Chapter 15 – The Silent Support
It was a warm Friday afternoon, and the sun filtered through the classroom windows, casting soft golden light across the desks. Su Zaizai sat at her usual spot by the window, reviewing notes for the science project. Her pencil moved quickly, but her mind kept drifting to Zhang Lurang, who sat across the room, focused on his own work.
Today's task was more challenging than usual. They had to prepare a presentation on their experiment, and Zaizai was struggling to organize her thoughts. She bit her lip, frustration creeping in as she shuffled her papers.
Noticing her struggle, Lurang slowly stood and walked over. Without saying a word, he leaned slightly over her desk, scanning her notes. His dark eyes were calm but attentive, taking in every detail.
"Try arranging the points in this order," he suggested softly, pointing at her notes. "It will make the flow clearer."
Zaizai blinked, surprised by the quiet guidance. "Oh… that makes sense. Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
He nodded once, then returned to his seat, as if nothing had happened. But Zaizai felt the warmth of his presence linger long after he walked away.
During the class, she caught herself stealing glances at him again and again. The small gestures, the subtle attentiveness, the way he offered help without drawing attention to himself — it all made her heart flutter in ways she didn't fully understand.
After class, Zaizai packed her things slowly, reluctant to leave. Lurang approached the desk, carrying a notebook.
"You forgot this," he said quietly, handing it to her.
Zaizai accepted it, feeling a small rush of gratitude. "Thanks… Lurang," she said softly.
He nodded, his expression calm and neutral, yet she thought she saw a faint softness in his eyes. "Don't mention it," he replied.
As she walked home, Zaizai realized that it wasn't just the big moments or grand gestures that mattered. It was the quiet, consistent support — the attentiveness and care that Lurang showed in subtle ways. Each small act, each quiet word, made her feel seen, understood, and valued.
And she knew, deep down, that these silent moments were slowly building a bond between them — a connection that neither words nor actions needed to define yet, but one that was undeniably growing stronger every day.
End of Chapter 15