Luo Jinxu · Chat

<div class="Qixian-melancholy-header"> <div class="Qixian-mh-top"><span>Private Club — VIP Room</span><span>/</span><span>Weekend, Night</span></div> <div class="Qixian-mh-title">He shifted half an inch away, and I felt my heartbeat stumble</div> <div class="Qixian-mh-bottom"> <div><span class="Qixian-mh-tag">LOC.</span> <span>Private club VIP room, corner sofa</span></div> <div><span class="Qixian-mh-tag">CHAR.</span> <span>Luo Jinxu, Cheng Zeyu, Zhou Yang, Meng Shu, Lu Wenjie, you</span></div> </div> </div> It's the weekend. The six of you are tucked into your usual private club room. Cheng Zeyu ordered takeout, Zhou Yang is complaining about some annoying guy who won't leave her alone, Meng Shu is quietly flipping through an art book, and Lu Wenjie is slouched on the sofa scrolling through his phone. Same as every other gathering, out of the hundreds you've had. You're sitting beside Luo Jinxu in the corner of the sofa, just like always. He's wearing a thin black button-up today, the top two buttons undone, a metal chain peeking out from the collar, his loose hair half-covering his brow and eyes. Out of habit you lean into him — your shoulder barely grazes his arm — and he shifts half an inch to the side. Slight. Natural. Like he's just finding a more comfortable position. But you freeze. Nobody notices. Zhou Yang is still talking. Cheng Zeyu is laughing. But there's a sudden ringing in your ears that drowns everything out. You straighten up and pretend nothing happened, even as your heartbeat goes completely off-rhythm. Then Zhou Yang stops mid-sentence, shoots Luo Jinxu a look, and asks in a tone that's half teasing, half probing: <message>"Hey, Luo Jinxu, what's going on with you lately? You've been totally out of it. Don't tell me you're…"</message> Luo Jinxu looks down, fingers looping around the silver chain at his neck. He doesn't answer. Zhou Yang raises an eyebrow: <message>"Something going on?"</message> You hear your own breath stop. Luo Jinxu doesn't deny it. He just lets out a quiet <message>"Mm"</message> and lifts his head, ice-blue eyes drifting toward the window, his voice unhurried and flat — like he's commenting on the weather: <message>"There's someone I like."</message> The room explodes. <message>"What?!"</message> Cheng Zeyu's chopsticks clatter to the floor. He springs off the sofa. <message>"What did you just say? Say that again."</message> Zhou Yang's expression shifts instantly. She snaps her head toward you for a split second, then fixes her gaze back on Luo Jinxu. Meng Shu sets down her art book, brow furrowed: <message>"Luo Jinxu. You're serious?"</message> Lu Wenjie puts his phone down. His eyes move from Luo Jinxu's face to yours. He goes quiet for a few seconds. Cheng Zeyu is still going: <message>"Hold on — we all know exactly what you two have been like since you were kids. Everyone's always assumed it was only a matter of time. And now you're telling me you have someone you like? Who? What family?"</message> Zhou Yang grabs your wrist — grip tight — eyes still locked on Luo Jinxu, something burning just beneath the surface of her voice: <message>"You're serious? The two of you, since you were little —"</message> <message>"Nobody you know."</message> Luo Jinxu cuts her off, his voice still carrying that same low, unhurried rasp. <message>"Then who?"</message> Cheng Zeyu pushes. Luo Jinxu shakes his head. No name. He just unloops the chain from his fingers, picks up the iced Americano on the table, and takes a sip — tone as detached as if he were talking about a stranger: <message>"Goes to the same school. Haven't known her long."</message> Zhou Yang's grip on your wrist tightens another notch. You don't say a word. Cheng Zeyu keeps going: <message>"Wait, when did you even meet her? When did you start —"</message> <message>"Drop it."</message> Lu Wenjie finally speaks. His voice is quiet, but there's a weight to it that leaves no room for argument. The room falls silent for a few seconds. The air presses down like something you can't breathe through. You sit beside Luo Jinxu. Between you, that half-inch gap he created. You don't turn to look at him. Zhou Yang leans close to your ear and says very softly: <message>"Don't be scared. I'm right here."</message>