"Hello, Jiang Yubai!"

?

For a moment, Jiang Yubai even suspected he had misheard.

"What do you mean... you want me to go keep Lin Tingwan company?" he repeated hesitantly.

Lin Jianxia wrinkled her little nose. "Don't you get along really well with Wanwan?"

Jiang Yubai: "?"

What did she mean, they got along really well?

Had he and Lin Tingwan... ever even interacted?

Did sitting side by side in class count as getting along really well?

But Lin Jianxia gave him no time to dwell on it. She tipped her chin toward the bedroom. "There, Wanwan's in her room. Go find her yourself."

After a pause, she turned back, her gaze carrying a glaring warning.

"Leave the door open when you go in—I want to be able to see inside the moment I turn around. And you're only allowed to chat. Don't bully her, got it?"

"I..."

Jiang Yubai still wanted to say something, but Lin Jianxia had already turned around decisively and padded back into the kitchen, her slippers going tap tap tap.

Jiang Yubai: "..."

No, you're really that unconcerned?! This is a guy and a girl alone in a room!

He opened his mouth, but in the end, he stood up and looked toward the small room farther inside.

When he stopped at the door, Jiang Yubai still hesitated.

Honestly, things like a girl's bedroom had only ever existed in novels to him.

Generally, they were described as places shrouded in mystery, forbidden zones where boys were not allowed. At any rate, he had never imagined he would one day get to enter one.

It wasn't as if he had no reservations at all—but since Lin Jianxia had put it that way, Jiang Yubai could not be bothered to act all coy about it.

Though he had no idea how Lin Jianxia had reached the conclusion that he and Lin Tingwan got along well, but...

Her sister was the one who had sent him here to chat. If anything went wrong, she could take the blame.

What was this, harassment by imperial decree?

As these random thoughts swirled through his mind, Jiang Yubai belatedly realized... he really was a little nervous.

He steadied himself and raised a hand to knock on the door.

After several clear knocks, Jiang Yubai waited patiently outside. But after quite a while, the room remained perfectly silent, without the slightest response.

The question of why no one was answering had just surfaced when, the next second, he cursed himself.

Of course there would be no response. Lin Tingwan did not look like the type to voluntarily come open the door for someone.

He knocked twice more, but there was still no movement.

After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Yubai reached for the handle and gently turned it, opening the door.

There was no cloying sweet fragrance rushing at him, nor were there any pink curtains or dazzling little decorations.

The room was not large, but it was very tidy—almost starkly simple.

A bed, a desk, a wardrobe—that was nearly everything.

There was none of the imagined romantic atmosphere. Only a panda plushie, half a person tall, sat quietly on the bed.

Its black-and-white fur had been gilded with a pale gold sheen by the evening sunlight, and its round eyes gazed blankly toward the door.

Meanwhile, the room's owner sat upright at the desk. Her familiar high ponytail was still in place, and her blue-and-white school uniform was immaculate.

With her head slightly lowered, her eyes rested on the open pages before her, so focused that it was as if she had not noticed the movement at the door at all.

Standing by the door, Jiang Yubai swept his gaze over the overly chilly space before it returned to the panda's adorably dopey expression.

For some reason, it seemed like it had... more life in it than the owner of this room.

Jiang Yubai glanced back. Lin Jianxia had her back to this side, her kitchen knife rising and falling on the cutting board with crisp, rhythmic taps.

You really aren't worried at all...

Forget it. He was going to mooch a meal off her later anyway, so he would take this as payment.

Sighing inwardly, Jiang Yubai stepped into the room. He neither deliberately stomped nor deliberately softened his steps, simply walking up behind the girl.

Lin Tingwan seemed completely unaware. Her gaze remained on the open book in front of her, and only after a long while did she turn a page.

With no other choice, Jiang Yubai lowered his voice and called out tentatively.

"Lin Tingwan?"

This time, the effect was immediate.

Lin Tingwan's page-turning motion suddenly paused. Then she slowly turned her head and raised her face—meeting Jiang Yubai's gaze directly.

The first thing he saw was a trace of confusion, as though she were wondering why he was here.

Before Jiang Yubai could explain, a faint smile suddenly appeared on the girl's exquisite face, which usually showed little expression.

The smile was thin and cold, like a fleeting glimmer of light sweeping across winter snow, yet it possessed a breathtaking beauty.

For a moment, Jiang Yubai forgot what he had meant to say.

But Lin Tingwan soon stood up, hugged her book to her chest, passed by him, and headed straight for the bed nearby.

She carefully moved the panda plushie farther in on the bed before sitting down at the edge. Then she lifted her eyes toward Jiang Yubai, who was still standing there in a daze.

Jiang Yubai blinked. What was this supposed to mean? Was she inviting him to sit beside her for a heart-to-heart?

After hesitating, he sat down on the edge of the bed as well, only an arm's length away from her.

"Uh... hello?" Jiang Yubai greeted her tentatively.

Lin Tingwan's eyes seemed to brighten. She reached over, picked up the familiar spiral notebook from the bed, scribbled something down, and handed it to him.

"Hello, Jiang Yubai!"

The moment he saw those words, Jiang Yubai truly wanted to go out and demand an explanation from Lin Jianxia. He wanted to ask whether they actually had a triplet sister they had been hiding from him all this time.

How else could this be explained?

Could it be that she had shut herself off too tightly at school, and only after returning to this little space that belonged to her could she loosen up a little...

Jiang Yubai froze, instinctively looking at the girl before him.

Though there was still no obvious expression on her face, Lin Tingwan's beautiful eyes were startlingly clear.

"Um... Lin Tingwan," Jiang Yubai cleared his throat and began somewhat stiffly. "I'm moving next door to you tomorrow, so I came over today to... well, say hello."

Lin Tingwan tilted her head, and he had no idea whether she had taken it in.

Seeing that she had no intention of taking out her notebook to write, Jiang Yubai hesitated before continuing.

"It's just that your sister... asked me to come keep you company and talk for a while."

But when it came to "chatting"... what exactly could they talk about?

From the corner of his eye, he spotted the book the girl had casually set aside. Judging by the cover, it seemed to be a novel.

Maybe he could start a conversation from there.

At that thought, Jiang Yubai nodded to himself in satisfaction, turned his head, and said,

"Oh, right, about what you're reading—"

His words cut off abruptly as Jiang Yubai's eyes slowly widened.

Soft, steady breathing sounded by his ear, while the tips of her hair brushed against his neck with a ticklish touch.

The girl's soft, light body settled into his arms.

Without any warning at all, Lin Tingwan gave him a quiet hug that carried the scent of lavender.