The staff room door was slightly open.
Tian had only intended to pass by.
But then he heard a familiar voice.
"So, Katie, you're interested in applying for colleges outside the city?"
Tian stopped walking.
That voice...
Carefully, he looked through the doorway.
Inside, Katie stood in front of a teacher's desk, clutching her books against her chest.
"Yes, sir."
Her answer was soft but certain.
Tian watched quietly.
A thoughtful smile appeared on his face.
So that's her dream...
Katie wasn't just thinking about graduation.
She was already planning her future.
She's thinking that far ahead...
The school bell suddenly rang.
Riiing—!
Students immediately began filling the hallways.
Tian left before Katie noticed him.
But her words remained in his mind.
The next day, class was unusually noisy.
A girl named Xingfei approached Tian's desk.
She smiled brightly.
"Tian, can I study with you today?"
Tian looked up from his notebook.
Caught off guard.
"Uh... sure."
Xingfei immediately sat beside him.
Opening her books.
"Let's start here."
Katie watched from across the room.
Her eyes stayed fixed on them.
Xingfei leaned closer to Tian while pointing at the textbook.
The two of them quietly discussed problems together.
Katie lowered her gaze.
Why is Xingfei studying with Tian...?
Something uncomfortable twisted inside her chest.
At that moment, two boys nearby began whispering.
"I heard Xingfei and Tian are planning to study together in the UK..."
The other boy's eyes widened.
"Wow, seriously?"
Katie heard every word.
Her fingers tightened around her pen.
They're going abroad... together?
The thought immediately ruined her mood.
Across the classroom, two girls were gossiping.
"They seem meant to be together..."
"I heard they were childhood sweethearts, too."
Katie froze.
Childhood sweethearts.
The words echoed repeatedly inside her head.
Childhood sweethearts...
She looked down at her desk.
Suddenly unable to focus on anything.
Across the room, Tian finally noticed.
He turned around.
"Katie..."
She wasn't smiling.
She wasn't talking.
She wasn't even looking up.
For the first time all day, she looked genuinely upset.
Tian frowned.
His eyes lingered on her for several seconds.
She's upset...
But he didn't know why.
And somehow...
That bothered him more than he expected.