being alone, deprived of familial warmth in childhood, making him indifferent to emotions.

This was the first time in a long while that he’d truly felt his heart move. He’d met girls more beautiful and better than Pei Huan, so why today? Could he really trust this feeling?

Failing to find an answer, he buried the thought and kept walking, expressionless.

Perhaps it was just a fleeting moment of feeling.

That’s what Lu Yinghuai told himself.

When Pei Huan changed her shoes in the foyer and entered the house, she saw Pei Yan lounging on the sofa, legs crossed, gaming. Upon seeing her, he asked offhandedly, “Played ball again before coming home?”

“Yeah. Where were you?” Pei Huan tossed her bag aside.

“Mind your brother’s business,” Pei Yan shot back.

Pei Huan snorted. “As if I’m interested in your affairs.”

The siblings traded a few playful barbs. Their mother had just finished cooking and was bringing out dishes. Seeing her, they both got up to help.

“Where’s Dad?” Pei Huan asked casually at dinner.

“He has a work dinner tonight—won’t be home,” their mother replied.

Pei Huan just nodded and fell silent. The atmosphere at the table was a bit quiet. She remembered walking home with Lu Yinghuai and couldn’t help but chuckle.

She didn’t like Lu Yinghuai that way, but it was rare to see this side of him. He’d shown a different face that evening, the kind you seldom caught a glimpse of. Was this what people called a sneak preview of another self?

Pei Yan eyed her suspiciously, seeing her grinning mischievously. “What are you scheming against your brother now?”

“Nothing,” Pei Huan shook her head.

Pei Yan snorted. “Yeah, right. I bet you’ve already imagined my reaction in your head.”

“I swear I haven’t,” Pei Huan shook her head like a rattle drum, then put on a look of exaggerated heartbreak. “Pei Yan, we’re siblings. How could you think of me that way? I’m truly wounded.”

Pei Yan gazed at her expressionlessly. If he hadn’t experienced it himself, he might have believed her lies.

Their mother watched them, half exasperated, half amused. “How come you two argue every time you’re together?”

“That was my second personality just now,” Pei Huan said immediately.

Pei Yan: “…”

A fine ‘second personality,’ indeed.

After dinner, Pei Huan went to her room to do homework.

The next day during break, the girls in class seemed unusually excited. Pei Huan was puzzled until Tang Yue came over.

“A new idol boy band debuted in H Country! They’re super handsome!” Tang Yue said excitedly.

Pei Huan had some interest in such things, so she immediately had Tang Yue show her pictures. The group had six members, each one more attractive than the last. Pei Huan nearly drooled over them.

“I swear, he could totally be my husband,” Pei Huan gushed.

“Dream on. He’s my husband,” Tang Yue replied.

The two playfully argued over whose ‘husband’ he was, finally reaching a compromise: shared custody. Wang Xun, sitting in front, overheard and burst out laughing. “You two argue forever, and it sounds like something major, but in the end, you both just dropped a big one.”

“You’re good at metaphors, but please, spare us next time,” Pei Huan said deadpan.

Lu Yinghuai, wearing an earbud in his left ear, listened to Tang Yue and Pei Huan rave about how handsome the boy band was. His phone happened to push a news alert about the same group. He opened it, glanced at the pictures, and closed it.

Nothing special, really.