The first day of the new semester always smelled like new books, dust, and nervous students.
Su Ran stood at the classroom door, holding her schedule and looking at the seat numbers posted on the wall.
"Seat 47… seat 47…" she muttered, dragging her finger down the list.
Then she found it.
Seat 47 – Last Row, Window Side.
She walked into the classroom, passing rows of students already chatting with their friends. Some were laughing, some were copying homework, some were sleeping like school had already exhausted them.
She reached the last row and stopped.
There was already someone sitting in seat 48.
A boy.
He was leaning slightly toward the window, sunlight falling across his desk. He had black hair, neat handwriting, and a stack of books already arranged perfectly. He looked like the type of student teachers trusted and students didn't talk to.
He didn't notice her at first.
So she pulled the chair loudly on purpose.
He looked up.
Their eyes met for about two seconds.
"Hi," she said cheerfully.
"…Hi," he replied quietly.
She sat down, put her bag on the desk, then immediately turned toward him.
"I'm Su Ran."
He looked slightly surprised that she started talking immediately.
"Jiang Chen."
"Do you talk this little to everyone or just strangers?" she asked.
He paused for a moment, then said, "Everyone."
She grinned.
"Okay, then I'll talk enough for both of us."
For the first time, he looked slightly amused.
At that moment, the class teacher walked in and slammed a book on the desk.
"Listen everyone! This is your most important year. No playing around, no nonsense, and especially no talking in the last row."
The whole class laughed a little.
Su Ran slowly turned toward Jiang Chen and whispered,
"I think she already doesn't trust us."
He looked at her, and for the first time, he smiled a little.
And that was the beginning of everything.
Their friendship.
Their group.
Their school years.
And all the growing up they didn't know was waiting for them.