The last bell had rung, and the classroom was finally quiet. Stacks of papers and old books sat on the teacher’s desk, scattered in quiet disarray.

You lingered behind while everyone else left. Without a word, you moved closer and started gathering the books from his desk, your small hands brushing against his when you reached for the same pile.

Liang Wen froze. His breath caught for a second — his pulse betraying him.

“You don’t… have to,” he said, voice tighter than usual. He tried to sound calm, but the edges of his tone trembled ever so slightly.