Chapter 3: First Encounter

—

City life moved fast.

Back at her rural school, He Rou always had plenty of free time after class to do her own thing.

But here, that wasn’t possible.

Her mother had signed her up for countless cram schools and started her on an endless path of grade-skipping.

Even though it was winter, He Rou didn’t feel the slightest bit cold.

She couldn’t tell if it was because of that fire or because she simply had no time to go outside and play.

Either way, her life had completely changed.

Her parents were so busy with work that she hardly ever saw them, and even after school, no one came to pick her up for long stretches of time.

Still, she’d gotten used to it.

With no one bothering her, she actually felt quite at ease.

After living in this city for a year, her parents moved them again because of work.

“Another new life…”

He Rou stared at the empty house in front of her and felt a twinge of disgust.

But since she’d already spent a year living alone, she quickly got familiar with everything here.

However, the new school brought her some pressure.

The school was strict and excellent, and most of the students had either been there since kindergarten or were extremely smart—transfer students who’d won competitions.

As a girl from the countryside, He Rou clearly couldn’t keep up with them.

Their way of talking, living, and having fun was completely different.

Classes were packed from morning to night.

Even though there were a lot of them, most were just extracurricular hobby courses.

There were very few classes He Rou actually hated, but the ones she did hate, she truly hated.

Still, she met someone—a girl her own age.

If her parents hadn’t pushed her, He Rou wouldn’t have given her a second look.

The girl’s name was Luo Yun.

She seemed spacey.

While everyone else was busy showing off, she spent all her time squatting in some corner of the school, drawing.

He Rou could hardly ever find her, but since they were in the same class, even if they rarely met, it didn’t stop He Rou from trying to make contact.

He Rou didn’t like talking to people, but she sensed something amusing about Luo Yun.

Luo Yun never drew in the same place twice.

Every time class ended, He Rou would secretly follow her.

Though the spots changed, He Rou noticed after a while that there were only a few of them.

The school rooftop—always locked, but Luo Yun somehow had the key.

The art room in the teaching building—Luo Yun rarely went there except during class.

A certain patch of grass where you could see the mountain behind the school, and when the weather was good, the clouds were huge—that was Luo Yun’s favorite spot.

He Rou rarely managed to talk to her, so most of the time she just secretly observed.

‘A little kid trying to act all mature.’

Her eyes were cold, as if someone owed her a fortune.

After watching for a long time, He Rou got bored.

She didn’t know why her parents wanted her to get along with this girl.

But none of that mattered anymore.

The amusement He Rou had found in Luo Yun had already worn off.

—

The sky was always gloomy during the rainy season.

He Rou lay face down on her desk.

The air was thick with moisture, making her head feel like it was full of water.

After shaking her head, she finally decided to go out for some air.

But the classroom was on a high floor, and she didn’t want to bother going all the way down.

So the rooftop became her best option.

Even though the door was locked, she figured someone would be up there drawing around this time.

After adjusting her shoelaces, He Rou dashed up to the higher floor.

Soon, she reached the door that led to the rooftop.

She pushed lightly, and the rusty iron door swung open.

A rush of fresh, still-damp air hit her.

At first, He Rou felt cold, but then her whole body felt as if it had been activated—wide awake.

The person who’d unlocked the rooftop door sat quietly by the railing, painting.

The canvas showed a blue sky and white clouds, but the real sky was gray and overcast.

“You painted it wrong.”

“… “

“The weather isn’t this nice right now.”

“… “

“Hey, say something!”

“You’ve been following me for so long. What do you want?”

“Heh…”

He Rou had nothing to say.

“Don’t just kill the conversation like that. No wonder you have no friends.”

“Aren’t you the same?”

“Eh? You’ve been watching me too?”

“Hard not to notice a stalker staring at me every day.”

“Who’s a stalker… Fine. I’m officially telling you now—you just lost someone who wanted to be your friend. That’s it. Never see you again.”

Even as she said that, He Rou didn’t move her feet.

Her eyes were fixed on the person in front of her, though she couldn’t see her face or expression.

“Oh.”

“Hey! At least turn around and look at me!”

He Rou was annoyed.

This person hadn’t faced her even once the whole time.

Luo Yun was surprisingly honest.

She stopped painting, turned her head, and looked at the person behind her.

He Rou wasn’t good at dressing up.

As long as her clothes were wearable, she didn’t care.

So in Luo Yun’s eyes, she looked like a country bumpkin—an eyesore.

A weird combination of clothes.

“Don’t you have parents?”

“?”

“What kind of parents dress their kid like that?”

Luo Yun’s words hit He Rou right where it hurt.

It was true.

Her parents basically ignored her, even if her living conditions had improved a hundredfold compared to the past.

But that gap in family affection couldn’t be filled with money.

“Well, your paintings aren’t that great either. I’ve watched you draw every day and never noticed what you were painting. Now that I look, it’s almost as good as mine.”

“Oh.”

“Ahh! I… I really don’t want to talk to you anymore.”

“Do you want to give it a try?”

“I…”

He Rou hadn’t expected that this person, who’d been brushing her off the whole time, would actually let her paint.

“No? Forget it then. I suggest you go back down. The rooftop is strictly off-limits. If a teacher catches you, you’ll be in trouble.”

“Why wouldn’t I be able to? Give me the brush… Besides, you’re always on the rooftop too.”

Complaining, He Rou stepped forward and took the brush from Luo Yun’s hand.

Seeing her attitude, Luo Yun wisely stepped aside, swapping out a new sheet of paper on the easel.

“… “

Time ticked by. Luo Yun stood behind her, quietly watching.

She was curious.

What was the deal with this person who’d been secretly following her for days?

She’d noticed He Rou from the very beginning of her stalking.

Every time she painted, she felt someone’s gaze on her.

At first, she thought it was another one of the cliques in her class, sent to mess with her.

But after watching for several days, she realized this person was always alone.

Still, it annoyed her.

Even if He Rou never bothered her, that staring eyes made her feel the same unease she felt at family banquets.

The thought of reporting her to the parents vanished when Luo Yun got a good look at He Rou’s face.

Despite her terrible fashion sense, she liked that face—as cute as the birthday bear her mom had given her in her bedroom.