Chapter 21 – The After-School Walk
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the empty school courtyard. Su Zaizai walked slowly, her bag slung over her shoulder, thinking about the day's classes. The corridors had been lively and noisy, but now everything felt quiet and peaceful.
As she reached the school gate, she noticed Zhang Lurang standing near the entrance, waiting. His posture was relaxed, hands in his pockets, but there was a calm attentiveness in the way he watched the courtyard.
"Hey," Zaizai greeted softly, approaching him.
"Zaizai," he acknowledged, his dark eyes briefly meeting hers. "You're leaving now?"
She nodded. "Yeah… I thought I'd take the longer way home today. It's nice and quiet."
Without a word, Lurang started walking beside her. The silence between them was comfortable, filled with the soft rhythm of their footsteps and the distant sounds of the city.
Zaizai found herself stealing glances at him. There was something about his presence — quiet, steady, and reassuring — that made her heart flutter. She felt safe, yet aware of the subtle tension building between them.
After a while, she spoke, almost shyly. "Thanks… for walking with me."
Lurang's gaze met hers briefly. "You would have gotten home fine alone," he said, his voice calm but not unkind.
"I know… but it's nicer with someone," she admitted, her cheeks warming.
He didn't respond immediately, only continued walking beside her. Yet Zaizai felt the quiet acknowledgment in his presence — the fact that he had chosen to accompany her, without being asked, spoke volumes.
When they reached a small park along her route, the path lined with trees and bathed in the golden glow of sunset, Zaizai paused. "I'll take it from here," she said softly.
Lurang nodded once, his usual calm demeanor in place. "Be careful," he said, and for a moment, his eyes softened, just enough for Zaizai to catch it.
As she walked away, Zaizai realized that it wasn't the words he said that mattered the most, but the moments of quiet attention, the shared silences, and the subtle care he showed. Each step with him, each glance, each unspoken understanding, was slowly drawing her closer to him in ways she couldn't yet explain.
And in that gentle walk after school, Zaizai knew that her feelings for Zhang Lurang were quietly, steadily deepening — one small step at a time.
End of Chapter 21