Extra 3: The Quiet Walks

The school day had a rhythm to it, each class fading into the next, each hour ticking by. But those moments after class, when the hallways emptied out and the final bell rang, were when Shen Yu felt the most alive. That was when Lu Zhixuan would pull him aside, the briefest touch on his arm signaling that they were about to share another of their quiet walks.

It was nothing grand, no flashy displays of affection or loud declarations. It was just the two of them, standing next to each other in the busy hallway, surrounded by students rushing off to their next destination. But it was enough.

Lu Zhixuan would reach out and take Shen Yu's hand, his fingers threading through his, like it was the most natural thing in the world. No words needed to be spoken—just the gentle, reassuring pressure of his hand was enough to say everything that needed to be said. Sometimes, they wouldn't talk at all. They'd simply walk side by side, their footsteps echoing in time with each other. The world around them felt quieter in those moments, as though the noise of everything else had faded away. It was just Shen Yu and Lu Zhixuan, walking together, breathing together.

There was something about the stillness of those walks that made Shen Yu feel more connected to Lu Zhixuan than anything else. The bustling school, the bright fluorescent lights overhead, the chatter of other students—it all felt distant when they were walking together, as if they were in their own little bubble of quiet.

Shen Yu would glance at Lu Zhixuan from time to time, finding the quiet smile playing on his lips, his eyes sparkling with something soft and genuine. He couldn't help but feel his heart race whenever their fingers brushed against each other, a subtle touch that never failed to make him feel like he was floating. It was as if every small movement, every tiny brush of skin, carried a thousand unspoken words. He didn't need to say anything, didn't need to do anything—just being there with Lu Zhixuan, walking through the halls in peace, was enough to make his heart swell.

Sometimes, the quiet would stretch on for a while, neither of them feeling the need to break it. It was in these moments that Shen Yu felt the most content, as though everything was right in the world. The chaos of their lives, the whirlwind of rumors and expectations, all seemed to vanish when they were walking together. It didn't matter that the world around them was moving at full speed—when they were together, time slowed down. There was only them, in the quiet of the hallway, hand in hand.

But even when the silence stretched, it wasn't uncomfortable. It was peaceful. They didn't need to talk all the time to feel connected. The sound of their synchronized footsteps was enough, a quiet rhythm that mirrored the heartbeat between them. Each step, each movement, brought them closer, making everything else fade into the background.

Sometimes, when their fingers would brush or their hands would tighten around each other, Shen Yu would feel the rush of warmth flood his chest, a wave of affection that made him wonder how he ever lived without these simple, quiet moments. The way Lu Zhixuan would look at him, not with the intensity of a confession, but with something softer, something quieter, told him everything he needed to know.

No grand gestures, no overwhelming declarations—just these walks, these moments where they could be themselves, together. Shen Yu couldn't ask for anything more.