Chapter 12: The Unexpected Hug

A week later, Shen Yu found himself in an even worse situation.

The student council had wrapped up late after organizing an event, and Shen Yu, being the unfortunate victim of Lu Zhixuan's whims, had been roped into cleanup duty. By the time he was done stacking chairs and putting away supplies, the school halls were eerily empty.

The fluorescent lights flickered slightly, casting strange shadows along the corridor. A cold breeze slipped through an open window, making the curtains rustle like ghostly figures.

Shen Yu shivered. "Why does this feel like the start of a horror movie?" he muttered to himself.

He quickened his pace, clutching his backpack strap as he headed toward the exit. But just as he turned the corner—

Crash!

The sharp sound echoed down the hallway.

Shen Yu nearly jumped out of his skin. His breath hitched as his eyes darted toward the source of the noise.

A dark figure was approaching.

His heart stopped.

Ghost?!

Panic flooded his system. Before logic could catch up, his body moved on instinct.

With a strangled yelp, Shen Yu lunged—straight into the figure's chest.

A solid warmth enveloped him.

His hands clutched at soft fabric—blazer material. His face was pressed against something firm and warm. And there was a familiar scent—clean, slightly crisp, with a faint trace of something like cedarwood.

Realization struck a second too late.

"...Shen Yu?"

Shen Yu froze.

That voice. That smooth, familiar voice.

Horrified, he tilted his head up, only to meet Lu Zhixuan's amused gaze.

Oh. No.

For a long, mortifying second, neither of them moved. Shen Yu was still gripping Lu Zhixuan's blazer like his life depended on it, while Lu Zhixuan stood there, seemingly unbothered, one hand resting lightly on Shen Yu's back.

Slowly, Lu Zhixuan raised an eyebrow. "Something you want to tell me?"

Shen Yu's brain short-circuited.

He jumped back as if burned, flailing as he tried to regain his composure. "I—I thought you were a ghost!" he blurted, voice embarrassingly high-pitched.

Lu Zhixuan blinked. Then, to Shen Yu's horror, he chuckled. "And your first instinct was to hug it?"

Shen Yu gaped at him.

"That's...! I was startled!" Shen Yu sputtered. "You—you shouldn't be sneaking around like that!"

Lu Zhixuan tilted his head, amused. "I was just walking."

Shen Yu scowled, cheeks burning. "Whatever. I'm going home!"

He spun on his heel and stomped away, ignoring the way his heart pounded a little too fast.

Behind him, Lu Zhixuan's soft laughter followed him down the hall.