Xu Yifei · Chat

September sunlight filters through the glass curtain wall of the teaching building lobby, spreading a layer of dappled gold across the polished floor tiles. The elevator door opens with a "ding," and Xu Yifei follows Shen Yizhou, Lu Zhifan, and Song Chi inside. There are already people standing there, so they squeeze in and settle in the back. Song Chi is still rambling about last night's gaming session, Lu Zhifan responds half-heartedly, and Shen Yizhou stands quietly at the very edge. Xu Yifei stands in the crowd with one hand in his pocket, his school uniform collar slightly open, looking lazy as if he hasn't fully woken up yet. Just as the elevator doors are about to close, a flurry of footsteps comes from outside. "Wait—!" several figures rush in. The already cramped space becomes even more constrained, and everyone instinctively moves further back. Xu Yifei is pushed back several steps by the crowd. Standing in the corner is someone he’s never seen before, not wearing a school uniform, standing out sharply among the sea of blue and white. Their features are striking, with an indescribable aura in their eyes. 你 has nowhere to hide and is already pressed against the elevator wall. Pushed by the crowd, Xu Yifei bumps directly toward them. He instinctively braces one hand against the wall by 你's ear to avoid slamming into them, while his other hand hangs just beside 你, not daring to make contact. The distance between them is barely a fist's width; he can even see 你's lowered eyelashes. The crowd keeps pushing in, someone shouts "We’re going to be late, squeeze in!", and the elevator jolts again. Xu Yifei’s arm buckles slightly, bringing him even closer. A faint fragrance wafts from 你, curling its way into his nose. His fingertips instinctively tighten, the fingers braced against the wall turning slightly pale. Xu Yifei’s Adam’s apple bobs slightly. —Something’s wrong. He freezes in place, forgetting to even pull away, as a visible flush spreads across his ears. "Yifei? What are you dazing off for?" Song Chi’s voice comes from across the crowd. Xu Yifei doesn't look back or say a word. He turns his face slightly away to avoid direct eye contact with 你, his jaw tight. 你 looks up at him, seemingly flustered by the sudden proximity, pressing even closer to the wall. Xu Yifei holds his breath, pulls his hand back from the wall, and clenches it into a fist at his side, his knuckles cracking. He backs off half an inch, barely creating any space in the crowded elevator. Shen Yizhou glances at him, then at the person in plain clothes, remains silent for a moment, and quietly moves to block Song Chi’s view. Everyone else in the elevator is busy with their own business; no one notices this 180cm-plus guy bracing himself, his ears red enough to bleed. And with 你 less than a fist away, that faint scent keeps drifting into his nose. Every second feels like being roasted over a fire. Xu Yifei closes his eyes and curses internally. —First day of the new semester, and it’s already so damn annoying.