As Lin Xiao walked to school, the morning air was crisp and cool, he couldn't shake the feeling of anticipation gnawing at his stomach, because soon he was going to reach level 2.
As he rounded a corner, he spotted the mysterious girl from the pet shop in the distance, walking with purpose, her strides confident and determined.
Lin Xiao's heart skipped a beat at the sight of her, his mind racing with thoughts of striking up a conversation, of finally breaking through the barrier of his own introverted nature.
But as he drew closer, his steps faltered, his nerves getting the best of him. What would he even say to her? What if she found him strange or uninteresting? The fear of rejection loomed large in his mind, paralyzing him with indecision.
With a heavy sigh, Lin Xiao watched as the girl disappeared into the crowd, his chance slipping through his fingers once again. He berated himself for his timidity, for letting his insecurities hold him back from seizing the opportunity to connect with someone new.
But deep down, he knew that it wasn't just fear holding him back—it was the fear of the unknown, the fear of stepping outside his comfort zone and into uncharted territory.
Suddenly feeling some kind of courage, Lin Xiao squared his shoulders and continued on his way, his mind already racing with plans for how he has to muster the courage to approach the girl. After all, he thought to himself, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Heart pounding in his chest, Lin Xiao quickened his pace, determined to catch up to the girl before she disappeared into the throng of students and people.
Finally, he spotted her up ahead, her figure distinct amidst the sea of students. Summoning all his courage, Lin Xiao closed the distance between them, his heart hammering in his chest as he prepared to speak.
"Excuse me," he called out, his voice shaky but resolute. The girl turned to face him, her expression puzzled.
"Hi, I'm Lin Xiao," he said, his words tumbling out in a rush as he struggled to maintain his composure. "I, uh, I saw you at the pet shop the other day, and I just wanted to say hi."
Lin Xiao's heart sank as the girl responded with a confused "huh," her attention clearly elsewhere. He felt a flush of embarrassment heat his cheeks as he realized she was wearing headphones, his attempts at conversation falling on deaf ears.
"Uh, sorry, wrong person," he stammered, his cheeks burning with embarrassment as he quickly turned on his heel and fled, his footsteps quickening with each stride as he hurried away from the awkward encounter.
"What the heck is wrong with me?" Lin Xiao muttered to himself, frustration evident in his voice. "Why did I run away like that?"
As he distanced himself from the girl, his embarrassment gradually gave way to a sense of chagrin, his cheeks still flushed with the memory of his failed attempt at conversation.
As he walked, he couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment in himself. Here he was, with a system that many people wished they had, yet he still couldn't muster the courage to have a simple conversation with a girl. It was frustrating, to say the least.
"Come on, Lin Xiao, get it together," he scolded himself inwardly. "You have a system at your disposal. You should be braver than this. You should be able to face any challenge head-on, not cower away like some scaredy-cat."
"Now how am I going to talk to her?" Lin Xiao muttered to himself, his brows furrowed in frustration. He couldn't help but feel like he had made a fool of himself in front of the girl from the pet shop. Running away like that probably made him seem like a total weirdo in her eyes.
He sighed, feeling a pang of regret at his own actions. It was one thing to struggle with shyness, but running away from a simple interaction was another thing entirely. He knew he had to find a way to make things right, to show her that he wasn't some awkward, socially inept guy.
But how? That was the question that plagued his mind as he continued on his way to school.
Entering the classroom, Lin Xiao spotted his friends Zhang Wei, Li Na, and Wang Lei already seated at their desks. With a smile, he made his way over to them, exchanging greetings as he took his seat.
"Hey guys, good morning," Lin Xiao said, his voice bright with enthusiasm.
"Morning, Lin Xiao," Zhang Wei replied, offering a friendly nod. "You ready for PE class today?"
Li Na chimed in, her expression playful as she teased, "Don't forget, we've got to hit the internet cafe after school too."
As Zhang Wei mentioned the PE class, Lin Xiao's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, we have PE today? I completely forgot," he exclaimed, a hint of concern creeping into his voice.
But before his worry could escalate, Zhang Wei reassured him with a grin. "Don't sweat it, Lin Xiao. The school always has spare clothes for those who forget, I'll get you some. You'll be fine," he said, patting Lin Xiao on the back in a reassuring manner.
Relieved, Lin Xiao let out a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Zhang Wei. I owe you one,"
While they were talking Lin Xiao noticed, the girl from the pet shop entering the classroom. she glanced at him briefly before slipping into her seat with effortless grace, her presence commanding attention without her even trying.
Lost in his observation, Lin Xiao didn't realize that Li Na saw him looking at the girl.
"Hey, Lin Xiao, do you know Chen Manyao?" Li Na asked, her tone laced with curiosity.
Lin Xiao tore his gaze away from the girl to look at Li Na, feeling a bit caught off guard by the sudden question. "Uh, Chen Manyao?" he repeated, racking his brain for any recollection of the name. "I don't think so. Why?"
Li Na leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "She's like the infamous ice queen of our school—literally has no friends. I heard she's super cold and distant, like, impossible to approach. Do you know anything about her?"
Lin Xiao furrowed his brow, intrigued by Li Na's description of Chen Manyao because he remembered she was super friendly in the pet shop.
"Not really," he admitted with a shrug. "But I guess since we are classmates I'll find out soon enough." he was feeling a little confident in the presence of his friends for some reason.