As we were chatting, the noise outside suddenly grew louder. Faintly, I caught the words "transfer student" drifting to my ears.
Regaining my composure, I stood up with anticipation and dashed outside. My friends looked on, baffled by my sudden action.
Sure enough, he was here.
This time, his arrival caused quite a commotion. The corridor was crowded with people eager to catch a glimpse of him. I stood by the door, quietly watching. He was tall, slender, likely over 180 cm, wearing a uniform that wasn't from our school. His messy hair fell naturally over his forehead.
I stared at him intently, trying to make up for all the times I hadn't looked at him enough in my previous life. Perhaps my gaze was too heated, for he turned to look at me at that very moment.
His features were sharp, almost as if carved from stone. His deep-set eyes and pale, austere face exuded an air of cold detachment. Yet, as he looked at me, a fleeting, enigmatic glimmer appeared in his eyes, vanishing almost instantly as his expression returned to normal.
This time, I didn't shy away or avoid him. Instead, I offered him a small smile.
"It's nice to see you again, Chu Qingci," I silently whispered in my heart.
Chu Qingci seemed unsettled by my smile, or perhaps by my gaze. He quickly turned his head, focusing on the conversation between the grade director and our homeroom teacher. His attempt to avoid me was hurried and clumsy, though he tried to hide it. But I noticed.
A small joy blossomed within me, spreading to my expression. My smile grew more mischievous. My friends, now standing beside me, looked concerned about my behavior.
Yun Jing touched my forehead, comparing it to her own, only to find my temperature normal. She frowned in confusion.
"No fever... So why has she been acting so weird since that dream? Is she losing it?" she muttered, addressing the others.
"Look at her; it's not entirely strange. After all, that guy is indeed handsome," Bian Li replied, her gaze also fixed on Chu Qingci.
"True enough. You two are the type to grin like fools and lose all sense when you see a good-looking guy," Yun Jing said with a knowing nod toward the corridor's end.
Then, the class bell rang, and the students in the corridor began returning to their seats. I, however, remained rooted, still staring in Chu Qingci's direction.
Wang Zixuan, noticing my daze, teased me with a grin.
"Wow, are you actually lovestruck? Want me to lend a hand?"
"Stop joking, Wang Zixuan. Do you think Shen Jia hasn't seen enough handsome guys over the years? Has she ever fallen for one?" Bian Li retorted.
"Alright, enough chatter. Let's go," Zhou Zi said, tugging me and Bian Li back to our seats. Yun Jing was already at hers, fiddling with her hair.
Seeing this, Wang Zixuan, finding no further amusement, returned to his seat as well.
About two minutes later, the teacher walked in with Chu Qingci. Standing at the podium, the teacher addressed us.
"Today, we have a new classmate joining us. Let's give them a warm welcome and let them introduce themselves."
Our class excelled at creating an atmosphere. No sooner had the teacher finished speaking than Wang Zixuan led the applause, shouting, "Welcome, new student!" Others, equally enthusiastic, joined in the ruckus.
From my past life, I remembered that he was neither ostentatious nor shy. He simply introduced himself and was then assigned to the back row.
Noticing the excitement getting out of hand, the teacher feigned a couple of coughs. The class quieted down, except for Wang Zixuan, who continued his antics.
The teacher, aiming with precision, threw a chalk piece, hitting Wang Zixuan squarely. He immediately fell silent, while the teacher gave him a look of exasperation.
Once the room settled, Chu Qingci raised his head, which had been lowered until now, and began his introduction.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Chu Qingci. Thank you."
His words were few, just as they had been in my previous life. After he spoke, the class burst into applause, and I joined in.
The teacher pointed to a seat, indicating where he should sit. Chu Qingci followed the gesture, carrying his bag. His assigned seat was diagonally behind mine.
My gaze followed him as he moved, but he didn't look at me as he passed. Instead, he headed directly to his seat.
Reluctantly, I shifted my focus back to the teacher on the podium. The lesson began, and as usual, the teacher spoke passionately, while I drifted into a daydream.
For some reason, the teacher didn't call on me today, despite my frequent appearances on his radar. The class ended quickly, and for once, the teacher didn't overrun the session.
When the bell rang, I turned my head, my gaze locking onto the window-side seat. Chu Qingci was staring out the window, the light outlining his profile perfectly.
I stood up and walked toward him. The distance wasn't far, and in a few steps, I stood by his desk.
"Hello, Chu Qingci. I'm Shen Jia. Let's be friends." I looked down at him, speaking softly.