Desk mate, your persona has crumbled.

At five o'clock in the morning, the sky outside the window was just beginning to lighten.

Xu Mo lay stiffly on the bed, his eyes wide open, showing no signs of sleepiness.

(Super nervous!)

A completely unfamiliar sense of anxiety enveloped Xu Mo.

The boy could clearly feel his heartbeat, pounding heavily and fast in the excessively quiet room.

He turned over, buried his face in the pillow, and tried to calm the inexplicable flutter in his heart.

Useless.

My mind is like a runaway projector, repeatedly playing back what my mother said yesterday:

"Song Shuyan will be waiting for you downstairs at her house at 6 a.m. tomorrow..."

"Their parents trust you too..."

Xu Mo scratched his messy hair in frustration.

It's only five o'clock!

There's still an hour until our agreed-upon time of six!

He would normally be sleeping like a log at this time, but today his biological clock has completely betrayed him.

He was barefoot on the floor, and a chill crept up from the soles of his feet.

Walking to the window, Xu Mo lifted a corner of the curtain and looked outside.

The streetlights in the neighborhood were still on, and only the faint chirping of early birds could be heard in the distance.

too early.

But he just couldn't fall asleep.

Xu Mo picked up his phone in frustration.

The screen lit up, its blinding light shining into his eyes.

05: 01.

Only a minute has passed?!

Xu Mo threw his phone aside and slammed himself back onto the bed.

Isn't it just about picking up Song Shuyan to go to school together?

What's the big deal!

It's like something out of a movie...

Xu Mo mentally berated himself, but his heartbeat didn't slow down at all.

He even started to uncontrollably imagine what would happen later.

Is she nervous too? She definitely will...

What should I say?

Good morning?

Won't it be too dry?

Or, say nothing at all?

But wouldn't that seem too cold?

Ugh, this is so annoying!

Xu Mo covered his face with a pillow, feeling like a naive young man asking someone out for the first time.

It's not like I'm on a date with Song Shuyan!

The boy lay in bed, eyes open, feeling that the wait was terribly long.

He kept checking his phone and then forced himself to close his eyes and count sheep. But as he counted, the sheep turned into Song Shuyan.

The boy took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.

It's just picking up a classmate to go to school together, right?

Xu Mo tried to mentally prepare himself, but with little effect.

He was still on edge, both looking forward to the time coming and a little afraid that the moment would actually arrive.

Why hasn't the alarm clock gone off yet?

It was 5:30 a.m.

The buzzing of the alarm clock shattered the silence of the room.

Song Shuyan was startled awake from a light sleep, her heart skipping a beat as the bell rang suddenly.

The girl reached out and turned off the alarm clock.

(nervous.)

Like Xu Mo, Song Shuyan was extremely nervous at the thought of having to go to school in a different way this morning.

After putting on her slippers, Song Shuyan went into the restroom.

Amidst the sound of flowing water, she looked at herself in the mirror.

Her long hair was draped messily over her shoulders, and she still looked sleepy.

The girl was brushing her teeth, but her thoughts had already drifted far away.

I'm going to school with Xu Mo today...

This realization made her heart beat even faster.

What will he say later?

What should I say?

After wiping the water droplets from her face, Song Shuyan went back to her bedroom.

Opening the wardrobe, one finds rows of solid-color short-sleeved shirts and trousers neatly arranged.

We haven't received our school uniforms yet in the first year of high school, so we can only wear our own clothes.

Song Shuyan reached out and placed his hand on a short-sleeved shirt.

The movement suddenly stopped.

A thought suddenly popped into my mind:

Should I dress a little nicer?

This idea stunned even herself.

nice?

What makes something beautiful?

The girl's gaze swept over the few clothes that had hardly ever been worn deep inside the wardrobe.

In my memory, the last time I seriously considered what to wear was when my mother coaxed me to try on a new dress, but because I was scared, I ended up wearing these ordinary ones.

But... Xu Mo is different.

This thought sent a slight warmth creeping up her ears.

That's so strange... that's so deliberate...

Social anxiety immediately triggered an alarm.

Song Shuyan's hand eventually landed on a plain-colored short-sleeved shirt.

Never mind, let's leave it at that.

After quickly changing her clothes, Song Shuyan glanced at the dressing mirror.

The girl in the mirror still had that clean and aloof appearance.

Song Shuyan took a deep breath and slung her schoolbag over her shoulder.

Xu Mo should be arriving soon.

He reached out and opened the door; Song Jianghuai was already waiting in the living room.

When he saw his daughter come out, a gentle smile immediately appeared on his face.

But the old father's eyes held a complex mix of emotions.

I felt relieved, worried, and a little disappointed.

Or rather, it's the discomfort of letting go.

"Shall we go?"

"Mm." Song Shuyan nodded.

The father and daughter changed their shoes, opened the door, and headed towards the elevator.

The hallway was quiet in the early morning, with only the slight hum of the elevator.

The elevator doors opened, and Song Jianghuai let Song Shuyan go in first.

He then stepped inside and, without thinking, pressed the button for B1.

Only when his fingertip touched the button did he suddenly realize that today was different.

The hand paused in mid-air for a moment, then moved upwards to the button on the first floor and gently pressed it to light it up.

"I've gotten used to it, I forgot I didn't have to drive you today."

Song Shuyan stood beside her father, lowered her head slightly, and said softly, "Mm."

The father and daughter did not speak again.

Looking at his daughter, Song Jianghuai knew that from today onwards, he needed to loosen his grip on her hand.

With a "ding," the elevator arrived at the first floor.

The door slowly opened.

The father and daughter stepped out of the elevator, turned a corner, and arrived at the lobby of the apartment building.

In the morning light, a familiar figure was peering through the glass door.

It's Xu Mo.

The boy peered inside, then unexpectedly met Song Jianghuai's gaze.

The next moment, Xu Mo tensed up and stood up straight.

Why is Song Shuyan's father here too?!

The boy quickly adjusted his schoolbag, looking just like a harmless elementary school student.

Song Shuyan followed behind her father and happened to catch Xu Mo's comical appearance.

(I want to laugh.)

A smile flickered in the girl's cool eyes, and her lips pursed almost imperceptibly.

Xu Mo seemed to sense Song Shuyan's emotions and glanced at her.

You're still laughing at a time like this?!

Song Jianghuai led Song Shuyan toward Xu Mo.

Looking at the energetic yet slightly nervous young man before him, the father took the initiative to speak, "Xu Mo, this should be considered our first meeting."

Xu Mo nodded and said politely, "Hello, Uncle Song."

Song Jianghuai responded with a "Mm".

Then, he looked at his daughter beside him, and then turned to Xu Mo: "Be careful on the road."

"Okay, Uncle, I'll make sure you get to school safely."

Hearing Xu Mo's assurances, Song Jianghuai looked at his daughter.

"Remember to eat breakfast, and send your dad a message when you get to school."

"Um!"

Song Shuyan nodded seriously.

Song Jianghuai looked into his daughter's eyes, which were filled with expectation.

It's clear that Song Shuyan is really looking forward to her journey to school today.

"Dad, I'm going to school."

"Okay, be careful on the road!"

Song Jianghuai watched his daughter walk towards Xu Mo.

The two walked side by side toward the gate of the residential area.

Song Jianghuai stood still, his gaze fixed on his daughter.

The apartment building door slowly closed behind him. Song Jianghuai looked at the empty tree-lined path, feeling a pang of sadness.