Saturday morning arrived with the sun peeking through the lace curtains. Lin Keqing stirred under her blanket, only to realize she'd overslept. The first school week of Grade 12 had drained her more than she thought.
Downstairs, her grandmother greeted her with warm soy milk and fried dough. They ate in silence, but it was a comforting quiet. As they were cleaning up, her grandmother asked, "Feeling the pressure yet?"
Keqing gave a tired smile. "A little."
"Just do your best. The rest will follow."
Later that morning, the two of them went to the local market. As they passed the fruit stalls and the smell of freshly baked bread, Keqing listened to her grandmother chat with the vendors and felt a sense of calm she rarely had during the week. Still, in her heart, she knew the year ahead wouldn't be easy.
That afternoon, Keqing took a bus downtown to visit her favorite bookstore. She needed English materials, but secretly, she hoped for something else—a break from the academic pressure.
As she browsed through grammar books, a familiar voice called from behind her.
"Looking for another way to avoid practice exams?"
She turned around. Gu Yuyan stood there, a book on astrophysics in his hand.
She raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you supposed to be buried in lab reports?"
"I escaped. Just for today."
They ended up browsing the shelves together. Like many times before, he picked a book he thought she'd like—a poetry collection in both English and Chinese. She picked one for him about scientific ethics. They teased each other about their choices.
As they stood by the window flipping through pages, Keqing asked, a little hesitantly, "How are things with your brother?"
Yuyan's expression softened. "Better. He calls more often now. He's teaching music in another city."
"You used to admire him a lot."
"Still do. But I also understand now why he needed space."
She nodded, not pressing further. Some things were best left to time.
Rain began to drizzle just as they stepped out. Yuyan suggested a nearby café, and they ran under the awnings until they found shelter.
Inside, the smell of roasted coffee beans and soft jazz playing in the background made the space feel cozy. Keqing was wiping raindrops from her arms when she heard someone call:
"Yuyan?"
They both turned. A graceful woman in a beige coat stood near the counter, holding a bag of books. Her eyes softened at the sight of her son.
"Mom. I didn't know you were here."
She smiled. "I was dropping off some reference books for you. But it seems you're well accompanied."
Gu Yuyan introduced Keqing. His mother greeted her warmly, with a firm but not unfriendly nod.
They sat down together for a few minutes. The conversation was light—about school, teachers, and university entrance exams.
"Gu Yuyan rarely brings up classmates," his mother said after a sip of coffee. "So, I'm glad to finally meet one."
Keqing smiled politely. "He talks a lot about physics, but not much else."
Yuyan looked slightly embarrassed, but his mother chuckled. "That sounds exactly like him."
Despite her composed demeanor, it was clear how much she cared for her son. She asked about his meals, sleeping schedule, even reminded him not to skip piano practice.
When she left a short while later, she gave Keqing a kind glance. "Good luck this year. And thank you for keeping him balanced."
After she left, Keqing teased, "So, she approves?"
Yuyan gave her a look. "Let's just say she knows when to trust my choices."
Keqing looked thoughtful for a moment. "She seems like someone who doesn't say much, but means every word."
"Exactly," Yuyan said. "She's always been that way. We talk more than it looks."
Elsewhere, Le Yahan sat in a teahouse across from Chen Yuke. A chemistry worksheet lay between them.
"Why am I even learning this?" Yahan groaned. "My dad wants me to apply for medical school."
"Do you want that?" Yuke asked.
She paused. "I don't know. I just... don't want to disappoint them."
He scribbled something on her worksheet. "Then start by being honest with yourself."
She looked at him. "Since when did you get so wise?"
"Since I realized I can't keep drifting. I need to choose something for myself."
For a second, their eyes met, and the air between them shifted. Then she rolled her eyes playfully.
"Fine. Help me pass chemistry first. Existential crises later."
Yuke laughed, genuinely this time. It was rare between them, but the moment lingered.
"Deal. One formula at a time."
As dusk fell, Keqing and Yuyan walked side by side under rows of fading crepe myrtle trees.
"Your mom seems kind," she said.
"She is. Strict, but always in my corner. I owe a lot to her."
Keqing hesitated. "You two seem close."
"We talk. Not always about feelings. But she listens, and that's enough."
She nodded. "That sounds nice."
After a pause, she added, "Even with all the noise of senior year, I feel like the quiet between us still matters."
He looked at her, voice low. "It always does."
They passed the school gates, now closed and silent. Memories of their time in 11A1 came back: the glances, the written notes, the slow warmth.
"Funny," Keqing murmured, "how we used to speak with silence, and now... it feels easier to say things out loud."
Yuyan gave a faint smile. "Maybe silence was just practice."
That night, Keqing opened her journal and wrote:
_"We spend so much time chasing answers, but sometimes the things left unsaid are the ones that shape us most. Today, I saw the side of him not everyone gets to see. And it made me want to protect that silence even more. The version of him that speaks not with volume, but with meaning."
_"Maybe growing up isn't about speaking louder. Maybe it's about knowing when to speak, and when to simply stay beside someone."