One afternoon, as he loitered near the swings, pretending not to notice her, fate intervened. Qicheng's rough demeanor and reputation often preceded him, but she seemed unaffected by the whispers and warnings that circulated about him. Intrigued and frustrated by his own thoughts, he found himself walking towards her.
She glanced up from her book, surprise flickering across her face before settling into a gentle smile. "Hi," she greeted him, her voice calm and inviting.
Qicheng hesitated for a moment, unsure how to respond. He had never struggled for words before, but now, in her presence, he felt a strange vulnerability. "Hi," he finally managed, awkwardly shoving his hands into his pockets.
"I see you around a lot," she remarked, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
He shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "Yeah, I guess."
She closed her book, a gesture that caught his attention. "Do you like...."