Chapter 20 – The Shared Notebook
The afternoon sunlight streamed through the classroom windows, casting warm patterns across the desks. Su Zaizai sat quietly, flipping through her notes, trying to organize her thoughts for the science project. She was so absorbed in her work that she barely noticed Zhang Lurang approaching her desk.
"I found this in the library," he said softly, placing a neatly bound notebook in front of her.
Zaizai looked up, surprised. "Oh… thank you. Did you…?"
"I thought it might help," he interrupted gently, his dark eyes meeting hers with that usual calm focus. "It has some examples we can use."
Zaizai felt a strange warmth at the simple gesture. It wasn't just the notebook — it was that he had thought of her, had taken the time to help without being asked. "Thanks… really. I wasn't expecting this."
He shrugged slightly, as if it were nothing. "It's not a big deal. We're working on this together."
They spent the next hour working side by side, quietly referencing the notebook, exchanging notes, and occasionally offering suggestions. Zaizai noticed how natural it felt to work with him — no pretense, no awkwardness, just a seamless understanding of each other's pace and thought process.
At one point, she hesitated, struggling with a particular part of the experiment. Lurang leaned closer, his dark eyes scanning her work. "You're overthinking it," he said softly. "Simplify the steps, and it'll make sense."
Zaizai nodded, realizing he was right. She adjusted her notes, and suddenly, the problem felt manageable. "Thanks… Lurang. You always know how to make things easier," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
He gave a faint nod, returning to his own notes, but Zaizai felt a small thrill at his acknowledgment. Every small interaction, every quiet gesture, was slowly building a sense of closeness she hadn't expected.
As the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Zaizai packed her things carefully. "I'll make sure to use this notebook properly," she said, holding it close.
Lurang's gaze lingered on her for a brief moment. "Good. That's the point," he replied simply, then turned and walked away, leaving her with a mixture of gratitude and a fluttering heart.
That afternoon, Zaizai realized once again that the bond they shared wasn't built on grand declarations. It was formed through quiet gestures, shared work, and subtle attentions — the kind of connection that, day by day, became harder to ignore.
And with Zhang Lurang, she knew that each small moment was a step closer to something far more meaningful than either of them could yet name.
End of Chapter 20