Aren't You Going to School?

[Completed. Bonus chapters to come. The author is a compulsive reviser and may edit the story at any time. Not responsible for pirated copies.]

Please add these upcoming stories to your favorites: "What Should I Do After I Accidentally Order a Meal for My Boss?", "A Love Out of Place", and "Go Ahead, Try Me". The next story will be "A Love Out of Place".

On the first weekend of her sophomore year, Li Chu was dragged along by her student-council roommate to help welcome the new students.

After seeing off a batch of freshmen, she sat bored beneath a tent, fanning herself with a piece of paper. Before long, Li Chu found herself staring into space at an empty set of steps.

Suddenly, a boy came into view.

A simple white T-shirt and matching athletic shorts. Standing in the sunlight, he looked so fresh and clean he was a feast for the eyes.

Oh no, he's exactly my type!

After taking several deep breaths and giving herself a long pep talk, Li Chu put down the paper and slowly walked over to him.

The boy seemed to sense her and turned his head.

Damn, he's even more stunning up close!

Li Chu nervously began, "Hi, could I ask if you have WeCh..."

Just then, a phone ringtone suddenly rang out.

Li Chu watched in disbelief as the boy pulled a Little Genius kids' smartwatch from his pocket. He gave her an apologetic smile and expertly swiped the screen.

"Hi, Mom. I don't think we've found my brother yet..."

Li Chu: ...

The boy hung up and looked down at her. "Sorry, I didn't catch what you said. Was there something you needed?"

Li Chu shook her head quickly. "No, sorry to bother you!"

She fled back beneath the tent.

Come on, she wasn't about to hit on an underage kid.

*

Bian Cheng's parents happened to be away on a business trip when it was time for him to register at university, so the job fell to his cousin, who went to the same university and had grown up with him.

When the day came, his cousin looked down at the little brat sitting on his suitcase and felt a headache coming on.

"Cuz, let me push your suitcase inside."

His younger cousin's plea was earnest, and his eyes gleamed with an irresistible light.

Bian Cheng gave a cold laugh.

Sure enough, the very next moment...

"Can I borrow your phone to play with? I finished my homework anyway."

Having said that, the kid hopped off the suitcase and took off, pulling it along behind him.

Bian Cheng couldn't stop him in time. When he finally realized what had happened, he reached into his pocket and pulled out... a kids' smartwatch.

The kid called back as he dragged the suitcase away. "Let's trade! I'll go find Lin Xiu for you first!"

Then he darted into the crowd and vanished.

Bian Cheng: ...

Taking a deep breath, he pushed his way through the crowd. After a while, he found an empty set of steps and tried to spot Bian Lin.

A girl suddenly came over to stand beside him.

Her cheeks were an unnatural shade of red, and her eyes darted away. She seemed to say something to him, but it was too noisy for him to hear.

His mom called just then. He answered, humored her for a few moments, then hung up and looked at the girl.

The blush had completely vanished from her face. Looking a little puzzled, she said, "Sorry to bother you," then hurried away.

Bian Cheng: ?

*

The girl who'd approached him on registration day was a senior from a neighboring college. She probably saw him standing there alone, looking around, and thought he was having trouble, Bian Cheng mused distractedly.

But whenever he ran into her after that, she seemed to have something to say, then stopped herself.

He greeted her. She asked, "Aren't you going to class?"

He brought her milk tea. She asked, "Aren't you going to class?"

He invited her to dinner. She asked, "Aren't you going to class?"

Bian Cheng: ?

This is weird. I'm already in class, aren't I?

When Bian Cheng finally learned the truth, he gritted his teeth. "Bian Lin, you're dead!"

At heart, this is a silly little story about two people who secretly like each other and a misunderstanding. It should be a short, everyday-life story.

[Blurb written June 24, 2025. Archived.]

Below is the blurb for the next story, "A Love Out of Place". Please add it to your favorites!

-

[The Pursuit After the Breakup | Rekindled Romance | Showbiz | Over-the-Top Drama | Bittersweet]

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"Do you still think that if you wave me over, I'll come running to you like a dog?"

"Dream on."

*

From the days when Chi Jialan was an unknown student to her career as a superstar adored by millions, Shen Mo stayed by her side for seven whole years. It was so long that even Shen Mo almost believed they could make it to the end together.

In his first year, Shen Mo fell for Chi Jialan at first sight and gave up all his free time to attend classes outside his major.

In his second year, Chi Jialan accepted his confession. Shen Mo was so delighted that he busied himself celebrating, deliberately ignoring the momentary unease in her eyes.

In his third year, Chi Jialan wanted to enter showbiz. Shen Mo hugged her and said, "I'll be your strongest support."

And he did just that, for seven whole years.

He could have kept deluding himself forever, but he couldn't ignore the perpetual indifference in Chi Jialan's eyes.

After his overflowing love had been frozen one too many times, the disappointment hidden deep in his heart broke free like a beast escaping its cage. One day, Shen Mo suddenly realized that pulling away from this relationship didn't seem so difficult after all.

So, once his disappointment had finally piled high enough, he asked Chi Jialan to break up. As expected, she didn't even try to stop him. He left City A without looking back.

*

Later, someone joked, "They say Jialan has eyes that look born to love. I wonder if we'll ever get to see what she looks like when she's truly in love."

Shen Mo happened to walk by and hear this. He couldn't help lowering his head with a quiet laugh.

Maybe she would. He'd just been unlucky. Seven years, and he'd never seen it.

As he turned away, he heard a woman's voice, soft yet utterly certain: "She will."

Shen Mo didn't stop walking. He tossed what he was holding into a trash can.

It didn't matter. It wouldn't be him, anyway. He didn't care anymore.

*

He just hadn't expected that, after he left, Chi Jialan would track him down at his new office in City B, completely unconcerned by the commotion she'd caused downstairs.

He frowned and looked at her. "Sorry, but I thought we'd already broken up."

Chi Jialan took a deep breath, struggling to keep her expression blank. She spoke slowly, one word at a time. "I never agreed to it."

-

Content warnings:

1. The female lead has severe avoidant attachment and serious psychological issues, though she improves later.

2. The blurb is from the male lead's perspective, while the main story is from the female lead's. It alternates between city life and university flashbacks. He pursues her early on, then she pursues him later.

3. No real-life inspirations. Please don't associate the characters with real people.

[Blurb written August 9, 2025. Revised November 29, 2025. Archived.]

Theme: Misunderstandings should be talked through.