Chapter 19: A Late-Night Confession

Shen Yu couldn't sleep.

No matter how much he tossed and turned, his mind refused to quiet down. It kept replaying everything—Lu Zhixuan's teasing smirk, the way his breath had ghosted over his skin, the warmth of his body pressing too close. And worst of all, the way Shen Yu's own heart had betrayed him, racing wildly at the mere thought of him.

"This is ridiculous," he muttered, rubbing his face as he sat up. Maybe some fresh air would help clear his head.

Slipping out of his dorm room, he made his way toward the school's rooftop. It was a spot he often came to when he needed space, a quiet refuge where he could think without interruptions.

But, of course, fate had other plans.

Because when he pushed open the rooftop door, Lu Zhixuan was already there.

Leaning against the railing, the other boy stood bathed in moonlight, his sharp features cast in silver shadows. He didn't seem surprised to see Shen Yu. Instead, a slow smirk curled on his lips, as if he'd been expecting him all along.

"Couldn't sleep?" Lu Zhixuan asked lazily.

Shen Yu hesitated before sighing in defeat. "Yeah."

For once, there was no teasing, no sarcastic remarks. Just silence—calm and undisturbed. The cool breeze swept through the air, carrying with it the faint scent of night-blooming flowers. Shen Yu leaned against the railing, staring out over the empty school grounds.

Before he realized it, the words slipped out. "You know... I was never supposed to be part of your story."

Lu Zhixuan turned his head slightly, an unreadable look in his eyes. "Oh?"

Shen Yu let out a self-deprecating laugh. "Yeah. If things had gone the way they were supposed to... you'd be with Bai Xue, and I'd be—"

"Gone."

Shen Yu stiffened. There was something unsettling about the way Lu Zhixuan said that word—quiet, firm, and laced with an emotion Shen Yu couldn't quite place.

Lu Zhixuan's gaze locked onto his, intense and unwavering. "You don't belong in that ending."

Shen Yu swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. "What... what do you mean?"

Lu Zhixuan stepped closer, the warmth of his body suddenly too near, too overwhelming. He reached out, fingers just barely brushing against Shen Yu's hand before slowly intertwining them.

Shen Yu's breath caught. His fingers twitched slightly, but he didn't pull away.

Lu Zhixuan's voice was low, almost a whisper. "Figure it out."

And then, just like that, he let go.

The warmth disappeared, leaving Shen Yu's skin cold in its absence. Lu Zhixuan turned away and walked toward the rooftop door, moving as if nothing had happened.

Shen Yu remained frozen, staring down at his empty hand, his pulse hammering in his ears.

What the hell just happened?

His mind scrambled for an explanation, for logic, for something that made sense. But all he could think about was the way Lu Zhixuan's fingers had fit so easily between his own.

And how, for one fleeting moment, he hadn't wanted to let go.