Shin Shin bounces in excitement, a mischievous grin spreading across her face as she tugged at Wei Chen's sleeve. The dim light of the late afternoon filtered through the high windows of the Bookroom of Knowledge, casting an eerie glow over the ancient shelves that towered over them.
"Come on, Wei Chen! Let's explore!" Shin Shin's voice was filled with excitement, but there was something almost conspiratorial about it.
Wei Chen, ever the composed one, raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping the rows of dusty bookshelves. "You know it's said to be haunted, right? We should probably—"
"But that's the fun part!" she interrupted, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Who knows, maybe we'll find a ghost to keep us company." She giggled, clearly enjoying teasing him.
Wei Chen sighed but couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips. "You never listen to reason, do you?"
"Not when it's no fun." Shin Shin grinned and skipped ahead, her steps light and carefree as she led the way deeper into the labyrinth of shelves. Wei Chen reluctantly followed, his footsteps slow and deliberate.
The Bookroom of Knowledge was a massive, dusty library, filled with ancient texts and a sense of history that made everything feel heavy with secrets. It was rumored to be haunted, and the students who'd come before them had whispered stories of mysterious sounds and objects moving on their own.
But it wasn't the ghosts that piqued Shin Shin's interest—it was the idea of an adventure. She didn't care for spooky tales or old books, but a place like this? It was a playground for mischief.
As they wandered further in, the sunlight grew dimmer, and the air grew cooler. The atmosphere shifted from playful to ominous. Shin Shin shivered dramatically, casting a sly look over her shoulder at Wei Chen. "I think we're lost," she said with an exaggerated gasp.
Wei Chen looked around, frowning slightly. "We should head back," he suggested, his usual calm demeanor starting to slip as the silence deepened.
But Shin Shin wasn't having any of it. "Nah, let's keep going!" She turned another corner, leading them into an even darker section of the library. Wei Chen, with no choice but to follow, kept close behind her.
And then, with a soft click, the heavy wooden door behind them slammed shut.
"Shin Shin," Wei Chen muttered, eyes wide with concern. "What did you do?"
"I didn't do anything! It just closed on its own," she replied, her playful tone faltering slightly as she tried to open the door. It didn't budge.
"We're locked in," Wei Chen said, a note of disbelief in his voice.
Shin Shin's expression faltered for a second, but then she grinned again. "Well, we're stuck here. Might as well make the best of it, right?"
Wei Chen groaned. "Of course you'd think that."
They wandered through the library, their footsteps echoing off the stone floors as they explored every nook and cranny. Hours passed, and the dim light of evening began to settle in.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of wandering, Shin Shin found something interesting—hidden behind a stack of old scrolls, a small, dusty wooden chest. "What's this?" she asked, crouching down and inspecting it.
Wei Chen joined her, raising an eyebrow. "It looks like an old snack box."
She opened it with a dramatic flourish, revealing two small cakes inside, neatly wrapped in silk. Shin Shin's stomach gave a loud growl at the sight of the cakes, and she pouted, rubbing her stomach. "I'm starving, but there's only two. What are we going to do?"
Wei Chen hesitated, looking at her. "I suppose... we could share them."
Shin Shin's eyes brightened. "You're right! But, you know, I can't eat the last one by myself. That would be so unfair."
Wei Chen blinked. "I'm pretty sure you can finish both if you wanted."
She pouted even more, exaggerating her hunger. "Nope, I'll share it. I'm a generous person." With that, she handed him one of the cakes with a grin.
He took it, his hand brushing against hers, and he felt a slight warmth spread through him. "You're ridiculous," he said, but his voice was soft, almost fond.
Shin Shin giggled, her eyes sparkling. "Thank you, Wei Chen! You're so kind to share with me." She took a bite of her own cake, making exaggerated sounds of enjoyment. "Mmm, this is delicious!"
Wei Chen couldn't help but laugh, his heart lifting as he watched her playful antics. She was always like this—so full of energy and life, even in the most absurd situations.
The two of them continued eating, their laughter filling the silent library. The moment felt both absurd and oddly perfect, like something out of a dream.
After finishing their cakes, they sat down on the floor, back against the cool stone wall, staring up at the dusty shelves.
"I'm going to fall asleep here if we're not careful," Shin Shin murmured, stretching out with a yawn.
Wei Chen's eyes lingered on her for a moment, and then he blinked, his gaze quickly shifting away. He'd barely noticed, but now that she was lying down, her shoulders were exposed, the thin fabric of her hanfu slipping just enough to reveal a delicate curve of her upper chest. He could feel his face heating up at the sight.
"Shin Shin…" His voice was a little hoarse, and he cleared his throat quickly.
She glanced at him, a knowing smile spreading across her face. "What's wrong, Wei Chen? You look a little red."
He swallowed, his thoughts momentarily scattered. "N-nothing. It's just… it's cold. You should, uh, maybe put your coat back on."
Shin Shin chuckled, enjoying the effect she seemed to be having on him. "You're so easy to tease." She pulled her coat around her shoulders and leaned back against the wall with a sigh. "You're the best, Wei Chen."
His heart skipped a beat at her words, and he looked away quickly, trying to ignore the warmth blooming in his chest.
"Yeah, yeah," he muttered, his voice betraying a slight shakiness. "Let's just get some sleep. We'll figure out how to get out tomorrow."
But as they lay down, the silence between them was filled with something unspoken, something that made Wei Chen's heart race a little faster.
Shin Shin, her head resting on his shoulder, gave a contented sigh. "Goodnight, Wei Chen."
"Goodnight, Shin Shin," he replied quietly, his heart still thudding in his chest.
And for the first time that evening, with the strange shadows of the haunted library surrounding them, Wei Chen felt strangely at peace.
---
As the hours passed, the Bookroom of Knowledge grew quieter. The shadows deepened and stretched over the shelves, and the only sound was the occasional rustle of leaves from outside. Wei Chen shifted in his sleep, his body unconsciously drawing closer to Shin Shin's.
Eventually, the peaceful stillness was broken when Wei Chen's eyes fluttered open. His surroundings were dim, and the coolness of the stone floor had settled in around him. For a moment, he just lay there, blinking and trying to gather his thoughts. He felt an odd warmth on his side and, as his senses fully awakened, realized that he was somehow lying on his side, facing Shin Shin.
A soft breath tickled his cheek, and his heart skipped a beat. He could feel the soft brush of her hair against his face. His eyes widened when he realized that they weren't just close—they were practically *pressed* together.
His lips were mere inches from hers.
Wei Chen's mind immediately went into overdrive. His eyes shot open, and panic surged through him as he desperately tried to push himself away without waking her. But as he moved, he suddenly realized—his lips had brushed against hers in his attempt to pull back.
A sharp, embarrassing realization hit him like a lightning bolt. *Oh no, no, no!*
He jerked back in a panic, his heart pounding in his chest, and that's when Shin Shin stirred beside him.
"Huh?" Shin Shin mumbled, blinking sleepily, and then her eyes opened wide. She froze, her face going as red as a tomato. She realized just as quickly as Wei Chen that they were *too close*—so close that their lips had indeed touched.
Her eyes widened in shock, and she pushed herself away with a frantic movement, her heart racing. "W-Wei Chen!" she squeaked, her face turning a deep shade of crimson.
"Shin Shin!" Wei Chen stammered, his face matching hers in a storm of embarrassment. He scrambled away, but in his hurry to get distance, he ended up *falling on top of her*.
The weight of him caused her to gasp in surprise, her hands flying out in a reflex to push him off. "What are you—get off!" she yelled, her voice high-pitched with panic.
The two of them scrambled frantically, neither knowing where to go or what to do. Their limbs tangled together, flailing in the most awkward way possible, and they ended up rolling across the floor in a heap. Their faces were burning with mortification, and in the chaos, they ended up knocking into one of the nearby shelves, causing a faint, alarming creak to echo through the room.
They froze, eyes wide, when they heard footsteps approaching the door.
A low voice, calm yet firm, called out, "What's going on in here?"
Shin Shin and Wei Chen both went rigid, their faces pale with the sudden realization that they were in trouble.
The door to the Bookroom creaked open, and standing in the doorway was none other than Lin Ming, the teacher known for his composed and patient demeanor. He had an air of calm authority about him that immediately made the situation feel even more intense.
He took one look at the scene before him—Shin Shin on the floor, her face bright red, and Wei Chen, who was now awkwardly half on top of her—and his expression didn't change at all.
"Why are you two doing such… indecent and private things in here?" His tone was surprisingly gentle, but there was a firmness that left no room for doubt.
Shin Shin's mouth opened in a frantic attempt to explain, but no words came out. She was still in shock, her chest rising and falling rapidly, trying to make sense of what had just happened.
Wei Chen's voice cracked as he stammered, "We… we didn't… It's not what it looks like!" His face was bright red, and he scrambled to sit up, avoiding eye contact with both Shin Shin and the teacher. He felt like his heart was about to burst from the embarrassment.
Lin Ming observed them quietly for a moment, clearly waiting for an explanation. His eyes were calm, and though he didn't seem particularly upset, there was a certain gravity to his gaze. He crossed his arms over his chest, the faintest hint of a frown on his face.
"You're in the Bookroom of Knowledge, a place of quiet study," Lin Ming said slowly. "Not a place for... whatever it is you two were doing. It's inappropriate to behave in such a manner, especially in public, let alone in such a private room." His voice was even, but his words made Wei Chen's stomach sink even lower.
Shin Shin and Wei Chen exchanged nervous glances, neither sure what to say next. They were so tangled in the embarrassment of the moment that they could hardly focus on the teacher's words. The only thing they could think of was how they had just *accidentally* shared the most awkward situation of their young lives.
"Lin Ming, we didn't mean—" Wei Chen started, his voice trembling.
"Enough," Lin Ming interrupted softly, his expression softening slightly. "I understand that you're young and these things happen, but this behavior cannot be overlooked. You'll both need to face the consequences."
Shin Shin winced at the mention of consequences. "What… what will happen?" she asked in a small voice, still recovering from the shock.
Lin Ming sighed and looked at them with a resigned yet understanding expression. "I'll report this to the headmaster, and we'll discuss an appropriate punishment," he said. "But remember, this is a place for learning, not… whatever this was. I trust you'll be more mindful in the future."
Shin Shin and Wei Chen both nodded sheepishly, their heads hung low in embarrassment. They were both so flustered they could hardly look the teacher in the eye.
Lin Ming gave them one last look, his voice a little gentler now. "I'm giving you both a warning. If you ever find yourselves in such a situation again, there will be more serious consequences. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir," they both mumbled in unison, too mortified to say anything else.
With a final sigh, Lin Ming turned and walked out of the room, his footsteps echoing in the silent space.
The moment he was gone, the tension that had been building between Wei Chen and Shin Shin finally snapped. The two of them exploded in a fit of giggles, the nervous energy still bubbling up from the absurdity of the situation.
"That was… horrible," Shin Shin gasped between laughs, wiping tears from her eyes.
Wei Chen, still flushed, leaned back against the wall, letting out a shaky breath. "I think I'm going to die from embarrassment."
Shin Shin shot him a playful look. "Maybe we should stay away from this room for a while, huh?"
Wei Chen nodded vigorously, his face still burning. "Agreed."
But even as they laughed, there was something else in the air between them—a quiet tension, like a spark had been lit, though neither of them was quite ready to acknowledge it yet.
For now, they'd simply try to forget the incident, but it was clear that something had shifted in the way they saw each other. And despite the embarrassment, Wei Chen couldn't help but feel that their growing bond was something he couldn't ignore.