Don't pretend you don't know me - He, is he you?

**Afternoon in an empty classroom,** upperclassmen paired us for mock drills.

110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMY8ifNQvj

Naturally, I got Lu Huai again.

110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfC1K9vPJM

Silent as ever, but lethally precise. Memory like a steel trap.

110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KvRUmcJfW

While presenting our PPT, I quipped offhand:

*"I write better than I speak."*

110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZZWf8mgNi

Lu Huai locked eyes with me for two solid seconds—then deadpanned:

*"I know."*

110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0dFtu99Vt

*God.* That sharp jawline of his looked *illegally* handsome when serious.

110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENMI7janSg

---

110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPg99TaCTC4

Post-dinner library session.

(*"Answer-checking"*—code for *Lu Huai inventing reasons to keep me late.* Whatever. Not complaining.)

110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnWEF5IGhQ

I stumbled over a complex formula. Without a word, he slid his water glass toward me.

110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7iMPvr1AP

The silence turned lethal. I deflected:

*"My novel’s stuck."*

110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqMKPl5wqK

*"Rewrite it,"* he said, like commenting on the weather, *"without the guilt this time."*

110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccjFc7Ljiq

My head snapped up.

110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxl7NrhM6OU

*OS: That’s *lii’s* exact cadence. Are they—?*

110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXXOO3grPv

---

110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG92fh3ypQQ

10 PM. Posted the update. *lii* struck instantly:

**[lii]:** *"Three hesitations today. Why?"*

110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwnLou5viw

I caved—replied:

*"Do you know me?"*

110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fopE1eWJj

Four words came minutes later:

**[lii]:** *"Guess."*

110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmajNGnsyl9

*"Hah."* My thumb hovered. *Sly, repressed STEM nerd.*

110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3USIJtIch

The screen blurred. Suddenly obvious—*lii* was Lu Huai all along.

ns216.73.216.250da2

Reading Theme:

Font Size:

Line Spacing:

Paragraph Spacing:

Load the next issue automatically