An Ran stirred awake, her eyelashes fluttering as the faint clamor of buses and voices reached her ears from far below. Her head had fallen against her folded arms, and for a brief, groggy moment, she forgot where she was. The old bench beneath her creaked as she shifted, realizing that the boy beside her hadn't moved.
Qin Mo Ran was still there, his long legs stretched out carelessly, one arm slung over his forehead as though shielding his eyes. His breathing was slow, steady, almost too calm. For the briefest second, she thought his lashes twitched, as though he'd noticed her waking. But he didn't stir again, and his hair fell over half his face like a curtain.
Biting her lip, An Ran rose quietly, smoothing her wrinkled skirt. She glanced at him once more, hesitant, before whispering almost to herself, "School's over…"
She made her way back to their classroom. It was nearly empty, just a couple of girls reapplying lip gloss by the windows and a boy packing up lazily. Qin Mo Ran's bag was slouched against his desk, the straps tangled. An Ran hesitated before picking it up.
"Eh? Look who's playing errand girl."
The voice was sharp, dripping with mockery. An Ran stiffened and turned to find three girls leaning against the wall. They weren't in a rush to go home. Their uniforms had been shortened at the hems and pressed into fashionable folds, blazers unbuttoned to reveal glittery camisoles peeking out. Heavy makeup caked their faces, clumpy mascara, lipsticks too bright for school, streaks of glitter across their lids. One girl blew a bubble with her gum and let it pop loudly.
"Carrying Qin Mo Ran's bag like a little servant," another said with a sneer, her bracelets clinking as she crossed her arms. "Tch, I didn't think you had it in you, An Ran."
The third girl tilted her head, her high ponytail swinging. "Don't tell me you're trying to seduce him? You've always acted so quiet, but you're really a little slut underneath, huh?"
Their laughter rang out, shrill and cruel.A girl with glitter dusting her eyelids and her uniform blouse tied higher at the waist nudged her friend, then said loudly, "Now I get it. No wonder Sister Ruoyi despises her, pretending to be some saint, but sneaking around to fetch Qin Mo Ran's bag? What a pathetic little pick-me."
An Ran's hands tightened on the bag strap until her knuckles whitened. She didn't look at them. Didn't trust herself to. She simply walked out. Their voices trailed after her like poison.
"Pick-me girl!"
"Bet she's dying to be noticed by him."
"Ha! As if he'd even glance at her."
Her throat burned, but she swallowed hard and kept moving.
When she reached the rooftop again, Qin Mo Ran had stirred. He was sitting up now, shoulders slouched as though the weight of the world pressed against his back. For a moment, his eyes flicked to the bag in her hands. He said nothing. Just accepted it when she set it down beside him.
"I'm… heading out," she murmured. "Do you… want to come?"
His gaze lingered a second too long, but without a word, he rose and followed.
---
The small noodle shop by the bus stop was warm, steam fogging the windows. It smelled of broth, chili oil, and fresh scallions. An Ran ordered quickly, two bowls of soup noodles, keeping it simple. She set the steaming bowl in front of him and sat down opposite.
She waited as he picked up his chopsticks with a slow, deliberate motion. He didn't say anything, but when he lifted the first mouthful and tasted it, she caught the faintest pause in his expression, almost as if he hadn't expected it to be this good.
"It's not salty, right?" she asked cautiously, stirring her own bowl. Her eyes flicked to his face, searching for the tiniest reaction.
He didn't answer, but he didn't stop eating either. His movements were unhurried, steady, each bite disappearing as though he were focused solely on the food. For Qin Mo Ran, silence was an answer in itself.
Something in her chest loosened. She let out a small, almost invisible smile and lowered her gaze, sipping her soup quietly.
---
When they left, dusk had fallen. The street was painted orange by the dying light, students scattering toward buses or bicycles. An Ran felt… lighter. Not happy, exactly, but steadier.
Until she heard the whispers.
A small cluster of students loitered by the corner shop, snacks in hand. Their chatter stilled when they spotted her walking side by side with Qin Mo Ran.
"Wait, is that—?"
"No way. An Ran? With him?"
"Hah. Maybe those girls were right. She's really shameless."
"Or maybe she's just desperate enough to follow him around. Doesn't matter if he's a freak, she'll take what she can get."
Her ears burned, shame pricking her skin like fire ants. She wanted to vanish into the ground.
But Qin Mo Ran didn't flinch. He strode forward, long strides unbothered, his face blank. It was as if their stares didn't exist at all.
An Ran bit her lip hard and walked faster to match his pace. For once, she wasn't walking alone.
And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.