Protect Our Brooding Academic Prodigy

Lu Jianying + Lin Shen gloomy top student x sunny boy

During their three years of high school, the thing Lin Shen regretted most was being a "bystander."

*

In the second semester of their first year, the school's top student, Lu Jianying, somehow ended up in their Class B.

Their class had originally had an even number of students. Then Lu Jianying became the remainder.

Lin Shen heard that Lu Jianying secretly watched people of the same sex, had an ugly way of walking, and had a sinister look in his eyes. He was a pervert.

The whole class isolated Lu Jianying. Even during the pandemic, the students on duty refused to take his temperature.

Lin Shen didn't dare tell anyone:

He actually thought Lu Jianying was pretty nice.

Under the pressure of schoolwork and social life, Lu Jianying transferred away.

Lin Shen vaguely remembered that it was the last class on a Friday. Lu Jianying and his father were packing up, while people hurried past. Not one person said goodbye to him.

Lu Jianying hadn't gone far yet, but the class was already cheering.

Lin Shen lay on his desk pretending to sleep, but in his hand he clutched the eraser Lu Jianying had lent him:

He should have returned it.

But he didn't dare.

*

The sight of Lu Jianying's back as he left haunted Lin Shen like a ghost.

Lin Shen was reborn.

The teacher had just announced that Lu Jianying would sit alone at the back. His deskmate was complaining about Lu Jianying's arrogant, cold expression, and the student behind him asked whether Lu Jianying's way of walking was funny.

"Lu!" Lin Shen said in a fluster. "Can I sit with you?"

The whole class fell silent.

Lin Shen had always thought Lu Jianying was just a poor student who'd been ostracized.

Until he woke up in Lu Jianying's room after a night of drinking...

A whole drawer, full of his photos.

#Lu Jianying's silent crush had been laid bare ever since Lin Shen turned around to look at him.

Mutual salvation. Set against Zhejiang's college entrance exam system, with the seven-subject elective and one-subject essay format.

Theme: Say no to school bullying through social exclusion