"That's wrong."

The sudden voice startled her. She quickly looked over. Zhong Cheng's sharp jawline entered her view. He pointed a long, slender finger at a step in her calculations. "From here, it's wrong."

Her racing heart slowed. She looked where he pointed but couldn't see her mistake. "Where?"

He turned, his clear voice explaining her error. Her heartbeat steadied as his explanation clarified her thinking. She picked up her pen and began to recalculate, her thoughts becoming clearer, a solution within reach. She solved it!

Jiang Yi's eyes shone with delight as she looked at Zhong Cheng. So happy? Her pure joy was infectious. A small smile played on his lips. For the first time, he found solving a problem… enjoyable. He picked up a pen and wrote a similar problem on a blank sheet. "Try this one."

Without hesitation, Jiang Yi dove into the new problem, pausing only briefly to think, Zhong Cheng's handwriting is so nice. And his function graph is perfect, the axes so straight, like he used a ruler, each tick mark precise. She shook her head, clearing her thoughts, and focused on the problem.

Minutes later, she had the answer. Her eyes lit up again, expectantly looking at Zhong Cheng. "Is it right?"

He nodded. "Yes."

A happy smile curved her lips. After a moment, she remembered to ask, "Are you living in the dorms too?"

He nodded. "Yes."

"Oh." Then, "How did you end up in our class?" He simply looked at her, silent. His gaze made her uncomfortable. "H-how long have you been here?"

"Not long," he said. "Do you want me to explain some more problems?" That answered her previous question.

Jiang Yi thought for a moment, then nodded twice. "Thank you."

Quite some time had passed since the end of study hall, and only a few students remained in the classroom. Jiang Yi glanced at the clock. "I should go back to the dorm."

Zhong Cheng waited while she packed her things. When she stood, he stood too. They walked side-by-side. They passed Dorm Building 5, but he kept walking. Jiang Yi glanced at him. "You're here."

He stopped as if just realizing it. The odd-numbered dorm buildings were on one side of the road, the even-numbered on the other. Jiang Yi's dorm was in Building 6, across the road from Building 5.

After a brief pause, he started walking again. "Let's go."

She saw him heading towards Building 6. Jiang Yi felt self-conscious about a boy walking her to her dorm. At the edge of the road, she insisted he stop. "It's okay. You don't have to go any further." Worried he might continue, she grabbed his hand. "Just here. Don't go any further."

His gaze slowly drifted down to her hand on his. She quickly let go, but he caught it again just as fast.

Thump! Thump! Thump! Her heart pounded. Her hand felt hot.

"L-let go," she urged, glancing nervously around, feeling like they were doing something wrong.

He released her hand, worried that continuing to hold it might frighten her. "Wait for me after lunch, after classes, and after evening study hall."

The light was dim, but his gaze was bright, piercing straight through her.

"Okay," she whispered. "I-I should go." She turned and ran towards her dorm, her hurried steps as if someone were chasing her.

Zhong Cheng's lips curved into a smile. He watched until she disappeared through the dorm entrance before turning back.