Shu Qi stepped into the apartment her parents had rented for her, a small but cozy space that was now hers. She smiled to herself as she started unpacking her belongings, taking her time since her classes didn't start until the next day. She was excited to begin her second year of high school, although it hadn't been easy convincing her parents to let her move out on her own. They were reluctant at first, wanting her to stay closer to home, but after weeks of pleading and making her case, they finally agreed. Shu Qi always prided herself on her independence, and moving out was just another step in proving she could take care of herself.
After everything was neatly arranged in her new place, she flopped down on the bed and let her mind wander. Her thoughts drifted to Jun Hao, a character in the story she knew so well. At this point in the plot, he was working part-time at a restaurant just to pay his school tuition. No one at school really talked to him, and honestly, Jun Hao didn't have time to care about that.
He was too focused on surviving, on figuring out how to make it through each day. The kids at school avoided him like the plague, and even the original Shu Qi—the one from the story—had refused to sit next to him in class. That was the only scene she appeared in, the moment she rejected Jun Hao like everyone else. But everything changed when the protagonist came along. She sat beside him, not because she genuinely cared, but because she wanted to look good in front of the class.
Shu Qi sighed, remembering how cold the original version of herself had been to Jun Hao. "I won't be like her," she thought to herself, making a promise. "I'll take good care of my character."
The next morning, Shu Qi woke up early, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement. It was her first day at the new school, and after getting dressed, she made her way to the building. Once she arrived, the first thing she did was head to the school office to speak with her homeroom teacher, Ms. Fei, who would introduce her to the class. Shu Qi could feel her heart race with anticipation. She couldn't wait to meet Jun Hao in real life—or rather, the real-life version of the character she knew so well.
Meanwhile, in the classroom, Jun Hao sat alone at his desk, his head down as usual, studying. He had long given up on the idea that anyone would want to sit next to him or befriend him. The other students treated him like he was invisible, and Jun Hao had grown used to the isolation. He focused on his textbooks, blocking out the noise of the room. "Why would anyone care about me?" he thought to himself, numb to the indifference around him. "Even my adoptive mother barely acknowledges me." He had learned not to expect kindness from anyone, especially not from his classmates.
A few minutes later, the bell rang, and Ms. Fei walked into the classroom, followed by Shu Qi. The room immediately filled with whispers as the students took in the sight of the new girl. "Who's she?" some of the boys murmured. "Wow, she's really pretty," others added, "She's definitely going to be one of the school's top beauties."
Shu Qi could hear the comments but paid them no mind. She was focused on finding Jun Hao. She scanned the room, trying to match the description from the story to one of the students. Then, in the back corner, she spotted him—a boy with dark hair, sitting with his head lowered, looking completely disinterested in everything around him. "That must be him," she thought.
Ms. Fei interrupted her thoughts, calling her name. "Shu Qi, would you mind sitting next to Jun Hao?" she asked, pointing to the boy in the back. Shu Qi smiled, already anticipating this moment, and replied confidently, "Of course, but… who is he?" Ms. Fei seemed slightly taken aback by her question but quickly pointed again, "He's sitting over there, in the last row."
Shu Qi's heart skipped a beat as she looked over at him again. "It really is him," she thought, feeling a strange excitement build inside her.
Ms. Fei, noticing Shu Qi's brief hesitation, quickly added, "Just so you know, we'll be having a class exam soon, and the seating arrangement will change based on the results." But Shu Qi didn't care about that. She smiled and replied, "That's fine, I don't mind sitting with him." Ms. Fei gave a small sigh of relief before addressing the class. "Alright, let's begin the lesson."
Jun Hao, completely absorbed in his studies, didn't even notice the conversation happening around him. He was so used to being ignored that he barely registered someone sitting next to him until he heard a voice. "Hi, Jun Hao. I'm your new seatmate," the voice said brightly.
Surprised, Jun Hao looked up and saw a girl with dark hair tied in a ponytail, her warm brown eyes staring at him with an unexpected kindness. For a moment, he was confused. Why would someone willingly sit next to him? He thought about all the times students had avoided him, how they whispered behind his back. "She must not know yet," he thought coldly. His expression didn't change as he looked at her, and without a word, he turned back to his books, thinking, "Once she hears the rumors about me, she'll leave like everyone else."
Shu Qi noticed his lack of response but wasn't discouraged. She knew from the story that Jun Hao was used to being ignored and mistreated. He had no reason to trust people or to believe that someone could genuinely want to be nice to him. But Shu Qi had made up her mind. She wasn't going to give up on him just because he didn't respond right away. "I'll keep trying," she thought, determined to break through his cold exterior. Throughout the class, she tried to engage him in conversation, but each attempt was met with silence. Jun Hao stayed focused on his studies, avoiding any interaction.
When lunchtime came, he quietly stood up and left the room without a word. Shu Qi watched him go, letting out a small sigh. "It's going to take time," she muttered to herself. Just as she was about to leave, a classmate named Lian approached her desk. "You should really stay away from him," Lian warned, her tone filled with disdain. "He's bad news. Everyone says he's cursed, brings bad luck."
Shu Qi's expression immediately darkened. She stood up, staring Lian down with an icy glare. "You should shut your mouth," Shu Qi said sharply, her voice calm but threatening. "You don't know anything about him."
Lian looked taken aback by Shu Qi's sudden hostility. As Shu Qi grabbed her bag to leave, she purposely bumped Lian's shoulder on her way out. "Don't ever say anything like that about him again," she added, her tone filled with finality. Lian scowled but didn't say anything as Shu Qi walked away. "I warned you!" she shouted after her, but Shu Qi didn't bother looking back.
Shu Qi had always been this way. She didn't tolerate insults or gossip, especially when it involved someone she cared about. If she liked someone, she would defend them fiercely, no matter what it took. And right now, Jun Hao was the one she was determined to protect, whether he realized it or not.